Posted by William E. Lurie @ 06/08/2003 10:05 AM PST

I type too fast... that's be a barbecue, not bed a barbecue

Posted by William E Lurie @ 06/08/2003 10:06 AM PST

Happy Birthday, Lulu!

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/08/2003 10:41 AM PST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LULU! ("Little Lulu" was one of my favorite comic books growing up. How did you come to be called Lulu? Were you named after anyone in your family? Is it a nickname? Or none of the above?).

TONY AWARDS SHOW - I hope they VARY the presentations this year so that we see more than just big productions numbers. And I hope we see some scenes from some of the plays. And, wouldn't it be wonderful if we see a completely live show with no filmed pieces. Is all this hoping for naught?

POSSIBLE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION - Has anyone gotten answers to their life problems from their dreams? Care to elaborate?

Posted by Donna @ 06/08/2003 10:51 AM PST

A very merry Happy Birthday to Lulu!!

Posted by KT @ 06/08/2003 11:06 AM PST

Bedding a barbecue would definately be a hot trick.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LULU!

Personally, as a West Coaster, I fully intend to find out (via the Internet) who wins and who doesn't before the event, so I can concentrate on watching the performances and snickering at the formalwear. Better to kill the suspense than have the suspense kill me, I say. But please, I agree with BK, please don't anyone go posting the results here at HHW. There are plenty of other sites where such nastiness can take place.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 06/08/2003 11:06 AM PST

Happy Birthday, Lulu!

I am so sorry I didn't get to wish Jason the best during his encampment way out west in Pennsylvania. Was it Dorothy Kilgallen who believed that were still "murderous Indians" everywhere west of Ohio?

Jrand - Glad to know that SOUTH PACIFIC is going so well.

Phil - Sending good vibes to you and your son for MUSIC MAN.

Gee, I hope I haven't missed any celebrations or good vibrations for any of you Dear Readers.

The mini-heatwave here finally broke last night and today I woke to beautiful overcast skies. That means endurable backstage temperatures and hopefully an audience of Blue Hairs that won't doze off from the heat before we get to "Put On Your Sunday Clothes."

Thanks Jane for your congratulations.

Posted by TCB @ 06/08/2003 11:41 AM PST

Answers to life problems from dreams-NO! I have however, been prompted to call people after dreams. Those were guilt dreams reminding me I should make a phone call.

Posted by Jane @ 06/08/2003 11:41 AM PST

Happy birthday, Lulu!

I, too, did a fine impersonation
of a log last night. I want to
thank that log for its delightful
sleeping habits.

After all the Woody Allen talk
yesterday, I think I may have to
put my favorite, Mighty
Aphrodite, in the VCR a bit
later.

Posted by Jed @ 06/08/2003 11:43 AM PST

Happy Birthday, Lulu!

Donna, if you want to know what to expect from tonight's Tony Awards, you can click on my name. Playbill leaked some of the details a few days ago...

And word has it that in addition to the taped performances of nominated plays, the announcement of the winner for Best Musical will also be a taped segment, though it will be presented as "live".

Interesting interview with Mr. Chamberlin. Especially revealing are BK's comments about Chase Mishkin. Suddenly certain things are *much* clearer...

Saw a good production of SECRET GARDEN last night. Certainly far better than the MAN OF LA MANCHA I saw last week.

No more shows to look forward to for a while...except for FOREVER PLAID, at the end of next month. Unfortunately, I won't be able to sit back and enjoy that one. ;-)

Posted by Dave @ 06/08/2003 11:44 AM PST

Happy Birthday, Lulu! Enjoy your day to the fullest!

Yesterday, I helped work at a carwash fundraiser for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life team that I'm on. I stood for four solid hours holding a sign that said "Car Wash." That's all I did. For Four Hours! AND it was very hot yesterday.

After that, I went home and took a nap then went to see a local college production of "Mack and Mabel." I have loved the score to this show since I first heard it many years ago and have never even heard of anyone doing the show. I didn't expect anything other than a "local" production and I wasn't disappointed. It was a community college acting class program that put on the production. In any other production, a lot of these people would never be cast in the roles that they played. Since it's for educational purposes, wrong casting choices don't bother me too much. I just wanted to finally see the show.

