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My Thoughts About The Sex And The City Film.
   Synopsis by New Line: Sex and the City is coming to the big screen in a feature film adaptation of the hit HBO television series. The film will follow the continuing adventures of the series four main characters - Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda - as they live their lives in Manhattan four years after the series ended. Stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon are all on board to reprise their roles, while the film will be written and directed by Michael Patrick King, who executive produced the original television series. Additionally, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and Jason Lewis will return as the women's love interests.
   Chris Noth (Mr Big John) Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw)     
After being a huge fan of "Sex And The City" since the start of the show, I must admit I have been dying to see the film for the past six months. Well, if you love the show as much as I do it was worth it's weight in Manolo's.
This film is nothing short of fabulous and it is a tear jerker. I sadly, did not bring any tissues and had to wipe away the tears throughout this film.
I arrived two weeks ago and purchased the first screening at Loews AMC theater in the heart of Lincoln Square and was crazy enough to arrive at 9:30 to find the theater completely sold out.
Lucky for me, I purchased my ticket two weeks ago.
What I loved about the film: Spoiler alert:
May I just say that Samantha's character never ceases to amaze me. She is so over the top she makes me giggle. There is a very funny part with sushi deluxe! I don't want to ruin the movie for you,but it made me howl. Samantha decides to surprise her hot male stud with a homemade sushi dinner on Valentine's Day covered in her own homemade sushi. I am sorry, I am still laughing from that scene and it was hours ago. She also sees an adorable toy terrier that has as much of a sex drive as she does and has to take her home. It was classic Samantha with a bit more heart.
This film is for die hard SEX AND THE CITY junkies like me. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry and it will make your day. Some of the film was a bit hard to take but most of it was heart wrenching and real. It is a must for anyone who loved the show.
It was disappointing that some of the major guest stars were hardly in the film. Lynn Cohen had maybe two lines. Nathan Lane was not in the film. If you looked really hard in the rehersal dinner scene you could see Julie Halston as Bitsy for a quick second. I don't remember seeing Nathan Lane but I blinked, so I might have missed him.
Run don't walk and get your ticket now. The 10 AM show was packed and there were only a few empty seats. I have a feeling this will be the biggest movie of the year and rightfully so.
The women of SEX AND THE CITY prove you can be fabulous at any age. Whether you are 20. 30, 40 or 50.
Some other moments: Charlotte's character got sick in Mexico and it was hysterical to see the prim Charlotte literally go in her panties. The best part about Charlotte was seeing her with everything she wanted. Two beautiful children. A gorgeous apt, the cutest Jack Russell Terriers and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a man that she was madly in love with. Fantasies sometimes can come true and I was happy to see her character so happy. Hoping the film will do so well that the whole cast will come back for a new season of the show.
That would be better than a free wardrobe and a closet full of free Manolo's. Photos by Craig Blankenhorn/New Line Cinema
PS: A few years ago I was covering an event at Jazz at Lincoln Center and Sarah Jessica Parker was there. She came to the press area and seemed to know me. She smiled at me and said " Don't I know you? You look familiar." I was really honored that she spoke to me and I loved her dress. She looked so much better than her character "Carrie" The characters in the movie are so interesting. I really wanted to be friends with them. I had so much in common with Charlotte, Miranda and the very interesting and never dull Samantha. I would have loved to have happy hour cosmos with them. They are just fictional characters but I really wanted to become friends with them and search for my own "BIG".
Corine Dana Cohen
INSIDE BROADWAY- CREATING THE MAGIC.
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 Ashley Spencer(Amber) and Karen Mason (Velma)  Michael Presser and Karen Mason  Michael Presser. Karen Mason and Susan Mosher. I loved interviewing Susan Mosher backstage. She is such a sweetie!  Marissa and Kevin  Oh Edna- I can hear the bells. Kevin Meaney and Michael Presser. (Just kidding!)  Kevin Meaney gives Michael Presser a kiss.  Kevin Meaney- Understudy of Edna Turnblad. I had a nice chat with Kevin backstage after the show. It was a great pleasure interviewing him. Kevin is writing a one man show which I hope to see on Broadway in the near future. Maybe Hairspray can do it there on dark nights.  Ashley Spencer(Amber) Kevin Meaney (Edna Turnblad)  Marissa Perry and Ashley Parker Angel (Tracy and Link)  Marissa Perry- The new Tracy has been in the show for the past seven weeks. She is very talented!  GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE: Tracy's bed. The technical part is always the most exciting for the kids. Well, it was exciting for this kid as well.
 Michael Presser and Kevin Meaney (EDNA TURNBLAD) Yesterday, we attended INSIDE BROADWAY CREATING THE MAGIC: A free concert for Inner City school kids and for anyone who loves Broadway. We were there to capture the magic and do some photo coverage and video interviews. Photos by Maryann Lopinto. Corine Cohen
Things That Make You Happy!
What Makes You Happy?
1. Orchids. 2. Silk chinese blazers. 3. Seeing a funny show with talented actors. 4. Anything Asian. 5. Christina and Mike. 6. Doing on camera interviews. 7. Having a great glass of Pinot Noir. 8. Listening to John Treacy Egan's CD. 9. Seeing Forbidden Broadway. 10. Watching Sex And The City reruns. 11. Seeing Hairspray. 12. Seeing Legally Blonde. 13. Seeing Avenue Q. 14. Dinner with a close friend. 15. A great sushi dinner.
Interview With Chester Gregory In Search Of High Love!
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Chester: My album is titled "In Search of High Love" It will be available exclusively at my release party July 7th at Crash Mansion at 9PM.Then it will be available the following day at CD Baby, then iTunes a few weeks later.
Corine: What kind of music is on this record?
Chester: This is R&B/Soul music. I am literally sharing a piece of my soul share my journey thru the ups and downs of love, resulting in self realization.
It has a full range of emotion and you can play this album when you are in ANY mood and go for a ride.
Corine: Tell me about Cry Baby. You always seem to get the best friend role? Is it because you are so nice?I would love to see you cast as the "Leading man" as you are more of a Lead in my eyes.
Chester: Which is exactly why I am doing the album. Broadway is not my destination, it is part of my journey. I have a lot more things to share about my personal life, trials, tribulations and triumphs. I have been blessed to work on Broadway for 5 years consecutively, but with this project I get to show them much more than the "best friend".
Corine: Tell me about Donkey. I am so excited you will be in Shrek. What a talented cast! (Many of the people I admire and have interviewed are in SHREK: Jennifer Simard, Ryan Duncan and you!! And I love David Lindsay Abaire and Jeanine Tesori, How exciting!
Chester: We start rehearsal in two weeks. I am extremely excited to work with everyone involved.
Corine: What would you want to do next? Hopefully Shrek will run for years but if you could be in anything what would it be and why?
Chester: Shrek will allow me to sell my CD in the lobby. So I will continue to spread a message of love through my music, simultaneously as I perform on Broadway.
Corine: That is wonderful! Who do you admire most in this business?
Chester: Andre DeShields is my mentor. He gives me the best advice. He said "You are tremendously talented, but you don't know the first thing about theatre! Less is more. An audience is like a pack of hungry wolves, the more you give them, the more they want, so if you give them everything at once, they eat you alive. Feed them in portions, that way you remain in control and you will have them eating out of the palm of your hand." These words stuck with me and I applied them. The next day I went I had the best show of my life. I continued to apply those words and shortly afterwards the NY Times described me as an "overflowing charismatic performance that has the audience eating out of his hand."
Corine: That is very interesting! Andre gave you great advice! Tell me about your concert downtown.
Chester:This album has been 3 years in the making, so we are gonna PARTY!!!!!
Great music, guest appearances and I'm prepared to sing like never before!
For more information about Chester you can check out his site on MYSPACE:
Myspace.com/ChesterGregory
ChesterGregory.com
You can catch Chester in CRY BABY for the next week, so go soon. You can catch Chester in the upcoming Broadway musical SHREK in November.
John Treacy Egan and MO ROCCA!
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 Little Mermaid's Top Chef John Treacy Egan and the hilarious Mo Rocca. I attended John's incredible cabaret show at the Metropolitan Room. His voice is outstanding and it was great to hear his gorgeous voice. I am broke, but I had to buy his incredible record. I will post more about the show later. In the meantime, enjoy this photo of two of my favorite performers. It was such a thrill to talk to MO ROCCA. He was very nice. I adore his book "All The Presidents Pets" The man is so talented. Photo by Maryann Lopinto.
OMG OMG YOU GUYS. SEEING LEGALLY BLONDE WAS SUCH A PRIZE!
     Hello,
This evening I went back to "LEGALLY BLONDE" just one more time to catch the incredible
Laura Bell Bundy before she exits stage left. I am very sad to see her go. I am not sure if I told you that "Legally Bundy" is one of my favorite Broadway shows. It is a feel good musical with a heart and one of the best times I have had at a show. After a year it is still as strong as ever.
Laura Bell, it will be sad to see you go. The entire cast is still as strong as ever. The music, tunes you can remember. The dogs precious and adorable.
I LOVE "LEGALLY BLONDE" and you should see it before Bundy leaves for yet another interactive show.
Some of my favorite numbers: 1. Bend and Snap 2. Blood In The Water 3. Gay or European 4. Andy as the UPS Guy 5. OMG.
This show is mindless fun but the dance is fabulous thanks to Jerry Mitchell and Rusty Mowery. Go get a ticket to this adorable winner.
"LEGALLY BLONDE" is a must see. (This was my fourth time seeing it. I admit, I am addicted to this feel good musical.)
By Corine Cohen This show gets 9 snaps out of 10.
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Their phones are on vibrate for you… Following their sell-out Carnegie Hall concert, The New York City Gay Men's Chorus launches Gay Pride month in New York with “Vibrate!” on Wednesday, June 4th and 5th at 8:00PM at F.I.T.’s Haft Auditorium (27th Street & Seventh Avenue). Presented by Big Apple Performing Arts, the special guest stars for the evening include Our Lady J and Youth Pride Chorus. “Vibrate!” is an eclectic celebration of contemporary song to get your toes tapping for the summer. Sending vibrations out across New York City, new South African freedom songs sit side by side with the American Premier of works by Latvian composer Emils Darzins; Rufus Wainwright rubs up against Gwen Stefani, and there will also be new commissions by Our Lady J and Vermont-based composer Gwyneth Walker. Bursting with energy, The New York City Gay Men's Chorus offers you an edgy look at gay life as we know it. Innovative, eclectic, contemporary, passionate, cuddly and tolerant of literally anything except homophobia - New York City Gay Men's Chorus is making waves!
CUBBY BERNSTEIN.
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Check this out: http://cubbybernstein.com/The kid stole my wink.Cubby Bernstein is hysterical. Buy a cubcake tomorrow at XANADU, KIDS!Corine Cohen loves Cubby, even if he stole my wink.
SEX AND THE CITY IN VEGAS? READ THIS!
  
Hello!
We wanted to pass along the attached images from this past week, where Kim Cattrall spent time relaxing at The Palazzo Las Vegas. During her stay, she baptized the pools at The Palazzo and shopped with Simon Doonan during his book signing party. She also spent time at Canyon Ranch SpaClub getting a massage, mani and pedi and ate at Wolfgang Puck’s steakhouse CUT.
“It’s so nice to take this time to relax! With so much going on, I enjoyed my massage and catching up on my reading.”
“Now this is how to enjoy Vegas!” – Kim Cattrall commenting on The Palazzo Las Vegas.
"I worked out in my suite, there was a sauna, the bed was so comfortable and the service has been excellent."
"I didn't get a chance to try the karaoke, but I promise you, if I had the time, or when I do return, that will be one of the things I must, must do!"
"I love Barneys! This store is unbelievable!"
"The building is amazing. For something this size to feel so special and elegant is really remarkable."
“I love my suite! I could get lost in it! I was so thrilled to be staying there and I feel so …important!”
“My suite is so comfortable. And I can DO so many things! I was thinking I don’ t have enough time to take advantage of what is in my room, much less explore the entire hotel, which is what I really want to do!”
“I can’t wait to come back to the Palazzo and I thank you so much for my lovely stay.”
ALSO,
Kim attended our Pools at The Palazzo Brunch and Fashion Show. She commented on all the beautiful fashions and she picked up two of the Diane Von Furstenberg dresses-- new to the season- they were called 'Jocelyn Dresses'. She commented on how delicious the quiche was that Wolfgang Puck's new restaurant Solara catered.
JUDY AND ME!
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THAT LEGENDARY GARLAND MAGIC IS BACK! ---- JUDY AND ME, THE TRIUMPHANT OFF-BROADWAY COMEDY/DRAMA, RETURNS FOR A LIMITED FOUR-WEEK ENGAGEMENT, BEGINNING JUNE 5TH (New York, NY) In conjunction with 2008 Gay Pride -- and the 86th birthday anniversary of its inspirational title character -- the critically-acclaimed off-Broadway play, Judy and Me, returns to New York City by popular demand at The Producers Club, Royal Theatre, beginning Thursday, June 5th. After three nights of previews, Peter Mac's happily-remembered comedy/drama has its official opening night on Sunday, June 8th; the Royal Theatre is located at 358 West 44th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues). Judy and Me plays at 8 p.m. every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening through June 29th, with a special, additional Monday evening show on June 30th. Tickets are $ 25.00 and may be reserved by calling (718) 290-0660; they are also available via Smarttix.com . The Royal Theatre doors open at 7:30 p.m., and a general seating policy is in effect. Originally reviewed as "the gay play that requires only a heart and humor to enjoy -- regardless of one's own life or lifestyle," the autobiographical Judy and Me was first seen in January 2002 in a cabaret theater engagement at Rose's Turn. Public and critical response was such that the four-performance booking was eventually extended to a nearly three-year run, transferring along the way to the Arthur Seelen Theatre and then The Producers Club; there were additional, interim bookings elsewhere in the TriState area and Pennsylvania. HX critic Jonathan Warman defined Judy and Me as "a dizzy, happy upward spiral of joy!" and, in Backstage, John Hoglund praised it as "a warmhearted, compelling outing with human issues." There were additional raves for author Mac's portrayal of the legendary rainbow diva ("Judy Garland lives! Peter Mac is brilliant," marveled entertainment veteran Joe Franklin), and the show received a nomination from HX as the Best Gay Themed play of 2003. Judy and Me addresses the issues of both homophobia and domestic abuse as it recounts the true story of sixteen-year old "Anthony," trapped in the narrow-minded suburb of Elmont, Long Island (and the real hometown of playwright Mac). An outcast at Sewankawa High School in Floral Park, Anthony is the daily target of verbal and physical torment from his classmates. His life at home is equally tenuous; his volatile, violent father is a constant source of pain to both Anthony and his mother. The teen finds his only escape in the music and entertainment of the legendary Judy Garland, who comes to life before his eyes and counsels him through his daily struggles. Garland is herein portrayed as those who knew her best have remembered her: a sage, wise, omniscient, and compassionate human being whose humor, insight, and strength both championed and encouraged those around her. Through her compassion -- and through Anthony's passion for (and camaraderie with) Garland -- the boy learns to deal with his dysfunctional family, his school life, and the realization that he's gay. The 2008 presentation of Judy and Me stars newcomer Anthony Martinez as Anthony -- the "Me" of Judy and Me. In support are Elyse Beyer, Jean Anne Kump, Chris McCabe, and Basil Meola. Peter Mac reprises his sympathetic portrayal of Garland herself. The production is directed by Charles Tolliver and produced for the stage by Dr. John Schaefer. Judy and Me coincides with the June 10th birthday anniversary of its inspiration, as well as the 39th anniversary (June 22nd) of her passing in London. Her death and the subsequent, respectful public and media attention to her wake and funeral here in New York on June 26th and 27th, 1969, are historically and accurately considered to be among the many pieces of the emotional mosaic that helped precipitate the Stonewall Riots -- and the birth of the modern-day gay rights movement -- that weekend. In the intervening decades, Garland's timelessness and ongoing effectiveness as one of the greatest entertainers of recorded time have proved to be unequalled and unsurpassed by either contemporary or current performers. Her preeminence as an inspiration to audiences both then and now is brilliantly manifested in the story told by Judy and Me; author/actor Mac uniquely demonstrates her everlasting, cross-generational appeal, both in and out of the gay community. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL: 718-290-0660 EMAIL JUDYANDMEPLAY@AOL.COMOR VISIT WWW.JUDYANDME.COM
INTERVIEW WITH MARK NADLER! WHO WILL BE AT TOWN HALL ON JUNE 9TH!
