A Broadway Star Dances Her Way Onto TV

For the first time in six seasons, a Broadway actress will represent the theatre world when Marissa Jaret Winokur, the Tony Award winning actress from Hairspray, dances her way onto ABC's "Dancing With the Stars".

Marissa will begin her dancing on March 17th, where she will be compete against 11 other stars for the title of champion of Dancing With the Stars. She will be paired with Tony Dovolani, who danced with Jane Seymour last season.

Along with Winokur, the other 11 stars will be TV star Adam Carolla, actress Shannon Elizabeth, actor Steve Guttenburg, Chiliean actor Cristian de la Fuente, R&B singer Mario, tennis champ Monica Seles, actress Priscella Presley, actress Marlee Maitlin, magician Penn Jillette, football star Jason Taylor and olympic gold champion skater Kristi Yamaguchi.

Be sure to watch Dancing With the Stars and call in every week to keep Marissa in the running for champion. Good luck!

Musicals Take Home Four Grammys and an Oscar

When it comes to awards, the Broadway scene let it's presence be known this year, especially at the Grammy and the Academy Awards.

At the Grammy Awards the musical scene took home four awards including Spring Awakening coming away with Best Musical Show Album. Cirque Du Soliel's "Love", the show based on the songs of the Beatles, took home the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media as well as the Best Surround Sound Album. "Love you, I do", by composer, Henry Krieger won Best Song for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for the hit song from the hit film, Dreamgirls.

At the Academy Awards ceremony, Broadway was successful in winning one award with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street winning Best Art Direction.

Congratulations to all winners and continue to win those awards.

Broadway Has More Closing Shows than Opening in March and April

Once again, Broadway has a lot more family members saying “Good-bye” than new arrivals in March and April. The following are some of the shows that are leaving and arriving on the Great White Way:

On March 2nd, The Farnsworth Invention will be leaving the Music Box Theatre. After showing 34 previews and 104 performances, Hank Azaria and newcomer Jimmi Simpson will be leaving the stage as the curtain falls for the last time on this show. Opening on December 3rd, The Farnsworth Invention tells the story of Philo T. Farnsworth, the self taught boy who became the inventor of the television and David Sarnoff of RCA who wanted the invention for himself. If you liked The West Wing, be sure to catch this show as it was made by the same creator, Aaron Sorkin.

Later in March, another popular play will be closing, entitled The 39 Steps. Based off the Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name, The 39 Steps is a comedic espionage murder mystery with 150 roles played by four amazing cast members. Currently playing at the American Airlines Theatre and starring Charles Edwards who traveled with the West End production, This show is sure to please anyone who appreciates true acting talent. Starting on January 4th, 2008 and officially opening on January 15th, 2008, the lights will lower for the last time on March 29th, 2008.

Opening in March, Secrets of a Soccer Mom will open at the Snapple Theatre Center. This Kathleen Clark play tells the story of three soccer moms who leave behind their spot on the sidelines and compete in a mother-son soccer game. After working together on Clark’s Southern Comforts, this will be Clark’s and director Judy Ivey’s second collaboration. Secrets of a Soccer Mom will be hitting the field on March 5th.

One show that 5 Minutes to Curtain will continuously update you on a show that is opening in December. Recently, many adult-targeted movies have been hitting Broadway including Young Frankenstein, The 39 Steps, The Color Purple and Xanadu. If you take a closer look, children’s movies have also made a huge impact on the theatre scene as well, such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Mary Poppins and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. As you may notice, Disney has had a role in many of those shows listed above, but one other film-making company has entered the playing field. Dreamworks has released it’s hit series Shrek into the theatre world with Shrek the Musical when it hits the The Broadway Theatre in December of 2008. Three roles have already been filled to this day. Sutton Foster, known for her major roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Young Frankenstein and The Drowsy Chaperone, will be playing Princess Fiona, the female lead and counterpart to Shrek. Christopher Sieber, currently playing Sir Dennis in Spamalot will be playing Lord Faruaad. Receiving a 2005 Tony nomination, Sieber is also known as a TV actor, playing the dad to the Olsen twins in “Two of a Kind”. Keela Lewis-Evans will playing Dragon, Donkey’s love interest. Evans was last seen alongside Foster in The Drowsy Chaperone. Shrek the Musical will be performing an out-of-town tryout in Seattle from August 14th to Sept. 21st before starting NY previews on November 8th.

