All Entries in the "Roundabout Theatre" Category

Share Your Pal Joey Experience

One of our blog readers made a second visit to see Pal Joey, and here are her observations:
** The choreography may have been tweeked a bit…although I cannot say all the dancing was spectacular, it was quite enjoyable - especially dancing on the stairs. (Although I feel Christian Hoff was better on the stairs!)
** Costume glitches were all taken care of.
** The major improvement I was keenly seeking was the chemistry between ‘Vera’ and ‘Joey’…I felt that Stockard Channing did not feel comfortable with Christian…if Vera is supposed to be infatuated with this young song and dance man, I want to see that exhibited throughout the show…now seeing Matthew Risch & Stockard was a completely different FEEL..Stockard seemed to sincerely enjoy touching, embracing and kissing ‘Joey’…my personal thought was that Stockard feels much more in control with a very young protege, sort of a boy-toy!
** Matt’s dancing in the beginning was right on, but he does sweat profusely. The singing was much the same for ‘Vera’ and ‘Joey’.
** Martha Plimpton’s performance throughout the show is still very enticing…and Jenny Fellner still mezmerizing. They are both key characters to the success of this run of Pal Joey.
** Daniel Marcus’s (Ludlow) solo in the second act was a shining star.
** Matthew has clearly captured the “JERK” attitude that ‘Joey” is supposed to exhibit.
** I must say that the whole cast was more than gracious to pose for photos and sign autographs after the show.

The Pal Joey Blog invites you to share your Pal Joey experience! Leave a comment and let us know how you enjoyed the show. If you have pictures you want to share, send them to  admin at paljoeyblog.com, and include captions if you like.

A big thank you to Charly O’Clarit. She combined her pictures with those of Lucy Rochetti and Lori Leone to create this great slide show. Thank you, ladies!

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Fan Shawna Blake with Stockard Channing

Shawna, a self-proclaimed Stockard enthusiast, shared this photo from her fabulous evening at Pal Joey. See comments below to read about Shawna’s experience.

Pal Joey Blog’s Exclusive Interview With Christian Hoff

These last few days before previews begin, the cast of Pal Joey is working long hard hours to prepare for the 14th (just two days away!!!). Even so, Christian Hoff was gracious enough to take a few minutes to chat about the show:

PJblog: How has the transition been from Jersey Boys to Pal Joey? Has your experience portraying Tommy DeVito been helpful in making that transition?

CH: The transition has been seamless. My overlapping of these two productions has allowed me to transfer my artistic adrenaline into another character. Yes, my portrayal of a real life “bad boy” has helped me with a more human perspective with regard to the bad boy icon Joey Evans.

PJblog: You worked closely with three men in Jersey Boys, and now your character is involved with three women. Are you the luckiest guy alive, or ????

CH: Let’s just say that it’s a bit more complicated juggling three love interests versus brothers.

PJblog: And what a wonderful cast in Pal Joey. Can you tell us a little bit about the people you’re working with?

CH: Stockard Channing is both a seasoned veteran of film and stage and a humble working actor who embraces the process. Martha Plimpton has brought a real sense of fun and professionalism. She has raised the stakes for me as both an actor and my character. Jenny Fellner has brought a great combination of innocence and strength to Linda and has given me a whole different emotional palette to work from.

PJblog: So many of the people who are familiar with Pal Joey have the movie in mind, and some even compare you to Frank Sinatra. But the original Broadway show was much different. Can you share any details about what we might expect from this revival? Does it basically stay true to the original show?

A Bit Of Rodgers And Hart History

I so enjoyed delving into the “Origin Of Pal Joey”, that I thought I’d continue in that vein with a brief history of Rodgers and Hart, without whom Pal Joey would be….well…just a play!

According to the Roundabout Theatre Company’s website, RICHARD RODGERS (Music; 1902-1979) and LORENZ HART (Lyrics; 1895-1943) wrote their first shows together when both were still students attending Columbia University. Their breakthrough came with the score for a 1925 charity show, the Garrick Gaities, which introduced the classic valentine to their hometown, “Manhattan.” Over the next five years they wrote fifteen musical comedies for Broadway and London’s West End before relocating to Hollywood in 1930, where they contributed songs and wrote the scores for several movie musicals, most notably Love Me Tonight starring Maurice Chevalier. In 1935 they returned to New York to write the score for Billy Rose’s circus musical Jumbo, launching a golden era which included On Your Toes, Babes In Arms, I’d Rather Be Right, I Married An Angel, The Boys From Syracuse, Too Many Girls, Higher And Higher, Pal Joey and By Jupiter, which collectively offered such classic songs as “There’s a Small Hotel,” “I Wish I Were In Love Again,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Where Or When,” “The Lady is a Tramp,” “Spring Is Here,” “Falling In Love With Love,” “Sing For Your Supper,” “This Can’t Be Love,” “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was,” “It Never Entered My Mind,” “Bewitched,” “I Could Write a Book,” “Nobody’s Heart,” and “Wait Til You See Her.”

WABC-7’s “Broadway Backstage” TV Special

WABC-7’s “Broadway Backstage” TV Special Will Spotlight All My Sons, Pal Joey, Shrek and More

By Andrew Gans
23 Oct 2008

As previously announced, Tom Wopat, who is currently playing Billy Flynn in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago, will join WABC-TV news anchor Michelle Charlesworth to host WABC-7’s “Broadway Backstage: Fall Preview.”

Did You Know…..?

Anyone who knows the name Stockard Channing knows that she played Rizzo in the 1978 film Grease. But did you also know that she played a very important role in the success of Roundabout Theatre Company?

In the early 1980’s, the not-for-profit Roundabout was in serious financial difficulty, and was trying to work it’s way out of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. According to the Roundabout website, “In 1984, Roundabout was forced out of its 23rd Street home … and moved to Union Square. The company converted Tammany Hall into a 499-seat theatre. During the $1 million renovation, Roundabout staged its most acclaimed production to that time, Peter Nichols’ A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, starring Jim Dale and Stockard Channing. The production moved to Broadway where it won the 1985 Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Revival.” Channing also won the 1985 Tony Award for Best Actress In A Play.

You know, you can find anything on youtube.com! And I found this video montage of Stockard Channing that covers many years and many looks. Take a look, and enjoy! Clicking here will open the video in a new window.