Intersections at 54 Below!

Posted on December 6, 2013 by patty

Hopefully, you’ve all seen that we’re doing a show at 54 Below in January. But next week, on December 12th at 11:30pm, our friends Sarah Taylor Ellis and Lane Williamson are doing a show! They are super talented composers, and we can’t wait to see their show, Intersections! Here’s what they say about it:

At the intersection of classic musical theater and contemporary classical music, Sarah Taylor Ellis and Lane Williamson’s vernacular art songs cut to the core. Their smart and contemplative music encompasses settings of prose, sonnets, and tumblr posts, and their new chamber musical The Yellow Wallpaper adapts Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s early feminist short story into a haunting theatrical work. Join Ellis and Williamson for the 54 Below debut of a distinctive new songwriting team.

Intersections features Michael Parker Ayers, Christina Benedetto, Sally Eidman, Camden Gonzales, Karen Hayden, Rachel Lee, Travis Leland, Mary Kate Morrissey, Rachel Sussman, David Alan Thornton, Rebecca Tucker, and Max Vernon.

AND, we have a promo code for you! Use EW54BLOG for 20% off the cover charge! So click here for tickets. We’ll see you there!

Macbeth at Lincoln Center

Posted on November 20, 2013 by patty

For a show whose name can’t be spoken within the walls of a theatre, Macbeth seems to be on everyone’s tongue these days. Lincoln Center is mounting a production starring Ethan Hawke, with Jack O’Brien as director. We’ll be seeing it soon, but here’s what Lincoln Center has to say about it:

In a production drenched in black, and glinting with blood red and dazzling white, MACBETH reveals itself to be Shakespeare’s most powerful and darkest nightmare; a terrifying parable for our own time in which we, too, are urged to take more and more chances, whatever the consequences. Shakespeare has the answer: MACBETH is the consequence. We must beware!

And a trailer:

Macbeth will be opening tomorrow, November 21st, and it just so happens we have a discount code we can share with you! It’s only good through tomorrow, so get those tickets fast! Use code MACBLOG89 on www.BroadwayOffers.com or visit this link.

For more info on Lincoln Center, check out their:
Website: http://www.lct.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnCenterTheater
Twitter: @LCTheater

Becoming Dr. Ruth Ticket Giveaway!

Posted on November 8, 2013 by patty

What is more therapeutic than a night at the theatre? A night at the theatre dedicated to “America’s favorite sex therapist!”

BECOMING DR. RUTH tells the story of Karola Ruth Siegel, the girl who became Dr. Ruth – from surviving The Holocaust to joining the Israeli Haganah as a sniper, to receiving her doctorate and becoming America’s favorite sex therapist. It recounts her life with warmth, wisdom and impressible joy. Debra Jo Rupp (best known as Kitty Forman on “That 70’s Show”) stars in this show “The New York Times” calls, “INSPIRING AND HIGHLY ENJOYABLE!”

So now it’s your turn to tell us how therapeutic theatre is. Share your favorite sexy Broadway show tune in the comments for this post and be entered to win two (2) tickets to BECOMING DR. RUTH. A winner will be announced on Monday, November 11th.

And if you don’t win, we have a special offer for you! For $65 Orchestra Seats through January 12, USE CODE: BRFBK66

Three Ways to Order

Online: BroadwayOffers.com

Phone: 212.947.8844

In Person: Present this code at the Westside Theatre Box Office (407 West 43rd Street)

Patty & Emily at A Time to Kill

Posted on November 4, 2013 by patty

If musicals are our favorite form of theatre, ’90s courtroom dramas may be our favorite form of film. Especially if Sandra Bullock is in them. So how excited were we when we found out A Time to Kill was being adapted by Rupert Holmes for the stage?! And even after we found out that we didn’t get to choose the murderer in the end, we still couldn’t wait.

The set was pretty cool, but having most of the action take place in the courtroom seemed to confine the play. Much of the real drama seemed to take place offstage, through sound effects or phone calls. The moment the audience actually saw the danger and urgency of the case, when a giant cross burned on stage, was effective, but a little short.

The actors, however, were fantastic, particularly Sebastian Arcelus and Tonya Pinkins. Though Tonya was only in a few scenes, her presence was powerful and heartbreaking. As Jake Brigance, Sebastian carried the play well. After all, he was the one who was usually reacting to phone calls and offstage sound effects. The play was a lot funnier (which was a little weird, tone-wise) than the movie, and he gave the character a nice wit. Being fans of Sebastian to begin with, we can’t wait to see him leading more shows.

