2010 Emmy Awards...I'll be live-blogging all night!

Here we go......

7:00-7:30

• Wow I love Jane Lynch and she looks phenomenal
• OMG Sue Sylvester is going to have some neon track suits on Glee this season
• I love Carol Burnett and she will be amazing as Sue's mom
• Jane Lynch loves purple tafetta
• I am obsessed with Betty White...she is simply timeless
• We are only 5 minutes into the night and I may already have seen my favorite dress of the night....Claire Danes looks like a goddess
• Oprah's favesie queer Nate Berkus is working the red carpet! Who decided he was a big deal? 
• Jimmy Fallon is awkward in a precious sort of way...
• Ooooo my other favorite Jane....Krakowski! Is she wearing an updated version of the 1980s prom dress? I do think so!
• Glen Close is such a legend and I love that her daughter is wearing a braid in her hair...very hippy chic!
• Oh Kate Goslin, is it necessary for you to be on the red carpet? What have you ever done that was so fabulous?
• Eva Longoria-Parker looks lovely as always. And Tony is quite as always.
• "How did I get nominated?" -Chris Colfer
• Because you are absolutely fabulous Chris Colfer!!
• "When I was in high school I was a mix of Rachel Berry and Sue Sylvester"  -Chris Colfer
• America has fallen in love with a gay character...it is about time!
• Carrie Ann Inaba...you may be wearing a bit too much glitter, even for you dear
• Carrie Ann...why do you have sooooooo many hilights
• Nate Berkus....why do you keep asking everybody what their damn bathroom floor looks like?
• I really wish they would have included the guest actor/actress awards in the live broadcast
• I want Betty White to guest star on Glee......can we please make that happen Ryan Murphy & FOX?
• Jewel, I cannot decide what I think about your dress

7:30-8:00

• Work Tina Fey!!
• Everybody loves a funny girl, especially Barbra...lol
• Somebody answer this question for me....why don't I watch 30 Rock? I need to change that ASAP...thank god for netflix
• I didn't post my predictions like I did for my beloved TONY awards this year, but when they start giving out the awards
• Hello Matthew Morrison...love of my life
• Please give Matt the Emmy, pretty please!
• Matt is a theatre guy, so obviously there have to be lots of feelings when he is interviewed
• Wanda Sykes is one fierce hooker...she is funny because she is serious
• ***insert Lindsay Lohan joke***
• Most of the fashions tonight seem very old Hollywood and I love that
• Why don't I watch Mad Men? I clearly need to catch up on a lot of quality tv and stop watching garbage
• Lea looked lovely...girlfriend is on the best dressed list!
• Isn't it funny how "white" has become Kim Kadashian's signature color?
• Work it Jane Lynch, I love you in purple tafetta.......two of our Glee people are on the best dressed list
• Calling Anna Paquin a matador is so fitting in that dress
• Ps whatever happened to Cojo? I miss his red carpet commentary

8:00-8:30

• The opening/Ode to Glee is wonderful!
• I need my glasses to see my tv...are my eyes going or is my tv just too small
• Yes...a cameo by Hurley from LOST!
• The opening number: Tim Gunn #win Kate Goselin #fail
• Work Amy Poehler!! I want that girl in a Broadway show asap
• Drama is easy, Comedy is hard
• I want to be exactly like Betty White when I'm 80
• Chris Colfer, please win!
• Chis...your queer self was just robbed
• Eric Stonestreet looks like a younger version of John Goodman
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson is precious....catch him on Broadway.com's Side by Side by Susan Blackwell http://tinyurl.com/29o2845
• Who is this insane Sophia woman? She is annoying me
• Modern Family is working so far...yet another show that I need to start watching
• Colbert you are creeping me out right now
• I miss Kristin Chenoweth at the Emmys...that girl knows how to light up a room
• One of my Janes has to win!
• YES JANE LYNCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• WORK JANE LYNCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• The look on Lea Michele's face was precious when Jane won...I can tell what is going through her head...."If Jane won, then maybe I could win?"
• P.S. this Oprah commercial is so feelingsy

