Maggie Gyllenhaal is a grounding presence in movies, whether she’s playing a small-town reporter (an Oscar-nominated turn in Crazy Heart), a struggling addict and ex-con (SherryBaby) or a personal assistant who makes S&M at the office seem oddly normal (Secretary). Luckily for New York theatergoers, Gyllenhaal and her real-life husband, Peter Sarsgaard, have developed a serious taste for Chekhov. The couple first played lovers in Classic Stage Company’s 2009 production of Uncle Vanya, and now they’re back at CSC’s small off-Broadway theater having an affair as Masha and Vershinin in Three Sisters. A vibrant presence onstage, the smoky-voiced Gyllenhaal recently chatted with Broadway.com about why actors adore Chekhov and what’s fun about pretending to cheat with your spouse.
So, you’re having an affair with your husband [Peter Sarsgaard] onstage. That must add an extra layer to your performance as Masha in Three Sisters!
I know, I know! [Laughs.] A friend of mine was joking that it’s like those kooky couples who have been together for 10 years but go out to a bar and pretend they’ve never met, just to keep things spicy. This is the second time we’ve ...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Maggie Gyllenhaal on Having an Affair With Her Real-Life Husband in Three Sisters
Turnovers on Wheels
by Kate Schmidt
For about a year and a half three native Argentines have been operating the catering and delivery service 5411 Empanadas (5411empanadas.com), named for the country's international area code. Now the team's poised to start a food truck.…
[ Read more ]
This Week in Reader Music
I know you're probably diligently following the news coming out of Egypt, not ignoring the history being made at this very minute in favor of, say, snark about Charlie Sheen. But if you decide to take a break from the incredible, heavy shit going down, you could do a lot worse than reading Michaelangelo Matos's informative piece about the evolution of attitudes toward disco in this week's Reader.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/28/this-week-in-reader-music
Mr. Nice Guy
by Ben Joravsky
When I interviewed city clerk Miguel del Valle about his mayoral campaign, he met me at the door of his near-west-side campaign office, introduced me to staffers and other visitors, and then ushered me into his room for a 90-minute on-the-record talk. But when I asked to interview Rahm Emanuel—oh, brother, what an ordeal.…
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Al Pacino-Led The Merchant of Venice Re-Opens on Broadway with New Cast Members
Daniel Sullivan’s production of The Merchant of Venice, starring Al Pacino as Shylock and Lily Rabe as Portia, will re-open February 1 at Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre after a three-week break. The show, which went on hiatus beginning January 9 to allow Pacino to honor pre-existing obligations, returns with new actors in the roles of Gratiano and Lorenzo. David Aaron Baker will take on the role of Gratiano, previously played by Jesse L. Martin, and Thomas Michael Hammond will take over the part of young lover Lorenzo from Seth Numrich.
Numrich is leaving Merchant to star in the upcoming Lincoln Center Theatre production of War Horse, while the Public Theater cited upcoming production commitments as preventing Martin from continuing with the show.
In addition to Baker and Hammond, the Broadway cast of Merchant features David Harbour, Byron Jennings, Gerry Bamman, Heather Lind, Matthew Rauch, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Christopher Fitzgerald, Peter Francis James, Isaiah Johnson and Richard Topol.
The Merchant of Venice began life in June 2010 at Central Park's Delacorte Theatre as part of the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park series before transferring to Broadway’s Broadhurst Theater, where it opened on November 7. The show ...
This Week's Food and Drink Events
A Super Bowl cooking class, a wine extravaganza, a tiki cocktail party, and more.
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/27/this-weeks-food-and-drink-events
Gold Records and White Labels
by Michaelangelo Matos
A Complete Introduction to Disco: 1970-1980 Various artists (Universal) Ask most people when disco went kaput and you'll likely get a consensus answer, though the signposts will vary: when Reagan was elected, when the bottom fell out of the music business, when Xanadu and Can't Stop the Music bombed, when Studio 54 owners Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager were sent up for tax evasion after allegedly skimming $2.5 million from the most successful disco in nightclub history.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/gold-records-and-white-labels/Content?oid=3144060
Sample Some Sample Sales
Once upon a time, sample sales were strictly invitation-only in-store events, open only to fashion editors and other in-the-know types. Today I can't open my in-box without seeing a half-dozen emails from companies such as Gilt, Ideeli, and HauteLook offering online sample sales, each of which I have to log into separately, and scroll through all of the offerings.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/27/sample-some-sample-sales
Turnovers on Wheels
by Kate Schmidt
For about a year and a half three native Argentines have been operating the catering and delivery service 5411 Empanadas (5411empanadas.com), named for the country's international area code. Now the team's poised to start a food truck.…
[ Read more ]
Turnovers on Wheels
by Kate Schmidt
For about a year and a half three native Argentines have been operating the catering and delivery service 5411 Empanadas (5411empanadas.com), named for the country's international area code. Now the team's poised to start a food truck.…
[ Read more ]
Mauricio Perez to Join Eve Plumb in Miss Abigail?s Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage
Mauricio Perez will take over the role of the love guru’s sexy sidekick Paco in off-Broadway’s Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage beginning February 2. Manuel Herrera, who has played Paco since Miss Abigail opened off-Broadway in October 2010, will play his final show on January 30.
