SPIDER-MAN MUSICAL Comes to Broadway in 2010

Poster for SPIDER-MAN, TURN OFF THE DARK, a new Broadway Musical

A street performer in Spider-Man costume, photo taken on 42nd Street and 7th Avenue, February 21, 2009 (unrelated to the production)

Playbill.com reports that “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark”,
 a new musical will begin previews at the Hilton Theatre on Jan. 16, 2010. 

Bono and The Edge of U2 are creating new music and lyrics while Tony Award-winner Julie Taymor (of Broadway’s “The Lion King,”) will direct.

“Spider-Man’s battles will hurtle the audience through an origin story both recognizable and unexpected—yielding new characters as well as familiar faces—until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero’s journey,” according to the group sales listing for the show at Broadway.com.

The GERSHWIN HOTEL Exterior

When I attended the recent India Pop Art opening at the GERSHWIN HOTEL earlier this month, I made this image of the hotel's exterior. The Gershwin area was considered the Tin Pan Alley of the olden days, where pop songs of the 30's and 40's were conceived. The hotel just celebrated its centennial anniversary. It is located at 27th Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenues.

Shoegasm

The Shoegasm Store in the West Village, 71 8th Avenue, between 13th and 14th Streets.

Subway train hums "SOMEWHERE" from WESTSIDE STORY

The 4 train as it leaves 59th Street station

Hear it for yourself from this youtube video

Recently, the New York Times ran a story about some NYC subway trains making electronic whine that sounds just like the first three notes of Leonard Bernstein's “Somewhere,” a ballad from the musical "WEST SIDE STORY." I hadn't noticed this since I rarely take the 2, 4 and 5 lines. The other day, I took the 4 train just to hear the sound when the cars start moving. And finally I heard! "There's a place...." But I still don't know what the big deal is.

Careful listeners have been hearing the sound beneath Broadway since 2000 when new cars began using an innovative propulsion system, said Gene Sansone, the chief mechanical officer for the subway.

The newer trains run on alternating current that is chopped into frequencies that excite the steel and produce the sounds, in this case the beginning of "Somewhere," said Jeff Hakner, a professor of electrical engineering at Cooper Union. Other trains, running at different frequencies, fail to produce such a recognizable sound.

The music from "West Side Story" was composed by Leonard Bernstein. The musical opened on Broadway in 1957 and was made into a movie in 1961, both earning multiple awards. Currently, a new revival is in previews at the Palace Theatre.

"Peonies Blowing in the Wind" by JOHN LA FARGE

On exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a stained glass creation of American artist JOHN LA FARGE (1835-1910) called 
"Peonies Blowing in the Wind." Completed in 1886, the work measures 56 1/2 x 26 1/2 inches (143.51 x 67.31 cm). John La Farge, one of the most innovative and versatile American artists of the nineteenth century, achieved renown as a painter in oils and watercolors, as a magazine and book illustrator, as a muralist and designer of stained-glass windows, and as an author of articles and books on art and travel. A quintessential "Renaissance man" of the American Renaissance, he responded to and encouraged the eclectic tastes and interests of his sophisticated patrons. The work of La Farge is displayed at the American Decorative Arts Department togeether with the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany, his early rival.

HUGH JACKMAN and the OSCARS

Last year, Oscar statuettes were displayed in Manhattan's Times Square Studios. I made the images above when I visited the display last year. The golden guy known to the world as the Oscar is the real star of Sunday's 81st Academy Awards which will be hosted by HUGH JACKMAN. First-time Oscar host Mr. Jackman received an Emmy Award in 2005 for hosting the Tony Awards in New York. He also won a Tony Award for his role in the hit Broadway show THE BOY FROM OZ. I took the above photo of Mr. Jackman at the stagedoor of the Imperial Theatre in Times Square after a performance in 2004. According to previous reports, Mr. Jackman will open the ceremony with a musical number staged by "Moulin Rouge" director Baz Luhrmann and Tony-award winning choreographer, Rob Ashford. Hollywood is hoping that this year's awards ceremony will draw more viewers and provide a brief escape from hard economic times. Youtube video from saremac.

