Issue #186: February 1, 2007

• The New York Philharmonic will be staging a special presentation of My Fair Lady at Avery Fisher Hall from March 7 to 10.  In the role of Henry Higgins is Fraser’s Kelsey Grammer.

• Another Fraser alum is hitting the stage in March….John Mahoney stars in the Roundabout Theater Company’s Prelude to a Kiss at the American Airlines Theater.

• (mis)Understanding Mammy: The Hattie McDaniel Story opens on February 7 at Off Broadway’s Theater 5 with Capathia Jenkins stepping into the lead role.

• Mirvish Productions  in Toronto recently held a press conference announcing the North American debut of the musical Dirty Dancing.  Based on the hit movie from 1987 the writer, Eleanor Bergstein was on hand to talk about how the stage production came about.  Also present were the creative team and a few cast members from the London production who gave the invited audience a steamy taste of what is to come.  The audition process is underway in Toronto to cast the company, with previews starting October 31 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

• The Broadway hit that began at Toronto’s Fringe Festival is making the leap to London.  The Drowsy Chaperone is scheduled to open at London’s Novello Theatre on June 6.  The star of the show, Bob Martin, happens to be London born although raised in Toronto, will recreate his Tony award-winning performance as “Man In Chair” with British stage royalty Elaine Paige stepping into the title role.  You may be familiar with a few of Paige’s previous roles; the original Eva Peron in Evita, also star of Cats and Piaf.

• I’d like to welcome Cirque Niagara’s Avaia to the “On The Boards” family.  The second season of this spectacular show opens in Toronto at the end of April… then the production heads down the road to Niagara for the summer and fall season.  A company of the world’s greatest cirque performers along with 19 horses offers edge of your seat entertainment.  Click the link at the side to find out more about Cirque Niagara’s Avaia!