Latest news with #Broadway


The Star
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Actor calls out Madonna for using iPad during Broadway musical 'Hamilton'
In 2013, Madonna was caught furiously texting during the New York Film Festival premiere of '12 Years A Slave'. Photo: TNS Former Hamilton star Anthony Ramos is calling out Madonna for being on her iPad the entire time she was in the audience of the Tony-winning Broadway hit. While appearing on Watch What Happens Live this week, the Brooklynite, 33, exposed the Queen of Pop's lack of etiquette after Andy Cohen asked him to identify 'the most terrifying celebrity' he'd seen in the crowd during his run in Hamilton . 'The most terrifying was Madonna with an iPad in her face … the whole time,' recalled Ramos, who originated the roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton. 'I was like, damn, shorty, if you're not enjoying it that much, you know the door's right there. You ain't gotta stay here.' In 2015, Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda — who also originated the role of the titular Founding Father — wrote in a since-deleted tweet that 'tonight was the first time I asked stage management NOT to allow a celebrity (who was texting all through Act 2) backstage,' according to A source told the outlet at the time that Madge not only arrived late to the show, but used her phone multiple times during both acts. The Hamilton incident came about a year-and-a-half after Madonna was caught furiously texting during the New York Film Festival premiere of 12 Years A Slave in 2013. In the wake of that incident, the Alamo Drafthouse cinema chain said she was banned from their theatres until she issued an apology to moviegoers. However, Madonna might have mended her ways in the intervening years, having famously enacted a cellphone ban during her 2019 Madame X Tour. 'People loved it and appreciated it,' a promoter told London paper The Times . 'They could just enjoy the show and interact with each other with nothing obstructing the view.' A tour insider at the time also said Madonna was hoping to engender some 'intimacy' by playing smaller venues for screen-free crowds. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service

Hypebeast
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Bode SS26 Is a Poetic Tribute to a Musical Legacy
Summary Bodehas revealed itsSpring 2026collection duringParis Fashion Weekin an intimate gathering at the theatre. This collection was created as a tribute to the great American composer Morris 'Moose' Charlap. As guests entered the theatre, they were struck with a unique show format that saw the entirety of the upcoming collection shown on miniature puppets. The dolls, wearing Bode's newest collection, were seen in two lines as audiences are able to get up close and personal to view the details of the collection. 'Moose' Charlap was best known for his score to Broadway'sPeter Panand while he died at a young age of 45, his legacy lives on in his scores and his family, including his son Bill Charlap, who is a two-time Grammy nominated musician and one of the most premier jazz pianists of his generations. Emily Adams Bode Aujla brought guests together to share some of Moose's most iconic works. Taking a moment to address the group, Bode Aujla spoke to the crowd ahead of a performance by Bill Charlap in honor of his father. The designer recalled the moment she was mesmerized by Moose'sPeter Panscore and moment when Bill and her sat in her Conneticut home recounting memories of 'Moose.' The theater had four mini modules that depicted the four most important stages of Moose's life. One was set in Central Park, a place he spent a lot of his time before and after Broadway shows with his wife and another at his boyhood camp, where he received the nickname 'Moose.' Unlike a typical Paris Fashion Week show, Emily Adams Bode Aujla present the collection by sharing her inspiration. Billy performed three songs in honor of his father, explaining to the crowd the meaning behind 'Some Summer Day' fromAlice Through the Looking Glass, 'I Won't Grow Up' fromPeter Panand 'Please Let Me Die in Paris' fromThe Expressionist. The collection has been titled 'The Expressionist' after Moose's last, unfinished musical written with lyricist Eddie Lawrence, the designer describes the collection as a visual songbook of a life in music. Bode brings to life Moose Charlap's vibrant world informed by music, giving it a visual representation in the form of fashion.


Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Warning: campy '80s romp could induce headbanging
Rock on! Rainbow Stage took Thursday's opening night audience on a blast to the past as it launched its 71st season with the mullet-curling professional Manitoba première of Broadway hit Rock of Ages. The Tony Award-nominated jukebox musical offers a string of 1980s rock anthems immortalized by bands such as Foreigner, Whitesnake, Poison, Twisted Sister and Styx, while its broad-strokes narrative tells the tale of lead characters Drew and Sherrie, who fall in love while chasing their dreams on Hollywood's legendary Sunset Strip. It became the basis for the 2012 film starring Tom Cruise and Mary J. Blige, which took creative licence in adapting the show's original book, penned by Chris D'Arienzoi. Nathaniel Muir (centre left) and Jeff Rivet (centre right) rock out with members of the energetic ensemble. In many ways, the stage version is much funnier and often downright campy, boasting several meta-layers in which narrator Lonny breaks the fourth wall to take jabs at the fantastical nature of Broadway musicals. Director Alexandra Herzog, who also helmed last year's Mary Poppins, wisely plays up these moments with her gung-ho cast. Their iron-clad conviction includes wearing costume designer Daina Leitold's eye-popping period spandex and Laura Warren's shoulder-grazing wigs while punching out choreographer Josh Assor's angular movement vocabulary peppered with more fluid body isolations. Tiered sets by Ksenia Broad-Milian evoke the gritty Bourbon Room bar and Act II's palm tree-flanked Venus strip club. Scott Henderson's effective lighting adds further colour, highlighting key moments throughout the nearly three-hour (including intermission) production. Every theatre impresario dreams of mounting a showstopper, and in this case, the performance actually did halt for a nerve-racking six minutes during the opening medley of Cum on Feel the Noize/Just Like Paradise/Nothin' But a Good Time, owing to technical issues. A tight onstage rock band led by music director/conductor/keyboardist Paul Rodermond features bewigged players appearing as Arsenal, whose members freely flip the bird to their lead singer Stacee Jaxx (Reid McTavish) in the outro of his career. The actor's portrayal of this juicy role might have been more satisfying if any backstory were provided (one of the skeletal script's many gaping holes), but he nonetheless slithers around the stage like a panther in skin-tight leggings and wails during We Built this City/Too Much Time, after first bursting into the action from the house, mobbed by groupies. Rainbow's latest offering admittedly won't be everyone's cup of tea. There's some profanity, a lot of bump 'n' grind, and the copious pelvic thrusts risk becoming gratuitous. The show certainly warrants a 'mature content' warning for the younger audience members who eagerly lapped up Mary Poppins last year and will surely throng to Disney's Frozen next month. Having said this, kudos to a trio of ensemble members, who morph into waitresses/strippers at the Venus club, for their fearlessly athletic pole dance at the top of Act II, hanging upside down like bats out of hell and enthralling the mixed-age crowd. Tiera Lee Watts marks a terrific Rainbow debut as fresh-faced Sherrie from Oklahoma, effectively navigating her emotional trajectory from Midwest innocent dead-set on breaking into showbiz with her own acting career to disillusioned dreamer headed back home. She also boasts powerhouse vocals, first heard in Sister Christian, and weaves her compelling voice into many of the show's medleys and duets, including More than Words, High Enough, and Harden My Heart/Shadows of the Night. Jeff Rivet is a standout as Lonny. Nathaniel Muir is rock-solid as Drew, proving he has a balladeer's heart with his more soulful hits such as Heaven, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, and belting out others for all he's worth, including the rafter-raising I Want to Rock and Waiting for a Girl like You. In fact, more of these ballads, such as Act II's gorgeous rendition of Every Rose Has its Thorn performed by the entire company, would provide welcome contrast in the playlist; one rock tune zipping to the next often feels exhausting. Two of the night's strongest performances belong to Daniel Bogart as Dennis Dupree and his loose cannon 'soundman' sidekick Lonny, a charismatic Jeff Rivet; their spot-on portrayals hew uncomfortably close to the gold-chained rockers still lurking among us. Weekday Evenings Today's must-read stories and a roundup of the day's headlines, delivered every evening. Another shout-out goes to Rochelle Kives as 'Mother' (doubling as Justice), a.k.a. Mama, who offers life advice to Sherrie while egging her on to lap dance for Stacee in the Venus's Champagne Room. A Rainbow Stage fan favourite, Kevin Klassen returns as menacing building developer, Hertz Klinemann, with his son, Jean van der Merwe's Franz, spitting out their plans to demolish the Bourbon in German accents. This sets up Act II's showdown with Victoria Exconde's feisty city planner Regina, who leads the charge — with the audience warbling along — during We're Not Gonna Take It. Rock of Ages is not exactly a heavy dramatic slog, promising Nothin' But a Good Time as it appeals to those still pining for the glory days of yesteryear. However, buried — deeply — in the cracks is the timeless message that, whether Dead or Alive, it's never too late to rock out and believe in dreams that can morph like a lava lamp into new, often jolting visions for the future.