One thing that puzzled me. In the program they listed the song "Hit 'Em On the Head" but sang "My Heart Leaps Up." Hmmm. The song does have the line "Hit 'em on the head." I wonder if "Hit 'Em..." was too difficult a song for the performers (I wouldn't doubt it) and just switched it on their own.

Today, I have to usher for a local ballet company. I don't even know what they're performing. It's a mantinee so I will be back in time for the West Coast broadcast of the Tony Awards!

Posted by George @ 06/08/2003 11:54 AM PST

Dave - Well, at least the show sounds like it will be different than the recent previous ones. We shall see what we shall see...
Thanks!

Posted by Donna @ 06/08/2003 11:57 AM PST

Say, where in tarnation IS everyone? We must have a Tony Award rally here, post-wise. What are our thoughts for this evening, who do we want to win? And, during the show, while no spoilers are allowed, you certainly can alert us to any juicy fashion misstatements and things like that. Yes, we must post until the cows come home, damn them, damn them all to hell. Plus, we're havin' a party, don't you know. We must party till we drop, don't you know. We must not let the fire go out.

Posted by bk @ 06/08/2003 11:58 AM PST

Happy B-day Lulu!
I will be around tonight to dish
the dirt on the Tony's...until
then, must go do the family
thing.

Posted by Ann @ 06/08/2003 12:03 PM PST

BK - I think that's great that we are all celebrating Lulu's birthday (not to mention World Tony Day), but can I have Diet 7-Up instead of Diet Coke?

Since Tom of Oz is in Austalia and it is already tomorrow, does that mean he knows who wins the Tony Awards?

Posted by TCB @ 06/08/2003 12:12 PM PST

Thanks, everyone!

Last night I slept like a log, possibly because I didn't bed a barbecue. Those things have pointy ends!

Birthday Breakdown: I awoke bright and early this fine and chipper morning, whereupon my husband wished me happy birthday many times in succession, and then went out to the store to buy sea scallops and shrimp for my birthday dinner. Then he came back and we put away groceries and I opened my many wonderful presents. Then we went to the Flakowitz bakery to purchase my birthday marbled cheesecake. I asked the lad behind the counter how much it would be, and he said $6.95. I said, "No, for the whole thing." He said, "That IS for the whole thing," then picked me up off the floor where I'd fallen in a dead faint and wrapped up my purchase in one of those string machine thingies, and we went on our merry way. Just a nice, homey little birthday.

Donna: Lulu is a net nickname I've had since '91. I was into Louise Brooks at the time. :)

Posted by Lulu @ 06/08/2003 12:27 PM PST

Happy Birthday, Lulu!

I can tell you who I don't want to win - Bernadette Peters. I haven't seen her performance, and I'm looking forward to her "Rose's Turn" tonight, but I felt she got an unfair Tony a couple of years ago with ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, so she owes US a Tony back for an undeserving performance. Maybe I'd feel differently if I had seen her in GYPSY and might be rooting for her, but I was SO upset over her ANNIE win that it has left a bad taste in my mouth FOR YEARS. There isn't enough chocolate in the world to wash away that bitter aftertaste her win gave me.

And I want Denis O'Hare to win for TAKE ME OUT.

Looking forward to discussing all these awards tomorrow night at the chat.

Posted by Matt H. @ 06/08/2003 01:58 PM PST

Happy Birthday to Dear Lulu

I was MIA yesterday spending the day at a party celebrating Anthony's Aunt & Uncle 50th Wedding Anniversary.

I will be at my own little Tony party tonight merrily watching away.

Sorry I didn't' get to wish DR Jason good wishes, but good vibes will be sent to PA for his run this summer.

That's all for now.

Posted by Ben @ 06/08/2003 02:00 PM PST

Matt H - I agree re Dennis O'Hare in "Take Me Out" - what a wonderful comic turn in an otherwise fairly serious show. Daniel Sunjata and the show itself are also deserving of an award, but if one one goes there way.....

Also intersted to see who wins best actor in a musical. Newsday handicaps it between Harvey Fierstein and Antonio Banderas, but in their Tony preview appear to give the edge to Harvey for his dedication to NY theatre.

