Week in Review 10.17.14
As you know by now, Foo Fighters went on an incredible journey as they developed, wrote and recorded their eighth studio album, Sonic Highways. The band traveled the United States, making stops in cities known for a unique musical sound or influence. Frontman Dave Grohl interviewed musicians, and the band used the influence of the city to write songs. (One song for each city.) Not only is the band releasing the resulting album, but, following on the success of Grohl's Sound City, there is an accompanying HBO docu-series, which premieres tonight. Below, check out the first single from the album, "Something from Nothing," and then watch the bonus performance from the Foos' week-long residency on the Late Show with David Letterman. You can still pre-order the album; visit foofighters.com to do so.
The Last Ship in the News
- The Times Talk featuring The Last Ship collaborators Sting and Joe Mantello will be live streamed. The discussion is set for Monday, October 20 at 6:30pm EDT. Playbill has more.
- The New York Times has additional coverage of the show; this week, the Grey Lady ran a great piece about Sting and one of the show's stars, Jimmy Nail. The show is a personal one for Sting, and the rocker/composer has found a kindred spirit in Nail, whose upbringing was similar to Sting's. The article tells about the inspiration for the musical and the pair's connection. (Nail did not contribute to the writing; Sting wrote the score, and Brian Yorkey (If/Then, Next to Normal) and John Logan (Red) wrote the book.)
- Earlier this week, Sting and star Michael Esper (American Idiot, Tales from Red Vienna) took part in a Twitter Q+A session. Search #AskLastShip or visit the show's Twitter page to see the "conversation."
- Bruce Springsteen stopped by the show, and Broadwayworld.com has photos of him with his rocking pal, Sting, and the company. (Scroll to the end to see adorable photos of Esper with his parents.)
- The cast performed "If You Ever See Me Talking to a Sailor," featuring Broadway newcomer Rachel Tucker, on The Tonight Show.
- The delightful and Tony-nominated Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, You Can't Take it With You) answered fans' questions in the Broadway.com feature, "Ask a Star." (You'll want to watch for Ashford's dead-on Cyndi Lauper impression.)
- Though it hasn't even begun Broadway previews, it has been confirmed that there will be a Honeymoon in Vegas cast recording; in fact, Broadway.com has photos of the cast in the recording studio. The Jason Robert Brown (The Bridges of Madison County, The Last Five Years) musical begins previews November 18, with opening night set for January 15, 2015.
- To no one's surprise and everyone's delight, Neil Patrick Harris (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) will host the Oscars. Watch the video Harris posted to announce the news. The 87th Academy Awards will be held on February 22.
Alysha Umphress (American Idiot), who has an incredible voice and can now be seen in On the Town, is Broadway.com's latest vlogger. Check out the first episode of Taxicab Confessions. (And read her conversation with Playbill, in which she talks about the family she made while doing American Idiot.)- Second Stage announced that Stephen Adly Guirgis's Between Riverside and Crazy will be part of its season; the play takes the slot left vacant after American Psycho producers opted not to move forward with the off-Broadway production. Broadway.com has more.
After a successful run in NYC and the UK, Benjamin Scheuer is headed into the recording studio to records songs from The Lion. Scheuer shared the news on Twitter.- Al Pacino (Glengarry Glen Ross) will return to Broadway in fall 2015 in the David Mamet play, China Doll. Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) will direct. Broadway.com has more.
More about Wendy Whelan, whose farewell performance is Saturday, October 18. (Be sure to scroll through all the beautiful photos of an artist at work.) - Alan Cumming (Cabaret) is the latest Broadway star to sit down with Broadway.com's Paul Wontork for an episode of Show People.
- The Freestyle Love Supreme show premieres on Pivot tonight (tune in, and learn more here), and member and Tony Award winner Lin Manuel Miranda (In the Heights, tick, tick...BOOM!) is also celebrating the impending arrival of his first child. (Miranda posted this picture of him and his wife, Vanessa Nadal, on Twitter.)
DC residents: The Kennedy Center has announced a series of events related to Little Dancer, the new Ahrens and Flaherty (Ragtime, Rocky) musical starring Tiler Peck (A Place for Us, Funerailles) that is about to make its world premiere at the DC venue. The show is directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman (Big Fish, Double Feature). Playbill has details.- Not so diggable but newsworthy nonetheless: Archie Panjabi will be leaving The Good Wife at the end of the current season. She plays the investigator Kalinda, and is leaving to headline a show of her own. Variety has more.
- Can't wait for The Newsroom's third and final season to premiere on November 9? Watch this "Will McAvoy's Greatest Hits" reel to tide you over:
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