NPH To Host Tonys

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

I've never been a fan of the folks they usually get to host the Tony Awards.  I'm not a huge Jackman fan (being a striaght guy) — he did it for several years in the 2000's.  Sometimes the ceremony goes host-less, which is kind of bland.  Whoopi was okay last year, but didn't bowl me over.  Nathan Lane and Matthew … Read More

Big Media Me

Ken AshfordLocal Interest, Personal, TheatreLeave a Comment

Interview/promo on Fox 8 went well this morning, I thought.  I'll try to have a viideo (or link) up soon.  I'm not sure if Fox 8 will put up the clip.  Their website seems obsessed with the strawberry pie segment of the Morning Show which immediately preceded us.

And The Nominees Are….

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

These are the Tony nominations announced this morning, with my very tentative picks.  The 2009 Tony Awards will be held at Radio City Music Hall June 7. CBS-TV will broadcast the event live. Best Play Dividing the EstateAuthor: Horton FooteProducers: Lincoln Center Theater, Bernard Gersten, Andre Bishop, Primary StagesGod of CarnageAuthor: Yasmina RezaProducers: Robert Fox, David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers, … Read More

Drama Desk Nominees

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

I'm going to be in NY when these are given out.  Maybe I'll try to get tix.  9 To 5 got the most nominations (15), including an "Outstanding Actress" nomination for all three women. Nominees for the 54th Annual Drama Desk Awards follow: Outstanding Play:Annie Baker, Body AwarenessGina Gionfriddo, Becky ShawNeil LaBute, reasons to be pretty Lynn Nottage, RuinedMichael Weller, Fifty … Read More

Preview of The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Ken AshfordTheatre1 Comment

This is a show I will be performing in August.  I thought I would create a scene using computer animation and computer voices. In this scene, Norbert, who is fed up with agorophobic wife, meets Pippi at Pippi's workplace: a strip bar. UPDATE:  Yeah, Norbert looks like George Bush.  And he's drinking a martini.  I was somewhat limited in my … Read More

Good For Steve

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

Banned high school theatrical productions are in the news a lot lately, and sadly, school administrations seem to win more often than not. Not this time though: Concerns over adult content in Steve Martin's play Picasso at the Lapin Agile has prompted an Oregon high school superintendent to shut a student production down. Writer-comedian Martin has stepped in and said … Read More

Bush Reference In “For Now” Remains (For Now)

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

Playbill: Despite a contest to find a new lyric for Avenue Q's closing song, "For Now," the creators of the Tony-winning musical have decided to keep the George Bush reference in the show. The lyric, which originally stated, "George Bush is only for now" has been slightly revised to "George Bush was only for now," according to The New York … Read More

They’re Not Going To Pla–ay–ay This Year’s “Rent”

Ken AshfordSex/Morality/Family Values, TheatreLeave a Comment

The principal at a high school in California said "no" and shut down the drama club's production of Rent.  Mind you, this was the "school edition" of Rent, a cleaned-up version created by the show's producers with Jonathan Larson's estate.  Rent: School Edition cuts some of the harsher language and takes out "Contact" (the orgiistic sex number), but that wasn't good enough for … Read More

Broadway Bound?

Ken AshfordPersonal, Theatre1 Comment

Who would have thunk it? I might be making my Broadway debut in May. No kidding. I workshopped a show at Open Space Theatre last year — an original play called "The Nebula of Georgia".  And now it's going to be staged (with the original cast, as best as possible) at the Manhattan Repertory Theatre on May 20, 21, 22. Okay, … Read More