What's New on the Rialto

It's vacation time, that's what time it is. For the next week the staff of Talkin' Broadway will be taking a rest, so for those of you who follow certain columns we'll be back next Sunday. Today, you can read the latest installment of Broadway Bound and perhaps find out why Cabaret was plagued with its construction problems. For those of you who haven't read Broadway Bound, this might be a good week to start and catch up. It's all about the making of a musical from the first spark of an idea to opening night. It's very informative and highly entertaining.

Still no word on whether Cabaret will re-open. It's a devastating blow to Roundabout as the show was the biggest hit in their history. To move the musical would cost over two million dollars. To keep it booked at the Kit Kat Klub costs $210,000 a week, a huge sum for the non profit company to absorb. Theaters have been offered for the move but to move it into a vacant Broadway house isn't the solution. The Kit Kat Klub was redesigned to look like a cabaret in Germany circa 1930 The other alternative has been bandied about and that is moving the show to the old Studio 54 nightclub disco of yesteryear. That's where the two million comes into play. How will this be resolved? We'll know this week but after doing the math my fear is that it's gone! The only possible solution is to re-open the Kit Kat Klub and that is up to the city of New York. Stay tuned.

This past week saw the passing of Jerome Robbins, the genius choreographer of musicals such as West Side Story, On the Town, Peter Pan and a myriad of others. Fortunately, some of his work is preserved on film. The opening scene of West Side Story and his aerial ballet in Peter Pan continue to amaze me. Last year when the revival of On The Town failed to transfer to Broadway, the main problem was with the choreography. I don't know why they just don't reproduce Robbins' choreography much like Ann Reinking did with Fosse's choreography for the current hit revival of Chicago. On The Town is scheduled to open in previews at the Gershwin on October 20th.

An Evening With Jerry Herman opened last week to mostly favorable reviews. Herman fans love it and already many have seen it more than once, or plan to see it again. The next eagerly awaited musical to open will be Footloose at the Richard Rogers Theater. Walter Bobbie directs. Previews begin Oct. 2nd with an opening of Oct. 22nd.

Little Me, the Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh musical with a book by Neil Simon is scheduled to begin previews on Sept. 30th. The Roundabout revival stars Martin Short.

Cathy Rigby will be flying high when she brings the touring Peter Pan back to Broadway in November. Theater to be announced.

The other interesting thing coming up is Swan Lake with a 16 week limited run. The London hit previews Sept 26 at the Neil Simon. It's an interesting restaging of the Tchaikovsky ballet. In an unusual move, it's already been aired on PBS.

As you can see, it looks like the first half of the 1998-1999 season really offers nothing new, but mostly revivals. Footloose, I suppose, is new, but it's based on the film which everyone on earth has seen, so there will be no surprises there. However, word on the street is very positive and this just may be the dancingest show to head down the pike in years. Most shows do a website after opening, but you can check out their website now. (link http://www.dodger.com/footloose/index.htm)

While we're on vacation, our All That Chat message board will continue as usual. Late breaking news can be found there and you can join in the often lively discussions. Coming up after vacation will be more interviews, a new On Campus column and regional news and reviews from cities all across America.

Last, the passing of Buffalo Bob Smith this past week saddened many baby boomers who grew up with Bob and Howdy Doody in the early 1950's. The television program was must watching for kids in those days. I wrote the following for an All That Chat forumner by the name of Barbara. I'll share it with you.

Wanna' talk to others about this column or anything else theatre related? Check out All That Chat