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things we actually like
Glee More Than Lives Up to Its Name
I sincerely hope you watched the premiere of Glee last night. Fox's new funny/sad series about a high school glee club was spunky, precocious, and sincere—normally things that are annoying. And yet, somehow on this show, they aren't at all. More » -
stage
The Week in Theater: Carol Brady and Shirley Partridge, Together at Last
TV ladies will sing for you in Indiana, while a Dutch money company will tell you when you are allowed to sing "I Cain't Say No", which is a bit scary. More »
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Comment by michaelstrangeways: Mrs Brady and Mrs Partridge on stage at the same time in the same place? I'm so there. Is Marion Ross the... more » | Other threads
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stage
The Week In Theater: Ferris Bueller and Aunt Jackie, Back On Broadway
Matthew Broderick returns to Broadway right now, while you'll have to wait til the fall for Laurie Metcalf. Some shows open well, others don't, and a production of the Tempest in Chicago earns raves. More »
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Comment by VeasnaDione: Aunt Jackie? No, no, no. For me Laurie Metcalf will always be Leslie "How long has Roberta been a lesbian?... 1 Responses | Other threads
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stage
Rock of Ages: Grizzled 80's Hair Bands Attack Broadway
Dee Snider was seated comfortably in the middle of the orchestra section at last night's Broadway opening of power ballad jukebox musical Rock of Ages. Yes, it's that un-theatery a piece of theater fluff. More »
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Comment by Aaron Altman: Yaaay! And how, how, how could you possibly have made an ass of yourself, Richard? By politely holding... 6 Responses | Other threads
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stage
The Week in Theater: The Return of Uncle Jesse
John Stamos returns to the Great White Way, a new Neil LaBute debuts there, Tovah Feldshuh's back, as is Joanna Gleason in Happiness. Plus, the news from out of town. More »
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Comment by SarahHeartburn: And if I may indulge myself, more Bye Bye Birdie.Crappy sound but hang in there, it's worth it. If nothing else,... 1 Responses | Other threads
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stage
The Week in Theatre: Tony Soprano Will Yell at Your Friend's Parents
New plays opened on Broadway to mixed reviews, the Greeks get big revivals, Laurie Metcalf is going to be awesome again, and Ian McKellen will soon be gouging his eyes out on your TV. More »
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Comment by Smooth Operator: Does anyone know why Minsley Tortimer is posting comments under the name Saythatscool? 3 Responses | Other threads
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health
Jeremy Piven Says Barack Obama Has His Back
Producers still want vengeance against Jeremy Piven for dropping out of Speed the Plow due to "mercury poisoning." They've been thwarted once, and the actor now claims history and Hope are on his side. More » -
stage
The Week in Theater: An Exciting Opening, a Sad Ending
West Side Story opened this week, as did Blithe Spirit and a new rock musical. And the theater community lost one of the greats, Natasha Richardson. More »
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Comment by SarahHeartburn: This morning I read a review of West Side Story in the Spanish newspaper El Pais, written by their New... 8 Responses | Other threads
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stage
The Week in Theater: Hanoi Jane Invades Broadway
This week has been dominated by finance and media critique, so why not flip the switch in your brain this weekend and go see a play or something. Or just read about some. More »
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Comment by TedSez: Catch me if you can 'Cause I'm a con man Watch me as I scam I'll lead you on, man Pilot, lawyer, doc I'll change... 6 Responses | Other threads
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the theatre
The Bard's Queer Makeover
Front page shocker in today's New York Times: William Shakespeare was a homosexual. Grizzled former war correspondent John F. Burns has unearthed the bombshell in the form of a very gay-looking portrait. More »
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By John CookComment by Private Hangnail: I'm confused. Was he posing with his Jacobean butt plug? How are we getting gay from this? 10 Responses | Other threads
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public relations
Jeremy Piven Cries, Escapes Punishment
Jeremy Piven convinced five other actors his mercury poisoning is real, deadlocking a union hearing and sparing Piven penalties for leaving Speed the Plow. How did he do it? Maybe with some crying.
