In front of an all-star audience (including the Three Tenors) tenor Carlo Bergonzi pulled out of the middle of his farewell performance, a concert version of Verdi’s “Otello.” The 75-year-old tenor’s voice sounded weak, and he reportedly looked ashen during the performance. He pulled out after the second act. – CBC
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RIDE TO NOWHERE
Patrick Stewart was overlooked for a Tony nomination just a week after he publicly chastised the producers of “The Ride Down Mt. Morgan” for insufficiently promoting the play. – CNN
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR. —
— dies in New York at the age of 90. – BBC
DANCING WITH PRESS
Most writing about Marcel Duchamp focuses on what he said or wrote. But “through most of his subsequent career, Duchamp worked harder at burnishing his persona than he ever did at creating art. And he certainly spent more time plotting ways to expand an extremely limited oeuvre than he did poring over his signature accessory, the chess board (but that’s another story).” – The Idler
TONY NOMINATIONS are announced —
— and the musicals dominate. The “Kiss Me, Kate” revival led the pack with 12 nominations (more than any other play or musical); “The Music Man,” received 5; and George C. Wolfe’s struggling “Wild Party,” which opened to mixed reviews and was believed to be on the verge of closing, got a new lease on life with 7 nods. All the winners will be announced at the televised ceremony from Radio City Music Hall on June 4. – New York Times
THE COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES: – Backstage
RIDE TO NOWHERE
Patrick Stewart was overlooked for a Tony nomination a week after he publicly chastised the producers of “The Ride Down Mt. Morgan” for insufficiently promoting the play. – CNN
WHEN SLUMMING BECOMES “CROSSOVER”
Why are film actors accused of “slumming” when they take to the Broadway stage? Why are they so often called “crossover successes” when they manage to work in both stage and screen? Isn’t acting just acting? – CBC
IN SEARCH OF A GOOD TUNE
The Tony Awards are announced on Monday, and as usual there is difficulty finding enough good material for some of the categories. This year it’s musicals. “You know the season is in trouble when the executive committee of the Tony Awards announced that ‘Riverdance’ is eligible to be considered a new Broadway musical. Combined with ‘Contact’ and ‘Swing!’ it’s possible to have three shows nominated for best new musical that have no script, no original songs and, in the case of the favorite, ‘Contact,’ no orchestra. (The show, once billed as a ‘dance play,’ uses a prerecorded score of old pop hits and classical music.)” – Hartford Courant
HANDICAPPING THE NOMINEES
“The 1999-2000 season has so often looked like fool’s gold that it’s hard to believe the crowning event to honor excellence on Broadway – the Tony Awards – is already upon us.” – MSNBC
WHEN PRODUCERS RULED THE WORLD:
With two producer giants of former days – David Merrick and Alexander Cohen – passing away recently, some reflections on the power producers used to wield in the golden age of theater. – New York Times