8:30-9:00

• At least Kristin Chenoweth had a hot second on the broadcast...and Elaine Stritch too
• Work Ryan Murphy...your boyfriend is beautiful too
• Lea just planted a big one on Ryan Murphy
• I just got way too emotional when Ryan Murphy said GLee was about the importance of arts education & dedicated it to his teachers
• I don't watch The Big Bang Theory so I have no feelings good or bad on this award
• Haha Edie Falco wanted to be a veterinarian.....honey has won 4 Emmys, show some respect
• Kim Kardashian just sang for a hot 3 seconds and that was way to much for my ears
• Bring on the reality tv.......as embarrassed as I am to admit it, I still love reality tv, most notably survivor
• The reality Emmy was anticlimactic
• I almost typed "revival Tony" when I meant to type "reality Emmy"....I so miss the theatre
• What is the deal with this backstage Johnny? I'm kind of over his dry sense of humor

9:00-9:30

• I loved the homage to the drama series...particularly the ode to LOST
• Wow Mad Men won an Emmy....there's the surprise of the night
• OMG a reference to Fraggle Rock!!!! Once when I was little I knocked my teeth loose and there were home videos of me saying I was going to look like Fraggle
• P.S. I am so sad that Terry O'Quinn did not win for his portrayal of John Locke/Smoke Monster on LOST
• Wait why is Kerry Russell going to be on again?
• Why is there no love for LOST tonight??
• I miss LOST so much

9:30-10:00

• Matt Morrison & Tina Fey...what a duo
• I kind of love Kyra Sedgewick's hair
• Thank god the TONY awards won an EMMY...the Queens shall be thrilled
• Quote of the night by the writer of the 2009 TONY awards..."go to New York and see a Broadway show, it will change your life forever"

10:00-10:30

• I loved Julianna Margulies when she was on ER
• Congratulations to George Clooney, a great humanitarian
• How did I miss all of these made for TV movies...they look wonderful!
• Wow, get it together January Jones
• I love Kathy Bates...what a broad
• I really don't understand this crazy queer who is doing commentary on the winners
• Oh Rue McClanahan you were wonderful...the tribute to the performers who passed this year will certainly be heartbreaking
• Jewel takes me back to 1995
• I still cannot believe Rue McClanahan is gone
• What a beautiful song by Jewel...she carries such an emotional weight in her voice
• Claire Danes looks absolutely gorgeous...the dress, the hair, the whole deal

10:30-11:00

• I am fading fast...lets get to the big categories
• I've gotten so bored in the last half hour...I'm running out of commentary
• I always forget that Claire Danes was in Little Women
• Obviously Mad Men won for Outstanding Drama Series
• I was hoping LOST would win some awards, but this season was not as good as some of the earlier seasons
• When I was little I would hate when HBO shows would win EMMYs because we didn't have HBO at my house and I didnt know anything about their shows
• And the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy goes to Modern Family...I was expecting Glee, but I was wrong again, as I was with most of the awards this evening.
• The hilight of the night was easily Jane Lynch
• Good night, peace out, see you at the next awards show

Fun Fact of the Day: Winner of the Most Tony awards

Every casual Broadway fan has probably heard of director Hal Prince, but only the most die hard theatre buffs will know that Prince has won not 1, not 2, but 21 Tony Awards, the most by any individual! He has been awarded Tonys for directing & producing musicals, as well as 3 special awards. A notable period in Prince's career was his partnership with Stephen Sondheim in the direction/production of 7 of his musicals in the 1970s.

His impressive record at the Tonys is as follows:

• 1955 Best Musical (producer)-The Pajama Game
• 1956 Best Musical (producer)-Damn Yankees
• 1960 Best Musical (producer)-Fiorello!
• 1963 Best Musical (producer)-A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
• 1963 Best Producer of a Musical-A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum   
• 1965 Best Musical (producer)-Fiddler on the Roof
• 1965 Best Producer of a Musical-Fiddler on the Roof
• 1967 Best Direction of a Musical-Cabaret
• 1967 Best Musical (producer)-Cabaret
• 1971 Best Direction of a Musical-Company     
• 1971 Best Musical (producer)-Company 
• 1972 Best Direction of a Musical-Follies
• 1972 Special Tony Award-Fiddler on the Roof
• 1973 Best Musical (producer)-A Little Night Music
• 1974 Best Direction of a Musical-Candide
• 1974 Special Tony Award-Candide
• 1979 Best Direction of a Musical-Sweeney Todd
• 1980 Best Direction of a Musical-Evita
• 1988 Best Direction of a Musical-Phantom of the Opera
• 1995 Best Direction of a Musical-Showboat
• 2006 Tony Lifetime Achievement Award