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culture wars
Heartland High School Principals Classify Rent as 'Edgy' Again
Now that long-running musical Rent has closed on Broadway, the inevitable, awful high school productions have begun. Which is ruffling parental and administrative feathers across the land. But, really, what's the big deal with Rent? More »
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Comment by TheHonJudgeSmails: Tame or not, it's cloyingly written and the music stinks. 10 Responses | Other threads
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stage
You're Welcome America: It's Saturday Night Live, Live! On Stage!
Here's theatre we can all get behind. None of that artsy crap. Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America Bush parody-palooza opened last night on Broadway. And the reviews are pretty solid! More »
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Comment by Beausoleil: Ha, ha! The ex-prez who kept us safe was a joke. But we have black guy now so we can... 8 Responses | Other threads
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stage
New York Times Says 'Nyah Nyah' to Play-Abandoning Jeremy Piven
When Jeremy Piven abruptly left the Broadway production of Speed-the-Plow, citing mercury poisoning, he pissed off everyone working on the show. Now the New York Times is offering them some condolences: Plow's better Piven-less. More »
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Comment by katastic: Also, the producers are filing a grievance against Piven with Actor's Equity. That's right, Piven! The UNION'S after you now! Yeahhhh!... 3 Responses | Other threads
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the boards
Answered Prayers: Thriller the Musical
The Nederlander Organization, one of the biggest theater owners and producers around, has acquired the rights to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. The one with the zombies. Plus, Mary-Louise Parker's very bad Hedda Gabler reviews. More »
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Comment by Rock_Hunter: From the poster, this looks like "Wes Anderson's Hedda Gabler." At the end she shoots herself in slow motion while... 3 Responses | Other threads
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the theatre
Broadway Stunt Casting Increasingly Popular, Annoying
Wispy British actress Sienna Miller is heading to Broadway next season to star in Patrick (Closer) Marber's After Miss Julie. She joins an increasingly steady stream of movie types heading to the stage. What gives? More »
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Comment by badasscat: Eh, I think this is kind of a pompous post. "Theatre" was always supposed to be an art form... 10 Responses | Other threads
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rose's burn
Patti LuPone's Fabulous Mid-Show Freak Out
There were stories of Patti LuPone, legendary Broadway star, yelling at an audience member in the middle of a performance of Gypsy because he or she was taking pictures. Well, now there's audio. More »
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Comment by La Cieca: Oh, Richard, La Cieca is just delighted that you posted this, you adorable little show queen you! As I've pointed out... 5 Responses | Other threads
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feuds
Armistice Declared Between New York and Cleveland
The bloody and river-scorching New Yorko-Clevelo War has finally ended. And, just as so many wars before it have been, the whole unpleasantness was resolved with the meting out of free threatre tickets. More »
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Comment by Underclassed: For God's sake, Lemon, we'd all like to flee to the Cleve. 6 Responses | Other threads
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the theatre
Get Excited About Bill Irwin and Potatoes
Let's take a look at the week in theatre! More »
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Comment by ginger rant: I like everything about Mary Louise Parker except her acting. On Weeds, she doesn't convey nearly enough sex appeal (okay,... 11 Responses | Other threads
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disasters
More People Debunking Jeremy Piven's Poison Sushi Excuse
New tidbits about the Jeremy Piven-destroys-Broadway story keep coming. "Mercury-filled sushi made him sick!" "Wrong! He quit early because he parties too hard!" Etc. Now an insider with the show, Speed-the-Plow, has provided some details. More »
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Comment by Trixie from Toronto: Since we are no longer allowed to use the term "douchebag" -- which seems so apt in this situation --... 4 Responses | Other threads
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feuds
Do Snobby New Yorkers Hate Everyone From Cleveland?
