With Les Moonves Gone, the Tonys Can Have an Exit Strategy from CBS

Years ago, then CEO of CBS Les Moonves told NY Post’s Michael Riedel that as long as he’s at CBS, so will the Tony Awards. This quote came at a time when the ratings were in the basement compared to other award shows. However, a statement like that from the guy who ran the network was certainly a sigh of relief.

But now Moonves is gone due to the many accusations of sexual misconduct. Which means that the Tony Awards’ biggest network champion is gone. And the ratings are still in the proverbial toilet.

So what does this mean for the future of the Tonys on CBS?

Broadway, New York, ObservationsChristopher PetersonSeptember 17, 2018Chris Peterson, Tony Awards

The Issue Over Dimming Lights for Marin Mazzie is Why We Need to Stop Dimming Lights

Following the tragic passing of Marin Mazzie; it’s been announced that the “committee” at the Broadway League has decided to have only six theatres dim their lights in her honor.

Besides the fact that they announced the news in an incredibly cold press release, starting it off with the phrase “The Committee of Theatre Owners has decided to dim the lights” is the type of Broadway pretentiousness that makes my stomach turn.

Broadway, New YorkChristopher PetersonSeptember 15, 2018Chris Peterson, Marin Mazzie

How Does the Broadway Transfer of "Be More Chill" Impact This Year's Tonys Race?

Just like many of its devoted fans, I had my hopes that if this summer's Off-Broadway run of Be More Chill was successful, we could be seeing a Broadway transfer sooner than later.

Yesterday, our hopes were answered. Be More Chill opens on Broadway in March 2019.

The Off-Broadway run which was met with positive reviews should be able to carry that momentum into their Broadway run. I don't expect them to change much between the productions. Which means that Be More Chill would definitely have to be considered a strong contender for this year's Tony Awards (Take a breath BMC fans), especially when you consider how the rest of the season looks on paper.

BroadwayChristopher PetersonSeptember 6, 2018Chris Peterson

Can We Not Take Pleasure in Shows Closing?

So while every show may not be our cup of tea, let's not display celebration at its demise. We don't have to mourn every show's closing, but we certainly don't have to stomp on its metaphorical grave.

Broadway, ObservationsChristopher PetersonSeptember 2, 2018Chris Peterson

Shows I'd Love to See Gender-Swapped

Recently Newsies announced that its rights are open for community theaters to perform. What made this announcement even more special was the knowledge that part of the Newsies ensemble could include females. (Someone needs to give me a couple years to have my baby and get back into tapping shape so I can be in that ensemble but I digress.)

In the community theater world, there’s always talk of gender swapping within shows and roles. This is the first major production I’ve heard of which explicitly allows for the inclusion of females into what has been traditionally a male ensemble. I want to look at some other shows and roles that might benefit from a male to female gender swap. Granted this is just a wishlist, knowing that doing anything like this would require permission first.

Observations, Community Theatre, BroadwayChristopher PetersonAugust 28, 2018Liz Chirico

Unauthorized Production of "Coco: The Musical" Means Schools Still Don't Understand Copyright or Don't Care

Recently, it was brought to OnStage Blog's attention that, yet again, a foreign school has performed unauthorized material. This seems to be a common occurrence as in the past year we've seen schools perform productions of Hamilton, The Book of Mormon and Bombshell with music from the TV show Smash all without having obtained permission.

What makes these occurrences even worse is that they are often supervised by teachers or adults who should know better. When this happens, they are failing their students and putting their schools at risk of ever obtaining permission for future productions.

The latest example comes from the Polytechnic University of The Philippines(PUP) where their theatre organization, the Molave Theatre Guild, just wrapped production on their musical adaptation of the Pixar film, Coco. Here are some of their promotional materials of the show.

Broadway, ObservationsChristopher PetersonAugust 28, 2018copyright infringement, Chris Peterson

Broadway Performers are Amazing People to Meet, As Long As You're Not a Jerk

I can name on one hand the amount of Broadway personalities that feel they belong on the pedestal fans put them on. Because most don't, that's what makes their interactions with their fans so genuine. So it's on the fans to understand and appreciate that(which most do) and not to be jerks.

Observations, BroadwayChristopher PetersonAugust 18, 2018Chris Peterson

NY Times Critic Uses Trans Pronouns as Punchline in "Head Over Heels" Review

Never one to shy away from causing a stir, New York Times Chief Theatre Critic, Ben Brantly, has crossed a line with many due to his review of Head Over Heels which opened at the Hudson Theatre last night.

"To the Lady on My Right" : Appreciating Understudies & Standbys

For those who don't know, understudies and standbys are the individuals who know the roles of other actors in the event that that actor cannot make the performance. While there are some notable differences between the two titles, their mission is to seamlessly step in to the character’s shoes so that the show may go on at the caliber it would have should the originally cast individual be the one on stage. They must quickly establish chemistry with their scene partners, and this task alone is no easy feat.

These individuals are rock stars and deserve more credit than the disgust they are often met with upon their tiny flyer at the front of the playbill. Whether it's Ohio State University alumnus Sifiso Mazibuko (a standby at Hamilton: An American Musical in London), or a high school understudy for Rizzo in Grease, these people have to know their scripts, learn countless vocal parts, and master quick changes, so it’s a privilege to have their energy on stage for your performance.

Broadway, ObservationsChristopher PetersonJuly 20, 2018Cassie Smith

Should We Be Boycotting Broadway's "Chicago"?

Over the past couple of weeks, more and more information has been coming out about the alleged treatment of Chicago cast member Jeffrey Loeffelholz which, according to people close to him, caused him to commit suicide last month.

As more details are released and other former cast members are coming forward with their own experiences of bullying at the hands of Chicago leadership, the anger towards the producers and creative team is only getting more heated.

Now, with the addition of a reported legal battle between lawyers, some are saying enough is enough and are encouraging a boycott of the show.

BroadwayChristopher PetersonJuly 18, 2018Chris Peterson, Jeff Loeffelholz, Chicago

A German Theatre Did A Lot More Than Just Whitewash "West Side Story"

Behold. This is West Side Story in Germany last February. I swear.

The show was produced by the theatre, Staatstheater Kassel. Not only did they cast Caucasian actors in many of the Puerto Rican roles, but according to press materials they also flew in a dialect coach to teach them Puerto Rican accents.

BroadwayChristopher PetersonJuly 17, 2018Chris Peterson, West Side Story

How "Bandstand" Comforts Those Who Feel Like They're a Burden

Last month, I saw the movie release of the musical Bandstand. Thank God for cinema releases (seriously industry people keep them coming!) because this show resonated with me in a way few have and in ways I wasn’t expecting.

At first glance this looks like another post-World War II story; boys returning home from war, picking up where they left off, finding love, etc. That’s not this show at all. It’s a real, gritty, perfectly imperfect look at what happens when men and women have seen and dealt with horrific circumstances, and how each individual deals with those demons. This is the first time I’ve seen a show that so accurately portrays the horrors of war and what it must truly have been like for the majority of soldiers returning. This is the first time a show with such a seemingly unrelated topic resonated so much with my life.

BroadwayChristopher PetersonJuly 16, 2018Liz Chirico

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