TCB - thanks for the good wishes!

Posted by Phil @ 06/08/2003 02:17 PM PST

Laura - thank you too!

Posted by Phil @ 06/08/2003 02:36 PM PST

and (lest I be E&R).....
.....Happy Birthday Lulu!!!!

Posted by Phil @ 06/08/2003 02:37 PM PST

Happy Birthday Lulu.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 06/08/2003 02:46 PM PST

On Lulu's natal day, I say,
Break out the bubbly and turn on the jazz,
Watch the Tony awards, see some razzamatazz,
For it is only today
(thanks to good ole BK)
that we celebrate LULU
with a HAPPY BRITHDAY!!!!

I want to see Antonio Banderas.
I don't care if he wins or loses, I just want to see Antonio Banderas. After seeing Antonio Banderas, I'd like to see more, so much more, of Antonio Banderas. OH, I'd also like to Antonio Banderas perform. Then later, Antonio Banderas can perform something from NINE (if he insists).
Anyone else care to see Antonio Banderas?

Matt H. is quite right, Ms. Peters definitely OWES us an Award; but will the Rose streak be broken with her performance, seeing as everyone except Merman who has played Rose on B'way has won the award?

I'd love to see Mr. Dick Latessa finally be recognized by his peers. He's also a very nice person (I wonder if HE knows Antonio Banderas) who has played Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera frequently.

Give Mr. Shaiman the recognition he deserves, too.

Hell, let's give all the awards to HAIRSPRAY; I'll take care of Mr. Banderas with a personalized "TD" Tony Award. (well, what did YOU think the *T* stpood for, *touch down?")

Posted by td @ 06/08/2003 03:43 PM PST

Are there any fans of Antonio Banderas out there?
The only possible reason for watching "Evita" was to see AB. I guess Che G was too hard to explain to an audience. Guess AB is td's "Mambo King". I'll still stick with Spacey.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 06/08/2003 04:29 PM PST

Home from brunch, and now off to see Damn Yankees (the film) and then the Tonys. Keep posting!

Posted by bk @ 06/08/2003 04:33 PM PST

Awaiting the arrival of DR Kurt and the beginning of the Tony Awards with moments!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LULU! A big Hoosier Hello!

Posted by Jrand52 @ 06/08/2003 04:56 PM PST

Many happy returns of the day, Lulu!

Posted by Susan @ 06/08/2003 05:09 PM PST

I have been at a church board meeting all afternoon. I wish I could say it was a sparkling board meeting, but, alas, it was not.

Happy Birthday, Dear Lulu!

Who is Antonio Banderas?

Posted by Laura @ 06/08/2003 05:33 PM PST

Anotonio Banderas, Dear Reader Laura is the star of many films from Sapin, from that brilliant Spanish director, Pedro Almodovar.
LAW OF DESIRE
LABYRINTH OF PASSION
TIE ME UP! TIE ME DOWN!

Posted by td @ 06/08/2003 06:38 PM PST

BK - I think your log got my sleep as well.

Can I have it back?

Posted by Stephen (insomniac) Farrow @ 06/08/2003 07:47 PM PST

We "West Coasties" are just minutes away from the start of the Tony show.

I hope everyone has enjoyed/will enjoy it to the fullest.

I hope Lulu got to see it...maybe she was even wearing her birthday suit!!!

: )

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/08/2003 07:49 PM PST

Well, all you West Coasters, ENJOY THE SHOW! ! !
I'm not gonna spoil anything.
Chat tomorrow, we'll all dish, and I'll have watched my tape over and over and over. . .

Posted by td @ 06/08/2003 07:58 PM PST

Sorry I've been errant & truant for a while.

Happy Birthday Lulu!

Well, Bill & I just finished watching the Tony's. I won't give anything away except to say there weren't any surprises or upsets, except (for me, anyway) one pleasant surprise and one upset.

Posted by Ray @ 06/08/2003 08:17 PM PST

I too just watched the Tony's and will not give anything away except to say that there was one very surprising upset and one somewhat surprising delight for me too.

Happy birthday, Lulu! By the way, Louise Brooks rocks.

