Category: theatre

The producer of the London production of “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” (starring Jessica Lange) had hoped to transfer the successful show to New York. “But now, it seems, any transfer may be blocked by a messy battle with a New York-based producer who says he holds the Broadway rights to that American classic.” – New York Times

Two of the producers of “Rent” on Broadway are plowing some of the millions they earned on the show back into the business. They propose to build a new Off-Broadway performing arts center. “The proposed eight-story building will include two state-of-the art off-Broadway theaters (one with 499 seats, the other with 450), dance studios, rehearsal halls, office space and condominiums. The cost of the project is $15 million.” – New York Post

A play about the murder of Matthew Shepard opens in Laramie Wyoming, less than five miles from where Shepard was killed. “Certain wounds attack so deep they can never fully heal but this certainly helps the healing a lot.” – CNN

“In the 1970s and early 1980s Australian theatre was seen as part of an integral social debate about national identity and self confidence. The advent of serious arts funding came out of clearly articulated statements on the importance of the arts, and our politicians were well versed in the reasons why a funded arts environment was important to a social system. The arts were seen as a necessary expense, like roads or water.” Now we should enjoy the rewards. – Sydney Morning Herald

Actor Kevin Spacey has been using his financial success and fame to help out theatre companies. “I think it’s unfortunate that people use theater as a stepping stone to film and then they don’t come back. I never viewed it that way.” – New York Times

Superstar musical theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh has announced he won’t be producing any more new musicals. “Mackintosh, one of the greatest creative and financial mainstays of musical theatre for three decades, says he is winding down and will in future produce only revivals.” – Sydney Morning Herald

What happens when a hit show has to replace its star? The New York Post follows around an actor preparing to step in to “Cabaret.” – New York Post

When Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” opened in London’s West End, Churchill was still Prime Minister. “Meat, sugar, butter and margarine were still being rationed. Stalin was lording it in Russia. Nobody had climbed Everest, or run a four-minute mile. It was another world.” Now the show is ambling on to its 20,000th performance. – The Sunday Times (UK)

It’s “Christmas Carol” time of year again. “Oh, please, Father Christmas, put a stake in its heart! Put it on a boat to Hong Kong! Give those annoyingly noble Cratchits a winning lottery ticket and let them have all the oranges they want! Cook their geese, flame their puddings, and please, burn their chestnuts into ashes.” – Washington Post

Arthur Miller is about to open another play on Broadway. And he’s about to turn 85. “Over the years, the critics have been all over the lot when it comes to judging Miller’s work. But in 1984, the critics and the public began re-examining Miller. And most of them liked what they found. So when he accepted the Tony for ‘Death of a Salesman’ last year, it wasn’t without a sense of well-earned, well-honed, irony – a sense that he’s been one of the victims in ‘The Crucible’ who finally got the chance to put his torturers on trial.” – Boston Globe