The ABERCROMBIE & FITCH Flagship Store Greeter and his Polaroid Photographer

As I have indicated in a previous post, photos of A & F greeters are the most viewed among my Flickr pictures. For a change, I made this image of last Sunday's greeter (well, maybe we should call him a model because he doesn't really greet people) with the polaroid girl that takes pictures of shoppers who wanted to pose with the model. The polaroid photos are handed out free to shoppers as souvenir. Whether or not these bare-chested models actually help boost sales is unclear. The flagship store is located at 720 Fifth Avenue.

Wilting Flower District

These are some of the flowers outside a store on 28th Street just off Sixth Avenue. I captured this photo last weekend when I visited this part of Manhattan, which has been called the "flower district" since the 1890s. Unfortunately, as apartment high-rises and hotels crept along the area, it has become apparent that the flower district would have to disintegrate or relocate somewhere else.

33 Variations

I attended Tuesday night's performance of 33 VARIATIONS, the new Moises Kaufman play starring two-time Oscar Award winning actress, JANE FONDA. The play is now in previews at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre located at 230 West 49th Street. The play was wonderful and the cast was fantastic. It was a delight to see Jane Fonda perform, even though it was obvious that she forgot some lines during the first act. Even Ms. Fonda's dog, Tulea participated in the curtain call. Tulea apparently escaped from the dog sitter and came out during curtain call. 33 Variations has Kaufman taking an audience through what he calls "a series of variations on a moment in a life." It is based on Ludwig van Beethoven obsessively composing his "Diabelli Variations," which are alternative versions, some playful, others serious, of an undistinguished waltz. Kaufman thus echoes the music titan's effort as he weaves together an illuminating examination of the process of composing with emotionally resonant stories. In 1819, music publisher Anton Diabelli wrote a waltz, and invited composers to create a variation on it. Although he initially dismissed the piece as trivial, Beethoven worked on it for years, writing 33 variations, formally known as "33 Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli." Fonda plays a musicologist who goes to Bonn, Germany to examine why the famed composer Ludwig von Beethoven created the variations. At the same time, she is suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The play cuts back and forth between Beethoven, who has gone deaf, writing 33 variations on a piece, and Fonda’s Katherine trying to hold on to her life. I found the whole premise of the play inspiring and moving. It was very entertaining too, especially the scenes between Samantha Mathis and Colin Hanks (Tom Hanks' son). I am always fascinated by the artistry of set designers including Derek McLane in this production. He creatively used stacks of immense bookshelves holding manuscripts or sketchbooks, accompanied by moveable panels that are made of Beethoven's compositions. Even the manual movement of the panels was beautifully "choreographed." The projection design prominently features Beethoven's sketches on stage.

Ms. Fonda blogs about her theater experience among other things at this address:

http://janefonda.com/category/my-blog

Here are some of the New York Times' Readers Reviews:

Wow!, February 18, 2009

Reviewer: donnadonna53

A wonderfully written play about the complexity of relationships. The staging was very inventive and made the transitions between centuries flow with ease. The performances were truly inspiring. This is a play that will stay with you long after you leave the theater. A must see!

Fascinating story, February 16, 2009

Reviewer: bsimon

It's a compelling drama with an interesting story line. All the characters are well-drawn and the acting is excellent. The set is spectacular; it's both beautiful and inventive.

What a Delight!, February 15, 2009

Reviewer: nativechelsea

Moises Kaufman's new play is beautifully staged, with top-notch performances from the entire cast. I saw this in the first week of previews, so no doubt they are still tweaking many elements. The story is so interesting, and by the end, I was indeed quite moved. Music lovers in particular will enjoy. Great theatre is back on Broadway!!! Highly recommended -- go see this play! You don't want to miss this one!

Exceeded Expectations, February 15, 2009

Reviewer: collinstw3

We saw the show on Thursday 12 February and really enjoyed it. Still a little rough around the edges, but lots of promise and Jane Fonda was excellent. Go see this show!

