303 stories by "Ron Fassler"
Susan Johnson (drawn by Hirschfeld) with Eddie Foy Jr., James Gannon and Art Lund in "Donnybrook" (1961).She only appeared in five musicals that were recorded. Yet if you are someone like me…
Howard Da Silva (Ben Franklin) and William Daniels (John Adams) in "1776" (1969). Photo by Martha Swope.Can't let July 4th go by without my annual tribute to the musical 1776, a brilliant…
Self-portrait of Al Hirschfeld at his drafting table in his Koken barber chair.The artist Al Hirschfeld, a theatrical treasure of the highest order, was born 119 years ago today. Chronicl…
On this day twenty-two years ago, a new production of Shakespeare's Macbeth opened at the Music Box Theatre. Directed by former director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Terry Hands, it was…
Jaquel Spivey, John-Michael Lyles and James Jackson, Jr. at the first Broadway preview curtain call for "A Strange Loop" (Photo: Jeenah Moon for The New York Times).I've been handicapping…
Charles Strouse and Lee Adams' "The Telephone Hour" from "Bye, Bye Birdie"Â (1960).Composer Charles Strouse was born on this date ninety-four years ago. His more than thirty stage musicals…
During the height of my teenage theatergoing years, which occurred between 1969 and 1973, I was never happier than when I would pore over the New York Times' ABC's Directory in order to plan…
Julie Andrews singing "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?" at the recording session for "My Fair Lady"Â (1956).Having listened to a steady stream of Broadway original cast recordings over the past fi…
Harold Prince, victorious with Tony #20 for "Showboat," with Gregory Hines (1995).Now that the 2022 Tony Awards nominations have been announced and campaigning is in full swing, as usual,…
Robert Morse as J. Pierrepont Finch in "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"Â (1961).It's with a heavy heart I attempt to put into words what Robert Morse meant to me as an ac…
It's a funny thing about an actor's resume: they're never complete and always a work in progress. In the constant act of selling themselves, an actor's career needs continual updating. What'…
The Original Broadway Cast Recording of "I Do! I Do!" released in 1966.As young kids, I'm sure most Broadway loving-types have all had the same experience. Long before our vocabularies ma…
That tiny slip of paper every theatregoer knows (btw, Christian Dante White was terrific).A common question I see posted from time to time on theatre blogs asks what the difference is betwee…
Vintage Tony Award, prior to its eventual pedestal.Okay, there was never any such thing as a 1944 Tonys. But the awards junkie in me had this thought and decided, for the fun of it, to attem…
Leigh Whipper, depicted in the painting "Dans un Café a Paris" by Lois Mailou Jones (1939).Not many actors have their portraits on the walls of a museum, so imagine my surprise when I ca…
Tony Walton (1934"2022).Anthony John Walton has passed away at the age of eighty-seven. This is a personal loss for me as from the first moment I met him, I melted. He was one of those rare …
Bob Gunton and Beth Fowler as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd" (1989)."You have to love a character to play him" " Bob Gunton.
And yes, that of course include…
Bob Gunton as Juan Peron and Patti LuPone as Evita in "Evita"Â (1979).When he was a young man, the actor Bob Gunton took joy in settling in front of the TV with his dad to watch reruns of …
"ON THE 20th CENTURY" " A LILY BLOOMS
Judy Kaye and Kevin Kline in "On the 20th Century"Â (1978).For part three of the saga of On the 20th Century, we begin with the Variety…
Author Ron Fassler shares his fall Broadway & Off-Broadway picks
'Up In the Cheap Seats' author Ron Fassler on the new documentary about the classic musical
'Up In the Cheap Seats' author Ron Fassler looks back on Hal Prince's immeasurable contribution to Broadway.
The Public Theater's star-studded monologues come to Broadway
The Broadway musical of the hit film incorporates over 70 pop songs
'Up in the Cheap Seats' author Ron Fassler predicts all 26 winners
