(Last Minute) Holiday Gift Ideas for the Broadway Lover (Updated 2013)

Happy Holidays to all of my followers!  It's been a while since I've blogged, but I'm back- just in time for the holidays! Shopping for the die-hard Broadway fan is about to get a whole lot easier. Just keep reading below as I suggest lots of unique gift ideas that theatre fans will be sure to love! If you would like to read my (longer list of) suggestions from last year (2012), click here.

1.) The Wicked 10th Anniversary World Souvenir Program

For the die-hard Wicked fan, there is never enough Wicked memorabilia to be collected. Here is a brand new souvenir program in celebration of the hit musical's 10th anniversary. Congratulotions, Wicked! Click here to check it out! 

2.) The Sound of Music Live

Despite the recent Internet controversy resulting from NBC's airing of The Sound of Music with Carrie Underwood as Maria, any true theatre fan will appreciate the value of a major television network devoting a three-hour time slot to live theatre. The cast recording or DVD of the live event would make a lovely holiday gift for many Sound of Music fans. 

                 

3.)  Staged by Ruby Preston

Last year, I recommended Ruby Preston's Broadway mystery novel, Showbiz. Staged is the highly anticipated sequel to Showbiz, which continues the story of Scarlett Savoy. Wouldn't you like to know what happens next?

4.) Broadway Tails by Bill Berloni

Animals are some of Broadway's most beloved "actors." Recent Broadway revivals of "Annie" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" have boasted the talents of cats and dogs. Broadway Tails is the story of Bill Berloni, Broadway's go-to animal trainer. This book is a great read for any Broadway fan or animal lover.



5.) Carols for a Cure

Shop for a great cause! Carols for Cure is a compilation of holiday tunes sung by the casts of your favorite Broadway musicals to support BC/EFA. I look forward to this CD every year-- therefore, it will always have a place on my list of holiday gift recommendations!

6.) Movie tickets to Saving Mr. Banks

Mary Poppins may have ended its Broadway run, but the practically perfect nanny lives on in this new movie about the making of the beloved movie (starring Broadway's Tom Hanks). Check out the movie's trailer below.

7.) Felicia Ricci's Belt Your Face Off

This former Elphaba Standby and author of the hilarious book, Unnaturally Green, has created her own online belting course (click here for a description). Since many theatre fans are also aspiring singers, what better gift than the gift of music? If you are unconvinced, check out Broadway Spotted's review of the Felicia's course.

8.) Tickets to see the U.S. Tour of The Phantom of the Opera

I saw the newly staged version of this long-running hit musical a few weeks ago at the Providence Performing Arts Center (blog to come soon…). Seeing the show for the third time reminded me of how truly awesome it is. The familiar musical phrases, the massive orchestra, the eerie chandelier dangling from the ceiling, the special effects. This is the musical production that I am recommending this holiday season!  

9.) Sheet music!

For the musically-inclined theatre lover, sheet music makes a great gift!  This year, I'm recommending the sheet music from Kinky Boots, which won Cyndi Lauper her first Tony Award for Best Score. 

10.) A subscription to Playbill magazine

The gift that keeps on giving all year 'round.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!  

BEST TONY MOMENTS 2013

1.) BEST SPEECH- Billy Porter has waited so long for his perfect stage role, and watching him accept his first Tony Award was just the icing on the cake. Remember Stark, he’s keeping that Tony at his house. 

2.) BEST PRESENTER(S)- Jesse Tyler Ferguson (with Jane Krakowski) burst out with “Girl, you’re gonna have fun tonight” when he presented Cyndi Lauper with the Tony Award for Best Score. Very clever, JTF. And the audience went wild. 

3.) BEST DRESSED- Annaleigh Ashford 

4.) BEST PERFORMANCE- The Opening Number was by far the best performance of the evening with lots of laugh-out-loud-inducing lyrics. For example. 

“You could bounce a quarter off the ass of Billy Porter”. 

“Hats off to Berry Gordy, he runs Motown like a boss. He dominates Top 40 and he banged Diana Ross”. 