If you’re looking for quick and witty courtroom back-and-forth with drama and some great performances, go see A Time to Kill at the Golden. But if you’re looking for really sweaty actors, rent the movie. For tickets: www.atimetokillonbroadway.com

2nd Annual Shmazie Award Recipients!

Posted on June 13, 2013 by patty

When we sent out the Shmazies, we asked that the recipients send us a photo of their certificate! We’ll be updating this as (hopefully) more arrive!

“Thanks [Patty and Emily] for the Exceptional Sasstress Award in this year’s Shmazies. Love, the best Patrick’s Mother.” – Ann Harada, Exceptional Sasstress

Andrea Martin, Exceptional Featured Actress in a Revival of a Musical

Santino Fontana, Exceptional Leading Actor in a Revival of a Musical

“Thank you both for my Shmazie Awards. It was such fun to open your letter and well, Big Surprise!” – Paul Huntley, Exceptional ‘Stache Prosthetic – Chaplin, Exceptional Male Wig – Scandalous

“Bowing to all of the Shmazie winners this year as I still relish my generous award from last season!!” – Jenn Colella, Exceptional Featured Actress in an Original Musical

Patty & Emily & The Scottish Play

Posted on June 12, 2013 by patty

The night didn’t start out great when Patty forgot and uttered the name of the play we were about to see within the walls of the Barrymore Theatre, though it was clearly posted not to. Thankfully, no horrors befell us or this production of Macbeth.

Being Shakespeare, it’s always good to have an understanding of the show before you see it. Emily was familiar with it, as she played Hecate in 6th Grade(!) AND a witch in high school. Patty didn’t really know the play, except for the vague references you need to get by in conversation. Luckily, the Playbill came with a handy synopsis!

Alan Cumming’s performance was absolutely fantastic. His transitions from character to character were not only clear, but completely transformative. Not technically a one man show, Alan Cumming plays a patient in an insane asylum watched over by two caregivers. No clear motivation is given for why this man is stuck in his own production of Macbeth, though his past is hinted at in props and staging. This concept is actually so intriguing to us, we were a little more interested in learning his story and would love to see that play.

Overall, however, this production is intriguing, powerful, and worth the trip to the Barrymore. And Emily has an idea for what they can do with the set once the show is over: her dream production of Cats set in an insane asylum.

Macbeth plays at the Barrymore Theatre through July 14th. Tickets: www.macbethonbroadway.com

Patty & Emily Shmazie Award Eligibility for the 2012-2013 Theatrical Season

Posted on May 1, 2013 by patty

Patty & Emily are pleased to announce that the 2nd Annual Patty & Emily Shmazie Awards winners and honorable mentions will be revealed on Monday, June 3rd at 10:00am via YouTube.

Beginning in the 2012-2013 season, the Patty & Emily Shmazie Awards will now recognize ‘Exceptional’ work in the theatre and shall retire the use of ‘Best’ to describe winners in any category.

After careful consideration the eligibility committee has come to the following decisions regarding the following awards categories:

For the 2012-2013 season, the following awards will be suspended:

· The Kerry Butler Shmazie Award for Ageless Beauty

· The “Did You Know Her Son Was Blind?” Shmazie Award for Disabled Acting

· Best Ass of an Actor[1]

· Best Ass of an Actress[1]

· Best Concert

· Best Comeback

· Best Backup Vocals

For the 2012-2013 season, due to the overwhelming success of kids on Broadway, the Child Acting categories have been broken down into the follow:

· Exceptional Child Actor in a Musical

· Exceptional Supporting Child Actor in a Musical

· Exceptional Child Actress in a Musical

· Exceptional Supporting Child Actress in a Musical

For the 2012-2013 season, due to the outstanding achievements in wig design, the Exceptional Wig category has been broken down into the following:

· Exceptional Wigs

· Exceptional Male Wig

· Exceptional Female Wig

For the 2012-2013 season, the following awards will be added:

· The ChristianeNollRagtime Shmazie for Exceptional Reinterprative Acting

· Exceptional Quick Changes

· Exceptional Sound Design[2]

· Exceptional Dream Ballet

· Exceptional Revival of a Musical with a New Book by Douglas Carter Beane

[1] Due to the unfortunate abundance of coat tails on both male and female actors, as well as loose fitting dress

[2] We regret that this category was completely forgotten about last season.

