CHAT CHOICE ON OPENING NIGHT: The 1999 Tony Award winning Parade, written by Alfred Uhry with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, although technically a musical, is best described as a deeply moving and disturbing tale of prejudice and racism centering on the Leo Frank case of 1913 in Atlanta, Georgia. This is one of those special do-not-miss evenings at the Taper beautifully directed and superbly choreographed by Rob Ashford. During various musical numbers, this uniformly incredible cast sends a visceral message to the audience while stomping their frustration, elation and passion through dance. Brown’s music gives the actors lyrical monologues that reach across the footlights expressing emotional as well as soaring vocal range. Opening night attendees included Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Douglas (seated ringside), Marc Cherry (Desperate Housewives), Jason Alexander, Michael Sheen and Halle Berry. After a long and heartfelt standing ovation we drove over to the chic Chaya Restaurant, located on Flower (just five minutes from the Taper) to continue celebrating with the cast. The combination European/Japanese cuisine featured trendy hors d’oeuvres, lobster/shrimp ravioli and a full variety of sushi.
Brown with wife Stitt
Brown, spotted with his lovely wife Georgia Stitt (soon due to give birth), gives credit to Ashford for the look of their new production. “He had a clear idea of how to handle this room. It’s tricky since the piece was originally designed for a proscenium house and he addressed it beautifully.” The changes in the Taper production are primarily in size which Brown explains, “When you go from a cast of 36 and 20 musicians to 15 people and 9 musicians it automatically changes the rhythm of the show. We took advantage of the opportunity to go back and revisit certain aspects but they were mainly the result of adjusting to a smaller version. We have an amazing cast. This is like the Cirque du Soleil of musical theatre. You don’t see people putting their legs behind their heads but they have an enormously difficult task to pull off. I’m amazed by the sheer concentration and effort it requires from them every night.”
Deidrie Henry and David St. Louis
T.R. Knight’s portrayal of Leo Frank will make you forget Grey’s Anatomy as he reveals his acting range and musical talent. Knight arrived looking sensational in black and posed with his beautiful co-star Lara Pulver, attired in a slinky electric blue ruffle slip dress far removed from her conservative wifely stage attire. David St. Louis, who stops the show with his second act “rock and chains” cry of “Blues: Feel the Rain Fall,” believes the impact of the show is due to a topic which, unfortunately, continues to be relevant. “It strikes a chord with anyone who has ever personally experienced prejudice or who has seen something painful happen to someone else. At that point, I don’t think the human heart has a choice and this piece speaks to that.” He modestly explains the audience reaction to his performance by saying, “It comes from the work. I’m drawing on the truth. When truth comes out of you, people have no choice but to see it because it’s an explosion. At that point, it’s a fireworks display.”
The pyrotechnics on display in Parade are not literal. They come from a cast and story beautifully told with simplicity not often seen in today’s musical productions. Closing Nov. 15, it is an evening you will remember.
CHAT CHOICE: Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins at West Coast Ensemble deserves a big hurrah! and a spot on my must-see list. Written by Brian Christopher Williams and directed by Richard Israel this touching story of a young boy’s sexual awakening takes us back to the early ’70s when homophobia was rampant. Wyatt Fenner as young Horace Poore gives a perfectly nuanced performance running the gamut of emotions while displaying a keen sense of humor. Nick Niven as his brother Chaz displays an equally impressive set of acting chops. Add Tony Pandolfo and Jan Sheldrick as the parents and together this wonderfully connected group lends a strong anchor to Fenner as they present a believable family caught in a world of prejudice and ignorance.
Three Tall Women: Leah Myette, Jan Sheldrick and Eve Sigall
It closes Nov 1 and is followed by Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women on Nov 14. Sheldrick returns to the Ensemble’s El Centro stage joined by Eve Sigall and Leah Myette. The new production is directed by Michael Matthews.
