All Entries Tagged With: "Pal Joey"
It’s A Girl!
Congratulations to Melissa and Christian Hoff, who welcomed baby Evelyn Jane into the Hoff family on Monday, March 16th. Little Evelyn, who weighed in at 8.5 pounds and 21 inches, joins brother Eli and sisters Erika and Elizabeth in the ever-expanding Hoff family.
“What a blessing from God”, says Christian. And we wish the Hoffs many more blessings in all aspects of life.
Martha Plimpton To Co-Host Obie Awards
Martha Plimpton, photo by Aubrey Reuben
By Andrew Gans
17 Mar 2009, Playbill
Pal Joey’s Martha Plimpton and Shrek the Musical’s Daniel Breaker will co-host the 54th Annual Village Voice Obie Awards.
The awards, which celebrate the 2008-2009 Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway seasons, will be held May 18 at Webster Hall in Manhattan.
Presented by the Village Voice, the annual event will be produced and directed by Eileen Phelan.
…The Obie Awards were created in 1955 by Jerry Tallmer. Past recipients include Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, William Hurt, Morgan Freeman, Mos Def, Amy Irving, Kevin Kline, Nathan Lane, Olympia Dukakis, Robert Duvall, Kevin Bacon, Alec Baldwin, Kathy Bates, James Earl Jones, Felicity Huffman and Harvey Fierstein, among others.
Plimpton won an Obie in 2002 for her performance in Hobson’s Choice. Breaker was a 2008 Obie winner for his work in the ensemble cast of Passing Strange.
A “Creative Block and Obies After Party” — featuring burlesque, digital art, performance art, dance and fiber arts from New York’s creative emerging artists and avant-garde underground — will be held in tandem with the awards ceremony. Michael Musto will host. Tickets, priced $15, for “Creative Block” will go on sale April 1.
Triad Theatre Presents Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines
Following our Pal Joey favorites beyond Studio 54……
Thursday, March 5, 2009; Posted: 11:03 PM - by BWW News Desk
The Triad Theatre presents Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines Sunday, March 22, 2009. Broadway Dance Diva, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, takes the stage in her one woman show…Gaines is no stranger to the stage as she [recently appeared] in her third originated Broadway production, Pal Joey at 54 Studio. What you may not know is that, not only does this graceful leggy beauty dance, she also sings. Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines is a trained dancer who’s studied at the infamous Baltimore School for the Arts as well as The Julliard School.
Her BFA has allowed her to join world renowned companies such as Creative Outlet Dance Theater of Brooklyn, The Frankfurt Ballet and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Ms. Gaines was also noted as one of the top 25 dancers to watch in the 2005 issue of Dance Magazine. Come and discover another side of Bahiyah as she takes the stage to serenade you with songs of love & laughter in jazz, R & B, and standards. This celebrated dancer who’s conquered dance in concerts world wide would like to invite you come into “her world” as she performs in her own one woman show at The Triad. “Because I’m known as a dancer, I feel the need to show the world what else I have to share,” said Ms. Gaines.
Come and join Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines in a sensational evening at The Triad on March 22nd a 7pm. The Triad is located at 158 West 72nd 2nd floor between Broadway & Columbus. *There is a 2 Drink Minimum. The Triad is cash only.
….check back for more cast updates….
Matthew Risch Heading To Chicago….To Teach!
Following his extended run in Pal Joey, Matthew Risch will be headed to Chicago to participate in a one-day-only workshop presented by The Broadway Dreams Foundation. “Triple Threat Extreme - Legally Blonde Style” brings three of the original cast members of the hit Broadway Show Legally Blonde to instruct, encourage and inspire Broadway hopefuls of all ages to follow their dreams. Besides Risch, the faculty includes Nikki Snelson (Brooke, the fitness guru in Legally Blonde), and Paul Canaan (Legally Blonde ensemble, and a judge on the MTV series Legally Blonde: The Search For Elle Woods) as its Artistic Director.
The curriculum for this event emphasizes becoming a triple threat: a performer equally talented in singing, dancing, and acting. Something Matt has had much practice in for the past several months. Attendees to this workshop will certainly benefit from his recent experience in Pal Joey.
“Triple Threat Extreme - Legally Blonde Style” will be offered one day only: Sunday, March 29th at Giordano Dance School, 614 Davis Street, Evanston, IL 60201. For more information, you can visit www.mybroadwaydreams.com.
Stockard Channing Featured In “Broadway For A New America”
Stockard Channing isn’t taking even one day of rest following Sunday’s final curtain of her current Broadway show Pal Joey. According to the Independent Press, Ms. Channing will be appearing in the “Broadway For A New America” benefit on Monday, March 2.