Patty & Emily’s Book Club: Staged by Ruby Preston

Posted on March 12, 2013 by patty

Not only do we like seeing Broadway shows, we also like reading books about Broadway! And we just finished reading Staged, the second book in Ruby Preston’s Broadway Trilogy. First of all, we have not read the first book, Showbiz. And while Staged works as a stand-alone book, it actually made us want to go back and read Showbiz. Plus, we’re now looking forward to the third book in the series!

Staged is a fun, quick read with the full-on soapy story Smash can’t decide if it wants to have. It’s full of references that theatre fans will feel smart knowing, plus a fun game of figuring out what the real life parallels are for some of the fictional elements Ruby has created — who could The Stewarts and The Rothsteins, two theatre-owning dynasties, actually be?! Not to mention a best friend character who is basically Roxie Red Tights.

So, if you want to read about the crazy, sexy life of a hot, young Broadway producer (and what we assume is Jennifer Ashley Tepper’s life), then pick up Staged. And while you’re at it, get Showbiz. We plan on reading it, and can’t wait for the final installment!

For more information on where to buy Ruby’s books, head to her website: www.rubypreston.com

Patty & Emily are Women of Will

Posted on February 22, 2013 by patty

A few weeks ago, we attended Tina Packer’s exploration of the women of Shakespeare, “Women of Will.” It was an interesting and challenging night at the theatre. Considering we spend most of our time talking about quick changes and glitter, we really had to stop, listen, and pay attention.

Tina, along with Nigel Gore, examines Shakespeare’s ladies throughout five phases of his writing. She looks at them through the lens of a scholar and also a modern woman. The night we went, it was an overview of all five phases. If you’re really hardcore, she’ll be doing an expanded five-part version in the spring.

And though we haven’t studied Shakespeare since high school, the ideas she discusses are ones we wrestle with in our love of musical theatre. Sometimes it’s hard to reconcile our modern ideas with why Kristin Chenoweth as Fran felt she couldn’t be happy without a man in “Promises, Promises.” Whenever we leave a show that leads to a DISCUSSION, it is never a bad thing. And Tina Packer has created a show that IS a discussion.

So, now we want you to get in on the conversation! We’re giving away two tickets to Women of Will, and this contest is subjective! Tweet to us today (2/23) who your favorite Shakespeare lady is and why with the hashtag #pattyandemilyWoW. We’ll choose a winner from those entries!

If you don’t win, check out www.women-of-will.com for tickets and info!

Emerging: An Evening With Jay Kuo

Posted on February 1, 2013 by patty

Hey Shmazettes! I (Emily) had the great pleasure of attending Jay Kuo’s concert on Monday night at The Lambs Club. The evening was a mix of songs from his catalogue, leading up to several songs from Allegiance. First off, The Lambs Club is suuuuper nice and swanky and has a great old New York atmosphere. I don’t know what their regularly scheduled events are, but I would love to attend something else there. The prices weren’t too bad either: the cover charge was $30 and there was no minimum; the menu was a bit pricy for my taste. Honestly, when I first got there I felt a little underdressed and out of place, but George Takei was there so I knew everyone was welcome!

All the songs we heard were great, and it definitely made me curious to check out Kuo’s other shows. I’ve been following the progression of Allegiance for a while and was very happy to finally hear a few songs live. Lea Salonga sang the shiiiiiit out of the 11:00 number ‘Higher.’

Check out this video of her singing ‘Higher’ during her American Song Book concert at Lincoln Center.

We can’t wait to see Allegiance on Broadway! In the mean time to hold yourself over listen to lots of Lea Salonga and scour YouTube for as much Jay Kuo as you can find. I know I will be!

Also keep up with the show by following Kuo and the show (I can rhyme! I’m going to write musical theatre!) on Twitter!
Jay Kuo @NYCjayjay
Allegiance @AllegianceBway

I’m going to assume you already follow Lea Salonga and George Takei, but if for some crazy reason you’re not….

Lea @MsLeaSalonga
George @GeorgeTakei

Patty & Emily

Comedy and Opinions from Two Broadway Fans!

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