Perez, who most recently appeared off-Broadway in the long-running musical Altar Boyz, originated the role of Paco in Miss Abigail’s pre-New York engagement in Tampa, Florida last spring.
Based on an advice book by Abigail Grotke, the comedy follows Miss Abigail, a sought-after relationship expert—played by TV’s Jan Brady, Eve Plumb—who helps celebrities with their chaotic love lives. Along with her sidekick, Paco, Miss Abigail travels across the world dispensing advice on dating. Miss Abigail is currently running at the Downstairs Cabaret Theater at Sofia’s. The piece was written by Sarah Saltzberg and Ken Davenport (who wrote about their collaboration here) and directed by Davenport. The show recently celebrated 100 off-Broadway performances.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Savage Love: January 27, 2011
by Dan Savage
Q I'm from the other side of the country, but I'm sitting in my lover's San Francisco apartment wondering what I'm doing. I flew out here to spend five glorious days with her.…
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Turnovers on Wheels
by Kate Schmidt
For about a year and a half three native Argentines have been operating the catering and delivery service 5411 Empanadas (5411empanadas.com), named for the country's international area code. Now the team's poised to start a food truck.…
[ Read more ]
New Too
by Kate Schmidt
The Bento Box 2246 W. Armitage | 773-278-3932…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/new-too/Content?oid=3150301
Scribe-Turned-Star Harvey Fierstein, Musical Newbie Jeffrey Tambor & Rent Icon Wilson Jermaine Heredia Talk La Cage
It’s big news around Broadway that Harvey Fierstein is headed into the hit revival of La Cage aux Folles, the show that earned him a Best Book Tony Award way back in 1984. On January 27, Harvey and his new Georges, Emmy nominee Jeffrey Tambor, took time away from rehearsal to preview their stage partnership at a meet-and-greet at Hurley’s, the saloon located right next door to the Longacre Theatre. Also on hand were Tony winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia, who’ll play sassy maid Jacob, and the production’s Tony-winning director, Terry Johnson. Fierstein, Tambor & Heredia are set to join the musical on February 15. Click on to hear more about how this casting coup came together.
This Week in Reader Music
I know you're probably diligently following the news coming out of Egypt, not ignoring the history being made at this very minute in favor of, say, snark about Charlie Sheen. But if you decide to take a break from the incredible, heavy shit going down, you could do a lot worse than reading Michaelangelo Matos's informative piece about the evolution of attitudes toward disco in this week's Reader.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/28/this-week-in-reader-music
An Elaborate Mess
by Tony Adler
Although she's got a significant acting career, Regina Taylor is probably best known by now as a playwright, and particularly as the author of Crowns, a musical based on Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry's book about African-American women and their sometimes fantastical church hats. Taylor's new evening-length trilogy—the Trinity River Plays, now receiving their midwest premiere at the Goodman Theatre—reminds me of Crowns.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/an-elaborate-mess/Content?oid=3143593
This Week in Food & Drink: Haitian on Howard, Grahamwich, Key Ingredient guaje seeds, an empanada express, and more
In Omnivorous Mike Sula profiles Violette Adrien of Chez Violette, a new restaurant in West Rogers Park that's one of few in the city to offer Haitian food. Adrien, who trained at Kendall College, made her name with her pâtés, flaky turnovers much beloved by her countrymen—"If you don't have it at parties it is not Haitian," she says.…
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This Week in Reader Music
I know you're probably diligently following the news coming out of Egypt, not ignoring the history being made at this very minute in favor of, say, snark about Charlie Sheen. But if you decide to take a break from the incredible, heavy shit going down, you could do a lot worse than reading Michaelangelo Matos's informative piece about the evolution of attitudes toward disco in this week's Reader.…
[ Read more ]
[ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]
Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/28/this-week-in-reader-music
Show People: Jersey Boys' Jarrod Spector on His YouTube Childhood and Being the Longest-Running Frankie
Growing up in Philadelphia, Jarrod Spector became a local celebrity with a series of singing appearances on local TV shows starting at the age of three that are thankfully all preserved on YouTube. Star Search, Les Miserables and brief teenage disillusionment followed, before Spector landed his current high-profile, long-running turn as Frankie Valli in the smash hit Jersey Boys. The charming star visited Show People this week to chat with host Paul Wontorek about his early rise, Broadway success and current nightclub act, which is playing at Feinstein's at the Regency on January 31 and February 7 (For tickets and more info, please click here.)
