What's New on the Rialto

Last year we had the first Talkin' Broadway auction over on the ebay website (www.ebay.com) and raised hundreds of dollars for charity. Well, now it's time for our second auction. What you will find is theater memorabilia that you can bid on and all the proceeds will go to a sweet charity.

The item you see here is a Phantom of the Opera program from a Japanese production donated by one of our readers. Over the next few days we'll be adding many items to the auction, including an autographed script by the cast of the Stephen Sondheim musical Company, an autographed Whistle Down The Wind stagebill from the D.C. production, Fanny Brice sheet music, Phantom of the Opera 10th Playbills (one autographed by a Phantom!). When I ran into Brian Stokes Mitchell I asked him to autograph some Ragtime souvenir programs so we'll have a few of those too.

So please join us on e-bay during the month of August as we try to raise over a thousand dollars. We'll have many items during that period. If you have a piece of theater memorabilia you would like to donate to our auction, please e-mail me for instructions on how you can help out.

Of course, the big auction is coming up in September when BC/EFA has their 12th Annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction. They, of course, raise millions at this event and this year it'll be on a Sunday rather than a congested Saturday. More details as the time approaches.

Tidbits: You have until September 13 to catch Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde down at the Minetta Lane. Christina D'Angelo, our resident critic, raved over this play, so I would head to the box office now!

Mandy Patinkin's Yiddish concert has been extended through Aug. 22 at the Orensanz Center. Tickets are hot, but if you miss it, you'll be able to get the CD soon.

Colin Quinn, the veteran Weekend Update guy on Saturday Night Live will be bringing his show, An Irish Wake, to the Helen Hayes Theater for four weeks beginning August 25th. If you want a bargain, seats for the first two previews on Aug. 25th and 26th are only $15.00 each.

Lillias White takes over for Yvette Freeman in the Dinah Washington musical Dinah Was down at the Grammercy Theater on E. 23rd Street tomorrow, Monday, August 10th. As you know, Lillias won a Tony for her performance in The Life. If you've seen Dinah Was, now you have a reason to see it again.

This is the last week for When Pigs Fly before they take it on tour. The Off Broadway hit is over at the Douglas Fairbanks Theater on West 42nd street.

Remember when we ran that column on Mike Corda? Mike was in the orchestra of the original company of Kiss Me Kate way back in 1948. Since then he has written many songs for popular singers, but his anthem, "We Are The Dreamers", a song that blew me away, had never been recorded except a demo. Well, Mike's dream is coming true. A major label and artist with a full symphony orchestra are recording the song. Mike called to thank Talkin' Broadway for spreading the word. Great guy, great song...details coming at you once the ink is dry.

We're back from vacation and will resume as usual with new columns starting this week. "Christina's World” returns on Thursday and "Broadway Bound” continues today. "Broadway 101” publishes its fourth installment covering the history of Broadway from 1920 to 1930 soon. Watch for the announcement on our new home page which will also make its debut shortly.

See you Thursday!

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