April 2nd UPDATE: STOCKARD CHANNING IS NO LONGER APPEARING IN THIS SHOW.
The concert will be hosted by Broadway star Jim Dale, and features Tony, Emmy and Oscar nominated performers Stockard Channing, Rosie Perez, Fran Drescher, Anne Meara, Lillias White, Melissa Errico and Tovah Feldshuh.
Other notables included in the benefit are current Broadway singers Rebeca Luker of “Mary Poppins”, Norm Lewis and Jonathan Freeman of “the Little Mermaid”, and Krysta Rodriguez of “In the Heights”; funny-man Richard Belzer; and three-time Emmy nominee Seth Rudetsky.
Tickets may be purchased at www.jews4change.com and click on the ticket order page.
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.
Matthew Risch, One Of The Hottest Guys In Theater
The website “afterelton” posted its picks for the 37 hottest guys in theater. Among the Broadway cuties is Pal Joey’s own Matthew Risch.
by Michael Portantiere
January 27, 2009
Matthew Risch was an ensemble member and understudy in the Broadway casts of Chicago and Legally Blonde, but he stepped up to the plate and took on the title role in the current revival of Pal Joey when original star Christian Hoff dropped out of that production shortly before opening. The lyrics to one of the show’s most famous songs describe Joey Evans as a “half-pint imitation,” but as far as we’re concerned, Matthew is the real thing.
To see the entire list of 37, click here to open the article in a new window.
Harold Lang’s “Pal Joey” Number on TV
The 1952 Joey Evans, dancer extraordinaire Harold Lang, appeared on a popular Sunday night variety show and with the Pal Joey company, performed “Happy Hunting Horn.” The number includes some startling dance moves by Lang. This rare kinescope speaks for itself.
TWO MINUTES with…Hayley Podschun
Hayley Podschun
PJBlog: If we’ve learned anything from this production of Pal Joey, it’s the importance of the understudy! You understudy both Linda English and Val…have you had the opportunity to go on in either of these roles?
Hayley: I haven’t gone on for either, but it’s fine. Every Friday we have understudy rehearsal, so at least I get to play the roles once a week :~)
PJB: Before Pal Joey, you were in Sunday in the Park with George, where you understudied six different roles AND you were the dance captain. Can you tell us a little bit about how understudies rehearse and stay prepared for so many different roles?
Hayley: In “Sunday” it was really hard because we standbys came into the rehearsal process two weeks later than everyone else -we had a lot of catching up to do. I watched the show A LOT, took TONS of notes. Not only was I responsible for my “tracks”, I had to know everyone else’s parts because I was the dance captain. Once we were open, the standbys had rehearsal once a week.
PJB: At your very young age, you’ve had so many experiences – Hairpsray National Tour, HAIRSPRAY the movie, and Broadway. How do the experiences compare with each other? Is there one that’s your true “love”?
Hayley: They are all SO different but wonderful in their own way. Tour was great because I got to see the country and travel before I “settled down” anywhere. The movie was fun because I’ve never done a movie and I got to see what that world was like. Getting to finish my Hairspray life on Broadway was great. I made such wonderful friends. “Sunday” was spectacular because it was a show I never thought I’d do in my life. It was the most magical experience. Pal Joey has been great because I’m working with the best of the best in the business. Joe Mantello, Graciela Daniele, and Paul Gemignani are dreams and the cast is so talented. I just love it. I’ve been very lucky to have such diverse shows.
PJB: I guess Studio 54 has become like a second home to you now – “Sunday In The Park”, followed by Pal Joey… do you know what comes next?
Hayley: Yeah! I’m actually going to be doing “The First Wives Club” playing the role of Chris. We will be in San Diego at the Old Globe Theatre this summer then open on broadway in October.
PJB: That is fantastic news! Thank you, Hayley, for sharing a few minutes with us, and we look forward to following your career, to First Wives Club and beyond.
************************************************************************************************
Hayley kept a movie diary while on the set of HAIRSPRAY. Following are excerpts from that diary.
William Ivey Long Wins TDF/Irene Sharaff Award
It was announced earlier this month that William Ivey Long will receive the TDF/Irene Sharaff “Lifetime Achievement” Award. The TDF Irene Sharaff Awards were founded in 1993 to pay tribute to the art of costume design. Since then, the annual award presentation has become an occasion for the costume design community to come together to honor its own.
