All Entries in the "Roundabout Theatre" Category
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!
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.
Four TONY Nominations for Pal Joey!
The American Theatre Wing announced the 2009 Tony Award Nominees today, with Roundabout Theatre Company’s Pal Joey picking up a respectable FOUR:
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical; Stockard Channing
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical; Martha Plimpton
Best Scenic Design of a Musical; Scott Pask
Congratulations to Roundabout and the entire Pal Joey team!!
Four TONY Nominations for Pal Joey!
The American Theatre Wing announced the 2009 Tony Award Nominees today. While Billy Elliott and Next to Normal topped the list of multiple nominations by show (15 and 11 respectively), Roundabout Theatre Company’s Pal Joey picked up a respectable 4 Tony nods:
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical; Stockard Channing
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical; Martha Plimpton
Best Scenic Design of a Musical; Scott Pask
Congratulations to Roundabout and the entire Pal Joey team!!
For a full listing of Nominees, read more.
LAST CHANCE! Pal Joey Plays Last Show March 1
Only a few days left to catch Stockard Channing, Matthew Risch and Martha Plimpton starring in Pal Joey at the Roundabout Theatre Company’s Studio 54. The final curtain is Sunday, March 1, and tickets are available.
PAL JOEY RUN EXTENDED
…………………………………………………….
Great news for Pal Joey fans:
Roundabout Theatre Company has announced a two-week extension for its Broadway revival of Pal Joey, which will now play through March 1 at Studio 54.
Michael Riedel Can’t Get Enough of Pal Joey
I just can’t resist posting another gossipy article from Michael Riedel’s NY Post column Broadway Matinee (Thursday, December 17). I just have to wonder, how in the world is he privy to someone else’s e-mail unless he has a) hacked into their computer; b) made it all up; or c) been leaked the information by someone desperate for publicity.
UNFRIENDLY WORDS OVER ‘PAL’
POST LEAK LEADS TO E-MAIL BATTLE
ON the eve of the opening of the troubled revival of “Pal Joey,” a war of words has broken out between the head of the Roundabout Theatre Company and the head of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, which controls the rights to the show.
In a series of blistering e-mails, Todd Haimes, who’s shepherded the Roundabout for nearly 20 years, accused Ted Chapin, who oversees the Richard Rodgers estate, of badmouthing the production to - who else? - The Post!
Pal Joey’s Official Opening Night, December 18th
I’m just back from a fantastic trip to New York for the “official” opening night of Pal Joey at the Roundabout Theatre Company’s Studio 54. In case you’re wondering, the difference between the show on December 11th, which was the original opening night, and December 18th, the “official” opening night is that now the press is allowed to write reviews. That’s right, all that stuff you’ve read in the press the last month wasn’t “reviews”, but just “opinions” - officially.
I am not by any means, a Broadway critic. So the thoughts you are about to read are just that - my random thoughts as I watched the show. And as always, I invite, even encourage you to share your thoughts.
This was not my first visit to Studio 54, but it certainly wasn’t the same place I remembered. Well, it was 25 years ago and a very different venue! The theatre is gorgeous, with old ornate woodwork and a very intimate feel to it. The orchestra was located in balconies on either side of the stage and sounded beautiful. I don’t imagine there was a bad seat in the house.
I forced myself to put all thoughts of Christian Hoff out of my mind…no comparisons, no what-could-have-beens…just watch the show and enjoy. I thought it would be hard to do, but when Joey (Matthew Risch) entered (or was thrown onto) the stage, I was captivated by him. He’s good looking, sexy, and he could really dance. I noticed I had a huge smile on my face at the end of “Chicago”. Off to a good start. I even found myself believing he was falling for Linda (Jenny Fellner), and really enjoyed their duet of “I Could Write A Book”. Jenny’s voice is flawless, and I could sense the innocence, as well as the desperation, in her character.
Stockard Channing’s portryal of Vera Simpson was harder for me to categorize. Yes, Vera is supposed to by cynical and hard, but I couldn’t decide if Ms. Channing was playing the part to perfection, or was just a little bored with the whole thing. Either way, the audience loved her, and Joey’s first encounter with Vera in the nightclub was quite entertaining. I didn’t totally buy into her passion for Joey, but her rendition of “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” gave the audience a glimpse into her “troubled soul”. The talk-singing I had heard so much about fit beautifully with her voice and her character, and I thouroughly enjoyed it.
