Issue #241: June 15, 2010

• A very star studded night at the Tony’s on June 13.  The winner of best musical was the 1950’s rhythm ‘n’ blues based Memphis…beating Fela!, Green Day’s American Idiot and Million Dollar Quartet.  A couple of super stars walked away with best acting trophies….Catherine Zeta-Jones (A Little Night Music) and Denzel Washington (Fences) and Scarlett Johansson nabbed the featured performance for A View From a Bridge.  La Cage aux Folles won for best musical revival along with best direction for a musical.  It was a starry starry night!!!

• In the works is a stage adaptation of John Grisham’s first novel A Time To Kill.  The production is scheduled to make its world premiere in Washington at the Kreeger Theater running from May 6 to June 19, 2011. 

• The 80s seem to be very hot these days.  Case in point, the script is in draft form for a musical based on….wait for it…Flashdance.  That’s right the Canadian author of the film, Tom Hedley is currently working towards and October 14 opening.

• Perhaps best known for her television role on The Golden Girls, Rue McClanahan also strutted her stuff on the boards.  In the 60s she appeared in off-Broadway and on regional stages before television beckoned in the 70s.  She was last seen on Broadway when she portrayed Madame Morrible in Wicked.  McClanahan died on June 3 at the age of 76.