AWESOME DANCE review for Theatre Is Easy

Review of The Awesome Dance on Theasy.com

http://www.theasy.com/Reviews/theawesomedance.php

Alternative Casting Sweet Bird of Youth

Recently Nicole Kidman was announced to star in an upcoming production of Tennessee Williams's Sweet Bird of Youth. This leads to several question: Is this being produced as a Kidman vehicle? And if so, why aren't producers inserting the actress into something better suited or at least less generic? Kidman isn't right for the grand film star of another era (despite being a film star of today's). This a role for a Gloria Swanson type--after all, the play is Sunset Boulevard aftermath. Alexandra Del Lago is a retired star past her bud of youth. From the stage, with her forehead full of (alleged) botox, Kidman may read too young. And Kidman is demure, too whimsical for Del Lago. As Del Lago, Kidman reminds one of a Nora-type trying to play Hedda.

I would like to propose an alternative. I may be pushing the age boundary on Del Lago in the opposite direction, but I saw older is better in grandiose divas. I would like to see Jan Maxwell in Sweet Bird of Youth. And who could play her aging boy toy Chance Wayne? None other than 30-something stud Matt Cavenaugh. Now there's a Broadway marquee I'd line up under!

Sweet Bird of Youth, starring Jan Maxwell and Matt Cavenaugh!

I'm not saying Maxwell and Cavenaugh are the best possible actors for this play, but it would be a lot more itneresting to watch than kittenish Kidman trying to play the lion. Although, if we're making changes, how about we do Orpheus Descending instead?

Six Degrees of Sondheim: Jim Henson to Stephen Sondheim

JIM HENSON’s favorite episode of The Muppet Show was episode 3.14 in 1978 guest starring HARRY BELAFONTE, whose 1956 Broadway vehicle Sing, Man, Sing featured a young ALVIN AILEY, who once performed at night clubs in the dance act “Al and Rita” with dancer/poet/autobiographer MAYA ANGELOU, who appeared in the two-hander play Look Away with GERALDINE PAGE, whose Sweet Bird of Youth costumes were specially designed by THEONI VACHLIOTI ALDREDGE, who also designed costumes for the original (short-lived) production of Anyone Can Whistle by Mr. STEPHEN SONDHEIM.

Six Degrees of Sondheim: James Dean to Stephen Sondheim

Once upon a time, I tried to sell the brilliant idea of a "Six Degrees of Sondheim" series to BroadwaySpace. They didn't bite, but I still love it, so I'm reviving the concept.

Here is my inaugural Six Degrees of Sondheim:

JAMES DEAN made his screen debut in East of Eden directed by ELIA KAZAN, who directed the stage play Death of a Salesman for ARTHUR MILLER, who married MARILYN MONROE, who was once called “the original good time had by all,” by BETTE DAVIS, who co-starred in Little Gloria…Happy at Last with GLYNIS JOHNS, who originated the role of Desiree in A Little Night Music for STEPHEN SONDHEIM.

Theasy Review: One Arm and a Leg

http://www.theasy.com/Reviews/onearmandaleg.php

Theasy Feature on Clubbed Thumb

http://www.theasy.com/FeaturedArtist/clubbedthumb.php