Archive for October, 2008
Christian Hoff in The Who’s Tommy Reunion Concert
THE PATH FUND / ROCKERS ON BROADWAY PROUDLY PRESENTS THE WHO’S TOMMY: 15th ANNIVERSARY BENEFIT CONCERT, REUNITING THE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST
Directed by Donnie Kehr, this one-night-only milestone event featuring the original cast of the groundbreaking Broadway musical will take place Monday, December 15 at 8:00 PM at the August Wilson Theatre. Proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Broadway Dreams Foundation and the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation.
Who Was Harold Lang?
Harold Lang as Joey and Carol Bruce as Vera in the 1954 London production of Pal Joey.
But who was Harold Lang?
In short, he was a talented, classically-trained dancer who became a Broadway mainstay from 1945 to 1962, appearing in nine musicals and one play. In the 1960s, Lang faded from public view and his performing career was virtually over at age 42. (Not to be confused with British film and TV actor Harold Lang, who was about the same age.)
Following is Lang’s biography from Wikipedia
Christian Hoff in Vogue
Christian Hoff is featured in the “People are talking about…Theater” section of Vogue magazine’s November issue! And if the picture isn’t enough to whet your appetite, here’s a sample of Adam Green’s article:
“This month…a rarely seen classic returns as Pal Joey gets its first Broadway production in more than 30 years. ….[I]t features a magnificent Rodgers and Hart score….and a thoroughbred cast, led by Jersey Boys’ Tony-winning charmer Christian Hoff as the musical theater’s great all-American heel.”
“Christian is sexy and rakish and funny and all that, but he also has a wonderful, anachronistic courtliness” says (Richard) Greenberg (who revised the story for the revival). “How lovely for the audience to discover that within this driven, grabby, self-scuttling character there lurks a gentleman whose decency and tenderness come as a surprise - even to him.”
Adam Green concludes that “…Hoff…seems poised to become a star.”
If you want more, you’ll just have to buy the magazine!
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.”
Stockard and Craig Ferguson Chat About Meerkats
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Who knew that there was a TV market for meerkats? Apparently, the creators of Animal Planet’s “Meerkat Manor” did. And when viewers tuned in to Season 4, they were quite surprised to find that narrator Sean Astin had been replaced by …. Stockard Channing! There seems to be no limit to Ms. Channing’s talents - movies, TV, made-for-TV-movies, theatre (play and musical), voice-over commercials, voice-over television show….what’s missing? I wonder if she’s narrated an audio book?!?
Click on the video to watch Stockard Channing’s chat with Craig Ferguson on the June 11, 2008 episode of The Late Late Show, in what is sure to be the most entertaining conversation about meerkats you’ll ever witness!
…On The Back Nine of Life - Part II, by Howard Tucker
Part I of Howard Tucker’s article proved to be quite popular. So, without further ado, I give you Part II.
REALIZING A BROADWAY DREAM ON THE BACK NINE OF LIFE….THANKS TO AN E-MAIL FROM CHRISTIAN HOFF (Part II)
By Howard Tucker ( howardtucker3 at aol.com)
“Hoff” to My Wonderful Two-Year Ride and Quasi-Celebrity Status Myself around the August Wilson Theatre
I posted a comment about my meeting with Christian on the Jersey Boys Blog (www.jerseyboysblog.com) and lo and behold, I received an e-mail from him within a day thanking me for the remarks. “How could it possibly help your career?”, I asked. He responded that, regardless, if I’d taken the time to write it, he’d take the time to thank me. (Besides, prophetically, he told me one never knows who reads the Blog, and I think I benefited from that as much as anyone. Please read on.)
Martha Plimpton - a “Young Shakespearean”
Martha Plimpton as the princess Imogen in Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline.”
“Young Shakespeareans”
On Saturday, October 4th, as part of the New Yorker Festival, Adam Gopnik hosted a panel discussion with Ethan Hawke, Kristen Johnson, Martha Plimpton, and Liev Schreiber. Click here to view the full length video of the panel in a new window.
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.
Christian Hoff To Appear On “Ugly Betty”
Christian Hoff will appear in this week’s episode of “Ugly Betty”, which airs on ABC on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 8:00 pm (EST). According to TV Guide, “Wilhelmina (Vanessa Williams) engages in some kinky behavior with the new district attorney (played by Broadway actor Christian Hoff).” ”Weapons may be implemented,” warns Williams. And Christian thought he had sizzle in his new role as Joey Evans!
UPDATE: And sizzle, he did!! In case you missed the show, you can watch Christian’s appearance on this video - be warned - it’s a side of Christian you’ve never seen before!!!
