Triass Parq, The Musical

"Triassic Park, The Musical"at Soho Playhouse, June 23, 2012

(Looking back, I found this post never got published.)

If you're looking for a bit of cool summer froth, head downtown.

Mixing the metaphors of Gregory Maguire (Wicked), Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis (Urinetown), and Douglas Carter Beane (Lysistrata Jones), creators Marshall Pailet, Bryce Norbitz and Stephen Wargo spin the tale that "...is not Jurassic Park..." from the perspective of the dinosaurs.

Silliness abounds alongside cartoonish concepts of religious foundations as our cast of three Velociraptors, two T-Rexes and a "Mime-a-saurus" recount Michael Crichton's story of creation, fatal flaws and chaos. (In their world, they refer to their creator as Lab instead of God, setting off a series of nonsequiturs that could be funny with a bit more refinement.)  And, since all the dinosaurs were created female so there would be no offspring, all the characters are played as women.

Spoiler alert.

Leading the charge is Morgan Freeman (a very funny and very white Lee Seymour) as the narrator, providing exposition and spoilers ( "It's the frog DNA!") as the evening progresses.  Velociraptor of Faith (a most hunky Wade McCollum), Velociraptor of Innocence (an awkwardly androgynous Alex Wise), BFFs T-Rex 1 (a belting Shelley Thomas) and T-Rex 2 ( hot pink-lidded Claire Neumann) who speak in unison, Mime-a-saurus (an also hunky Brandon Espinoza), and the exiled Velociraptor of Science (a very funny Lindsay Nicole Chambers) round out the cast as they invent creationism for themselves to explain where they came from and how their world works.

Once the frog DNA surfaces with T-Rex 2's spontaneous genital metamorphosis from female to male.  Faith sees it as a demon that should be outcast.  Innocence doesn't understand Faith's unwillingness to accept change as natural.  She learns then about the existence of Science who lives outside the fence in exile.  Further revelations abound along with an under-used goat puppet.

Production values are clever, sets by Cite Hevner, costumes by Dina Perez and lights by Jen Schriever

Wrap all this up in a pop score by Mr. Pailet and run it in 85 minutes, and you get a show full of laughs and energy.

Triassic Parq, The Musical runs through August 5.  Get tickets here

Playwrights Horizons want you to like them

Playwrights Horizons campaign

Playwrights Horizons is one of the country’s most important incubators of new plays and musicals. Won’t you “LIKE” them on Facebook by June 30, and help them earn a donation of $10,000 when they reach 10,000 likes? While there, you can enter to win a $250 gift certificate from The Apple Store. LIKE now: http://www.facebook.com/PlaywrightsHorizons .

Gina Gionfriddo's RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN has been extended through July 1 on the Mainstage.  Tickets and more info at www.playwrightshorizons.org.

My Blog-iversary!

Look, Ma.  I'm 6!

It was six years ago today that I made my first blog post with a review of Pig Farm at the Roundabout's off-Broadway house, the Laura Pels Theatre.

Since then I've posted 319 times, a few of which were shameless self-promotion, along with some ticket discount offers.

To the press reps who have hooked me up with seats, I thank you and look forward to reviewing the shows you represent.

To my readers (both of you), thanks for staying with me and keeping me on my toes.

Tony Award Winners, 2012

2012 Tony Award Winners
presented June 10, 2012



Well, let's see how I did, shall we?  My votes are bolded.  The actual winners are underlined.



Best Play

Clybourne Park                      Author: Bruce Norris
Other Desert Cities               Author: Jon Robin Baitz
Peter and the Starcatcher    Author: Rick Elice
Venus in Fur                           Author: David Ives

Apparently, a Pulitzer Prize grants an edge.

Best Musical

Leap of Faith
Newsies
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Once

Without a doubt, Once is the best new musical I've seen in several years.  Bringing home 8 of their 10 nominations confirms my opinion.

Best Book of a Musical

Lysistrata Jones                      Douglas Carter Beane
Newsies                                   Harvey Fierstein
Nice Work If You Can Get It    Joe DiPietro
Once                                         Enda Walsh

See above.


Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Bonnie & Clyde                Music: Frank Wildhorn
                                                    Lyrics: Don Black

Newsies                                     Music:  Alan Menken
                                                     Lyrics:  Jack Feldman

One Man, Two Guvnors             Music & Lyrics: Grant Olding

Peter and the Starcatcher      Music:  Wayne Barker
                                                      Lyrics:  Rick Elice

Mr. Menken brings home the prize for his 4th nomination.


Best Revival of a Play

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Gore Vidal's The Best Man
Master Class
Wit

Best Revival of a Musical

Evita
Follies
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Jesus Christ Superstar


I was a bit surprised by this one.
 
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

James Corden                           One Man, Two Guvnors
Philip Seymour Hoffman           Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
James Earl Jones                     Gore Vidal's The Best Man
Frank Langella                           Man and Boy
John Lithgow                            The Columnist

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Nina Arianda                           Venus in Fur
Tracie Bennett                          End of the Rainbow
Stockard Channing                  Other Desert Cities
Linda Lavin                               The Lyons
Cynthia Nixon                            Wit

I like it when I'm right. :-)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Danny Burstein                          Follies
Jeremy Jordan                          Newsies
Steve Kazee                             Once 
Norm Lewis                               The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Ron Raines                                Follies

Yes.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Jan Maxwell                               Follies
Audra McDonald                      The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Cristin Milioti                              Once
Kelli O'Hara                                Nice Work If You Can Get It
Laura Osnes                              Bonnie & Clyde

As I suspected.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Christian Borle                          Peter and the Starcatcher
Michael Cumpsty                      End of the Rainbow
Tom Edden                                One Man, Two Guvnors
Andrew Garfield                        Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Jeremy Shamos                        Clybourne Park

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Linda Emond                             Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Spencer Kayden                       Don't Dress for Dinner
Celia Keenan-Bolger              Peter and the Starcatcher
Judith Light                                 Other Desert Cities
Condola Rashad                        Stick Fly

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Phillip Boykin                              The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Michael Cerveris                        Evita
David Alan Grier                         The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Michael McGrath                         Nice Work If You Can Get It
Josh Young                                  Jesus Christ Superstar

This was a bit of surprise.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Elizabeth A. Davis                      Once
Jayne Houdyshell                        Follies
Judy Kaye                                    Nice Work If You Can Get It
Jessie Mueller                           On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Da'Vine Joy Randolph               Ghost the Musical

As was this.

Best Direction of a Play

Nicholas Hytner                            One Man, Two Guvnors
Pam MacKinnon                          Clybourne Park
Mike Nichols                               Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Roger Rees and Alex Timbers    Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Direction of a Musical

Jeff Calhoun                                 Newsies
Kathleen Marshall                        Nice Work If You Can Get It
Diane Paulus                               The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
John Tiffany                               Once

Oh, yes.

Best Choreography

Rob Ashford                                 Evita
Christopher Gattelli                      Newsies
Steven Hoggett                            Once
Kathleen Marshall                         Nice Work If You Can Get It

Mr. Gattelli is making quite the name for himself - congratulations!

Looks like I called 7 correctly.

2012 Tony Nominations

2012 Tony Award Nominations

As the annual awards ceremony approaches, here's my take on what should happen on Sunday, though that may not be the case.  My choices are in bold italics.


 Best Play

Clybourne Park                      Author: Bruce Norris
Other Desert Cities               Author: Jon Robin Baitz
Peter and the Starcatcher    Author: Rick Elice
Venus in Fur                           Author: David Ives

 I liked ODC, PATS and VIF equally, but feel that ODC was the best constructed of the three.

Best Musical

Leap of Faith
Newsies
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Once

Without a doubt, Once is the best new musical I've seen in several years.  Disney will give it a strong run for its money with its very popular Newsies, but Once is the superior musical by far.

Best Book of a Musical

Lysistrata Jones                      Douglas Carter Beane
Newsies                                   Harvey Fierstein
Nice Work If You Can Get It    Joe DiPietro
Once                                         Enda Walsh

Once again, beautifully adapted from the 2006 film by Enda Walsh.