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  KT SULLIVAN AND MARK NADLER WILL BE AT TOWN HALL ON JUNE 9TH.  Corine Cohen: You are such a gifted and hysterical performer. Have you ever wanted to do standup comedy? You are so funny! Mark Nadler:I think that standup is the most difficult and brutal form of show-business. I've never had the least desire to put myself through that! Nonetheless, I LOVE making people laugh and I'm really, truly grateful that I have found a way to incorporate comedy into what I do. Thanks for thinking I'm funny! Corine Cohen: You are hysterical. Thanks for making me laugh! Can you tell me what you and KT have in store for us at Town Hall? Mark Nadler: "A Swell Party - RSVP Cole Porter" is the same show that KT and I did at the Algonquin of the songs of Cole Porter. The show is almost entirely musical -- very little "patter". I did arrangements that use a saxophone and bass, as well as our two voices and the piano. We cover A LOT of ground, with regard to getting in Porter's hits and many of his lesser and/or unknown songs. Corine Cohen: Sounds, fun! Will you wear the famous tux and spats? Mark Nadler: How can I do Porter in anything but white tie and tails? And, OF COURSE, with white tie, spats are a must! Corine Cohen. If you could had 3 wishes what would you wish for? Mark Nadler:
WISH 1: an infinite number of wishes, in case I make one that I want to take back!WISH 2: that every person and creature on earth could be as adored, cherished and pampered as my dog.WISH 3: that people would dress nicely when they go the theater and leave their blue-jeans, shorts, tee shirts, tank-tops and most of all, their Blackberry's at home! Corine: I will leave mine at home! If you could star in any show on or off Broadway what would you choose? Mark Nadler:I am about to star in a show on Broadway, called "Russian On The Side". I wrote it and I am the solo performer and we open this fall in a yet-to-be-announced Broadway House. I choose that! Corine Cohen: Congratulations, I can't wait to see it! If Cole Porter was alive today, what would you ask him? Mark Nadler: It depends on which part of his life he was in when I was being granted this interview. I guess the main thing I'd want to know is what his work process was. I wouldn't want to ask as much as observe. I want to know how it is possible for anyone to create the extraordinary body of work that this man left us.
Corine Cohen: Thanks for taking time to do this interview Mark. You can see Mark Nadler at Town Hall on June 9th with KT Sullivan. I am also looking forward to his upcoming Broadway show in the Fall! (Mon) June 9, 2008 at 8 pm Event: CELEBRATE COLE PORTER'S BIRTHDAY WHEN TOWN HALL PRESENTS KT SULLIVAN & MARK NADLER A SWELL PARTY: RSVP COLE PORTER with Loren Schoenberg Description: “… more showstoppers than any other cabaret show” – The New York Times The Town Hall invites one and all to A Swell Party—RSVP Cole Porter, starring KT Sullivan and Mark Nadler a cabaret show celebrating the timeless words and music of the supreme musical sophisticate of the 20th century whose witty, wicked and romantic songs continue to enthrall audiences today as they did in the Jazz Age. Among selections are It’s De-lovely, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Let’s Do It, Brush Up Your Shakespeare, Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye, Night and Day, Begin the Beguine, Experiment and Let’s Fall in Love. “Sullivan and Nadler don't treat the material like museum music; their performances of the various songs are vibrant and full of fun.” – The Siegel Column, Theatremania.com Ticket Price: $45 & 40 Where to get Tickets: online at Ticketmaster or by calling 212.307.4100 Producer: The Town Hall
CUISINE CORNER
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 Good afternoon! Are you like me? Do you prefer party appetizers than regular entrees? I adore party appetizers and decided to make appetizers once a week instead of a real dinner. So, this Saturday I had Appetizer day and it was fun. I bought all of them at Trader Joes. I started off with a roll of sushi from a local place that I took out from. I had a spicy salmon roll with avocado. I then had two meatballs, two pork dumplings, two pigs in the blanket, a chicken finger and two fish sticks. Sounds gross but it was fab and I plan on doing appetizer day once a week. I got half of the stuff at Trader Joe's and the rest from Jacks 99 cents stores. The meal was fabulous washed down with frozen diet peach snapple. Hope to see you later. Toodles. Corine
PENALTIES AND INTEREST OFF BROADWAY!
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“P E N A L T I E S & I N T E R E S T” BY REBECCA COHEN DIRECTED BY JOHN GOULD RUBIN THE SIXTH PUBLIC LAB PRODUCTION AT THE PUBLIC THEATER JUNE 10, 2008 – JUNE 28, 2008 New York, NY (May 27, 2008) – LAByrinth Theater Company (John Ortiz, Artistic Director; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Co-Artistic Director; John Gould Rubin, Co-Artistic Director & Executive Director) has announced complete casting for the new play in development, Penalties & Interest by Rebecca Cohen, the sixth play in the inaugural PUBLIC LAB series. Directed by John Gould Rubin, the cast features LAByrinth Theater Company members Julian Acosta (“Dirt”), Elizabeth Canavan (The Little Flower of East Orange), Yetta Gottesman (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot), Craig "muMs" Grant (A View From 151st Street, "Oz"), and Michael Puzzo (Dirty Story). The development production begins performances Tuesday, June 10th for a limited engagement through June 28th at The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street at Astor Place). The insular existence of office life is a Petri dish for contemporary society in Rebecca Cohen’s comedy, Penalties & Interest. Lollie, Lyle and Amy try to keep their heads above water, and their boss, Dick, bobs up when they least expect it. LAByrinth first presented Penalties & Interest behind closed doors at its annual retreat, the Summer Intensive, and then presented it as a free reading at the 2006 Barn Series festival. Now, this bare-bones PUBLIC LAB production marks the next stage in LAByrinth’s unique play development process, taking the collaboration between the playwright, director, designers and audiences, to the next level. To follow this process, from planning through rehearsals and closing night, members of the general public are invited to contribute to the Penalties & Interest Blog (at www.LABtheater.org), where author, director, company and creative team are talking about the play's development, and hosting a forum for audience response. The creative team for Penalties & Interest includes Chris Barreca (Scenic Design), Oana Botez-Ban (Costume Design), Nicole Pearce (Lighting Design), Betsy Rhodes (Sound Design) and Paula Pizzi (Dramaturg). Penalties & Interest will play the following performance schedule: Tuesdays – Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available at The Public Theater Box Office, by calling (212) 967-7555, or online at www.publictheater.org. The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street. The performance of Penalties & Interest on Tuesday, June 24th will feature open-captioning for members of the Hard-of-Hearing community. For reservations and information, contact LAByrinth at (212) 513-1014 or visit LABtheater.org. LAByrinth’s Accessibility Project is made possible with a grant from Theatre Development Fund’s TAP Plus program. Open-Captioning provided by c2 (caption coalition) inc.
KATHY BRIER SINGS ABOUT CHEMISTRY ON ONE LIFE TO LIVE!
 Kathy Brier and Corine Cohen After our on camera interview for Rockers on Broadway. She is awesome! I never watch soaps but today I left on "ONE LIFE TO LIVE, starring Broadway star (Hairspray) Kathy Brier. Seems they brought musical numbers to her job as she sang"Chemistry." It was very amusing.ONE LIFE TO LIVE is on ABC.A Corine's pick.Corine CohenBrier is a nice woman and a talented singer. Hope to see her on Broadway where she belongs.In the meantime see her sing on ONE LIFE TO LIVE.ABC. Now!
JENNIFER SIMARD AT BIRDLAND!!!
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 Photos of Jennifer Simard by Maryann Lopinto.
GEORGIA STITT & Friendswith Kate Baldwin, Jennifer Simard, Lauren Kennedy, Anthony Holds, Elizabeth Salem, & Randy Redd with Victoria Paterson on violin and Randy Landau on bass Monday, May 26 @ 7pmMusic Charge: $25 Georgia Stitt makes her living as a composer, lyricist, musical director, conductor, arranger, and pianist. She has written several musicals for the theater, including "The Water," written with Jeff Hylton and Tim Werenko, and Big Red Sun, written with John Jiler. She contributed nine songs to the American Music Festival in Tono, Japan and served as composer-in-residence for the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York City. At present she is developing a musical revue with composer/lyricist David Kirshenbaum. She has recently recorded "Alphabet City Cycle," a song cycle for soprano and violin with lyricist Marcy Heisler, which was premiered by the New Voices Collective, of which she is a founding member. Georgia recently served as the on-camera vocal coach for the NBC reality TV show "Grease: You're The One That I Want." She also worked as the Production Music Coordinator for the Disney/ABC TV musical "Once Upon A Mattress" starring Tracey Ullman and Carol Burnett. On Broadway she was the assistant conductor of the 2003 "Little Shop of Horrors" revival and was the associate conductor of the Encores! production of "Can-Can" starring Patti LuPone. Georgia lives in New York and Los Angeles with her husband composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown and their daughter Molly. To get tickets: http://www.birdlandjazz.com/
Drama Desk Awards Coverage.
 Andre' Bishop and Bernie Gersten- (Lincoln Center) I got to interview Andre' and it was one of the greatest moments of my life.  The Producers of The 39 Steps. (Congratulations, Pat!)  Playwright Edward Albee.  Bill Pullman  Drama Desk President William Wolf
DRAMA DESK RED CARPET COVERAGE CONTINUES!
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 Matthew Morrison  The gorgeous and nice Leslie Kritzer and The incredible Faith Prince.  Harvey Fierstein arrives at the red carpet.  Boyd Gaines, Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino.  The very handsome Tom Wopat!  The adorable and charming Daniel Breaker!  The magnificent Faith Prince!  The brilliant Mary Testa!  The one and only Raul Esparza  Drama Desk winner Linda Lavin Say, cheese!
CHESTER GREGORY JULY 7TH!
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 At the Drama Desk before party I spent some quality time with the first television talk show host Joe Franklin. Mr Franklin is very kind. I really enjoyed talking with him! He is such a sweet and interesting person!
Joe Franklin is my hero.
Corine Photo by Sandi Durell.
Corine's Corner Celebrates Three Years of Covering The Theater!
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   Corine's Corner will celebrate three years of coverage. The anniversary is July 4th.
We will celebrate on July 2.
Come have a drink with me to celebrate.
Where: Bamboo 52.
Time: 5-8
Happy Hour Prices.
Drinks $4-6 dollars.
RSVP: Corine@corinescorner.comYou must be 21 to attend this party.
Drama Desk Coverge Continues.
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 Drama Desk winner Rob Ashford who will be working on the upcoming " BRIGADOON" revival.  Executive Producer Robert Blume and Cougar's Donna Moore Look for Moore's show, it's the puurfect show and a Corine's Pick.  Shuler Hensley  Producer Pat Addiss (Passing Strange and the 39 Steps)  Corine Dana Cohen and legend Joe Franklin. Photos by Sandi Durell.
 The one and only John T. Egan and Norm Lewis. To get tickets: http://www.metropolitanroom.com  One of my favorite performers has a show at the Metropolitan Room on Monday! An evening of Standards from John’s recent cd release Count the Stars As of January, 2008 - John is knocking them dead as Chef Louis in 'THE LITTLE MERMAID' on Broadway. Previously John lead the Broadway cast of THE PRODUCERS as Max Bialystock. He has also played the TONY winning roles of Roger Debris, Franz Liebkind, and Max Bialystock. He was an original company member of the Broadway production of JEKYLL & HYDE (Atlantic Recordings/Broadway Television Networks) He has toured in productions of CATS and KISS ME KATE. Monday, May 26 @ 9:30 $20.00 Cover + $15.00 Minimum
GEORGE LIBERATO EXPANDS DUTIES!
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TEXAS NATIVE GEORGE LIBERATO EXPANDS PHILANTHROPIC DUTIES JOINS BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF OFF-BROADWAY’S LABYRINTH THEATER COMPANY New York, NY (May 23, 2008) – LAByrinth Theater Company (John Ortiz, Artistic Director; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Co-Artistic Director; John Gould Rubin, Co-Artistic Director & Executive Director) proudly announces the addition of Galveston native George Liberato to the Board of Directors, effective immediately. He joins LAByrinth Theater Company's prestigious Board Members, who include Academy Award-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (LAB co-Artistic Director, actor/director), studio executive Colin Callendar (President, HBO Films), Broadway producer Margo Lion (Angels in America, Hairspray, Caroline, or Change), actor John Ortiz (LAB Artistic Director, American Gangster), and film producer Frank Vitolo (Just Add Water, Music Within). Galveston Islander, George Liberato, brings his philanthropic expertise to one of Off-Broadway thriving theater companies, now in residence at The Public Theater in New York City. A graduate of the University of Southern Arkansas, with a Masters from Texas A&M, he has served as president of the Galveston Board of Realtors, on the State of Texas Political Action Committee, and on the Board of Directors for the Strand Street Theater in Galveston. He is a Texas Real Estate Broker and Land Developer. In his accepting his newly assigned position, Mr. Liberato had this to say, “It is an honor to be named to the Board of Directors of LAByrinth Theater Company. Over the last 16 years, LAByrinth has forged its own theatrical, cultural revolution at the forefront of the New York stage, creating works of tremendous value from the fierce talents and energy of its company members. I’m delighted to support them in their vision for the future, knowing that they will continue to have a unique ability to define the cutting edge of American drama.” In welcoming Mr. Liberato into the LAByrinth family, John Gould Rubin, co-artistic director of the LAByrinth Theater Company, had this to share, "LAByrinth Theater Company has always seen itself as comprised of New Yorkers, presenting plays by and about New Yorkers and, by extension, for New Yorkers. It has been with great delight that we discovered that George Liberato, a Texan from Galveston, would find such a strong emotional connection to our work and our company. Perhaps this proves that the entire world is comprised of New Yorkers. Or, perhaps, that the theater we create is more universal than we had thought.” He went on to add, “No, we think the likelier explanation is that George is a rare individual, full of curiosity and vitality, eager to pursue daring, risky and confrontational adventures in life as well as in the arts. He feels like one of us and we are happy to embrace him into our community." LAByrinth Theater Company was founded in 1992 by a group of actors who wanted to push their artistic limits, hone their craft, and create new plays that truly reflected their heritage and experience. Today, LAByrinth is comprised of more than 100 established and emerging theater artists from a wide array of cultural perspectives. The inclusive, multicultural ensemble encourages all members to write, act, direct, and design, and supports multidisciplinary growth and exploration in the creation of daring new work that celebrates the diversity of its New York City home. Now in its sixteenth season, the award-winning LAByrinth has developed hundreds of new plays and staged 50 productions including The Little Flower of East Orange and UNCONDITIONAL (2008), A View from 151st Street and Jack Goes Boating (2007), A Small, Melodramatic Story and School of The Americas (2006), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (2005), Sailor’s Song and Guinea Pig Solo (2004), Dutch Heart of Man and Dirty Story (2003), Our Lady of 121st Street (2002), Where’s My Money? (2001), Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (2000), and In Arabia, We’d All Be Kings (1999).
Drama Desk Awards Coverage Continues!
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 Perfect P: Paulo Szot and Patti LuPone- PERFECT! Photos by Mark Rupp!  LuPone wins!  LuPone, Benanti and Gaines-Together,forever!  Linda Lavin and Mark Rupp!  Linda Lavin  The gorgeous and chic Kelli O'Hara  Laura Benanti, Boyd Gaines and Kelli O'Hara
Julie Halston and Donna Daley's Monologue Book Signing.
