: Archive

18 tags

"SMASH:" Broadway in the Spotlight

After Madonna’s highly-reductive performance during last night’s Superbowl, America is hungry for some real entertainment. And that entertainment comes in the form of a TV Drama called “SMASH.” Although the show debuts tonight at 10/9c, executive producers Steven Spielberg, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have cleverly released the Pilot early (on hulu, etc.) to create a buzz,...

Feb 7th

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9 tags

"P" is for Phantom

By Paul Winkler, PaulWinklerBlog.com Paloma Garcia-Lee made her Broadway debut in The Phantom of the Opera, at age 17. When I first met Paloma, she was this tiny baby doll. She was the daughter of the artistic director of the dance school I attended, where she received no special treatment. Terri Garcia-Lee, her mother and Broadway vet, turned her into an independent woman early on, and...

Jan 20th

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30 tags

#BetteMidler in #GYPSY

By Paul Winkler, PaulWinklerBlog.com, Updated 4:40 PM Over the break, I saw the 1993 made-for-TV movie Gypsy, starring Bette Midler. Based on the 1957 memoir, back in the day, this story went from stage to screen very quick. From the 1959 Broadway musical starring Ethel Merman, to the 1962 film with Rosalind Russell as Momma and Natalie Wood as Louise. Since then the show has had four...

Jan 6th

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22 tags

Top 10 Theatre of 2011

10. Lucky Guy−Little Shubert Theatre, Off-Broadway 9. The School for Lies−Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway 8. The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World−Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway 7. Burning−The New Group, Off-Broadway 6. The Cherry Orchard−Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway 5. The Whipping Man−Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway 4. The Book of Mormon−Eugene...

Dec 27th

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Dec 21st

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Top 10 Performances of 2011

10. Varla Jean Merman in Lucky Guy−Little Shubert Theatre, Off-Broadway 9. Adam Godley in Anything Goes−Roundabout Theatre Company, Broadway 8. Jenn Harris in Silence! The Musical−Theatre 80, Off-Broadway 7. Lillias White in The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Colman−59E59, Off-Broadway 6. Norbert Leo Butz in Catch Me If You Can−Neil Simon Theatre, Broadway 5. Danny...

Dec 19th

15 tags

Memphis Never Dies

Memphis, the musical that came to Broadway in a Season with few musicals, is still running. Despite mixed-to-bad reviews and negative hype from the theatre community, the 1950s era musical has played 881 performances. In what was one of the most disappointing years for the Tony Awards, they won Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score. Of all the long-running shows, this is one of the most...

Dec 2nd

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Thanksgiving Movie Poll (Closed)

What movies are you excited to see this Thanksgiving? (Poll closed) Whether you’re seeing your favorite furry frog, or your favorite furry cousin, have a happy & healthy Thanksgiving!

Nov 23rd

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Nov 12th

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30 tags

Paul gets Political! (Poll #1)

By Paul Winkler, PaulWinklerBlog.com

Oct 31st

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Jerry Mitchell's Audition Tips

Jerry Mitchell is a Tony Award-winning choreographer, who’s work has been seen in thirteen Broadway shows, including Catch Me If You Can, Legally Blonde (also director), La Cage aux Folles and Hairspray. The following is an except from a Podcast interview I did with Mr. Mitchell, for Broadway Buzz in 2008. JM: “When you audition for me, and that’s specifically for me, you...

Oct 14th

Fall TV: A Season of Women

This Fall, there is a lot to see on TV! And most of the new shows feature some very talented women. I explorer a handful of those shows, recently. “2 Broke Girls” (CBS) Airs Mon @ 8:30 ET This new CBS sitcom is absolutely hysterical! Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs are 2 Comic Gems of Fall TV. Max (played by the outrageously funny Dennings) is a waitress at a diner in Brooklyn, and...

Oct 7th

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30 tags

4th Anniversary in NYC

October 1, 2011 is my fourth anniversary living in New York City! Looking back on all the memories, it’s hard to believe that it has only been four years. To think of all the people I’ve met in that time… All the parties I went to… All the theatre I saw… It makes me feel really blessed! It’s not an easy city but it’s the city that I’ve fallen madly...

Sep 30th

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Poll (Closed): "I'm Still Here"

Vote for your favorite performance of “I’m Still Here” from Follies. You voted and here are the results: Yvonne DeCarlo - “The David Frost Show” (1971) Eartha Kitt - “The Lawrence Olivier Awards” (1987) Shirley MacLaine - Postcards From the Edge (1990 Film) Elaine Stritch - “Sondheim!: The Birthday Concert” (2010) ...

Sep 20th

11 tags

Follies

Elaine Paige is sexy and supurb… Ron Raines gives a powerful performance… Jan Maxwell is unstoppable… Danny Burstein is phenomenal… Bernadette Peters gives an emotionally potent performance… FolliesBroadway.com By Paul Winkler, PaulWinklerBlog.com

Sep 12th

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5 tags

Where I was on 9/11/2001

I was in Miss Connolley’s Reading class at Richboro Middle in Council Rock School District (PA), when we first heard the news of the Twin Towers. Miss C said, “I have startling news, please remain calm,” as she passed out a letter from the Principal and told us what happened. She immediately asked if anyone’s family worked in the building, or in NYC. What was odd about how...

