Results tagged “Broadway” from Access Hollywood

In the 13 x 525,600 minutes since "Rent" first premiered on Broadway, the economy has gone from middling, to wealthy, to so-so, to pretty great again, to absolutely horrific. And, of course, we still don't have a cure for HIV & AIDS.
 
Although "Rent" played its final performance on Broadway last spring (it was the seventh longest-running show in Broadway history), never before have this musical and its themes of love and compassion felt so fresh and relevant as they do right now.

Set in NYC's East Village in the early 90's, "Rent" is a modern take on Puccini's opera, "La Boheme." It tells the story of a young group of artists and friends struggling for their identity and purposes in the world, while navigating the plague of HIV& AIDS.
 
Back in Los Angeles at the Pantages Theatre for an almost two-week run, the latest national tour features three standout performers from Jonathan Larson's original New York production; leads Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, who also starred in the 2005 movie, and solo vocalist Gwen Stewart (aka - the one who hits the BIG notes on "Seasons of Love").
 
Revisiting the show for the first time since the aforementioned big screen production directed by Chris Columbus, I remembered again why this is my favorite musical of all-time. It redefined the definition of the genre, it was the soundtrack to my 20's, and it has more heart than just about any musical that's come since (although, some have come close... see "In The Heights," and "Avenue Q").

By Jeremy Blacklow, Managing Editor

Forget about the Emmy Awards – Zzzzzzz.... the most exciting part of my weekend was the opening night of Dolly Parton's new stage production of "9 to 5: The Musical" at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles.

(left to right -- book author Patricia Resnick, Dabney Coleman, Allison Janney, Lily Tomlin, Megan Hilty, Parton, Jane Fonda, Stephanie J. Block & Marc Kudisch) -- click on photo to view full size!)

Based on the hit 1980 movie about women in the workplace taking revenge on their chauvinist boss, the show is pure Dolly at her best.

And on Saturday night, I was reminded what it meant to be a part of a legendary night at the theater – something that's very rare for a former theater-spoiled New Yorker, transplanted to LA.

On hand that night – none other than original film stars Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman. They were present to root on the respective talents taking on their iconic roles for the stage – Megan Hilty, Stephanie J. Block, Allison Janney and Marc Kudisch.

It was reported that the show had been having technical problems – and well, opening night was no exception – as the complicated set pieces (which operate by computer) didn’t quite operate exactly as planned during the first Act.

So, as spontaneously as she had done a week earlier during the first previews, Dolly hopped out of her seat and treated the entire audience to an impromptu performance. This time she even tried to coax Jane and Lily to join her (although they chose to stay seated). She then led the crowd in a sing-a-long version of "9 to 5," and was ready to launch into "I Will Always Love You," when the set problems were solved, and the show went on.

And this, folks, is why I LOVE live theater – you never know what you're gonna get, and sometimes, you experience something so special, it's practically cathartic. Dolly put everyone in the house Saturday night in a good mood – you'd have to have been Scrooge, not to have been smiling.