Monday, October 22, 2012

Bruce Norris Urges Other Playwrights to Condemn Asinine Practice of Blackface Casting in German Theaters

I'm Not Rappaport - Schlosspark Theatre

As I look at the poster for the production of Herb Gardner's play I'm Not Rappaport at the Schlosspark Theatre in Berlin on the "Against Black-Face Roles in German Theatre" petition page on avaaz.org, I slowly lean my head, cradle my temples between my thumb and middle finger and wonder "Really? Today?" Frankly, as a Black-American, I am disappointed. 

Monday, October 15, 2012

Quote from Athol Fugard's "My Children! My Africa!"

Spoken by Mr. M in Athol Fugard's My Children! My Africa!:
I've got a whole zoo in here, a mad zoo of hungry animals...and the keeper is frightened!...Because one of those animals, the one called Hope, has broken loose and is looking for food. Don't be fooled by its gentle name. It is as dangerous as Hate and Despair would be if they ever managed to break out.

Monday, October 8, 2012

The Marquee Is Up But The Show Won't Go On

The Rebecca The Musical marquee is up at the Broadhurst Theatre on West 44th Street, rehearsals were scheduled, and there are $1M in advance ticket sales. But, it is now official, the Broadway bound musical based on Daphne du Maurier's 1938 classic will not go on. Theaterlovers will not be experiencing Manderley - at least not this fall. 

Similar to the play Grace now playing on Broadway, it seems the lead producers for Rebecca had "blind faith" in unseen investors. Investors who were introduced by a Ponzi fraudster middleman. Investors who did not exist, including the famous South African Paul Abrams who died from malaria before putting up $4.5M of the required $12M capitalization.

Frankly, the press behind Rebecca has been more interesting than the clips featured on the musical's website. Did the lead producers play Broadway lovers and investors? Or were they the ones played? Who sent that "malicious" email to a potential investor? 

Oh mysterious mysterious Rebecca, you raise more questions than I can answer today.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Quote from David Lindsay-Abaire's "Rabbit Hole"

Spoken by Nat to Becca in David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole (about grief and the loss of a child)
...At some point it becomes bearable. It turns into something you can crawl out from under. And carry around-like a brick in your pocket. And you forget it every once in a while, but then you reach in for whatever reason and there it is: "Oh right. That." Which can be awful. But not all the time. Sometimes it's kinda....Not that you like it exactly, but it's what you have instead of your son, so you don't wanna let go of it either. So you carry it around. And it doesn't go away...


Monday, October 1, 2012

Random Happenings - September 2012

Julie Taymor Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark suit settled. Fashion week returns to Lincoln Center to showcase 2013 spring collections. Sally Struthers charged with drunken driving. Mayor Bloomberg limits the size of sugary drinks. Royalty nudity makes the news - first Prince Harry in Las Vegas, then Kate Middleton topless photos. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? returns to Broadway for 50th anniversary. Apple's iPhone 5 descends upon us. Police dig up driveway looking for Jimmy Hoffa. Rebecca The Musical won't open on Broadway this fall due to lack of money after suspicious [made up?] investor dies.