Email Corine
|
XANADU- EVIL WOMEN!
 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 most fun show 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 I cried. 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.
at
 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!
at
 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.
at
 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!
at
 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.
at
 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!
at
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!
at
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!
at
   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.
at
 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?
at
Drama Desk Awards-
at
  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!
at
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!
at
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!
at
 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!
at
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!
at
  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:
|
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.
