Tony Awards 2026 - The Winners (and My Thoughts)

It's been two weeks since the 79th Tony Awards! And so I thought I would share some of my thoughts as well as reveal how well I did in my predictions. 

I thought P!nk did a great job hosting the Tony Awards. The main requirement in my mind is love and respect for theater and she definitely had it in spades. She was also game for anything and willing to embrace the camp, another thing a good host (no matter the award show) needs to do. Bravo to her and while there were a few hiccups here or there, I think she'll only get better as a host. 

The performances were great, in my opinion. I enjoyed them all but the real standouts to me were Cats: The Jellicle Ball, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show, and The Lost Boys. I had expected Titanique to really blow the roof off Radio City but it seems like some technical difficulties prevented that. 

(The sound was weird throughout the show. For whatever reason, there was an echo whenever the presenters were talking into the microphones. It just wasn't as good as it was in the past and hopefully the producers will fix that for the future). 

Prepare for Departure...

In another blow to Broadway, Tony Award-winning revival Boeing-Boeing will close shortly after the New Year. It will go on tour, but leave yet another theatre dark.


Boeing-Boeing tells the story of one man and the three women in his life, all flight attendants. This allows him to juggle his love life until it all comes crashing down on him.


The revival was part of a trend where the plays opening on Broadway were getting more buzz than most of the musicals that opened last season. It currently plays at the Longacre Theater.

Boeing-Boeing will close in the same month as hits Spamalot, Hairspray, 13 and Spring Awakening. The news also comes shortly after American Buffalo, starring John Leguizamo, Haley Joel Osment and Cedric the Entertainer, closed after only 8 performances due to lagging ticket sales.

Tickets are too expensive now and have been for quite some time. It's time to figure out a way to bring them down and maybe revive the failing Great White Way.

You Can Stop the Beat *UPDATE*

It's official.

Playbill is reporting that smash Broadway musical "Hairspray" will play it's last performance on January 4, 2009--closing two weeks before "Monty Python's Spamalot."

Harvey Fierstein will rejoin the cast as Edna Turnblad next month and play through to the show's end. Fierstein won a Tony Award for Best Actor for the role.

"Hairspray" tells the story of Tracy Turnblad, a teenage girl who wants to dance on "The Corny Collins Show"--an American Bandstandesque show--in 1960s Baltimore, Md. Despite being "pleasantly plump," she becomes a break-out star, finds love and changes the world. Her mother helps guide her. It is based on the John Waters film of the same name.

The show opened in August of 2002 and took home several awards at the 2003 Tony Awards. Besides Fierstein's win, "Hairspray" also won for Best Actress among others. It took home the coveted "Best New Musical" Tony as well. A movie version of the musical opened in 2007, starring John Travolta as Edna Turnblad.

A sequel to the movie is in the works.

The show currently plays at the Neil Simon Theater.

The Knights Who Say "Closing Date!"

As the Broadway community prepares to bid adieu to the über-pink Legally Blonde the Musical tomorrow (Oct. 19), Monty Python's Spamalot has announced it will close this January.

Spamalot, as the playbill says, is "lovingly ripped-off" Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail. Original Monty Python member Eric Idle wrote the lyics and music with John Du Prez. The story retells the legend of King Arthur and his quest for the mystical Holy Grail--filled with Knights Who Say Ni, killer rabbits, and spam.

The show won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical and recouped its investment before its first year was out. The opening night cast included Tim Curry as King Arthur, Hank Azaria (The Simpsons) as Sir Lancelot, David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) as Sir Robin, and Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy) as the Lady of the Lake. Other famous cast members include Stephen Collins (7th Heaven), Drew Lachey (98˚, Dancing With the Stars) and recently outed American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken.

In another sign of the economy, Spamalot's closing notice leaves me to wonder: Will ANYTHING be open come Tony time?

Goodbye Love

Tonight, an era ended on Broadway.

After celebrating it's 12th anniversary this past April, the musical Rent performed for the last time. Groundbreaking and acclaimed back in 1996, the show grew to become a mainstay on the Great White Way. It' won the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as the Tony Award for Best New Musical. Cast member Wilson Jermaine Heredia, the original Angel, also won a Tony--Best Supporting Actor in a Musical.

Rent had a meteoric rise to fame, from the brainchild of a waiter to its current status of beloved Broadway musical. Yet why has it endured? My hometown newspaper, the Staten Island Advance, called Rent a "nostalgic" look at life in the 90's East Village. It could be the lasting tragedy of creator Jonathan Larson, who died before the first performance of the show at New York Theatre Workshop. That in seeing the work of someone who was taken so young, he lives on or one can wonder what could've been.

It could be all the performers who graced the Nederlander's stage, the energy and talent they brought to the roles as well as the bright futures it lead to. There's the original cast--Anthony Rapp, Tony winner Idina Menzel (Wicked), Taye Diggs (Private Practice), Jessie L. Martin (Law and Order)--whose performances were nearly all captured on film in the 2006 movie version directed by Chris Columbus. And to all who followed, who made Rent an experience for each new audience, they live on as the rag-tag group of artists struggling to live.

