All posts by The King of Broadway

Broadway Kingdom CONTEST #1 (twitter)

As we are approach our 33,000th visitor to this site its time to have a  contest!

We’ve got 2 pair of tix to “A Tribute to ARETHA FRANKLIN @ B.B. King”
Thursday night August 30, 2012 at 8:00pm

BB King Blues Club
237 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036

To enter, just answer the following question:

How many VIDEO INTERVIEWS are posted on www.broadwaykingdom.com ?

 Then follow  @broadwaykingdom and tweet your answer!
or click here:

The first two correct answers each win a pair of tickets.*

*Seating is General Admission – get there early for the best seats.
*These are complimentary tickets – no monetary value – No Refunds or Exchanges
*There is a $10 PER PERSON MIN – Not covered by this contest.

Ada Dyer – Tribute to ARETHA FRANKLIN

Ada Dyer (given name Adaritha) made her recorded debut on eminent jazz drummer Norman Connors’s album Invitation (1979) after her drummer discovered her talents singing the title track. In addition to “Invitation,” she was also featured on “Handle Me Gently.” Connors invited the vocalist back for his next album, 1980’s Take It to the Limit, on which the two scored a Top 30 R&B hit with the title cut. After returning home from a tour with Connors, Dyer auditioned and was promptly hired as the understudy to the lead in a production of The Wiz. In 1981, she relocated from Chicago to New York City, where she continued her work in both jingles and recording. Notably, she became part of the lineup of electro-dance trio Warp 9, best remembered for their trend-setting club hits “Nunk,” “Light Years Away,” and “No Man Is an Island.”

In 1983, Dyer took a break from recording to do yet another production of The Wiz. Soon after, she began a prolific career as a background vocalist, both on tours and recording sessions. Her first prominent road gig with Chaka Khan led to interest from James Anthony Carmichael, noted for his work with Lionel Ritchie, the Commodores, and Atlantic Starr. Carmichael had an ongoing relationship with Motown Records, which promptly signed Dyer. By 1987, the two commenced work on what would become Dyer’s debut solo album, Meant to Be.

Released in spring of 1988, Meant to Be quickly picked up steam, driven by the single release of “I Bet Ya I’ll Let Ya,” which reached No. 33 on Billboard’s R&B singles chart. A second single, “I Don’t Feel Like Crying,” penned by Babyface and L.A. Reid, served as the follow-up. Dyer was soon given a chance to record a second album under Motown’s new presidency. Unlike Meant to Be, on which she had been given no creative input, she selected all of the songs and co-wrote several for her eponymous 1990 release. This album effectively showcased Dyer’s abilities as an across-the-board singer, equally at home with powerful soul and pop ballads, jazzy R&B tunes, and funk jams.

VIDEO INTERVIEW & REVIEW: Martha Wash at B.B. King

The Queen of Clubland sat down with me between her Sound Check and Performance at the legendary B.B. King Blues Club to talk about her amazing life in Music and how she forever changed the way singer get credited for their work.

 

Video Interview: The Metropolitan Room’s Bernie Furshpan

Shifting focus slightly we got to sit down for an Interview with Bernie Furshpan Owner/Managing Partner of the Metropolitan Room about the amazing changes and additions he has made since taking over almost a year ago. Plus, we answer the burning question, Why the Chandeliers?

We also have a scoop: Your 2 Drink minimum at the Metropolitan Room will soon include Fine Kosher wines suitable for the most discerning pallets! Kosher Wine!

The Metropolitan Room Website

NY Hysterical Society Website

Press Release: PEREZ HILTON JOINS NEWSical the Musical

PEREZ HILTON JOINs the CAST OF the OFF-BROADWAY sensation, NEWSical the Musical

New York, NY:  The internet’s most notorious gossip columnist Perez Hilton joins the cast of the uproarious off-Broadway musical revue, NEWSical the Musical, for four weeks only beginning Saturday, September 8th.  From John Travolta, Anderson Cooper, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes to the national fight for marriage equality and the 2012 Presidential Election, NEWSical the Musical sets all of today’s biggest news and pop culture headlines to song. With Hilton’s arrival, award-winning composer-lyricist Rick Crom will add new satirical spoofs to the show including a Chick-fil-A number and a song about the phenomenon of Perez Hilton that will be performed by the man himself. Perez Hilton will begin preview performances on Saturday, September 8th.   The opening night press performance will be Monday, September 17th.

