Broadway Remembers 9/11?

The Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark placed this ad on the cover of the New York Times on the 

weekend of the terrorist attacks. 

Perhaps they had good intentions, 

but I wouldn't consider this type of promotion "rising above."

Here are some similar ads from current and past shows

that were rejected as being "tasteless"

Slippery Nipple

This photo plastered to the double doors of the 

Broadway show "Baby It's You!" caught my eye ...

And I have to wonder if actress Beth Leavel 

is happy with the world knowing she has an "outie."

Razzle Snoozle

The Tony™ Awards Committee just 

revealed their 2011 logo:

Although not exactly a winner, it's a step up from

 last year's summer camp design.

The Tony Awards  

Underwhelming America since 1947

A Tourist Line

Big news on the Great White Way: 

No more General Admission!

Starting today, when you purchase a ticket to a Broadway show, you will be assigned an actual seat of your choice. That's right! You no longer need to line up all the way down the block outside the theater for an hour before the show, only to scuffle and search for the best seat in the house. Simply present your pre-paid ticket at the theater, and your pre-assigned seat will be waiting for you. 
It's like magic - but real! 
      
Benefits include:

• No more fights 
• You sit where you chose to sit 
• Less standing = Less knee pain

Spend that newfound spare time walking around and spending your money in our fair-priced city. Your purchases help keep city schools and homeless shelters alive. And, the exercise will help burn off those stubborn calories from your deep-fried meal at TGI Fridays. Plus, you'll have more time to stop in the middle of the sidewalk outside of Red Lobster to take photos, which you can then share with your homebound friends and family in a computer-generated holiday newsletter.
They don't call it the greatest city in the world for nuthin'!

Save It!

When the curtain comes down after a performance, the creative folks involved usually have only one thing on their mind: a cocktail. 
Many theater-goers think it is their civic duty to immediately share their well-honed observations with the talent or director. Yes, getting feedback is vital in the arts. It's what makes us and our shows better. It's not always easy to take, but we try.

However, you can do us all a big favor and wait a day or so to share your keen artistic observations; no matter how passionate you are about them. Especially negative ones that are painfully clear, like, "The sound was bad in that opening number." Trust me, we all know that the sound was bad. We know. We were there. We have ears. 
Or "Did you see that guy roaming up and down the aisle?" Yes, we all saw that guy, Sherlock, since we were all in the same theater.
I understand if you're excited to express yourself the way the creatives of the show just did. We want to excite you!
Giving birth to a show is similar to giving birth to a baby. And like a new baby, it takes time, growing pains, alot of money ... and there might be a missing finger or toe. The parents know about those missing digits (assuming they can count to ten) and you don't need to point it out.
The best thing you can do is keep mental notes about what you liked and didn't like, or when the sound didn't work, and then share those thoughts via email or a phone conversation a few days later. Perhaps you will point out something that the creatives didn't realize! That would be great. Then they can fix things. But, not right after the show. All we want to do is breathe, drink, and get hugs.
Support the arts and your friends and their babies. Just try, try, try keeping your opinions to yourself for a day or two. There's a very good chance the artists are on the same page.
Unless it's "Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark." No matter what you say, the creatives and producers will wait 6 months to take any of your suggestions to heart while taking your money, brain cells and time.
Thanks! See you at the next Christening!