UP-UPDATE: Christian reveals in his exclusive Pal Joey blog interview that “they have left it open for DA Blackman to return using his powers of persuasion!”
…On The Back Nine of Life - Part I, by Howard Tucker
In February of ‘07 I had the great fortune of attending the launch party for Christian Hoff’s audio book “Tell Me How You Love The Picture” (that’s another article in itself!). An added bonus to meeting Hollywood Producer Ed Feldman AND the original Broadway cast of Jersey Boys, was meeting Howard Tucker. Howard is a wealth of information on show biz history, an avid Broadway fan, a great writer, and a good friend to many. I am glad to have Howard as a contributing author on this blog, and in the following article, you will come to know why people love him, and why people love Christian Hoff. Thank you, Howard, for your continued support and friendship!
REALIZING A BROADWAY DREAM ON THE BACK NINE OF LIFE….THANKS TO AN E-MAIL FROM CHRISTIAN HOFF
By Howard Tucker ( howardtucker3 at aol.com)
Background
Through the 1960’s, my favorite group was indeed the Four Seasons. I was a “Jersey Boy”, born in 1951, growing up in Clifton. My father grew up in Newark, almost around the corner from Frankie Valli. I am a CPA and bank examiner by trade, but had always been a huge fan of Broadway, having seen hundreds of plays. My only indirect Broadway involvement, if you will, was being able to trade some life experiences with comedian Jackie Mason, whom I met through a mutual friend. That didn’t always work out, as Jackie and I both enjoyed being the center of attention!
Pal Joey Stars “Tell It Like It Is” In This Video by Broadway.com
Tuesday, October 7th was Press day for Pal Joey at the Roundabout Theatre Company’s rehearsal hall. Broadway.com was there to document the event with this great video. Watch the fun with the Pal Joey stars - Christian Hoff, Stockard Channing and Martha Plimpton. The video was produced by Paul Wontorek, with interviews by Kimberly Kaye; shot & edited by Jason Dickerson.
Click here to view the video in a new window.
The Original Pal Joey (1940)
The first production of Pal Joey opened at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theater in December 1940, with a very young Gene Kelly as Joey Evans. He is pictured here with his co-star, Vivienne Segal as Vera. Kelly had made his Broadway debut only two years earlier as a dancer in Cole Porter’s “Leave It to Me!” A little over a decade later, Segal would reprise her Vera role in the second Broadway production of Pal Joey, this time with Harold Lang as Joey. Also in the 1940 cast was June Havoc, sister of Gypsy Rose Lee and the real-life Dainty June of the musical “Gypsy,” as Gladys; plus young and unknown hoofers Van Johnson and Stanley Donen. Johnson was Gene Kelly’s understudy in the show.
Introducing - The Pal Joey Cast
All photos by Aubrey Reuben
Placing your cursor over a picture pauses the picture and reveals the names of the subjects.
Martha Plimpton Interviewed In An Elevator - It Just Seems Right!
One of the funnest “jobs” I’ve had in writing this blog has been researching Martha Plimpton. I’ve never met her in person, but everything I’ve read leads me to believe that she is quite funny, extremely talented, well rounded, well adjusted, and …well, a real CHARACTER!
Martha’s myspace blogs are hilarious, and in one she talks about being interviewed in an elevator by “my good friend, Sheaux Biz Entrepreneur and All-around Entertainer Dave Hill. I …would let Dave interview me pretty much anyplace, anytime he wanted to, because he is just that good at making me appear hilarious and charming.”
Watch the video here. (Video will be displayed in a new window.)
Stockard Channing Returns to Broadway
Peter D. Kramer of “The Journal News” reports that Stockard Channing is a bit concerned that people who come to see her latest musical, Pal Joey, will be looking for the 1957 movie that starred Frank Sinatra, Kim Novak and Rita Hayworth.
According to Kramer’s September 28 article, Channing says “It’s so different, I watched it a couple of weeks ago and I thought ‘My goodness! People are going to expect a whole other thing, a whole other story.’”
The musical, which first opened on Christmas Day 1940 and ran for 374 performances, was based on John O’Hara’s stories about a rakish 1930s Chicago nightclub singer, Joey Evans, who claimed to be everyone’s pal. He meets a woman of means who agrees to keep him in a style to which he could easily become accustomed.
The original production starred Gene Kelly as Joey and Vivienne Segal as Vera Simpson. At Studio 54, it’ll be Christian Hoff (”Jersey Boys”) and Channing.