Star turn, February 15, 2009

Reviewer: frankie1234

It's great to see a star like Jane Fonda on Broadway. Kaufman's play reminds me of a good Peter Shaffer play. Not too much history, but enough to be interesting. I think it needs a little editing, but I would recommend to almost anyone.

emperor's new clothes, February 14, 2009

Reviewer: michaelhalpern

great to see jane fonda looking so good, but this is a nothing of a play. pretentious and empty, its dramaturgy is overly-simplistic, the staging is flat, and the characters are one-dimensional. rent KLUTE and save your money.

Well worth watching, February 12, 2009

Reviewer: wgs2102

While I saw this show in early previews (it was a little rough around the edges), I could tell it would become fantastic once it opened. The design aspects worked well to aid the acting; Jane Fonda lived up to her name, and the supporting cast helped the show immeasurably. Moises Kaufman was everything we'd expect and more. Go see this show!

well done!, February 12, 2009

Reviewer: rubywhitehouse

I thoroughly enjoyed this play. The characters were quite compelling, and the story was very unique. The blurred time lines and story lines flowed very well. The stage design was inspired, so beautiful. I thought the play had a great synergy to it, the cast worked very well together. Jane Fonda was amazing, she brought a wisdom and maturity to the role- with incredible style. I was very moved by the performances and the music. I highly highly recommend this play!

PIERRE BONNARD at the MET: The Late Interiors

This is one of PIERRE BONNARD's paintings on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In addition to this beautiful work, the Met is also holding the first exhibition to focus entirely on the radiant late interiors and still lifes of Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947). Last Sunday, we viewed the exhibit at the Robert Lehman Wing of the Met. There were 80 paintings, drawings, and watercolors dating from the artist’s later years, when he centered his painting activity in his pink stucco house overlooking the Mediterranean in the village of Le Cannet. Working in a converted upstairs bedroom, Bonnard transformed the rooms and objects that surrounded him into iridescent subjects, remarkable in color, light, and vision. Compelling metaphors for a range of sensations, the late paintings convey a disquieting effect. It is these luminous late interiors that define Bonnard’s modernism and prompt a reappraisal of his reputation in the history of 20th-century art. The exhibit runs through April 19, 2009.

BARNEY'S NEW YORK Warehouse Sale

Join the Frenzy. The bi-annual Barneys Warehouse Sale is taking place at 255 W. 17th St. from February 12 through March 1st. I loved their sign at the exit!
Hours:
Feb. 12 and 13: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Weekdays: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Weekends: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Phone: (212) 450-8400

PRESIDENTS' DAY

These images of President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in wax were taken at Madame Tussauds Museum in Times Square. The museum is located at 234 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues. It is open 365 days a year from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

From wikipedia:

Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day (or Presidents' Day). As Washington's Birthday or Presidents Day, it is also the official name of a concurrent state holiday celebrated on the same day in a number of states. Titled Washington's Birthday, the federal holiday was originally implemented by the United States of America federal government in 1880 for government offices in the District of Columbia (20 Stat. 277) and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices (23 Stat. 516). As the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, February 22. On January 1, 1971 the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. A draft of the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968 would have renamed the holiday to Presidents' Day to honor both Washington and Lincoln, but this proposal failed in committee and the bill as voted on and signed into law on June 28, 1968 kept the name Washington's Birthday.

