This Week on Broadway for Monday August 10, 2009: Spidey's Turn

This Week on Broadway for Monday August 10, 2009: Spidey's Turn [Listen or download MP3] Peter Filichia, 3x week at TheaterMania.com and Newark Star Ledger Matthew Murray, Chief theater critic for Talkin Broadway.com and also a columnist for BroadwayStars.com $45 million Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark "temporarily" put on hold. I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/131805 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/10/theater/10arts-BROADWAYSPID_BRF.html http://www.nypost.com/seven/08072009/entertainment/theater/spider_man_needs_rescue_183315.htm Peter goes to The Music Theatre of Wichita and sees Drowsy Chaperone http://www.musictheatreofwichita.org/ http://www.musictheatreofwichita.org/waynesworld.cfm WHAT'S NEW in Wayne's World? Notes from Wayne Bryan, producing artistic director In My Life... Hair revival recoups its investment Garth Drabinsky and Myron Gottlieb sentenced http://www.playbill.com/news/article/131699 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/theater/06drabinsky.html A Broadway Musical (Music: Charles Strouse; Book: William F. Brown; Lyrics: Lee Adams) http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=3910 American Theatre Critics Association weighs in on the Tony Awards fracas. To: Nina Lannan, Chair, and Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director, The Broadway League; and Theodore Chapin, Chairman, and Howard Sherman, Executive Director, American Theatre Wing Now that the initial uproar has eased, the Executive Committee of the American Theatre Critics Association urges the Tony Management Committee to reconsider its recent decision to disenfranchise the theater critics who vote for the Tony Awards. Among the artists, craftspeople and producers who comprise most of that electorate, critics are the least biased voters with the broadest, best informed view of the theatrical scene. Their participation increases the legitimacy of the Tonys, which otherwise would look parochial and self-congratulatory. Critics are also natural participants. All around the country there are similar theatrical awards programs in which critics play a leading role; ATCA itself administers several.  Disenfranchising critics from the Tonys fits no sensible rationale. Analogies to the Oscars and Emmys miss the point that theater is always alive and local -- whereas movie and TV critics are many and widely dispersed, New York theater critics are limited and well placed to help celebrate Broadway. If the unspoken aim is to reduce the number of free tickets producers must provide, it would be better to take the vote away from the editors and columnists on the 100-person first night list, leaving the genuine critics. Or just start anew with the New York Drama Critics Circle and add other critics as seems best. Of course, the greatest saving would be to refuse all voters' requests for extra tickets or second viewings. But these are housekeeping details, well within the competence of the Tony Committee. Whatever the perceived problem may be, tossing out the critics isn't the answer. This is a time when the Fabulous Invalid and the beleaguered critical community should be making common cause for their art. Haven't the American Theatre Wing and Broadway League always supported that ideal? Christopher Rawson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Chairman, ATCA Executive Committee BACKGROUND: ATCA is the only national organization representing American theater critics. Founded in 1974 by (among others) Henry Hewes, Elliot Norton, Richard Coe, Edith Oliver and Dan Sullivan, it sponsors yearly conferences and symposia and sends members to the seminars and congresses of the International Association of Theatre Critics. It makes a recommendation for the regional theater Tony and votes on the Theater Hall of Fame, and through its Foundation, it annually awards the $40,000 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA and M. Elizabeth Osborn new play awards and $10,000 Francesca Primus Prize. Christopher Rawson, senior theater critic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 412-216-1944; also on KDKA-TV Chair, American Theatre Critics Association Barbra Streisand at the Village Vanguard for one night only? http://www.playbill.com/news/article/131760 The Village Vanguard is located at 178 Seventh Ave South http://villagevanguard.com/frames.htm Rocco Landesman Confirmed as Chairman of the NEA http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/arts/08rocco.html Hugh Jackman to star in P.T. Barnum film musical? http://www.playbill.com/news/article/131646 Skylight Music Theater insanity. This is a bit out of the stream, as it were, but good God is there a lot of drama here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/arts/music/04skylight.html http://www.playbill.com/news/article/131728 Several blogs -- including those of Tony Clements, a Skylight alumnus and friend of Mr. Thiesen's (tuesdaysblog.com), and Mr. Strini ("The Old Song and Dance," at jsonline.com) -- scrupulously detailed the events. Mr. Strini left his position at The Journal Sentinal on July 31.