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 Julie Halston signs books. The event is the only reading color coordinated with green and purple M&M'S. Very funny. Be sure to buy the book of monologues. You also need to look at Julie's adorable site which is done by Charles Busch's wig expert. I met her at Broadway Bingo and she is incredibly talented. http://www.juliehalston.com. Be sure to look for Julie in the upcoming SEX AND THE CITY film where she plays Nathan Lane's wife. Don't forget to catch her in East Hampton with Charles Busch in Shaghai Moon.        Julie Halston, currently in rehearsal for Charles Busch’s new stage production, “Shanghai Moon,” and director/actress Donna Daley will read excerpts from their new book, “Monologues for Show-Offs,” at a special Book Signing event at the Drama Book Shop, 250 W. 40th St. (between Broadway and 8th Ave) on Thursday, May 22, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.The event will also feature readings by performer friends of theirs who will be in the audience, among them Charles Busch and the Shanghai Moon cast; comedians Rick Younger and Judy Gold; Marylouise Burke, Christine Lavin; Jake Wilson of The Battery’s Down; actor David Pittu and lots of other folks in the business!Following the readings, Halston and Daley will sign copies of the book for those in the audience. The book, published by Heinemann, sells for $14.95 and is available at the Drama Book Shop.“Monologues for Show-Offs” includes 74 brand new audition monologues which have been written by Halston and Daley to assist professional actors in their auditions. The monologues were written for men and women of all ages as well as people of various ethnic backgrounds. Here are some photos of the event! Photos by Maryann Lopinto.
ANN HARADA ON SEX AND THE CITY!
OMG. I just saw an old episode of SEX AND THE CITY and Ann Harada was on it with a very funny part! Go, Ann! Must be Sex And The City Week! This week I saw Julie Halston (Bitsy Von Muffling) Lynn Cohen gave me a ride home from the Drama Desk Awards (Magda) and now Ann Harada on an old episode. I LOVE SEX AND THE CITY and would kill to go to the premiere. I will be at the film on May 30th at 10! Catch the fabulous film May 30th.
Fantasies Come True!
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 Photo of Marylouise Burke by Maryann Lopinto.  Hello; See my smile? I came home tonight having interviewed Marylouise Burke, one of my favorite performers of all time. It made me so happy, I wanted to post about it. Burke was so sweet, humble and gracious. Interview coming soon. More later. I am still in the clouds!
BROADWAY BY THE YEAR!
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DIRECTED BY EMILY SKINNER, STARRING JEFF McCARTHY, TERRI KLAUSNER, NOAH RACEY, AND MORE MONDAY, JUNE 16 AT 8PM The Town Hall is pleased to present the final production of its 2007-2008 Broadway by the Year series with Broadway by the Year 1979 on Monday, June 16th at 8PM says Executive and Artistic Director Lawrence Zucker. Broadway By The Year is created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel for The Town Hall, now in it's 8th season. After the first three sold-out concerts, Broadway by the Year continues its year of unparalleled entertainment with this last show of the season. Broadway by the Year 1979 is directed by Emily Skinner and choreographed by Noah Racey, who both star in the show. Terri Klausner and Jeff McCarthy also share the bill, in addition to many other stars that are soon to be announced. The Broadway by the Year concerts have become, in the words of Variety critic Robert L. Daniels, "a proverbial hot ticket." Scott Siegel, the writer and host of The Town Hall program, takes the audience on a musical travelogue, exploring the history of the Great White Way and showcasing the beloved hits and lesser-known gems from yesteryear, starring today's great Broadway talent. The evening will feature excerpts from the Broadway shows of 1979 including Evita Sweeney Todd, They're Playing Our Song, I Remember Mama, The Grand Tour, Sarava, AND MORE. It will also reunite two stars from the cult favorite musical Side Show: Emily Skinner and Jeff McCarthy (Chicago/Urinetown). In addition, Terry Klausner will remind audiences why she was hired to play Eva Peron twice a week in the original cast of Evita. Built in 1921 by a group of suffragettes, The Town Hall began as a lecture hall and public forum for debates. Over the decades, Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Sanger, Billie Holiday, Igor Stravinsky, Bob Dylan and Miles Davis have graced the stage. Today the hall flourishes as a popular, affordable venue, boasting the hottest acts in rock, pop, folk, cabaret, world music, comedy and dance, including Billy Joel, Blondie, Elvis Costello, Natalie Merchant, Graham Nash, Liza Minnelli, Cyndi Lauper, Norah Jones, Andre Watts, Henry Rollins, Joe Jackson, Pink Martini, Regina Spector, Brian Adams, Aimee Mann and Dawn Upshaw. For over a decade, The Town Hall has hosted live broadcasts of Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. Over the past two-and-a-half decades, The Town Hall has produced a number of new and critically acclaimed musical series, which include The Century of Change, Not Just Jazz, Broadway by the Year® and The Broadway Cabaret Festival. Scott Siegel has created two acclaimed and popular series for The Town Hall: the critically acclaimed Broadway By the Year, now in its eighth season, and the Broadway Cabaret Festival. Mr. Siegel also conceived and produces both Broadway Unplugged and The Nightlife Awards at The Town Hall, and is currently in his tenth year as host of The Town Hall Feature Film Series. Scott and his wife Barbara are authors (47 books, including The Encyclopedia of Hollywood) and critics ("The Siegel Column" and "The Two of Clubs"). Tickets are $50 & $45 and are on sale now through TicketMaster, 212-307-4100, www.ticketmaster.com, The Town Hall Box Office between noon and 6 PM (except Sundays) at 123 West 43rd Street, 212-840-2824. For more information: www.the-townhall-nyc.org.
Whoopi Goldberg-
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We love you!!!!! Can't wait to see her host The Tony Awards. It will be very exciting. Hope you use Bruce Vilanch to write all of your jokes. Loved you in his film. Looking forward to June 15th. Corine
JULIE HALSTON EVENT. SHE IS THE BEST. SEE HER AND BUY HER BOOK! TOMORROW!
Julie Halston, currently in rehearsal for Charles Busch’s new stage production, “Shanghai Moon,” and director/actress Donna Daley will read excerpts from their new book, “Monologues for Show-Offs,” at a special Book Signing event at the Drama Book Shop, 250 W. 40th St. (between Broadway and 8th Ave) on Thursday, May 22, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. The event will also feature readings by performer friends of theirs who will be in the audience, among them Charles Busch and the Shanghai Moon cast; comedians Rick Younger and Judy Gold; Mary Louise Burke, Christine Lavin; Jake Wilson of The Battery’s Down; actor David Pittu and lots of other folks in the business! Following the readings, Halston and Daley will sign copies of the book for those in the audience. The book, published by Heinemann, sells for $14.95 and is available at the Drama Book Shop. “Monologues for Show-Offs” includes 74 brand new audition monologues which have been written by Halston and Daley to assist professional actors in their auditions. The monologues were written for men and women of all ages as well as people of various ethnic backgrounds.
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY RETURNS ON JUNE 28TH!!!!!
 Photos by: Michael Portantiere, bottom photos Maryann Lopinto.  Congratulations, Forbidden Broadway and to the talented cast that make Gerard look so great. Jared, Westie, James, Val, Gerard you are all very talented! And to all the cast members from all editions of Forbidden Broadway you are all winners!  FORBIDDEN BROADWAY WINS 2008 DRAMA DESK AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REVUE Summer Edition FORBIDDEN BROADWAY DANCES WITH THE STARS! Begins Performances June 28th At The 47th Street Theatre Gerard Alessandrini’s FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: RUDE AWAKENING won the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue. “We accept this award in memory of the great costume designer Alvin Colt, who elevated our show and our lives for 15 years,” said producer John Freedson. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has won a total of six Drama Desk Awards over the years, and is also a recipient of the Tony© Honor for Excellence in the Theatre. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY will return from its annual spring hiatus on June 28 at 8pm with a summer edition entitled FORBIDDEN BROADWAY DANCES WITH THE STARS!, at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street). The summer edition will feature past favorites in addition to new spoofs including South Pacific, Patti LuPone in Gypsy and Grease - You're the One That I Hate! (During hiatus FORBIDDEN BROADWAY played a sold-out engagement at The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Center in Miami). The cast is soon to be announced. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has been an unstoppable force in New York theatre since 1982 when Gerard Alessandrini created the first parody lampooning the Broadway shows and stars of the day. It is a favorite among theatre lovers as well as Broadway stars (Kathleen Turner, Raul Esparza, Christine Ebersole, Patti LuPone, the cast of Spring Awakening, Cheyenne Jackson, Bernadette Peters, Carol Channing, Stephen Sondheim, Cameron Mackintosh, and Hal Prince among others), who often stop by to laugh at themselves. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has won numerous awards in its history including the 2006 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, six Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Obie, and Lucille Lortel Awards. A theatrical institution, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY has received national and international notoriety, racking up over 15,000 performances in more than 200 US cities as well as engagements in London, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. The playing schedule for FORBIDDEN BROADWAY DANCES WITH THE STARS! will be as follows: Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 7:30 pm, with matinees on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm, Saturdays at 4:00 pm, and Sundays at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $65 Saturday, Sunday and Monday evenings - and $60 all other performances. For tickets call (212) 239-6200. For Group Sales call (212) 840-5564. http://www.forbiddenbroadway.com/
THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES!
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GATEWAY PLAYHOUSE 59th Season OPENS with “THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES” MAY 21 – June 14, 2008 The 59th season of the Gateway Playhouse (215 South Country Rd, Bellport, NY 11713), Long Island’s premiere professional Equity musical theatre, opens its with the multiple Tony Award winner, “The Will Rogers Follies, a life in revue” May 21–June 14. “The Will Rogers Follies” presents the wit and wisdom of the famed entertainer, cowboy, comedian, philosopher and movie and Broadway star. With a bevy of Show-stopping numbers the life of Will Rogers is chronicled in grand theatrical style; featuring showgirls in feathers and beads, chorus boys in boots and glitzy chaps and an massive lighted staircase for them to parade in true Broadway style production numbers, “The Will Rogers Follies” is engaging musical theatre. DJ Salisbury is the Director/Choreographer and Billy McDaniel is the Musical Director with Kelly Tighe (Scenic Designer), Marcia Madeira (Lighting Designer), Cody Spencer (Sound Designer) and Dom Ruggiero (Production Stage Manager). Robin Joy Allan is the Casting and Artistic Director and Paul Allan is the Producer. The show stars Tom Angland as ‘Will Rogers’; Mary Mossberg, as ‘Betty Blake’; Dick Decareau, as ‘Clem Rogers’ and Jackie Bayne, as “Ziegfeld’s Favorite’. Also in the talent cast are Anne Bloemendal, Amy Carroll, Ann Cooley, William James Daniels, Erik Floor, Melanie Goerlitz, Melissa Harres, Kia Lee, Charles Logan, Carissa Lopez, Denise Molnar, Jermaine Rembert, Katie Ribis, Elizabeth Sousek, Karen Michelle Webb and others. “The Will Rogers Follies” has music by Cy Coleman with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, the book is by Peter Stone. The acclaimed musical began performances on Broadway on April 1, 1991 and played 33 previews and 981 performances at the Palace Theatre. It won numerous Tony Awards including Best Musical and Original Score as well as Drama Desk Awards for Musical and for the Music. 2008 marks Gateway's 59th year of producing first class entertainment. The state-of-the-art facility surrounded by a beautifully landscaped rustic exterior creates a unique theater going experience; one of the top ten summer theaters in the nation. The seven acres of wooded, grassy land encompass the Mainstage theatre (seats 500), Barn theatre (for acting school classes and projects), scene shop, two rehearsal studios, three dorm-style housing units, a newly remodeled kitchen, costume shop, design office/studio, paint shop, box office, business office, various storage spaces, a recreation room and a large hedge-lined lawn with outdoor swimming pool. All of the actors are professionals, most are members of Actors Equity and the musicians are members of AF of M (Local 802). SSDC© directors (Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers) and USA© designers (United Scenic Artists) are employed. Gateway's Acting School is now in it's 13th year of providing professional training. Their set rental business has grown to over 40 full sets to lease. Upcoming productions are “Forbidden Broadway” June 18–July 6; “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” at the Patchogue Theatre, 71 E. Main Street, Patchogue, on July 9-26;. “Show Boat” July 30-August 23; “The Producers”, in the Patchogue Theatre August 27-September 13; and “The Wedding Singer” September 17–October 4. Beginning in July starts the popular Children’s Theatre shows. Regular performances of “The Will Rogers Follies” are Tue., Wed., Thurs. @ 8:00; Sun. @ 2:00 & 7:00; Wed. & Thurs. @ 2:00; Fri. @ 8:00 and Sat. @ 4:00 & 8:30. Please call theatre for some special weekday performances. Tickets for all shows are on sale now and range from $39-$43 for adults, and $25 for children 12 and under and can be purchased by calling 1-888-4-TIX-NOW, on the web at http://www.gatewayplayhouse.com/, or in person at the historic theatre in Bellport.
ALAN CUMMING JOINS CAST OF DIRECTOR CHUCK GRIFFITH'S NEW INDEPENDENT FILM, SHIFTING THE CANVAS!
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 Photo supplied by: http://www.alancumming.comOne of my favorite actors will be shooting a new film this summer! ALAN CUMMING JOINS CAST OF DIRECTOR CHUCK GRIFFITH’S NEW INDEPENDENT FILM, SHIFTING THE CANVAS NEW YORK [May 20, 2008] – Tony Award winning stage and film actor, Alan Cumming, is the latest star to be cast in writer/director Chuck Griffith’s upcoming indie motion picture, Shifting the Canvas. Appearing as lead antagonist Jack Gresham, Cumming will play the dramatic role of a Machiavellian New York real estate developer seeking to turn the urban hipster community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn into another gentrified neighborhood of condos, PinkBerrys, and IKEAs. The daring and eclectic actor is best known for his roles in films such as X2: X-Men United, Eyes Wide Shut, Goldeneye, Emma, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, the Spy Kids trilogy, Nicholas Nickleby, Titus and Urbania. He has also appeared on Broadway in Sam Mendes’ revival of the Kander and Ebb musical, Cabaret - and most recently in The Threepenny Opera. “Alan’s versatility is unrivaled,” said Chuck Griffith, the award-winning producer and director of 2001’s independent rock-music film, Thank You Good Night. In addition to Shifting the Canvas, Griffith is currently working on the horror film, Apollo Thorne, and the television series Waterloo. “Alan approaches his characters with a complexity and passion that’s aligned with the overall vision of our story.” In addition to Cumming, Shifting the Canvas will star Scott Thompson (Kids in the Hall), John Paul Pitoc (Trick), and Matthew Montgomery (Long-Term Relationship) with appearances by Christian Campbell, Gedde Watanabe, Cheyenne Jackson, and various New York nightlife icons. Shifting the Canvas is being overseen by Roaring Leo Productions and by Producer Robert Zimmer Jr and Duke Greenhill. Production begins in New York City this summer and has been granted a completion guarantee by the Screen Actors Guild in case of an actors' strike. For more information on the sensational ALAN CUMMING: http://www.alancumming.com/
Bartlett Sher To Direct New Musical!