And therein lies the magic of Rent. Everybody who has ever been apart of a group of friends knows how strong those bonds could be, particularly in bad times. Through death, disease and broken hearts, the eight central characters stick together and face life with a positive attitude. That message has attracted years of Rentheads (the ones in the front, singing along and often start moo-ing halfway through "Over the Moon" before Maureen even gets to that point).

As director Michael Greif wrote in his letter for the final Playbill, printed on Playbill Online: "That's a lot to celebrate. It has been a great run. Thank you, Jonathan Larson."

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble...

So, time to squeeze two days into one blog post while I try not to blather on!

We drove the half-hour from Boston to Salem. We checked in to the Hawthorne Hotel, a rather swanky place to lay your head. It is furnished in a classic style, evoking a late 19th/early 20th century hotel decor. The room though was small, especially since my family of four was sharing it. The bathroom was even smaller. I like historic things, but not if they make me feel claustrophobic. Those who like staying in such hotels and don't mind small rooms will love it though it is a bit pricey.

We mostly focused on Salem's maritime history on Friday, a time that's greatly overshadowed by the Witch Trials. Salem's maritime area was one of the first national historic parks, still staffed by park rangers. One took us to the Narbonne and Derby houses. The Narbonne house had been lived in until the 1960s and the rangers decided not to restore it. So you have radiators next to fireplaces or a smoke detector in a low-ceiling, 17th century room. It's a great study in contrasts and best illustrates the passage of time. The Derby House was built by one of America's first millionaire, a man who owned the ships who went to sea to get the goods. His ceilings were higher since he could afford to hit such rooms. And his family had an affinity for the color green. In the visitor's center, there was brief video on the history of Salem's maritime might. It lasted from the middle of American Revolution, when many of Salem's ships were used as privateers, to around 1807 when Jefferson ordered an embargo on American exports. Even still, America hoped that Salem's trade would come back so they built a new, shiny Customs House, which we toured next. One of the surveyors was Nathaniel Hawthorne and his job was slow, so he ended up writing The Scarlet Letter. Upstairs, we saw the original eagle that sat atop the house--a replica sits there now.

That night, after a great dinner at Victoria Station (if I were more knowledgable on food, I'd compliment but I don't think you want to read another food comment of "delicious"), we went on a haunted Salem tour. Others in Salem told us we were going on a good tour and they were right. Our guide took us around many places of Salem (the town hall, Joshua Ward house, old jail, etc) and told us the history of the place as well as the ghost story. I would definitely recommend it. It's not something where they stick you in a haunted place for some time nor is it just ghost stories, but history. For instance, we learned about the sheriff who arrested most of the people in the Salem Witch Trials, Jonathan Corwin. Of course, it is believed he still haunts where his house stood (the Joshua Ward house) and he is not a friendly ghost like Casper. We took pictures, but it was raining so we can't tell if they are ghost orbs or the rain. Paging Grant or Jason!

The next day we went to the Salem Witch Museum. We were herded into a small auditorium where they used wax figures to tell the story of 1692, mostly focusing on victims Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor (probably most well known from Arthur Miller's The Crucible). After that, we were sent into another room. We were told the history of the pagan midwife who was morphed by Christians into a witch, told by the stereotypical witch (think Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz"). Next we were told about modern day Wiccans. Along the wall was a timeline regarding witchcraft, including the trials and Macbeth (which was written due to the Gunpowder Plot). Strangely, Harry Potter was left off. From there, we went to the Salem Witch Trial memorial, where you walk in a park next to a cemetary. Stone seats appear to line the walls, but when you get close you realize each bears the name of the 19 victims. Rebecca Nurse's stone still had candles and George Burroughs' had flowers.

We walked back to the waterfront to the famous House of Seven Gables. We toured the house, which was built by sea captain, whose grandson lost the house so it was purchased by another sea captain. This one was a relative of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who became close with the captain's daughter. It was she who told Hawthorne of the house's past (and of it's seven gables. It only had three when Hawthorne was alive) and encouraged him to write. When the house was purchased by a woman hoping to start a settlement house, she knew the draw would be for tourists to feel as if they were in the novel. She put the other four gables back on and built the secret staircase Cliff may have used. We climbed up the narrow stairway and stood in the small room. Next door, they had relocated the house Nathaniel Hawthorne had been born in so we went on a tour. It's an average 18th/19th century house, filled with stories about Hawthorne. Apparently, he didn't take criticism well and if any story received negative reviews, he burned it.

That afternoon, we saw "Cry Innocent," a re-enactment of the trial of Bridget Bishop. The show started by a fountain, where the town crier tells us that a warrant has been issued for Bishop. She appears and the constable arrests her. He drags her to town hall while she tries to resist. We follow along to be the grand jury of her trial. We sat in the town hall and various witnesses were called forth to bear witness against Bishop. She wasn't a pleasant woman and often quarreled with her neighbors, as well as been widowed twice--her second husband falling off a roof! We were able to ask questions in between two blocks of testimony before voting. We voted to free her, though in real life, it was decided there was enough to go to trial. She was later found guilty and became the first to hang. The actors were young but very good, particularly the actress who played Bridget Bishop. She conveyed while these neighbors might be afraid or hold a grudge against her. Because of how aflicted the girls were, no actress portrayed them--they were represented by chalkboards with their names written on it. The actress often stared at this wall, as if watching the girls' strange sight, pausing when addressing them and showed great talent to act to something that wasn't there. I suggest anyone who goes to Salem tries to get a ticket to see this.

