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DIVA TALK: Chatting with Cry-Baby's Lacey Kohl Plus Mason and Ebersole on CD and "Idol" Thoughts
By Andrew Gans
11 Apr 2008
There are few in the musical theatre today who possess a voice as versatile as two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole. In her most recent Broadway outing, Grey Gardens, Ebersole allowed her period-flavored soprano to soar in the show's first act, while in the second she demonstrated the power of her emotion-filled Broadway belt. On her latest recording, "Sunday in New York," Ebersole proves an equal affinity for jazz. The Ghostlight Records CD also features the vocals of pianist-musical director Billy Stritch, who co-starred with Ebersole in the Tony-winning revival of 42nd Street. Highlights of the 13-track disc include the charming title tune; Ebersole's simple, beautiful deliveries of two Stephen Sondheim gems, "So Many People" (from Saturday Night) and "Not While I'm Around" (from Sweeney Todd); Ebersole and Stritch's pairing on Brenda Russell's "Walkin' in New York"; Ebersole's haunting, pure rendition of the Irving Berlin standard "What'll I Do"; and a jazz-tinged "Will You?," Ebersole's first-act Grey Gardens closer. "Saturday in New York" is due in stores May 13.
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"Idol" finalist David Archuleta
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| ©FOX |
"IDOL" THOUGHTS
How exciting that Andrew Lloyd Webber is going to mentor the remaining "American Idol" finalists! The contestants will sing the work of the Tony-winning composer on the April 22 broadcast of the FOX reality competition, which will also feature footage of Lloyd Webber guiding the singers as they perform his songs on the set of Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. And, the April 23 "Idol" results show will feature Lloyd Webber performing live with the "Idol" gang. Although there will only be six contestants at the time, I thought I'd predict what songs the current finalists would likely sing: David Archuleta: "Close Every Door" from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Jason Castro: either "Heaven on Their Minds" or "Everything's Alright" from Jesus Christ Superstar; David Cook: "Gesthemane" from Jesus Christ Superstar; Kristy Lee Cook: "Take That Look Off Your Face" from Song & Dance; Michael Johns: "Vaults of Heaven" from Whistle Down the Wind; Syesha Mercado: either "Tell Me On a Sunday" or "Unexpected Song" from Song and Dance; Carly Smithson: either "Take That Look Off Your Face" from Song & Dance or "Memory" from Cats; and Brooke White: "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar. E-mail me your suggestions!
DIVA TIDBITS
Pro-Am Night, the upcoming benefit for Second Stage Theatre, will be held April 21 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan. The evening will feature theatre stars performing alongside members of Second Stage Theatre's Board of Trustees (hence the title: "Pro" as in professional actors/"Am" as in amateurs). Among the professionals will be Lillias White, Alice Ripley, Brian d' Arcy James, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Anthony Rapp, Laura Osnes and Billy Porter. Concertgoers can expect to hear "the Great White Way's best show-stopping sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll moments," according to a press notice. The benefit for the Off-Broadway theatre company will begin at 6:30 PM with cocktails, followed by the 7:15 performance and 8 PM dinner. Tickets, priced $1,250-$2,500 (tables range from $12,000-$25,000), are available by calling (212) 787-8302, ext. 113. For more information about Second Stage Theatre, visit www.2st.com.
Against All Odds is the title of the April 17-19 concerts at the Laura Turner Concert Hall in Nashville, TN. The evenings will feature the work of Hindemith, Weill and Korngold, three composers, who, press notes state, "came to the U.S. to escape the chilly winds of political turmoil in Europe." The concerts will feature the Nashville Symphony conducted by John Mauceri. Actress-singer Ute Lemper, seen on Broadway in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago, is scheduled to perform Weill and Brecht's Seven Deadly Sins. Hindemith's "Prelude from When Lilacs Last in the Door-Yard Bloom'd" and Korngold's "Symphony in F-sharp, Op. 40" are also on the bill. Show times are April 17 at 7 PM and April 18 and 19 at 8 PM. The Laura Turner Concert Hall is located within the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, One Symphony Place in Nashville, TN. For reservations call (615) 687-6400 or visit www.nashvillesymphony.org.
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Audra McDonald
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| photo by Michael Wilson |
Four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald will bring her acclaimed concert act to various cities throughout the country within the next few months. McDonald's current concert itinerary follows: April 12 with the Charlotte Symphony in Charlotte, NC; April 18 at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College in Purchase, NY; April 24 at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, MI; April 26 at the Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, NY; April 28 Leading Ladies Gala Concert with Barbara Cook at the Juilliard School in New York, NY; May 2-3 at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT; May 31 at the John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts in Eugene, OR; and June 1 at Cal Performances in Berkeley, CA. For ticket information visit www.charlottesymphony.org (April 12), www.artscenter.org (April 18), www.thegilmoreiscoming.com (April 24), www.mwpai.org (April 26), www.juilliard.edu (April 28), www.jorgensen.uconn.edu (May 2-3), www.ofam.org (May 31) and www.calperfs.berkeley.edu (June 1).
Christine Toy Johnson, who will soon be seen in the Prospect Theatre Company's production of the new musical Honor, will be part of the Asian Cultural Festival at Queens Theatre in the Park. Johnson will perform her cabaret act, Things I Love, April 26 at 8 and 10 PM. The singing actress will be joined by her husband, Sunset Boulevard's Bruce Alan Johnson, for the two performances; Kurt Faussette is musical director. Concertgoers can expect to hear Johnson's renditions of "My Heart Is So Full of You," "How Deep Is the Ocean," "My Favorite Things" (with husband Bruce), Heisler and Goldrich's "Welcome the Rain," Kevin So's "If It Were Up to Me," Ahrens and Flaherty's "Times Like This" and Christine Lavin's "It's a Good Thing He Can't Read My Mind." Queens Theatre in the Park is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. For directions visit www.queenstheatre.org; for tickets visit www.queenstheatre.org/7AsianCabaret.htm.
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.
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