Author Archive for Catherine
Christian Hoff Moves To MIDTOWN…THE MIDTOWN MEN, That Is
While other former Pal Joey castmembers are finding their way around Broadway and off-Broadway, Christian Hoff has found a very special spot for himself with THE MIDTOWN MEN, performing concerts across the country with former Jersey Boys friends Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer. Movies, television (I recently caught him on a chilling episode of Law & Order, SVU with Debra Messing), Broadway, and now a musical group. There is no end to Christian’s talent, and his drive to do what he loves to do - perform and entertain!
J. Robert Spencer, Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria and Daniel Reichard are THE MIDTOWN MEN
Catch THE MIDTOWN MEN in concert - you won’t be disappointed.
4 stars from the Original Cast of Jersey Boys
return to the Big Apple
After a successful 2010 tour of nearly 50 cities across the US and Canada, THE MIDTOWN MEN bring their highly anticipated concert act to New York City with a performance and fan reception at the Colden Center at Queens College on Saturday, April 9th at 8pm.
The Midtown Men are Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer.
The group’s jump- to- your-feet show features top hits from a who’s who of the ‘60s including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, The Jackson 5 and The Four Seasons, whose story they brought to life every night as stars in the Original Broadway Cast of Jersey Boys.
“The 60s produced some of the greatest songs ever written,” says THE MIDTOWN MEN’S Christian Hoff, who won the Tony for his portrayal of Four Seasons bad boy Tommy DeVito, “so we’re having a ball adding our own style to those great songs everyone loves.” Their fans agree–in one week last summer over 45,000 people of all ages came out to enjoy their unique singing style and legendary onstage chemistry.
Now, in 2011, their tour continues with stops all across the country including a special appearance in New Jersey in early May where their talents will raise funds and awareness for a 10th year commemorative project honoring victims of 9/11 and their families.
THE MIDTOWN MEN concert takes place at The Colden Center at Queens College at 8pm on Saturday, April 9th. Tickets are $40 and are available via web or phone. For updated tour information and to purchase tickets visit www.themidtownmen.com or www.facebook.com .
Catching Up With Stockard Channing…
… and Matthew Risch. Catching up with Martha Plimpton recently made me think about other Pal Joey cast members, and what they might be up to these days. In the next couple of weeks, I will post updates on some of our favorite ‘pals’. If there’s someone you’d like me to look up, please comment here.
Stockard Channing, Joe Mantella and Matthew Risch are together again in the off-Broadway production of Other Desert Cities. Stockard chatted with Broadway.com on her latest role, and why she loves stage acting.
Click here to read Broadway.com’s “Other Desert Cities Star Stockard Channing on Why She’s the ‘Worst Celebrity Ever’.”
Martha Plimpton Visits Jimmy Kimmel Live
I saw this on broadwayworld.com and just had to post it. Martha looks gorgeous, and is as funny as ever.
Parade, and Hoff, A Hit In LA
Christian Hoff outside the Mark Taper Forum
Pal Joey Special Correspondent Tom Barton saw the show during previews and had this to report:
The new version of Parade is terrific. I saw the third preview and they received an extended standing ovation. Christian is the third lead, prosecuting attorney Hugh Dorsey. It’s a very strong performance. The entire cast is wonderful, especially T. R. Knight of Grey’s Anatomy as accused killer Leo Frank. The performance was sold out.
This will be a very tough ticket.
Christian Hoff fans won’t be surprised to hear that the critics agree! The “Hollywood Reporter” states … Of special note in the splendid ensemble are …Christian Hoff as the unprincipled prosecuting attorney… ; the “Santa Monica Mirror” reports…Though Knight steals the show, the ensemble cast is likewise powerful, particularly Christian Hoff as Hugh Dorsey; and “Variety” says of Hoff’s performance…The prickly, unsympathetic defendant is at the mercy of relentless D.A. Dorsey (a superb Christian Hoff), his spellbinding gestures misdirecting attention from a parade of dubious circumstantial evidence.
Besides Knight and Hoff, the fantastic cast includes Lara Pulver as Lucille Frank, Michael Berresse, Charlotte d’Amboise, Davis Gaines, P. J. Griffith, David St. Louis, Curt Hansen, Deidrie Henry, Lisa Livesay, Hayley Podschun (Pal Joey), Rose Sezniak and Phoebe Strole. The show runs through November 15 at the Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles.
