glebb

You can often find Kschessinska's autobiography, "Dancing in Petersburg" on Ebay. For those interested in the Romanovs, this book is a good one. There is a photo of her in town mansion. It is now a museum and darn it all, it was closed the day I walked by on my way to the Peter and Paul Fortress.

I've not read a bio on Duncan but I do own a video of the Vanessa Redgrave movie.

Any opinions of her portrayal and accuracy of the story telling?

Tony Montalvo did all performances of "I/DNA". Though there were cast changes in other ballets on the program, there were no replacements in "I/DNA".

I'm pretty sure that Fabrice Calmels is a former Paris Opera Ballet school student.

Mbjerk,

Did you see Rebecca Wright perform Titania? My first live Titania was Francesca Corkle with Burton Taylor as Oberon. I think Francesca was amazing. I've heard that Rebecca had a glow. Can you write about her performance?

mbjerk, sorry that I am not able to help you with this.

I think that when "The Dream" was televised, I did not yet own a VCR. I've not seen it since, though my memory tells me that the cast included: Dowell, Merle Park and Wayne Sleep.

I am with you in loving the Ashton version.

Funny, in the film of Robert K. Massie's "Nicholas & Alexandra", there is no portrayal of Alexandra's best friend Anna Vyrobova.

In the film "Gone With the Wind" two of Scarlett's children are omitted.

Sorry, I don't know the names of the dancers and my DVD is on loan, so I can't check.

I had dinner with Suzanne Massie not that long ago and the dancing in "Nicholas & Alexandra" was not on my list of questions.

In "Nicholas & Alexandra" (1971), there is a ballet performance given inside one of Maria Feodorovna's palaces. It is Maria's (Irene Worth) birthday. After being presented a huge Faberge Egg Clock, she watches a corps de ballet and principle couple perform to music we know as Don Q Pas de Deux, as her son Nicholas II (Michael Jayston) and his uncle Nicholasha (Harry Andrews), drink ice cold vodka and discuss politics.

Take a look!

http://www.nineonbroadway.com/

And now Antonio will have his wife right across the street when Melanie Griffith begins her run as Roxie Hart in "Chicago" very soon.

A little more about Maryhill.

Sam Hill's elegant mansion high above the Columbia River on the Washington side, is a grand site. He named the house after his daughter Mary.

Sam Hill helped Romania through it's post World War I famine and in 1926, Queen Marie came to the US for the dedication of the unfinished museum. She donated personal possessions -(crowns, jewels, books she authored, photos, furniture she designed, and her own paintings and gowns, one of them being the dress she wore to the coronation of Nicholas II).

I would ask Balanchine what it was like being a monkey in a tree with Kschessinska trying to shoot him down in "La Fille Du Pharaon", and to give me every detail of his meeting with the last Tsar and Tsaritza of Russia.

Has she not been promoted already?

I saw her as Medora this past summer.

She was very good.

Thanks for keeping me posted Dirac.

"NINE" is stunning and if the hoards of people waiting outside the theatre, post performance (my first time ever standing outside a stage door for autographs) indicates anything, I would not be surprised to see this special show held over.

Don't count out what Mendes did with "GYPSY". The show is a delight.

An extraordinary museum. I went for the Queen Marie of Roumania exhibit and enjoyed everything else, including the house itself!

As Alexandra describes him, Henning Kronstam must have been one very special artist.

A friend of mine who recently staged "Prodigal Son" for Ballet Arizona told me how incredible Ib Anderson is at directing rehearsals. It must come from the tradition of great direction set by Kronstam.

Thank you for the wonderful book Alexandra. I was turned on to a whole world of art that I will miss.

Sorry about the tardiness of my reply. I've been out of town.

Bernadette Peters, whom I've loved in other broadway shows: "Sunday in the Park With George", "Song and Dance",

"Into The Woods" and "Annie Get Your Gun" seemed completely miscast. In my opinion, she is too much of a waif, and was not commanding.

She seemed tired.

GYPSY - Shubert Theatre, Saturday, April 5, 2003 - 8pm

Sam Mendes, winner of Tony and Olivier awards, who directed the still running on broadway, magnificent production of "Cabaret", has done a winning job with this one.

I've seen the movie, the Tyne Daley revival, and the Bette Midler for TV version of GYPSY and this is by far my favorite version.

Direction, sets, lights, costumes and performances. John Dossett is an excellent Herbie. The strippers are the best. Tessie Tura - Heather Lee, Electra - Julie Halston, and especially Kate Buddeke as Mazeppa are hysterical. Heather Tepe as Baby June and Kate Reinders as Dainty June (watching her pull a cigarette out from under her pink dress in Grantzinger's office made me fall out of my seat). David Burtka is a charming Tulsa and Tammy Blanchard (young Judy Garland in the mini series "Me and My Shadows") is a great Louise. It is even better when a real dancer plays Louise, but I admire Tammy's performance.

