GONG HEY FAT CHOY. HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR. It is The Year of the Ram and this should be the beginning of a Gentle and Peaceful Year. New York's Chinatown was buzzing with excitement because this marked the end of a seven year absence of Fireworks. The Chinese believe the firecracker explosions chase away the Evil and Bad spirits. So that 7 year downslide is now upward bound, due to the efforts of the Chinatown Community Economic Development Project. The 7 minute demonstration of fireworks and the parade was seen by over 450,000 people over a two day period. Cousin Chester, Head of Traffic Control for the Parade made us all so proud. What does that mean to me? As he staggered Marching Bands, Beautiful girls on floats and Dancing Dragons he gave me a birds eye view from the Grand Stand. Yes, all 4' 10" stood on Mott and Bayard and watched the parade pass by. What a Blast from the Past. The week was filled with lots of Family, Wonderful Foods and Red Envelopes with Money. Can't wait till next year! So, what's been happening in the East Coast?
La Boheme at the B'way was quite a treat. Went with 3 Italian friends who were so excited after the performance. The trio who are involved in film and opera in Rome said "if you only want to hear wonderful voices go to the Met or buy the CD. If you want to experience La Boheme with a wonderful fresh eye, see this production."
So did you all see the movie CHICAGO? Director ROB MARSHALL (B'way and National Tour) won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar on his first film. How fabulous for the Chorus Liner.
PRISCILLA LOPEZ (Original-Diana) was brilliant in her performance of Class Mothers of '68. She portrayed 6 distinctly different mothers whose children are graduating from high school. Her passionate, overbearing, and sometimes all too familiar mothers had all of us laughing and remembering where we came from. Meeting her backstage was just as much a treat as seeing her on. There is definitely Priscilla in each and every one of those characters. She introduced me to her favorite Nephew, who was only in the crib when ACL was opening on B'way, and her brother who had come all the way from Florida to see his sister.
RICHARD WINKLER (ACL-Lighting Designer) gave LARRY FULLER (EVITA Choreographer) a wonderful birthday party. THOMMIE WALSH (Original-Bobby) was on hand to sing Happy Birthday and told me it was an Adult evening being with Gypsies like WAKFIELD POOLE, choreographer JOE LAYTON'S assistant and BILL GUSKEE of the Milliken Industrial fame. Another gypsy was there, KEN ENGSTROM: he directs EVITA Internationally. Ken said he thinks he is the only dancer who loved being a Swing. Consequently, this got him into directing and choreographing.
MATT WEST (Bobby-Film) had a wonderful SOIREE for me at his beautiful apartment. Took my house guest Bruno Morrrtti, (composer) who was here performing his piece VESPER with the New York City Ballet. He was absolutely breathless when he saw the skyline light up at night. Matt gives good party. Oh, by the way, besides that cute little mustache he is growing he showed me his Christmas gift from Robert Roth, Beauty and the Beast director. It was one of the original posters seen outside the Schubert Theater, mounted on a silk screen. The six foot poster was absolutely breathtaking, better than the skyline.
PARKER ESSE (Don-NYU), JOE LANGWORTH (Mark -B'way), KEVIN BURROWS (Al-National) have just closed in SOUTH PACIFIC at ARENA STAGE in Washington, DC. We hear they have become Bikram Yoga Addicts.
JOHN CALDER (PSM-2001 Tour) e-mailed to say hello and let us know he is opening ANNIE at the FOX in Atlanta.
LARRY BLANK (MD-LA) writes: "have only just been engaged to write the arrangements for a new musical called LET THE EAGLE FLY. It's a small musical about Cesar Chavez. . .with some very lovely music by Julie Shannon. She is Chicago-based. And the show is likely to be done there".
SANDY ROVETA (Cassie-London) had lunch with me at Mozart's Cafe. Four hours later we were still chatting about London, Michael, and her future in the Theater. She stopped dancing after the ACL, (that "Cassie Dance" can do it to you) and just acted.
LUIS VILLBON (Paul-2001 Tour) called from the tour of SEUSSICAL to say he was helping KAY COLE (Maggie-original) with her auditions in LA for A Chorus Line at LA MIRADA, south of LA. He says Kaye looks great. But she always did.
JACK BRENTON (DON-ART PARK) was seen with famous poet Rod McKuen at a new product launch party for Hewlett Packard. Rod will be the new spokesperson for Seniors for the big company and our Jack is his press agent.