By the mid-1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term "Presidents' Day" began its public appearance.[1] The theme has expanded the focus of the holiday to honor another President born in February, Abraham Lincoln, and often other Presidents of the United States. Although Lincoln's birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, approximately a dozen state governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday observances as "Presidents Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations. However, "Presidents Day" is not always an all-inclusive term. In Massachusetts, while the state officially celebrates "Washington's Birthday," state law also prescribes that the governor issue an annual Presidents Day proclamation honoring the presidents that have come from Massachusetts: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, and John F. Kennedy.[2] (Coolidge, the only one born outside of Massachusetts, spent his entire political career before the vice presidency there. George H. W. Bush, on the other hand, was born in Massachusetts, but has spent most of his life elsewhere.) Alabama uniquely observes the day as "Washington and Jefferson Day", even though Jefferson's birthday was in April.[3] In New Jersey, Connecticut and Illinois, while Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday, Abraham Lincoln's birthday is still a state holiday, falling on February 12 regardless of the day of the week. In California, Lincoln's Birthday is also a legal state holiday, however, observance is frequently moved to the Monday or Friday occurring closest to February 12. When Lincoln's Birthday is observed on the Friday preceding Washington's Birthday, the resultant four-day weekend is commonly called "Presidents' Day Weekend", particularly by retailers in their sale advertisements.

In Washington's home state of Virginia the holiday is legally known as "George Washington Day."

"Valentine to Times Square," heart sculpture in the heart of Times Square

Unveiled recently in the heart of Times Square is a 10-foot-tall pulsing metallic heart sculpture called VALENTINE TO TIMES SQUARE created by Gage/Clemenceau Architects. I took photos of the gorgeous "Heart of Times Square" last night when it was unseasonably mild. The piece is installed at the foot of the TKTS Stairway to Nowhere in Father Duffy Square (between 46th and 47th Street, Broadway and Seventh Avenue) and will be on display through February 22. To perfectly match the lights of Times Square, the designers utilized a reflective surface and changing LED lighting. The piece was constructed with DuPont™ Corian and welded steel tubes. It pulses in red, pink and purple lights. Computer driven lasers cut the metal sheathing into a delicate latticework pattern. Inside, shelves of horizontal luminescent acrylic pulse in reds, pinks and purples. The sculpture is a creation of a wholly New York team, uniting artistic, industrial and commercial elements of the city: young Lower East Side architects, Queens auto body shop welders, Brooklyn manufacturers, and one of the most highly trafficked, advertisement-laden arenas in the world.

“With all that’s going on in the world, we were overjoyed by the prospect of creating something where we can spread a little love,” said designer Mark Foster Gage. “Valentine to Times Square speaks to our love of Times Square and New York City – frenetic, ever-changing, colorful and always fascinating.”

Last night, couples, tourists, locals and families posed for pictures in front of this mesmerizing public art installation. The sculpture is presented as part of a Valentine’s Day in Times Square celebration sponsored by jewelry retailer Zales. Happy Valentine's Day!

@ the stagedoor: JANE FONDA, star of 33 VARIATIONS

I made these images of JANE FONDA at the stagedoor of the EUGENE O'NEILL THEATRE where she signed autographs after a performance of 33 VARIATIONS. The new play by Moises Kaufman is now in previews. Born in New York City, Fonda is a writer, political activist, former fashion model, fitness guru, and a two-time Academy Award winning actress for her roles in "Klute" and "Coming Home." 33 Variations marks her first return to Broadway since the 1963 play "Strange Interlude."

Fonda also blogs about her Broadway experience. Launched in January, she shares behind-the-scenes glimpse of Broadway, along with a dash of politics and other topics. The link to her blog is at: http://janefonda.com/category/my-blog

From Playbill.com:

Jane Fonda returns to Broadway as a musicologist racing against time to unravel one of Beethoven's towering obsessions as well as her own legacy. In 1819, fledgling publisher Anton Diabelli commissioned 50 composers to write a variation on a waltz he had created. Beethoven rejected the invitation, dismissing Diabelli's waltz as ordinary. He then obsessively created 33 variations on Diabelli's theme. Why? Kaufman's play weaves Beethoven's artistic journey with that of Katherine, a musicologist deciphering clues left behind in Beethoven's notebooks and letters and wondering about her own obsession with genius.

Show Dates:

Performances from 09 Feb 2009

Opening 09 Mar 2009

Closing 24 May 2009

Performance Schedule:

Tuesday - Saturday @8pm

Wednesday and Saturday @2pm

Sunday @3pm

Beginning March 9: Tuesday @7pm

The Eugene O'Neill Theatre is located at 230 West 49th Street.