Sep 11th

30 tags

What went wrong?

From eleven new musicals, three remain open. How did all those shows become so short-lived? Was it lousy producing, or bad writing? What went wrong? Here is a list of the musicals from last Season, in order of their opening date, indicating the number of performances they played (unless still running): Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (94) The Scottsboro Boys (49) Women on the Verge of a...

Sep 9th

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20 tags

Poll (Closed): What are your favorite Movie...

Aug 31st

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POLL (Closed): Vote for your favorite...

On Broadway, Bernadette Peters has been singing Stephen Sondheim songs since 1984. Vote for your favorites! [Poll Results]

Aug 26th

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23 tags

Lesli hails as Queen of NYC!

She may be currently starring in Show Boat in East Haddam, CT but last night in NYC, the Queen arrived. Not a drag queen, not a gay guy but a real-live woman, who’s NYC Cabaret debut was a triumph! LA-based performer Lesli Margherita is no stranger to the stage. She’s an Olivier Award-winner for Zorro in the West End (pictured right) and has starred in Kiss Me, Kate, She Loves Me,...

Aug 9th

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Poll (Closed): Who to Succeed?

It was announced yesterday that “Glee” star Darren Criss will be Broadway’s next J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. Replacing Harry Potter’s Daniel Radcliffe, who will play his final performance Jan 1, Criss will step into the classic American role Jan 3 thru 22. Which actor would you cast? [Poll results]

Aug 2nd

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NBC's Musical TV Series "SMASH" to premiere 2/6 @...

Aug 1st

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Jul 20th

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Silence!, Death & The Shaggs−Three Off-Broadway...

Today I discuss three new Off-Broadway musicals… The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World, Death Takes a Holiday and Silence! The Musical. THE SHAGGS: PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD Welcome to Fremont, New Hampshire. The year is 1969 and you’ve been invited to the Wiggin’s home. Where you’ll meet the stern head of the household Austin (brilliantly portrayed by Peter Friedman),...

Jul 15th

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“Dream big. Think big. Start small and grow.”

– Kurt Deutsch

Jul 13th

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Jul 5th

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Watch

History has been made during NYC Pride. A joyous day for the GLBT community!

Jun 25th

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Jun 21st

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Jun 19th

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Jun 12th

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Jun 11th

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Jun 10th

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Watch

T. Oliver Reid: Not only super cute but super talented! If you can please help fund his upcoming Album.

Jun 6th

Jun 5th

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Jun 1st

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May 31st

6 notes

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May 28th

8 tags

Watch

GaGa was so inspiring this morning in Central Park on GMA. So happy I went! Me, Billy Yoder and Johnny Cooper in the Park :-)

May 27th

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“I always live half-way between Reality and Theatre at all times.”

– Lady GaGa, 5/27/11 (via @broadwaybuzz)

May 27th

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Re: Will The Scottsboro Boys perform at the TONYS?

In reply to my recent post, my friend (and Scottsboro cast member), Christian’s tweet may have answered my question. Nothing official, of course! @dantechristian just read the tony script for the @ScottsboroBoys performance…its gonna be goooooood :) 12 hours ago

May 22nd

12 tags

Top 5 Funniest Musicals I've Ever Seen!

5. The Toxic Avenger Musical (2009) 4. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005) 3. The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) 2. Avenue Q (2003) 1. The Book of Mormon (2011) I’ve never seen Urinetown onstage, but I’m sure it would be up there.

May 17th

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Watch

Watch out “GLEE”… NBC’s “Smash” is about to crush you! broadwaybuzz: A Preview of NBC’s “Smash”

May 16th

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2 tags

May 15th

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"An Original Musical"

“Original on Broadway? That’s risky! Unless you got some stars in mind.” -[title of show] If you’re like me, you’re a big supporter of Original Broadway Musicals. But they’re very rare these days (especially good ones), so I dedicate this Blog entry to this Season’s Original Broadway Musicals, and they’re risk-taking producers. BLOODY BLOODY...

May 13th

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May 13th

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“I figured you could talk to her. Give her one of those ‘It Gets...”

– Desperate Housewives

May 12th

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6 tags

Will The Scottsboro Boys perform at the TONYS?

The Scottsboro Boys, the last musical from the powerful songwriting team Kander and Ebb, came-and-went on Broadway. But six days ago what seemed like the impossible happened; The Tony Nominating committee blessed the short-live musical with twelve Tony Award Nominations including Best Musical! It gained the second-most nominations to The Book of Mormon’s fourteen Nods and made history by...

May 9th

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3 tags

May 9th

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“If Louis was right and you only get one great love. New York may just be mine....”

– Sex and the City

May 3rd

1 tag

Apr 30th