Archive for October, 2009

Parade, and Hoff, A Hit In LA

The Donmar Warehouse production of Parade is being lauded as Southern California’s Production of the year (Variety). The musical, a revival of the 1998 Jason Robert Brown/Alfred Uhry Tony Award winner, which closed after only 85 performances, is based on the true story of Leo Frank (played by T.R. Knight), who was convicted for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in Atlanta in 1913. Director-choreographer Rob Ashford’s retooled version is said to be leaner and more intimate than the original 1998 Broadway production.

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.

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.