And thus our vacation ended. We drove back to Salem, arriving at 11:30 PM back here Saturday night. Tomorrow I should post the pictures I toook. I'm the genius who has owned her camera for two years and finally figured out how to use flash just this past vacation.

The Play's the Thing

All the world's a stage, William Shakespeare wrote. And now, one of his own has come to life.

Archaeologists in London believe they have found the foundations of The Theatre. This is one of the first theaters built in England, originally by James Burbage and was used by the Lord Chamberlain's Men--William Shakespeare's company. "The Merchant of Venice" and "Romeo and Juliet" most likely had their debuts at this theater and scholars believe a rough draft of "Hamlet" also may have played there too.

The Theatre would lay the foundations of the more famous Globe Theatre--literally. When the group had problems with the landlord and while the theater was closed for the winter (the only theater opened would be the Blackfriars), the company took it apart and floated the wood across the river Thames to Southwark. The South Embankment is just ouside the city limits, making it the Elizabethan era's idea of a "Red Light District." Theaters, bear-baiting, cock-fighting, dog-fighting and other entertainment could be found there.

The Theatre isn't the first Elizabethan theater to be found. Back in 1989, remains of a theater was found during a construction job. Judging by maps, archaelogists confirmed it to be The Rose, a rival theater. The remains are now protected by water in the basement of the building after actors and theatre lovers campaigned for Parliament to preserve the theater while the company wanted to finish their building. See, compromises are good for everyone. If you want to see The Rose should you be in London, a tour guide will take you if you ask at The Globe Theater in Southwark. It was difficult to see in 2005 as it was dark and the water murky, but I believe they have been upgrading the area so it is easier to see.

This a major development for Shakespearan scholars. I've been to London in search of Shakespeare and while he does permeate throughout London culture, it is hard to find places Shakespeare was himself. The Globe is rebuilt and two blocks away from where the original Globe stood, the Rose is flooded and the (actual) City of London burned in 1666, fifty years after Shakespeare died. Another piece of Shakespeare could help gather a better understanding of the theater and the Bard himself.

According to the article, the site will be home to a new theater. So it doesn't look like a campaign will be needed to protect The Theatre. Actually, that would be an interesting PR promotion. Come see a play and then tour an original theater, one where Shakespeare performed!

Oh, And If You'll Give Me One Second...

It feels weird not doing a Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods recap. I enjoyed those! Oh well, I guess I should start counting down to America's Next Top Model.

Anyway, I went to pick up my sister today and when I turned on the radio, there was a Legally Blonde the Musical commercial on! They were advertising Bailey and talking about the show. They played a few clips, including "Legally Blonde Remix." I'm wondering if that was actually Bailey singing since it didn't really strike me as Laura Bell's voice. I guess I'll go see it again with Bailey in it. I've seen other shows three times (coughBeautyandtheBeastcough).

Also, Seth's column this week talked about watching the final episode with Bailey and her sister. Apparently, they didn't tell the sister Bailey had won! Read the column for her reaction and some stories from the creators of [title of show].

So Much Better

It came, it dazzled, it went. On to the finale of Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods.

After being reminded of the journey the girls took to get to the finale, we return to the final casting office. Lauren has just been cut and the other three are waiting for their fate. The judges point out everyone's good points, their bad points and then announce the last person to be eliminated by them is...Rhiannon. She cries, hugs Bailey and Autumn and then leaves. Autumn and Bailey are told that Jerry Mitchell will be judging their final audition and the judges send them on their way.

The girls return to the loft, oddly empty now. They talk about how they've made it. Autumn starts to speak about how she knows she's confident, she knows she can do it and you know she is about to talk about how she has to make sure the judges see it. However, Bailey interrupts and says she's confident and knows she can do it. I guess Bailey thought Autumn was attacking her even though it was clear where the conversation was heading. I think Bailey, while talented, is a bit egotistical and still has a little maturing to do. Anyway, Autumn gets the call sheet and tells Bailey that they are going to the Palace Theater!

The girls get to the theater and are two giddy schoolgirls. They pass Laura Bell's dressing room and dream of the day it will be theirs. They go through fittings so the costumes and wigs will fit then go down to meet Haylie, Seth and Denis on the stage. The girls will be performing three songs (Ohmigod You Guys, Positive and So Much Better) on the actual stage, with the actual props, set pieces and some actual cast members. The girls practice running up the Delta Nu stairs for the end of Ohmigod You Guys and practice with the rest of the cast. Autumn and Seth talk after she practices Positive, reminding him--and us--of her disastrous audition a few weeks ago when she ran out sick. The girls rehearsal is over and they are sent home to practice.