New York and Cleveland are at war! Well, according to one theatre exec who recently said, when talking about New York theatre audiences, “We’re horrible snobs. We hate tourists from Cleveland." Clevelanders are angry! More »
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Comment by The Real JR: I'm sorry, but I'm not even kidding. I have no idea where Cleveland would be on a map. And what are... 12 Responses | Other threads
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lists
The Top 10 Worst Pop Culture Bits Of the Year
Everyone's doing Top 10 Lists this time of year! About movies and TV and stuff! So I figured I should too. But just one list, that encompasses everything. Everything bad. Enjoy! More »
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Comment by Brett Hanisko: 5. Is it just me, or are people forgetting that Obama is just as much white as he is black?... 10 Responses | Other threads
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the theatre
Tis Nobler To Watch It
Here's a nice little article about Slings & Arrows, the great Canadian TV dramedy about a Shakespeare Theatre Festival (I know, I know) that's rerunning again on the Sundance Channel. Watch it. Kids In the Hall alum! [NYT] -
Puttin' On The Fritz
Young Frankenstein Flop Maybe Got What It Deserved
Camelot is over! No one can pay their Rent! The West Side Story these days is that lots of Broadway shows are closing! Ahem. Yes, lots of big glittery plays and musicals are shutting their doors forever because of this creepy, kooky economy. One of the big Goliaths to fall last week was Mel Brooks' much-maligned Young Frankenstein, which will put on the Ritz one last time on January 4th. Thing is, no one's really all that sad to see it go. More »
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Comment by PictureItSicily: Has Broadway ever considered making ticket prices affordable for the 8 million New Yorkers who might actually frequent the theater... 7 Responses | Other threads
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sad things
Three Billy Elliots Enter, Only One Leaves
The new Billy Elliot Broadway musical is a sad, soaring little British tart of an evening at the theatre. Well, the content is sad, yes, but the play also ripples with the inherent melancholia of children on stage, specifically young master Elliot. You see, three distinct lads play the north English son of a coal miner who dreams of ballet, but they're protected (and profiled) almost as one. They're the Billy Elliot Borg. But, really, because the world works the lonely way that it does, only one can truly shine. More »
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Comment by drunkexpatwriter: Man, can you imagine trying to protect three 13 year old ballet boys from the lecherous types that work Broadway... 10 Responses | Other threads
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the panic of '08
Recession To Finally Kill Broadway Theatre
As the stock market continues its long, thumping swan dive into the terrible abyss, sometimes we just need lights! and costumes! and songs! and gay people! to cheer us up. Well, you'll be hard pressed to find such spectacle on the old Broadway come January, as three popular musicals will be shuttering in the next few months. Duncan Sheik's sex 'n pop rock ode Spring Awakening just announced their January 19th closing today, coming pretty quickly after bebop drag show Hairspray and Monty Python mug fest Spamalot made similar announcements. It's just sad proof that this looming recession reaches into even the silliest parts of the American experience. I guess you'll just have to watch TV now or something. I know. I know. More »
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Comment by City_Dater: Okay President Obama, time to reactivate the WPA and get all the unemployed talent working on some big Socialist musical... 8 Responses | Other threads
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gawker explainer
Why Is My Niece Obsessed With High School Musical?
In case your ears aren't capable of picking up the high-pitched caterwauling of girls (and, well, yes, some boys too) between the ages of 8 and 18, let me tell you something. High School Musical 3: Senior Year is step-ball-changing into movie theaters next week. It's the first of the series to be splashed up on the big screen, as the first two aired to tremendous success (255 million viewers worldwide, so far) on the Disney Channel. HSM-related product sales have reached upwards of $500 million, and its stars, or at least lead heartthrob Zac Efron, have been vaunted into the paparazzi-stalked realm of superstarletdom. Now advance ticket sales for the third (and final for most of the original cast) movie are huuuuge. It's going to be big, people. So what, dear tweendom neophyte, is all the fuss about? I'll try to explain it after the jump.
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the theatre
So, Is Katie Holmes Good In That Play Or Whatever?
