Fame or Famine

All is not well for indie theatre in the Great White North.
Chatting with my friend J.P. Robichaud, a stage manager in Toronto, the subject of trying to make a living in that town came up. I’ve always thought of Toronto as incredibly arts friendly, but that’s mainly based on the TV and movie scene.
“…our live theatre scene – especially on an independant level – is really struggling.
we lost two smaller spaces last year
opportunities are dwindling, for experimental companies like theatre passe muraille, factory theatre, tarragon theatre, buddies in bad times, Theatre Centre as well.”
It’s unfortunate that there isn’t more trickle-down …read more

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Ever heard that before? I have, and even managed to follow it for a few years, until my own lack of business acumen caused me to need a “real job”.
Of late my thoughts have turned again to that kind of life, though, and the joys of making your own hours (“work any 23 a day you want!“)  and making your own work. Of course, it’s not all fun and games, as any starving artist will tell you. Still, in today’s job market, the old maxim from “The Full Monty” might apply: “It’s more fun to be an unemployed dancer than …read more

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” Now in its 11th year, the Fringe is, in producing director Nick Stuccio’s words, “a giant state fair of contemporary art.” It famously draws tens of thousands of people to see well over a hundred innovative performing arts events both from around the world and from the heart of Philadelphia. The Live Arts Festival features works specifically selected by the program’s directors, while Philly Fringe allows any artist to self-produce his or her own work…And so Martha became the Fringe’s first-ever podcast, its performance without a physical venue. It’s available in installments as a free download from iTunes and …read more

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…because having your leads chosen by mass audience voting, a la American Idol, means that you are going to probably not have the strongest ensemble.
I had a theory, back when the contest was going on, that they’d very carefully phrased the winning result: “the winners will star in the opening of the new revival of GREASE! on Broadway.” I can’t help but wonder if there are a couple of solid gypsies waiting offstage, ready to step into Max & Laura’s shoes as the show continues to tank…
Thanks to beckyloooo for the heads up on this. If you’ve not read “TV …read more

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I’m far behind in my posting to this blog, and at least part of it is the fault of several talented women who comprise Foxy Veronica’s Peach Pies. I performed with one of them (the Betty Wantsme who has been seen in this blog before) for one performance, and the audience and the directors liked it so much they invited me to continue to be part of the group. I’ve done 4 shows now, for audiences ranging from goth kids to Japanese businessmen to a benefit for a Catholic Charity, and it’s a lot of fun.

Let’s get something straight, first: …read more

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It made what I consider to be some of the most egregious offenses in terms of manufacturing drama & suspense ("You’re…(wait for it…wait for it..falling asleep…tension mounting…tension dismounting…hey, I need eggs…and some baking soda…is that a crack in the ceiling?.) not the one that we want.") but it did hold true to its word, and the Revival of Grease will be opening with Max Crumm and Laura Osnes as the leads. Broadway World has the beginning of a "getting to know the cast" feature up; I’m wanting to actually hear and see some of the re-staging, and hope that it’s …read more

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…and I’m not surprised at all. She had as much talent as Danny, and was more likeable than anybody else. I honestly suspected she had it from the Scream during the Wade Robson solo.
I didn’t actually get to watch the final show – and from what I hear, I’m a little lucky, as Cat made a truly valiant effort to survive wardrobe’s attempt to portray her as a pregnant tulle monster. And the ending was apparently very anticlimactic: “It’s Sabra! Kthxbye!” was the way Blogging SYTYCD put it, and that’s just wrong. After all this time, come on, you’ve learned …read more

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Nigel Lithgoe: "Ladies, this dance finally brought us to the truth of what this show is all about: DANCE. There’s a reason that’s the biggest word in our logo, and the word ‘you’ is just as small as the rest of them. There comes a point where we all need to be reminded that the dance is bigger than the personalities, the skills, the technique, the sexuality, and the people, so that we can make it something bigger than the sum of the dancers and choreographer, make it into something bigger, more artful. You both changed your styles completely for …read more

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Lauren talks about how it feels to NOT be in the finals in this article. Kudos for her for having the integrity to go through with it. I really hope I get to see her on the tour…
Tonight Ladyfox will be watching the first bit of the finale. Prepare for snark…

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I confess I cringed when I learned of yet another film-gone-to-stage coming to Broadway. Edward Scissorhands seemed ludicrous enough, but Xanadu? I mean, look at the plot!
“This musical myth, set in the year 1980, tells the story of one of the nine muses of ancient Greece who comes to earth to inspire the greatest of artistic achievements – a roller disco. Along the way she falls in love, bumps into an old acquaintance and for the first time, feels the desire to create herself,”
And yet…it’s apparently a hit. Click on the link to find Broadway World’s interview with the …read more

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