Feb 222013
 

Orphans Billboard

Citing creative differences, Shia LaBeouf abruptly walked away from the Broadway play ‘Orphans’ earlier this week in what appears to have been a disagreement with co-star Alec Baldwin.

The actor immediately launched a post-Broadway crusade to shed some light on the situation by posting a video of his audition for ‘Orphans’ and screenshots of emails to and from director Daniel Sullivan, playwright Lyle Kessler and Baldwin.

LaBeouf tweeted, “Put my hand thru the door at rehearsals. then apologized to our playwright- this was his response. lesson? PACE.”

He also posted an email from the director referencing Baldwin, “I’m too old for disagreeable situations. You’re one hell of a great actor. Alec is who he is. You are who you are. You two are incompatible. I should have known it.”

Shia then fired off an apology of sorts to the ’30 Rock’ actor, “A man can tell you he was wrong. That he did wrong. That he planned to. He can tell you when he is lost. He can apologize, even if sometimes it’s just to put an end to the bickering. Alec, I’m sorry for my part of a disagreeable situation.”

Baldwin responded, “When the change comes, how do we handle it, whether it be good or bad? What do we learn? I don’t have an unkind word to say about you. You have my word. AB.”

LaBeouf shot back, “Same. Good luck on the play. You’ll be great.”

Publishing the exchange may have made Shia LaBeouf feel better but it apparently didn’t sit well with Alec Baldwin, who is currently having problems of his own with the press and paparazzi on the streets of Manhattan.

Baldwin told the New York Times, “You expect communications to be private, because everyone wants this process to be as collegial as possible.  Everyone is very sad about what’s happened.  I’m very disappointed.”

The play is schedule to open for previews at the Schoenfeld Theatre in New York on March 19.  The production will officially launch on April 7.

Photo Credit: WENN

Nov 062012
 

Country crooner Billy Ray Cyrus is switching up stages.  The Achy Breaky Heart singer made his Broadway debut last night in the Tony award-winning musical ‘Chicago’ at the Ambassador Theatre.

The 51-year-old singer-song writer spoke about his latest project, “You can’t tire a man out who’s already tired.  Sometimes you’ve just got to step up to the plate to learn something new.”

For the next seven weeks, ending Dec. 23, Billy will play the ethically challenged lawyer Billy Flynn.

He commented on his smarmy character, “I’ve never done anything like this. To play a lawyer? I’m usually on the flip side of that. So this is a real stretch for me.”

“The music? It feels right. This music could be part of me. Finding Billy Flynn as a lawyer? That’s why I’m here. I want to become a better actor. I love acting and this looked like a real great opportunity for me to learn. And to be on Broadway? This is like me getting a doctorate as an actor.”

Tish Cyrus tweeted prior to his first performance, “So proud of my husband for doing Chicago on Broadway.  Go Get Em’ Lovey.”

Looks like Miley Cyrus was too busy to comment to her 10 million Twitter fans.  Could it be that dad and daughter aren’t seeing eye to eye these days?

We’ve included photos from his after-party at Victor’s Cafe in Manhattan:

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Jun 232011
 

Broadway’s “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” canceled their 100th performance Wednesday night when a stagehand was found backstage in cardiac arrest following a drug overdose.

The 29-year-old man, whose name is not being released pending notification of family, was found unconscious in a bathroom.  “It was a stagehand who had done something terrible to himself,” a theater industry executive told the New York Times.

An announcement was made around 8:20 p.m. that the performance would be delayed, and another followed at 8:50 p.m.  While hundreds of audience members waited in their seats, the stagehand was taken from the theater by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Around 9:00 p.m., the show’s stars, Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette, came on stage to address the audience.

“They said they debated it for a long time, and that there was a tragedy and they didn’t feel comfortable performing,” said Barbara Germain, a member of the audience.

Another audience member, Suzanne Jewell, said the men “apologized to everyone, but said it wouldn’t be fair to us because they would not have been able to give a good performance.”

Investigators do not suspect criminality and believe the man died from an overdose.  An autopsy is being performed.

Management will be issuing refunds to those who were in attendance.

photo: Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Dec 282010
 

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 28: Actresses Natalie Mendoza and T.V. Carpio leave the theater after the opening night preview of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark at the Foxwoods Theater on November 28, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Charles Eshelman/Getty Images)

Natalie Mendoza (L) and T.V. Carpio (R) at Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark opening night preview.

Lead actress Natalie Mendoza is leaving Broadway’s “Spider’Man: Turn Off the Dark.”

According to sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Mendoza, who suffered a concussion during the musical’s first preview performance last month, is currently hammering out exit agreement details with producers, and an official statement could come as early as Tuesday.

Mendoza, 30, was injured on November 28, when she was hit in the head by a rope holding a piece of equipment.  She has been under a doctor’s care, and on Sunday, wrote on her Facebook page that she was grateful to be down to two nausea tablets and four painkillers per day to cope with her concussion.  “Nice to be almost back to normal … almost anyway haha! Thanking God for peace, real friends, love and health and healing.”

The $65 million production has suffered several setbacks due to accidents, the most recent on December 20, when actor Christopher Tierney fell 20 feet from a platform just before the end of the performance due to a faulty harness.  Tierney remains hospitalized for injuries including a hairline fracture in his skull, a broken scapula, a broken bone close to his elbow, four broken ribs, a bruised lung and three fractured vertebrae.

Ms. Mendoza’s departure from the show has not been confirmed at this time.

Nov 042010
 

Shannon Tavarez, the 11-year-old who starred on Broadway in The Lion King died Monday afternoon at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of acute myelogenous leukemia.

The soprano from Queens, New York  made her Broadway debut as Nala in September 2009, playing four of eight shows per week in The Lion King until she was diagnosed with leukemia in April.

“She was a remarkable and talented young lady who touched the lives of those she entertained, as well as those who cared for her over the past several months,” medical center said Tuesday in a statement.

Shannon received an umbilical-cord blood transplant in August as an alternative to a bone marrow transplant. Her doctor, Dr. Larry Wolfe, said that a perfect bone marrow match for Shannon could not be found.

Shannon’s mother is African-American and her father is Hispanic, which made finding a match difficult since there aren’t as many minorities and persons of mixed-ancestry registered as potential donors.

According to the National Marrow Donor Program, 83 percent of African-American patients who need marrow transplants don’t find matches after six months of searching.

Alicia Keys, Rihanna and 50 Cent campaigned to help Shannon find a bone marrow match, encouraging fans to register as potential donors.

Rihanna reacted to news of Shannon’s death,  “Just got off of a plane ride and got horrible news that our little star Shannon Tavarez has lost her battle against leukemia,” she tweeted on Tuesday. “Way too soon … keep her family in your prayers.”

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