“Dreams do come true, if you believe. And I BELIEVE, big time!”, says Perez Hilton from his Los Angeles home. “I am beyond thrilled, nervous and zen about making my New York theater debut. It’s gonna be a wild ride in a show that guarantees to put smiles on people’s faces. It will be no holds barred! Pure unadulterated fun!

I expect to have the time of my life and look forward to hugging happy theatergoers after each show!”

“What do you do when your show needs to sell tickets?  You bring in a celebrity,” says producer Tom D’Angora of his decision to add Perez Hilton to NEWSical the Musical. “Perez Hilton was the perfect choice because our show is basically the musical version of his highlarious website. If you are a daily reader of Perez like I’ve been since 2007, you know how funny and charismatic he is. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome him as the newest member of our talented cast.”

NEWSical the Musical is the ever-evolving, completely un-sanitized musical mockery of all the news that’s fit to spoof.  The Associated Press calls it “The Daily Show set to music!” The show was named Best New Musical of 2011 by the Off Broadway Alliance. Infectious melodies, razor-sharp lyrics, biting satire and more unpredictability than a Courtney Love tweet make NEWSical a laugh-filled, high octane musical revue of all the most talked-about headlines of the day.

In addition to Perez Hilton, NEWSical the Musical features Christine Pedi (Forbidden Broadway, Talk Radio), Christina Bianco (Drama Desk nominee, Forbidden Broadway), Michael West (Forbidden Broadway, When Pigs Fly), Tommy Walker (Evil Dead The Musical), Amy Griffin (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and Ryan Knowles (host of Nickelodeon’s ME:TV).

Rick Crom has appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Footloose and The Goodbye Girl and on FX’s critically – acclaimed series “Louie” starring comedian Louis C.K. NEWSical is directed by Mark Waldrop (When Pigs Fly, My Deah, Inventing Avi, Papermill Playhouse’s Gypsy). Rounding out the creative team are Ed Goldschneider (music director), Jason Courson (set designer), Josh Starr (lighting designer) and Scott Delacruz (stage manager).

Newsical the Musical is produced by Tom D’Angora (Naked Boys Singing!, ICONS, Broadway Diva Christmas, Divas I’ve Done).

NEWSical the Musical plays at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Tickets are $85 – $110 and can be purchased through Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 279-4200 or (800) 432-7250. For performance schedule and more information visit www.NEWSicalthemusical.com.

#  #  #

 PRESS INQUIRES:

Len Evans, Tel: 212-445-0066

Len.Evans@ProjectPublicity.com

About Perez Hilton

Since launching the celebrity entertainment blog PerezHilton.com in 2004, Perez Hilton has created a media empire that spans across online, publishing, television, radio, music and live events. In addition to his PerezHilton.com blog, which has become one of the leading sources for celebrity news amassing over 300 million hits a month, Hilton runs five additional digital properties focused on fashion, fitness, family, animals and a mobile app. Hilton has published three books, hosted and appeared on numerous television programs and has taken on the role of a music manager for such as recordings artists as IM5, CJ Baran, Kalie Shorr, VanJess and MattyB, among others. Hilton also created the hugely successfully music event series “One Night In…” in 2008, which features up-and-coming and top musical acts. On radio, Hilton is host to the twice-daily celebrity and entertainment news feature “Radio Perez” and most recently announced, the upcoming “Perez Nights Live.” Hilton was named the #1 Web Celeb in 2007, 2008, and 2009 by Forbes Magazine, one of the 15 most influential Hispanics in the US by People en Espanol, the 2009 Hispanic of the Year by Hispanic Magazine, one of Time Magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2007’ and as a tastemaker, Newsweek has compared his influence on the music scene to Oprah’s book club. Visit Perez Hilton online at www.perezhilton.com. Follow Perez Hilton on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/PerezHilton and @perezhilton.