The next day, they go to the theater and change into their first costumes. They both look like Elle! Haylie talks to them again, introducing them to their judging panel--now including director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell. She sends them back to their dressing rooms where we hear their half-hour call and then...in walks their parents! Bailey collapses while Autumn launches herself at her mother. There is hugging, tears, peeling Bailey off the floor, ignoring Bailey's sister and promises to do well for their parents. The girls are called onstage to do "Ohmigod You Guys."

Bailey is up first, starting with Elle's entrance. She was pretty good, but sounded off to me. But the judges seemed to like it. Autumn's next and it was pretty funny watching Tracy Jai Edwards run in twice within an edit timespan of five minutes shouting, "There she is!" As she sings, I swear Mitchell was on the verge of tears! Next, the girls perform Positive. Autumn is off on her dancing, usually a beat ahead of her Greek chorus. It did look odd, but she rocked the singing portions except in the beginning when she went a bit off on "Violence is never wise." Bailey was worlds' better when it came to dancing, I'll admit, and could sing but she too messed up the words.

Next, the girls have to rock "So Much Better." Both sang the hell out of the song. I liked some of the little touches Autumn added, like unzipping Richard (H) Blake's sweater. (I noticed they got him, but couldn't get either Christian Borle or Andy Karl to play Emmett. Who was that guy?) I did like Bailey's annoyed "What?" when being tapped by Emmett. In all honesty, while I'm rooting for Autumn at this point, it is clear Bailey is serious competition. And her dad's face when she sang "Its oh-oh-oh-oh-better" was priceless.

Autumn and Bailey appear before the judges for the last time and it's no-holds-bar. Mitchell and the others let them have it, such as pointing out Bailey's acting to the audience, not her castmates as well as Autumn's dancing and the fact she doesn't appear to be sorority girl. However, both are praised and called talented. Mitchell echoes a sentiment expressed by Heather Hach the episode prior when he says he wishes to take Autumn's voice and Bailey's dancing to create the perfect Elle. The girls are excused as the judges deliberate. And they showed a picture of Autumn pre-dye job. And I must say, she looks better as a blonde.

Our two Elle wannabes return to the stage. Haylie has the judges' final decision. After a few annoying "tense" moments, she reveals the next Elle Woods is...Bailey! I must say, my one voter was correct. Unless s/he knew the answer in advance. Seth, are you really reading this? Anyway, I know I said I would be upset if Bailey won, but I must admit she is talented so it's unfair to compare her to Saleisha "Tyra, I went to your camp! And modeled on your show! And this show!" Towers. My only problem has been noted already--she has the energy to play Elle as the ditsy sorority girl, but I don't know if she can carry it through to the end of the show where Elle matures into a strong woman.

Bailey sings the rest of "So Much Better" and as she gets to the part the chorus joins in, we get a surprise. The other nine eliminated girls, from Cassie O. down to Autumn, are her chorus. They focus on Lauren, Cassie O, and Lindsey before the girls turn around to spell out "Elle Woods." After singing, the judges join Bailey on stage to celebrate.

Bailey starts her performances tomorrow (July 23). Her single of "So Much Better" should be available on iTunes now. And there are happy endings for Autumn, Rhiannon and Lauren. Autumn will be joining the Legally Blonde ensemble and understudying Bailey while Rhiannon and Lauren will be joining the touring company. Lauren will be the Elle understudy while Rhiannon will play Margot. Break a leg, girls!

This is NOT a Personal Essay!

Only one week of "Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods" left? Now what am I going to do? America's Next Top Model doesn't start for another two months...

Anyway, Autumn and Lauren are waiting for the girls to come back from the casting office. Both predict Natalie will return (and I kept hoping she'd walk through the door and reveal last week's ending was just a bad dream) and Lauren believes Rhiannon will be the one sent home. The door opens and the girls are shocked to see Bailey and Rhiannon come in. Lauren's reaction to Natalie's elimination is pretty similar to my own, sans the following rant at the TV. Bailey goes on about how unbelievable it was that she ended up in the casting office which doesn't go over well with Autumn and Lauren, both who have survived the office themselves. It appears that Bailey is now taking over for Cassie S as the house bitch.

The girls get a call sheet and meet Haylie Duff at a maze of mats and equipment. With her are two Legally Blonde cast members who also trained her for her debut in Hairspray. They put the girls through the paces. Each girl has to give a monologue (It sounds like they mostly did the scene during Harvard Variations where Elle introduces herself, yet Rhiannon says "Why would you lie about being in the shower?" which is from later in the show, during the trial). The girls deliver it while the guy twirls them and lifts them up. Autumn nails it. Next the girls sing and then are given pink tap shoes. The woman says the movements are easy and then proceeds to do one very complicated dance. Autumn looks ready to kill herself, but she holds her own. While getting tips, she realizes she can just fake it so it looks like she's doing it, which pisses off Bailey after she overhears it. Of course, now that Natalie is gone, Bailey is the best dancer there so she might see it as a slight on her talent.