Show Biz Not Show Fun

I'm astounded by folks in show business who don't know what's going on in show business, who then gripe that they have no work and that no one knows who they are. Kids, it is truly a business. And like any good business person, one must take time to read a newspaper or blog or an online magazine every so often and see what's going on in the show biz world. Here are some good ideas ...
Take a look at the ads in the Sunday New York Times. It comes out on Sunday and is cheaper than a Long Island Iced Tea. These ads are often quite large and colorful. They let you know what shows are happening and who is involved. Maybe you will find out that a person you want to work with is involved with a new, exciting project. If you don't like the feel of paper, read the Times online. Once a week. 
Take a look at TimeOut New York. They break down events into categories, for easy navigation. For instance, if you are a comic, sketch performer, or improvisor, you can go to the Comedy section and read about upcoming shows. You can see what your peers are up to. You can learn about exciting, affordable venues that you didn't know about. It usually takes about 10-12 minutes. 
If you are an actor, you can read the Theater section. The articles are always short and provide information that might come in handy somewhere down the line.
And if you are a singer or musician, get this, they even have a Music section that has big ads to let you know about upcoming gigs, CD reviews and performances.
If you don't like magazines, read it online. Once a week. Preferably when it comes out on Wednesday. The Village Voice also comes out on Wednesday -- and it's free. Take a look at the listings. Read a review or two. And when you are done reading and taking some mental notes on shows that interest you, you can leave it on the train for another artist to enjoy. Sharing is caring.
And try to follow what your friends are doing. Facebook is a wonderful tool to find out what's going on with your fellow artistes. Take a look at their walls every so often, and perhaps even comment or "Like" their status when they are doing a show. Putting up a show is hard work. Maybe you can even see the show. You might be inspired to set a deadline for your own show. You might get some great ideas that you can steal. And best of all, you really can learn just as much at a bad show as a good one! I learned from seeing "Spider-Man" that you should never kill the villain at the end of Act 1! Never knew that.
If you want to be on Broadway, good for you. It's easy to get there. It's easier if you know what shows are casting and which ones are in development and which ones are currently playing. Take a glance at Playbill.com or Theatermania once a week. Shows and job listings are posted every day for all sorts of show biz professionals. And if you auditioned for the show and were sore that you didn't get cast in it, go see it. Maybe you will realize why you didn't get the role after all and you can feel better about yourself.
Did I mention that many of the methods described above are free? They are. Free. Free information that could help you get a lead on a new gig. Information that you could use to see a show and be inspired by it. Information that is vital to any business person. Because it's a business. 
And, if you think you can't afford to see any shows, there are many ways to get discount tickets ... but I am going to let you figure that out on your own! Try Google. It is an amazing new tool to get you the info you need.
Break a leg!

Wicked Swag

In addition to T-shirts, towels, hoodies, pajama sets, yoga pants, mugs, golf balls, wands, pins, umbrellas, glasses, keychains, water bottles, necklaces, charms and condoms, the international smash WICKED is now selling "Wicked Cars" ...

But, does it fly?

Pacino on Broadway

Get your tickets for

"The Big Picture of Al Pacino",

coming soon to the Broadhurst Theater

in New York City.

Shrek Dimensions

Saw a commercial for the soon to be released film, Shrek Forever After, which states, "Go see Shrek like you've never seen him before -- in 3-D!"
Erm, we already have seen it in 3-D ... a few months ago as a matter of fact. When it was a live musical, with living actors on a real stage. 

Genius marketing. Genius.

A BRAND NEW Sondheim Show!

After the success of Broadway's thrilling new musical "Sondheim on Sondheim", the retrospective account of Stephen Sondheim's career told through Sondheim songs and video clips of Mr. Sondheim speaking about said career, the Sondheim estate will soon be announcing the newest Sondheim musical, "Sondheim on Sondheim on Sondheim," where Mr. Sondheim will relate stories  about the making of "Sondheim on Sondheim" using music, motion-capture technology and marionettes. The show is scheduled to open in June, 2010 and will be helmed by filmmaker, James Cameron.


This new musical will feature 3-D video clips and songs from "Sondheim on Sondheim" as well as songs that were cut from "Sondheim on Sondheim", focusing on Mr. Sondheim's arduous process in choosing the songs for "Sondheim on Sondheim."


Plans are already in the works for a follow-up show tentatively titled, "Sondheim on Sondheim on Sondheim on Sondheim," which will employ the use of robots, lasers, video clips of Mr. Sondheim and actual audience members regaling us with stories about their experiences at "Sondheim on Sondheim on Sondheim." No director has been announced, but Mr. Sondheim has expressed an interest in directing the show himself.

Call the Roundabout Theatre or Stephen Sondheim and get your tickets now!

Old Promises

The old show "Promises, Promises" is back on Broadway! A tip of the hat to all the old, creative people who've risen from the grave to put on this chestnut.

Broadway NEWS!

I directed this news piece. Take a look. It's funny!

Margo Hears A Little Night Music

Big Head

In olden times, the theater marquee featured the name of the show playing there - 

Nowadays, they just use a picture of the movie star in the show -

Save me a seat?

Walking around the theater district today, I was again reassured that ticket holders will line up outside the theater up to one hour before the curtain, even if the weather is extremely foul.

Hey, theatergoers, it's not general admission. Your seat, printed on your ticket, will be waiting for you right up until show time. Go to Starbucks or Duane Reade until then. There are plenty of 'em.

And we could use your cash.