Yesterday I saw a small production (chorus of six) of La Cage aux Folles at the Menier Chocolate Factory, which is where the forthcoming NY Sunday in the Park came from. Obviously I'd rather chocolate factories continued with their divinely ordained purpose but if they can't, a venue for gay musicals is a good second-best. Douglas Hodge wouldn't be a director's first thought when casting a drag queen but having someone who isn't know for campness made it all the funnier.

The Color Purple is closing. Can't say I had any desire to see it. Rumor has it that the upcoming Shrek workshop is looking to move into the Broadway Theater in the fall.

Jim Robinson from Neighbours Alan Dale to be new King Arthur in London Spamalot

I have a dilemma, if can help me out: I have a gift certificate to Barnes and Nobles, and usually I would just get two shiny books, but I kinda want the 2005 Revival of Sweeney Todd CD, because it comes with a huge booklet apparently. But that would take up my whole certificate, so my question is does anyone actually own the CD, and if you do, what's in the booklet? Just the libretto or anything else? Thanks in advance.

The libretto, a synopsis, and a couple of brief but interesting essays on the design and staging of the show. Not very many pictures, though. I thought there'd be more, since they had a ton in the booklet for Company.

It cost me twenty bucks, but I bought it at Borders. It might cost more at Barnes & Noble.

Thanks! Hmm. It's 24 bucks at Barnes and Nobles. I have a discount card, but I don't know if I'd be able to use that with a gift certificate.

What I would have given to see that. That's such a good song for Barney too . . .

Info from here.

I know! I was reading about that earlier and I wish like hell I'd gotten to see it. The best part that I read was that "Kiss, pookie!" was replaced with "Kiss, Doogie!"

I will go to see Sunday in the Park with George next week and South Pacific in March! I'm really looking forward to both of those shows, since they've been favorites for so long.

By the way, the recent revival of Company will be aired on PBS on February 20th at 9PM.

That sounds legen..........dary.

Ooh, South Pacific stars Matthew Morrison, whose like, incredibly hot. Seriously I spent all of Light in the Piazza going...damn.

Both those shows sound great though.

woo, you can watch some of Neil Patrick Harris (and the other acts) sing here.

I saw Sunday In the Park With George this afternoon and it was incredible! Easily one of my most favorite scores to begin with, but this was just beyond gorgeous. I was absolutely in love with it. Since I went alone, of course I stagedoored and I got to meet a large portion of the cast, who all signed my libretto (which is also signed by Sondheim himself, since they were selling them in the lobby).

Soooooo awesome!

I've never heard Sunday in the Park With George, but I went there to see Cabaret, and I think it's such a cool-looking theater. (I plan to listen to it one day, but I have a feeling it's not the most accessible of his shows.)

I would disagree with that - I remember finding it pretty tuneful on the first listen though it does help if you listen with the programme notes so you know what's going on. But then I do tend to find most Sondheim very tuneful so maybe I'm not unbiassed. It has some of his most beautiful tunes. This production is unmissable because of the really cool technology even if you're not big on Sondheim or post-Impressionism.

The rumour is that the theatre which originated this production might be doing Little Night Music with Emma Thompson for their next show. Which would be beyond cool.

Oh, ulkis, do give this one a chance! The score is so gorgeous and shimmering that it's one of those things that I have to listen to every now and then to center myself. At the stage door, a few of the theater students in front of me were talking to Brynn O'Malley, who plays one of the Celestes in the show, about how watching the DVD of the original production was a meditative experience, which is really one of the best ways I've heard it described. I discovered the show when I was in college and I have loved it deeply since then, so I recommend it to everyone. Keep in mind that Seurat was a pointillist painter, so the patter-style songs make sense in that they mirror his brush strokes.

This production is just not to be missed for the stunning visuals, if nothing else. I've never seen them use light and projection in such a way in a theater before, so it's quite ground breaking.