The Maven Report » plays

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Premiere

The Maven — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:31:25 +0000

Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard made his Broadway debut as Brick in the theatrical revival of the play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

Director Debbie Allen assembled a stellar cast for this revival, the first African-American production approved by Tennessee Williams’ estate for the Broadway stage. Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard played Brick, the alcoholic son of Big Daddy (James Earl Jones) and Big Mama(Phylicia Rashad) and unhappy husband of “Maggie the Cat” (Anika Noni Rose).

Considered alongside The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire as one of Tennessee Williams’ finest works, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play, premiered on Broadway in 1955. Set in a plantation house in Mississippi, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is the story of the rivalries and misunderstandings that tear apart a family as it gathers for the 65th birthday of its patriarch, Big Daddy.

Mya goes to Broadway in Chicago

The Maven — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:22:31 +0000

Mýa is heading to the Broadway stage. She will be join the the cast of Chicago on May 12 until July 13 at the Ambassador Theatre. She will begin performances as murderess Velma Kelly.Mýa’s association with Chicago dates back to 2003 when she played Mona in the film adaptation of “Chicago” directed by Rob Marshall.

Chicago won a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997.

I guess when your music career isn’t doing to well, you can always go to Broadway.

For more information, visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com.

Fantasia Has Been Missing the Color Purple

The Maven — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:55:34 +0000

Oprah’s gonna be pissed when she finds out that Fantasia’s been missing shows. Since Fantasia began appearing in the Winfrey-produced Color Purple on Broadway seven months ago, the American Idol winner has missed an unheard of 50 performances. Fifty!!

That is extremely unprofessional and hurting the box office for the show.

On Broadway, when the star of a show – above the title billing – is out, you can either exchange your tickets for another day or get a refund.

Due to her many many many absences, producers have had to give back tens of thousands of dollars.

Sources say Fantasia’s out a lot because she didn’t realize how much of herself she would have to invest to keep up with broadway’s schedule. She should have requested not to do any matinees when she was negotiating her contract. Broadway shows run eight times a week.

What’s even worse is that not only are Fantasia’s absences costing the show a lot of money and extremely unprofessional, but she’s disappointed thousands of fans. Many church groups and tourists travel in mass via busses from as far away as Alabama to see the show.