Keep tuning into www.fusion726.com/5mins for further news on Shrek the Musical and other shows arriving and departing Broadway.

Stage and Screen Star Roy Scheider Dead at 75

Roy Scheider, best known for his work on stage and screen, passed away February 10^th, from a staff infection due to complications from multiple myeloma. Mr. Scheider was 75 years old.

Scheider was born in 1932 in Orange, NJ and graduated from college as a history major. He served three years in the Air Force where he was discharged at the rank of First Lieutenant.

Roy Scheider made his professional stage debut in a 1961 production New York Shakespeare Festival production of Romeo and Juliet, where he played the role of Mercutio. His broadway debut came four years later in a stage production of Tartuffe.

Having over seventy films to his credit, Scheider received an Oscar nomination for one of his best known films, All That Jazz (1979), where he portrayed the infamous Broadway choreographer, Bob Fosse. His most well known role was in 1975, playing the resort police chief in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws.

He is survived by his wife, three children and two grandchildren.

Five Minutes to Curtain would like to express our condolences to Roy Scheider’s family, friends and fans.

Carbonell Committee Announces 2007 Nominations

The following nominations have been made for the 2007 Carbonell Awards:

Best New Work (play or musical) (award to author):

-David Caudle, Likeness, New Theatre

-Michael McKeever, Melt, New Theatre

-Juan C. Sanchez, Red Tide, The Promethean Theatre

Best Ensemble Production (play or musical):

- Glengarry Glen Ross: Mosaic Theatre

- Melt: New Theatre

- Steel Magnolias: Caldwell Theatre Company

- Summer Shorts, City Theatre

Best Production of a Play (award to producing organization):

- Glengarry Glen Ross, Mosaic Theatre

- A House With No Walls, Florida Stage

- The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage

- Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre

- Trying, Palm Beach Dramaworks

Best Director of a Play:

- Joseph Adler, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage

- Nanique Gheridian, Trying, Palm Beach Dramaworks

- Richard Jay Simon, Glengarry Glen Ross, Mosaic Theatre

- Richard Jay Simon, Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre

- Louis Tyrrell, A House With No Walls, Florida Stage

Best Actor in a Play:

- Stephen G. Anthony, Faith Healer, Inside Out Theatre Company

- The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage

- John Felix, Guest Artist, Mosaic Theatre

- Peter Haig, Trying, Palm Beach Dramaworks

- Paul Tei, Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre

Best Actress in a Play:

-Kameshia Duncan , A House With No Walls, Florida Stage

- Lela Elam, In the Continuum, GableStage

- Margot Moreland, Fat Pig, GableStage

- Pilar Uribe, Nine Parts of Desire, Mosaic Theatre

- Tara Vodihn, I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady From Rwanda, New Theatre

Best Supporting Actor in a Play:

- Ken Clement, Faith Healer, Inside Out Theatre Company

- Erik Fabregat, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage

- John Felix, Melt, New Theatre

- Andrew Rassmussen, According to Goldman, Florida Stage

- Paul Tei, Glengarry Glen Ross, Mosaic Theatre

Best Supporting Actress in a Play:

- Linda Bernhard, Sister Cities, The Women's Project

- Pat Bowie, Doubt, Caldwell Theatre Company

- Kim Morgan, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage

- Kim Morgan, Smut, GableStage

- Angie Radosh, The Fourth Wall, Palm Beach DramaWorks

Best Production of a Musical (award to producing organization):

- The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- I Love You Because, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Best Director of a Musical:

- David Arisco, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- David Arisco, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Peter Flynn, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- J. Barry Lewis, Side by Side by Sondheim, Palm Beach Dramaworks

- Mark Martino, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Actor in a Musical:

- Neal Benari, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Jerry Gulledge, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Terrell Hardcastle, Side by Side by Sondheim, Palm Beach Dramaworks

- Gary Marachek, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Tally Sessions, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Best Actress in a Musical:

- Irene Adjan, Funny Girl, New Vista Theatre Company

- Natalie Hall, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Jennifer Hughes, I Love You Because, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Alicia Irving, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Laura Turnbull, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, New Vista Theatre Company

Best Supporting Actor in a Musical:

- Jim Ballard, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Marcus Davis, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Connor Gallagher, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Christopher A. Kent, Funny Girl, New Vista Theatre Company

- Michael Lluberes, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Supporting Actress in a Musical:

