August in Manhattan got off to a great start with the first in a series of special evenings at Dillon’s, featuring Barbara and Scott Siegel’s picks of their favorite cabaret CDs. The two discs celebrated on August 3 were Amanda Green’s Put a Little Love in Your Mouth and Steven Lutvak’s The Time It Takes. Here’s Green in action…
…and here’s Lutvak performing one of his most delightful songs, “Bagelmakers to the Tsar.”
Also on hand at Dillon’s was Julia Murney, who lent her great voice to Amanda Green’s section of the program. The next Siegels CD Picks event, to be held at Dillon’s on September 7, will feature Scott Coulter and the group Modern Man.
On Sunday, August 10, the original Broadway cast album of Avenue Q was recorded at Right Track Studios. Although the show’s puppets were late to the sessions, their human co-stars were right on time. While waiting, they posed for this photo. Back row: Natalie Venetia Belcon, Jordan Gelber, John Tartaglia, Jennifer Barnhart, and Rick Lyon. Front row: Ann Harada and Stephanie D’Abruzzo.
Of course, some things went awry during the sessions, as when Nicky had a bit of trouble with his “cans.”
Later, Kate Monster and Bill Rosenfield — executive producer of the album — had some creative differences, but everything worked out in the end. The Victor CD is due out on October 7.
Avenue Q is the new musical hit in town, so it’s not surprising that celebs have been turning up at the Golden Theatre to see it. Oscar-winner Hilary Swank and hubby Chad Lowe visited backstage after attending the show on Tuesday, August 19….
…as did Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of South Park.
TheaterMania proudly presents some photo and video highlights of Berg/Off-B’way, a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit held at the Lamb’s Theatre on Monday, August 11, featuring the music of Neil Berg (The Prince and the Pauper). Here’s the man of the evening, Berg (right), with the show’s host, Rob Evan…
…and here’s Capathia Jenkins, who gave a stirring rendition of “Rain” from The Prince and the Pauper, currently playing at the Lamb’s.
Later, Rob Evan (right) duetted with Brian d’Arcy James on a Berg song titled “Up There”…
…and Jeri Sager capped the first half of the program with her dynamic performance of “End of the World” from False Prophets.
Here’s a special TheaterMania video clip from the second act of the Berg show: Peter Palmer, star of the original Broadway production of Li’l Abner, proving that he’s “Still in the Game.”
We end this feature with photos of two separate events held this week to celebrate the new cast album of the fourth Broadway production of Gypsy. On Monday, August 18, star Bernadette Peters was on hand for a listening party at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse…
…and, the following day, co-star John Dossett joined Peters and other cast members for a CD signing at FYE on West 51st Street.