Barbie's Showtune(s) of the Day #9: Selections from Follies

In honor of the spectacular announcement yesterday from the Kennedy Center about their upcoming spring 2011 production of Follies, I thought I would post some of my favorite songs from the iconic Stephen Sondheim show.

In Buddy's Eyes, Follies, as performed by Marin Mazzie--although I think this song works best when performed by a slightly older actress, Mazzie's performance is irresistible and she truly exploits all of the emotion in the song



Losing My Mind, Follies, as performed by Barbara Cook--in my opinion, nobody interprets Sondheim better than Barbara Cook and this performance is just terribly heartbreaking

Bernadette Peters to Star in Kennedy Center's Follies

It was just announced today that Bernadette Peters will headline the upcoming Kennedy Center production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies as Sally Durant Plummer. As Sally, she will perform some of Sondheim's most beloved songs including the heartbreaking "In Buddy's Eyes" and "Losing My Mind." This truly is the year for Peters & Soneheim as she is currently playing the role of Desire Armfeldt in the current Broadway revival of his A Little Night Music. The original production of Follies opened on Broadway on April 4, 1971 and ran for over 500 performances. It features music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. Hal Prince directed the original production Michael Bennett choreographed.

Other casting includes Kim Cattrall as Phyllis Rogers Stone, Danny Burstein as Buddy, and John Dossett as Ben. Peters and Dossett previously shared the stage in the 2003 Sam Mendes revival of Gypsy as Rose and Herbie. Danny Burstein is fresh off of his acclaimed run as Luther Billis in the recent South Pacific revival and will head into the new production of Women on the Verge of A Nervous Breakdown before rehearsals for Follies begin. Cattrall is perhaps best known for portraying Samantha Jones on the hit HBO series Sex and the City and the subsequent films, but she has enjoyed an extensive stage career on London's West End stages.

Tickets for this sure-to-be-wonderful production go on sale January 30th and the run begins May 7, 2011 and closes on June 5, 2011. Now I'm not one for starting rumors, but the last successful Kennedy Center production (Ragtime in 2009) transferred to Broadway and there is certainly a chance that this production, with its amazing source material and star-filled cast, could be Broadway bound. But regardless, what a great opportunity for DC theatergoers to see Bernadette Peters, a living legend, live onstage.

Katie Finneran to Leave Promises, Promises

Congratulations to newlyweds Katie Finneran and Darren Goldstein who are expecting their first child! Katie recently won a Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises. Her last show will be October 10th. Finneran's performance is certainly not to be missed! The actress who replaces her will surely have big shoes to fill. To read my review of the show, click on the link below.


http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com/2010/06/promises-promises.html

Fun Fact of the Day: The Gamble of Investing in a Broadway Show

It is no secret that investing in a Broadway show can often be a big risk, but in actuality, 2/3 of all Broadway shows fail to make back their initial investments. In theatre lingo, we call it "recouping" when a show makes back the money initially put into it by investors. At that point all the money that the show makes above its weekly "nut"--or the sum total of its weekly operating costs--becomes profit for the show's producers. So what this basically means is that for every mega hit like The Phantom of the Opera that recoups and makes a huge profit every week, there are two shows like The Little Mermaid and 9 to 5 that are forced to close on Broadway before making back their initial investment. I should note that while some shows fail to break even on Broadway, they often have great success with national tours and subsequent regional productions.

So why do producers continue to invest in Broadway shows? Because for every Taboo and Caroline or Change, there is a Wicked.