New Too
by Kate Schmidt
The Bento Box 2246 W. Armitage | 773-278-3932…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/new-too/Content?oid=3150301
Memphis in the Morning! Chad Kimball and Montego Glover Rock Out on Good Morning America
New York City may have been hit by a recent brutal snow storm, but the cast of the Tony-winning musical Memphis managed to bring some heat to the snow-covered streets as they headed to Good Morning America on January 28. Tony nominees Chad Kimball and Montego Glover lead the rocking musical's cast in the show's rousing anthem, "Steal Your Rock 'n' Roll." The hit show was even recently filmed to be broadcast in movie theaters across the country this spring. Until then, take a look below as the cast delivers some seriously impressive singing!
Mauricio Perez to Join Eve Plumb in Miss Abigail?s Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage
Mauricio Perez will take over the role of the love guru’s sexy sidekick Paco in off-Broadway’s Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating and Marriage beginning February 2. Manuel Herrera, who has played Paco since Miss Abigail opened off-Broadway in October 2010, will play his final show on January 30.
Perez, who most recently appeared off-Broadway in the long-running musical Altar Boyz, originated the role of Paco in Miss Abigail’s pre-New York engagement in Tampa, Florida last spring.
Based on an advice book by Abigail Grotke, the comedy follows Miss Abigail, a sought-after relationship expert—played by TV’s Jan Brady, Eve Plumb—who helps celebrities with their chaotic love lives. Along with her sidekick, Paco, Miss Abigail travels across the world dispensing advice on dating. Miss Abigail is currently running at the Downstairs Cabaret Theater at Sofia’s. The piece was written by Sarah Saltzberg and Ken Davenport (who wrote about their collaboration here) and directed by Davenport. The show recently celebrated 100 off-Broadway performances.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Tickets Now on Sale for John Leguizamo's New Solo Show Ghetto Klown
John Leguizamo is back on Broadway and ready to make you laugh. Tickets for Leguizamo's latest solo show, Ghetto Klown, are now on sale. Ghetto Klown, which chronicles the performer's diverse Hollywood career, begins performances February 21 and opens on March 22 opening at the Lyceum Theatre. Leguizamo's close pal, Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens, will direct.
Leguizamo has previously appeared on Broadway with his one-man shows Freak and Sexaholix. His other stage credits include Mambo Mouth and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He is best known for his many film appearances, including Moulin Rouge, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet, the Ice Age franchise, The Pest, Righteous Kill and Too Wong Foo! Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar.
The perfoerm is sure not to hold anything back when it comes to his hilarious and insightful stories. Don't miss out. Buy your tickets today!
Chicago man pleads guilty in '09 pedestrian death
Norbert Leo Butz, Brian d'Arcy James & More to Headline MCC's Miscast 2011 Gala
Norbert Leo Butz, Brian d'Arcy James, Ana Gasteyer, Laura Osnes, Nicole Parker and Steven Pasquale are among the stars slated to perform at Miscast 2011, MCC’s annual gala featuring actors performing songs from roles in which they would never be cast. David Duchovny, Téa Leoni, Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes are the evening’s honorary chairs and Bravo TV personality Andy Cohen will host the event, which takes the stage at the Hammerstein Ballroom on March 14.
To celebrate MCC’s 25th anniversary, the evening’s honorees will include many of the company’s illustrious alumni, including T.R. Knight, Marisa Tomei, Judith Light, Joe Mantello, Melissa Leo and Liev Schreiber. Funds from Miscast benefit MCC Theater, as well as support its Youth Company and in-school partnerships that serve New York City public high school students, as well as literary development work with emerging playwrights.
MCC's first production of 2011, Sharr White’s The Other Place, directed by Joe Mantello and starring Laurie Metcalf, begins performances on March 10 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.
This Week's Food and Drink Events
A Super Bowl cooking class, a wine extravaganza, a tiki cocktail party, and more.
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/27/this-weeks-food-and-drink-events
Man charged after 2-hour chase ends in Rockford
Assorted Nutts
by Robert Loerzel
Jim Nutt won his first fame as a member of the Hairy Who, a group of Art Institute-trained Chicagoans who began exhibiting at the Hyde Part Art Center in 1966 and became notorious for what New York Times critic John Russell called "outstandingly repulsive works of art." "There is no doubt that the Hairy Who artists were perceived as odd characters," writes curator Lynne Warren in the catalog for Jim Nutt: Coming Into Character, a retrospective running January 29 through May 29 at the Museum of Contemporary Art.…
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This Blog Post About Law Schools Is Filler
Law school has nothing to do with sitting under trees, relaxing and smiling. Almost no one smiles in law school, because they're miserable and tired and anxious about their GPA or finding a job or getting denied bar admission for carrying too much student loan debt.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/27/this-blog-post-about-law-schools-is-filler
Benjamin Walker Gets Presidential (Again) in Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson star Benjamin Walker is headed back to the White House in another presidential role, this time on the big screen. Walker has nabbed the lead in the upcoming 3D project Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, adapted from the Seth Grahame-Smith novel of the same name. Grahame-Smith, who also penned Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters, will adapt the screenplay and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted, Day Watch) is set to direct.
