Footnotes: A Fan’s Dedication to Judy & Liza Lives On

When Scott Schechter – the author and producer of several important books and CD’s involving Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli* -- died suddenly of a heart attack in May of last year, he left behind a choice collection of Garland and Minnelli memorabilia which, thanks to the persistence of his friends, has been acquired by the New York Public Library’s Performing Arts collection at Lincoln Center.

Once the material is processed and cataloged, it will be made available for public viewing, but there was an intimate event a couple of weeks ago at the Library announcing the acquisition.

Minnelli’s PR rep, Scott Gorenstein, spoke movingly of Schechter and his astonishment at first seeing the immense scope of Schechter’s collection when he finally made it to Schechter’s home in Asbury Park, later persuading the library that this was a collection worth acquiring.

Two display cases – one of Garland memorabilia, another of Minnelli treasures – provided a tantalizing glimpse of items that will eventually be available to researchers.

*the CDs “Liza Minnelli: The Complete Capitol Collection,” “Classic Judy Garland: The Capitol Years 1955-1965,” “The Judy Garland Show: The Show That Got Away” and “Liza Minnelli: Ultimate Collection,” and the comprehensive book on Minnelli's career, “The Liza Minnelli Scrapbook.”

Footnotes: Irish Revels in the Scottish Highlands?

The Scottish setting may, in theory, have seemed a bit off the mark for the Irish Repertory Theatre, but not for long.

As the centerpiece of their annual gala, the enterprising company took over the Shubert Theatre for an abridged concert reading of Lerner & Loewe’s 1947 classic, set in a magical town of the Scottish Highlands. Cuts notwithstanding, they gave a most moving performance under the guidance of Artistic Director Charlotte Moore.

With any luck, this may foretell an actual mounting, much as the company's 2003 “Finian’s Rainbow” benefit gala presentation lead to a full production at their 22nd Street home the following year.

If that should happen, let’s hope they get Melissa Errico and Jason Danieley to reprise their roles as, respectively, Fiona and Tommy, the American wanderer who falls for her. They were just ideal, “The Heather on the Hill” and “Almost Like Bein’ in Love” sounding especially sublime.

There was a classy supporting cast including Christine Ebersole as man-hungry Meg Brockie, Len Cariou as old Lundie who tells Jeff and his companion Jeff (an amusingly sardonic Don Stephenson) the legend of Brigadoon and how it comes back for one day every 100 years.

A nice-sized orchestra conducted by Mark Hartman and chorus of 50 backed up the leads. A kilted Ciarán O’Reilly, the company’s producing director, provided the sensible narration from the sidelines. Matthew Broderick and Jonathan Cake engaged in some amusing Irish versus English banter as a curtain raiser.

In Moore’s adaptation (less than 90 minutes), Meg lost her companion comic number “The Love of My Life” and there was no “From This Day On,” but what remained was lovely.

Sebastian Barry’s “White Woman Street” is the company’s current production through June 27, after which, the late Frank McCourt’s amusing revue “The Irish…and how they got that way” opens on July 14.

Footnotes: Theatre World Awards (June 8, 2010)

The ceremony that “Theatre World” founder John Willis began 66 years ago continues to be among the very nicest of all the seasonal awards. Each year, 12 newcomers to the New York stage – veteran performers though they may be in other cities or media – are honored for auspicious Big Apple debuts.

At New Stages yesterday, Peter Filichia proved again a funny, incredibly well-informed host, and highlights were many. The presenters – usually past winners themselves, and sometimes connected to the honoree, sometimes not – make speeches as heartfelt and moving as the recipient.

Thus, Michael Cristofer waxed ecstatic about Scarlett Johansson’s coming of age as a stage actress during rehearsals for “A View from the Bridge,” readjusting her already-fine if intimate portrayal to Broadway scale. Michael McKean, the afternoon’s most amusing presenter, praised co-star Jon Michael Hill from their short-lived but excellent “Superior Donuts.” Alfred Molina spoke of how much he learned from co-star Eddie Redmayne who threw back the compliment in his acceptance speech. Kate Burton, currently in rehearsal for A. R. Gurney’s “The Grand Manner,” rhapsodized over co-star Bobby Steggert who won the special Dorothy Loudon Starbaby award for both “Yank!” and “Ragtime.” Vanessa Williams, who’s been a mentor to Michael Urie on their series “Ugly Betty,” spoke of his special qualities. And on it went.

The speeches of both presenters and honorees are a vivid reminder of why we love the theater so much, and this particular award, which generally comes so early in an actor’s career, is all the more meaningful.

Among the standout musical performers, which included John Tartaglia and Loretta Ables Sayre, and all deftly accompanied by Alex Rybeck, were Alli Mauzey who reprised her very funny “Screw Loose” from the short-lived “Cry-Baby” and Jonathan Groff who delivered a show-stopping “Only in New York,” Sheryl Lee Ralph’s nightclub number from “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

“My favorite song from ‘Spring Awakening,’” quipped Filichia as he returned to the stage after the latter, a far cry from the tunes of Duncan Sheik.

The presentation was briskly directed by Barry Keating.

Nina Arianda (Venus in Fur) – presented by Tovah Feldshuh
Chris Chalk (Fences) – presented by Viola Davis
Bill Heck (The Orphans' Home Cycle) – presented by Michael Cerveris
Jon Michael Hill (Superior Donuts) – presented by Michael McKean
Scarlett Johansson (A View from the Bridge) – presented by Michael Cristofer
Keira Keeley (The Glass Menagerie) – presented by Condola Rashad
Sahr Ngaujah (Fela!) – presented by Kate Burton (in turn introduced by Lionel Larner)
Eddie Redmayne (Red) – presented by Alfred Molina
Andrea Riseborough (The Pride) – presented by Robert LuPone
Heidi Schreck (Circle Mirror Transformation) – presented by her mother
Stephanie Umoh (Ragtime) – presented by Brian Stokes Mitchell
Michael Urie (The Temperamentals) – presented by Vanessa Williams

More on the Theatre World Awards can be found here:
http://www.theatreworldawards.org/about.html

-- Harry Forbes