Marriage Equality II - "Hate is very strong but love is stronger."

Tyne Daly putting things in perspective:

"You can change the world when you change your mind." And Billy Porter adding to the Broadway commentary:

Here's To Elaine Stritch

My friend Greg Fredo has had a longtime love affair with Elaine Stritch.  I must confess that if wasn't for him she probably wouldn't have shown up on my radar.  Because of him, I learned to appreciate Elaine.

So...it turns out there is a documentary about that looks really interesting.


I think she does the best rendition of Ladies Who Lunch.

Which now leads me down the road to the movie Camp. This movie has some great songs in it and the actors really do a great job with the story line and music. There is a longer clip from the movie that gives the background story on these two girls. If you want to see it, just search YouTube. Here is their rendition of Ladies Who Lunch.
OK. So that now leads to two of my other favorite moments from Camp. Enjoy these two clips!

And So It Goes

On Friday, the legendary Betty Lynn Buckley makes an appearance in Houston at The Wortham Center-Cullen Theatre.  Brilliant Lecture Series is bringing her for a one night appearance.

I had the opportunity to see her in Fort Worth at Bass Hall in 2000.  It was a wonderful evening with just her and a small combo on stage.  It was also great to see her perform on her home turf.

Betty was born in Big Spring, TX, but was raised in Fort Worth, TX.  She is the daughter of Betty Bob & Ernest Lynn Buckley.  (Don’t you just LOVE the Texas names?)  Her Fort Worth roots are deep.  She attended Arlington Heights High School, TCU, was crowned Miss Fort Worth in 1966 and was runner-up in the Miss Texas Pageant.

Betty landed her first role on Broadway her first day in New York.  She was Martha Jefferson in 1776.  She won a Tony Award for her performance as Grizabella in Cats.  She received a Tony nomination for her performance in Triumph of Love.  Betty received an Olivier Award nomination for her role as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard and went on to replace Glenn Close on Broadway.

One of the roles I would love to have seen her perform is Mama Rose in Gypsy at Papermill Playhouse.  However…if you listen to Betty Buckley An Evening At Carnegie Hall you can hear the showstopper Rose’s Turn.  The cd is by far one of my favorites and includes my favorites As If We Never Said Goodbye, With One Look and Seasons of Love.  There are two songs that form a medley on the cd that I always hum when I think of Betty and the songs are And So It Goes and Everything Must Change.  If you expect to hear her haunting, award-winning rendition of Memory, you’ll have to purchase Cats (1982 Original Broadway Cast).

What’s funny (to me) is that when I mention her name, most of my contemporaries remember her as the mom on the television series Eight Is Enough or her role in the movie Carrie.  This just goes to prove she has a wide range of talent and a wide-reaching fan base.

There is still time to purchase tickets to see this native Texan Broadway legend.  Tickets can be purchased through the box office at The Wortham and more information about the performance can  be found on Brilliant Lectures' website.  AND here's a special deal for you...

There's a promo being run through CultureMap.  You can save 50% by using promo code: GIFT2

Don't forget!  She's from Fort Worth...not Dallas.  So Houston, come out on Friday night to get give Betty Buckley a warm Houston welcome.

What Musical Theatre Composer Will Write The Score To Your Life?

I am a very big user of Facebook. And you're thinking, "Tell me something new." I guess that is sort of like Adam Lambert telling everybody he is gay. DUH!

Anywho...Today on Facebook, one of friends posted this quiz: What Musical Theatre Composer Will Write The Score To Your Life? Being a Broadway baby, I couldn't resist. And here are the results.

Jerry Herman

I couldn't have asked for a better composer!

Nobody writes a 'pull yourself up by the bootstraps' number better than Jerry Herman. In scores like La Cage Aux Folles, Mame, and Hello Dolly!, Jerry Herman gives every star actress and hopeful chorus dancer a chance to sparkle, kick and walk down a staircase. Your life is a study in overcoming adversity, achieving your goals and putting your best foot and brightest smile forward. The world is a challenge and you're ready to take it on. Touted as perhaps the most 'hum-able' composer of the American musical, Herman's music is straightforward, bright, and about as positive as it comes. Gangway world, get off of your runway!

525,600 minutes

I realize that as I am posting this we have already lost some of our 525,600 minutes in 2009. Don't worry we're still in the 500 thousands so we still have time to spend in 2009.

