Issue #84: March 15, 2002

• The London hit revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Brendan Fraser and Ned Beatty has been pushed back to a fall opening instead of spring as originally planned.

• The opening date for the much-anticipated revival of Sondheim’s Into the Woods, starring Vanessa L. Williams, has been rescheduled for April 29 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

• Yet another much anticipated production has been rescheduled. Michel Legrand’s musical Le Passe-Muraille is now going to open next season. It seems director James Lapine’s movie directing duties got in the way.

• One play still set to open is Paper Doll, which is based on the life of steamy novelist Jacqueline Susann. Taking centre stage in the starring roles are Marlo Thomas and F. Murray Abraham as her husband Irving Mansfield. Opening is scheduled for April 30 at the Cort Theatre.

• It looks like Madonna is set to make her London debut in May in David Williamson’s play Up For Grabs. The Australian satire on the art world begins previews May 9 at Wyndham’s Theatre with a May 23 opening night. Madonna was last seen on stage when she starred in the 1988 Broadway run of David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow.

• The creators of Notre Dame de Paris announced their new musical Cindy. The modern version of Cinderella will debut September 25 at the Palais de Congres in Paris. You can have a sneak listen from the recent release of the pop-opera show album which features Murray Head, best remembered for “One Night in Bangkok” from 80s musical hit Chess.

• It is heartening to see three stage veterans strut their stuff lately—a reminder that experience and seasoning often proves to be the most fulfilling performances. Barbara Cook, who sold-out Lincoln Center for six weeks, will return with her Mostly Sondheim show in June—not to be missed. Bea Arthur returned to Broadway with her one-woman show Just Between Friends and is also packing them in at The Booth Theater. Elaine Stritch at Liberty is receiving the most kudos—23 reviews, 23 raves the ads trumpet—at the Neil Simon Theater. Stritch walks you through her life on and off stage for the better part of the last 50 years. These three women have earned respect and admiration from their peers and audiences alike. If you have a chance to see any one of these productions, take it, you won’t regret it.