Cast members Christian Hoff, Michael Berresse, Phoebe Strole, T.R. Knight, Hayley Podschun, Charlotte d’Amboise and Lisa Livesay (Photo by Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging)
Stockard Channing At The Westport Country Playhouse
Ticket Sales Reported Brisk for “The Breath of Life”
Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Oscar-nominated Stockard Channing (l) and four times Oscar-nominated Jane Alexander are attracting “brisk ticket sales” at the Westport Country Playhouse for its latest production, “The Breath of Life,” which has its opening night performance on Saturday. Public Relations Manager Patricia Blaufuss said that tickets are selling “extremely well” and while no show is completely sold out, some performances have only seats remaining with a limited view. The show runs through Oct. 17.
Fans Unite For Benefit Concert Starring Christian Hoff
Fans gathered from far and wide to share a night of music with one of their favorites - Christian Hoff.
Tickets Available For Hoff’s Junior Theatre Benefit Concert
from the North County Times
Tony-winner Hoff back home to honor his theatrical roots
PAM KRAGEN - pkragen at nctimes.com | Posted: Wednesday, August 26, 2009 8:15 am
Thirty-three years ago, a tow-headed 8-year-old Little Leaguer from La Jolla traded in his cleats and ball cap for a pair of tights and trumpet to play a boy page in San Diego Junior Theatre’s production of “Cinderella” at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park.
On Monday, he’ll return to the stage that launched his career, and Tony Award-winning “Jersey Boys” star Christian Hoff says he hopes to inspire some of the young Junior Theatre actors who may want to follow in his footsteps.
Hoff will host a master class for young actors (ages 12 and up) on Monday afternoon, and then on Sept. 12, he’ll perform in concert to raise money for Junior Theatre programs. He’s now recording a CD of standards, jazz and pop tunes that will be for sale at the concert, with all revenues benefiting the theater.
Hoff said he’s wanted to give back to his theatrical birthplace for years, but “Jersey Boys” and other work commitments have kept him from fulfilling that goal.
“We wanted to create an opportunity for kids to do what they do and hear about life in the theater, my experiences and how to bridge their youth theater work into a professional career,” he said. “I want to talk to them about body language, finding their essence and having a respect for the discipline of the craft of acting. That’s what’s missing out there right now, that discipline and respect for the process.”
Opening Night of “Tin Pan Alley Rag”, Co-starring Jenny Fellner
Jenny Fellner, photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
The Tin Pan Alley Rag tells the story of an imagined meeting of two of America’s greatest musicians, composer Scott Joplin (Boatman) and songwriter Irving Berlin (Therriault). Both men changed the landscape of music forever with their contributions to the first American musical genre, ragtime. Beneath Joplin and Berlin’s toe-tapping, syncopated rhythms lay fascinating stories of fame, love and loss. In The Tin Pan Alley Rag, these tales come to vivid life and two great icons realize they have more in common than they ever suspected.
Click here to watch the video from opening night in a separate window. For more information, click here to visit Roundabout’s website.
Jeffrey Schecter
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On a “Tin Pan Alley Rag” related note, Jeffrey Schecter (Shecky), understudy for Irving Berlin, has been spending his summer on a true labor of love: he’s preparing to run in a half marathon and hoping to raise money for melanoma research in honor of a special person who passed away from the deadly skin cancer. Schecter shares his story here.
Hoff Fan Thoroughly Enjoys Guys and Dolls
Jersey Boys Tony Winner cast in Guys & Dolls! Production run ends August 8th!
by Contributing Writer Priscilla Florindi
Saturday at the ‘beautiful place by the sea’, better known as Ogunquit, Maine, my daughters and I were awed by the production of Guys & Dolls at the Ogunquit Playhouse! Ogunquit Playhouse is “America’s Foremost Summer Theatre” of the Northeast! The Playhouse (which) consistently contracts Broadway actors, and this season its management culled a Tony winner from Jersey Boys, Christian Hoff!!
Christian, cast as Sky Masterson, evoked charisma, expertise and allure that mesmerized a packed audience. Receiving applause upon entrance, Christian exhibited his customary charm and was rewarded with a standing ovation at the close.
Christian’s beautiful baritone voice as well as his tenderness was showcased throughout the play. Despite the fact of achieving grand success on Broadway, Christian embraced the Ogunquit Playhouse role with genuine humility and grace.
Playing the part of Nathan Detroit, Richard Kind impressed with his impeccable comedic timing. Although his age separated Kind from the youthfulness of the supporting cast, the audience thoroughly enjoyed his performance. The ensemble dancers provided strong techniques. William Ivey Long (Pal Joey), a Tony-winning costume designer, again designed and created his signature technicolor costumes which completed the revival’s success. Linda Cameron, cast as the General Cartwright, was a hilarious showstopper and she graciously accepted kudos at stage door.