San Francisco Chronicle
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Sapphira Cristál to host San Francisco Opera Pride Concert
Calling all opera queens: San Francisco Opera is hosting its first ever Pride Concert. The celebration features the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Eun Sun Kim and Robert Mollicone, with soloists mezzo-sopranos Jamie Barton and Nikola Printz and baritone Brian Mulligan. Hosted by Sapphira Cristál, the immersive setting will utilize animations by Tal Rosner, historic images from past Pride celebrations and milestones projected onto the walls of the auditorium, plus a post-show dance party. The 80-minute musical program will include selections from queer opera composers Leonard Bernstein, Jake Heggie, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Camille Saint-Saëns; as well as gay cultural classics from the film 'A Star is Born' (1954) and Jerry Herman's Broadway hits 'Mame' and 'La Cage aux Folles.' Other queer artists to be covered include Freddie Mercury, the Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge. Activations and exhibitions will occur throughout the night, concluding with a dance party with DJ Juanita More.


New York Post
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Andy Cohen officially says goodbye to NYC penthouse of 20 years
From Bravo to Broadway, Andy Cohen is officially saying goodbye to his longtime home. Emmy-winning playwright and screenwriter Danny Strong and his partner, actor and producer Caitlin Mehner, have officially closed on Cohen's longtime West Village penthouse duplex for its full $12 million asking price, The Post has learned. The deal, which was finalized on June 26, caps a swift transaction that entered contract just over a month earlier. 11 Emmy-winning playwright and screenwriter Danny Strong and his partner, actor/producer Caitlin Mehner, have officially closed on Andy Cohen's penthouse duplex at 2 Horatio Street for its $12 million asking price. Getty Images for Prime Video The 3,500-square-foot co-op, located at 2 Horatio Street, was assembled over two decades by Cohen, the Bravo star and producer behind 'Watch What Happens Live' and 'Top Chef.' Designed by architect Gordon Kahn with interiors by Eric Hughes, the home is known for its bold use of color, sweeping views of Manhattan landmarks, and dramatic custom details — including a sculptural walnut, steel and glass staircase connecting its two levels. 11 The 3,500-square-foot West Village co-op, which overlooks Jackson Square Park, entered into contract in May after eight months on the market and initially listed for $14 million. Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images Strong, whose musical Chess heads to Broadway this fall, called the duplex 'my dream home,' previously telling The Post, 'We are so excited to be moving there.' He and Mehner, new parents to a 7-month-old daughter, had been looking for more space to accommodate their growing family. 11 Designed by architect Gordon Kahn with interiors by Eric Hughes, the home includes a chef's kitchen, a nanny's room, and a glass-and-steel staircase leading to a home office. Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images 11 It features 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, two fireplaces, and striking details like a gold-tiled bar, marble fireplaces, and a spa-like main bathroom with Empire State Building views. Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images 11 The couple, now parents to a 7-month-old daughter, cited their growing family as a reason for the move. Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images The purchase also marks a bit of a real estate shuffle. Strong is in contract to sell his current residence at 299 West 12th Street — the sam Emery Roth-designed building where Cohen just purchased a new penthouse for $18.21 million, The Post reported. That unit reportedly features over 2,000 square feet of outdoor space, something Cohen had long been seeking. 'Outdoor space was the decision! I always have coveted outdoor space,' Cohen told People. 'There is a dearth of inventory in the West Village with outdoor space, so when I found something that was meaningful enough for me to leave my dream apartment … that's what it took.' 11 The residence occupies 3,500 square feet. Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images 11 Strong, who wrote 'Empire,' 'Dopesick,' and two 'Hunger Games' films, is also in contract to sell his unit at 299 W. 12th Street—ironically, the same building where Cohen just bought a new $18.21 million penthouse. Oliver Rodriguez/Shutterstock 11 The wet bar. Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images The sale also marked a professional milestone for real estate broker and former Million Dollar Listing New York star Ryan Serhant, who shared news of the contract on Instagram back in May. 'Congrats @bravoandy,' he wrote, adding, 'Thanks for trusting me and @serhant with your home.' Serhant later told The New York Times, 'It's one of those treasures that you wait your whole career for.' Cohen had initially listed the property for $14 million in September 2024 before cutting the price by $2 million earlier this year. The duplex ultimately found a buyer after about eight months on the market. 11 A living space. Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images 11 One of two fireplaces in the home. Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images 11 An ensuite bathroom. Eytan Stern Weber, Evan Joseph Images Serhant and Donna Strugatz of Serhant represented the listing, while Jonathan Stein of Douglas Elliman represented Strong. Inside, the home features 4.5 bathrooms, two wood-burning fireplaces, wide-plank oak floors, and 25 windows offering views of Jackson Square Park, the Empire State Building, and the Chrysler Building. The main suite boasts a custom dressing room, a corner bath with a teak soaking tub, and a marble steam shower. Other highlights include a lacquered bar, a gold-tiled powder room, and a chef's kitchen with cobalt blue cabinetry. Strong is best known for scripting Recount, The Butler, Dopesick, and two Hunger Games films.