Profile for FrontRow

Once? That wasn't so shocking. Maybe you didn't like it (I wasn't crazy about it myself), but plenty of predictions had it winning for Best Musical. Besides, how about a little memory, people? Even Avenue Q/Wicked, it was a David & Goliath type of victory, but not ENTIRELY unexpected -- as in, some people thought it could happen. I believe John Malkovich not even getting nominated for 'Burn This' (198 was extremely shocking.

THE LYONS - family dysfunction and a gay man in crisis. Gee, we haven't seen that on an American stage much in the past 20 years...! RX - original, clever, funny, romantic, timely and NOT MEAN-SPIRITED. And much more appealing to people outside the nihilistic hipster theater crowd. Whose tastes should not be relied on when moving shows to Broadway. I wouldn't recommend THE LYONS to anyone. I'd recommend RX to almost everyone.

The Time magazine website is featuring a "Covers Archive: Broadway" collection - you can look at all the issues that featured Broadway on the cover. Scroll down the homepage, look for the link on the right side. There hasn't been a Broadway cover since 'Phantom' opened 23 years ago!!!

"...everyone's relationship has to be exactly one way, and if it's any different it is wrong." Oh, excuse me, the right way is for a straight person to have an absentee gay spouse? That's really great relationship advice. Even if you think such an arrangement is perfectly fine (and if you're straight and think so, I repeat WTF), why are they assuming we're all supposed to just understand that?

I saw 'Priscilla' last night and was SHOCKED - it's dreadful. People are picking on 'Spider-Man'? What about all the money wasted here...on excessive costumes and costume changes. At least there's a reason for the flying in 'Spider-Man'. Why on earth are the "divas" suspended from the air? What's the point of those "divas" anyway? I found the show joyless, garish and tacky. I took a friend who recently lost their job for what I thought would be a pick-me-up. We did not have any fun. The narra...

This was an interesting, fun piece -- even the parts I don't necessarily agree with. A good primer on musical theater as well. And I agree with the poster here that these panelists were better choices than the Times' current theater critics. This is what surprised me most: (1) Only ONE person included "Fiddler on the Roof" in their list???!!! (2) No follow-up on Rich's comment that "Cabaret" is the only musical improved from stage to film. I think "West Side Story" was. "Oliver" too. Probably...

Is this eligible for the Oscar for best short film? I nominate it! Though I kept thinking, My family could never do this - too many people who can't carry a tune! There's a thread here about showtunes you love/hate. I would have listed 'To Life' as one I love. It's always been in my top 5, and this proves why! But Lin, I would love to hear a verse or two in Spanish! Congrats!

Catalano... Jane Fonda did not have only one or two good roles prior to her 15yr break. I would not call anyone a major talent based on one role, esp. when everything they do afterward is mediocre. I saw Friends With Money and don't recall anything (by Aniston or anyone else in the cast) particularly moving let alone Oscar-worthy. I don't know what was so "surprisingly honest" about The Breakup -- that they actually broke up, which is rare in Hollywood movies?

A major talent? The Good Girl was nearly 10 years ago. She's made tons of movies since then...what great talent have we seen in them? Yeah, she can play the girlfriend, or recovering-from-heartbreak, or sparring with loved ones. We saw her do that for years on Friends. Jennifer Aniston, like the entire Friends cast, is limited. All of them were totally right for their Friends roles, and their chemistry and perfs were good. But none of them has proved they're actually all-around great actors. ...

This was your first SITP...I have experienced many (going back 20+ years) and I can tell you that a silly bit of stagecraft is not unusual for these shows. They're not necessarily meant to be silly, and by silly I mean unnecessary/gimmicky/distracting...you know, like the Winter's Tale sheep. Often, it's water. They've done so many shows with water on stage for no good reason, except hey cool, look we have water on stage. Scenes have been staged where the characters stood in or slogged throug...

WTF is right...isn't Curtis Holbrook getting a bit old to be playing a teenager????

Did you guys even see American Idiot? What was in any of those performances that deserved a Tony nomination? Rebecca Naomi Jones for Most Exposed Ass? John Gallagher already has a Tony for playing an angry, disaffected youth. And the other guys were okay but did nothing special, or nothing special was demanded of them. I would NEVER think any perfs in that show were overlooked for even a nom, and you crazy folks thinks they actually should have gotten an award? Sure you can't think of half a ...

Langans on 47th St. has a 3-course special.

Seeing "Promises Promises" and the thread on this board about "Seesaw" got me thinking: Is there any musical that's set in present-day (i.e., the present day when it first came out) that ISN'T dated? The only one I can think of is "Company," and it's interesting that has held up so well since it is very connected to what was going on in society -- sexual revolution, women's lib leading to people rethinking marriage -- at the time of its creation.

"...She is living proof that no matter who you are, what age, color, sexual orientation, etc...." (from Jordan C) Yeah, Lea Michele is a young, pretty, skinny woman -- kudos to her for making a statement by becoming a TV star!

There are very few good rock musicals. (ever heard the saying "could count on one hand" - you may even have fingers to spare) You have to understand the lyrics in musicals. This sometimes is impossible - at least on first listen - in rock music. Most of the musicals categorized as rock that are good were written by musical theater composers. Which means musical theater influenced them as much or more than rock. Which is why they're good.

When did Theresa Rebeck ever say everyone's against her cause she's a woman? I've heard/read her discuss the imbalance of male vs. female playwrights getting produced. Is she wrong about that? Would you characterize a black person discussing, say, the disproportion in times black vs. white people are stopped by police as "Everyone's Against Me Cause I'm Black"?

I would think (hope) Encores! might be a little transfer-cautious after the 'Finian's Rainbow' debacle. And 'Gypsy' wasn't even that successful other than Patti Lupone's performance (and the tickets it sold). I think Encores! is trying too hard to find another 'Chicago'. Most of their productions are well-received...that alone has not proved to be enough for a worthwhile transfer.

Please name some stars who, as I wrote originally, toiled in the chorus -- i.e., did at least 3 or so shows in ensemble before moving up. If you start doing principal roles after one Broadway show in the chorus, you're damn lucky. And Matthew M. was in the role before it got to Broadway! Really, it is rarer than people think THESE DAYS. Whether by the performers' own choice or casting directors' pigeonholing them, it seems most ensemble members stay there throughout their career. (At least in...

Read carefully...I said "these days" and "today's stars." So got any answers?