Twenty-five diverse professional performers recently took part in a study at the University of Bristol whose findings suggest singing produces no more respiratory particles than speaking, depending on volume.
The original Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles opened at the Palace Theatre August 21, 1983. The musical, featuring music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Harvey Fierstein, played 15 previews and 1,761 performances before closing November 15, 1987. The production would go on to earn nine Tony Award nominations, winning six including Best Musical.
Based on the French play of the same name, La Cage aux Folles tells the story of the story of a flamboyant gay couple who must pretend to be straight for one night — with one of the men in drag — to dupe the conservative political family of their son’s fiancee. In a time when homosexuality had yet to become the basis of a big Broadway musical, La Cage proved to be a huge success
The production starred George Hearn as Albin, Gene Barry as Georges, Jay Garner as Edouard Dindon, John Weiner as Jean-Michel, Elizabeth Parrish as Jacqueline, Leslie Stevens as Anne, William Thomas, Jr. as Jacob, Merle Louise as Mme. Dindon, Walter Charles as M. Renaud, Brian Kelly as Francis, Sydney Anderson as Mme. Renaud, David Cahn as Chantal, Dennis Callahan as Monique, Betsy Craig as Paulette, Frank Di Pasquale as Dermah, John Dolf as Nicole, David Engel as Hanna, David Evans as Mercedes, Linda Haberman as Bitelle, Eric Lamp as Lo Singh, Jack Neubeck as Hercule, Dan O’Grady as Odette, Deborah Phelan as Angelique, Jay Pierce as Etienne, Marie Santell as Babette, David Scala as Phaedra, Sam Singhaus as Clo-Clo, Jennifer Smith as Colette, Mark Waldrop as Tabarro, and Ken Ward as Pepe, with Jamie Ross, Bob Brubach, Drew Geraci, Jan Leigh Herndon, and Leslie Simons as swings.
Directed by Arthur Laurents with choreography by Scott Salmon, the production featured scenic design by David Mitchell, costume design by Theoni V. Aldredge, lighting design by Jules Fisher, and sound design by Peter J. Fitzgerald with stage management by Fritz Holt, James Pentecost, and David Caine.
Nothing can stop BroadwayWorld’sRichard Ridgefrom bringing you interviews with your favorite Broadway stars Tune in right here today, August 19230pm ET, as he chats with Broadway songbirdLiz Callaway.
Though Barrington Stage Company was the first regional theatre to re-open during the coronavirus pandemic with an Equity-approved production of Harry Clarke (and a Rodgers and Hammerstein revue beginning tonight), some of its remaining scheduled programming will have to wait in the wings a bit longer.
The Berkshires venue in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, has shifted a significant portion of its fall offerings as indoor theatres remain shuttered until the state reaches Phase 3, Step 2 of Governor Charlie Baker’s re-opening plan.
Among the shows affected by the shakeup are Leslie Kritzer’s Is It Over Yet? (moved from September 6 on the mainstage to August 30 on BSC’s outdoor stage, with a newly added matinee), Marilyn Maye’s Party Time (scheduled for August 24, now postponed), and Ann Hampton Callaway’s Linda Ronstadt tribute with Billy Stritch (instead of the August 31 and September 1 in-person performances, Callaway will present a virtual concert, Diva Power, from her home).
Additionally, the reading of Mark St. Germain’s new play Eleanor, starring Tony winner Harriet Harris as Eleanor Roosevelt, will now be live streamed from the Mainstage without an audience September 4 and 5 at the original 7:30 PM ET performance times. Two other productions scheduled for this fall—Jeffrey Hatcher’s Three Viewings (starring Debra Jo Rupp) and Arthur Miller’s The Price—have been postponed until next year, though Rupp will reunite with her That ‘70s Show co-star Kurtwood Smith for a streaming version of the former, available September 23–26 with a minimum donation of $25.
BSC is by now no stranger to playing things by ear in the wake of the public health crisis. Harry Clarke was initially supposed to play indoors with a socially distanced seating configuration, but swiftly moved outdoors under government guidance. When outdoor gathering capacities were subsequently reduced to 50, the company was able to move patrons around to minimize rescinding tickets.
“Art is healing power, and we’ve started the healing process,” Artistic Director Julianne Boyd told Playbill recently. “And hopefully, as the state opens up more—and as things get a little better—we’ll be able to do more. But we will wait. We’re patient, and we’ll wait to see when this happens. And we’ll be ready.”
For tickets and more season information, visit BarringtonStageCo.org.
The Hamilton original Broadway cast recording has hit its 29th total non-consecutive week in the top 10 on the Billboard 200.
Sony’s upcoming movie musical version of Cinderella is back in production, with filming resuming in the U.K. this week. According to Deadline, the bulk of the remaining work involves exteriors and low-level shooting, with larger scenes having already taken place prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
Camila Cabella stars in the title role in the Kay Cannon-helmed film. Among those joining her are Tony winner Billy Porter as a new non-binary take on the Fairy Godmother, Tony winner Idina Menzel as the Stepmother, Tony winner James Corden (who also produces), Hairspray Live! star Maddie Baillio, John Mulaney, Minnie Driver, and Fra Fee.
Safety measures include routine testing and sanitizing, training seminars, social distancing, and reduced crew sizes.
On the other side of the pond, another in-the-works movie musical, Ryan Murphy’s Netflix adaptation of The Prom (also featuring Corden), re-entered production for a brief pick-ups session in Los Angeles last month.
Stars in the House continues today 7pm with Moments in the Woods.Join Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jason Alexander, Todrick Hall, Mandy Gonzalez, Andra Burns, Seth Rudetsky, and more to raise funds to support the Hancock - French Woods Arts Alliance.
Before Tom Hooper gave us Digital Fur Technology, he gave us extreme fisheye lens closeups of French folk. Les Misérables, the 2012 film adaptation of the international hit musical, is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S. beginning August 16.
Among the ensemble of actors singing the Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg score are Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Russell Crowe as Javert, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Samantha Barks as Éponine, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, and Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thénardiers.
The movie earned eight Oscar nominations in 2013 including Best Picture; it ended up with three wins, including one for Hathaway’s performance.
Director Hooper shot the feature with the actors singing their parts live (as opposed to lip syncing a pre-recorded track) in an effort to capture the performer’s spontaneity and authenticity. Actors wore ear pieces as a piano provided accompaniment off-stage, with full orchestrations added in post-production. Hooper implemented this same tactic a few years later with the movie adaptation of Cats.