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Broadway theatre

Pointe shoes and tutus at the Ziegfeld Follies

7 July 2012 by Gramilano 2 Comments

Florenz Ziegfeld created his Follies in 1907, and the successful format continued on Broadway until 1931. The Ziegfeld Follies were extraordinarily elaborate revues inspired by the Folies Bergères in … [Read more...] about Pointe shoes and tutus at the Ziegfeld Follies

Spider-Man the Musical’s firm grip sets Broadway record

5 January 2012 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, written by U2's Bono and The Edge, has taken the highest single-week takings of any show in Broadway history. The musical, which was plagued with problems from its … [Read more...] about Spider-Man the Musical’s firm grip sets Broadway record

Interview with Samuel Ramey as he makes his début in his home town

6 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Samuel Ramey, a meat-cutter’s son, came from the high plains of northwest Kansas. Now he's performing at Kansas City Opera, his début with the company which turned him down early in his … [Read more...] about Interview with Samuel Ramey as he makes his début in his home town

Broadway’s Billy Elliot to close

4 October 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The Broadway musical “Billy Elliot”, winner of 10 Tony Awards in 2009 and a hot ticket for much of its run, will close on January 8, 2012, after 3 years and 3 months of performances. The decision … [Read more...] about Broadway’s Billy Elliot to close

Michael Jackson wanted to play Phantom in a film version

2 July 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Andrew Lloyd Webber told CNN's Piers Morgan that Michael Jackson wanted to play the title role in the film version of "The Phantom of the Opera." According to Webber, the King of Pop came to see the … [Read more...] about Michael Jackson wanted to play Phantom in a film version

Avenue Q’s squeaky clean school edition replaces “Internet is For Porn” with “Social Life Is Online”, but “If You Were Gay” remains intact

26 May 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Music Theatre International have had a problem with Avenue Q's life after Broadway. Schools and amateur productions produce revenue for years, and with its cuddly puppets Avenue Q could be the perfect … [Read more...] about Avenue Q’s squeaky clean school edition replaces “Internet is For Porn” with “Social Life Is Online”, but “If You Were Gay” remains intact

The Bizarre World of Showbiz: Joan and Jackie Collins backstage at Priscilla

10 May 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Playbill, apart from having all the latest theatre news, also send photographers backstage to capture those fun moments when the cast meet some of the celebs who've come to see them. There is … [Read more...] about The Bizarre World of Showbiz: Joan and Jackie Collins backstage at Priscilla

Mormon musical’s humour more English than American

10 May 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Broadway’s hottest musical, which was garlanded last week with a pack-leading 14 Tony nominations, is to visit the West End. The Book of Mormon, written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of … [Read more...] about Mormon musical’s humour more English than American

Arthur Laurents, playwright and director, dies at 93

6 May 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Arthur Laurents, the playwright, screenwriter and director who wrote and ultimately transformed two of Broadway’s landmark shows, Gypsy and West Side Story, and created one of Hollywood’s most … [Read more...] about Arthur Laurents, playwright and director, dies at 93

Julie Andrews’ three breakthrough moments

2 May 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

In the beginning, there are three main stepping stones that I remember very clearly. One was when I was 12 and made what I would call my official debut. I sang one song in a musical revue in London. … [Read more...] about Julie Andrews’ three breakthrough moments

Shrek’s been tweaked and pruned since Broadway – can he woo the West End?

2 May 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

As Shrek the Musical gets ready for its West End opening, The Times talks to Bill Damaschke, Jeffrey Katzenberg's right-hand man, about the idea, the realisation, and the flop on Broadway. The idea … [Read more...] about Shrek’s been tweaked and pruned since Broadway – can he woo the West End?

Kathleen Turner play ‘High’ reaches a low on Broadway

21 April 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Producers said yesterday that the show, which opened Tuesday night, will close on Sunday, having failed to become a box office addiction. When it closes, "High" will have played just 28 previews and … [Read more...] about Kathleen Turner play ‘High’ reaches a low on Broadway

Theatres are getting social – but what sells tickets?

