Monday, October 7, 2024
Home Blog Page 314

Broadway: Audra McDonald Goes for Her 7th Tony Award in “Ohio State Murders” Drama, A List Crowd Cheers Opening Night

0

You know that Audra McDonald has six Tony Awards, she’s only 52 so more are coming. And tonight, the 7th was lined up with McDonald appearing in 91 year old Adrienne Kennedy‘s Broadway debut play. “Ohio State Murders.”

The biggest problem with “OSM” is that Kenny Leon directed it, and it’s the second play of this season — starting with “Top Dog/Underdog” — that will net him Tony attention. Leon is having a moment right now after a 30 year year. Who knows what else he has up his sleeve? Plus, his curtain call speeches are becoming legendary as well.

A wild A list crowd showed up at the newly named James Earl Jones Theater (formerly the Cort) which has been transformed into quite a lovely petit palais on West 48th St. I saw next to Tony Goldwyn and his daughter, ran into Rebecca Hall and husband Morgan Spector, LaTanya Richardson chastised me for not seeing “The Piano Lesson” yet, I also spotted Kelli O’Hara, and Molly Ringwald.

At the Champagne reception following McDonald’s breathtaking performance, her husband, WIll Swenson, popped over from his star turn as Neil Diamond in “A Beautiful Noise.” I was also happy to see my old friend, the great writer Joan Juliet Buck with another terrific writer, Allegra Huston (yes, she’s Anjelica’s talented sister) and their friend, the great gold medal Para- Olympian and actress Aimee Mullins (who’s also married to Rupert Friend and has a role in Wes Anderson’s next movie, and has a resume that includes many episodes of “Stranger Things”). Whew!

Why is this Adrienne Kennedy’s Broadway debut? She’s a highly regarded avant garde playwright whose work has been produced everywhere. But a commercial venture? This is it finally. Buck and Huston, and Mullins are all personal friends plus a lot of Kennedy’s family was present. She, they say, stayed home in Williamsburg, Virginia. “She was afraid she’s so excited she’d pass out,” the ladies told me. Well, she has a few months to get ready for the 2023 Tony Awards because “Ohio State Murders” will most certainly be nominated.

Audra McDonald, you also know, is a sensational singer. But the music she sings in “Ohio State Murders” is the song of Suzanne, a fictional representation of Kennedy. Sue is a visiting speaker at Ohio State, where she recalls that in 1952, as a student, one of her two children was murdered. (This is not Kennedy’s story.) The 75 minute presentation is dotted with a supporting cast of vast talents, including Bryce Pinkham, Mister Fitzgerald, Lizan Mitchell, and violinist Abigail Stephenson. But it’s McDonald’s show 98 percent of the time. She’s riveting, devastating, and mesmerizing. Her Suzanne is so commanding that when the play ends you want her to keep talking.

“Top Gun Maverick” Named Best Picture by National Bored of Review, A24 Gets 4 Big Corrupt Wins, “Till” Actress Gets Traditional Black Award

0

The phony baloney National Bored of Review has announced its winners. Studio A24 picked up four big wins with Best Actress, Foreign Film, Animated Film, and Directorial Debut. Why? I’ve told you before, countless times: David Laub, head of marketing for A24, sits on the NBR board. That’s all you need to know. This is an annual disgrace. Not only did A24 get the four major awards, they got 3 of the top 10 independent films.

“Top Gun Maverick” won Best Picture because Annie Schulhof wants Tom Cruise front and center. And now she’s got him! (This ensures “TGM” not getting the Oscar, kids.) She gave “Banshees” some awards because Searchlight, which she used to snub, is now part of Disney.

Steven Spielberg won Best Director for “The Fablemans.” He’s won about 45 times with the NBR. They love him, who doesn’t? (They didn’t love him enough to give his actors awards, however, or Tony Kushner’s screenplay.) Otherwise, Universal Pictures didn’t do too well. Shocking that there was nothing for George Clooney or Julia Roberts for “Ticket to Paradise”! And nothing for Universal Focus’s “She Said” or “Tar.” Nada. I guess Universal didn’t pony up!