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Bartlett Sher, who has received great acclaim as well as a Tony nomination and Drama Desk Award as Best Director of A Musical for the current Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific, will direct the new musical BRUCE LEE: JOURNEY TO THE WEST, to be produced on Broadway by Elephant Eye Theatrical. Joining Sher are Tony nominees David Yazbek (The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) composing the music and writing the lyrics and David Henry Hwang (M Butterfly, Yellow Face) penning the book. Choreography will be created by Dou Dou Huang, the Artistic Director of the Shanghai Song and Dance Ensemble, referred to by Time Magazine as a Chinese “national sensation” who has “reinvented mainland dance for the 21st century.” BRUCE LEE: JOURNEY TO THE WEST is targeted for the 2010-2011 Broadway season. BRUCE LEE: JOURNEY TO THE WEST tells of the martial arts legend's difficult road to success, as figures from Chinese mythology follow his quest and The Monkey King, a beloved warrior god, becomes his heavenly ally. In a show fusing sources as diverse as martial arts, Chinese Opera, modern dance, and pop music, Bruce struggles to master his skills, purify his spirit and forge a link to unite East and West. BARTLETT SHER (Director) directed the current Broadway revival of South Pacific at Lincoln Center, which has just received 11 Tony Award nominations, including Best Director of a Musical. He’s also just won a Drama Desk Award for his direction. He received a 2006 Tony nomination for his direction of Awake and Sing! by Clifford Odets and 2005 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critic Circle nominations for his direction of The Light in the Piazza. In 2006, he made DAVID YAZBEK (Music/Lyrics) began his career writing for David Letterman's late night television show where he and the writing team won an Emmy in 1986. Yazbek has released three rock albums and has written many songs and background music for children's television shows, including many on The Disney Channel. He also wrote the theme song to the children's television game show Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? featuring the musical group Rockapella. Yazbek has written and produced tracks for the band XTC, Spacehog, Tito Puente, The Persuasions, Queen, and Sarah Saturday. Collaborating with librettist Terrance McNally, Yazbek wrote the music and lyrics for The Full Monty. Yazbek was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music. In 2002 he was a contributing lyricist for the musical Bombay Dreams .Yazbek also wrote the music and lyrics to the musical adaptation of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, for which he received Tony and Drama Desk nominations. DAVID HENRY HWANG (Book) was awarded the 1988 Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and John Gassner Awards for his Broadway debut, M. Butterfly, which was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. For his play Golden Child, he received a 1998 Tony nomination and a 1997 Obie Award. His new book for the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Flower Drum Song earned him his third Tony nomination in 2003. Hwang's most recent play Yellow Face, premiered at the Mark Taper Forum, as a co-production with East West Players, and had its Off-Broadway premiere at Joseph Papp's Public Theater. It was recently named a finalist for this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He also penned the English language libretto for an operatic adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland with music by the Korean composer Unsuk Chin, which received its world premiere at the Bavarian State Opera in 2007. Hwang served as book writer for Disney’s 2006 Broadway production of Tarzan and as co-book writer for Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida, also produced by Disney. Current projects include an adaptation of the 1986 David Cronenberg film The Fly, in collaboration with Placido Domingo. DOU DOU HUANG (Choreography) is the Artistic Director and Principal Dancer of the Shanghai Song and Dance Ensemble and has been at the helm of the ensemble since 1995. He has been designated a “First Class National Artist” in China, a highly coveted consideration, and his performances, as well as choreography, have been acclaimed all over the world. Combining ancient, classical and contemporary traditions and techniques he is responsible for moving Chinese dance into the 21st century. Time Magazine described him as a Chinese “national sensation” who has “reinvented mainland dance”. Some of his most notable works have been: ‘Dancing Dancing I’ in which he combined modern multi-media, modern acoustics and optic technology with dramatic performance, performed as part of the International Opera Master Class performances at the Shanghai Conservatory, and ‘Golden Door and Silver Threads”, a large-scale performance which won the Grand Prize at the Second National Minority Literary Festival. Dou Dou Huang and Jacques D’Amboise held a joint performance at the Shanghai Grand Theatre called ‘Dancing into the Future’. Dou Dou starred in the performance “Chinese Gong Fu” in the closing dance ceremonies at the Athens Olympic Games. In 2005, Dou Dou Huang was awarded a scholarship from the Asian Cultural Association which has lead to the opportunity for further study and research in the United States. ELEPHANT EYE THEATRICAL (Producer) formed by producers Stuart Oken, Michael Leavitt and Five Cent Productions in late 2005, is a theatrical development and production company dedicated to the creation of new book musicals for Broadway. In addition to Bruce Lee: Journey to the West, EET is currently developing The Addams Family, a new musical based on characters, cartoons and sketches by the legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, with a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, (the librettists for Jersey Boys,) music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party) and direction and design by Improbable Theater founders Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, who have recently received wide acclaim for their work on the Philip Glass opera Satyagraha at the Metropolitan Opera. EET plans to premiere The Addams Family in the 2009-2010 Broadway season, preceded by an out-of-town tryout. EET is also involved in the Playwrights Horizons production of the new musical Saved, now in previews.
Drama Desk Photo Coverage Part 2. VOGUE!
 VOGUE! Some of the greatest outfits this year. Photos by Mark Rupp Part 2. Text: Corine Cohen  I love this outfit. Marissa Tomei wearing a stunning dress.  The gorgeous Kelli O'Hara poses with Bob Blume.  Laura Benanti lights up a room when she is in it. Congratulations, Laura!  The stunning Raul Esparza. Vogue!  Boyd Gaines, The dapper Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino.  The beautiful Little Mermaid- Sierra Boggess.  Laura Benanti and Boyd Gaines from the hit GYPSY!  Funny man Douglas Carter Bean Xanadu!  Cheyenne Jackson- Broadway's Sex symbol.  Kris Andersson-Dixie's Tuperware Party  Cheyenne Jackson makes you go swoon.  The man I would die to interview. He is a brilliant writer and a man I deeply admire and respect.  The studs of the evening. Tom Wopat and Cheyenne Jackson make women and men swoon.
MY NEW FRIEND DIXIE!
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 I wanted to thank Mark Rupp for taking this hysterical shot of me and my new best friend Dixie. Wait to you see the video. She is soooooooo funny. I was a bit grossed out by her rolling tongue but she is one of the funniest acts since Charles Busch. Very funny! Thank you, Dixie honey. Corine
DRAMA DESK RED CARPET PART 1 BY MARK RUPP.
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 The sweet and stunning Leslie Kritzer. I had a nice chat with Leslie at the afterparty. She is fabulous and very nice. Her performance in A CATERED AFFAIR is brilliant. Her dress was the prettiest of the evening. Corine's Corner was at the Drama Desk this year. We were on the red carpet. At the show and all of the fabulous parties. This is part 1. Stay tuned for parts 2-5 coming later. And look forward to my interviews with all of the stars at the event in the press room. Photos by Mark Rupp Text: Corine Dana Cohen for http://www.corinescorner.com/ Sierra Boggess from The Little Mermaid.  Daniel Breaker from Passing Strange!  Bill Pullman  Legend: James Earl Jones!  Matt Morrison.  Laura Benanti. She was a pleasure to interview. She is very sweet and deserves to win. All of the nominees are fabulous but I was really thrilled to interview Laura.  Drunken City's Barett Foa.  Shuler Hensley and his beautiful wife. I enjoyed interviewing him at the nominations party. It is on my homepage if you want to see it. He is marvelous.  Rebecca Luker who is in Mary Poppins and a charming lady! Her husband is a wonderful man and I enjoyed interviewing him at the Drama Desk Nominations party.  The fabulous star Jim Dale! Soon to be the star of Busker Alley.  The new sensation: Cubby Bernstein. I tried to interview Cubby at Hawaiian Tropic zone but Cubby refused to tell me his age.  Elizabeth Ashley  Lynn Cohen. Theater and TV Star. She is most famous from her role as Magda in Sex And The City. Lynn is a wonderful friend. We have become pretty close over the past six years and it was a pleasure seeing her and chatting with her at the parties. She is fabulous. I can't wait to see her in the new SEX AND THE CITY FILM. I hope to be at that premiere.  Danny Burstein and his beautiful wife Rebecca Luker.
Drama Desk Results.
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SOUTH PACIFIC HEADS LIST OF 2007/2008 DRAMA DESK WINNERS WITH 5 AWARDS, FOLLOWED BY AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, GYPSY AND PASSING STRANGE WITH 3 BOEING-BOEING, LES LIAISON DANGEREUSES, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE AND THE 39 STEPS ARE OTHER MULTIPLE WINNERS WITH 2 EACH
Patti LuPone (Gypsy), Paulo Szot (South Pacific), Deanna Dunagan (August: Osage County) and Mark Rylance (Boeing- Boeing) Win Top Acting Awards
New York, NY, May 18, 2008 – South Pacific, the Lincoln Center revival of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic 1949 musical, won five awards, including Outstanding Musical Revival, to head the list of 2007/2008 Drama Desk Award winners at the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards, held tonight at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. August: Osage County, Tracy Letts’ Steppenwolf Theatre production of a dysfunctional family, won three Drama Desk Awards as did the revival of Gypsy, the 1959 Jule Styne/Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents musical, and the new Broadway musical Passing Strange,by Stew and Heidi Rodewald.Deanna Dunagan (August: Osage County) won the award as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama and Patti LuPone (Gypsy) won as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical. Paulo Szot (South Pacific) was named Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical and Mark Rylance (Boeing-Boeing) won the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Award.Laurence Fishburne received the Outstanding Solo Performance award for his tour de force portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in Thurgood. The Unique Theatrical Experience award was presented to The 39 Steps and Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakeningwon as Outstanding Revue.
Conleth Hill (The Seafarer) and Linda Lavin (The New Century) were cited as Outstanding Featured Actor and Actress in a Play. Boyd Gaines and Linda Benanti, both in Gypsy,won the Outstanding Featured Acting Awards in a Musical.
The Drama Desk Awards for staging went to Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County) as Outstanding Director of a Play, and to Bartlett Sher (South Pacific) as Outstanding Director of a Musical. Rob Ashford (Cry Baby The Musical) was honored for Outstanding Choreography.Stew and Heidi Rodewald (Passing Strange) won the Outstanding Music Award and Stew (Passing Strange) also won for Outstanding Lyrics. Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu) captured the award for Outstanding Book of a Musical and Jason Carr (Sunday in the Park with George) won for Outstanding Orchestrations. In the design categories, Scott Pask (Les Liaisons Dangereuses)won for Outstanding Set Design of a Play, and Michael Yeargan won the Drama Desk Award for his Outstanding Set Design of a Musical for his creative contributions to South Pacific.The Outstanding Costume Design award was presented to Katrina Lindsay (Les Liaison Dangereuses). Kevin Adams (The 39 Steps) won for Outstanding Lighting Design and Scott Lehrer (South Pacific) was honored for his Outstanding Sound Design.Timothy Bird and The Knifedge Creative Network won the Outstanding Projection and Video Design award, a new Drama Desk Awards category this year, for their exciting contributions to Sunday in the Park with George.
This year the nominators chose to bestow special ensemble awards for acting to the casts of two shows – The Dining Room (Off-Broadway) and The Homecoming (Broadway). Thus, individual cast members for these shows were not eligible for acting awards in the competitive categories. The Drama Desk maintained its tradition of acknowledging excellence in the theater by presenting special awards to: Edward Albee, James Earl Jones, 59E59 Theaters and Playwrights Horizons.
This year’s winners were the first recipients of a handsome new trophy created and hand crafted specifically for the Drama Desk Awards by Robert Du Grenier Associates, Inc., a world renowned design studio specializing in glass sculptural pieces and three dimensional designs.
The awards ceremony was hosted by cast members of the Broadway-bound musical [title of show] – Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell, Jeff Bowen, Heidi Blickenstaff and Larry Pressgrove. Presenters included (in alphabetical order): Elizabeth Ashley, Laura Benanti, Michael Berresse, John Cullum, Jim Dale, Harvey Fierstein, Laurence Fishburne, Leigh Ann Larkin, Priscilla Lopez, Patti LuPone, Andrea Martin, Bill Pullman, Marisa Tomei and Julie White. There was a special appearance by Dixie Longate. Music was provided by Barry Levitt (piano), Jon Burr (bass) and Roger Squitero (percussion).
The 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards was webcast with live streaming video from 9:00 PM to its conclusion by TheaterMania.com, and was broadcast live in its entirety on satellite radio’s XM-28 On Broadway.
The 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards is presented by Executive Producer Robert R. Blume in association with TheaterMania.com.Lauren Class Schneider is producer, and Jeff Kalpak, director. Peter Flynn is the writer. Associate Producers are Les Schecter, Corine Dana Cohen, Matthew P. Donoghue, Jacki Barlia Florin and Margot Astrachan. Elias EL-Hage is General Manager. Stuart F. Margulies (SFM Management Ltd.) is the Drama Desk Awards accountant. Roy A. Somlyo is Consulting Producer.
The Board of Directors of the Drama Desk is composed of: William Wolf, President; Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Vice President; Charles Wright, Treasurer and 2nd Vice President; Joyce Hauser, Secretary; Ellis Nassour; Michael Bracken; David Kaufman; Sam Norkin; Barbara Siegel, and Elyse Sommer.
2007/2008 DRAMA DESK AWARD WINNERSOutstanding
Play: August: Osage County by Tracy LettsOutstanding Musical: Passing StrangeOutstanding Revival of a Play: Boeing-Boeing by Marc CamolettiOutstanding Revival of a Musical: South Pacific by Rodgers and HammersteinOutstanding Revue Forbidden Broadway: Rude AwakeningOutstanding Actor in a Play: Mark Rylance (Boeing-Boeing)Outstanding Actress in a Play: Deanna Dunagan (August: Osage County)Outstanding Actor in a Musical: Paolo Szot (South Pacific)Outstanding Actress in a Musical: Patti LuPone (Gypsy) Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play: Conleth Hill (The Seafarer)Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: Linda Lavin (The New Century)Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Boyd Gaines (Gypsy)Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical: Laura Benanti (Gypsy)Outstanding Director of a Play: Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County)Outstanding Director of a Musical: Bartlett Sher (South Pacific)Outstanding Choreography: Rob Ashford (Cry Baby The Musical)Outstanding Music: Stew and Heidi Rodewald (Passing Strange)Outstanding Lyrics: Stew (Passing Strange)Outstanding Book of a Musical Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu) Outstanding Orchestrations: Jason Carr (Sunday in the Park with George)Outstanding Set Design of a Play: Scott Pask (Les Liaison Dangereuses) Outstanding Set Design of a Musical: Michael Yeargan (South Pacific)Outstanding Costume Design: Katrina Lindsay (Les Liaison Dangereuses)Outstanding Lighting Design: Kevin Adams (The 39 Steps)Outstanding Sound Design: Scott Lehrer (South Pacific)Outstanding Solo Performance: Laurence Fishburne (Thurgood))Unique Theatrical Experience: The 39 Steps
In addition, the following non-competitive awards were presented:
Outstanding Ensemble Performances: The cast of The Homecoming The cast of The Dining Room
To Edward Albee in his 80th year, whose provocative plays, including this season’s Peter and Jerry, enrich the American theater.
To James Earl Jones, a commanding force on the stage for nearly half a century.
To 59E59 Theaters whose imaginative curatorial vision has created a stimulating environment to nurture a diverse range of artists.
To Playwrights Horizons for ongoing support to generations of theater artists and undiminished commitment to producing new work.
Corine's Corner- Hits This Week: 95,067!
Last 7 Days: Visitors: 3,184 Unique visitors: 2,214 Page views: 6,417 Total hits: 95,067 Info from GODADDY TRAFFIC FACTS. 95,067 IN ONE WEEK. To advertise on my site: Email: Corine@corinescorner.comHave a nice day! Corine's Corner will be online for three years on JULY 4th. Stay tuned!
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Corine's Corner- Film Picks!
 The "Waterhorse"  The baby "Waterhorse" He is so adorable. Photos from Sony Pictures and Walden Media.  This afternoon I was fortunate to rent a very touching film called "The Waterhorse." I loved this film. The special effects are stunning. The creature adorable and I had to watch it a second time a few hours ago. If you have children, this film is a must see. If you are like me and love touching films with great scenery, special effects and enjoy science fiction, this film is a must. The film is about a lonely boy who loses his father in the war. He finds an egg and befriends a waterhorse that grows into his best friend. It is a moving and sweet tale that pulled at my heart strings. You can rent the film on Netflix and if you are like me you might have to go and buy a copy. 4 stars for families with children. 5 stars if you are a giant science fiction fan and love incredible special effects. Corine Dana Cohen Photos from Sony Pictures.