If you have to choose between "42nd Street" or "Gypsy", pick "Gypsy". This old musical works and boasts Jerome Robbins choreography.

NINE at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre - Saturday, April 5, 2003 2pm.

The RoundAbout Theatre Company production of NINE is precisely my cup of tea, though one could hardly call it a cup of tea. It is a feast!

The leads are: Antonio Banderas (Guido), Laura Benanti (Claudia), Jane Krakowski (Carla), Mary Stuart Masterson (Louisa), and Chita Rivera (La Fleur).

Book is by Arthur Kopit, music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. The choreography is by Jonathan Butterell and the director is David Leveaux.

I don't want to say too much about this because I don't want to give anything away for the lucky people who might see it. I really hope Leigh, Mel or Manhattnik will see it and write a review.

For me it was a blitz of beauty, pain and beauty. Many surprises, in many ways. Antonio Banderas has just the right charisma (every woman in the cast truly seems in love with him), innocence, and restraint. Laura Benanti has a beautiful voice and look. Mary Stuart Masterson is a wonderful actress and a surprisingly excellent singer/dancer. Jane Krakowski - what can I say? I am in love! Not by just her amazing performance but by her bows. Chita Rivera still commands the stage (maybe they should try to steal her for Mamma Rose, a few blocks away).

The direction, sets, costumes, lights all top notch. This is David Leveaux's first musical. I can't imagine how he can top this effort, but I guess that is why I take a taxi from Kennedy to the box office to try to get a ticket and he directs.

Marguerite Porter also danced with the main Royal Ballet company. At one time it was hoped that she would become the next Margot Fonteyn, with whom she bore a strong resemblance..

She originated a part in Ashton's "A Month in the Country".

We also need "Magic Ribbon".

This product allows the ballerina to keep her ribbons tucked, and guarentees that they will not come undone during rehearsals and performances.

How true Geraldine's line is!

"Hans Christian Andersen" is one of my faves. I have the DVD. I used to know the daughter of the actor who played Peter. She was a very fine dancer.

Is "Grand Hotel" out on DVD? I do want to see it. I hear Joan Crawford is good too. I saw Jane Krakowski as Flameschen in the Tommy Tune musical.

"Waterloo Bridge" is a must for everyone. Myra in the train station is one of Vivien's best scenes ever!

Doesn't Greta Garbo play a Ballerina in "Grand Hotel"?

I saw the original musical on Broadway and have heard of but not seen the movie.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is celebrating it's 25th Anniversary Season at Chicago's amazing Oriental Theatre. There are three (not completely) different programs over a three week span.

I saw Program A - "International Masters" - Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 3pm

"Jardi Tancat" (Closed Garden) - 1983 - by Nacho Duato was quite beautiful. I enjoyed the performances of Patrick Simonello and Taryn Kaschock especially.

"Passomezzo" by Ohad Naharin - 1989 - is a pas de deux to "Greensleeves". I did not particulary like the choreography though I thought Cheryl Mann was very beautiful.

"Super Straight is coming down" by Daniel Ezralow - 1989 - was not my cup of tea at all, though the dancers performed it well.

"Cor Perdut (Lost Heart) - 1989- by Nacho Duato was next.

Program note: "Cor Perdut" is a pas de deux inspired by the Catalan version of the song "Bir Demet Ysemen: by Maria del Mar Bonet. The two dancers bring to life Duato's corporal and expressive language, set to the syncopatic and hypnotic rhythm of Tunisian percussion instraments. This particular interpretation is based upon a theme with traditional nuances composed by Armenian M. J. Berberian. "It's no use crying/it's no use dying/desire is stronger/it goes it's own way", laments of Maria del Mar Bonet. Her hypnotic power on Duato -- who created "Cor Perdut" as a birthday present for the Majorcan singer, is unquestionable."

I especially like the dancing of Massimo Pacilli in "Cor Perdut".

Kylian's "No More Play" - 1988 which has been given it's Hubbard Street premiere this season, was danced with no pause before "Sechs Tanze" (Six Dances) - 1986 - which seems to be a Hubbard Street signature work. The company performs it brilliantly and often.

Other stand out dancers today were: Shannon Alvis and Joseph P. Panteleon.

Thanks for the report liebs! I wish I could have fit "A Little Night Music" into my recent, brief visit to NY. I always make myself see new stuff. I do have a video of the original incarnation of NYCO - "A Little Night Music" and I like the production very much.

As for the original production of "Nine", I was blown away by the 21 incredibly beautiful women. Not only were they beautiful but they were as talented as they were beautiful. I also liked the music and the sets a lot. I'm very curious as to how this production will compare.

I loved Julianne Moore, especially in "Far From Heaven", but she and Nicole Kidman (whom I think is one of the great beauties of the screen and one of the best behaved actresses in public) had costumes to work with. Meryl was the real, naked actress in "The Hours".