In Grahame-Smith’s novel, a young Abraham Lincoln’s watches his mother die of "milk sickness," only to discover later that her affliction was actually caused by vampires. Thus begins the “real” story of Honest Abe, which revolves around the ax-wielding, vampire-slaying president's quest to rid the world of the undead, and is presented as the real conflict behind the Civil War.
Before playing a rock star president in the musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, which shuttered on Broadway on January 2, 2011, Walker appeared in films like Kinsey and Flags of our Fathers, and on the Great White Way in Inherit the Wind and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, where he met his now-fiancée Mamie Gummer, daughter of Meryl Streep and ...
Savage Love: January 27, 2011
by Dan Savage
Q I'm from the other side of the country, but I'm sitting in my lover's San Francisco apartment wondering what I'm doing. I flew out here to spend five glorious days with her.…
[ Read more ]
This Week's Food and Drink Events
A Super Bowl cooking class, a wine extravaganza, a tiki cocktail party, and more.
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/27/this-weeks-food-and-drink-events
Score! Glee Star Lea Michele to Salute 'America' at the Super Bowl
Glee star and Broadway veteran Lea Michele will sing "America the Beautiful" at this year's Super Bowl pregame event, according to E! Online.
Other stars set to perform at the event include Christina Aguilera, who will sing the national anthem, and the Black Eyed Peas, who will take on halftime show duties.
Michele, who recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Glee's resident diva Rachel Berry, has appeared on Broadway in Spring Awakening, Ragtime and Fiddler on the Roof. She is currently working on the animated feature film Dorothy of Oz and the romantic comedy New Year's Eve.
Super Bowl XLV will air on February 6 on FOX as the Green Bay Packers take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Arlington, Texas. The game will be followed by a special football-themed episode of Glee, featuring the McKinley High students singing the Michael Jackson classic "Thriller." TV news anchor Katie Couric is also set to guest star on the episode.
Source: http://www.broadway.com/buzz/155064/score-glee-star-lea-michele-to-salute-america-at-the-super-bowl/
Friday, January 28, 2011
Welcome 2 the Void: Chicago Psych Fest 2, January 22, 2011, the Hideout
by Clayton Hauck
…
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Celebrating Phantom's 23rd Broadway Birthday with Director Hal Prince and the Stars
The Broadway company of The Phantom of the Opera has had plenty of celebrations in more than two decades at the Majestic Theatre, but each year’s birthday is extra-special for the Great White Way’s longest-running show. On January 26, Phantom marked its 23rd anniversary at the Wednesday matinee. Current stars Hugh Panaro, Sara Jean Ford and Sean MacLaughlin topped off a stirring performance by cutting a birthday cake and chatting with Broadway.com about what the show means to them. We even got to speak with a true Broadway legend, Phantom director Harold Prince. Click on and see!
T.V. Carpio Talks Tapping Into Her Dark Side for Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark
Age & Hometown: 29. Hong Kong
Current Role: Arachne, the first human to ever obtain spider-like powers, who functions as both a mentor and nemesis to the title hero in Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark.
Stepping to the Bad Side: During the early preview period of the new musical extravaganza, Carpio found herself jumping into the role of Spider-Man’s lead villainess when original star Natalie Mendoza departed the production after an injury. “It’s been freaking awesome and amazing,” Carpio says of taking over the role. “I’ve been involved with this production since 2007, so I’ve covered all the female parts at one point, but I’ve never had the opportunity to play a villain. I get to explore a part of myself that I wouldn’t necessarily show in real life. You wouldn’t have functioning relationships if you went around taking what you want, when you want it, but it’s pretty fun to do it onstage.”
Flying High in Julie’s World: Spider-Man marks Carpio’s second collaboration with Tony-winning director Julie Taymor, after playing a teenage outcast in 2007’s Beatles musical Across the Universe. “You never really know what to expect,” she says ...
Early Warnings Roundup
The floodgates burst open this week as venues and production companies prepped for the onslaught of spring tours. A ton of Early Warnings came down the wire, from candy-coated mega-trifle Katy Perry to sassy bubblegum-pop crew Hunx & His Punx.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/27/early-warnings-roundup
The List: January 27-February 2, 2011
Thursday27 Jayhawks
King Tuff,
Hex Dispensers
Nellie McKay
Mitsuko Uchida
Mars Williams &
Mike Reed…
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Matthew Morrison Wants Jane Lynch to Find Love with Elton John on Glee
Broadway vet Matthew Morrison has a fun idea for his hit show Glee: What if vindictive cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (played by Golden Globe winner Jane Lynch) found a love interest in music icon Elton John?
"We should find a spot for him to be on the show," Morrison, who collaborated with John on his upcoming album, told People Magazine. "That would be awesome. He's a living legend. He just brings such a great energy and a great validity to everything he does." As for John's partnering with Lynch, Morrison says, "He should do something with Jane Lynch. I think he should maybe play her boyfriend or some kind of love interest for her. I think that would be funny."
Morrison also discussed the pressures of singing a duet with the iconic musician featuring songs from John's extensive songbook. "I didn't really believe it was actually happening. I actually felt like I was a bad singer because we were singing a couple of his songs, and you're so used to hearing that voice on these songs, and I'm like, 'I don't sound good on these songs.'"
Want to hear if Morrison was up ...
Two men shot, one fatally, in armored car robbery
Colin Quinn?s Long Story Short To Air on HBO in April
The February 2 and 3 performances of Colin Quinn's Long Story Short will be taped by HBO and aired as a special in April, according to The New York Times. Jerry Seinfeld, who helmed the solo show about the rise and fall of the world’s great empires, will also have a hand in directing those tapings.
“They were thrilled that they were going to be able to showcase him,” Seinfeld told the paper. “That’s really been the thing for me, too. This is a guy that I have believed in and amazed by for so many years, and it’s just really cool to be part of creating something – a vehicle for someone’s talent. It can be a tough thing to do.”
Long Story Short began life off-Broadway at the Bleecker Street Theatre before transferring to the Great White Way. Since opening at Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theatre on November 9, 2010, the show has extended twice, and will now take its final bow on March 5. According to Seinfeld, discussions are underway to tour the show nationally following its Broadway closing, while Quinn is eager to perform the show for U.S. troops in Afghanistan ...
Scribe-Turned-Star Harvey Fierstein, Musical Newbie Jeffrey Tambor & Rent Icon Wilson Jermaine Heredia Talk La Cage
It’s big news around Broadway that Harvey Fierstein is headed into the hit revival of La Cage aux Folles, the show that earned him a Best Book Tony Award way back in 1984. On January 27, Harvey and his new Georges, Emmy nominee Jeffrey Tambor, took time away from rehearsal to preview their stage partnership at a meet-and-greet at Hurley’s, the saloon located right next door to the Longacre Theatre. Also on hand were Tony winner Wilson Jermaine Heredia, who’ll play sassy maid Jacob, and the production’s Tony-winning director, Terry Johnson. Fierstein, Tambor & Heredia are set to join the musical on February 15. Click on to hear more about how this casting coup came together.
Smart Thinking! The New York Idea Opens Off-Broadway
Wedding bells are set to ring in Atlantic Theatre Company's production of The New York Idea, and what nuptials would be complete without a celebratory reception? On January 26 the cast of the bouncy romantic comedy (revised by Tony-winning playwright David Auburn from Langdon Mitchell's 1906 script) celebrated opening night by heading from the Lucille Lortel Theatre to nearby Garage restaurant, just a few blocks away from the play's Washington Square setting. Take a look at the evening's festivities below!
Norbert Leo Butz, Brian d'Arcy James & More to Headline MCC's Miscast 2011 Gala
Norbert Leo Butz, Brian d'Arcy James, Ana Gasteyer, Laura Osnes, Nicole Parker and Steven Pasquale are among the stars slated to perform at Miscast 2011, MCC’s annual gala featuring actors performing songs from roles in which they would never be cast. David Duchovny, Téa Leoni, Hugh Dancy and Claire Danes are the evening’s honorary chairs and Bravo TV personality Andy Cohen will host the event, which takes the stage at the Hammerstein Ballroom on March 14.
To celebrate MCC’s 25th anniversary, the evening’s honorees will include many of the company’s illustrious alumni, including T.R. Knight, Marisa Tomei, Judith Light, Joe Mantello, Melissa Leo and Liev Schreiber. Funds from Miscast benefit MCC Theater, as well as support its Youth Company and in-school partnerships that serve New York City public high school students, as well as literary development work with emerging playwrights.
MCC's first production of 2011, Sharr White’s The Other Place, directed by Joe Mantello and starring Laurie Metcalf, begins performances on March 10 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
This Week's Food and Drink Events
A Super Bowl cooking class, a wine extravaganza, a tiki cocktail party, and more.
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/27/this-weeks-food-and-drink-events
Illinois collects $5M in unpaid tolls from Hoosiers
The Illinois Tollway said today that it has collected nearly $5 million from Indiana motorists who didn't pay tolls or fines for two years while the tollway's violation notice system was inadvertently turned off.
Turn Up the Volume! The Stars of Priscilla Record the Show's Cast Album
The leads of Broadway's upcoming Priscilla Queen of the Desert headed into New York's MSR recording studio on January 26 to record some of dance radio's biggest hits for the show's original cast album. Will Swenson, Tony Sheldon and Nick Adams (who star as three fabulous drag queens) spent the day belting out classics such as "I Will Survive," "It's Raining Men" and "What's Love Got To Do With It" for a CD to be released by Rhino Records on March 15. Broadway audiences can break out the feathered boas when the disco-flavored musical begins performances at the Palace Theatre on February 28. Until then, check out the Priscilla stars in action below.
