May 27, 2006
Theatre Live Ads
This is an evil portent.
Enter Stage Right: Live
By Campbell Robertson
The New York Times, May 24, 2006
A moment, in theater, of whispered anticipation, of studying Playbills, of turning off cellphones. And a perfect time, before a performance of Stomp at the Orpheum Theater in the East Village last night, for a commercial.
"Give me a picture of the London scene," said an actress in the audience on her cellphone, supposedly talking to her daughter in London on the eve of her own trip there.
No, to answer your question, there is nothing sacred. The advertisement, which is itself advertised as the world's first live theatrical commercial, is a creation of Visit London, a tourist organization. There have already been performances of the live commercial on stages in Dublin and Hamburg, said Ken Kelling, Visit London's communications director, and there is to be another on Friday in Pittsburgh.
"They're a captive audience," Mr. Kelling said. "They can't switch channels or change over or walk out once the thing is started." He said that he did not think this would open the door to live ads for detergents and soft drinks, and that Visit London had no plans to continue the ads after this Friday in Pittsburgh.
Richard Frankel, one of the producers of Stomp, said he viewed the three-minute performance as a "public service spot." No money has changed hands, he added. Stomp also has a London production.
Last night's ad began with a woman onstage putting the audience on notice that they would in fact be watching a commercial, "brought to you by Visit London."
The audience, mostly foreign tourists and students from a Brooklyn school, clapped and kept chatting.
The cellphone rang in the audience and the mother-daughter scene followed, with an almost-inaudible daughter, onstage, recommending London attractions. And the British actress Parminder Nagra (Dr. Neela Rasgotra on ER) stood up for a cameo appearance.
Next, the audience was treated to an onstage couple on their London honeymoon discussing "a stroll along Shaftesbury Avenue," in the West End. A disembodied voice chimed in: "Whatever you like doing, you'll love doing it in London."
And... scene.
"It took a long time for everything," said a Dutch-born New Yorker, Daphne van der Meulen, 29. "I think you can see from the people that it didn't really — how do you say it? — didn't really hit."
Enter Stage Right: Live
By Campbell Robertson
The New York Times, May 24, 2006
A moment, in theater, of whispered anticipation, of studying Playbills, of turning off cellphones. And a perfect time, before a performance of Stomp at the Orpheum Theater in the East Village last night, for a commercial.
"Give me a picture of the London scene," said an actress in the audience on her cellphone, supposedly talking to her daughter in London on the eve of her own trip there.
No, to answer your question, there is nothing sacred. The advertisement, which is itself advertised as the world's first live theatrical commercial, is a creation of Visit London, a tourist organization. There have already been performances of the live commercial on stages in Dublin and Hamburg, said Ken Kelling, Visit London's communications director, and there is to be another on Friday in Pittsburgh.
"They're a captive audience," Mr. Kelling said. "They can't switch channels or change over or walk out once the thing is started." He said that he did not think this would open the door to live ads for detergents and soft drinks, and that Visit London had no plans to continue the ads after this Friday in Pittsburgh.
Richard Frankel, one of the producers of Stomp, said he viewed the three-minute performance as a "public service spot." No money has changed hands, he added. Stomp also has a London production.
Last night's ad began with a woman onstage putting the audience on notice that they would in fact be watching a commercial, "brought to you by Visit London."
The audience, mostly foreign tourists and students from a Brooklyn school, clapped and kept chatting.
The cellphone rang in the audience and the mother-daughter scene followed, with an almost-inaudible daughter, onstage, recommending London attractions. And the British actress Parminder Nagra (Dr. Neela Rasgotra on ER) stood up for a cameo appearance.
Next, the audience was treated to an onstage couple on their London honeymoon discussing "a stroll along Shaftesbury Avenue," in the West End. A disembodied voice chimed in: "Whatever you like doing, you'll love doing it in London."
And... scene.
"It took a long time for everything," said a Dutch-born New Yorker, Daphne van der Meulen, 29. "I think you can see from the people that it didn't really — how do you say it? — didn't really hit."
May 25, 2006
Dylan's Feminine Side
This is one of those ideas to which the response is "Huh?" In other words, bad.
Cate Blanchett to Play Dylan in Biopic
By Alfons Luna May 24, 2006 (Yahoo News)
New York (AFP) — Cate Blanchett will play Bob Dylan in his "androgenous phase" in a new biopic of the great poet-songwriter's life, it was announced, as Dylan turned 65.
But even as he shows up everywhere in books, films and even a Broadway musical, Dylan, who has sought seclusion and mystery all his life, remains as enigmatic as ever.
Dylan has clearly shrugged off retirement age, taking on a new job as a radio DJ, publishing a selection of his memoirs, musing in a Martin Scorcese documentary, authorizing a stage musical with his songs — and appearing in an advert for the Victoria's Secret lingerie store chain.
And on Dylan's birthday, the Hollywood press reported that Blanchett would be among several actors — also including Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger and Richard Gere — to portray the great American folksinger in a film.
Yet the exposure is adding as many layers to his mystery as it is giving fans more insight into the composer of classics such as Like A Rolling Stone, Blowin' in the Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin'
Mystery surrounds the coming biographical film on Dylan by director Todd Haynes, who earlier took great liberties with the life of rock star David Bowie in his 1998 movie Velvet Goldmine.
Now he is recruiting an all-star cast for his Dylan film I'm Not There, in which six or seven actors will play the star to show different facets of his life and personality. Dylan has agreed to let Haynes film his biography.
Cate Blanchett to Play Dylan in Biopic
By Alfons Luna May 24, 2006 (Yahoo News)
New York (AFP) — Cate Blanchett will play Bob Dylan in his "androgenous phase" in a new biopic of the great poet-songwriter's life, it was announced, as Dylan turned 65.
But even as he shows up everywhere in books, films and even a Broadway musical, Dylan, who has sought seclusion and mystery all his life, remains as enigmatic as ever.
Dylan has clearly shrugged off retirement age, taking on a new job as a radio DJ, publishing a selection of his memoirs, musing in a Martin Scorcese documentary, authorizing a stage musical with his songs — and appearing in an advert for the Victoria's Secret lingerie store chain.
And on Dylan's birthday, the Hollywood press reported that Blanchett would be among several actors — also including Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger and Richard Gere — to portray the great American folksinger in a film.
Yet the exposure is adding as many layers to his mystery as it is giving fans more insight into the composer of classics such as Like A Rolling Stone, Blowin' in the Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin'
Mystery surrounds the coming biographical film on Dylan by director Todd Haynes, who earlier took great liberties with the life of rock star David Bowie in his 1998 movie Velvet Goldmine.
Now he is recruiting an all-star cast for his Dylan film I'm Not There, in which six or seven actors will play the star to show different facets of his life and personality. Dylan has agreed to let Haynes film his biography.
May 01, 2006
Time's 100
Time has chosen "the 100 men and women whose power, talent or moral example shape our world." As with all such lists, there is plenty to disagree, and agree, with on the Time 100 list. Three of the choices are my favorites: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush and The Flickr Founders, for the reasons given in their profiles.