Media Morsels 6.15.12

Tony Wrap Up
The 66th Tony Awards are in the history books, and it was a great, performance-filled broadcast, with several well-deserved wins, a few surprises and lots of heartfelt speeches. Here are some things to help you gradually recover from Tony fever!




Cue and A with Alex Timbers
Peter and the Starcatcher co-director Alex Timbers filled out Playbill's questionnaire, revealing tidbits about himself, like his artistic influences, words of advice for aspiring performers and directors and this fun fact: "I have a bizarre and inexplicably deep knowledge of the Cash Money Records hip-hop catalogue starting from the early '90s. I can quote albums at length." That's right, this from the erudite and Tony-nominated writer and director who brought you Starcatcher and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. I love these questionnaires!

And for more starstuff, head to Broadway.com to get to know Kevin Del Aguila, who plays Smee (and who got a shout out from Christian Borle when Borle was accepting his Tony award!); visit Broadwayworld.com for photos of Team Starcatcher celebrating the release of the Starcatcher annotated script; and check out the last installment of Boy's Life, star Adam Chanler-Berat's look backstage at Starcatcher.




Post-Tony Shuffle/2012-2013 Season Update
Typically, after the Tony awards successful shows announce extensions or tours, while struggling shows, unfortunately, post closing notices. But sometimes, those closings mean shows slated for the 2012-2013 season find a home. Herein, the post-Tony shuffle:


  • Despite being uproariously funny, Nicky Silver's The Lyons will end its Broadway run on July 1. The play was nominated for just one Tony (for star Linda Lavin; the award went to Venus in Fur's Nina Arianda), proving yet again what a wonderfully rich year it was for plays on Broadway. Visit Playbill for details.

  • The Broadway revival of Godspell, which, despite not receiving any Tony nominations, performed on the Tonys, will close this month. The game company will sing about love through June 24th. Visit Playbill for details. 

  • Though the limited run revival of A Streetcar Named Desire had initially extended its run through August 19, the play will now close on July 22. As reported on Playbill, however, the underrated production is headed for London.

  • While not a Tony casualty, we did learn this week that Anything Goes, which began previews in March 2011 and was originally supposed to run for only 19 weeks, will close on August 5. A national tour is planned. Playbill has details.

  • The Best Man already extended its run twice - before the Tony awards - and that's not changing. What is changing is the cast. Kristin Davis, John Stamos, Cybill Shepard and Elizabeth Ashley will succeed Kerry Butler, Eric McCormack, Candice Bergen and Angela Lansbury, respectively, in July. Playbill has details.

  • While the play did not win any Tony awards, End of the Rainbow will extend its run, playing through January 6, 2013, and a tour will follow. See Playbill for details.

  • It was previously announced that the acclaimed Steppenwolf production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf would come to Broadway, but this week we learned it will play the Booth Theatre, currently home to Other Desert Cities. (Cities ends its run this Sunday, June 17.) Previews for Woolf begin September 27 and opening night is October 13. Playbill has details.

  • Rumors were confirmed this week that Al Pacino will star in a revival of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross. The play will run at the Schoenfeld Theatre, with previews beginning October 16 in anticipation of a November 11 opening night. While the Playbill announcement does not mention whether or not this is a limited run, my best guess is that even if producers intend for the production to be open-ended, Pacino's run in it will be limited, so when tickets go on sale, grab them while you can.

  • And there's more Mamet coming to the Rialto next season (which a certain someone (read: me) isn't thrilled about): Mamet's The Anarchist will play at the Lyceum Theatre starting November 13, in anticipation of a December 2 opening. The play will star Patti LuPone and Debra Winger. See Playbill for details.

  • Something that does thrill me: a musical adaptation of An American in Paris may be headed to Broadway, with none other than Christopher Wheeldon at the helm! That's right, the accomplished dancer-turned-choreographer (After the Rain, Les Carillons) will direct and choreograph the stage show, which features Gershwin tunes and a new book by Craig Lucas. This is a natural progression for Wheeldon, who already choreographed his own take on An American in Paris for City Ballet. Visit Broadway.com for details.
The Newsroom
Dear readers, you know how excited I am for the premiere of The Newsroom, the new Aaron Sorkin HBO show, right? And you know that I'm over the moon about the cast, including my dear John Gallagher, Jr., right? Well, then, you know that I'm thrilled to bring you this special clip, introducing you to Gallagher's character, Jim Harper (who's basically the Jeremy Goodwin (Sports Night) of The Newsroom. Watch below, and visit the You Tube page for more series previews!



 Leap of Faith: On the Record
The cast of Leap of Faith headed into the recording studio on Wednesday to record a cast album, and Broadway.com was on hand to photograph some of the fun. No word yet on a release date for the record, but stay tuned - I'll keep you posted!

Dig This
  • Wilfred is coming back! The second season of the wickedly funny show premieres on June 28, but you can watch a sneak peek of the entire first episode "Progress" right now over on FX.com! 

  • The New York Times caught up with sexypants POTUS Benjamin Walker (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) as he gets ready to open his new movie Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

  • Bob Segar, Gordon Lightfoot, et al., were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone has details.

  • Here's the trailer for Pitch Perfect, which sort of blends Bring it On with Glee. It looks possibly so awful and so funny that it could just be brilliant. It stars Anna Kenrick (50/50), Spring Awakening's Skyler Astin, Anna Camp (All New People, The Good Wife) and funny lady Elizabeth Banks. 

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