Christian received us at stage door, which was definitely the highlight of the evening. He was well-rested and looked simply divine! This has been Christian’s first venture to the Northeast and he has been taking in all the local delights with his beautiful family for the duration of the performance.
The production was rewarded with a visit at Sunday’s matinee by George H.W. & Barbara Bush, who also frequent the Playhouse. Guys & Dolls completes its run on Saturday, August 8th!
Martha Plimpton To Appear on Grey’s Anatomy
Photo by Getty Images
Starting with the September 24th season premiere of the ABC drama, Plimpton will appear as the mother of a young patient in a multi-episode story line. I’ve never watched Grey’s Anatomy, but you can be sure I’ll tune in to watch Martha work her magic. What a treat!
Hoff Set To Co-Star in LA Production of “Parade”
T.R. Knight in NYC, June 2009
Christian Hoff, photo by Erin Kate
According to Variety, Christian Hoff is set to join T.R. Knight in the upcoming Los Angeles revival of Parade. Also slated for the show are Broadway vets Michael Berresse and Charlotte d’Amboise, and Olivier Award nominee Lara Pulver. The production will run from September 24 to November 15 at the Mark Taper Forum.
Hoff, who was sidelined from Pal Joey with a foot injury, won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys, His “character” both onstage and off won him many dedicated and loyal fans who, I’m sure, will be delighted to see him on the stage again.
Knight, who is trained for stage, is probably most recognizable as Dr. George O’Malley in Grey’s Anatomy, a role he played since the show’s debut in 2005. He made the decision earlier this year not to continue on Grey’s, and his character will apparently be written off the show.
For more information on Parade, click here.
A Taste Of The Tony’s
The Tony Awards show on Sunday night was spectacular! And although Pal Joey didn’t come away with any awards, the show was well represented….from Martha Plimpton on the red carpet (at time code 1:15)…
**video from broadway.com
….to Stockard Channing “bewitching” in the opening number (she appears at 4:55 in this video), alongside Aaron Tveit of Next to Normal.
And the finale was just too funny to miss! Neil Patrick Harris did a fabulous job as Tony host.
Stockard Channing to Perform on Tony Awards
Representatives for the Tony Awards announced Tuesday that Stockard Channing, of “Pal Joey”, is among the scheduled performers for Sunday night’s Tony Awards show. The following performers have also been added to Sunday’s awards ceremony: Dolly Parton along with the cast of “9 to 5: The Musical”; Elton John with the cast of “Billy Elliot, The Musical”; Liza Minnelli; and the band Poison along with the cast of “Rock of Ages.”
The roster of performers features the casts of the Tony nominees for best musical and best musical revival, which also includes “Guys and Dolls,” “Hair,” “Next to Normal,” “Shrek the Musical” and “West Side Story.” The Tonys show will be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and broadcast on CBS.
Gemignani and Plimpton, Together Again
From Playbill:
Wall to Wall Broadway’s 12-Hour Line-Up Announced
By Andrew Gans
12 May 2009
Symphony Space’s free Wall to Wall Broadway: A Century of Musicals, a 12-hour celebration of the music of Broadway, will be presented May 16 beginning at 11 AM.
Paul Gemignani, Musical Director, Pal Joey
…At 8 PM, Tony and Emmy Award winner Paul Gemignani conducts a full orchestra in performances of Broadway musical classics. Performers include Michael Cerveris, Alexander Gemignani, George S. Irving, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Raúl Esparza, Martha Plimpton, Loni Ackerman, Terrence Mann, Randy Graff, Kate Baldwin, Leenya Rideout, Gregg Edelman, B.D. Wong, Julie Wilson, Debbie Gravitte, Ivy Austin, Isaiah Sheffer, Melissa Errico, James Naughton, Lisa Flanagan, Kathryn Markey, Amy Vice, Jonathan Hadary, Jeffrey Schecter, Liz Calaway, D’Ambrose Boyd, Chip Zien and Donna Murphy.
The current schedule of performances follows:
Jenny Fellner Back With Roundabout Theatre Company
Jenny Fellner will be back with Roundabout Theater Company in their upcoming new musical “Tin Pan Alley Rag”. The production will be the New York premiere of the show, which will run at Roundabout’s Laura Pels Theater at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theater — the first musical presented in that space.
Full casting for the musical was announced last month, with the actors Michael Boatman and Michael Therriault playing, respectively, Scott Joplin and Irving Berlin, who have an imagined meeting in this production that draws on their legendary music. Previews are to start Friday, June 12, with the opening scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.