MARQUEE: West Side Story

The one musical that I am looking forward to this season is the new Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY, which plays the Palace Theatre beginning in a couple of weeks.

From Playbill.com

Production: West Side Story, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, directed by Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins' choreography re-created by Joey McKneely, starring Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione, George Akram, Cody Green and Karen Olivo.

Previews: February 23, 2009

Opening: March 19, 2009

Venue: Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Librettist Arthur Laurents directs this revival of the ground-breaking classic musical, which introduces "the unprecedented element of selectively weaving Spanish throughout both the book and songs."

West Side Story transports the achingly beautiful tale of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to the turbulent streets of the Upper West Side in 1950's New York City. Two star-crossed lovers, Tony and Maria, find themselves caught between the rival street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds, the Jets and the Sharks. Their struggle to exist together in a world of violence, hate and prejudice is one of the most heart-breaking, relevant and innovative musical masterpieces of our time.

The Glowing Ruby-Red Stairs of TKTS

The new TKTS booth proper in Times Square is topped by a sweeping cascade of 27 ruby-red structural glass steps, rising to a height of 16 feet 1 inch above the 47th Street sidewalk. On these glowing stairs, hundreds of visitors (as many as 1,500 if they squeeze in tight) can congregate every day until 1 a.m. to have a great view of the Great White Way. The TKTS booth uses over 2,800 linear feet of red Plexineon LED lighting fixtures to make the steps, and therefore the stadium, come to life through a dramatic radiance of red lighting. This project shows lighting designers, architects and engineers the performance, durability, and ease of use that iLight’s LED lighting systems offer. “iLight’s products are creative lighting tools which allow designers to bring out the best in their designs,” says iLight’s President & CEO, Sean Callahan. “The TKTS booth illustrates how designers can enhance the impact of project through powerful lighting effects using our products.” iLight’s products use LEDs as their light source which offer reduced energy and maintenance costs and longer lifetimes than conventional lighting. The structure has 27 red steps that rest on an assembly made entirely out of glass and rise over a fiberglass shell housed underneath the steps. (Information from iLight)

Three TKTS Discount Booths operate in New York City
1. The Times Square Booth sells day-of-performance tickets only.
2. The South Street Seaport Booth sells tickets to evening performances on the day of the performance, and matinee tickets the day before.
3. The Downtown Brooklyn Booth sells tickets to evening performances on the day of the performance, and matinee tickets the day before as well tickets to Brooklyn performing arts events.

TKTS in Times Square is located at 47th and Broadway.
Hours:
For evening performances:
Monday - Saturday: 3pm - 8pm
Sundays: 3pm until one-half hour before the latest curtain time being sold.
For matinee performances: Wednesdays and Saturdays: 10am - 2pm Please note: no evening tickets are sold from 10am to 2 pm at Times Square.
Sundays: 11am - 3pm

Diamond District

This is Manhattan's DIAMOND DISTRICT on 47th Street, the "perfect setting" for diamond shopping in New York City. I took these photos from the Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) side last January 3, 2009.

From http://www.diamonddistrict.org/home.html

The Diamond District is the world's largest shopping district for all sizes and shapes of diamonds and fine jewelry at tremendous prices and value. When you shop for diamonds and fine jewelry, this is the first and only place to shop- New York 's Diamond District.

The United States is the world's largest consumer market for diamonds. Over 90 percent of the diamonds that enter this country go through New York City and most of them go through the Diamond District. More than 2,600 independent businesses are located in the Diamond District, and nearly all of them are related to diamonds or fine jewelry.

Because the 47 th Street merchants are located so close to where jewelry is made and where diamonds are cut and traded, our jewelers can offer you a tremendous variety of precious goods, great values and industry expertise.