The audience favorite, by far, was Gladys Bumps, played superbly by Martha Plimpton. Her sultry, smoky voice and great comedic timing made for a terrific “Zip”. I only wish we could have had more Martha, as the second Act dragged a little bit for me. My husband was very entertained by the “chorus girls”, who I suspect were his favorite part of the show. And we both enjoyed the voice of Daniel Marcus (as Ludlow Lowell). Wish we could have had more Daniel Marcus. Besides “Zip”, my favorite song of the second act was “Take Him”, performed beautifully by Fellner and Channing.
The costumes by William Ivey Long were perfection. Linda English was suitable dowdy, the chorus girls were just tacky enough, Joey was smashingly handsome in his well tailored suits, and Vera’s gowns and pant suits were beautifully rich without going overboard.
The stage was dark and smoky, which I suppose was appropriate for the gritty Chicago setting, but was a bit disctracting to me. And I thought the cast managed the stairways with great agility - not an easy feat. And Chez Joey was just tacky enough!
The show is helped along by a very strong supporting cast. Robert Clohessy and Steven Skybell (Mike and Ernest, respectively) could have handled parts with a little more meat to them, but both actors got the most out of their characters, and gave terrific performances.
I give Matthew Risch a great deal of credit for coming as far as he has in such a short time. He wasn’t quite the “leading man” this show needed, but I can certainly see it in his future. I found myself singing several of the songs in my head the next day, which is a good sign. I suspect that Pal Joey will have a great run, despite (or perhaps because of) all the drama surrounding it.
Bewitched, Bothered and Opening
The story of Roundabout replacing Christian Hoff as Joey continues, this time in the more staid New York Times (vs the freewheeling New York Post). Following is an excerpt from the article.
Bewitched, Bothered and Opening
By PATRICK HEALY
Published: December 17, 2008
After months of backstage turbulence, capped by the loss of its leading actor and the ascent of an understudy into the title role, the Broadway revival of “Pal Joey” opens on Thursday night with hopes of defying the problems that have clouded the show since previews began on Nov. 14.
Autumn and spring: Stockard Channing and Matthew Risch in the revival of ‘Pal Joey,’ opening Thursday night at Studio 54. (Krulwich/NYT)
Several people involved with the Roundabout Theater Company’s production at Studio 54, members of the creative and financial teams as well as actors, said in interviews that this “Pal Joey” seemed destined to enter theater lore as one of the more artistically troubled experiences of Broadway in recent years.
Just as Gene Kelly struggled to make audiences fall in love with the antihero club impresario Joey Evans in its premiere in 1940, and a 1976 revival was marred by recasting, the convulsions in this latest production have largely involved the cast and the tricky story of a bad-boy huckster who treats women shabbily.
Jimmy Merrill Interviews Patricia Clarkson, Tony Roberts and Matthew Risch
Continuing his coverage of the Pal Joey Opening Night Celebration, contributing correspondent Jimmy Merrill talks with Patricia Clarkson (Good Night and Good Luck, Vicki Cristina Barcelona), Tony Roberts (Annie Hall, Xanadu on Broadway), and Joey Evans himself, Matthew Risch.
Interviews from the Opening Night Celebration
Click here to see contributing correspondent Jimmy Merrill’s interviews with the Pal Joey stars and other celebrities–exclusively on the Pal Joey Blog. The five segments are listed in reverse chronological order based on when they were posted. The total running time is around 25 minutes.
Excerpt From Riedel’s Latest NY Post Article
Michael Riedel’s latest NY Post article, “WHEN ‘EX’ MARKS THE PLOT”, which maligns playwright David Mamet citing various “sources” sound familiar?), ends with, almost as an aside, a follow up of his ‘Great Boy But No Pal‘ article. While not exactly a retraction, Riedel must admit that not all his information was accurate: (red type indicates Catherine’s personal comment)
EXECUTIVES at the Rodgers & Hammerstein office called to say that, contrary to the rumors swirling around “Pal Joey,” they weren’t the ones who knifed poor Christian Hoff.