Haylie tells the girls that there is no challenge winner and it cuts to a not-so-intense commercial break because you just know she's going to say "You are all winners!" And lo and behold, she does. The girls go back to the loft where they see a table set up, complete with flowers. A delicious dinner is served and the girls chat about when they knew they wanted to be on Broadway. Autumn listens and remembers when she was naive enough to think she'd make it big on Broadway in no time. Like others, she hasn't had her big break yet (umm, not counting this show). She warns the girls not to get their hopes up too high and Bailey snaps back that they are staying positive. Autumn has a point and doesn't come off like those experienced models on Top Model (coughLisacough) who insert unsolicited advice. The tense moment is broken when the waiter brings them four Tiffany boxes. Inside are the special heart necklaces Elle wears in the show. The girls go nuts.

Before sending them to their dinner, Haylie informs the girls that they will be performing "What You Want!" as their audition piece. So, the girls meet up with Denis, Seth and the cast members from the previous day to work on it. Rhiannon doesn't make it through the final part without sounding like she needs an oxygen tank from the dance section. Autumn realizes she can fake the tap section pretty well and blows them away with her vocal. Bailey has to work a bit harder. They bring in actual Legally Blonde cast members (including the girl who plays Pilar) to work with as well. And to top it off, the girls will have to do a quick change during their audition. The girls keep working hard, including Autumn and Lauren. Rhiannon and Bailey feel they are prepared enough and Bailey is actually pissed that Autumn and Lauren keep working, saying it is making her nervous.

The girls make it to their audition and perform. Like the day before, Rhiannon gets winded due to the dance section. Lauren does pretty good but the judges do say it can be easy to see she is thinking it through. Bailey goes to do her quick change and realizes someone has given her Lauren's hat by mistake. She oversteps the quick change and has to perform with the large hat. If there was a crew member hoping to sink her, his or her plan backfired big time as the show of imperfection made the judges LURVE her. Autumn does remarkably well, holding her own in the dance section. The judges though, give her mixed reviews. My favorite part? Seth constantly yelling out "This is NOT a personal essay!" from the piano bench.

The judges deliberate and Heather Hach says she wishes they could take the best parts of the four contestants to create the perfect Elle Woods. Haylie reveals that all the girls have to go to the casting office. There, Lauren gets the cut for being too young. Honestly, Bailey looks and acts just as young. She's just safe because of the hat incident. After Lauren leaves, Bernie reveals that Jerry Mitchell only wants two girls in the final audition so one other girl will be eliminated that night...and will be revealed in the next episode. I know Bailey is safe so I hope Autumn is too. But if Bailey takes the whole thing, I will be more upset than when Saleisha "Tootie, Tyra's Poster Child" Towers won America's Next Top Model Cycle 9.

And Playbill.com reported that the winning Elle will get her own single of "So Much Better" released after she wins the show. She will also take over as Elle two days after the airing. Here's the article: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/119446.html.

If anyone is reading this, please share who you want to win!

Back to the Sun, Back to the Shore

In case anyone is wondering, it's been over 24 hours and I'm still upset about last night's episode of "Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods" (The Soup is right. It is a long title). I think I actually yelled at my TV.

(Note: I missed the first six minutes of the show. Mea culpa.)

Wanna be on top? When I tuned in, the girls were in a hair salon for makeovers! I thought I had tuned into one of the reruns of America's Next Top Model! Natalie and Autumn, our two brunettes, went blonde while the natural blondes (everyone else) got trims. Some makeovers. Though Bailey's freakout over her shorter hair and Autumn trying to keep the contempt for her new style hidden almost made up for the lack of meltdowns in the previous three cycles of Top Model. What do those girls think we watch makeover week for? However, Bailey's freak out doesn't match Cassandra from Top Model's Cycle 5 and I highly doubt anyone will ever live up to Jaeda from Cycle 6 and her consistent "OMG! They cut my hair! I hate it!" And like Top Model, the girls went straight to a photoshoot where they had to impress wearing the same dress and shoes. They were told to stand out. I half expected Mr. Jay Manuel to come out and direct the shoot. In the end, for daring to make a choice, Natalie wins the challenge. Seriously, is this Top Model or Legally Blonde?

And why did Natalie and Autumn have to go blonde? Is it a requirement now? Aren't there wigs?

Natalie wins the chance to spend some quality time with Andy Karl (Kyle the UPS Guy and others/Emmett Understudy). I squeed over the fact that he would be gracing our screens. He's incredibly handsome, incredibly talented and gets entrance applause by just holding out a UPS package. Also, he rocks those khaki shorts. (Trivia: Andy Karl is married to fellow castmate Orfeh (Paulette) who we have seen already). Before the lucky gal goes off and as Autumn stews that it came down between Natalie and Bailey and not her, Haylie Duff reveals that the girls will be singing the title song (Legally Blonde) with Andy! (I guess they couldn't get Christian Borle. Shame).

After Natalie's time with Andy Karl, the girls report to the studio to practice with the ahmahzing Seth Rudetsky. He helps them with the song and each girl has an emotional break through. Some girls realize that, like Elle, they have been judged for their looks. Autumn equates it with being in the casting office. Natalie says it speaks to her as she can't believe she is really here and that they believe in her because she can't believe it. I've watched Top Model enough that I should've recognized the hints. The girls are sent home in anticipation of the next day's audition.