Ode to a Broadway Star: Bernadette Peters

As you all know, there are many, many performers that I respect and several women that I look up to as singers and actresses, but there are only three that I call my idols, and one of them is Miss Bernadette Peters. Yes she is a great singer and a phenomenal actress, but what makes her truly special is her charisma and her presence. She has more talent in her hair alone than most of today's Broadway performers could ever hope to have in their whole bodies. Elaine Stritch once said that Bernadette is like a modern day version of her close friend. the late Judy Garland, and I think that comparison is spot on. Both women are incredibly unique, both in their voices and their performance style. But most of all, Bernadette, like Judy before her, has the rare ability to break your heart and make you feel like you are on top of the world simply with the sound of her voice. I admire her for her range, her willingness to take risks with different characters, and for her commitment to preserving the art form that we all know and love as the American  musical theatre. While she has pursued a film and concert career, she will always be a Broadway Baby and one of our very own. In my opinion, she has no match in the musical theatre, and for me, she is the be all and end all.

Here are a few of my favorite examples of Bernadette as a performer, from the cute and sassy to the passionate, raw, and heartbreaking.

You Could Drive a Person Crazy, Sondheim's Company (Concert at Royal Festival Hall in London)

Not A Day Goes By, Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along (Concert at Royal Festival Hall in London)

Rose's Turn, Gypsy (2003 Tony Awards) 


Time Heals Everything, Herman's Mack and Mabel (Concert at Royal Festival Hall in London)

Barbie's Showtune of the Day #8: Tell Me On A Sunday/See Me On A Monday

So I've often made my opinions of Andrew Lloyd Webber quite clear--I am completely aware that his music is less intellectual than other composers (cough Stephen Sondheim) and that he recycles melodies from show to show, but he does have some killer songs, at least in my opinion. One that I recently discovered was "Tell Me On A Sunday, Please" which Bernadette Peters performed in the Webber musical Song & Dance. While I didn't enjoy the show as a whole, this song really grabbed me. The lyrics really tell a story and the melody has an inherent emotional life that really struck a chord with me. When I attempted to find a video of Peters performing this song, I found a really funny clip from Forbidden Broadway, an off-Broadway cabaret-style show that spoofs popular musicals. This particular number pokes fun at the demands of Peters' role in the show, from Webber's penchant for long musical phrases that rarely allow the singers to take a breath to his tendencies to write notes that jump all over the map and leave the singers exhausted. I of course was not around yet when the show was playing in 1985/1986 but apparently it was a common occurrence for Bernadette to miss shows due to vocal strain and this song, "See Me On A Monday" plays heavily on that. While I think this video is hilarious, do yourself a favor and also listen to Peters singing the original track "Tell Me On A Sunday".

Fun Fact of the Day: South Pacific becomes the longest running R&H revival

Lincoln Center Theatre's 2008 revival of South Pacific, directed by Bartlett Sher, played its final performance on August 22nd. The production was recently broadcast live as part of PBS' Great Performances series. Paulo Szot and Kelli O'Hara, the production's original Emile de Beque and Nellie Forbush returned for the final performance. This production, which ran for more than 2 years, will go down as the longest running Broadway revival of a Rogers & Hammerstein show.

Ode to a Broadway Star: Kristin Chenoweth

Okay so lets be realistic, when I added this weekly post, we all knew it would only be a matter of time before Kristin Chenoweth appeared. So now without further ado, my favorite performances by my favorite Broadway gal.

Kristin's Tony winning performance as Sally Brown in the revival of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown



In my opinion, the song "Thank Goodness" is Glinda's standout moment in Wicked as it reveals the most character development and is the most vocally and emotionally demanding song in the show

*thank you to Broadway.com for the above clip 

From personal experience, I know that "Glitter and Be Gay" from Candide is one of the most difficult songs for a singer in all of musical theatre; Kristin knocks this song out of the park and it really shows off her vocal virtuosity and impeccable comedic timing at their finest

It's Official: Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark sets Broadway Opening