JRand and TCB--congrats on the success of your shows, and Phil, I hope you nail the Music Man audition.

I will be very errant and truant in not being able to make the Tony chat tomorrow, unfortunately, but I have to work. Have fun everyone.

Posted by Maya @ 06/08/2003 08:35 PM PST

Tony SPOILER -- do not read the following if you haven't seen the first hour of the Tony show!

Did anyone "else" think it very odd and not a little suspicious that in the categories for Featured Actor AND Actress in a Play that the camera showed all the nominees in each category as their names were read out EXCEPT for the ultimate winners????????

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/08/2003 09:03 PM PST

Banderas' biggest movie hit in this country was THE MASK OF ZORRO, and he's also famous for being Tom Hanks' lover in PHILADELPHIA and the father in the SPY KIDS movies.

As for the TOnys, loved the winners selected but can't wait to talk about the production of the actual telecast, too. Argh!

Posted by Matt H. @ 06/08/2003 09:27 PM PST

I will have my complete thoughts on the Tonys in tomorrow's notes which I shall write this very minute so I don't forget anything. I will only tell you that of all the televised awards I was 100% correct, straight down the line.

Posted by bk @ 06/08/2003 11:11 PM PST

They're over on the West Coast (but possible still airing in Hawaii???).

I don't quite get what the "upset" was...or the "surprise" that a couple of folks mentioned.

Everyone who won for musical I expected to win for musical.

I was a bit chagrined to see Mr. Dennehy -- once AGAIN -- lumber up on stage, but call that a personal problem.

I wasn't impressed at all with "Rose's Turn" -- potential was there, but she needs to decide "which voice" she's going to use. But a standing ovation...for THAT???

And what was with a second "Def Poetry Jam" performance? We didn't get to hear Cy Feuer's Lifetime Achievement Award speech but we had to listen to that????

Somebody shove some splinters under my fingernails...PLEASE!

THREE FREAKING HOURS and NOT ONE EXTRA AWARD??!! What was the reason for preventing PBS from airing the earlier awards??????

and WHY?????????????

Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 06/08/2003 11:16 PM PST

Ron, actually it was THREE FREAKING HOURS and SIX FEWER AWARDS!! The PBS hour showed 10 awards. CBS had to cut six awards so that they could get in the extra commercials for that hour.

Posted by George @ 06/08/2003 11:23 PM PST

Question: What the FFFF was SJ Parker Thinking? For someone with all her supposed fashion savvy, she comes out in this confusion between a dress and a girdle? Who does she think she is, Cher?

Posted by S. Woody White @ 06/08/2003 11:28 PM PST

Well, now we know what we'd like to see on our very first trip to NYC in a couple weeks. And what to skip.

Posted by Laura @ 06/08/2003 11:44 PM PST

Hawaii Tony viewers ignore this post.

I am glad that I was not the only one to notice the Featured Actor and Actress winners not being shown with the other nominees.

Also, did the Best Director of A Play walk right past presenter Christopher Reeve without even acknowledging him, or was that just my imagination?

In fact, after hearing about the pre-recording of the naming of the Best Musical on Friday night (okay, multiple pre-recording), the invisible Featured Winners and a few other strange occurrences, I think Oliver Stone may have the basis of a new conspiracy film.

End of Post

Posted by TCB @ 06/08/2003 11:52 PM PST

Actually Ron, I was prepared to hate "Rose's Turn" after all the negative things I had heard about Miss Peters performance in "Gypsy", but frankly she blew me away. I wasn't impressed with the little snippet of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" that they showed, nor am I convinced that I would enjoy her as Mama Rose, but I thought she nailed that number. Hell, I was standing up in my own living room.

Posted by TCB @ 06/09/2003 12:00 AM PST

Whatever was Vanessa Redgrave thinking, with that drab gown...she was the same color as her dress...she looked like she needed a blood transfusion.
Sarah Jessica was just too cutesy for words, and what the heck was she almost wearing???

She's always looked so good, but she goofed this time. I thought Melanie Griffith was the best-dressed, and Chita, from what I could see...Chita's hair looked very cute.

Posted by KT @ 06/09/2003 01:30 AM PST