Side note: I've said that Seth is my favorite Playbill.com columnist and this week's Onstage & Backstage he goes into some back stage details of the show. Also, he said something that made me wonder if he was reading any blogs about the show and if mine was one of them. So I'm going to stroke my ego a little and say that about my comments regarding Broadway actors and their absences was based on many an interview I've seen/read with some of the Great White Way's
legends from years past. And now I'm going to take a pin to my ego as it is also a usual topic bantered about on the Broadwayworld.com message boards.

Anyway, on to the girls. Autumn and Lauren gave good performances, as did Natalie. I don't see where the judges thought she was weak. Rhiannon and Bailey gave decent performances as well. This is one of the hard times where they've weeded out the less-talented and you can't pick a bad performance. (See "I'd Do Anything" and the final 5 Nancys). In the end, Rhiannon, Lauren and Natalie were sent down to the casting office. And after one week of what they viewed as a subpar performance, the judges idiotically cut Natalie. It was like poor Aimee's elimination after one bad photoshoot this past cycle.

Next week: Bailey rubs some people (namely, Autumn) the wrong way and the girls perform "What You Want" as the final 3 are determined. We only have two weeks left?

Piddle, Twiddle and Resolve

Before we start on the real reason for this post, I'm sure you've all noticed the new design. I was lying in bed the other day, sleep escaping me and I got to thinking. I realized my original title really didn't fit with what I write in this blog and my summary must've been confusing as it was just a mess. So, I came up with a new title, new picture, better summary and I hope this one will stay. I do like comments and would like to know your opinion! So...Onwards!


I hope everyone is enjoying their 4th of July celebrations. My family has already been to two barbecues. I watched the Macy's Fireworks and then on to what I think may be one of the most faithful adaptations of a musical (of course, I've never seen a staged version of it though): 1776.


The musical tells a familiar story: how the Declaration of Independence came to be. It was written by Peter Stone and Sherman Edwards, a history teacher, and won the Tony for Best New Musical in 1969. The music is pretty decent, but the book is much stronger. Though I dare anyone to listen to "The Lees of Old Virginia" and not get it stuck in your head for hours after. There are other good songs too:


"He Plays the Violin." Sung by Martha Jefferson as she explains to Adams and Franklin how Jefferson won her over and keeps the romance in their relationship.


"Cool Considerate Men." Sung by Dickenson after Adams and Franklin leave, praising those who want to keep the status quo. It is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek jab at the conservatives. Trivia: This song was cut from the original movie and legend says it was at the request of producer Jack L. Wagner's friend President Nixon (a Republican, by then the more conservative American party). However, the DVD and most TV airings restore the song. Also a good watch just for Stephen Nathan's expression as the Courier when he enters Congress' room to see all these men dancing.


"Momma Look Sharp." Sung by the Courier after Congress adjourns for the day. The audience has been enveloped by Congress, trapped in the room with them, seeing only them. The Courier breaks through this and brings the rest of the country in, as he sings about his friends who died at Lexington and Concord.


"Molasses to Rum." Sung by Edward Routledge as the Congress debates Jefferson's Declaration. Routledge, Adams and Jefferson argue about a passage regarding slavery. Routledge sings this to show that New England is just as guilty as the South in regards to the practice. It is a dark song, but brilliantly sung and acted.

Part of the movie's brilliance is it's suspense. The audience knows how the movie ends--the Declaration of Independence is ratified and signed. Yet there is a stretch of tense moments, especially following "Molasses to Rumm," where you wonder if it will happen at all. Most of the original cast reprised their roles in the movie, particularly William Daniels as John Adams and Ken Howard as Jefferson. (Howard da Silva was the original Franklin but had to bow out early in the run due to health problems. Rex Everhart took over the role and is heard on the original cast recording as Franklin. Da Silva was able to return for the movie). It was funny the first time I watched 1776. It was in my Global I class and there was a group epiphany. "Oh my God, John Adams is played by Mr. Feeny!" And then we all finally got a Boy Meets World in-joke. Both John Dickinson and Edward Routledge were played by Donald Madden and John Cullum, respectively, and supplemented the cast brilliantly. The arguments between Dickenson and Adams were well acted.

If you were unable to see this movie, I suggest renting it. It is a great watch and isn't just a dull history lesson. It is also quite quotable, so I leave you with my favorite quote. It is an explanation given by Mr. Lewis to John Hancock as to why New York was always abstaining--courteously! It shows times haven't changed.

"Mr. President, have you ever attended a meeting of the New York Legislature? Everybody talks fast and loud and nothing ever gets done."

Positive

I'm still mad about last night's elimination. Come on!

The episode opens as the girls get a shock to see Autumn return to the loft by her lonesome. They all hug her, hug each other and realize it is the final six girls. The competition is going to heat up! Meanwhile, Emma is still battling her bronchitis as the girls get a call sheet.