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ADRIFT IN MACAO CD EVENT!
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 Orville Mendoza as "Tempura"  You can get this CD At Barnes and Noble. It is fabulous. Suddenly, I am craving "TEMPURA"   Peter Melnick. Orville Mendoza and Kaitlin Hopkins.
Drama Desk nominee- Peter Melnick. He is a charming and talented guy. Can't wait to see exciting new shows by him.
 The cast and crew of "Adrift In Macao" Sadly, Michelle Ragusa was not able to attend. She was the hysterical 'Corina'.  Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick- The perfect writing team. Hoping that "Adrift In Macao" will come back Off Broadway and run for years like "Forbidden Broadway" My idea was for it to run on Off nights in the 47th Street Theater. Imagine funny shows seven days a week in the 47th Street Theater! Durang's humor has me in stitches!  The man who wrote the funny lyrics! Christopher Durang. Sadly, I never got to interview Mr Durang.  But I did get to interview Peter Melnick!! Photos by Maryann Lopinto for http://www.corinescorner.com/Can not be used without written permission.
He told me that his Drama Desk nomination meant the World to him.
Adrift in Macao is so delicious. Absurdity is smartly captured by Melnick’s bright compositions and Durang's lyrics. –Variety
LML MUSIC PROUDLY RELEASES
THE PREMIERE CAST RECORDING OF
MUSIC BY
PETER MELNICK
BOOK/LYRICS BY
CHRISTOPHER DURANG
FEATURING: ALAN CAMPBELL, WILL SWENSON, RACHEL DEBENEDET,
ORVILLE MENDOZA, MICHELE RAGUSA, JONATHAN RAYSON, ELISA VAN DUYNE
CD AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE ON MAY 13, 2008
LML Music will release the premiere recording of Adrift in Macao on May 13, 2008. With book & lyrics by Christopher Durang and music by Peter Melnick, this musical had its New York debut with Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters in 2007 in a limited Off-Broadway run. The Adrift in Macao cast album is produced by Peter Melnick and Grammy® and Oscar® winner Joel Moss.
Adrift in Macao, a madcap musical parody of glamorous films noirs, features the leading lady who can’t really sing yet somehow always manages to book a gig, and the mysterious leading man who can’t go home for murky reasons he won’t explain. From the opium dens of China to seedy bars in New York, this hilarious romp from Durang and composer Melnick takes audiences through the post-WWII years with plenty of intrigue and wit, and a playfully melodic score. In describing the style of this musical parody, Christopher Durang stated, "Films noirs makes people think of evil femme fatales like Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity, and brings to mind violence and gangsters. Adrift in Macao doesn't focus on the crime aspects of films noirs, but more on the ambience - the smoky nightclubs, the alluring women, and the mysterious men with shady pasts."
Critics embraced Adrift in Macao when it bowed on the New York stage. The New York Times wrote, “Melnick’s music hops effectively among genres, evoking period music from Kurt Weill to big band,” while Bloomberg News hailed “This musical takeoff on film noir is as light as a helium balloon…the music manages to be delightful pastiche and the frequently funny book is peppered with puns and the lyrics are always hilarious.” American Theater Web remarked “Durang’s work as a lyricist is consistently on target. Sometimes silly, sometimes witty, his words fit into Melnick’s terrific songs with ease, and TalkinBroadway.com observed “Melnick demonstrates an affinity for melody and old-fashioned showmanship that link him to his grandfather Richard Rodgers” while praising the show’s “unusually well-composed” songs. Additionally, the show earned two Drama Desk nominations, including one for Outstanding Music.
Composer Peter Melnick toiled in film music composition for a dozen years before coming home to his first love, musical theater. His collaboration with Christopher Durang on Adrift In Macao began in 2001. Since then, the show has played Philadelphia (Philadelphia Theatre Company, November 2005) and Boston (Lyric Stage Company, January 2008), with future productions in the works. Melnick is currently working with librettist Bill Russell on The Last Smoker in America, a futuristic fantasy about a dysfunctional family in a smoke-free America. He has also composed the scores to Chinese Cabaret, and Twyla Tharp's Sextet. His film and television scores include L.A. Story, Call Waiting, Convicts, the award-winning television movies "Indictment: The McMartin Trial" (HBO), "Lily Dale" (Showtime) and numerous PBS documentaries.
Book & lyricist Christopher Durang’s credits on and off Broadway include: A History of the American Film (Tony® nomination), Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You (Obie Award), Beyond Therapy, Baby with the Bathwater, The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Obie Award, Hull Warriner Award), Laughing Wild, Betty’s Summer Vacation (Obie Award), Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge and Miss Witherspoon, which had a double premiere at McCarter Theatre and Playwrights Horizons. Miss Witherspoon and Mrs. Bob… are published in one volume by Grove/Atlantic Press. As an actor, he has appeared in movies and in his own plays. He appeared with Sigourney Weaver in their co-authored Das Lusitania Songspiel (both earned Drama Desk nominations), and with Julie Andrews in the Stephen Sondheim revue Putting It Together at Manhattan Theatre Club. With John Augustine and Sherry Anderson, he performed his crackpot cabaret Chris Durang and Dawne (Bistro Award). With Marsha Norman, he is co-chair of the Playwriting Program at Juilliard where they have jointly won the Margo Jones Award for their work with developing playwrights. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild Council.
LML Music is an independent label dedicated to distributing the finest in Cabaret, Jazz and Broadway vocals. All of the artists on LML have produced their own recordings; some independently and others with the incredible support of their friends and fans providing for some of the most incredible and heartfelt voices you shall ever experience. Founded in 1995 by award-winning recording artist Lee Lessack, LML now distributes for over 65 vocalists in the US & Canada and have recently signed distribution deals in Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In addition, LML has expanded their catalogue to include some of the finest LIVE concert recordings produced by the Actors' Fund of America and the S.T.A.G.E. organization. In 2004 LML also signed distribution deals with two boutique labels, Midder Music and Ducy Lee.
TRACKLISTING:
1. Prologue
2. In A Foreign City
3. Grumpy Mood
4. Tempura’s Song
5. Mister McGuffin
6. Pretty Moon Over Macao
7. Mambo Malaysian
8. Sparks
9. Adrift in Macao
10. So Long
11. Rick’s Song
12. The Chase
13. I’m Actually Irish
14. Ticky Ticky Tock I had the pleasure of covering this marvelous show and was blown away by the funny lyrics and music. I do have to admit that the role of "Tempura" played by my favorite cast member "Orville Mendoza" blew me away. Hope you pick up the CD. You can buy this CD at Barnes and Noble. Corine Cohen
Photos by Maryann Lopinto.
THE STAR KNOWN AS ORVILLE MENDOZA.
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 Photos at the Barnes and Noble ADRIFT IN MACAO EVENT. Photos by Maryann Lopinto.     This has been a very exciting few weeks. On Wednesday, I got to interview (On VIDEO) The writer and cast members of ADRIFT IN MACAO. Which was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards last season. Stay tuned for photo coverage of the CD event and a video coming soon. Orville is very funny and very sweet. He needs to be cast in a BIG BROADWAY Show soon. I ADORE HIM! Corine Cohen
Presenters Announced For The Drama Desk.
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Presenters for the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards on Sunday, May 18, 2008, were named today by Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the annual awards ceremony since 1999, and William Wolf, president of the organization of professional writers, critics and editors who cover all areas of the New York theater scene.
Presenters include (in alphabetical order): Jane Alexander, Elizabeth Ashley, Laura Benanti, Michael Berresse, John Cullum, Jim Dale, Harvey Fierstein, Laurence Fishburne, Leigh Ann Larkin, Patti LuPone, Andrea Martin, Bill Pullman, Marisa Tomei and Julie White.
The 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards will be held at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. The Awards Ceremony will be hosted by the cast of the Broadway-bound musical [title of show] – Susan Blackwell, Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Heidi Blickenstaff and Larry Pressgrove.
Robert R. Blume is Executive Producer of the 53d Annual Drama Desk Awards and Blume Media Group is the producing company. Lauren Class Schneider is Producer and Jeff Kalpak is Director. Roy A. Somlyo is Consulting Producer.
The Awards production team also includes: Associate Producers (in alphabetical order) Margot Astrachan, Corine Dana Cohen, Matthew P. Donoghue, Jacki Barlia Florin, Steve Garrin and Les Schecter, who is also Director of Publicity and Promotions; Elias EL-Hage, General Manager; and Felicia M. Lopes, National Development Director.
For the Drama Desk organization, Randie Levine-Miller is Special Events Director and Producer of the Drama Desk nominations at the NY Friars Club, and Ellis Nassour is Media Liaison.
The Board of Directors of the Drama Desk is composed of: William Wolf, President; Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Vice President; Charles Wright, Treasurer and 2nd Vice President; Joyce Hauser, Secretary; Ellis Nassour; Michael Bracken; David Kaufman; Sam Norkin; Barbara Siegel, and Elyse Sommer.
NEW DRAMA DESK AWARDS TROPHY.
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NEW DRAMA DESK AWARDS TROPHY DEBUTS THIS YEAR
This year’s Drama Desk Award winners will be the first recipients of a handsome new trophy specifically created and hand-produced for the Drama Desk by Robert Du Grenier Associates, Inc., a world renowned design studio specializing in glass sculptural pieces and three-dimensional design. According to Robert Du Grenier, a well-known sculptor working primarily in glass, metal and marble who founded the company in 1980, each trophy will be individually produced so that even though all will look the same, each will actually be different.
The new Drama Desk Awards trophy stands 8” tall – a 7” hand blown glass interpretation of a traditional inkwell with quill standing on a one inch black base.
The company also designs and produces most of the custom awards for MTV Networks, including MTV Movie Awards, MTV Rock the Vote Awards, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and TV Land Signature Awards. They also create annual awards for the CMT Music Awards, National Music Council, Crain’s New York Business and ESPN’s ESPY Award.
The 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards will be held Sunday, May 18, at 9:00 PM at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center. The Awards Ceremony will be hosted by the cast of the Broadway-bound musical [title of show] – Susan Blackwell, Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Heidi Blickenstaff and Larry Pressgrove.
64TH ANNUAL THEATRE WORLD AWARD WINNERS!
 64th ANNUAL THEATRE WORLD AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCEDFOR OUTSTANDING BROADWAY AND OFF-BROADWAY DEBUTSDURING THE 2007-2008 SEASONNew York City (May 15, 2008) The 64th annual Theatre World Award winners for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut performances during the 2007-2008 theatrical season are :De'Adre Aziza, Passing StrangeCassie Beck, Drunken CityDaniel Breaker, Passing StrangeBen Daniels, Les Liaisons DangereusesDeanna Dunagan, August: Osage CountyHoon Lee, Yellow FaceAlli Mauzey, Cry-BabyJenna Russell, Sunday in the Park with GeorgeMark Rylance, Boeing-BoeingLoretta Ables Sayre, South PacificJimmi Simpson, The Farnsworth Invention ,Paulo Szot, South Pacific. The Theatre World Awards presentation will be held at the Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 West 44th Street, in an invitation-only ceremony, Tuesday, June 10, 2008 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Peter Filichia will host, Barry Keating will direct, and Scott Denny, Kati Meister and Erin Oestreich are the event's producers. John Willis, founder of the Theatre World Awards, will be in attendance.First presented in 1945, the prestigious Theatre World Awards are the oldest awards given for Broadway and Off-Broadway debut performances, and are among the oldest honors given to stage performers. The Theatre World Award winners have been chosen by the Theatre World Awards committee, currently comprised of Peter Filichia (TheaterMania), Harry Haun (Playbill), Matthew Murray (Talkin' Broadway), Frank Scheck (New York Post), Michael Sommers (Newhouse Newspapers), Doug Watt (Critic Emeritus, New York Daily News), and Linda Winer (New York Newsday).Theatre World is the authoritative annual pictorial and statistical record of the American theatre, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, and regional theatre. World is published by Applause Books.The Theatre World Award Board of Directors is: Leigh Giroux (President), Kati Meister (Vice President), Erin Oestreich (Secretary), Scott Denny (Treasurer), Tom Lynch (Founding Board member), and Barry Keating. For more information about the Theatre World Awards (including a list of past recipients) please visit: http://www.theatreworldawards.org/
XANADU- EVIL WOMEN!
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  Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman- They make Xanadu a huge success and Jackie was over looked which is a shame. She deserved a Tony, OCC and Drama Desk nomination. When the producers of Xanadu reinvited the press to see Xanadu a second time, I was thrilled. Xanadu is the one of the funniest shows on Broadway this season. Why Jackie Hoffman was over looked, kills me. She and Mary Testa make the show the most exciting and funny shows of the musical season. Jackie Hoffman and Mary Testa blew me away as the "EVIL WOMEN". I also loved Testa as MEDUSA. They deserve a standing ovation and I want to thank them for making me laugh so hard last night. Kerry Butler was hysterical as Kira and I was really impressed with her hysterical impersonations of Oliva Newton John. She has topped her performance as Penny in Hairspray. She deserves her Tony nomination and a standing ovation for her incredible performance. If you are looking for campy, light fun, with the most talented comedians on Broadway you need to see XANADU. It is one of my favorite new Broadway musicals. Call 212-239-6200.
Corine's Comment Corner- Marissa Jaret Winokur!
  Last night, I tuned into ABC to see Marissa Jaret Winokur dance. She was marvelous and I was sad to see her bumped off last night. Regardless, she did a great job and made it to the top four which is very impressive.
Congratulations, Marissa! She also mentioned that she will be getting a surrogate baby in the next few weeks. Congratulations, soon to be Mommy Marissa.
You can't help but love her upbeat and positive energy. Thanks for showing the World that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT!
Corine Cohen
Broadway By The Year- 1965 Part 3.
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 The horizontal lady is Lorin Latarro (co-choreographer and performer).From her hands to her feet (left to right): David Eggers (cho-choreographer & performer), Eric Santagata, J. Austin Eyer, Stuart Capps, Kevin Worley.  The Three Amigos- Marc Kudisch, Gregg Edelmann and Brian d'Arcy James. Broadway By The Year- 1965. This was one of the most incredible casts and most of the songs were really exciting. The "Impossible Dream" was so breathtaking it brought tears to my eyes. Photos by Maryann Lopinto.  Julia Murney and Gregg Edelmann  Throughly marvelous Marc!
BROADWAY BY THE YEAR PHOTO FLASH PART 2!
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 I LOVE THIS PICTURE SO MUCH! Brian d'Arcy James, Marc frowning Kudisch and Julia Murney.  Marc Kudisch  Barbara Siegel and Gregg Edelmann  The three amigos: Marc Kudisch, Brian d'Arcy James and Gregg Edelmann. On Monday, Broadway By The Year featured the Music of 1965. Maryann Lopinto was there to photograph all of the fun.  Gregg Edelmann and Marc Kudisch. They are funny! Say cheese! Photos by Maryann Lopinto. Mark Kudisch, Gregg Edelmann, Brian d'Arcy James and Julia Murney made this Broadway By The Year a year to remember. They are so talented and the music from 1965 is impressive. Dream the impossible dream!
BROADWAY BY THE YEAR 1965 PHOTO FLASH! Part 1.
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 Photos by Maryann Lopinto. Marc Kudisch who blows me away in everything he does. One of the greatest voices on Broadway!  The one and only Gregg Edelmann  Julia Murney  Marc and girlfriend Shannon. They had a very steamy number. Steam heat! Photos by Maryann Lopinto.
BROADWAY BY THE YEAR 1965.