The Tony-winning actor left the Roundabout revival a few weeks ago. He suffered a minor foot injury, but when he asked to return to the show, he was told that he’d been replaced by his understudy, Matthew Risch.
“The Roundabout asked us if we were OK with the change,” says an R&H source. “We certainly did not push for it. We did not have a problem with Christian.”
Whoever did him in, it looks as if Hoff has dodged a bullet. Word of mouth on “Pal Joey” is pretty poisonous. (We’ll let the critics be the judge of that next week.)
Risch gets high marks for energetically jumping into the fray, but “the chorus boy is still a chorus boy,” says a source.
The one bright spot: Martha Plimpton, who, although not exactly known for her singing abilities, is stealing the show with her rendition of “Zip.” Look for her to walk off with the reviews next week as well.
Well, Michael, I can only hope you learned a valuable lesson - check your sources! And Pal Joey and Christian Hoff fans, remember - don’t believe everything you read!
Delightful NY Times Interview With Stockard Channing
I hope you enjoy reading this interview as much as I did. It shows a softer, more personal side to Stockard.
Bewitched, Bothered and Back
By ERIK PIEPENBURG
Published: December 3, 2008
Ms. Channing in her dressing room at Roundabout’s Studio 54
“It’s interesting to be known as an errant teenager or the first lady of the United States, depending who you’re talking to,” Ms. Channing said.
Click here to open audio slideshow in a new window - Clothes Make A Woman
The title of Vera’s big number, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” is an apt description of the backstage dramatics that unfolded shortly after previews started. Christian Hoff, 40, who was to play Joey Evans, withdrew from the show after a foot injury and was replaced permanently by his understudy, Matthew Risch, 27. The show’s opening was pushed back a week, to Dec. 18.
Before a recent preview performance Erik Piepenburg sat down with Ms. Channing to discuss the challenges of a sudden cast change, her light-bulb moment with Brecht and Weill, and letting go of “Grease.” Excerpts from the interview follow.
Losing a Co-Star
It’s been hard on the company, any time you lose a member of the company so suddenly who’s been such an organic part of the creative process. … You can see how demanding the show is physically. I obviously wasn’t present for these conversations, but everybody had to make a quick decision. I think from his part, to bow out — he could injure himself permanently if he came back too soon. The temptation in any kind of athletic situation, I think, is “I don’t want to let the team down,” which is very much Christian’s way. … It was terribly dramatic because we had to cancel the Saturday matinee. …We’re blessed, and we also have a great loss at the same time, which is really stressful. I’m sure it was a very painful decision for him to make.
Old Joey, New Joey
I think we’re telling a slightly different story. There’s a much larger gap in age, which concerns me sometimes, that Vera Simpson is not going to be arrested for robbing the cradle. On the other hand there’s a great tradition that goes back to Colette, of an older woman and a younger man. It’s been going on for a long time.
Matthew Risch, The Luckiest Ex-Understudy In New York City
Max Abelson of The New York Observer visited with Matthew Risch in his new dressing room at Roundabout Theatre’s Studio 54. The first sentence of his subsequent article, which appeared on December 2, began like this..”Never having a real speaking role before…” Wow! Talk about pressure! Risch admits that he almost threw up when he heard that he would be taking over permanently for Chrisitan Hoff, who had injured his foot two days prior. But apparently not from nerves or joy, but because “I felt so completely horrible for him, because he had been nothing but the most generous person I’ve ever had the chance to work with…”
Risch has been receiving much appreciated support from his co-stars Stockard Channing and Martha Plimpton. “They’re like….We’re here for you. Whatever you need, just let us know.” And some welcome advice on playing Joey from legendary actress Elaine Stritch (who was in the 1952 revival). She told him “He’s (Joey) just spewing out all this vomit of charm…Vomiting up charm left and right to everybody, it’s nothing to him. That’s all he knows how to do.”
The full article covers many subjects, from what Risch keeps in his dressing room, to his childhood and through his career to present day - going from hoping to go on at least once as Hoff’s understudy, to becoming leading man in a Broadway musical. A dream come true for a man who had “never had a speaking role before”.
Click here to open the Observer site and read the complete article.