The girls go to a dance studio where they meet the associate and assistant choreographers, who teach them some dance moves. We learn that Autumn really isn't a dancer while Natalie excels at it. And Emma has to keep taking breaks because of her coughing and running nose. The guys give the girls these pink, stiletto go-go boots and then take them to Brooklyn to dance on a cobblestone street in the middle of winter. The girls rise to the challenge but not without some pain and frozen extremities. Natalie excels at the challenge and is thus chosen as the winner. She brings Rhiannon along with her as they have a yoga lesson with Kate Shindle who plays "Vivienne" in the show. (FYI: Shindle was also a Miss America and can be heard as "Lucy" on the Jekyll and Hyde Resurrection CD). She gives the girls some advice about playing Elle as she sees the character, saying Elle has her own perspective on life that she doesn't compromise. The girls seem impressed and Kate is impressed she was able to come up with something like that. I know the feeling, where you say something and then realize how profound it actually is. And then you don't want to give yourself a pat on the back, but if you can pull it off in such a way that both parties are laughing, it's not bad.

The Elle Wannabes learn that they will be performing the dance break in the song "Positive" where Elle tries to show Warner she is more fun than boring Vivienne. However, it is a very high energy dance heavily influenced by hip-hop. The girls learn it but are shocked when the rehearsal is cut short, part of their challenge. They have to go home to practice, practice and practice the routine to nail it. But they find another casting call sheet with a questionnaire attached. They ask the girls to come together to answer the questions with one unanimous answer--things like the "Worst Dancer," "Worst Singer," etc. The girls haven't even started debating when they are already crying. The girls on Top Model would eat these girls alive--even the nice ones! Lauren cries that it is specifically against her as she would be the answer for all these questions. My, I can't tell if she's suffering from low self-esteem or is a bit egotistical. Maybe both. After the commercial break, Autumn takes control and declares the questionnaire "not in the spirit of Elle Woods." She and the girls rewrite the questions to be more "positive" and then cry more as they vote for each other. We should invest in tissue stocks.

Afterwards, they continue to practice the dance moves. They report to the audition and perform. Most of the girls fall flat. Emma tries to use the "I'm sick" excuse, which flies as far as Autumn's "I had a bad day" last week. Autumn works herself sick, runs off the stage and promptly throws up. Which the sound guy left the microphone on for as the camera focuses on the stall she's in. We're not stupid. If you show her running into the woman's room, clutching a stomach or her mouth, we'd get the message. She returns, fortunately having completed her audition, and watches the other girls. Natalie nails the routine again and is praised by the judges, who immediately tell her she is on the list and is safe for next week. At the end, Haylie Duff reads those who are safe. Joining Natalie are Bailey, Lauren and Rhiannon. Autumn and Emma are sent to the casting room.

Both girls were there because they weren't the best dancers as well as sick. The judges use this to highlight that they will be working 8 nights a week and can't blame being sick for a lousy show. Emma admits that today would've been a day she would've called in her understudy and the judges get on her case. Once again, I would like to point out that many of Broadway's legends say that the stars today don't have the same work ethic as them and reflect Emma's mindset. In the end, she is the one who is sent home. And I'm still mad.

I was so mad, I can't even remember what the preview was. Oh well--I like surprises, except when they involve my favorites being axed.

Oops!

So last night I gave my recap of the latest episode of "Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods." But I had some problems with Blogger and I rewrote that recap a few times. And the final version has an omission: my favorite Elle Wannabe!

So, in an earlier recap I gave my three favorite Elle Wannabes but I forgot my absolute favorite: Natalie! And I feel bad mostly because she was omitted due to the fact I could never remember her name. I know, I know. I can't even remember my favorite's name? But hear me out: she looks like a girl I went to college with. So I always want to call poor Natalie "Nikki." So if I screw up and mention someone named "Nikki," I mean her.

Here's hoping for a Natalie-Emma final!

Serious

So the ending of last night's episode of "Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods" was intense, wasn't it? Of course, I'm getting ahead of myself...

The girls sent to the casting room return sans Lindsey. There are tears and hugs as the show starts to reveal some of the friendships between the girls. There's tiny Autumn hugging tall Celina while Natalie asks if Emma needs to talk since Lindsey was eliminated. Apparently, they were close. Naturally, the question "What did they say?" gets asked. Unfortunately, it is asked by Cassie S. So the girls then turn it into a confrontation that would've made Tyra Banks proud had it been on America's Next Top Model. The girls tell her how upset they were over the fact she "threw them under a bus" at judging. They also tell her that she takes everything personally and that she is ostracizing herself. Cassie S cries that she doesn't know how to relate to girls and doesn't have any girlfriends. Now, while I myself and some of my girlfriends prefer our male friends over our female ones, I still have girlfriends. And I also feel that Cassie's cattiness doesn't help things much either.

The next day, the girls get their call sheet and go off to meet...Teddy and BooBoo who play "Bruiser" in the show. The dogs also brought along their trainers, who teach the girls how to interact with the dogs on stage. Haylie Duff tells the girls that they will be having a sleepover with the dogs like Laura Bell so they can bond. The challenge winner will be the girl who bonds the best with the dogs. Most of the girls do. Cassie S bombs. Autumn is chosen as the winner and she brings Celina along as a friend. They go to a doggie boutique where they are met by Richard (H) Blake, who plays Warner in Legally Blonde the Musical. While I'm wondering why they keep dropping the initial, I still friggin' love him! I've seen him in three different musicals: "Hairspray" (Link), "The Wedding Singer" (Glen) and, of course, Legally Blonde. After the cast was announced, Broadway.com did a video interview the actors and Blake aptly noted that he usually plays the jerk boyfriend. But I still love him. His wife is so lucky!

