Good theatre on Broadway now....

Good theatre on Broadway now!

August Osage County, Speed The Plow, Dividing the Estate, more:

In the last month I've been trying to ignore the dire predictions from the media that we're going to all be living in cardboard boxes due to the economic crisis by running off to see as much theatre as possible. The good news about the economic peril is: everything on Broadway is HALF PRICE right now!

AUGUST-OSAGE COUNTY- Wonderful family black comedy-drama. Do not miss this...fabulous. Came to Broadway from its original run in Chicago at the Steppenwolf Theatre. Tracy Letts' play is warm, funny, sad, shocking, and much more...the story of a very dysfunctional family in Oklahoma. Currently stars a large cast including Estelle Parsons, Robert Foxworth, Brian Kerwin and a few of the fabulous originals from Steppenwolf.

SPEED THE PLOW- the David Mamet play has been revived with a stellar cast. When I saw it originally back in the 1980s the power of the play was "overshadowed" by the casting of rock star Madonna...it was known as "the Madonna play"...this is no longer true...the story of fast-talking Hollywood producers is fast-paced with thrilling verbal acrobatics. Do not miss. Stars Jeremy Piven (from ENTOURAGE), Broadway star Raoul Esparza (who I met years ago thru friends when he first landed in NYC from Chicago), and Elizabeth Moss (Peggy from AMC's hit show MAD MEN).

DIVIDING THE ESTATE- Another wonderful black comedy about a dysfunctional family and their attempts to get along---with or without an inheritance. By Horton Foote, author of The Trip To Bountiful. Stars Elizabeth Ashley, Penny Fuller (a personal acquaintance), Gerald McRaney, Hallie Foote and others.

AMERICAN BUFFALO- Another Mamet play...revival of a play originally done by Al Pacino. Unfortunately, although the cast is first rate, the production is not thrilling...it's a little show that should have stayed in a little theatre Off Broadway somewhere. It's about small time con men/criminals planning a robbery. And that's all...nothing else happens. I've saved you $50. The actors are good...Cedric the Entertainer & John Leguizamo completely over-shadow young Haley Joel Osment (I see dead people), who is now grown up and attending NYU downtown. It's at the lovely old haunted Belasco Theatre on W. 44th St. The best part of the evening was before the show started when the announcer began saying: Mr. Mamet would like you all to turn your FUCKING cellphones off and KEEP them off. Thank You. I lost it, as did most of the audience. If only the show had that much punch and surprise.

Two weeks ago I went to ON BROADWAY, a one night celebration and fundraising show at CITY CENTER dedicated to "Career Transition for Dancers 23rd Anniversary Jubilee" starring Angela Lansbury, Tommy Tune, Brooke Shields, Jane Krakowski, Cheyenne Jackson, Baryshnikov and a host of Broadway names and talent. Lots of fun, great Broadway production numbers such as the thrilling opening tap number of 42nd Street, the Steam Heat number from Pajama Game and the Two Lost Souls number from Damn Yankees.

Last night I saw the latest Broadway tribute to songwriters David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr., held at Merkin Recital Hall, across from Juilliard. Recently I attended the Tribute to Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. This is a great format...on one side of the stage is a "living room set" ala the Tonight Show and on the other side of the stage is a piano and combo and a series of Broadway performers come out and entertain us with selections composed by this evening's guests, as they reminisce and tell funny stories of their careers.