Issue #93: August 15, 2002

• It’s revival time again!!! A Man of La Mancha revival is set to preview at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 19. Heading the cast are Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Brian Stokes Mitchell. I wonder if you need three names to be in this production—just an observation!

• The push is on to fill seats this fall during the September “Season of Savings” promotion which ties in discount theatre tickets as well as reduced prices at restaurants, hotels and parking lots will run from Labour Day to Columbus Day. This is traditionally a slow sales period for Broadway shows and instituting this program in advance may encourage theatre goers to buy into the offers. If you were thinking of a trip to New York for shopping and theatre this would be an ideal time to make plans.

• When Flower Drum Song opens on October 17 at the Virginia Theatre there will be two former “Kims” from Miss Saigon on stage. In the lead will be Lea Salonga who originated the role of Kim in both the London and New York Miss Saigon productions. Also on stage will be the Canadian Miss Saigon Kim, Ma-Anne Dionisio fresh from her stunning performance as Eponine in the Shanghai production of Les Miserables. I’m sure these two will have plenty to talk about and can compare notes on each other’s experiences.

• Not only has Henry Goodman landed firmly on his feet after his hasty exit from The Producers in the spring but you’ll be able to see him on Broadway in December when he stars as Tartuffe in the Roundabout Theatre’s productions of Moliere’s Tartuffe. Ontario’s Stratford Festival veteran Brian Bedford plays Orgon.

• The producers of The Producers have come up with brilliant casting for the LA engagement of the tour. The May 2, 2003 preview will have Martin Short and Jason Alexander in the roles Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick originated in the Broadway production. The LA engagement is expected to run for eight months.
  

• And the obits just keep coming in—another renowned actor, Leo McKern, who you may be most familiar with as Rumpole of the British series Rumpole of the Bailey, died in July at the age of 82. An Australian born actor, McKern had an illustrious stage and film career as well as his most famous television role. Under the direction of Tyrone Guthrie, McKern joined the Old Vic Company in 1949 where over three seasons he was cast in She Stoops to Conquer and Twelfth Night. He shared the stage over the years with some of the theatres greatest including Laurence Olivier, Judi Dench and Anthony Quayle. His many film roles included Thomas Cromwell in A Man for All Seasons and a role in the Beatles’ Help! Although widely known as Rumpole on television, he also played number two in the cult 60’s series The Prisoner.