The big joke is that the brilliant Danielle Deadwyler got “Breakthrough Performance.” This is the traditional NBR category for Black actors. Deadwyler joins Jennifer Hudson, Gabourey Sidibe, Dev Patel, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Royalty Hightower, Abraham Attah, Quvenzhané Wallis and so on in this group. This is what the NBR does with POC to make themselves look good. It’s also very shameful.

See the full list of winners below.

Best Film: “Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount Pictures)

Best DirectorSteven Spielberg, “The Fabelmans” (Universal Pictures)

Best ActorColin Farrell, “The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight Pictures)

Best ActressMichelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)

Best Supporting ActorBrendan Gleeson, “The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight Pictures)

Best Supporting ActressJanelle Monáe, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (Netflix)

Best Original ScreenplayMartin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight Pictures)

Best Adapted ScreenplayEdward Berger, Lesley Paterson, Ian Stokell, “All Quiet on the Western Front” (Netflix)

Breakthrough Performance Danielle Deadwyler, “Till” (Orion/United Artists Releasing)

Breakthrough Performance: Gabriel LaBelle, “The Fabelmans” (Universal Pictures)

Best Directorial Debut: Charlotte Wells, “Aftersun” (A24)

Best Animated Feature:  “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On” (A24)

Best International Film“Close” from Belgium (A24)

Best Documentary“Sr.” (Netflix)

Best Ensemble“Women Talking” (MGM/United Artists Releasing)

Outstanding Achievement in CinematographyClaudio Miranda, “Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount Pictures)

NBR Freedom of Expression Awards: “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” (Neon) and “Argentina, 1985” (Amazon Studios)

Top Films (in alphabetical order):

  • “Aftersun” (A24)
  • “Avatar: The Way of Water” (20th Century Studios)
  • “The Banshees of Inisherin” (Searchlight Pictures)
  • “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (A24)
  • “The Fabelmans” (Universal Pictures)
  • “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (Netflix)
  • “RRR” (Variance Films)
  • “Till” (Orion/United Artists Releasing)
  • “The Woman King” (Sony Pictures)
  • “Women Talking”

Top 5 International Films (in alphabetical order):

  • “All Quiet on the Western Front” (Germany)
  • “Argentina, 1985” (Argentina)
  • “Decision to Leave” (South Korea)
  • “EO” (Poland)
  • “Saint Omer” (France)

Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order):

  • “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” (Neon)
  • “All That Breathes” (HBO)
  • “Descendant” (Netflix)
  • “Turn Every Page – The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • “Wildcat” (Amazon Studios)

Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order):

  • “Armageddon Time” (Focus Features)
  • “Emily the Criminal” (Roadside Attractions/Vertical Entertainment)
  • The Eternal Daughter” (A24)
  • “Funny Pages” (A24)
  • “The Inspection” (A24)
  • “Living” (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • “A Love Song” (Bleecker Street)
  • “Nanny” (Amazon Studios)
  • “The Wonder” (Netflix)
  • “To Leslie” (Momentum Pictures)

Chaos in the World of Superman and Wonder Woman as New DC Chiefs Find Change Equals Kryptonite

0

One thing you don’t want to do in the comic book movie world is make changes. Change equals Kryptonite especially in the world of DC Comics. Nothing upsets the fans like zigging when you said you were zagging.

So now there’s chaos because The Hollywood Reporter says that newly minted DC chiefs James Gunn and Peter Safran may be chucking everything and starting over. No “Wonder Woman 3” from Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot. No to the “Superman” sequel with Henry Cavill, even though the actor reassured fans he was coming back. “Black Adam” sequel? Maybe not. “The Batman, Part 2?” Who knows?

Gunn tried to allay fans’ fears. He tweeted today:

“So. As for the story yesterday in the Hollywood Reporter, some of it is true, some of it is half-true, some of it is not true, & some of it we haven’t decided yet whether it’s true or not.

“Although this first month at DC has been fruitful, building the next ten years of story takes time & we’re still just beginning. Peter & I chose to helm DC Studios knowing we were coming into a fractious environment, both in the stories being told & in the audience itself & there would be an unavoidable transitional period as we moved into telling a cohesive story across film, TV, animation, and gaming.