This Week's Movie Action
This week I review America (1924), D.W. Griffith's silent epic of the American Revolution. It screens at 7 PM on Sunday night as part of Doc Films' weekly series on the late filmography of the great screen pioneer.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/27/this-weeks-movie-action
Exclusive! First Photo of Incoming La Cage Stars Harvey Fierstein, Jeffrey Tambor & Wilson Jermaine Heredia
Now here’s a threesome we can get excited about seeing on Broadway: Harvey Fierstein, Jeffrey Tambor and Wilson Jermaine Heredia! This talented trio is headed to the Longacre Theatre on February 15, where they will assume the roles of Albin, Georges and Jacob, respectively, in the hit revival of La Cage aux Folles. Broadway.com got the first snapshot of Tony winners Heredia (Rent) and Fierstein (who is headlining the show he wrote for the very first time) and Emmy-nominated funnyman Tambor during a meet-and-greet on January 27. Looks like they’re already feeling very comfortable together! Photo by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
After "Birth"
by J.R. Jones
america Directed by D.W. Griffith Earlier this month, when NewSouth Books announced it would republish The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with all 219 instances of the word nigger replaced by slave, I was reminded of The Birth of a Nation (1915), D.W. Griffith's landmark movie of the Civil War and Reconstruction.…
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Suspects held in Riverdale home invasion
Step Into the Rehearsal Room with the Encores! Cast of Lost in the Stars
The rarely seen 1949 musical Lost in the Stars is getting a welcome staging at New York City Center’s Encores! with a cast led by Tony winner Chuck Cooper, Tony nominee Daniel Breaker and Broadway-bound Sister Act star Patina Miller. Set in South Africa, this Kurt Weill/Maxwell Anderson collaboration centers on the heartbreak experienced by families of both races during the height of Apartheid. On January 26, the Lost in the Stars cast came in out of the snow to perform two numbers in rehearsal, including the classic title song. Click on and get a preview of what’s sure to be a riveting evening.
Step Into the Rehearsal Room with the Encores! Cast of Lost in the Stars
The rarely seen 1949 musical Lost in the Stars is getting a welcome staging at New York City Center’s Encores! with a cast led by Tony winner Chuck Cooper, Tony nominee Daniel Breaker and Broadway-bound Sister Act star Patina Miller. Set in South Africa, this Kurt Weill/Maxwell Anderson collaboration centers on the heartbreak experienced by families of both races during the height of Apartheid. On January 26, the Lost in the Stars cast came in out of the snow to perform two numbers in rehearsal, including the classic title song. Click on and get a preview of what’s sure to be a riveting evening.
Elderly woman pulled from Joliet fire dies
Under the Radar
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Chicago band Wilco forms own label
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Evanston denies it plans rental crackdown
Evanston officials on Wednesday sought to allay the fears of Northwestern University students upset over a reported crackdown on rental units housing more than three unrelated residents.
Glee Stars Get Down and Gleeky on Funny Or Die
It's no secret that Glee fans are incredibly vocal about their love for the Golden Globe-winning series. Comedy website Funny or Die is the latest to proclaim themselves Gleeks with a new music video parody, "Ain't Nuthin' But a Glee Thang." The hilarious song, which spoofs the classic Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog track "Ain't Nuthin' But a G Thang," recruited cast members Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele, Heather Morris, Cory Monteith and more to show off some serious dance moves and rap skills. Modern Family star (and Chicago veteran) Sofia Vergara even gets in on the fun. Take a look below!
Source: http://www.broadway.com/buzz/155028/glee-stars-get-down-and-gleeky-on-funny-or-die/
Chris Brokaw Sneaks Into Chicago for a Free Sunday Set
Chris Brokaw is one of the most versatile guitarists in underground rock. Most notably he was a member of both Codeine (where he played drums) and Come (which has been playing reunion gigs lately and has an April 16 show in New York with Eleventh Dream Day), but he's also played in lesser-known acts like Pullman, the New Year, and Consonant, and his list of credits as a sideman would fill more space that I feel like using.…
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See What Inspired Set Designer George Tsypin's Spectacular Work in The Amazing Backstage Adventures of Spider-Man
The Amazing Backstage Adventures of Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark continues with the man behind the new musical’s eye-popping sets: scenic designer George Tsypin. Tsypin, who is also an architect and sculptor, shares some of the materials that inspired his work on Spider-Man—and they may not be what you would expect. In addition to drawing from the comic books on which the show is based, he also looked to pop-up books, Alfred Hitchcock and more. Find out what moves this lauded designer about creating a spectacular world fit for a Broadway superhero.
Brickthrowing boy shot by woman gets probation
The Sentencing of Jon Burge
Federal court, January 21
Judge Joan Lefkow: Good afternoon, Mr. Burge, counsel. Mr. Burge, I typically have the defendant stand in front of me, but if you don’t feel up to it, you can stay where you are.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/24/the-sentencing-of-jon-burge
Michelle Obama lauds military families on Oprah
Woman charged with embezzling
Opposable Thumbs
Tonight marks the premiere episode of Ebert Presents At the Movies, to be broadcast on Channel 11 at 8:30 PM. AP critic Christy Lemire and Reader contributor Ignatiy Vishnevetsky will debate current releases, and blogger Kim Morgan has a segment on Carol Reed's The Third Man.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/21/opposable-thumbs
Opposable Thumbs
Tonight marks the premiere episode of Ebert Presents At the Movies, to be broadcast on Channel 11 at 8:30 PM. AP critic Christy Lemire and Reader contributor Ignatiy Vishnevetsky will debate current releases, and blogger Kim Morgan has a segment on Carol Reed's The Third Man.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/21/opposable-thumbs
'Dark Sky' ordinance lightened
The skies over Barrington Hills won't be so dark after all.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Give Me a B! Take a First Look at World Premiere Musical Bring In On!