The latest Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons opened last night! It stars John Lithgow and Patrick Wilson, who some are saying are quite good, Oscar winner Dianne Wiest, maybe a bit off, and some girl named Katie Holmes. As she's a newcomer to the Broadway scene, and is apparently married to some sort of mega moviestar turned Scientologist crazy named "Tom Cruise," let's take a moment to at look the top critics' takes on this exciting new starlet's big bow. More »
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Comment by SinisterRouge: Why are women so often described as "shrill?" WTF? 9 Responses | Other threads
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open caption
"You've No Idea How Long It Took To Get The Seaman Out Of These Pants."
[Katie Holmes at the Opening Night party for her Broadway debut show "All My Sons" (which was only tepidly received) last night; image via INF] More » -
the theatre
Once More With Less Feeling
Remember Once, that exquisite little film about two unnamed Dubliners making beautiful music together? Well now it's going to be a Broadway musical. So. Yeah.
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Comment by es-ki-mo: "Ah, sir? John Travolta's on line two. Something about how much he loved the movie and that Broadway needs him.... 7 Responses | Other threads
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the theatre
American Psycho To Slay Audiences In Front of the Footlights
Depressing and sort of end-of-the-economy timely word comes today that Brett Easton Ellis' 1991 novel American Psycho—about a Wall Street banker in the 1980's who is a crazed serial killer in his spare time—is being made into a stage musical. You'll remember that the book was adapted into a movie starring Christian Bale back in 2000, and that it featured a looming score of various recognizable 80's tunes. This prompted producers to decide that, hey!, it could be a musical extravaganza! To that end, we hope they turn it into a Huey Lewis jukebox musical. Maybe Christian Bale could be in it! We already know he can sing and sort of dance. (Also, we feel forced to add: As if theatre ticket prices weren't killer enough!) Our favorite Huey clip is after the jump. More »
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Comment by Phyllis Nefler: Huey Lewis went to my high school yaaaaaay! Then again, so did The Tinz. 4 Responses | Other threads
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anderson cooper
Anderson Cooper Has One New York Regret: Never Seeing That Drag Show
Anderson Cooper, CNN anchor and alleged dater of many fellows, has one great regret in his New York life. He has never seen a Kiki & Herb show. Kiki and Herb being, of course, singer/actor Justin Bond in drag as old showbiz wash-up Kiki and Kenny Mellman as her devoted accompanist Herb. They tell wonderful showbiz stories and sing delightful covers of some really random songs. And the Coop has never been! He tells TONY of his drag cabaret shame: More »
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Comment by Fishnets and Cigarettes: I'm still not sure how this commenting thing works, but I'm happy for anything about Anderson Cooper. 12 Responses | Other threads
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katie holmes
Anti-Scientology Protesters At Katie Holmes Play
"Some wore masks like in the movie V for Vendetta, and one poster read: 'FREE KATIE.'" [AP]
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By Ryan TateComment by Sheila: Katie can worship whatever demon-god she likes, as long as she teaches me the secrets to her perfect hair. 2 Responses | Other threads
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the theatre
A Night At the Theatre With Tom & Katie
Curious about the Broadway debut of Katie Holmes, actor and Scientologist Tom Cruise's earthling bride? Or, more importantly, are you curious about what Tom Cruise is like in an enclosed space? A theatre insider tipster sent us the following report from an exclusive invite-only dress rehearsal performance of All My Sons, set to open very very soon: More »
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Comment by darkryd: Why do the bloggers keep covering Tom and Katie. The rest of America just DOESN'T CARE anymore. Seriously, America couldn't care... 13 Responses | Other threads
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the theatre
Naked Harry Potter Will Teach You Things About Yourself
It's sort of gauche to post a theatre "review" while the show is still in previews, so consider the following not so much of a review as a...um...preview. I managed to score a ticket to Equus last night, the new Broadway production of Peter Shaffer's 1973 play about the sometimes disastrous confluence of religion and sex, and the perils of "modern" psychiatry. But really, the play is important because Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe is naked in it. For a good amount of time! Though I should caution that the nudity is exactly as sexy as the ensuing frenzied horse blinding sounds. It's not a gimmick or a parlor trick, just a way to communicate the raw bewilderment and wildness of Radcliffe's character, the troubled young Alan Strang. So yeah, the play about the nudity isn't so much about the nudity at all, rather it's an interesting, if curiously unmoving, intellectual deep dive into an idea of faith and science—reason, really—as two warring acts of the same mind.