Meanwhile, Emma our ex-smoker has developed a cough which worries her as the next audition is coming up. And what will our Elle Wannabes be performing? The song "Serious" with Richard (H) Blake! The ahmahzing Seth Rudetsky continues to help them while apparently still rocking his 70's hairdo from "The Ritz." He and the assistant choreographer helps the girl nail the part where Warner tells Elle he is dumping her, not proposing. Now, they've been showing this clip for a long time: Seth telling a girl that "none of the judges wanted [her] back." I kept thinking, "How could you be so mean, Seth?" The girl though is revealed to be Bailey and when put into context, I could now tell that it was meant to help her realize Elle's devestation at that moment even before he said "Just kidding." After her rehearsal, Emma rushes to the doctor's, who tells her she has bronchitis but Emma is determined to do the audition anyway.

At the auditions, the following girls nailed it: Emma, Lauren, and Natalie. Bailey and Rhiannon were okay. They were the safe ones. Celina, Cassie S and Autumn found themselves being sent to the casting office. Cassie S complained about it in confessional, saying she was working "her ass off" and that she did pretty good for "not having seen the material before." The HELL? She's trying out for the show and she didn't even watch it? I mean, I understand it's expensive to come to New York City and see a musical. But MTV taped it and aired it a good month before auditions. Would it have killed her to watch it once? Then in the casting office, she was told she would be a good understudy or swing because she still had much to learn. She whined, "But that's not going to make me a star!" Neither is that attitude, honey. And in response to Celina's defense, bookwriter and judge Heather Hach utters my favorite line of the series: "What part of you thinks that Legally Blonde is about being subtle?" And poor Autumn uses the "I had a bad day" excuse, which flys as far as "I've never done/had/been _____ before" does on America's Next Top Model. Celina is unceremoniously cut and tells Autumn to win it for her.

But wait, there's more! The judges inform Cassie S and Autumn that they will be doing a double elimination and sending another one of them home. And then they cut Cassie S. It wasn't too surprising because Autumn was the stronger of the two and not as arrogant. But Cassie S was the bitch. They are usually kept around for drama. Oh well, now someone else has to be the bitch.

And the producers seemed to have realized this as next week's challenge has the girls picking out the weakest among them. And Autumn runs out of the audition apparently.

New Classics

So, Entertainment Weekly has published a list of 1000 new classics in various fields, cultivated from the past 25 years. Among these lists includes one of the 50 new stage classics. Here are the top five:

1. Angels in America (1993-94)
2. Rent (1996)
3. August: Osage County (2007)
4. Doubt (2004)
5. Jersey Boys (2005)

Not much complaining from my end. These five shows have redefined American theatre in the last few decades and touched on some serious issues: AIDS, family dysfunction, the scandal in the Church, etc. It is great to see Rent honored so as it prepares to close the original production. Among some of the other shows who made the list include:

8. Avenue Q (2003)--Tony Award winner and continues to wow audiences at the Golden Theater nightly. Also, who doesn't love "The Internet is for Porn"?
12. The Phantom of the Opera (1987)--Tony Award winner and now the longest running musical in Broadway history. Andrew Lloyd Webber is planning a sequel to this megahit (more on why I don't think that's a great idea in another post) and the half-mask is a Broadway icon in and of itself.
13. The Lion King (1997)--The only Disney show to win the Best Musical Tony. It is a truly remarkable show, an artistic triumph. And we all love "Hakuna Matata," no matter who is singing it.
15. Les Misérables (1987)--The longest running musical in the world (thanks to the original London production, still running). Now, it isn't the happiest musical in the world. Let's face it, everyone basically dies. (Spoiler alert?) But audiences still flock to the musical and still love the songs, especially that ingenue classic "On My Own." Also, Forbidden Broadway loves to mock the show.
16. Wicked (2003)--Okay, not so much ground-breaking, startling and artistic, but it is a classic buddy story--Elphaba and Glinda--and the struggles friendship goes through. Also, Stephen Scwartz's music is great--even if we have now been subjected to a thousand renditions of "Defying Gravity." Besides, this show brought people--especially a younger audience--back to the theatre.
22. Into the Woods (1987)--SONDHEIM! Enough said. For more reasons why, listen to "No One is Alone."
33. Hairspray (2002)--Tony Awarding winning play that brought some pep back into Broadway! With a great message and even greater music, this was a definite. Besides, who doesn't love a little camp?
43. Spring Awakening (2006)--Tony Award winner that was ground-breaking, startling and artistic. It's the anti-Wicked! Of course, this musical also earned comparisons to number 2 "Rent" as the show for the next generation. I may still not get the "choreography" of the show, but I get the story. It's still not something I would go see with my parents though.

For the full list and EW's other lists, please go to: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20207076_20207387_20207063,00.html

Are there any plays/musicals you think the magazine left off that should be included? And anyone who suggests "Cats" will be in for a world of hurt.