Angela Lansbury, Archive of American Television Part VII


Seventh and final part of the conversation with the archive. Angela talks the impact of Murder She Wrote and a summation of her career and coworkers up to that point.

Much to the delight of New York audiences, the actress has fostered a late career renaissance on Broadway which started with her return in Deuce in 2007. She won a Tony earlier this year -her record tying fifth for Blithe Spirit. She’ll be in the game again this season as well as she opens tonight in her 13th production, the first-ever Broadway revival of her pal Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.

"Ragtime" to present Monthly Talkbacks starting 12/15

Ragtime is pleased to announce a new monthly “Talkback Tuesday” series, Ragtime Talk Time, beginning Tuesday, December 15th. Ragtime Talk Time is free to anyone attending Tuesday evening performances when the talkbacks are scheduled.

The debut installment of Ragtime Talk Time will feature Tony Award® winning songwriting team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty discussing their process of creating the score for Ragtime, which garnered them Broadway’s triple crown – the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, as well as their celebrated 26-year collaboration as one of the foremost theatrical songwriting teams of their generation.

Based on E.L. Doctorow’s epic acclaimed novel, Ragtime features direction and choreography by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, a majestic 28-piece orchestra led by musical director James Moore, and features a company of 40, starring Ron Bohmer (Father), Quentin Earl Darrington (Coalhouse Walker Jr.), Christiane Noll (Mother), Robert Petkoff (Tateh), Bobby Steggert (Mother’s Younger Brother), Stephanie Umoh (Sarah), with Christopher Cox (The Little Boy), Sarah Rosenthal (The Little Girl), Mark Aldrich (Willie Conklin), Aaron Galligan-Stierle (Henry Ford), Jonathan Hammond (Harry Houdini), Dan Manning (Grandfather), Michael X. Martin (J.P. Morgan), Mike McGowan (Stanford White), Donna Migliaccio (Emma Goldman), Josh Walden (Harry K. Thaw), Savannah Wise (Evelyn Nesbit), Eric Jordan Young (Booker T. Washington).

Ragtime is produced by Kevin McCollum, Roy Furman, Scott Delman, Roger Berlind, Max Cooper, Tom Kirdahy/Devlin Elliott, Jeffrey A. Sine, Stephanie McClelland, Roy Miller, LAMS Productions, Jana Robbins, Sharon Karmazin, Eric Falkenstein/Morris Berchard, Wendy Federman, Jamie deRoy, Sheila Steinberg, Lauren Stevens, Independent Presenters Network, Held-Haffner Productions, HRH Foundation and Emanuel Azenberg in association with The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

At the dawn of the century, everything is changing…and anything is possible. Based on E.L. Doctorow’s celebrated epic novel and set in the volatile melting pot of turn-of-the-century New York, Ragtime weaves together three distinctly American tales — that of a stifled upper-class wife, a determined Jewish immigrant and a daring young Harlem musician — united by their courage, compassion and belief in the promise of the future. Their personal journeys come alive as historic figures offer guidance and diversion – among them escape artist Harry Houdini, auto tycoon Henry Ford, educator Booker T. Washington and infamous entertainer Evelyn Nesbit. Together, their stories celebrate the struggle between tradition and independence all in pursuit of the American dream.

The celebrated production team includes scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Santo Loquasto, lighting design by Donald Holder, sound design by Acme Sound Partners, hair and wig design by Edward J. Wilson and orchestrations by William David Brohn.

RAGTIME tickets prices are $46.50, $86.50 and $126.50 (including $1.50 facility fee) and available by calling Ticketmaster at 212-307-4100 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

Angela Lansbury, Archive of American Television Part IV

Day #4: The oral historian asks Angie more than 20 questions about her live television career of the 1950s, which was her major source of income that decade. Plus, she talks about her appearances on Broadway in Hotel Paradiso with Bert Lahr in 1957 and A Taste of Honey with Joan Plowright in 1960. Then of course, there’s The Manchurian Candidate

‘How the Stritch Stole Christmas"

Courtesy of Langley Studios:

“Every one down on Broadway liked Christmas a lot.

But the Stritch who lived just north of Broadway, on Mount Carlyle, did not!

This Bats Langley Studios parody is meant in the spirit of playful caricature of the great Elaine Stritch. Miss Stritch is an inspiration. Merry Christmas, and we hope you enjoy.

Thank you to Nick Clark-Spear for lending his vocals and lyrical talents, Dr. Seuss for creating such a perfect foundation for the parody, and Ms. Stritch, Ms. Chenoweth, Ms. Cook and Mr. Grey for providing the inspiration for this venture.”

It’s a bit mean-spirited, and I don’t agree with their assessment of At Liberty at all, but I couldn’t help but laugh… (sort of like the cut Family Guy bit). Speaking of Stritch and Christmas, the promos for 30 Rock don’t seem to have our annual appearance from the sardonic legend. Anyone know if she’s going to be on this season?