A few years ago when I went to NYC during the Christmas season, I was invited to attend a Saturday matinee performance of RENT. According to the friends on the trip, RENT was all the rage that year. It was new and it was the latest thing on Broadway.

I had been really busy with work that year and hadn't paid much attention to what was happening on The Great White Way. So, I said sure. It's a musical. It's on Broadway. Why the hell not?

I fell in love with RENT and have seen it several times since, including the movie. Everytime I hear Seasons of Love, I get a lump in my throat. And once again, here is a good example of performers giving it their all.

Happy New Year everyone!

There's A Little Bit Of Broadway In Everyone

Don't have much time to say much of nothing. I do want to remind you that tonight at 7:00 p.m. (CDT), CBS will be airing The Tony Awards!

Although I have not viewed any of the nominated shows, I will still watch because the awards can help determine which shows get an extended run on Broadway and which shows will also go on tour. Plus, they're doing a tribute to RENT since it is closing in September.

Oh...and La LuPone will probably win for her role in Gypsy. I like her. :-)

"2 snaps up in a Z formation"

2 snaps up to Montrose Softball League for designating Legacy as the beneficiary of Jocks In Dresses on Saturday (6/9/07) evening.

2 snaps up to all of the people who provided funding for Interruptions (the exhibit at M2 Gallery).

2 snaps up to Christine Ebersole for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Grey Gardens). (Christine...if you're reading this I apologize for not including you in the previous post about my favorite moments for the Tony Awards. I *heart* you! I practically peed in my pants a few years ago when I saw you in 42nd Street on Broadway.)

2 snaps up to 100% of the people who ran right this morning and didn't get in my way!

B-I-G Yawn to Paris Hilton. Paris has said that she will no longer "act dumb." "I used to act dumb....That is no longer cute."

B-I-G Yawn to the Houston Astros. Their record as of 6/11/07: 26-37.

There's No Business Like Show Business

OK. That previous post made me feel much better (even though I don't have a new pair of shoes). It's not 900A yet so most stores are still closed although I could shop online (but then I won't get the instant gratification.)

So let's think happy thoughts and take deep breaths and put the bad thoughts into a hot air balloon and float away. Uh huh...sure...right...whatever.

Can someone answer this for me. Why do people embrace Anne Heche? She is absolutely crazy and yet, there she is last night strutting across the stage at the Tony Awards. Why did they even invite her to be live on the telly?

My favorite moments from last night's telecast:

1. The opening number featuring the cast from A Chorus Line.

2. Watching the Underdogs win: David Hyde Pierce for Best Actor In A Musical (Curtains) and Julie White for Best Actress In A Play (The Little Dog Laughed). I haven't seen either production but their reactions were truly heartfelt and I love live television.
3. Seeing Bernadette Peters.
4. All of the production numbers.

Last night's telecast got me to thinking about my introduction to live theatre. There are two moments and I can't remember which came first but they both occurred at Casa Manana in Fort Worth when I was a mere tyke in short legged pants.



Aunt "D" took me to see Aesop's Fallibles (no, not fables) and when Joe & Helen took me to see Ruta Lee in Hello Dolly! There's something about the intimacy between the actors and the audience that I love and of course throw in some showtunes for good measure.


Believe it or not, the only time that I have actually appeared in a stage production was my senior year in high school when I portrayed Linus in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown.

During the awards show last night, my yard boy (aka Everyday Italian) called between commerical breaks. We were both wishing we were there and both wished that we were going to Broadway Bares next week.

I guess it's true what they were saying during last night's show: Everybody has a bit of Broadway in them.

I *heart* Broadway!

Anticipation...is keeping me waiting

In case you can't tell, I have a number of things whirling through my head today. I have plenty of time on my hands as I am in my career exploration phase of my life. More on that in an upcoming post.

Back in February, my BFF AttyHou convinced me to put my name in the lottery for the 2007 running of the ING New York City Marathon. So I did.

Well...the lottery closed on the evening of June 1 and now I sit here wondering if I need to start training. I have approximately 22 weeks to train and you may be thinking, "Big deal. You have plenty of time."

Unfortunately I have run several marathons and I know what it takes to get up to 26.2 miles. Plus, I'm not as svelte as I once was not to mention that I'm not as young as I used to be.

So they better let me know sooner than later! I need to start getting tickets for Broadway shows....oh and start training.