Issue #62: March 1, 2001

• As I mentioned in a previous column, August Wilson’s latest play King Hedley II takes up residence at the Virginia Theater on April 29. The cast will include Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me Kate) and Leslie Uggams.

• A revival of 42nd Street will open at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts on May 2 which makes it the last show to open to be eligible for this Tony voting season.

• Two of last season’s big hits are ready to send out their national tours. Disney’s Aida will hit the road starting at Minneapolis’ Orpheum Theatre in March with Patrick Cassidy heading the cast. Rex Smith and Rachel York will share star billing when the tour of Kiss Me, Kate opens in New Haven, Conn. in June.

• In the spirit of cooperation, Canada’s two major commercial producers Mirvish Productions and SFX Theatrical have joined together with the country’s largest performing arts facility, The Hummingbird Centre, to bring Torontonians the most exciting season (2001-02) in recent history. Scheduled to play the Canadian theatre capital will be: a Canadian production of The Full Monty, the tour of Saturday Night Fever, the London hit Blast, a new musical based on the film Peggy Sue Got Married, along with two Canadian plays Syncopation and Zadie’s Shoes.

• Hitting the road in April is a mini-tour of London’s Olivier Award-winning actor Simon Russell Beale in the acclaimed production of Hamlet. Directed by John Caird, the four city tour opens at the Wilbur theatre in Boston April 11 to 22 then heads to the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, May 2 to 13. The third stop is the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson, Arizona from May 16 to 20 then winding up at the Herberger Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona , May 22 to 27. No New York date schedule; pity!

• The theatre’s love affair with the movies continues. A musical based on Tim Burton’s 1990 hit film Edward Scissorhands will play the Old Vic next year. The cast and opening night have not yet been confirmed.

• When not on The West Wing set, you can catch John Spenser (Leo McGarry) at the Mark Taper Forum strutting the boards in a limited run of a new play by Warren Leight (Side Man). A favorite venue for new works and playwrights, the 750-seat theatre has nurtured many a successful Broadway production including Angels in America. It’s nice to see that Spencer is keeping his stage credits current.