I, like many other theatre fans thought the long awaited musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark under the direction of Julie Taymor would never materialize. My inner skeptic is still wary as this musical that boasts a price tag of $50 million could run out of money and fold at any minute. When the numbers were crunched, it was discovered that this show will have to run for 5 straight, sold-out years with no discounts whatsoever to recoup its initial investment. That is quite a tall order. But nevertheless, Tony winning director Taymor along with U2's Bono and The Edge, who penned the score, seem up to the challenge. Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, and Patrick Page lead the cast as Peter Parker/Spider Man, Mary Jane Watson, and Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin, respectively. Previews begin at the Foxwoods Theatre, formerly known as the Hilton Theatre, on November 14, 2010 with an official opening date of December 21, 2010.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141945-Reeve-Carney-Jennifer-Damiano-Patrick-Page-to-Star-in-Spider-Man-Performances-Begin-in-November

Barbie's Showtune(s) of the Day #7: A South Pacific Medley

In honor of my girl Kelli O'Hara's return to South Pacific, I've chosen a medley of songs from the gorgeous revival as performed at the 2008 TONY awards. Enjoy her glorious voice and the rest of the amazing cast of South Pacific.

Weekly Poll Results: Chita Rivera is your favorite Broadway dancer!

Chita Rivera scored the top spot in this week's poll with 40% of the vote, which is arguably the strongest majority we've had so far. Broadway vet and Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth scored 33% and Tony winner Donna McKechnie, known for her portrayal of Cassie in A Chorus Line. Charlotte D'Amboise received 6% and Gwen Verdon and Ann Reinking, notably the first actresses to play Roxie Hart in the original production and Broadway revival of Chicago respectively, received zero votes. It is interesting to note that Rivera and Neuwirth originated the role of Velma Kelley in the original and revival casts of Chicago, and were the two top vote-getters. Chita Rivera, oddly enough, has never won a Tony award, but nonetheless is revered as one of the greatest dancers of all time, even starring in her own Broadway show entitled Chita Rivera: A Dancer's Life. Other major theatre credits include originating the roles of Anita in West Side Story, Velma in Chicago, Rosie in Bye, Bye, Birdie and Charity in Sweet Charity. Beating out several Tony winners, I guess Chita Rivera is a prime example of the mantra that when you are a dancer, it is about the work, not the awards.

Fun Fact of the Day: Kelli O'Hara Returns to South Pacific

Tonight marks the return of three-time Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara to the Tony winning revival of South Pacific. She will continue in the role of Ensign Nellie Forbush until the production closes on August 22nd. O'Hara originated the role in 2008, but Nellie has been played by  Laura Osnes since O'Hara left the production in 2009 to give birth to a son. South Pacific is produced by Lincoln Center and plays at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Although I did not see O'Hara in the role, (I saw Osnes,) this really is a fantastic production, not to mention your chance to see one of my top five all time favorite Broadway sopranos live. The August 18th performance will be broadcast live on PBS stations.

Fun Fact of the Day: Stage-dooring

While stage-dooring may be a common practice for many avid theatregoers, to others, it is a foreign concept.

stage-dooring: visiting the stage door of a theatre after the show in hopes of meeting the performers

My first stage door experience in New York was at RENT and I was absolutely thrilled to meet the actors, take photos with them, and have my playbill signed. I almost always visit the stage-door these days and I have accumulated quite a collection of signed playbills and posters. Stage-dooring is most common at shows that are popular with the teenage crowd like Wicked or Spring Awakening and shows that feature celebrities on stage, such as the current revival of Promises, Promises. Most actors are happy to sign playbills and other items from the show, although occasionally performers will leave without signing or even duck out an alternate exit. Some are even happy to take photos with fans. While I have waited in some long lines and fought a lot of crowds, I cherish my stage-door memories and have even gotten the chance to have genuine conversations with some of my Broadway idols from Stephanie J Block and Alice Ripley to the original Broadway revival cast of Hair.

**BackStage Barbie's stage-dooring tip: if you want to get a prime stage-door spot for celebrities like Kristin Chenoweth & Sean Hayes at Promises, Promises or Bebe Neuwirth & Nathan Lane at The Adams Family, make your way out of the theatre during the curtain call to avoid the post-show rush**

Barbie's Showtune of the Day #6: Up the Ladder to the Roof

I haven't posted in a few days, so what have I been up to? I started another part time job to support my theatre-going habits...that was necessary. So without further ado, here is my showtune of the day, which is actually more like a showtune of the weekend. This song is probably the most played recently on my iTunes. It is just so fun and uplifting, not to mention Sherie Rene Scott is a revelation and her Mennonettes are also pretty amazing.

