Imelda Staunton has returned to the musical stage as Mrs Lovett in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. She talked to The Telegraph: “I read somewhere that, if you want to be different, you have to be prepared to be lonely. That’s how I feel. At school, I wasn’t particularly different, but I went off on a completely different path to other children. “Though I had a lovely … [Read more...] about London’s new Mrs Lovett, Imelda Staunton, on loneliness
Sondheim
Four artists who influenced Patti LuPone
The Los Angeles Times asked Patti Lupone to name four people who have influenced her artistically: Edith Piaf I'm an Italian and my emotions are just under my skin.... There's just a purity and rawness in her singing that goes straight to my heart and my gut and it always has. There's such expression in her voice. Bette Davis I grew up on Long Island ... and they used to … [Read more...] about Four artists who influenced Patti LuPone
Tom Aldredge, character actor, dies at 83
Tom Aldredge, an Emmy-winning actor who for five decades was ubiquitous on stage and screen, seen in everything from Sondheim to “The Sopranos,” died on Friday in Tampa, Fla. He was 83. “I knew at the beginning I was nobody’s leading man,” Aldredge told The New York Times in 1985, when he was 57 and had already been playing senior citizens for some time. In 1979, on … [Read more...] about Tom Aldredge, character actor, dies at 83
Critics round-up: Shrek The Musical opens in London
Shrek The Musical has opened in London's West End and seems to have generally won over the nation's critics. It's New York run wasn't a runaway success and producers must have been a little nervous on the press night. Lots of the New York production has been recycled, even Shrek's green rubber suit... yuk! Nigel Lindsay plays the titular green ogre, while Britain's Got … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Shrek The Musical opens in London
‘Latest’ Stephen Sondheim musical to play at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory in June
Stephen Sondheim’s ‘new’ musical, ‘Road Show’ is the third collaboration between Sondheim and book writer John Weidman (Pacific Overtures and Assassins). But 'Road Show' is yet another version of ‘Wise Guys’ (directed by Sam Mendes in 1999) and ‘Bounce’ (2003). It recounts the story of brothers Addison and Wilson Mizner and their adventures across America from the Alaskan Gold … [Read more...] about ‘Latest’ Stephen Sondheim musical to play at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory in June
Arthur Laurents, playwright and director, dies at 93
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 well-known romances, The Way We Were, died yesterday in his home in Manhattan. He was 93. Laurents once described writers as “the chosen people” and said he was happiest when sitting … [Read more...] about Arthur Laurents, playwright and director, dies at 93
Elaine Paige on why she’s still here… and there, in Washington DC, for Follies
On May 7 for five weeks there will be a production of Stephen Sondheim's Follies where Elaine Paige will sing "I'm Still Here" for the first time. A strong cast includes Bernadette Peters. Paige talked to Playbill about the role: She is a survivor and somebody that is not that dissimilar to me probably. In the fact that she has been there, done it all, been around the block … [Read more...] about Elaine Paige on why she’s still here… and there, in Washington DC, for Follies
Angela Lansbury’s tribute to Stephen Sondheim at the 2011 Olivier Awards
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 Lansbury. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fa_kn5iVYU Lansbury's first ever Broadway musical was in 1964 with Stephen Sondheim's short-lived Anyone Can Whistle. In May 1973, the … [Read more...] about Angela Lansbury’s tribute to Stephen Sondheim at the 2011 Olivier Awards
New York Times readers give the ‘Spider-Man’ producers some tips
Last week the NY Times asked readers if they had any advice for the new creative team on "Spider-man: Turn off the dark"... they did: “Cut the geek chorus. Cut the female spider. Beef up the roles of the bad guys (currently wasted in a fashion show). Done.” — NYC Actor, New York “Cut Arachne and everything to do with Arachne. Cut the Geek Chorus; instead of making things … [Read more...] about New York Times readers give the ‘Spider-Man’ producers some tips
Streisand’s Gypsy dream will not come true says Arthur Laurents: It would have been a good exit for her career
The eagerly anticipated project to re-film the musical "Gypsy" with Barbra Streisand as Mama Rose has been aborted. The playwright and director Arthur Laurents, one of the rights holders to the work, talked very openly to the Hartford Courant: at 93 you can say want you want. A few years ago, she called me. It was a Sunday and I have an enormous breakfast on Sunday. I wait the … [Read more...] about Streisand’s Gypsy dream will not come true says Arthur Laurents: It would have been a good exit for her career