The Diamond District is located on West 47 th Street between Fifth and the Avenue of the Americas ( Sixth Avenue ) in midtown Manhattan . We are within walking distance of many New York City attractions, one block south of Rockefeller Center, three blocks south of Radio City Music Hall (along the Avenue of the Americas) and three blocks south of St. Patrick's Cathedral (along Fifth Avenue). We are also just one block east of the Broadway Theater District.

ROOTS

This is the ROOTS sculpture created by STEVE TOBIN in 2005, cast bronze, approximately 20'h x 18'w. The sculpture is located at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway at Trinity Church in downtown Manhattan. The piece was created from the roots of the historic sycamore tree that saved St. Paul's Chapel
 and churchyard from falling debris from the attack on the World Trade Center across the street from the Church on September 11, 2001. St. Paul’s Chapel became the venue of an eight-month ministry to Ground Zero after the attack on 9/11. The chapel opened its doors to firemen, policemen and volunteers, providing meals, a place to sleep and a place to reflect following the WTC attack. After carefully removing the artifact from the churchyard with the help of several of his studio assistants, Tobin is having it transported on a flatbed truck to his studio, where he will carry out the laborious process of creating the sculpture. When the sculpture is completed within the next several months, Tobin will present both the original artifact and the work of art to the church, where it will be exhibited. Tobin will work with tree experts and church officials to preserve the original artifact, which will survive intact after the artist removes the mold material that will be applied to turn it into a bronze sculpture.

“Shortly after the events of 9/11, I saw the incredibly moving, inspiring story of how the sycamore tree fell upon impact from the fallen towers and protected the historic churchyard from damage,” said Tobin. “All that is now left of the tree is the stump and the roots, which fit into the language of my expression. The terrorists knocked down the buildings and uncovered the strength of our humanity in the roots of New York City, the United States and the world. We are all connected in the roots. I feel that this memorial recognizing the uplifting response to the disaster will be the most important sculpture of my career, and I am honored to be given this opportunity by my friends at Trinity Church.”

A Little Bit of Bollywood

During this evening's opening reception of NEW YORK INDIA POP ART at the Gershwin Hotel, there was a performance by dancers from the SONALEE'S BOLLYWOOD DANCE STUDIO. I made these images of the highlights of the performance, which was not quite like the dance from the "Slumdog" film, but a slam dunk of gorgeous and energetic dancing nonetheless. Bollywood dancing is a commercial term for modern Indian dancing consisting of various forms, a fusion of classical Indian, folk, Arabic, expressionist, Latino and street styles.

Sunday in the Park

Bethesda Fountain

Bethesda Fountain

Rowboats by the frozen Lake

Some snapshots of Central Park taken one snowy Sunday (January 18, 2009)

Sports Museum of America

On this Super Bowl weekend, the new SPORTS MUSEUM OF AMERICA is offering discount on admission to visitors who wear some sort of gear touting a professional sports team. The regular adult admission is reduced from $16 to $10. The Sports Museum of America is located at 26 Broadway in Lower Manhattan. It opened on May 7, 2008 as the United States' first national sports museum dedicated to the history and cultural significance of sports in America. The museum is situated in the "Canyon of Heroes" where New York's renowned tickertape parades begin, SmA is directly across the street from the famous "Charging Bull" statue, footsteps from Wall Street and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Ferries, a short walk from the World Trade Center, the Brooklyn Bridge and South Street Seaport, and - surprising as it may seem - an easy and economical 15-minute subway ride from Midtown Manhattan. Since more than 95% of sports fans across the United States have not been able to visit the Pro Football, Hockey, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball or other Halls of Fame - widely considered the ultimate destinations for lifelong sports fans - the Sports Museum of America is honored to call Downtown "home" and to share a powerful sampling of our partners' stories with the millions of people who annually visit here. .

The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but the last admission is at 5:15 p.m. It’s located at 26 Broadway, across from the Charging Bull statue.

I made photos of a small portion of the museum's exterior, as well as the window display of the custom-built bike that was given to former New York Giants defensive MICHAEL STRAHAN as a retirement gift. The bike is adorned with a plaque modeled after Strahan's Super Bowl ring and is signed by members of the 2008 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.