“But, in the end, the drawbacks of that transitional period were dwarfed by the creative possibilities & the opportunity to build upon what has worked in DC so far & to help rectify what has not.

“We know we are not going to make every single person happy every step of the way, but we can promise everything we do is done in the service of the STORY & in the service of the DC CHARACTERS we know you cherish and we have cherished our whole lives.

“As for more answers about the future of the DCU, I will sadly have to ask you to wait. We are giving these characters & the stories the time & attention they deserve & we ourselves still have a lot more questions to ask & answer.”

Maxwell Frost, Newly Elected Youngest Congressman from Florida, Rejected for DC Apartment: Why Isn’t DNC Helping Him?

0

This is terrible. Maxwell Frost was recently elected to Congress from Florida’s 10th district. He went to Washington to get ready for January 1st — but was rejected for an apartment and lost his fee as well.

Frost is just 25, turns 26 in January. He’s the youngest Congressman.

DNC, Hakeem Jeffries– help this guy!

More here from Frost about his situation. The DNC should be providing him assistance, not leaving him in this situation.

Broadway: Tom Stoppard’s “Leopoldstadt” Extends Run Through July and Probably Tony Awards Win

0

Oh come on, you knew “Leopoldstadt” wasn’t going anywhere.

The sensationally moving and profound Tom Stoppard play has just been extended through July. They’ve got to keep it open because Stoppard is going to win the Tony Award for Best Play. and maybe the Pulitzer and a bunch of other awards.

“Leopoldstadt” received rave reviews and is doing very well at the box office. For the last six weeks it’s brought in over $1 million a week. A lot of musicals are certainly envious.

Stoppard’s play is set in Vienna between the early 1900s and 1937 among wealthy Jews who don’t realize they cannot escape the coming Nazi invasion. The antisemitism is there, but they refuse to see it and think they’ve assimilated into Austrian society. It’s Stoppard’s family story, but it’s also a warning to Jews today who think the current climate of hate is not directed at us.

I will see this play again as soon as tickets are available. Everyone should!

Golden Globes, Accused of Lack of Diversity, Choose First Black Host with Comic Jerrod Carmichael

0

Well, this should be fun.

The Golden Globes have chosen a host for their show next month and it’s Jerrod Carmichael.

Carmichael is both Black and gay, which covers a couple of bases for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after a long public struggle over diversity and inclusion.

Carmichael took home an Emmy Award in September for the writing of his critically acclaimed comedy special, “Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel,” and earned an Emmy nomination for hosting on Saturday Night Live.”

The main thing is, he’s funny. And endearing. I don’t know what kind of ratings he’ll get, but that’s the point. It’s a good choice, and sets the tone for what everyone hopes will be a good evening.

The Globes air on NBC on Tuesday, January 10th live everywhere beginning at 8pm, kicking off awards season. Next up will be the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, January 15th on the CW Network with Chelsea Handler as host.

Review: Harry and Meghan Netflix Doc Calls Out UK Paps, British Racism, Meghan’s Father, Sister, Reveals Relationship with Niece

Meghan Markle has a very nice niece, she’s the daughter of her half sister, Samantha Markle. Her name is Ashleigh and in part 3 of the Harry and Meghan doc that hit Netflix this morning we meet her. In fact, Meghan and Ashleigh have long had a strong friendship despite Samantha and father Tom’s antipathy to the royal couple.

This is just a little of what we learn in episode 3, where the real meat of the first chunk of episodes is revealed. The first three episodes address how the royal couple met, the lengths they went to keep their relationship from the press for a while, and how they dealt with Meghan’s sudden deluge of press while she was shooting “Suits” in Toronto.

We also meet Meghan’s mother, Doria, who I have to say comes across as a very sweet, self effacing woman who was smart enough to leave Thomas Markle when Meghan was two years old. Meghan says in the show that she never had a relationship with Samantha, who is considerably older. When Samantha’s daughter, Ashleigh, who was given up her adoption, entered the picture, the two younger women hit it off.

But the Markles got so out of control as the royal wedding approached that Ashleigh was told by the Palace she couldn’t attend the event. It seems as though this may have caused a rift, but Ashleigh is interviewed and perhaps we’ll learn in future episodes that the friendship has been mended.

