"UP IN THE CHEAP SEATS"
Theatre yesterday and today
SHAKESPEARE AND THE TONYS
I can’t help it. Even though the Tonys have all but vanished off the radar due to the 2020 ceremony being postponed fifteen months until...
Q & A WITH JOHN ADAMS ON THE FOURTH (the one and only William Daniels)
William Daniels as John Adams in 1776 (1969). As I always post something about the musical 1776 on the Fourth of July, I thought that...
THE DEATH AND LIFE OF MICHAEL BENNETT
Michael Bennett (1943–1987). On this date 34 years ago, Michael Bennett died in Tucson, Arizona, from complications caused by AIDS. He...
CANDIDE: A "GLITTER AND BE GAY" STORY
Constance Hauman singing “Glitter and Be Gay,” London, 1989. Having received a favorable response to my May 26th post on the troubled...
PHIL SILVERS: TOP BANANA
Phil Silvers in his quintessential role as Sgt. Ernie Bilko on television’s “You’ll Never Get Rich” (1955), later “The Phil Silvers...
BECAUSE IT'S JUNE, JUNE, JUNE!
Leslie Uggams (photo by Joseph Moran). Yes, it’s June. And, as for most Broadway aficionados, it’s all about singer and actress Leslie...
HOW TO SUCCEED AT "CANDIDE" (WITH REALLY TRYING)
Tom Morrow’s poster art for Candide (1956). He also created other iconic logos for Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me, among...
THE CRITICS WERE WRONG
Patti LuPone, Bob Gunton and Mandy Patkinin, the original leads of Evita (1979). Bold statement, right? It’s also the name of a now...
JACK HALEY: LIGHT COMEDIAN
Jack Haley in his signature role of the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (1939). Though the phrase has passed into antiquity, being praised as...
BERT LAHR: IN THE LION'S DEN
Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz (1939). The old line that “comedians suffer for their art” may sound like a cliche,...