20 April 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

More than 55,000 Facebook users “like” the new Broadway musical “Sister Act,” which, like most major theatrical productions today, has its own page, as well a Twitter account (1,300 followers), … [Read more...] about Theatres are getting social – but what sells tickets?

Why is Julie Taymor being attacked so viciously and relentlessly?

6 April 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Harry Lennix, an actor who has frequently worked with Taymor for almost 20 years, tries to answer the question in The Huffington Post: In my opinion, the producers of Spider-Man have found a … [Read more...] about Why is Julie Taymor being attacked so viciously and relentlessly?

Harvey Fierstein dons Zaza’s garb in ‘La Cage aux Folles’ for, amazingly, the first time

3 April 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The leading lady’s costumes have had to be sized up, but there was never any question of their not fitting. After all, it’s Harvey Fierstein who has stepped into the role (and corset, plumes and … [Read more...] about Harvey Fierstein dons Zaza’s garb in ‘La Cage aux Folles’ for, amazingly, the first time

“Hugh Jackman In Performance” in San Francisco

3 April 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman, most recently on Broadway in the two-character Keith Huff play A Steady Rain, will play a two-week limited concert engagement in San Francisco in May. In the … [Read more...] about “Hugh Jackman In Performance” in San Francisco

Critics Roundup: South Park creators’ musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ triumphs on Broadway

27 March 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

It looks as though everyone got the joke after all. Even in Utah, it seems, with no damning articles or negative reviews. Time reports: “I was prepared for scatological humor, generous doses of the … [Read more...] about Critics Roundup: South Park creators’ musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ triumphs on Broadway

Angela Lansbury’s tribute to Stephen Sondheim at the 2011 Olivier Awards

20 March 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

At the 2011 Olivier Award ceremony this year Stephen Sondheim was presented with a lifetime achievement award. Part of the tribute to the 80 year-old composer was from his 85 year-old star Angela … [Read more...] about Angela Lansbury’s tribute to Stephen Sondheim at the 2011 Olivier Awards

Hugh Martin, composer of the Meet Me in St Louis score, dies aged 96

12 March 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Hugh Martin, the songwriter who enlivened the Judy Garland movie musical "Meet Me in St. Louis" with an indelibly melodic trio of evergreen songs — "The Trolley Song," "The Boy Next Door" and "Have … [Read more...] about Hugh Martin, composer of the Meet Me in St Louis score, dies aged 96

Broadway’s ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ gets cleaned up

11 March 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Lots of the risqué lines, bawdy jokes and swearing has been edited out of the Broadway script. These changes are among many that “Priscilla” has undergone in its journey to Broadway, from the 1994 … [Read more...] about Broadway’s ‘Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ gets cleaned up

On Saturday Night Live, a law firm with a ‘Spider-Man’ speciality

13 February 2011 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

Just when things couldn’t get any tougher for “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” on a weekend when that musical was slapped with two safety violations by the New York State Department of Labor, … [Read more...] about On Saturday Night Live, a law firm with a ‘Spider-Man’ speciality

Spider-man skis in with a no-injury performance in post-blizzard Broadway

27 December 2010 by Gramilano Leave a Comment

The main risk for the actors of 'Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark' is now no longer inside the theatre building but on the sidewalk outside. After the recent blizzards Broadway actors are taking to their … [Read more...] about Spider-man skis in with a no-injury performance in post-blizzard Broadway

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NEWS

[Review] Eun-Me Ahn’s ‘Dragons – “Like a large plate of tasteless food”

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GRAMILANO

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan, aka ‘Gramilano’. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times. He wrote the ‘Danza in Italia’ column for Dancing Times magazine.

Since 2022, Gramilano is pleased to welcome guest authors: Alisa Alekseeva, Paul Arrowsmith, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel, Jonathan Gray, Marina Harss, Matthew Paluch, Jann Parry, Graham Watts, and Deborah Weiss.

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