This is "Up the Ladder to the Roof" as performed by the cast of Everyday Rapture during the opening number of the 2010 TONY awards.

So You Think You Can Dance: August 5th Liveblog

• Opening number: Incredible!!!!
• Amazing job Dee Caspary
• It was so entertaining and I always had something to look at but it was not 'busy'
• Do we need to boost Tyce's ego anymore by flaunting his Emmy win?
• Who is more amazing than Desmond Richardson? Guesses?
• We want to watch our favorite dancers...why must we endure these heinous pop stars?
• Wow, Lauren really threw everything she had into her solo, the floor work was phenomenal!
• So is this "fitness testing" an attempt to have viewers look the other way in regards to flow of injuries?
• Wow Kent! Burn the floor much? You definitely left it all out on the stage
• Yay Lauren! you were fabtastic...(and Adam prayed for you so you were approved by the big man upstairs)
• Lauren is precious and she deserved it
• I think Cat tried to squeeze Lauren to death
• I can't decide if I actually care to see the tour this year
• I don't want to see any more routines to "Lost" ever again
• Robert is sooo leggy and so quirky and I love both things
• There is obviously a method to the way they are revealing the top 3....
• We all knew Lauren and Kent were going to be in the top 3 and Robert/Adechike will be the only actually fight
• You work that costume Desmond!
• I'm going to say it again, I miss Billy Bell...at least he was unique
• Don't get me wrong, I love the other dancers but they dance the same as the dancers from every other season
• So Flo Rida is on now...time for me to step away from the tv
• Ok Flo Rida...so the club can't handle you right now, and neither can I...ba dum bum
• Yes America you made the right decision!
• Kent Lauren Robert.....it could go so many different ways
• next week will be the experience of a lifetime for these dancers...best of luck to all 3 of them
• My Prediction: KENT!
• And I'm out.....see you next wednesday for the final competition show

Ode to a Broadway Star: Patti LuPone

I'm adding a new weekly feature to my blog: Ode to a Broadway Star. I'm starting off with the incomparable Patti LuPone. These are some of my favorite Patti moments and songs. She is out of this world fabulous and we should all bow down.

Buenos Aires, Evita (TONY awards)  Notice her effortless transitions from low notes to high belt


Don't Cry For Me Argentina, Evita Notice the great feathered dress and the high bun


God That's Good, Sweeney Todd Notice that Patti can dance while playing the Tuba


Rose's Turn, Gypsy There is a very special surprise about 16 seconds in...prepare to be LUPONED

Barbie's Showtune of the Day #5: Music and the Mirror

The quality of this video isn't great, but the work is timeless. Nobody ever has or ever will perform Music and the Mirror the way Donna McKechnie did it in the original company of A Chorus Line.

Barbie's Showtune(s) of the Day #4: A Chicago Medley

In keeping with the dance theme this week, I chose a medley of my two favorite pieces from Chicago: All That Jazz and The Hot Honey Rag. This video is a performance at the 1997 TONY awards by Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking.


 