For Immediate Release: The Underdeveloped & Overexposed Life & Death of Deena Domino

For Immediate Release

GRAB YOUR “GO-GO JUICE” AND GO!

“Deena Domino was everything I wanted . . . If you’re looking for a show that incorporates

the best of what the Capital Fringe has to offer, then you should definitely check this out. Hilarious!”

– DC METRO ARTS

Pick of The Fringe: 5/5 Stars!

“The play is hilarious . . . The crowd was in tears laughing,

and it makes this particular reviewer wonder how these girls aren’t on the big stage.”

– DC THEATRE SCENE

 Straight From A Smash Run At D.C.’s Capital Fringe

 The Underdeveloped & Overexposed
Life & Death of Deena Domino

Created by and Starring

Katie Hartman & Leah Rudick

 At

The 16th Annual New York International Fringe Festival

A production of The Present Company

Begins Performances Saturday August 11th

 The Underdeveloped and Overexposed Life and Death of Deena Domino, created by and starring acclaimed comedy duo Katie Hartman and Leah Rudick (Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting), will be presented as part of the 16th annual New York International Fringe Festival – Fringe NYC (August 10th – 26th).  Directed by Daniel Pettrow (Wooster Group), this darkly absurd rumination of celebrity will play five performances at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street): Saturday, August 11th @ 4:15 p.m.; Sunday, August 12th @ 2:15 p.m.; Thursday, August 16th @ 8:45 p.m.; Saturday, August 18th @ 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday, August 21st @ 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $15-$18.  Visit www.FringeNYC.org for more information.

What’s more depressing than an aging child movie star? An aging child Reality TV semi-star!   Katie Hartman and Leah Rudick play more than 15 characters in The Underdeveloped and Overexposed Life and Death of Deena Domino, the curdled odyssey of a baby pageant princess and monster extraordinaire.  A wicked exploration of the duo’s twisted fear for the children who know nothing in their lives but the desperation of cheap fame, the show began as a five minute sketch lampooning shows such as “Toddlers and Tiaras” and “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo,” and evolved into an hour-long comedy that follows the life of one baby pageant princess into adulthood and beyond.  When there’s nowhere to go but down, proceed with caution  . . . and tampered amphetamines.

The Underdeveloped and Overexposed Life and Death of Deena Domino headlined The Ladies Are Funny Festival in Austin, Texas in May and played DC’s Capital Fringe Festival in July.

Leah Rudick and Katie Hartman have been tearing up the NYC comedy circuit as Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting since 2008, performing at such notable venues as Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, Caroline’s on Broadway and the Peoples Improv Theater.  Their previous festival appearances include: New York Sketchfest, East to Edinburgh at 59E59, Austin’s Out of Bounds Comedy Festival and Ladies Are Funny Festival, the Charleston Comedy Festival, the Los Angeles Comedy Festival, DC’s Capital Fringe, Boston’s Women in Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  They host a monthly variety/comedy/freak show called “Daddy’s Basement” at the PIT that features some of the best talent in New York.

The Underdeveloped and Overexposed Life and Death of Deena Domino will be stage managed by Youree Choi.

More acclaim for Leah Rudick & Katie Hartman / Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting:

“A vivid, funny, and lively reminder of the joy that is comedy, the joy that is performing, 

and the joy that is life.”- IFC

“Wickedly funny. The festival’s ‘Biggest Revelation’!” – The Guardian

“Brilliant – think French and Saunders on crack and you’re nearly there.” – Three Weeks (Edinburgh)

“You owe it to yourself to check out Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting.” – Charleston City Paper

“Sketch comedy at its funny, filthy best.” – NYTheatre.com

“We want to see more of Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting.” – Time Out NY

 BIOGRAPHIES

Katie Hartman (Creator/Performer).  As one half of the sketch duo Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting, Katie performs comedy all over NYC and travels to festivals across the U.S. and abroad.  Other stage credits include her solo show Unhuggable (The PIT), the recent interactive, half improvised production of Flanagan’s Wake off-Broadway, and the upcoming production of Freezer Dreams produced by White Horse Theater Company.