INSIDER BIZ: Composer Shelly Markham (Too Old for the Chorus, Naked Boys Singing) and lyricist Adryan Russ may have a hit on their hands as they create music for The Roxy written by Howard George and David Bryant. The old Roxy Theatre in NYC, still standing until 1960, is described by Markham as “the largest vaudeville palace ever built with stage shows that introduced acts like Sophie Tucker and the Nicholas Brothers.” The story begins on the day the theatre is being torn down. It unfolds via flashbacks of a young man who dreamed of becoming a Roxy usher and the infamous Louis “Lepke” Buchalter, head of Murder, Inc., who was eventually captured by the FBI and executed at Sing Sing. They are currently preparing for a table reading and plan to mount an AEA staged presentation in January directed by Bruce Kimmel…I saw Jennie Fahn in a memorable performance as a bag lady in A New Brain at WCE in 2001 and spotlighted her in my LA Stage magazine column. Imagine my surprise when I heard she had written the book for Broads! The Musical scheduled to open in February at the El Portal. Her friendship with composer/lyricist Joe Symon began when they were 15 years old. “We met at Performing Arts Summer Camp and remained friends,” Fahn says. “The original concept came from characters he had created for a one-man show and I offered to write the book.” The story centers around four vivacious women who perform at the clubhouse of the Millennium Manor Retirement Village where they are currently living. They are looking for name actresses to play the quartet; although two ladies are set, I’m sworn to secrecy until the official announcement. “My grandmother, known as ‘Sexy Mary,’ lived in a community similar to Millennium Manor and was truly the life of the party. We wanted to show ladies of this age being vital, sexual, hip and daring. At the same time we want to stage a show that ladies can do while wearing Spanx.” They have set Jules Aaron to direct and Kay Cole as choreographer.
Michael Kearns
BOOK BIZ: Michael Kearns honors World AIDS Day (Dec. 1) when he begins a tour to launch his latest book, The Drama of AIDS: My Lasting Connection with Two Plays That Survived the Plague. He will also perform his groundbreaking theatre piece, Intimacies, that evening on stage at the Ground Zero Performance Café on the campus of USC. It was originally written and performed 20 years ago. Kearns’ newest novel reveals the details of what is best described as a brotherhood of gay artists intent on presenting their stories. By pulling no punches, he lovingly exposes a world not previously seen or understood; something Kearns has been doing as actor, writer, director and teacher since the early ’80s. This particular tale, published by Heinemann, chronicles his heartfelt relationships and the process that led to successful productions of Robert Chesley’s Jerker and James Carroll Pickett’s Dream Man…As the world turns, so does the entertainment industry. Brian O’Neil recognized the need to update and revise his book, Acting as a Business: Strategies for Success, to include information on the latest show-business trends and how actors can best utilize the Internet to help them get ahead in their careers. He is a former talent agent and personal manager who is a frequent guest lecturer at various drama schools including Yale and Juilliard. The revised and fourth edition is available from Vintage Books/Random House.
Mental Head Circus
WTF?! FESTIVAL HAS A WINNER: The Actors’ Gang is presenting the WTF?! Festival (through Dec. 19) as a way to weather the nationwide economic downswing and reduction in donations. Artistic Director Tim Robbins reports, “I was told it would be less expensive to do nothing. We are not very good at doing nothing.” Instead, Robbins and the Gang leapt into presenting solo performers, hosting forums, screening documentaries, offering live music and evenings of poetry and dance with all proceeds to benefit the Gang’s many outreach programs. On Nov. 5 they present Mental Head Circus, performed by The Terry Beeman Dance Company. I recently caught a performance at King King in Hollywood and was blown away by this awesome theatrical piece best described as Cirque du Soleil meets Cabaret in bawdy, humorous dance vignettes with mind blowing aerial artistry rivaling any major Broadway production. If you miss it at Actors’ Gang check out kingkinghollywood.com for future performances and be prepared for an emotional, unforgettable evening in this amazing theatrical space.
Chit Chat Insider: Baby It’s You is the story of New Jersey housewife Florence Greenberg who discovered the Shirelles in the early ’60s and built one of the most successful independent record companies. It will have a world premiere on Nov.13 at Pasadena Playhouse directed by Floyd Mutrux. The show’s journey took flight when film producer Jonathan Sanger and Richard Perry (15 platinum awards) became involved. Sanger reveals, “About two years ago Richard invited me to see a reading of the musical. I loved it and wanted to meet the co-writer/director (Mutrux). I was a major fan of his film American Hot Wax and considered it probably the best evocation of the doo-wop era ever made.” The music resonated in a special way because it evoked memories of their childhood. Perry and Sanger were high school buddies in the late ’50s and respective presidents of their school’s drama club. “We decided to collaborate and I went into action to raise money and bring whatever skills I possessed to the project. Although we are successful in our respective fields, it was a challenge because we were now going back to where we started: live theatre. It was definitely our love of the music and our youth that brought us all back together.” Chat Bit: Rumors abound that Richard Perry (the show’s musical director) is engaged to Jane Fonda who is scheduled to attend the opening performance.
Parade images by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
Three Tall Women image by Ty Donaldson
Michael Kerns headshot by Jim Cox
Article by Connie Danese