Bring It On!, the new musical loosely adapted from the 2000 film of the same name, has hit the mat at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. Two cheerleading squads are battling it out for the national championship title, but the rivalry doesn’t end when the pom-poms are put down. This spirit-filled show features a book by Jeff Whitty and lyrics by Amanda Green with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt collaborating on the music. Andy Blankenbuehler serves as the director and choreographer. Bring It On! officially opens January 28. Take a first look here!
A Wallet With Map Functionality
If you have a propensity for getting lost, and don't like drawing attention to that fact by pulling out a map every time you get lost, then Neatorama's L Mighty Wallet might be just for you. Priced under $20, it features the CTA map for the downtown/Loop area and is made out of heavy-duty, water-resistant Tyvek that offers notepad capabilities.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/20/a-wallet-with-map-functionality
The Sentencing of Jon Burge
Federal court, January 21
Judge Joan Lefkow: Good afternoon, Mr. Burge, counsel. Mr. Burge, I typically have the defendant stand in front of me, but if you don’t feel up to it, you can stay where you are.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/24/the-sentencing-of-jon-burge
Micheal McShane to Join Harvey Fierstein and Jeffrey Tambor in La Cage aux Folles
Micheal McShane will join the cast of the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles on February 15 as M. Dindon/M. Renaud, joining incoming stars Harvey Fierstein as Albin/Zaza, Jeffrey Tambor as Georges and Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Jacob. Terry Johnson’s Tony-winning production continues its run at the Longacre Theatre, where it opened on April 18, 2010.
McShane (sometimes billed as Michael or Mike) replaces original cast member Fred Applegate in La Cage. He previously appeared on Broadway in the short-lived comedy Taller Than a Dwarf. The comic actor is credited with roles in movies such as Office Space and TV shows such as Malcolm in the Middle and The Drew Carey Show.
In addition to Applegate, La Cage aux Folles currently stars Kelsey Grammer as Georges, Douglas Hodge as Albin, Allyce Beasley as Mme. Dindon/Mme. Renaud, Chris Hoch as Francis, Elena Shaddow as Anne, A.J. Shively as Jean-Michel, Christine Andreas as Jacqueline, Robin De Jesús as Jacob, Heather Lindell as Colette, Michael Lowney as Etienne and Bruce Winant as Tabarro.
This Week in Food & Drink: The Making of a Belgian Gastropub, Key Ingredient Natto, Recent Openings, and More
Michael Gebert goes behind the scenes to profile the opening of Leopold, the new West Town Belgian gastropub from chef Jeffrey Hedin, formerly of Spring and Green Zebra, and owners Christy and Don Agee, who also own the Lakeview tavern Witts. You can watch Gebert's excellent nine-minute accompanying video here.…
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Broadway Grosses: Billie Joe Armstrong Spikes Box Office at American Idiot; Spider-Man Hot
It’s hibernation time on Broadway, with just 19 shows running in the weeks before the super-busy spring season begins. Only three titles played to more than 90% of capacity, including Roundabout Theatre Company’s well-reviewed revival of The Importance of Being Earnest and—you guessed it—Spider Man, Turn Off the Dark, which continues to pack the Foxwoods Theatre during previews. If you’re wondering what the presence of Billie Joe Armstrong is worth over at American Idiot, it’s a jump of $300,000 from the previous week’s grosses and a spot on the frontrunners’ list.
Here is a look at who was on top and who was not for the week ending January 23:
FRONTRUNNERS (By Gross)
1. Wicked ($1,401,082)
2. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark ($1,338,162)*
3. The Lion King ($993,169)
4. Jersey Boys ($933,386)
5. American Idiot ($901,450)
UNDERDOGS (By Gross)
5. Time Stands Still ($425,058)
4. The Importance of Being Earnest ($356,833)
3. Chicago ($330,062)
2. Lombardi ($316,283)
1. Colin Quinn: Long Story Short ($168,862)
FRONTRUNNERS (By Capacity)
1. Wicked (96.55%)
2. Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (95.11%)*
3 ...
Early Warnings Roundup
Though this week's show announcements are dominated by indie-rock powerhouses like the Arcade Fire, the National, Iron & Wine, Cut Copy, the Mountain Goats, and the Kills, as far as I'm concerned the big news is the package tour of Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks that's coming to the United Center in April. The duet opportunities are worth the price of admission alone.…
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Source: http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2011/01/20/early-warnings-roundup
As Cactus Flower Returns to the Stage, Adam Sandler & Jennifer Aniston Prep to Open a Film Update, Just Go With It
Attention, romantic comedy fans: February is Cactus Flower month. As an off-Broadway revival of the 1965 Broadway hit prepares to start previews on February 24 at the Westside Theatre, movie fans can enjoy the play’s storyline in Just Go With It, opening Valentine’s weekend with Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston.