 BROADWAY BY THE YEAR: 1965 Description: Corine Cohen loved the show! The favorite numbers: Marc Kudisch singing "The Impossible Dream" and a very funny number with Marc, Brian d'Arcy James and Gregg Edelmann. The show was a very great year and I was very fortunate I was able to attend! Photo Coverage coming soon! Author/critic Scott Siegel takes audiences of all ages on a musical tour, and THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1965 matches an extraordinary cast with one of the greatest years in the history of the Great White Way. The concert will feature non-stop Broadway classics like She Touched Me, The Impossible Dream, Who Can I Turn To? Why Did I Choose You? and about twenty more hits. The cast, thus far, includes the future star of Broadway’s Shrek, Brian d’Arcy James, four time Tony Nominee Gregg Edelman, two time Tony nominee Marc Kudisch, the bright the recent star of Wicked, Julia Murney, and the great dancing of Kendrick Jones, Shannon Lewis. I was moved by Marc Kudisch, Gregg Edelmann and Brian d'Arcy James. Marc Kudisch was made for "The Impossible Dream" that song never ceases to amaze me and make my eyes tear as his voice is perfection. I chatted with Marc and Gregg at the after party. Marc told me his favorite song of the night was "Man Of La Mancha." Photo coverage coming soon! Corine Dana Cohen
HERE ARE THE TONY NOMINATIONS RESULTS!
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 Nominations for the 2008 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®
Presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing
Best Play
August: Osage County
Author: Tracy Letts
Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler, Jerry Frankel, Ostar Productions, Jennifer Manocherian, The Weinstein Company, Debra Black/Daryl Roth, Ronald & Marc Frankel/Barbara Freitag, Rick Steiner/Staton Bell Group, The Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Rock ‘n’ Roll
Author: Tom Stoppard
Producers: Bob Boyett & Sonia Friedman Productions, Ostar Productions, Roger Berlind, Tulchin/Bartner, Douglas G. Smith, Dancap Productions, Jam Theatricals, The Weinstein Company, Lincoln Center Theater, The Royal Court Theatre London
The Seafarer
Author: Conor McPherson
Producers: Ostar Productions, Bob Boyett, Roy Furman, Lawrence Horowitz, Jam Theatricals, Bill Rollnick/Nancy Ellison Rollnick, James D’Orta, Thomas S. Murphy, Ralph Guild/Jon Avnet, Philip Geier/Keough Partners, Eric Falkenstein/Max OnStage, The National Theatre of Great Britain
The 39 Steps
Author: Patrick Barlow
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy, Bob Boyett, Harriet Newman Leve/Ron Nicynski, Stewart F. Lane/Bonnie Comley, Manocherian Golden Prods., Olympus Theatricals/Douglas Denoff, Marek J. Cantor/Pat Addiss, Huntington Theatre Company/Nicholas Martin/Michael Maso, Edward Snape for Fiery Angel Ltd.
Best Musical
Cry-Baby
Producer: Adam Epstein, Allan S. Gordon, Élan V. McAllister, Brian Grazer, James P. MacGilvray, Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Anne Caruso, Adam S. Gordon, Latitude Link, The Pelican Group, Philip Morgaman, Andrew Farber/Richard Mishaan
In The Heights
Producers: Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller, Jill Furman, Sander Jacobs, Goodman/Grossman, Peter Fine, Everett/Skipper
Passing Strange
Producers: The Shubert Organization, Elizabeth Ireland McCann LLC, Bill Kenwright, Chase Mishkin, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, Broadway Across America, Emily Fisher Landau, Peter May, Boyett Ostar, Larry Hirschhorn, Janet Pailet/Steve Klein, Elie Hirschfeld/Jed Bernstein, Spring Sirkin/Ruth Hendel, Vasi Laurence/Pat Flicker Addiss, Wendy Federman/Jackie Barlia Florin, Joey Parnes, The Public Theater, The Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Xanadu
Producers: Robert Ahrens, Dan Vickery, Tara Smith/B. Swibel, Sarah Murchison/Dale Smith
Best Book of a Musical
Cry-Baby
Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan
In The Heights
Quiara Alegría Hudes
Passing Strange
Stew
Xanadu
Douglas Carter Beane
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Cry-Baby
Music & Lyrics: David Javerbaum & Adam Schlesinger
In The Heights
Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda
The Little Mermaid
Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater
Passing Strange
Music: Stew and Heidi Rodewald
Lyrics: Stew
Best Revival of a Play
Boeing-Boeing
Producers: Sonia Friedman Productions, Bob Boyett, Act Productions, Matthew Byam Shaw, Robert G. Bartner, The Weinstein Company, Susan Gallin/Mary Lu Roffe, Broadway Across America, Tulchin/Jenkins/DSM, The Araca Group
The Homecoming
Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Jam Theatricals, Ergo Entertainment, Barbara & Buddy Freitag, Michael Gardner, Herbert Goldsmith Productions, Terry E. Schnuck, Harold Thau, Michael Filerman/Lynne Peyser, Ronald Frankel/David Jaroslawicz, Love Bunny Entertainment
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy
Macbeth
Producers: Duncan C. Weldon & Paul Elliott, Jeffrey Archer, Bill Ballard, Terri & Timothy Childs, Rodger Hess, David Mirvish, Adriana Mnuchin, Emanuel Azenberg, BAM, The Chichester Festival Theatre
Best Revival of a Musical
Grease
Producers: Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations Inc., Terry Allen Kramer, Robert Stigwood
Gypsy
Producers: Roger Berlind, The Routh-Frankel-Baruch-Viertel Group, Roy Furman, Debra Black, Ted Hartley, Roger Horchow, David Ian, Scott Rudin, Jack Viertel
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Producers: Lincoln Center Theater, André Bishop, Bernard Gersten, Bob Boyett
Sunday in the Park with George
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Harold Wolpert, Julia C. Levy, Bob Boyett, Debra Black, Jam Theatricals, Stephanie P. McClelland, Stewart F. Lane/Bonnie Comley, Barbara Manocherian/Jennifer Manocherian, Ostar Productions, The Menier Chocolate Factory/David Babani
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Ben Daniels, Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood
Mark Rylance, Boeing-Boeing
Rufus Sewell, Rock ‘n’ Roll
Patrick Stewart, Macbeth
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Eve Best, The Homecoming
Deanna Dunagan, August: Osage County
Kate Fleetwood, Macbeth
S. Epatha Merkerson, Come Back, Little Sheba
Amy Morton, August: Osage County
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Daniel Evans, Sunday in the Park with George
Lin-Manuel Miranda, In The Heights
Stew, Passing Strange
Paulo Szot, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Tom Wopat, A Catered Affair
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Kerry Butler, Xanadu
Patti LuPone, Gypsy
Kelli O’Hara, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Faith Prince, A Catered Affair
Jenna Russell, Sunday in the Park with George
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Bobby Cannavale, Mauritius
Raúl Esparza, The Homecoming
Conleth Hill, The Seafarer
Jim Norton, The Seafarer
David Pittu, Is He Dead?
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Sinead Cusack, Rock ‘n’ Roll
Mary McCormack, Boeing-Boeing
Laurie Metcalf, November
Martha Plimpton, Top Girls
Rondi Reed, August: Osage County
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Daniel Breaker, Passing Strange
Danny Burstein, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Robin De Jesús, In The Heights
Christopher Fitzgerald, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein
Boyd Gaines, Gypsy
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
de’Adre Aziza, Passing Strange
Laura Benanti, Gypsy
Andrea Martin, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein
Olga Merediz, In The Heights
Loretta Ables Sayre, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Peter McKintosh, The 39 Steps
Scott Pask, Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Todd Rosenthal, August: Osage County
Anthony Ward, Macbeth
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
David Farley and Timothy Bird & The Knifedge Creative Network, Sunday in the Park with George
Anna Louizos, In The Heights
Robin Wagner, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein
Michael Yeargan, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Best Costume Design of a Play
Gregory Gale, Cyrano de Bergerac
Rob Howell, Boeing-Boeing
Katrina Lindsay, Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Peter McKintosh, The 39 Steps
Best Costume Design of a Musical
David Farley, Sunday in the Park with George
Martin Pakledinaz, Gypsy
Paul Tazewell, In The Heights
Catherine Zuber, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Kevin Adams, The 39 Steps
Howard Harrison, Macbeth
Donald Holder, Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Ann G. Wrightson, August: Osage County
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington, Sunday in the Park with George
Howell Binkley, In The Heights
Donald Holder, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Natasha Katz, The Little Mermaid
Best Sound Design of a Play
Simon Baker, Boeing-Boeing
Adam Cork, Macbeth
Ian Dickinson, Rock ‘n’ Roll
Mic Pool, The 39 Steps
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Acme Sound Partners, In The Heights
Sebastian Frost, Sunday in the Park with George
Scott Lehrer, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Dan Moses Schreier, Gypsy
Best Direction of a Play
Maria Aitken, The 39 Steps
Conor McPherson, The Seafarer
Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County
Matthew Warchus, Boeing-Boeing
Best Direction of a Musical
Sam Buntrock, Sunday in the Park with George
Thomas Kail, In The Heights
Arthur Laurents, Gypsy
Bartlett Sher, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Cry-Baby
Andy Blankenbuehler, In The Heights
Christopher Gattelli, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific
Dan Knechtges, Xanadu
Best Orchestrations
Jason Carr, Sunday in the Park with George
Alex Lacamoire & Bill Sherman, In The Heights
Stew & Heidi Rodewald, Passing Strange
Jonathan Tunick, A Catered Affair
* * *
Regional Theatre Tony Award
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Special Tony Award
Robert Russell Bennett (1894-1981), in recognition of his historic contribution to American musical theatre in the field of orchestrations, as represented on Broadway this season by Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific.
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Stephen Sondheim
* * *
Tony Nominations by Production
In The Heights – 13
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific – 11
Sunday in the Park with George – 9
August: Osage County – 7
Gypsy - 7
Passing Strange – 7
Boeing-Boeing – 6
Macbeth – 6
The 39 Steps - 6
Les Liaisons Dangereuses - 5
Cry-Baby – 4
Rock ‘n’ Roll - 4
2008 TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS.
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 2008 TONY AWARD® NOMINATIONS New York, NY (May 13, 2008) – Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing’s 62nd Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards® were announced today by Tony Award Winners Sara Ramirez and David Hyde Pierce at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM. The nominees were selected by an independent committee of 23 theatre professionals appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. The 2008 Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. (The list of nominations follows.) Marking 62 years of excellence on Broadway, The Tony Awards will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS, Sunday, June 15th, 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT time delay). Legitimate theatrical productions opening in any of the 34 eligible Broadway theatres during the current season may be considered for Tony nominations. The 2007/2008 eligibility season began May 10, 2007 and ended May 7, 2008. The Tony Awards will be voted in 26 competitive categories by 795 members of the theatrical community. Ballots will be mailed at the end of this week. Based on a recommendation by the American Theatre Critics Association, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater will be the recipient of the 2008 Regional Theatre Tony Award accompanied by a grant of $25,000 sponsored by Visa U.S.A. This award is given to a regional theatre company that has displayed a continuous level of artistic achievement contributing to the growth of theatre nationally. The 2008 Tony Award Nominating Committee consists of Joe Benincasa, Robert Callely, Betty Corwin, Jacqueline Z. Davis, Michael D. Dinwiddie, Teresa Eyring, Sue Frost, Andrew Jackness, Betty Jacobs, Geoffrey Johnson, Robert Kamlot, Michael Kantor, Howard Marren, Laurence Maslon, Phyllis Newman, Lynn Nottage, Gilbert Parker, Roger Rees, Jonathan Reynolds, Donald Saddler, Steven Suskin, Tom Viola and Kimberlee Wertz. For the CBS broadcast, Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss/White Cherry Entertainment are Executive Producers. Weiss also serves as Director. Allen Kelman is Line Producer. Elliot Lawrence is Musical Director. Dave Boone is writing the script. Carole Propp is Talent Executive. The Production Designer is Steve Bass. Bob Dickinson is designing the lighting and David Toser the costumes. Arianne Shean-Wert is Associate Producer and Howard Kolins is Production Supervisor. A limited number of tickets will be sold to the public beginning today, Tuesday, May 13th beginning at 9:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online through http://www.tonyawards.com/ or by calling the Tony Awards TicketMaster Hotline, (212) 307-4544. Visa is the exclusive card of the Tonys. The Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards are bestowed annually on theatre professionals for distinguished achievement. The Tony is one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry and the annual telecast is considered one of the most prestigious programs on television. The Tonys are presented by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At the League, Nina Lannan is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is Executive Director. At the Wing, Sondra Gilman is Chairman, Doug Leeds is President and Howard Sherman is Executive Director. For Tony Award Productions, Elizabeth I. McCann is Managing Producer and Joey Parnes is Coordinating Producer. Official partners of the Tony Awards include: Visa, the exclusive card accepted at the Tonys; Hilton Hotels, the official hotel partner of the Tonys; and IBM, which develops, designs, and hosts TonyAwards.com. Continental Airlines and Sprint are official supporters of the Tonys Awards. Promotional and media partners for the 2008 Tony Awards include Macy's, Playbill, USA Today, MyBroadway.com, and Van Wagner. The Tony Awards website, http://www.tonyawards.com/.
Jamie de Roy's Cabaret Show! Tony show June 11th!
THE NATIONAL URBAN TECHNOLOGY CENTER GALA!
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The National Urban Technology Center honors DR. MEHMET OZ AND STEPHEN C. BYRD AT ANNUAL GALA on June 4, 2008 "Oprah's Health Expert" and Pioneering Broadway Producer Awarded for Outstanding Community Leadership Roles NEW YORK, NY – The National Urban Technology Center (Urban Tech) will honor outstanding community leaders Dr. Mehmet Oz and Stephen C. Byrd at the 2008 Urban Tech fundraising gala. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 4th at Capitale. "We are proud to honor Dr. Oz and Stephen Byrd for their work to improve communities and inspire young people across the United States," said Patricia Bransford, Founder and President of Urban Tech. "These amazing individuals help young students recognize that with education, all is possible and that they too can make a difference in their communities, the nation and the world," she adds. Dr. Mehmet Oz, a world-renowned heart surgeon, is best known for his contributions to the "Oprah Winfrey Show," Discovery Health, and CNN. He is a practicing Professor of Cardiac Surgery at Columbia University, performing over 100 operations per year and has written over 350 publications. His dedication to the medical field has expanded from hospitals into disadvantaged communities, teaching youth how to apply healthy living choices and demonstrating the importance of nutrition and exercise. Stephen C. Byrd is the producer of the first all-African American production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." With a background in investment banking, Mr. Byrd has over 27 years of experience on Wall Street. The sensational run of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," starring James Earl Jones and Terrence Howard, has garnered sold-out audiences and rave reviews causing Mr. Byrd to make future plans for a multiracial version of "A Streecar Named Desire." He has supported the National Urban Technology Center and its efforts to engage the hardest to reach students for several years. The 2008 Corporate Leadership Award will be presented to The Wachovia Corporation for their work to improve financial literacy in underprivileged communities. Proceeds from the fundraising event will go to Urban Tech programs in over 600 schools and community-based organizations across the United States including 70 New York City public schools that promote academic excellence, healthy living, financial literacy and community leadership. Last year's record-breaking gala was attended by over 300 people and generated over $600,000 for Urban Tech programs. Urban Tech has a long history of working with disadvantaged communities across the nation to provide educational options for youth by giving them the academic and technological tools they need to be successful. About Urban Tech: Urban Tech was founded in 1995 by Patricia Bransford to give urban communities access to technology and improve educational and economic opportunity for America's disadvantaged youth. Urban Tech teaches life skills, academic and computer literacy to at risk youth by leveraging cutting edge learning technology centers across the country. To make this possible two major programs have been created, Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) and SeedTech, which ramps up installations of computer centers and computer training for teachers. "It is important that we reach our at-risk youth early in their educational training and build critical life skills needed for graduation and post-secondary education and employment," says Pat Bransford, Founder and President of Urban Tech.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE 125TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!
