Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Posted by Downstage Dish February 19, 2013 at 23:00

Is there anything more satisfying than when two forces of nature clash? That's precisely what happened last night at the American Theatre Wing's annual gala, and the showdown did not disappoint.

In one corner, Eileen Rand, producer of the long-suffering Bombshell. In the other, Miriam Abramson, head of the Theatre Wing and a woman who was not happy to have the Broadway-bound team crash her shindig. (Not that we blame her: between cash-strapped Rand, lecherous director Derek Wills, and woman-on-the-verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown Julia Houston, the potential for combustion was off the charts.)

But the merry band of misfits - including composer Tom Levitt and ousted ingenue Ivy Lynn - commandeered the event to showcase a showstopper, "(They Just Keep) Moving the Line"... and by all accounts, the only combustion resulted in joyful fireworks. Houston brilliantly positioned the impromptu tune as a tribute to Abramson, leaving the Theatre District doyenne unable to do anything but smile.

We hear the U.S. Attorney's wife was also smiling, and as of this morning, Bombshell is cleared to resume rehearsals - but not for public consumption. It's two steps forward, one step back for this behemoth!

Bombshell's Wild Coming Out Party

Posted by Downstage Dish February 5, 2013 at 23:00

Act Break makes it a point never to steal a scoop, so we can't give you all the specifics, but rumor has it Michael Riedel's column in tomorrow's New York Post is a real hit piece on "Bombshell."

Riedel, who first praised the Broadway-bound show almost a year ago when some demo tracks were leaked online, has subsequently been a thorn in the production's side. (Although Act Break likes to think the show is more scared of a tell-all on OUR site.)

But Riedel apparently scored an invite to a party for "Bombshell's" New York "coming out," and when the evening imploded, he was a witness to all the wild goings-on.

What did he see? According to our friends at the Post, other than a memorable duet between megawatt Broadway star Veronica Moore and up-and-comer Karen Cartwright, all the talk revolved around a celebrity sex scandal, a marriage on the rocks, money woes and infighting about the show's mixed out-of-town reviews.

Let's hope the piece is as juicy as we've been led to believe: Downstage Dish needs more "Bombshell" drama to drive web traffic now that "Spider-Man" is running smoothly!

Veronica Moore - Broadway's Sweetheart

Posted by Downstage Dish February 4, 2013 at 11:00

Act Break is obsessed with "Bombshell" - but there are other great shows in New York this year, too.

Case in point? "Beautiful," last year's Tony-winning Best Musical, starring Broadway's sweetheart, Veronica "Ronnie" Moore. If you couldn't get tickets when it first opened (and who could?), you might want to try again before Moore leaves at the end of this month. Bribe an usher, sell a kidney, do what you need to do, because as we were reminded when we saw the show again last night, it is sensational.

"Beautiful," the story of an Etta James-type R&B star in the '50s, centers around the star's tempestuous relationship with her overbearing mother. With echoes of everything from "Gypsy" to "Dreamgirls," the musical is both moving and fun (a particular highlight being the act one number "Mama Makes Three").

Now after 10 months, Moore is leaving for greener pastures. Where will she end up? Let's hope it's in a role that puts this phenom's talents to good use. While everyone loves a good girl, Downstage Dish thinks it's time to see what Moore could do with a really adult role...