These days, Cactus Flower is best known as the vehicle that won an Oscar for 24-year-old Goldie Hawn, a star of the 1969 film adaptation of Abe Burrows’ play. (Burrows, who based his script on a French comedy, is best remembered as the book writer of Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.) But before Hawn, Walter Matthau and Ingrid Bergman starred in the hit movie, Cactus Flower had a run of more than 1,200 performances in a Broadway premiere that starred Lauren Bacall, Barry Nelson and Brenda Vaccaro.
The convoluted plot involves Julian, a randy bachelor dentist who pretends to be married in order to avoid committing himself to his wild young girlfriend, Toni. After Toni attempts suicide, Julian decides to marry her, but he must get a “divorce” first, so he enlists his office assistant, Stephanie (who has a crush ...
Other Desert Cities Star Stockard Channing on Why She's the 'Worst Celebrity Ever'
Stockard Channing is one of five theatrical all-stars assembled by director Joe Mantello for Lincoln Center Theater’s off-Broadway world premiere of Other Desert Cities. Certainly the Tony-winning actress feels at home in the itsy-bitsy Mitzi Newhouse Theater: This is her fourth show there, after acclaimed performances in John Guare’s The House of Blue Leaves and Six Degrees of Separation and Tom Stoppard’s Hapgood. This time, she’s playing an acerbic Palm Springs matron married to a Reagan-era ambassador (Stacy Keach), saddled with an alcoholic sister (Linda Lavin) and two troublesome adult children (Elizabeth Marvel and Thomas Sadoski), one of whom has written a blockbuster memoir revealing ugly family secrets. As usual, Channing is pitch-perfect delivering Jon Robin Baitz’s zingers while sashaying around her chic living room in stylish tunics and heels. Just after opening night, Broadway.com chatted with the star about her hot new show and why she calls herself “the worst celebrity ever.”
Congratulations on the critical response to Other Desert Cities! Do you read reviews?
No, I don’t.
Well, if you did, you would be very pleased.
Good! It’s really exhilarating to be in something where the audience is so happy ...
Fans Hope to See Hugh Jackman Star as Daddy Warbucks in Annie Film
With Will Smith considering bringing Annie back to the big screen in a remake starring his daughter, Willow, Broadway.com asked readers who they'd like to see take on the iconic role of Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks. The results are in, and stage and screen superstar Hugh Jackman landed at the top spot. Jackman, who received a Tony Award in 2004 for his portrayal of Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz, earned 22% of votes.
Second place went to movie musical veteran John Travolta. The actor, who starred as Danny Zuko in 1978's Grease and as Edna Turnblad in 2007's Hairspray, took in 16% of votes.
Third place resulted in a tie between screen comedians Jamie Foxx and Jim Carrey. Foxx (who has film musical experience thanks to 2006's Dreamgirls) and Carrey (who can currently be seen in the indie comedy I Love You Phillip Morris) both pulled in 13% of votes.
Thanks for voting!
Hugh Jackman Swings Into Oprah?s Ultimate Australian Adventure
Though he famously injured himself during his show-stopping zipline entrance to Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure, Broadway fave—and latest Broadway.com poll winner!—Hugh Jackman was in good spirits as he came down to earth to chat with the talk show queen as part of her excursion Down Under. The pair covered all things outback, from Oprah’s koala snuggling and Jackman’s “little nipper” (son Oscar) to that most famous of Australian delicacies: vegemite. As icing on the post-Jackman interview cake, Miss O is also gifted a guitar by U2 rock stars and Spider-Man composers Bono and The Edge. Check out the video below!
Source: http://www.broadway.com/buzz/155006/hugh-jackman-swings-into-oprahs-ultimate-australian-adventure/
Monday, January 24, 2011
Show People: Catching Up with Little Shop Musical Theater Icon Ellen Greene
This week on Show People, host Paul Wontorek sits down for a catch-up with one of his longtime favorites, Little Shop of Horrors diva Ellen Greene. These days, Greene is living in Los Angeles, where she's been busy on TV in shows like Pushing Daisies, Heroes and, recently, The Young and the Restless. Greene chats about her iconic turn as Audrey in Little Shop, life on the small screen and her upcoming album, which was actually recorded way back in 1973!
This Week in Food & Drink: The Making of a Belgian Gastropub, Key Ingredient Natto, Recent Openings, and More
Michael Gebert goes behind the scenes to profile the opening of Leopold, the new West Town Belgian gastropub from chef Jeffrey Hedin, formerly of Spring and Green Zebra, and owners Christy and Don Agee, who also own the Lakeview tavern Witts. You can watch Gebert's excellent nine-minute accompanying video here.…
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