- Cherilyn Franco, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Rachel Jones, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Julie Kotarides, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Erin McGuire, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Lourelene Snedeker, Backwards in High Heels, Florida Stage

Best Musical Direction:

- Eric Alsford, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Craig D. Ames, Side by Side by Sondheim, Palm Beach Dramaworks

- Helen Gregory, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Helen Gregory, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- David Nagy, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Best Choreography:

- Chrissi Ardito, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Chrissi Ardito, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

- Lynnette Barkley, Backwards in High Heels, Florida Stage

- Rob Dawson, Funny Girl, New Vista Theatre Company

- Denis Jones, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Scenic Design:

- Lyle Baskin, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage

- Michael Bottari and Ronald Case, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Dan Kuchar, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Sean McClelland, Guest Artist, Mosaic Theatre

- Sean McClelland, Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre

Best Lighting Design:

- Lance Blank, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, New Vista Theatre Company

- Jeff Quinn, Fat Pig, GableStage

- Jeff Quinn, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage

- Donald Edmund Thomas, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Donald Edmund Thomas, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

Best Costume Design:

- Erin Amico, Summer Shorts, City Theatre

- Michael Bottari and Ronald Case, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Jose M. Rivera, The Boy Friend, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Ellis Tillman, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage

- Ellis Tillman, Urinetown, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Best Sound Design:

- Matt Corey, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, GableStage

- Matt Corey, Talk Radio, Mosaic Theatre

- Luis Lojo, Man of La Mancha, Maltz Jupiter Theatre

- Steve Shapiro, Summer Shorts, City Theatre

- Lane Starratt, La Cage aux Folles, Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre

Congratulations and good luck from all of us at 5 Minutes to Curtain. Keep looking at www.fusion726.com/5mins for the winners to be announced.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Lives Up to Its’ Name…Unfortunately

Critics Rating: 3 out of 5 spotlights

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the hit 1988 movie, came alive on the Broward Center for the Performing Arts this month and what a surprise it was.

The story revolves around two cons in the French Riviera. One man, Lawrence Jameson, is an older man who has made his life conning women out of their money by playing a foreign prince who needs to get back to his homeland to fight in his crusades. Helped by the French chief of police, he manages to get money and jewels from every woman that he meets. The other, Freddy Benson, is a younger con who boyishly uses his dying grandmother as a vehicle to get money from women. After working together for a while, they decide that the town isn’t big enough for the both of them so they plan a bet to swindle fifty thousand dollars from a young woman. The first to do it, wins and the loser must leave town.

Well, anyone that has seen the movie knows how it ends and anyone that hasn’t should see the show, but shouldn’t expect to see the best show in the world. Having gone to see the performance on opening night, people expect to see a good show. What people don’t expect is to see as many problems on stage as this production had. The problems started at the opening number with the curtain. As the backdrop rose up, the other curtain (which was not supposed to rise) went up with and then came crashing down. Also, when Lawrence and Jolene Oaks enter Freddy’s room, they close the door. When the door closed, the entire backdrop shook. These were a couple of the technical flaws that occurred in the first act only.

A few of the actors were not that appeasing either. Jamie Jackson in particular, who played the lead role of Lawrence, had a very strong accent which made it very hard to understand his lines while singing. His lines were very well articulated and his acting had no flaw, but unfortunately, I lost his lines during his numerous numbers in the show.

Two of the leads, pardon the pun, stole the show. Doug Thompson, who played the role of Freddy Benson was outstanding throughout the performance. Literally working up a sweat from the moment he got on stage, Doug brought out the best of David Yazbeck’s music and comedic lyrics. Doug and Jamie’s counterpart, Jenny Gulley was a beautiful woman who fit in perfectly as Christine Colgate. Her soft voice and beautiful tone brought “Nothing is to Wonderful to be True” to a whole new level as the major romantic song in the show. Her caring personality and her comedic gestures matched up perfectly with the pranks pulled by the two male leads.

On a lighter note, I have been told that after opening night, the show has been very good and that the audience is really enjoying it. I am not saying that the show overall is horrible, but Dirty Rotten Scoundrels gave the press and paying patrons a huge disappointment on opening night.

This performance will be playing at the Broward Center until Feb. 10^th and then continuing its’ tour to Gainesville, FL from Feb. 12^th to Feb. 13^th. It will then hit the Northeast in Syracuse, NY from Feb. 19^th to Feb. 21^st.

For more information on future shows, please visit www.broadwayacrossamerica.com or www.fusion726.com/5mins.