Leah Rudick (Creator/Performer).  In addition to performing with Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting (Edinburgh Fringe, The PIT, UCBT, 59E59, Charleston Comedy Festival, Out of Bounds), Leah has performed in New York with Elevator Repair Service Theater, Black Moon Theatre and International WOW. Her film credits include Lost Children (Desperate Comfort Prod., IFP Lab Selection), Bloody Mary (Sci-fi channel), Kids Go to the Woods, Kids Get Dead (Darkstar Entertainment), and Prayer to a Vengeful God (Insurgent Pictures).

Daniel Pettrow (Director) has been an associate actor with The Wooster Group since 2006, and has performed in Hamlet, Who’s Your Dada? and their latest work Vieux Carre. He is also an instructor at The Wooster Group’s “Summer Institute.” Daniel is a frequent collaborator with Bluemouth Inc, having recently presented Dance Marathon at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Daniel works closely with French Director Arthur Nauzyciel and performed the lead roles in Bernard Marie Koltes’ Black Battles With Dogs, Roberto Zucco, and Mark Antony in his current production of Julius Caesar. Daniel directed Marie Darrieussecq’s The Sea Museum for FIAF’s “Crossing the Line” festival in 2010. The production took place in Brooklyn’s abandoned Atlantic Avenue Tunnel – the oldest subway tunnel in the world. He was also part of the cast of Hetero by Denis Lachaud, a site-specific performance directed by Arthur Nauzyciel within the same festival. His film/TV credits include Good Eats, The Cult of Sincerity, The Last Adam, FightF*ckPray, Psychopathia Sexualis, Kathy T and My Uncle Sidney.

 

 For more information, visit www.SkinnyBitchComedy.com and www.FringeNYC.org.

  # # #

This show was originally developed in part with the support of Voice & Vision Theater at the 2011 ENVISION Retreat for Women Theater Artists at Bard College.

PRESS RELEASE: FORBIDDEN BROADWAY RETURNS TO NYC FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

GERARD ALESSANDRINI’S FORBIDDEN BROADWAY

RETURNS TO NEW YORK

FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

WITH

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY:
ALIVE AND KICKING

NOW IN PREVIEWS

AT THE 47TH STREET THEATRE

OPENING SET FOR SEPTEMBER 6TH

 

After a three-year absence, Gerard Alessandrini’s FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, one of NYC’s best-loved and highly anticipated productions, returns to the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street – just west of Eighth Avenue) with a brand new edition, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING. The show is now in previews,  with an opening set for Thursday, September 6th.    FORBIDDEN BROADWAY; ALIVE AND KICKING will play a limited engagement through January 6, 2013.  This production will mark FORBIDDEN BROADWAY’s 30th Anniversary, as well as its 21st edition.

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY; ALIVE AND KICKING returns with Gerard Alessandrini’s take on Porgy and Bess, Once, Evita, Anything Goes, Follies, Spiderman, Newsies, Book of Mormon, Nice Work if You Can Get It, and Death of a Salesman, among others.

Featured in the cast are Natalie Charlé Ellis, Scott Richard Foster, Jenny Lee Stern and Marcus Stevens.

 In a statement, Gerard Alessandrini said: “Over the past three years, I sat through show after show, with no outlet at all. Finally, I couldn’t take it any more. Now I have 3 years worth of pent-up parodies, and am blessed with a season that has practically written itself. We were able to get our favorite Forbidden Broadway theatre again, but only for a limited chunk of time. But that should more than long enough to say everything we have to say, and then come back to New York again, from time to time. ”

This edition is created and written by Gerard Alessandrini, and directed by Mr. Alessandrini and Phillip George, with musical direction by David Caldwell.  Costumes are designed by Philip Heckman, with set design by Jesse Poleshuck, lighting design by Mark T. Simpson and wig design by Bobbie Cliffton Zlotnik.  The show is produced by John Freedson, Harriet Yellin and Paul Bartz, in association with Paul G. Rice, Carol Ostrow, Paxton Quigley, Robert Driemeyer, Jamie DeRoy, Lawrence Poster and Tweiss Productions.

FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has been an unstoppable force in theatre since 1982, when Gerard Alessandrini created the first edition that lampooned the Broadway shows and stars of the day.  It has been a favorite among theatre lovers, as well as the Broadway stars themselves (Carol Channing, Angela Lansbury, Patti Lupone, Stephen Sondheim, Raul Esparza, Tyne Daly, Christine Ebersole, Bernadette Peters, Whoopi Goldberg Cameron Mackintosh, and Hal Prince, to name a few) who often stop by to laugh at themselves alongside the public.  FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has won numerous awards in its history including a Special Tony® Award as well as Drama Critics’ Circle, Obie, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Lucille Lortel Awards.  A theatrical institution, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has received national and international notoriety having performed in over 200 US cities as well as engagements in Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney and London’s Meniere Chocolate Factory.

GERARD ALESSANDRINI (Creator, Writer & Director) is best known for writing and directing all the editions of Forbidden Broadway and Forbidden Hollywood in New York, Los Angeles, and London and around the world. He was also a member of the original cast of Forbidden Broadway. Gerard is from Needham, Massachusetts and the Boston area, where he graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music. In 1982, he created Forbidden Broadway, which has spawned 18 editions, 8 cast albums and a record-breaking 30-year- run in New York. Television credits include writing comedy specials for Bob Hope and Angela Lansbury on NBC, Carol Burnett on CBS and “Masterpiece Tonight,” a satirical revue saluting “Masterpiece Theatre” on PBS. He can be heard on four of the eight FB cast albums and on the soundtracks of Disney’s Aladdin & Pocahontas. Directing credits include many corporate industrials and regional musicals, including a production of Maury Yeston’s musical In the Beginning. Gerard also co-directed a revival of Irving Berlin’s final musical Mr. President, which he updated & “politically corrected.” Gerard is the recipient of an Obie Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, two Lucille Lortel Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Drama League and three Drama Desk Awards for Best Lyrics for Forbidden Broadway. He received the 2006 Tony® Honor for Excellence in the Theatre. Most recently his Madame X: The Musical won acclaim and multiple awards at the 2011 NYMF Festival; his holiday extravaganza The Nutcracker and I, written with Peter Brash was a smash at the George Street Theatre, and he is currently collaborating with Paul Mazursky and Bill Conti on a musical version of Mr. Mazursky’s film Moon Over Parador.

PHILLIP GEORGE (Director) is a director and writer.  As director Off-Broadway: Shout!, The Road to Qatar (York Theatre Company), Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab, Forbidden Broadway SVU, Forbidden Hollywood, Whoop-Dee-Doo (Drama Desk Award, Best Musical Revue), Forbidden Broadway Twentieth Anniversary Edition, and many other editions of this infamous revue series.  Along the way, Forbidden Broadway was also honored with a special Tony for long time achievement.  He has also directed musicals in London, Los Angeles, Toronto, Boston, etc., with Forbidden Broadway transferring to the West End.   With his longstanding collaborator Peter Morris, Phill also wrote Frankly Scarlett, which played at the Kings Head Theatre in London.  In addition to his directing assignments, he is also one of the writers of High Hair and Jalapenos, which skewers all things Texas and is currently preparing for the fifth edition.   When not directing and writing, Phill is on the staff of the American Musical and Dramatics Academy where he passes on some of the wisdom he acquired along the way.

DAVID CALDWELL (Music Director) has been the music director of Forbidden Broadway since 2004. He composed music and lyrics for All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten and Uh-Oh Here Comes Christmas, both based on the writing of Robert Fulghum. He also composed music for Fulghum’s novel Third Wish. He conducted the American premiere of Stephen Schwartz’s Children of Eden. He recently music-directed two shows in China, with Inner Mongolian authors and casts. He arranged and orchestrated Marvin Hamlisch’s new song “I’m Really Dancing” for Career Transitions for Dancers’ 25th Anniversary Gala, featuring Angela Lansbury, Chita Rivera and Bebe Neuwirth. His new show, Gotta Getta Girl, was featured in the NYMF Reading Series. He is interviewed at length in Oliver Sacks’ book about music and the brain, Musicophilia.

