BOMBSHELL in Boston!

Posted by Backstage Baby May 14, 2012 at 23:00

Hollah, Blogolians! This is our last entry for a while, as your humble Backstage Baby takes some time off to attend the National Theater Critics' Conference at the glorious O'Neill Center in beautiful Waterford, Connecticut. Who am I? I'll never tell. But some O'Neill trivia: the grounds of the Center were NOT actually O'Neill's childhood home, but the estate of some rich guy who would chase the young Eugene off his land, as recounted in the play "Moon for the Misbegotten." But enough bragging/trivia! On to the real theater news coming out of New England: BOMBSHELL in Boston.

As loyal readers know, Rebecca "Casual Friday 2" Duvall called in sick and was replaced by the understudy, Karen Cartwright. How was she? We can't get a bead on it, as we were not able to score tickets, but I'm willing to lay money that a star is born. In the meantime, here's some backstage rumors from our newest informant, who we'll just call
Gore Vidal's Eyelid:

-Houston and Levitt have been working around the clock, well into previews, trying to save the show with a new closing number. But the fireworks with a certain cast member *cough* rhymes with Cycle Miffed *cough* might be getting in the way.

-Here's the biggest item: rumors fly backstage that Rebecca "Casual Friday 2" was peanut-poisoned by a certain now-fired assistant. Why? Well, she wasn't so great. But is that really grounds for anaphylactic shock?

-Cartwright had to learn almost the whole show in pretty much one day. Even though chorus member AND Derek Wills' girl Ivy Lynn already knew it. Yeah, I know, I know. I hope Lynn's taking it okay. But early rumors are that Cartwright's a stunner.

-Looks like Jerry Rand's trying to dig his claws into BOMBSHELL. Will he succeed? Watch this space. And have a great summer!

New Bombshell Poster!

Posted by Backstage Baby May 7, 2012 at 23:00

We're back, bloganeers, with a very special treat for you - an early scan of the poster for "Bombshell." Perhaps tellingly, the Marilyn's face is draped in shadow - was it because they couldn't afford the rights to Marilyn's likeness, or because they still don't know who's going to be playing Marilyn? I know, I know, Rebecca "Casual Friday 2" Duvall landed the part, and Karen "Who?" Cartwright is the understudy - but rumors swirl that Duvall was rushed to the hospital due to her peanut allergy. Yeah. Because Hollywood stars who have to carry their first plays are ALWAYS getting food poisoning, and it has nothing to do with, oh, being on stage for two hours without a break. Our small woodland creature tells us that Duvall is actually 100% better, but is still opting to bail out. SO who will play Marilyn? Sure, Cartwright is the understudy, but it's still previews - there's no way they've put her in yet. That leaves Ivy Lynn, the on-again-off-again chorus girl and Derek's demimondaine. Who will it be? Your guess is as good as mine, folks!

And what of the show itself? Well, um. Evidently audiences weren't really rising to their feet last night when Marilyn committed suicide. What a surprise! Let's hope Julia Houston has buried whatever hatchet she had with Tom Levitt in time to fix the hot mess of an ending, and that she hasn't buried it in Michael Swift's head. Tune in next week, bloggupiers!

It's Tech Time!

Posted by Backstage Baby April 30, 2012 at 20:00

Hey there blogolians! Surely you've heard by now that Houston and Levitt's "Bombshell" is teching in Boston, gearing up for what they hope will be a huge opening with Rebecca "Can't Sing That Great - whoops, I mean Casual Friday 2" Duvall. But as usual, the compelling drama is taking place backstage. Word is that the fireworks between director Derek Wills and Duvall have turned into the OTHER kind of fireworks, leaving perennial chorus girl Ivy Lynn out in the cold. And to make matters worse, "Bombshell's" Joe DiMaggio, Ted DeLeo, has abruptly quit to do a pilot about a detective with Tourette syndrome, leaving the producers little other choice than to bring back the mysteriously fired Michael Swift. BUT Swift's return has led to rumors that librettist Julia Houston is threatening to bolt the show herself. I wonder why?

Meanwhile, composer Levitt was seen leaving downtown Boston in a rental car with his new chorus boy toy, Sam Strickland. Wonder where THEY'RE going? Far away from the wreckage, I'd imagine. Meanwhile, last week's "It" girl, Marilyn understudy Karen Cartwright, was seen having a vocal and tearful fight with a handsome devil on the street in Boston. I don't know who this hunk is, but Blogway Baby will take him if Cartwright doesn't want him!