So You Think You Can Dance: August 4th Liveblog

• This is the top 4 episode and as per the usual, the drama is building.
• So I do cannot for th life of me understand how Adechike is still on the show
• Props to Lauren for being the last girl standing by a long shot
• Whoa Cat Deeley...rocking the short do and a rad 80s sparkle dress
• I cannot stand Tyce after seeing his egotism in Every Little Step
• I always find it funny how the rehearsal videos make it seem as if all the dancers do in rehearsal is goof off when clearly they are working their butts off
• You known I used to love Tyce's work but lately, I feel like his Broadway routines fail to tell a story; they are basically jazz numbers to Broadway music
• Tyce you are so pretentious, but I love that you singled out Kent
• The Argentine Tango is my favorite ballroom style, but why do I feel like it always has the same story regardless of the specific choreography?
• Lauren is such a precious little pipsqueak
• I'm actually enjoying the simplicity of this Argentine Tango: very less-is-more
• I enjoyed the performance more than the choreography...very theatrical
• Yeah Adam Shankman for mentioning the overturning of Proposition 8 in California!
• Lauren looked so mature in that piece, despite her tender age
• I like that they are doing these little video bios of the dancers and their families...it helps to remind you that they are just regular people!
• Hello costumes!
• I like this concept a lot
• The routine was very fun and energetic, but I don't think the movement served the "concept"
• "Lauren I love you" -Tyce Diorio
• Obviously you love Lauren Gottlieb, she was your assistant 
• Tyce, why must you wax philosophical, you just sound like an idiot
• I agree with Mia that Adechike is not completely committing to the work or "tearing it up," he needs to let go, both of his body and of this competition
• Yes Adam Shankman, you just TOLD Tyce
• I miss Billy Bell
• I LOVE Jonathan Roberts form DWTS...he is so dreamy!
• Are Robert and Anya dancing on a cloud? Well thats what it looks like!
• He seems just slightly stiff in this piece, I would love to see him lighten up just a hair
• Did I just see Allison Holker in the audience? Why on earth wouldn't she be dancing?
• Tyce.....SHUT UP
• Tyce...silence has always been your strongest suit
• I thought this was a gorgeous routine, don't get me wrong, but I do not think it was as phenomenal as the judges said
• Kent was born to disco....enough said
• Kent could stand in place for an hour and I would still love it
• Haven't we already done a piece where Lauren tries to lure Ade?
• I enjoyed this routine way more than Sean's afrojazz piece...by a longshot
• There were a few awkward moments but it was a fiery routine for sure
• I hoped Adechike would kill the Desmond/Dwight piece but I'm afraid he fell short
• This is probably the end of the road for Adechike and I think the judges are trying to soften that blow by praising his journey
• Wow, this spotlight on Adechike has soooo many feelings!
• NappyTabs truly outdid themselves this week!
• That piece was incredibly!
• It looks to me like Robert is making a surge this week! What a great time to peak!
• If Adechike doesn't go home tonight, there is seriously a problem
• America made a step toward Equality today, now lets make a move towards choosing the right dancer to win SYTYCD
• Does anybody else think that the Neil and Kent "friendship" in the piece is a code for "gay romance"? Because that is totally legal in California now
• I bet Mia is dying right now...she loves great boy dancing
• I normally am not a Travis Wall fan but all I have to say now is WOW
• Nigel are you really saying that Travis is one of the best choreographers working for the show? This was a lovely piece but Travis is still pretty amateur compared to the other choreographers
• Tyce...PLEASE SHUT UP
• Tyce...can you be like Mia and just be speechless
• Adam said it first, and I'm going to say it again, I think Kent just won the show

Fun Fact of the Day: Shortcuts Through the Theatre District

Have you ever tried to walk through Times Square on your way to a Broadway show, but hoards of people between Broadway and Eighth Avenue got in you way? Well, here is the path that the actors take to get to their theatres by half-hour call and avoid the crowds. Locals and theatrefolk know this as the "Broadway Shuffle".

41st-42nd Streets: Cut through the lobby of the Times Square Hilton on the McDonalds
44th-45th Streets: The famous Shubert Alley behind the Shubert and Booth theatres serves as the shortcut between these two streets, which also happen to contain the greatest concentration of Broadway theatres
45th-46th Streets: Walk beneath the Marriot Marquis' underpass where you will not only find an entrance to the hotel, but also a Starbucks and various theatrical gift shops
46th-47th Streets: Continue on to 47th street via the Edison Hotel lobby
48th-49th Streets: The Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza provides yet another walkway to cut through the block and avoid Broadway and Eighth
53rd-54th: If you are seeing shows at the theatres furthest uptown, the Broadway Theatre or Studio 54, you can cut through the parking garage next to the Studio 54 stage door

And that, theatre fans, is how the Broadway stars get to work unnoticed!

Barbie's Showtune of the Day #3: God I Hope I Get It

I have always loved this song because it perfectly describes how performers feel at an audition. We all hope we get the job, even though we know the chances are slim that we'll even be called back. I think my favorite part is Paul's solo at the end of the song because it is just so incredibly honest and true to what goes through performers heads.

"Who am  I anyway, am I my resume, that is a picture of a person I don't know. What does he want from me, what should I try to be? So many faces all around and here we go, I need this job, oh God I need this show."