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Comment by jbwan: Reviews during previews can dicktate theater goers opinions before the final product is complete, and therefore should be avoided. 36 Responses | Other threads
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nostalgia
Watching Rent, One Last Time
When Rent first premiered on Broadway, the musical—a rock and roll mishmash polemic about New York City's poor bohemian youth, the AIDS epidemic, and the struggle and ultimate power of being oneself ("faggots, lezzies, dykes," whatever)—it seemed destined to get fabulous acclaim and burn out quickly. The acclaim most certainly arrived, Rent won a whole slew of Tonys and, indeed, the Pulitzer Prize for drama (so rarely awarded to musical works). But its longevity was a true surprise. The mythos surrounding its sexy young cast and the untimely death of the show's creator, Jonathan Larson, helped (along with crazed, devoted legions of "Rentheads") the show power through 12 years at the Nederlander on 41st street. It closed just last night. I managed to catch its penultimate performance on Saturday. More »
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Comment by extracrispy: The gay sissy dies (spoiler!). Yet the cracked out, homeless stripper lives so the heteros get a second shot at... 22 Responses | Other threads
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the theatre
Highly Insightful Theatre Criticism
Judging from last night's performance, confirmed dreamboat Hunter Parrish, from Weeds, is actually more than just a pretty face in the Broadway show Spring Awakening. I mean the face is pretty, but he's also good at the acting and the singing and stuff. -
the theatre
Daniel Radcliffe Farts Sunshine
Daniel Radcliffe, our avian-mugged Harry Potter of the cinema, is, as I'm sure you're all painfully and tinglingly aware, making his Broadway debut very soon in the 1970's sex play Equus. He's supposed to be fantastically brilliant in the show, and smart as a whip both on and off the stage. But, yes, most importantly he is naked in the play and gets his jibblies whilst astride a mighty steed (or mare, who the hell knows). And, evidently, he farts sunshine. You know, if this Annie Leibovitz portrait of the actor and his costar, Richard Griffiths, is any indication. Click for larger image, from Vogue.
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Comment by raincoaster: I wrote almost this exact headline an hour or so ago, but it wasn't stealing, honest Richard! I just got... more » | Other threads
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the theatre
New Play About Gossip Columnist Sure to Thrill and Delight Other Gossip Columnists
The media is fascinating... to people in the media. Since they have agency to do so, though, navel-gazing journo types are often foisting slapdash memoirs or trashy novels or plays about what it's like inside their rarefied, obnoxious bubble upon a weary populace. Why just recently a former Rush & Molloy scribe named Patrick Huguenin wrote a play called Paper Dolls—that will be performed at New York's increasingly irritating Fringe Festival—about a print gossip columnist who has the gossip tables turned on her. Apparently there is some sort mention of print vs. blog tensions, which makes us wonder: what would a play about blogging be like? (And no, we do not count that stupid Perez Hilton Saves the Universe and Looks Stupid Doing It or whatever that dumb thing is called.) We'll take a stab at it after the jump. More »
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Comment by Senor_Wences: @Senor_Wences: Sorry, amending: "blow them" is maybe too gender specific. (I'm a product of a certain era of... more » | Other threads
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lines as long as his hair
Follow the Neon In Young Lovers' Eyes
Apparently you should go see Hair, the godless Godspell about American kids teetering on the line between blissed-out druggie heaven and the tunnel-and-jungle hell of Vietnam. Ben Brantley has a Frisco freak-out about it. Have fun waiting in line alllll damn day. [NYT]
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Comment by Imaginary Socialite: it was amazing. I wore miu miu flats and the rain trashed them and I didn't care bc it was... more » | Other threads
the theatre
New York, 12:11 PM
Mon Jul 13
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