And to the Broadway kids, NPH sings, “Is there a Tony daycare where all of you go?... Do your parents set aside your Broadway dough”? 

“Can I have my Tom Hooper Les Mis close-up please? You see, on Broadway, we don’t need extreme close-ups to prove we’re singing live”. 

“If you win, have the time of your life, tell your manager, dad and your mom, thanks. Hi to your kids and your husband or wife, maybe just for the hell of it, Tom Hanks”. 

“Kathie Lee’s a Broadway lyricist so anything can happen”. 

In addition to the clever lyrics, Neil Patrick Harris was just phenomenal when you think about the limited rehearsal time. He didn’t stumble on a single word and he was full of energy. I see an Emmy win in NPH’s future! Bravo! 

5. “OTHER” BEST MOMENTS-

Shout-outs to Cinderella for those seamless costume “transformations”. They were just as magical on TV as they were in person! More shout-outs to Matilda for including all of their principal actors and all four Matildas in their Tony performance. And finally, one last shout-out to Jane Lynch, who can actually sing pretty well. She is definitely scaring those “Little Girls” over at the Palace Theatre! 

My Tony Award Picks 2013 (Musicals)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year..... for the Broadway lover!  On Tuesday, April 30, Sutton Foster and Jesse Tyler Ferguson will announce the highly-anticipated 2013 Tony Award nominations. The Tony Awards will air live from Radio City Music Hall on June 9th. 

As I eagerly await Tuesday’s nominations, I’ve made a list of my own Tony picks for some of the musical categories. 

I hope you enjoy- please comment and share your own Tony picks below! 

BEST MUSICAL
1.) Hands on a Hardbody- a very unique and original musical that closed far too soon. With its creative choreography, solid music, heart-warming story, and stand-out performers, this musical deserves a Tony nod. 

2.) Kinky Boots- book by Harvey Fierstein + music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper + Billy Porter’s amazing voice = great entertainment. Need I say more?

3.) Matilda- The dark children’s book by Roald Dahl has been transformed into a stage production. Matilda is well-written, well-staged, and boasts several stand-out performances- particularly Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull. 

Who will win? 
Matilda. 
However, I would love to see Hands on a Hardbody take home this Tony Award. 

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
**All five eligible productions- Annie, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Cinderella, Jekyll and Hyde, and Pippin- were very solid and any of these shows would, in my opinion, be deserving of a nomination. However, two shows did stand out for me. 

1.) Pippin- with its spectacular circus choreography, this production brings something new and exciting to the Broadway stage and quite possibly employs the most talented ensemble on Broadway right now. 

2.) The Mystery of Edwin Drood- How many musicals have more than one possible
ending? This killer cast (no pun intended) had me in stitches. 

Who will win?
Pippin. 

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
1.) Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda- an outstanding, formidable, transformative performance. 

2.) Rob McClure as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin- He transfixed the audience with his perfect embodiment of Charlie Chaplin. 

3.) Billy Porter as Lola in Kinky Boots- the heart of the show. 

4.) Constantine Maroulis as Jekyll and Hyde in Jekyll and Hyde- Constantine carried the entire show and transformed effortlessly between good and evil.... and that voice. 

5.) Anthony Warlow as Daddy Warbucks in Annie- some of the best moments in this show were the scenes between Daddy Warbucks and Annie thanks to the great chemistry between him and Lilla Crawford. 

Who will win?
Bertie Carvel. 
However, I would love to see Rob McClure win for his role in Chaplin. 

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
1.) Carolee Carmello as Aimee Semple McPherson in Scandalous- a powerhouse performance. 

2.) Patina Miller as the Leading Player in Pippin- she gave a mysterious and manipulative performance, while mastering Fosse’s choreography. In this role, Patina has proven that she is the ultimate triple threat. 

3.) Laura Osnes as Cinderella in Cinderella- she was born to play this part. 

Who will win?
Patina Miller

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
1.) Will Chase as John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood- Did he really do it?