This video is a performance of the original Broadway cast of Michael Bennett's A Chorus Line. 

 

Fun Fact of the Day: A Chorus Line and Chicago

In keeping with the dance theme today, especially since I was moving on Saturday and missed the National Dance Day festivities, I decided to post about some of the similarities between A Chorus Line and Chicago, arguably two of the most significant Broadway shows in terms of dance. There are definitely some interesting comparisons between the two, specifically in regards to TONY wins and lengths of their runs. For example, the original production of A Chorus Line and the revival of Chicago won numerous TONYs and enjoyed wildly successful runs, among the top six in Broadway history, while the revival of A Chorus Line and the original production of Chicago failed to win a single TONY award  and could not seem to find an audience for long runs. 1975, when both of these shows premiered, was clearly an incredible year for dance on Broadway, showcasing the finest works of choreographers and directors Michael Bennett and Bob Fosse. It is also important to not the Broadway dancers Charlotte D'Amboise, Bebe Neuwirth, and Ann Reinking, among others, have appeared in both A Chorus Line and Chicago.

A CHORUS LINE

Original Broadway Production: 

• opened July 25, 1975
• nominated for 12 TONY awards, winning 9 including Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress (Donna McKechnie)
• won 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
• ran for 6137 performances

2006 Broadway Revival:

• opened October 5th, 2006
• nominated for 2 TONY awards for Best Revival and Best Featured Actress (Charlote D'Amboise), but lost both
• ran for 759 performances

CHICAGO

 Original Broadway Production:

• opened June 3, 1975
• nominated for 11 TONY awards, won zero, lost a majority to A Chorus Line which opened the same year
• ran for 936 performances

1996 Broadway Revival: 

• opened November 14, 1996
• nominated for eight TONY awards, won six including Best Revival, Best Direction, Best Choreography, and Best Actress (Bebe Neuwirth)
• still currently running after over 5500 performances

Weekly Poll Results

Based on your votes last week, the winner for best male role in the musical theatre is a tie. Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd and Bobby in Company each received 38% of the vote; both are roles in Stephen Sondheim shows. Coincidence? I think not. The leading men in the big British imports fell next in line with Jean Valjean in Les Miserables receiving 27% and the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera receiving 22%. The Music Man's Harold Hill came next at 16% followed by Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz with 11%, The King from The King and I with 5% and Billy from Billy Elliot, Emile de Becque from South Pacific and Claude from Hair tied for last with zero votes.

This week's poll will go up later this afternoon. All of you dancers out there will like this one...hint, hint.

Barbie's Showtune of the Day #2: Rose's Turn

Bernadette Peters singing Rose's Turn at the 2003 TONY awards, enough said. The fact the Bernadette did not win the TONY for her portrayal of Mama Rose in Gypsy is, in my opinion, the biggest travesty in TONY history. Mama Rose is without a doubt the best role written for an actress in the musical theatre. Rose's Turn is a phenomenal song that explores such a range of emotion and this performance is simply electrifying.

Fun Fact of the Day: Long Running Broadway Musicals

While some great Broadway shows have had to close early due to finances, other shows have enjoyed very extensive Broadway runs. The following are the top ten longest running Broadway Shows.

*1. The Phantom of the Opera-opened January1988; currently running
*2. Cats-opened October1982; closed September 2000
**3. Les Miserables-opened March 1987; closed May 2003
***4. A Chorus Line-opened July 1975; closed April 1990
5. Oh! Calcutta! (revival)-opened September 1976; closed October 1989
6. Chicago (revival)-opened November 1996; currently running
7. Beauty and the Beast-opened April 1994; closed July 2007
8. The Lion King-opened November 1997; currently running
9. Rent-opened April 1996; closed September 2008
**10. Miss Saigon-opened April 1991; closed January 2001

Notable Facts:
*The two longest running musicals in Broadway history were both composed by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber
**The 3rd and 10th longest running musicals were both written by Claude -Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil
***Because the top 3 longest running musicals are "British Imports," having premiered on the West End before opening on Broadway, many theatre purists consider A Chorus Line to be the longest running "Broadway musical"