In the meantime. Harry and Meghan is a little more than a puff piece. A lot of friends of the couple are interviewed, and there are receipts — copies of texts to back up Meghan’s stories of how the father and sister sold her out.

What hasn’t come up yet is any mention of Meghan’s first marriage, and also allegations of racism within the palace walls. So stay tuned. But the doc is well made. They are an articulate couple, they know their minds and they’re certainly not disrespectful of the royal family — yet. It’s clear that Harry saw his place in the hierarchy as not vital, he wanted a life for himself just as his mother did, and has made that happen. Maybe I’ve been duped, but I kind of liked them.

To be continued…

Jack White, Common, Harry Belafonte Join List of Over 100 Artists Urging Congress to Pass Performers Radio Royalty, Judiciary Committee Advances Bill

0

The House Judiciary Committee voted today to advance the American Music Fairness Act. This is a big deal. Former Congressman Joe Crowley, who represents the organization Music First, said in a statement::

“This is a momentous day for so many artists and music creators across this country. The House Judiciary Committee’s vote in favor of the American Music Fairness Act doesn’t just advance an important piece of legislation. It also sends a powerful message to artists everywhere that they are respected, that their work has value, and that their commitment to making the soundtrack of our lives is appreciated.”

Over 100 artists have signed onto the legislation. This week Jack White, Common, and Harry Belafonte joined a list that already included R&B great Sam Moore, Judy Collins, and Dionne Warwick.

The legislation is urgent because performers receive nothing for radio play of their hits — and never have. When you hear your favorite song on the radio, only the writer and published are paid. The singer, if they didn’t compose the song– gets nothing. Hard to imagine, but this has gone on for our entire lives.

It also means that performers like Motown and country greats, pop stars, and so on have to keep performing live in concert to earn a living well into their golden years. There is no annuity for them. Every single singer we’ve loved over the decades– Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and even Michael Jackson — are part of this.

Among the new signees to the bill are Elvis Costello, David Byrne, Four Tops, Temptations, Estate of Mary Wilson (of The Supremes), Randy Travis, Roseanne Cash, Becky G, Julia Michaels, Nile Rodgers, They Might Be Giants, OK Go, Aimee Mann, Matthew Montfort, Maggie Vail, Willie Nile, David Pack, Lizz Wright, The Stone Foxes, The RTs, Satellite Mode, Mark Charles, Blake Morgan, Aleks Syntek, Los Rabanes, El Gran Silencio, Inspector, Jenny & The Mexicats, Kemo The Blaxican, Samuray, Jimi Haha of Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, Mac McCaughan (of Superchunk), Suzanne Vega, The Whites, and Ricky Skaggs.

Getting this passed in Congress won’t be easy. The National Association of Broadcasters, the group that lobbies in Washington for radio stations, is doing everything to stop it. Radio station owners do not want to pay for the music they’ve been playing 24/7 since the 1950s. They run commercials on their stations telling listeners to write to their congressmen to stop MusicFirst. But it must be done, and soon. Too many musicians have suffered because of no performers royalty.

Belafonte joining the cause is a landmark moment. Crowley says, “Harry Belafonte is a legend in every sense of the word — not just for his incredible music, but for everything he has done to help expand fairness, justice and equality for so many people in this country and around the world. If anyone knows what it means to call out injustice and stand up for what’s right and fair, it is Harry — and I’m proud to be standing alongside him and so many other amazing artists in this fight.”

(Watch) Smokey Robinson and Rita Wilson Perform the Real “Where is the Love” on Jimmy Kimmel

0

Wow! What a pleasure last night when Rita Wilson and the legendary Smokey Robinson appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. They sang the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway classic, “Where Is the Love?” from the mid 70s. Great song, great singers. You rarely hear a real song anymore on the late night talk shows– sung by real singers!

(Watch) Lana Del Rey Drops Great New Single, Announces New Album for March 2023

0

Lana Del Rey is back. Her new song is called “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.?” It’s from the new album of the same name coming in March 2023. The song is great, and Lana remains an original.