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Bonnie & Clyde                Music: Frank Wildhorn
                                                    Lyrics: Don Black

Newsies                                     Music:  Alan Menken
                                                     Lyrics:  Jack Feldman

One Man, Two Guvnors             Music & Lyrics: Grant Olding

Peter and the Starcatcher      Music:  Wayne Barker
                                                      Lyrics:  Rick Elice

Since this category requires that the music and lyrics must be written for the stage production, Once is ineligible.  That's one reason two of the nominees are actually plays, not musicals.  Consider, too, Bonnie & Clyde got a nod here?  Not the stellar year for  musicals as we've seen in years past.  For that reason, I'm pulling for Peter and the Starcatcher.

Best Revival of a Play

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Gore Vidal's The Best Man
Master Class
Wit

Purely on the strength of its pedigree, Death of a Salesman is the winner here.

Best Revival of a Musical

Evita
Follies
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Jesus Christ Superstar


Follies will struggle because it has closed, and Evita  is selling really well with Ricky Martin, but my vote goes to Follies.
 
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

James Corden                           One Man, Two Guvnors
Philip Seymour Hoffman           Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
James Earl Jones                     Gore Vidal's The Best Man
Frank Langella                           Man and Boy
John Lithgow                            The Columnist

It's a very tight race for this category and though I'm sure Mr. Jones is excellent, Mr. Lithgow should be taking the award home this year.



Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Nina Arianda                            Venus in Fur
Tracie Bennett                          End of the Rainbow
Stockard Channing                  Other Desert Cities
Linda Lavin                               The Lyons
Cynthia Nixon                            Wit


Another tight race with superb performances, I'm pulling for Nina Arianda in her breakout role.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Danny Burstein                          Follies
Jeremy Jordan                          Newsies
Steve Kazee                             OnceNorm Lewis                               The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Ron Raines                                Follies

Mr. Kazee's portrayal  of the heartbroken Irish busker wins.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Jan Maxwell                               Follies
Audra McDonald                      The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Cristin Milioti                              Once
Kelli O'Hara                                Nice Work If You Can Get It
Laura Osnes                              Bonnie & Clyde

The smart money is probably on Audra to bring home her 5th, but for me, the prize goes to Jan Maxwell's bitter turn as Phyllis.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Christian Borle                          Peter and the Starcatcher
Michael Cumpsty                      End of the Rainbow
Tom Edden                                One Man, Two Guvnors
Andrew Garfield                        Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Jeremy Shamos                        Clybourne Park

Though Mr. Cumpsty sailed far above the two-dimensional writing in End of the Rainbow, the prize goes to Mr. Borle for his delicious Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher.


Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Linda Emond                             Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Spencer Kayden                       Don't Dress for Dinner
Celia Keenan-Bolger                Peter and the Starcatcher
Judith Light                                 Other Desert Cities
Condola Rashad                        Stick Fly

It's another tight contest here, and Ms. Rashad makes an impressive debut, but my money is on Celia Keenan-Bolger.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Phillip Boykin                              The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Michael Cerveris                        Evita
David Alan Grier                         The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Michael McGrath                         Nice Work If You Can Get It
Josh Young                                  Jesus Christ Superstar

I didn't find many redeeming qualities in Porgy and Bess, but Mr. Grier's performance provided excellent entertainment, even though he seemed to be in a different show than the rest of the cast.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Elizabeth A. Davis                      Once
Jayne Houdyshell                        Follies
Judy Kaye                                    Nice Work If You Can Get It
Jessie Mueller                             On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Da'Vine Joy Randolph               Ghost the Musical

The show was a red hot mess, but Ms. Mueller managed a little style despite having to navigate the most wooden of Harry Connick, Jrs.

Best Direction of a Play

Nicholas Hytner                            One Man, Two Guvnors
Pam MacKinnon                          Clybourne Park
Mike Nichols                               Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
Roger Rees and Alex Timbers    Peter and the Starcatcher


Mr. Nichols made directorial choices that might be described as restoration, wisely resurrecting both the original set design and original music.  He then maximizes the benefit of a truly superb play.

Best Direction of a Musical

Jeff Calhoun                                 Newsies
Kathleen Marshall                        Nice Work If You Can Get It
Diane Paulus                               The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
John Tiffany                               Once

I'm back to my obvious favorite Once here.

Best Choreography

 Rob Ashford                                 Evita
Christopher Gattelli                      Newsies
Steven Hoggett                            Once
Kathleen Marshall                         Nice Work If You Can Get It

See above.

There are many more award categories.  You can find them here.

I'll publish a full list of the actual winners next week.

Go see a play!