"Rent," Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

#1

"Rent," Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 12:57pm

This is so bizarre. Lots of he-said, she-said, and some ugly implications. Add a little "Three's Company" for added strangeness.

Seems like a mix of misunderstanding, deceit, 1980s-level paranoia and homophobia -- and are they infringing on the performance rights contract by cutting songs and scenes?
Nashville dinner theater

#2

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 1:13pm

At first, I was hoping this was about Joyce DeWitt in a dinner theatre production of RENT in Nashville. That would be a whole bathtub full of horrifying and would likely get me on a plane to see it.

But this is even worse! It's brought out the ugliness ... no wait ... the TRUTH in everyone, and it paints a sad picture no different than it was when the AIDS epidemic first came into public consciousness. They have learned NOTHING ... because they choose to learn nothing.

And Joyce DeWitt? A "co-Director" of this Lawrence Welkian theatre who says they "needed to cut the sh*t out" of this musical to sanitize it for their audiences. What a mess!

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 4/21/11 at 01:13 PM

#3

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 1:20pm

DeWitt was reported as saying, “This show has to be cut to **** before it goes on.”

Maupin reported a confrontation with DeWitt after she scolded the cast saying “You’re not old enough to know what this show is about. You haven’t lived it enough.”

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#4

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 1:22pm

OK, like most things on Examiner.com, that article was just incomprehensible to me. But it did get me curious enough to check out that theatre's website, from which I took away two things.

1) Judging from the photo of the guy who plays Mark (in an earlier production of "The Odd Couple"), in a few years, social security should kick in to pay the back bills to Benny.
2) So THAT'S where Richard Moll has been!
Photos

#5

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 1:32pm

Okay, so the guy on the left is currently playing Mark in Rent? And the guy on the right is Richard Moll from Night Court?

L.O.L.

The Odd Couple as played by the Sunshine Boys. Now I get what DeWitt (allegedly) meant by the Rent cast "hadn't lived it enough." For them, life begins at 70.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

Updated On: 4/21/11 at 01:32 PM

#6

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 1:36pm

Joyce DeWitt is directing dinner theatre in Nashville?

Suddenly, I feel pretty darn good about my career choices.

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#7

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 1:38pm

I love the "Rent" disclaimer on the dinner theatre's home page:

In an attempt to reach the broad audience of locals and tourists that our new downtown venue is attracting, RENT was specifically chosen for an audience with a taste for theatre teetering on the edgy side of American culture. If you are offended by "f-bombs" or sexually alternative themes, please sit this one out. We hope to REACH everyone, but OFFEND no one.

Every effort has been made to uphold the classiness of the venue while honoring the work of the playwright and the artistic vision of the show's director (Patrick Kramer). Thank you for understanding.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#8

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 1:47pm

All you need to know is that it's Nashville. There are all sorts of crazy going on in their theater community.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#9

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 1:48pm

Was Barbara Mandrell in The Odd Couple, too, or did she just show up to the premiere?

#10

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 1:54pm

I'm thinking she walked the red carpet along with Dolly Parton's sister.

Where is Kathy Griffin when you need her?

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#11

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:02pm

At first, I was hoping this was about Joyce DeWitt in a dinner theatre production of RENT in Nashville. That would be a whole bathtub full of horrifying and would likely get me on a plane to see it.



I would totally be on that plane with you, Besty!

#12

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:03pm

I think she's more of a Maureen than a Mimi, don't you?

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#13

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:04pm

Her Mama Rose at the Bucks County Playhouse was magical.

#14

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:08pm

I would happily fly to Nashville to moo with Joyce!

#15

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:19pm

That's just a steaming pile of WOW!

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#16

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:21pm

I know the director/fella playing Mark a bit, and from what I gather, the entire thing is just a casserole of nonsense. I'd quite like to see this sh*t-bomb go off, but sadly I'll have to make do with photos of the hilariously inappropriate cast.

#17

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:30pm

Full dream cast at the Nashville Dinner Theatre:

Roger - Richard Moll
Mimi - Valerie Bertinelli
Maureen - Joyce DeWitt
Mark - Anson Williams
Angel - Desi Arnaz, Jr.
Joanne - Ja'Net Dubois
Tom - Ted Lange
Benny - Mr. T

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#18

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:32pm

And Estelle Winwood as Alexi Darling.

#19

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:33pm

In every professional production of ReNt I've seen, the affection between Collins and Angel has been so muted and benign. It's not like there's a scripted scene that two of them are going at it doggy style on the table. I mean there's (the cut) Contact, which is about as sexy as people chanting under a tarp can be, I suppose, but if you think your audience can't handle these things (not to mention the word "f*ck"), then why do the damn show in the first place?

I also think the article (and I don't know if it's from the writer or something that came from the theatre's powers that be) misconstrues what "Contact" is about.

#20

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:43pm

Roger - Danny Bonaduce
Mimi - Eve Plumb
Maureen - Amanda Bearse
Mark - Marc Price
Angel - Ron Palillo
Joanne - Telma Hopkins
Tom - Demond Wilson
Benny - Alfonso Ribeiro

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"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

#21

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:50pm

Your cast is way too young, madbiran.

They haven't "lived it enough" yet.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#22

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 2:53pm

Ja'Net DuBois as "Joanne" = Inspired casting.

"Take Me or Leave Me...Buffalo butt!!"

#23

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 3:05pm

^ LIKE.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#24

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 3:06pm

If Joyce DeWitt were actually IN Rent, I suspect we could organize the first BWW field trip and rent a charter bus to take us all down to Nashville.

#25

'Rent,' Joyce DeWitt, dinner theater, Nashville = oddness brewing

Posted: 4/21/11 at 3:11pm

They must have the wrong date on the article. It sounds 2011 but I think it's from 1985.