Included in the impressive list of more than 50 Broadway shows Mr. Long has designed costumes for are the currently running Pal Joey and the forthcoming 9 to 5. He won Tonys for Grey Gardens, Hairspray, The Producers, Crazy for You and Nine and was Tony-nominated for La Cage aux Folles, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Music Man, Cabaret, Chicago and Lend Me a Tenor.
The awards ceremony will take place on March 27 at the Hudson Theatre. Congratulations, Mr. Long, on this much deserved award.
Pick Your Favorite “Bewitched”
Here are three dynamite versions of Pal Joey’s “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” performed by three of the greatest female vocalists of our era: Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne and Linda Ronstadt. Which is your favorite of these?
Pal Joey Understudies
As listed in the Playbill, the understudies for Pal Joey are as follows:
For Joey Evans: ERIC SCIOTTO; for Vera Simpson: NICOLE ORTH-PALLAVINCINI; for Gladys Bumps: LISA GAJDA; for Linda English: HAYLEY PODSCHUN; for Mike, Ernest: MARK MORETTINI; for Ludlow Lowell: ANTHONY HOLDS
If you’ve been to a show where the understudy went on for the principal, we’d love to hear about it! Please share your experience by commenting on this thread.
Lisa Gajda, Gypsy of the Month for February
Lisa Gajda at Pal Joey’s Gypsy Robe ceremony
“‘Pal Joey’ would have been Gajda’s fourth time receiving the Gypsy Robe - presented on opening night to the ensemble member with the most Broadway credits - but she decided to forgo the honor so it could go to her friend Eric Sciotto, who’d never received it in his previous seven shows. Gajda received the robe for her last two shows, Cry-Baby (which Sciotto was also in) and The Times They Are A-Changin’, as well as for 2003’s Taboo.”
Lisa Gajda and Matthew Risch in Pal Joey’s opening number
By the time she auditioned for Pal Joey, Lisa had learned how to make herself into whatever type was needed. “My look is pretty contemporary,” she says, “so I went to the audition with big fake boobs and tried to make myslef look soft.” She obviously did something right!
Lisa Gajda in Pal Joey - Flower Garden of My Heart
“Gal Pals” Out On The Town
I came across this New York Times article and had to share with my Pal Joey pals. It’s always nice to see a cast having fun outside the theater.
A Night Out With | Martha Plimpton
Old Hand, New Hands
By MERVYN ROTHSTEIN
Published: January 30, 2009
From left, Kathryn Mowat Murphy, Martha Plimpton, Krista Saab and Abbey O’Brien of “Pal Joey,” at the Players club.
A HALF-HOUR after finishing her night’s work in “Pal Joey,” Martha Plimpton walked into the Grill at the Players, a private club across from Gramercy Park.
With her were four “Pal Joey” colleagues — Lisa Gajda, Kathryn Mowat Murphy, Abbey O’Brien and Krista Saab — the female dancers from the Roundabout Theater Company revival of the 1940 Rodgers and Hart musical, in which Ms. Plimpton is starring at Studio 54.
Ms. Plimpton planned a session of poker — a game some of the dancers had never played, but which she was eager to teach. “We’ve gone out quite a few times,” she said of the group. “We call each other the Tribe. They’re my protectors and guides.”
Ms. Plimpton, 38, has received two Tony nominations — as best featured actress in “The Coast of Utopia” in 2007 and “Top Girls” last year. This season the critics have been more than kind to her portrayal of Gladys Bumps, a singing and dancing floozy with a grudge. She has also been taking some days off and flying to the West Coast to film a comedy pilot for Showtime — “The End of Steve,” with Matthew Perry of “Friends” as an egomaniacal television talk show host and Ms. Plimpton as his producer.
The Players, founded in 1888 by Edwin Booth and Mark Twain, among others, has long catered to what it calls “members of the dramatic profession.” The Grill’s wall is crowded with portraits of the likes of Lauren Bacall, Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. Ms. Plimpton pointed to a picture of the actor John Carradine. “That’s my grandfather up there,” she said. “That’s pretty cool, huh?” (Her parents are the actor Keith Carradine and the actress Shelley Plimpton.)
“The club’s history is special to me,” Ms. Plimpton added later.
Behind The Scenes at Pal Joey - with Jenny Fellner
Broadway.com’s latest “Behind The Scenes” is Backstage at Pal Joey with Jenny Fellner. Go backstage with Jenny and see dressing rooms, costumes, furniture hanging from the ceiling, and you may see a few familiar faces along the way. Jenny is delightful in this entertaining video tour.
Click here to watch broadway.com’s “Behind The Scenes” with Jenny Fellner.