PHILIP HECKMAN  (Costume Designer) is an Emmy-nominated costume designer for daytime television’s As the World Turns. He recently completed the New York run of My Big Gay Italian Wedding. Other Off-Broadway credits include SHOUT! The Mod Musical, Go-Go Beach, We’re Still Hot!, Are You There God? It’s Me, Ann-Margret, Marry Me A Little, I Love My Wife, Enough About Me and The Very Worst of Varla Jean Merman (Garland Award). Television credits include commercials, promos and shorts for LOGO, MTV, and VH1. Philip has also worked on several Broadway productions as a costume design assistant including Born Yesterday, The Boy From Oz, Chicago, Cry Baby, Democracy, Flower Drum Song, Follies, Frost/Nixon, The Graduate, Kiss Me Kate, Mamma Mia, Sideshow and Spamalot. Philip received his MFA in costume design from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

The playing schedule for FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING is as follows: Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7:30pm, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm.  Tickets are $29-$79. Premium Tickets are available at $110.Tickets can be purchased by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com

 

www.forbiddenbroadway.com

Review of “Porgy & Bess” on Broadway by Sierra Rein, Guest Reviewer

Review of “Porgy & Bess” on Broadway by Sierra Rein, Guest Reviewer

I almost pinched myself whilst sitting in the balcony of the Richard Rogers theater Friday night (August 3, 2012) – finally I would be able to see the Broadway production of “Porgy and Bess,” featuring at least three amazing musical theater performers – Norm Lewis, Audra McDonald, and David Alan Grier. I had never seen a production of it before, neither on stage nor on the screen. I had only heard clips, and of course have heard “Summertime” in both classical and cabaret styles over the years. But I never knew the show from top to bottom, the characters, the plot, and am not an expert on the score or the history of the show. I went in with innocent/virgin ears and eyes.

It was brilliant. Moving, gorgeous, amazing music, vocals to die for (in both the classical and the more modern musical theater sense). The running time was obviously cut down to reflect Broadway audience schedules, but I could have seen another 1/2 hour of material. I know there are purists who rail against the cuts, the edits, the character changes, how certain songs do not have the original orchestrations or vocal harmonies as the original. And I say that I understand this; however this Broadway version whets my appetite to want to see more, so in a way it’s a great introduction to the original show.

What I appreciated the most about this production was the care the director and actors took to make these people absolutely, 100% real and emotionally present. Not a moment was glossed over, not a down-dirty piece of information was missed. Drugs, rape, babies, love, death, poverty, obsession, hope, nature, racism, big city vs. country life – all were dealt with from the ground up, nothing ignored. I felt immense tension all through my body watching some scenes; others made me tear up and have a lump in my throat, they were so gorgeously done; still others were perfectly attuned to the comic side for relief.

This was one time of many that I had seen Norm Lewis perform on stage, and unsurprisingly his Porgy was amazing. He just radiated hope and love and care, a true hero you wanted to root for. He was in constant struggle with his physicality, his crippled state, and it was brilliant to see him consistently hold that physicality for the entire show. His “nothing” with a wry smile into “I Got Plenty O’Nothin” was pitch-perfect, you just instantly fall in love with him and want to follow his journey with your whole being.

His Porgy was the perfect antidote to Audra McDonald’s Bess. She burned with the physicality of a druggie, from her speech (a bit of a stutter), to her sensuality, to a leg tremble that appeared at intense moments of decision. I have never seen her perform on stage (I have only listened to her amazing voice on CD) and I was awestruck by her ability to make Bess a truly conflicted character, and I followed her struggle and the love she had for Porgy (and moments of hopelessness for that love to survive) until the end. Her stellar vocals aside, I would watch that woman on stage doing anything – she was specific, grounded, consistent, and mesmerizing.

Indeed, the entire cast floored me with the exact same strengths. I rose to give them a Standing O as soon as the curtain came up for bows. This music is not easy, and to perform it with full emotional power is not easy as well (and sometimes dangerous to the vocal chords). Not one person held back, and the other characters on stage GAVE of themselves in full. I loved the care that the director made to make their stories as vibrant and as fully human in scope and power as Porgy and Bess’ love affair. I was rooting for everyone, and interestingly enough I understood where the villains and antagonists of the story were coming from too – they were 3D villains and a part of the world of the play (as a**holes are in the real world), not stereotypes. Yes, this is an OPERA and has the breadth and scope of an operatic story, but everything was done with such specificity that the audience should be able to track the true emotions of everyone involved.