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www.nyc.govMAYOR BLOOMBERG AND BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ ANNOUNCE THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE 125th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION Five-Day Celebration to Feature Special Bridge Lighting, Film Series, Concerts, Lectures, Bike Tour, Children’s Readings and other Family-Friendly Cultural Events Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz today announced plans for a five-day celebration in honor of the 125th birthday of the Brooklyn Bridge. The celebration, taking place from May 22 through May 26, will feature an array of fun and family-friendly cultural events in Brooklyn and Manhattan, commemorating the historic structure and highlighting the cultural diversity of the boroughs it unites. The Brooklyn Bridge 125th Birthday Celebration will feature a special Bridge lighting, concerts, a film series, lectures, children’s readings, dance performances and a bike tour, as well as several other weekend events. “The Brooklyn Bridge is not only one of the great engineering marvels of all time; it is also a beautiful symbol of New York that is recognized around the world,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The wonderfully diverse events are representative of the iconic bridge that has connected the people of Brooklyn and Manhattan for generations. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this legendary icon that has done so much for our City.” “The Brooklyn Bridge made a big, bold statement right from the start,” said Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz. “In 1883, it was opened with the goal of joining the two largest municipalities in the nation at the time, New York City and the City of Brooklyn—and its glittering span of steel, stone, wood and light continues to symbolize the bond that links our fortunes forever. Today, hundreds of thousands of tourists cross the Brooklyn Bridge each year to get a taste of the ‘Brooklyn Renaissance.’ We wish the Brooklyn Bridge a Happy Birthday—in every one of Brooklyn’s136 languages. At 125 years young, she is as vital and majestic as ever!” In the spirit of “The People’s Day” celebration held on the occasion of the Bridge’s opening in 1883, this fest will kick off with a public birthday party on Thursday, May 22 at the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park in Brooklyn, featuring live music by the Brooklyn Philharmonic. The evening will feature a Grucci Fireworks presentation and an unprecedented light installation featuring a colorful array spanning the length of the Brooklyn Bridge, illuminating the New York City skyline each evening from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm from May 22 through Memorial Day. “As one of the most iconic landmarks in this great City, the Brooklyn Bridge connects present-day New York with the beginning days of its modernization,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “This month’s celebrations will pay tribute to the role the Bridge has played in New York City’s history, and the timeless appeal that it continues to hold among New Yorkers and visitors alike.” A weekend of cultural programs in honor of the Brooklyn Bridge 125th Birthday Celebration continues with a Brooklyn Bridge Film Series, a bicycle Tour de Brooklyn, enlightening lectures, guided tours and more. Some of the featured events include: · The Brooklyn Bridge Film Series: The series will take place at several venues in Brooklyn and Manhattan and will kick off at 6:00 pm on Friday, May 23 at the Empire- Fulton Ferry State Park with Enchanted and It Happened in Brooklyn, with the support of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. Both feature films will be preceded by Panorama from the Tower of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhatta, two historical shorts with live musical accompaniment by Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton. Across the bridge on Friday night at 7:00 pm, Tribeca Cinemas will feature Mo’ Better Blues while the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) will host a viewing of the 1980 Ken Burns’ documentary Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, May 24 at 4:30 pm. · Lectures and Readings: The Brooklyn Historical Society and Manhattan’s Surrogate’s Court will host a series of lectures and children’s readings throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday starting at 1:00 pm. Sponsored by several New York City cultural institutions, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, Brooklyn Book Festival, the Roebling Chapter of the Society for Industrial Archaeology (RCSIA), and the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, the lectures will explore the history of the Brooklyn Bridge and the genius behind its design. · New Pedestrian Entrance: To prepare for its birthday bash, the Brooklyn pedestrian entrance will get a makeover from the Dumbo Business Improvement District, including newly designed signage and energy efficient lighting. · Telectroscope Connection: The Telectroscope will be on the Fulton Ferry Pier allowing people in London – 3,500 miles away – to help fete the Bridge, thanks to Tiscali UK and the Garfield Weston Foundation. · Tours: Volunteers with The American Society of Civil Engineers and RCSIA will provide information about the Bridge. They will be located on the Bridge from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Several guided tours will also be given. · Bike “Tour de Brooklyn”: The morning of Sunday, May 25, the Tour de Brooklyn bike ride, will lead hundreds of bicyclists around several of Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods. · Various Special Events: Dozens of participating cultural institutions and attractions throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan will also offer special rates, programs, and packages to commemorate this milestone anniversary. Major sponsors of the Brooklyn Bridge 125th Birthday Celebration include General Contractors Association of New York, Inc., National Grid, Forest City Ratner, Target, as well as Empire Blue Cross, Verizon, Astoria Bank, Citi, Warner Bros. and Sovereign Bank. For more information, visit www.nycvisit.com/bb125 or call 311.
THE CAST OF PASSING STRANGE ON THE VIEW IN 45 MINUTES!
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   Don't miss the cast of Passing Strange on the View in 45 minutes. And stay tuned here for my interview with Daniel Breaker and STEW from the fabulous new show. I chatted with both of the leads at the Drama Desk nominations party. I found out what the real is. Get REAL. See Passing Strange. PS I HOPE COLMAN SINGS "WHAT'S INSIDE IS JUST A LIE" to Elizabeth. That would be funny. I adore the cast of Passing Strange and look forward to an interview with Coleman Domingo who has the funniest number in the show. WHATS INSIDE IS JUST A LIE!
BROADWAY BINGO.
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 Madame wanted to have a fling with the boys. Musto and Kovacs. What lucky guys. Madame is just hilarious. She keeps Joe's fingers in tip top shape. Photos by Mike Baker! We attended Broadway Bingo at Spotlight Live. Madame stole the show. Other presenters and perfomers: Charles Busch, Musto, Naked Boys Singing, and Joyce Dewitt.  The one and only Marvelous Michael Musto. We dished the dirt twice. Don't forget to read his column and blog: http://www.villagevoice.com/You can also see our interview in the interview section on my site.  MADAME AND JOE KOVACS who stole the show. I felt honored as Madame gave me a kiss. Seems she remembered me as we did an interview a few years back. Check the interview section to hear me dish the dirt with Madame and Joe Kovacs.  Madame told me that Joe has been giving her a big workout. Some of the things are too risky to print here. She is fabulous. Joe's not bad either.  Joyce Dewitt-  Corine Cohen and Joyce Dewitt. To make a contribution to BROADWAY CARES: http://www.broadwaycares.org/Photos by Mike Baker.
GOODGOLD JOINS BROADWAY PROS IN OPEN FOR ME AT THE ALGONQUIN THEATRE!
 Living Her Dreams, Goodgold Joins Broadway Pros in
Reading of Acclaimed Broadway Writer/ Director Davis' New Musical
"Open For Me" at Algonquin Theatre
Shauna Goodgold as the lead character plays singer/songwriter Dora, in a staged reading of Bill C. Davis' new musical "Open For Me" at The Algonquin Theatre located at 123 East 24th St. (Park & Lex) NYC. Tel: 212-730-4664 .Performance is on Monday, May 12th, 2008 at 8:00 PM.
On April 14th, performer Shauna Goodgold wowed a sold out enthusiastic Duplex Cabaret Theatre audience. Shauna was featured as the fresh faced voice in Scott Alan's Monday Nights, New Voices at the Duplex to a packed room in New York City.
On April 17th &18th, Shauna worked with Wilson Jermaine Heredia, who won a Tony Award for his performance as Angel, in the original cast of Broadway's Rent, in the reading of the new musical "Avarice" at the Snapple Theatre in Manhattan. Book and lyrics are by J. William Bruce and music by Bruce and David A. Shenton, directed by Suzanne Rydz, musical direction by Molly Gachignard. Shauna played the quirky "BAD" girl, a far cry from her youthful All-American girl looks and demeanor.
Originally from St. Louis, Shauna Goodgold is now living her dreams in New York as she joins Broadway pros. Honing her talents since she was merely 5 years old, she began doing runway modeling for Kithe Brewster, an A-list celebrity stylist (Heidi Klum, Gwenyth Paltrow, Iman, Salma Hayek and Project Runway).
Brewster knew then that Shauna was special.
Shauna hopes to reach out to young talent to help others find their own dreams. Picked for The Fresh Talent Program in NYC, she has a chance to offer youth groups a wonderful opportunity to connect with artists who are on the rise.
Available for one-on-one talks, Shauna gives young folks a
chance to learn and hopefully receive a positive influence. The audience members are able to share their own personal goals and aspirations, while asking questions about pursuing a career in the ever challenging show biz industry.
"I’m so blown away that I have the opportunity to be on the same stage with such amazingly talented people. Since I was a baby, all I could hear was the music in my heart", Shauna beams about her journey as a singer/ dancer/ actress in NY.
Shauna's experience working on various recordings and productions have helped to prepare her for these gigs. She has sung lead and background vocals in Austin’s Bridge (by Broadway writer/director Bill C. Davis), Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior Collection (MTI) CD recording of "Once on This Island", HBO, Scholastic, Rooms to Go: Kids, Starbucks and Co. with Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker and Danny Burstein and has performed in well-known clubs including Don’t Tell Mama and Swing 46.
Her New York credits include:The Last Starfighter at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Off-Broadway’s Christmas Rappings (Judson Theatre) Opa! (Snapple Theatre), Minnie Fay in Hello Dolly! (Hangar Theatre), Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof (Cider Mill Playhouse) and Cha Cha in Grease! (Hoerner Theatre). She can also be seen in the hilarious mockumentary webisode The Battery’s Down with Jonathan Groff and Jen Cody.
Currently, Shauna is assisting Keith Levenson, well-known musical conductor who has worked on Broadway and National Touring productions of acclaimed shows including “Annie,” “Grease,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “Chess.”
"He keeps me quite busy and has become my musical mentor" Shauna smiles.
And she's only just begun.....
By BILL C. DAVIS ( Mass Appeal, The Manhattan Theatre Club, producer Lynne Meadow, director Geraldine Fitzgerald, starred Milo O'Shea, Eric Roberts. Received Outer Critic's Circle Award. Movie starred Jack Lemmon, Charles Durning. Best film (for that year)by The National Board of Review. Molière Award. (Paris). Dancing in the End-Zone, director Jose Ferrer, starred Elaine Stritch. Broadway production, director Melvin Bernhardt starred Pat Carroll. LA production starred Lois Nettleton. Received Dramalogue Award. Wrestler starred Mark Harmon. Critic's Choice from LA Times.Spine, LA production starred Meredith Baxter, Mackenzie Astin. Avow, premiered Off-Broadway, Century Center for the Performing Arts, director Jack Hofsiss. Director's Company NYC, director Michael Parva.
What Shows Make You Happy?
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Drama Desk Awards-
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  Good morning.
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. Stay tuned next week for the Drama Desk Awards. We will be there doing on camera interviews at the parties and at the awards so stay tuned.
May 18th at 9 pm.
All my best, Corine
Ponder This!
   1. Even though he was not nominated, I wanted to congratulate Seth Rudetsky on the hysterical "Googie Gomez" musical number in The Ritz. It was hysterical. Also, The Ritz was wonderful and it is missed. I also loved the "Pippin" hands number. "Easy baby, you're on the right track."2. IS HE DEAD was so funny it made me howl. Norbert, David Pittu and the entire cast worked well together and I was sad it did not get nominated. Congratulations to everyone involved with that show. It will not be dead to me and it still lives on in my memory. Hoping IS HE DEAD will live on, forever on tour.3. Congratulations to all of the Drama Desk and Outer Critic nominees.Congratulations to all. It was a wonderful season. Stay tuned for interviews (Video) at the Drama Desk nominations party coming soon.Corine Dana Cohen
BMI CONGRATULATES 2008 DRAMA DESK NOMINEES.
A PERFECT COUPLE BY BROOKE BERMAN!
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WET presents The World Premiere of Brooke Berman's A PERFECT COUPLE Limited Engagement, Off-Broadway, begins June 9th at the DR2 WET (Women's Expressive Theater, Inc.) launches its 8th season with the World Premiere of Brooke Berman's A PERFECT COUPLE. Produced on an Off-Broadway contract, this limited engagement production is directed by Maria Mileaf (THE ARGUMENT at The Vineyard). Previews begin June 7th at the DR2 (103 East 15th Street) where WET became the first theater company in residence last year. Opening night is slated for June 19th. A PERFECT COUPLE is a story about three best friends -- Amy, Issac and Emma -- and their young next door neighbor, Josh. After fifteen years of dating/living together/taking breaks and now, moving upstate, Amy and Isaac are finally tying the knot. Emma, their single best friend, has decided to get out of the city and join them for a summer weekend in the country. Over the long weekend, secrets are revealed and bonds are tested, forcing these friends to discover who they are now, versus who they thought they would become. Brooke Berman's newest play raises pressing questions about loyalty, partnerships, and modern love. The production stars Dana Eskelson (the title role in AFTER ASHLEY at The Vineyard ), Annie McNamara (THE SOUND AND THE FURY at NYTW), Elan Moss-Bachrach (GOSSIP GIRL), and James Waterston (THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST with Lynn Redgrave at BAM, ANOTHER TIME with Malcolm McDowell and Marion Seldes), with sets by Neil Patel ('NIGHT MOTHER, SIDE MAN), costumes by Jenny Mannis (Lucille Lortel nominee, DRUNKEN CITY), sound by Bart Fasbender (US DRAG, PORT AUTHORITY), lighting by Matthew Richards (DRUNKEN CITY), casting by Alaine Alldaffer, Cheryl D. Olszowka as production stage manager, and produced by Sasha Eden & Victoria Pettibone of WET with associate producers Ami Ankin and Azizah Rowen. Brooke Berman is an award winning playwright whose work has been developed and produced across the US and in London (at the National Theatre and the Royal Court). Brooke's plays include: HUNTING AND GATHERING (Primary Stages), SMASHING, UNTIL WE FIND EACH OTHER (Steppenwolf ), THE TRIPLE HAPPINESS (Second Stage, starring Ally Sheedy), SAM AND LUCY, AMAZING, and A PERFECT COUPLE (workshopped at the National Theatre in London). Her short play "Dancing with a Devil" was as winner of the Heideman Award at Actors Theater of Louisville and a nominee for an American Theater Critics Best New Play Award. As a screen writer, she has written an adaptation of her play SMASHING for Natalie Portman, as well as a feature called MAJOR MINOR DETAILS. Her short film ALL SAINTS DAY, directed by Will Frears, recently won Best Narrative Short at the Savannah Film Festival. Created in 1999, WET produces media which challenges female stereotypes and advocates for equality. WET adheres to this mission by producing premiere plays by female playwrights, events promoting the work of notable female artists, and developing new screenplays and plays by women writers in WET's INKubator series. WET's theatrical productions include the World Premieres of Anna Zeigler's BFF, BIG TIMES (directed by Leigh Silverman), Julia Jordan's ST. SCARLET, Sheila Callaghan's SCAB, and I STAND BEFORE YOU NAKED by Joyce Carol Oates. WET recently held their annual LOVE benefit, featuring the work of Brooke Berman, Jenny Lyn Bader, Lucy Boyle, Julia Cho, Julia Jordan, Liz Tucillo, and Francine Volpe, with performances by Jane Alexander, Lauren Ambrose, Michael Cerveris, Neil Patrick Harris, Ricki Lake, Gretchen Mol, Martha Plimpton, Josh Hamilton, and Laila Robins; the LOVE plays will be published in 2010. In 2004 WET launched the educational wing of the company, creating a city wide media literacy and leadership program for over 100 teenage girls annually, called WET's Risk Takers Film Series. The DR2 Theatre was created by Daryl Roth in 2002. It is ideally situated in the "heart of Off Broadway," and has the distinct ability to present artists and productions to the community through a nurturing and inviting environment. It has housed experimental theatre pieces and Off Broadway hits alike, including an 11-month run of Will Eno's Pulitzer Prize finalist THOM PAIN (BASED ON NOTHING). A PERFECT COUPLE runs June 9 - July 12, Monday - Saturday at 8pm. The DR2 is located at 103 East 15th Street (between Union Square East and Irving Place -- accessible from the L,N,Q,R,W,4,5,6 trains at 14th Street-Union Square). Tickets range from $25 - $35, available at 212-239-6200 or www.wetweb.org.