Heard that DONALD PIPPIN (MD- B'way) was sick. Spoke to his ex-wife Marie Santell and she told me Don was over in London and got ill. When he got back to the States he was operated on immediately. I think it was his gall bladder. Don is back on the boards and doing fine.
MICHAEL GORMAN (Bobby-B'way) e-mailed to say he's busy with MATTRESS and CHICAGO. He said his dancers are great and have been trained by an ACL member ZETTA SHOOK. Her married name is now Alderman. Michael says she left ACL and settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado, home of Sheila Bryant. She opened a dance school and brought New York teachers, Chet Walker, Bill Hastings and Ben Vereen in to teach the students. All that work paid off because Michael says he has great dancers and 4 of the ladies are 6 foot "and can they dance."
PETER VON MYERHAUSER (PSM -NATIONAL) renewed his marriage vows this month to DAVID JACKSON. They both met on the show MY ONE AND ONLY. ACL members at the party were BETTY LYNN (Maggie-London) and STEVE TERRY (Sound-B'way) an ACL marriage and SANDY DUNCAN and DON CORIEA (Mike-National. It was their 20 year Anniversary. Congratulations to you both.
ROBERT TUNSTALL (Bobby-2001 tour) our New York reporter writes:
Come and meet...
Miss Nadine's feet!
She played Cassie and Val
was in Cats, meow!
Star of 42nd Street!
What a treat! I just witnessed my new favorite Peggy Sawyer, Nadine Issenegger. (Pronounced "I-sing-jur" for you letter lovers.) She was terrific! Her technique was breathtaking to watch. I'm not a big fan of the new and "improved" revival, but she made it quite watchable.
On2da-Dish..
Years ago at an audition I saw someone whose talent just amazed me. I couldn't stop watching him when he danced. I saw him at several more auditions and every time he caught my eye. Years passed and we ended up working together. And now it is my great pleasure to announce the he....TIM FEDERELE, would you please stand, will be making is Broadway Debut in "Gypsy" with Bernadette Peters!
Broadway's Urban Cowboy will be featuring none other than my favorite amusement park buddy Mr. MARK BOVE (Zach, Paper Mill). His stories about Michael Bennett I could listen to all day. Hey, you gotta have something to talk about when you're waiting on line for the super-dooper-looper-pooper-scooper!
ERIC DYSART (Richie, Paper Mill) has been going on quite a bit for the lead role of "Seaweed" in Hairspray. I hear he's fan*kick*tastic!
ERIN MALLOY (Maggie, Niko tour) is back in town....looking THIN and GORGEOUS!
TOME COUSINS (Richie, national) wrote to tell me they got great reviews for A Chorus Line in Allentown. GINA PHILISTINE (Cassie), MAURA WHITE (Shelia) and JAMES WHITTINGTON (Paul) were all stellar!
My New Year started with a bang!
I saw RASEAN HOLLOWLY (Richie, Niko tour) at Mark Shaman's New Year's bash. I shared the elevator up with Jerry Mitchell. He introduced me to his friend and we shook hands. His friend said "your hands are freezing" and I said: "but my heart is warm."(((((Group Hug)))))) The elevator door opened and everyone screamed "JERRY!" so I did Fosse hands behind his head to decorate the moment. Nathan Lane made an appearance looking slim and dapper. Who knew!!! Marissa Jared Winoker and I sat on a couch and laughed about the Toy's R Us fiasco during Broadway on Broadway. The night finished off (as did several glasses of champagne) with Frank Loesser (Greg, Walnut St.) and MICHELLE POTTER of Chicago fame.
ROXANE CARRASCO (Dance Captain, Euro. tour) invited me over to her new abode for a house -warming party. It was truly delightful. Current Chicago star and Moulin Rouge Madame CAROLINE O'CONNOR was vibrantly there. I was tempted to ask her for a Tango (while singing "Roxanne"), but since she died in the film, I thought it better not to.
Well, for you
the dish is thru.
Love and Laughter,
Robert
"An obstacle is what we see when we take our eyes off the goal."
We are getting ready for our third snow storm in New York; the weather is down to 7 degrees and I'm once again in auditions for Superstar for Europe. Time goes by so fast, last year at this time I was in Switzerland having Swiss Fondue and dancing all night. So what else is New? Hope you will continue to write me and give me all the dish at baayorkATachorusline.org Will write you all from the Czech Republic.
in loving spirit,
Baayork