And David Alan Grier…what can I say?! He played the scoundrel Sporting Life with stray cat pizazz, hitting the light and the dark sides of his character perfectly. It wasn’t too hard to imagine his character strutting down the streets of New York. I’m hoping someone in the future might write the sequel to “Porgy and Bess” (uh oh, do I hear a “blasphemy!”?) just so I can see how this scoundrel does his thing in New York. He invoked an evil Cab Calloway, and was pretty amazing.

I praise this production for introducing me to the world of “Porgy and Bess,” and look forward to seeing the original in one form soon. In the meantime, the souls of the story are being brilliantly portrayed on Broadway – it closes September 23rd, so go see it! My husband stated that it was the best musical he had ever seen (he’s a stickler for character motivation and storytelling, and he was just as thrilled as I).

About the Reviewer:

SIERRA REIN
SAG-AFTRA • AEA

Sierra was last seen at Goodspeed Musicals in “City of Angels” as Angel City 4 Alto and Donna/Oolie understudy. She also has performed with members of the New York City Opera in a reading of the new opera “Strange Fruit” and had her New York City stage debut with Theater Ten Ten’s “Ruddigore.”

Her vocal group, Marquee Five (www.marqueefive.com) won a MAC Award for Vocal Duo/Group and released their debut CD, “8-Track Throwback,” in 2011. She yearly sings with the Definitely Dickens Holiday Carolers. She has also performed in numerous composer showcases in New York and has become a regular at The Salon open mic. She has regularly appeared at open mics, for composer showcases, and has shot many videos with her puppet, Kay “ThePal” Pringle. Along with her husband, Pete, they perform online puppetry via www.ThePal.us (his puppet’s name is Jay ThePal).

Favorite credits: Chiffon in “Little Shop of Horrors” (Utah Shakespearean Festival), Sister Sophia in “Sound of Music” and Nimue in “Camelot” (Fullerton CLO), Nadia in Ovation-winning “bare” (Hudson Theater), Second Soprano in “Master Class” (Odyssey Theater), roles in “The Pajama Game” and “The Boys from Syracuse” (Reprise!), and Ellen Beach Yaw in cult favorite “A Mulholland Christmas Carol” (Theater of N.O.T.E.). In 2007, she premiered “Ridin’ High,” her debut cabaret show (directed by Calvin Remsberg). Read a more detailed bio here.

www.sierrarein.com
sirein@sierrarein.com

Video Interview: Alec Mapa “America’s Gaysian Sweatheart”

I was SO happy to be able to sit down with “America’s Gaysian Sweetheart” Alec Mapa after his delightful one man show, “Baby Daddy” currently playing at The Laurie Beechman Theatre. Here is the video interview:

GO SEE THIS SHOW!!! Enjoy!

For more information about this show, visit ALEC MAPA: BABY DADDY”.

Buy tickets HERE.

• “Smart, hilarious and funny.” — Ellen DeGeneres
• “Alec Mapa is a freak. No one should be this talented” — Variety
• “Truly insightful, hilarious, pungent and persuasive… See it! It says something important about how we live today.” — Edge
• “Both funny and poignant” — BistroAwards.com
• “By turns filthy, fierce and fabulous, Mapa’s seemingly mundane anecdotes are an outrageous delight… utterly divine.” — Next Magazine

After selling out a short run in February, ALEC MAPA (Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, The View, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Gossip Queens, Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure) returns to New York with his critically acclaimed and wildly popular new show ALEC MAPA:  BABY DADDY.  It runs July 19 – 29, Thursday – Sunday at 7:30pm. The Laurie Beechman Theater is located inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street — at Ninth Avenue, accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2 & 3 trains at 42nd Street). Tickets are $22 (plus a $15 food/drink minimum). To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 or visitwww.SpinCycleNYC.com.