2008 MAC AWARDS WINNERS.
  2008 MAC AWARDS WINNERS
2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AWARDS
LINDA AMIEL BURNS
BART GREENBERG’S ANY WEDNESDAY SERIES
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
LEWIS BLACK
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN JAZZ
GLORIA LYNNE
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
MAUREEN MCGOVERN
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
BRIDGET EVERETT & KENNY MELLMAN
FEMALE VOCALIST
MALE VOCALIST
JEANNE MACDONALD, Come Back to Me: Jeanne MacDonald Celebrates Miss Peggy Lee Bradstan Country Inn, Metropolitan Room
MILES PHILLIPS, Quiet Stars, The Unrest Inside Me Metropolitan Room, Cosmopolitan Club
FEMALE JAZZ VOCALIST
MALE JAZZ VOCALIST
LAURIE KRAUZ, Enzo’s Jazz Room, Iridium, Sweet Rhythm
JACK DONOHUE, Birdland, Sweet Rhythm, Cornelia Street Café
MAJOR ARTIST
MAJOR JAZZ ARTIST
BARBARA BRUSSELL, Out of the Mouths of Babes-Women Who Dared Metropolitan Room
NATALIE DOUGLAS, Birdland, The Duplex, Matthew's Mug (Vassar College)
FEMALE CELEBRITY ARTIST
MALE/DUO CELEBRITY ARTIST
CHRISTINE EBERSOLE, Metropolitan Room, Birdland
STEVE ROSS, Oak Room at the Algonquin, 59East59
NEW YORK DEBUT – FEMALE
NEW YORK DEBUT – MALE
SUZANNE CARRICO, The Art of the Cahn: Music from the Sammy Cahn Songbook The Triad, Metropolitan Room
JONATHAN WHITTON, Perfect Finite The Triad, The Duplex, Laurie Beechman
STAND-UP COMIC
POPPI KRAMER
MAJOR STAND-UP COMIC – FEMALE
MAJOR STAND-UP COMIC – MALE
SUSIE ESSMAN
JIM DAVID
MUSICAL COMEDY / IMPERSONATION
DUO OR GROUP
RAY JESSEL, Songs from the Ridiculous to the Romantic Don't Tell Mama
KAREN MACK & MICHAEL HOLLAND, Gashole: Hole-O-Matic Metropolitan Room, The Duplex
JAZZ DUO OR GROUP
COMEDY/IMPROV DUO/GROUP
THE DARYL KOJAK TRIO, The Triad, Laurie Beechman, Sweet Rhythm, Metropolitan Room
CHICAGO CITY LIMITS
REVUE / SPECIAL PRODUCTION
VARIETY PRODUCTION/RECURRING SERIES
MY FRIEND, THE CAT, created by Phil Geoffrey Bond Laurie Beechman
JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY, hosted by Jim Caruso Birdland
PIANO BAR/RESTAURANT SINGING ENTERTAINER – MALE
PIANO BAR/RESTAURANT SINGING ENTERTAINER – FEMALE
DAVID COLBERT Helen's
SARAH MUCHO Rose's Turn, Don't Tell Mama
PIANO BAR/RESTURANT INSTRUMENTALIST
MUSICAL DIRECTOR
TRACY STARK Don't Tell Mama
STEVEN RAY WATKINS Lennie Watts, Jim Speake (The Metropolitan Room)
DIRECTOR
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
ERIC MICHAEL GILLETT KT Sullivan, Karen Akers, Lari White (Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel), Anna Bergman , Raissa Katona Bennett (Metropolitan Room), Maureen Kelley Stewart (Laurie Beechman), Olivia Stevens-Pleasure and Peril:The Songs of Zarah Leander (Helen's)
JEAN-PIERRE PERREAUX Lina Koutrakos, Johnny Mercer A-Z ,Tom Wopat, Jimmy James, Karen Mason (Metropolitan Room)
SONG
SPECIAL MUSICAL MATERIAL
I REMEMBERWords by Shaynee Rainbolt & Russell Garcia, Music by Russell Garcia
ONE STOP SHOPPINGWords by Dan Page, Michele Page, Sue Matsuki and Gregory Toroian, Music by Sue Matsuki & Gregory Toroian
RECORDING
JAZZ RECORDING
TERESE GENECCODrunk With Love–Live (A Tribute to Frances Faye)
JOHN DeMARCOPure and Simple
Congratulations, ADRIFT IN MACAO!
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BOEING BOEING! SHEZAM!
      Boeing Boeing is about a man who likes to have variety. Variety is the spice of life so he decides to tell three flight attendants that they are engaged and have an affair with all three attendants at the same time. One is based in New York and works for TWA. One is based in Germany and the other is based in Italy. He tries to date all three of them at the same time as they fly on different schedules. When a good friend comes to visit the cheating friend, he has to cover for his friend and try and cover up the problem.
Gretchen's character was the funniest of the three but the New Yorker, who fly's for TWA is equally as zany as her GERMAN counterpart. Both Blonde's are hot to trot and flirt with the friend of their fiancee. The show reminded me of a better "Three's Company" with great side splitting fun. This show is a winner. It was incredibly funny and worth the price of admission to see Mary McCormack's comedic genius. She and Baranski were so funny I was crying from the heavy laughter. BOEING BOEING is one of the best times I have had at the theater this season since "IS HE DEAD!" I was crying from laughing so hard and it made my week. It is not to be missed if you enjoy side splitting fun! Boeing Boeing is a Corine's Pick and gets four stars out of four. Zany, hot, steamy and sexy comedy. Call 212-239-6200. Hoping that Mary McCormack and Baranski get Tony nominations for this fabulous show. You will laugh so hard you cry.
PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999!
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 Great Happy Hour from 12-9 No drinks over $6! Try the Sake Sangria or my favorite the Corine's Corner Sangria. Ask Edwin for the Corine's Corner Sangria and it is only $4.50 during Happy Hour. 344 West 52nd street New York, NY 10019 Phone (212) 315-2777 The sushi is outstanding. Especially the really gorgeous presentation. YUM!
ALVIN COLT'S COSTUME EXHIBIT AT THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK!
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ALVIN COLT THE NONAGERIAN BEHIND THE CURTAINS, COSTUME DESIGNS TO BE SALUTED IN EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK EXTENDED THROUGH JULY 11TH Alvin Colt, the legendary Broadway costume designer on is finally getting all the applause and it only took 90 years. The Museum of the City of New York is celebrating Colt’s six decades of work with the exhibition “Costumes & Characters; The Designs of Alvin Colt”. (Mr. Colt celebrated his 90th birthday in July 2006). The exhibit has just been extended through July 11th. We are deeply sad to report that Mr Colt passed away this past weekend. Colt has been clothing Broadway and off-Broadway for more than sixty years. With shows such as the original Guys and Dolls (1950) and Pipe Dream (1956) for which he received a Tony Award under his belt his designs have truly stamped the Broadway stage. A graduate of Yale University with a degree in drama and a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame since 2001, Colt worked with theatre greats such as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Josh Logan, Kermit Bloomgarden, David Merrick, Ginger Rogers, Irene Worth, Robert Morse, Ute Hagan, Lucille Ball, Montgomery Clift, Alfred Drake and Eva LeGallienne. Not ready to retire, Colt is still at work as the costume designer of Forbidden Broadway the off-Broadway hit at the 47th Street Theatre. Critics often note the costume design as one of the highlights of the production. "We get Broadway-caliber costumes with tremendous wit," said Gerard Alessandrini, the creator, writer and director of "Forbidden Broadway." "He's very good about finding where to heighten the realism. ... Sometimes when the writing fails to garner the laughs, the costumes do, so I'm appreciative." “Costumes & Characters; The Designs of Alvin Colt” at The Museum of the City of New York and can be seen through July 11th. The Museum of the City of New York is located at 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, NY. You can also see Colt’s designs live and in use on the stage of Forbidden Broadway at the 47th Street Theatre, Off-Broadway. ***********************
Congratulations, Forbidden Broadway! Nominated For Best Revue!
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  Congratulations on the nomination. Forbidden Broadway has given me so much joy over the last 25 plus years. Thank you, for the memories. Photos by Maryann Lopinto.  Nominated for best Revue by the Drama Desk! 
Drama Desk Art*Kives Wall Coverage!
 The Drama Desk Art*Kives celebrity sketches from 2003 to 2007 are currently on display at Arté Cafe, located at 106 West 73rd Street (between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues) in New York City.
The Art*Kive™ program, which was started six years ago by Art*Kive™ creator Sarah Galvin and is unique to the Drama Desk Awards, enlists personal sketches each year from nominated performers and creative talent by inviting them to render a sketch that is relevant to the role or stage production that helped them achieve their nomination.
Below are photos of the work by Maryann Lopinto of some of the sketches seen at Arte’ Café last Thursday during the Drama Desk Nominees Cocktail Party
Hope you enjoy it. The new seasons will be coming soon. In the meantime, you can go to Arte' Cafe and see them in person. If you can't, hope you enjoy them here!
Photos by Maryann Lopinto. For more information on the Drama Desk or to buy tickets:
DRAMA DESK PHOTO COVERAGE CONTINUES!
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 Gerard Alessandrini and Jared Bradshaw. I have to thank them for making me laugh for 25 years! There is no Broadway like Forbidden Broadway!  Jared Bradshaw and James Donegan from my favorite revue- Forbidden Broadway! Congratulations to all involved!  Matt Morrison and Kelli O'hara from South Pacific.  Tom Wopat likes to stand out from the crowd! Photos of The Drama Desk Nomination party by Maryann Lopinto. Comments: Corine Cohen  The leading man: Paulo Szot! Who has one of the most gorgeous voices I have heard in years. It was a great honor interviewing him!  SOUTH PACIFIC STARS: Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot.  Boyd Gaines from GYPSY!  Funny man sails into the DD PARTY. I finally got to interview Danny and it was a thrill. Catch Burstein in South Pacific!  Boyd Gaines, Laura Benanti and Drama Desk Producer Bob Blume! Say cheese!!  GYPSY STAR LAURA BENANTI! If you've got it, flaunt it! Maryann Lopinto was at the Drama Desk Nominations party to cover all of the fun!
Drama Desk Nominations Party Photo Flash!
 He's alive and decided to get kisses instead of baby lamb chops. Shuler and Laura Benanti.  He's alive and he is craving lamb but the fur and stuffing in a puppet lamb would not satisfy the monster!  Tom Kitt and Alice Ripley of "Next To Normal"!  Laura Benanti and Bill Pullman  The wonderful Herbie in "GYPSY" Boyd Gaines. Last year I interviewed him and he was a lot of fun!
Photos by Mark Rupp!
Drama Desk Photo Coverage!!!! STEW!
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 Photo of STEW AND HEIDI- The writers of "Passing Strange" I got to interview STEW and Daniel Breaker from the show. Both are "REAL" and we discussed what is real and Stew defined the 'REAL' for me. I also discussed my adoration for Colman Domingo and "WHAT'S INSIDE IS JUST A LIE" The interview will be up soon. Until that time check out "PASSING STRANGE" AND FEEL THE REAL! Photo by Mark Rupp.
A CATERED AFFAIR- IT WAS SOME ENCHANTED EVENING!
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 Leslie Kritzer, Harvey Fierstein and Faith Prince!  Harvey Fierstein and Faith Prince!  A FAMILY AFFAIR: Leslie Kritzer, Harvey Fierstein and Faith Prince! Photos by Mark Rupp A Catered Affair was nominated for 12 Drama Desk Awards this year. That is something to brag about. Stay tuned!
PHOTO FLASH DRAMA DESK NOMINATIONS PARTY!!!!!
 Marisa Tomei!  Tom Kitt and John Bucchino.  Tom Wopat who told me that he will be having another late night show at the Metropolitan Room.  Leslie Kritzer. Was sorry we didn't get a chance to do an interview. We did chat off camera and she is a doll!  Cheyenne Jackson and Mary Testa from Xanadu. I was happy they were both nominated yet was sad Jackie Hoffman was left out. Jackie and Mary Testa are fabulous as the "EVIL WOMEN!" Jackie was missed but Testa and Jackson are fabu! I interviewed Cheyenne earlier at the party, he is a sweetheart!
Cheyenne Jackson was my first interview of the day! We talked about his fabulous career and his adorable dog!  He's ALIVE! Shuler and Laura Benanti. Shuler and I had a nice interview. He is a blast!
 Tom Kitt who wrote "NEXT TO NORMAL" What a great afternoon! I got to interview some fabulous people tonight. Paulo Szot! (IT WAS SOME ENCHANTED EVENING! Sadly, I did not get to interview anyone from "A CATERED AFFAIR" And it has always been my dream to interview Harvey FIERSTEIN but I did get to interview: STEW!Cheyenne Jackson! Daniel Breaker. Shuler Hensley! Gerard Alessandrini, James Donegan, John Freedson and Jared Bradshaw from Forbidden Broadway! Sierra from Little Mermaid! Julie Halston from VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM And so much more. It was the thrill of my life. The video is coming soon. In the meantime, check out some photos by the fabulous Mark Rupp. Stay tuned. I do deeply regret not chatting with Harvey Fierstein. But it was a great time regardless. I did interview Jared Bradshaw and pretend he was Harvey and it was funny! Stay tuned. More photos from Mark Rupp coming in a few hours! Corine Cohen The video should be up in a few days!
CRY BABY.
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 Chester Gregory, Alli Mauzey and James Snyder. Photo by Joan Marcus.
The minute the cast takes to the dance floor you can't stop the excitement.
This new musical has an extraordinary supporting cast. All of the dancers show us what excellent choreographers we have on Broadway this season. These dances were the high point of the show and I did not want to hear the music. I just wanted these dancers to dance and not stop. Rob Ashford's brilliant work was outstanding and deserves recognition. His dancers also deserve incredible praise.
Other standouts:
Chester Gregory who would have made a better CRY BABY than Dupree, stood out with his incredible dance moves and singing. I honestly wanted to see more of him and am tired of seeing him cast in the same kind of 'DUPREE AND SEAWEED' roles. Gregory would have been better as CRY BABY as he is more of a leading man than supporting man.
I am looking forward to seeing him in a leading man role in the future.
Alli Mauzey is hysterical as the insane Lenora. She is so over the top funny that I did not want her to leave any of the scenes. If we could see her and than the great dancing the show would be a miracle.
My problem with CRY BABY is the weak score. I can't remember any of the songs except
' BABY BABY BABY which is very sad since I saw the show less than 1 hour ago. The story is thin and it is a lot of fun but all of the fun comes from the talented cast and incredible dancing. I wonder why Waters did not use Marc Shaiman. In Hairspray, I remember every song and sing them daily in the shower. My only advice is to get Shaiman to add a few more songs, with his help the score could work.
James Snyder seems bored and not interested in his leading lady who was also not a standout in her leading role. I found the most exciting cast were in the smaller roles. Carly Jibson was hysterical in her very tiny role as a pregnant bad girl on the wrong side of the tracks. Her wonderful comedic timing and acting chops shined where as the leads stood in the background.
"Cry Baby" is not in the same league as Waters brilliant "Hairspray" but it is a very entertaining, light, fluffy show and worth seeing for the incredible cast and creative and engaging dance ensemble. You wont remember any of the score but you will remember the incredible dance performances. It was fun.
Cry Baby is playing at the Marriott Marquis.
Corine Cohen
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Chris Noth (Mr Big John) Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw)