2.) Hunter Foster as Benny Perkins in Hands on a Hardbody- his character started out as a jerk but ended up having so much depth. 

3.) Gabriel Ebert as Mr. Wormwood in Matilda- one word: hilarious. 

Who will win?
Gabriel Ebert. 

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
1.) Andrea Martin as Bertha in Pippin- With one musical number, she somehow managed to steal the show while simultaneously dangling from a trapeze. (Note: she plays a grandma......)

2.) Annaleigh Ashford as Lauren in Kinky Boots- It’s about time this talented funny girl got a Tony nomination!

3.) Keala Settle as Norma in Hands on a Hardbody- with her killer pipes, she brought the house down with her big number. 

Who will win?
Andrea Martin. But I would not be sad if Keala Settle won....

What were your favorite Tony-worthy performances this season??

Eight Reasons to See Pippin on Broadway

Diane Paulus’ Broadway-bound production of Pippin concludes its run at the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, MA on January 20, but the production won’t be idle for long!  Pippin will start Broadway previews on March 23 at the Music Box Theatre. 

Synopsis: The play begins with the introduction of an ensemble of actors and a Leading Player, who reveals to the audience that they are about to relay the story of a young man named Pippin who is searching for meaning and purpose in life. A recent college graduate, Prince Pippin returns home to his father and stepmother, King Charlamagne and Fastrada, and begins his pursuit of the “fulfilled” life. During this personal quest, Pippin seeks the advice of many, including his father, stepmother, his grandmother Berthe, and the Leading Player, all of whom compel Pippin to undertake many roles, most notably, a soldier, a monk, a murderer, a king, and a lover, none of which fulfill him.  Alone and desperate, he encounters an ordinary woman named Catherine, a widow, and her son Theo, and senses what it means to be fulfilled. Pressured by the Leading Player to perform the most incredible act- the Finale, Pippin leaves Catherine and this ordinary life behind. Ultimately, Pippin must choose between performing an extraordinary, but dangerous feat and living an ordinary, but fulfilling life. 

Eight Reasons to See Pippin on Broadway

1.) It’s a circus!! Director Diane Paulus employed the talents of circus choreographer, Gypsy Snider of Les 7 Doigts de la Main, in creating some of the most exhilarating stunts to ever be performed in a musical!  Further, the choreography, created by Chet Walker in the style of original director/choreographer Bob Fosse, is incorporated strategically into the story in a very theatrical fashion and in a way that propels the story forward. The utilization of a circus theme and daring choreography enhances the element of danger that is a major theme in the story. 

2.) It’s the first Broadway revival of a “gem”. In fact, I wonder why this underrated, overlooked show has not been revived sooner. The original Broadway production ran from 1972-1977. 

3.) Stephen Schwartz of Godspell and Wicked fame composed the score, so it’s no surprise that the music is great. Personally, I loved the opening number (“Magic to Do”) because it sets the mood for the show and immediately pulls the audience into the story.  The score is light, upbeat, and harmonious, which directly contradicts the story’s underlying darkness.  

4.) Patina Miller as the Leading Player gave a mysterious and calculating performance. In Pippin, she shows her versatility as an actress, and while we all loved her Tony-nominated performance as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, she really proves that she won’t be typecast as the funny, sassy leading lady.  And that voice...

(Sidenote: The Broadway cast of Pippin has not been announced)

5.) The set, a giant tent, and the lighting are captivating and magical. 

6.) The audience gets the chance to sing with the incomparable Andrea Martin while watching her hang upside down from a trapeze. Now that doesn’t happen every day. The scene between Berthe and Pippin is one of the great comedic moments of the show and is not to be missed. 

7.) On the surface, Pippin appears to be a light-hearted story about a young man in search of himself, yet there is far more depth and meaning to this story than initially expected. For the purposes of this blog, it is not my intent to analyze Pippin; however, I can promise that this show will make you think. How many musicals can do that? 

8.) Last, but not least- a sweet little dog makes an appearance! 

I hope the above eight reasons will encourage you to check out Pippin on Broadway, which opens in previews on March 23, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre!