Media Morsels 6.22.12

The Newsroom
Aaron Sorkin's new TV show premieres on HBO this Sunday, and I'm sooooooooo excited! Here are some finds to help you get ready:



New Shows Across the Pond and Down Under
Here are a couple of shows you might want to keep an eye on, as it's probable they'll make their way to the US:
  • A musical stage adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will play at London's Palladium in June 2013. This production will be directed by Sam Mendes and boast songs written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Catch Me if You Can). Playbill has details.
  • In an Australian production of the Sondheim classic A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Tony and Academy Award winning actor Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech)will star as Pseudolus. I think this is terrific casting, and would love for this production to come state side. Visit Playbill for details. (Just for fun: here's the Muppets' rendition of the opening number, "Comedy Tonight")


New Shows in New York
Despite the news above, you don't need your passport to see new shows. Off-Broadway is looking to have a rich season in 2012-2013. We already know that Second Stage will have a revival of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, and Playwrights Horizons will premiere the musical stage adaptation of Far from Heaven. We learned this week the the Vineyard Theatre is filling its season with premieres, including the New York premiere of The North Pool, the latest from the talented playwright Rajiv Joseph (the well written but poorly housed Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Gruesome Playground Injuries). The season will also feature a full production of John Kander's The Landing; the world premiere of Checkers, by Douglas McGrath, which concerns Richard Nixon, circa 1952; and the world premiere of Somewhere Fun, by Jenny Schwartz. Visit Playbill for more details, and visit the Vineyard Theatre website to become a member and receive exclusive access to tickets.

Casting Updates


  • Brian F. O'Byrne will join Jake Gyllenhaal in Roundabout's production of If There is I Haven't Found it Yet. (This is the production that will mark Gyllenhaal's American stage debut.)
  • Once star Cristin Miliolti may join Leonardo DiCaprio in his latest project with Martin Scorsese. DiCaprio and Scorsese, as previously reported, are teaming up for The Wolf of Wall Street, and Milioti is in talks to play DiCaprio's character's first wife. Broadway.com has details.
  • Tony winner James Corden (One Man, Two Guvnors) is on board for two upcoming films, Can a Song Save Your Life, alongside Mark Ruffalo, and One Chance. Playbill has details.
  • Fresh off his Tony win, Christian Borle is, unfortunately, departing Peter and the Starcatcher so that he can film the second season of Smash. He will play his final performance on June 30. Matthew Saldivar will don the black stache thereafter. Playbill and Broadway.com have details.
  • Auteur filmmaker Pedro Almodovar has lined up Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas for his next film, I'm So Excited. Consider me excited, too. Hit Fix has details.
  • Ray Romano will appear in several episodes in Parenthood's fourth season, according to TV Line.
  • Porgy is getting a new Bess: Alicia Hall Moran will play Bess for Wednesday evening performances of Porgy and Bess, giving recent Tony winner Audra McDonald an extra night off. Playbill has details. (Note that McDonald is currently out of the show until at least July 3 due to vocal inflammation.)
  • Bobby Cannavale (Trust, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, Nurse Jackie) will star alongside Al Pacino in the upcoming revival of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross. Broadway.com has details.
The Spring Standards on Conan
The rocking trio The Spring Standards (nee Old Springs Pike) were on Conan this week, establishing themselves as repeat guests! (They were on Conan's NBC show a few years ago.) Check out their performance below (which features a cameo from their hometown buddy Aubrey Plaza, also a guest that night), and then head over to thespringstandards.com to order your copy of their new album, yellow/gold.



Tony Update
The 66th Tony Awards are in the books, but the Tony administration is looking forward to the 67th. The 2012-2013 nominating committee was announced this week, and includes names of note, such as writer Rick Elice (Peter and the Starcatcher), performer Cheyenne Jackson (Finian's Rainbow), John Leguizamo and directors Michael Grief (Rent, Next to Normal) and Pam MacKinnon (Clybourne Park), among others. Visit the Tony website for the full list of committee members.

Show People: Steve Kazee
Get to know recent Tony winner Steve Kazee (Once) in the latest "Show People," hosted by Broadway.com's Paul Wontorek:



TV Premieres
Wilfred's second season premieres next Thursday, June 28! Rolling Stone offers its take on the new season. Meanwhile, Fox announced its fall premiere dates for new and returning shows. Glee will return on its new night and time, Thursday, September 13 at 9pm. New show The Mindy Project, from funny lady Mindy Kaling, will hit the airwaves on Tuesday, September 25 at 9:30pm. E! Online has Fox's full fall lineup.

Critics' Choice Television Awards
Speaking of TV, the winners of the Critics' Choice Television Awards were announced this week. Critics rightfully named Community the Best Comedy Series, and also named Modern Family members Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen as Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series. Showing some love to the very funny Parks and Recreation, the critics named Paul Rudd the Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series, but they split Amy Poehler's award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series with Zooey Deschanel, a lousy split, if you ask me. (Ms. Poehler deserves the award for herself!) Wisely, the critics named The Newsroom one of the Most Exciting New Series. EW.com has the full list of winners.

Bring it On
You may remember that the musical stage adaptation of Bring It On is going to camp out on Broadway this summer. This week, the cast appeared on Today to give us a preview of we can expect with the Tom Kitt—Lin-Manuel Miranda—Amanda Green musical (with a book by Jeff Whitty) starts its run next month. Below, check out the cast's performance on Today and on Playbill, check out the songwriters talking about writing a song as a team. (Love seeing genius Tom Kitt in his Yankees caps!) What do you think? Will you be cheering for Bring It On?



Dig This
  • In their Week in Review feature, Broadway.com reports that Girls creator Lena Dunham wants two-time Tony-winner Mark Rylance (Jerusalem) to appear on her hit TV show. Um, yes please!!!
  • Rolling Stone offers this gem: "Sucking Up to Voters: A Guide for Presidential Candidates."
  • Billie Joe Armstrong talks to Rolling Stone about Green Day's upcoming triple album.
  • The Broadway in Bryant Park line up has been announced. This year's lineup features Broadway and off-Broadway musicals as well as plays. Visit Broadway.com for the full schedule, which takes us from July 12 through August 16.
  • After the success of Jason Segel's The Muppets, film studios are reportedly planning Fraggle Rock and Sesame Street movies. New York magazine's Vulture has details on the Fraggles and Big Bird and Co.
  • It stuck around much longer than many thought it would (and should), but Sister Act is finally concluding its Broadway run. The show will play its final performance on August 26.
  • The 14th annual Broadway Barks is set for Saturday July 14. Organizers Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters will be joined by recent Tony winner Steve Kazee, Caissie Levy, Linda Lavin, Carol Kane, Rory O'Malley and others. Visit Playbill for details about this annual event in which the Broadway community helps find homes for dogs and cats.
  • Venus in Fur, which completed its limited return engagement on June 17, has been licensed for regional and overseas productions. Broadwayworld.com has details.
  • Watch a preview of the season two premiere episode of Episodes:

Comments

Post a Comment