Issue #39: February 1, 2000

• Producer Cameron Mackintosh will close the Sondheim musical Putting It Together on February 20. Also, the long awaited debut on Broadway of Mackintosh’s Martin Guerre will not be happening since there is no suitable theatre to house the musical. The current tour will close in April when it lands at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles.

• The spring will see the production of Carlo Gozzi’s The Green Bird hit the Broadway stage four years after a critical success off-Broadway. The original director—the “Lion Queen” herself, Julie Taymor—will be at the helm once again.

• Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center was the premiere city for the concert tour of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War. Alternating the lead role as the production tours through to June, is Larry Gatlin (Will Rogers Follies) and John Schneider (Dukes of Hazzard and Grand Hotel). Gospel star BeBe Winans is also cast in a leading role.

• And now the latest on Cameron Mackintosh’s The Witches of Eastwick. The casting is now confirmed and in the role of “Darryl Van Horne” is Ian McShane. You may remember him from his television series Lovejoy from a number of seasons back. A classically trained actor and a graduate of RADA, McShane will be returning to the stage after a 30-year absence. The three witches are Lucie Arnaz in her West End debut, West End alum Maria Friedman and Joanna Riding. Previews begin June 24 with the opening on July 18 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

• The Australians have finally agreed on their answer to the Tonys and Olivier awards. In 2001 the Helpmann Awards will make its debut. The Australian Entertainment Industry Association will oversee the 24 categories for achievement in stage drama, musicals, opera and ballet. The awards, already nicknamed the Bobbys, are in celebration of ballet dancer, actor and choreographer Robert Helpmann. The first awards ceremony will take place in Sydney, March 2001 with the awards being shared in alternate years between Sydney and Melbourne.

• Who says long time series actors get typecast? Canadian Jason Priestly of Beverly Hills 90210 will be making his West End debut in the Broadway hit SideMan. Previews begin February 17 with opening on February 29 at The Apollo.