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William Bell Born Under a Good Sign, Andrea Bocelli Does Ebay for Muhammad Ali

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WILLIAM BELL had the first hit single on Stax Records with “You Don’t Miss Your Water (til the Well Runs Dry).” Now he’s 76, and let me tell you, most of today’s pop performers would give their AutoTune for Bell’s buttery baritone.

He’s still got it, every bit of it, and it was all on display last night at Chris Noth’s Cutting Room. The place was packed, too, with Roseanne Cash, Mary Kay Place, the Eagles’ Timothy B. Schmit, singer Vaneese Thomas (dad was Rufus) and famed producer Russ Titelman among the guests.

Cash’s husband, Jon Leventhal, produced the great new album and leads the band. Did you know Bell co-wrote (with Booker T. Jones) the much covered Albert King hit “Born Under A Bad Sign”? They rocked it out last night and gave the whole room the shivers. Real music still lives!

Oh yeah PS: Timothy Schmit, who sang the great Eagles hit, “I Can’t Tell You Why,” will have a new solo album out before the end of the year, he tells me. Good news.

ANDREA BOCELLI  is doing what he can to honor Muhammad Ali. From now until June 13th, he’s raising money via a special auction Ebay Italy for Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night in Italy.

Here’s the info:

The auction will last until June 13th and will offer the occasion to take part in two exclusive nights during the Celebrity Fight Night in Italy 2016 on September 9th and on September 11th and share the same table as Andrea, together with his other celebrity friends.

All the money raised will be allocated to the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.

 

At the following link you can find the information to participate in the auction that you can share with your contacts:

 

  • ebay.com/bocelli

 

First lot – White dinner at Bocelli’s table in his villa – on eBay.it from June 3rd to 13th

On auction are two invitations for the white dinner of September 9th under the Tuscan stars. The event will open with a welcome cocktail at the Teatro del Silenzio, situated in the Tuscan hills near Pisa. After the cocktail, the dinner will be served in the inner garden of Andrea Bocelli’s villa, called “Poggioncino”, in Lajatico always in the province of Pisa. Two seats at the Maestro’s table will be reserved for the winners of the auction. At the end of the night the tenor will perform, accompanied by some of his artist friends, for a private concert reserved for 250 people. To bid: ebay.com/bocelli

 

Second lot – Red Carpet experience and Gala Night at Palazzo Vecchio at Bocelli’s table – on eBay.it from June 3rd to 13th

On auction are two invitations to participate in the Gala night on September 11th with a Red Carpet moment at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Cocktails will be served inside the historical building and the dinner will be held at the Salone dei Cinquecento. Also in this case, for those who will win the auction, two places at the Tenor’s table, together with his other celebrity friends, will be reserved. At the end of the dinner, Bocelli will perform accompanied by the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino conducted by Maestro Zubin Mehta, with the participation of other artists at an hour long concert for 350 people present in the Salone. To bid: ebay.com/bocelli

 

Cameron Crowe’s “Roadies” Premiere: George Clooney’s Tequila for Everyone and a Character Named for Shelli Azoff

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Last night, the Ace hotel was by far the coolest place to be in LA. Why? Because Showtime was premiering Cameron Crowe’s new drama series “Roadies.” What premiere has the ushers coming down the aisles with mini bottles of George Clooney’s Casamigos Tequila? This one did and it was rock and roll all night.

“Roadies” certainly has an impressive pedigree, besides Crowe, J.J. Abrams is an Executive Producer and the writer Winnie Holzman (Wicked, My So Called Life) is an EP as well as a writer on the show. Abrams explained the genesis of the show to the energetic crowd.

“I hope you are all liquored up,” he quipped and then continued, “I’ve been a friend and a fan of Cameron’s for a long time. About a decade ago, I begged him to write a pilot. I was tenacious about it and broke him down.”

“Roadies” tells the tale of the hardworking but personally screwy crew as the band, The Staton-House, travels cross-county for their arena tour. Stars Luke Wilson, Carla Gugino, Imogen Poots, Rafe Spall, and Colson ‘Machine Gun Kelly’ Baker.

Mingling with the cast was none other than music titan manager Irving Azoff, who is one of the consultants on the show. Irving, who is known never to mince words, told me that show was,  “Amazing, simply terrific. Cameron is just brilliant. Happy to be a part of this.” Azoff’s wife, the powerhouse Shelli, was with him and it’s not just a coincidence that Carla Gugino’s character, the tough lady of the road tour, is also smartly named Shelli.

Luke Wilson who plays the tour manager Jack Harris told me: “I love playing him. Man, I hope the show plays and people get it.” His pal actor Dash Mihok, who brilliantly plays the troubled brother Bunchy to Liev Schreiber’s Ray Donovan, also a hit for Showtime said, “it’s going to play, and play real well.”

(Speaking about Dash, why hasn’t he, or the equally talented Eddie Marson, who plays Ray’s other challenged brother Terry, received any Emmy nods? They are overdue and well deserved for both of them.)

After Crowe told Dash how much he was a fan of his work, I spoke with Cameron, who told me “Roadies,” is a career highlight after writing and directing such hits as “Almost Famous” and “Jerry Maguire.”

“Working with this cast and having them there the next morning when you write something the night before and it comes to life immediately, well I’ve never had that kind of instant gratification with actors I love so much.” He added, “Being the rock fan I am, it’s putting your love of music to the test. Telling stories that are all about that passion. Avoiding the stereotypes of making it about a band where somebody OD’s and the travails of stardom. What about the people that put up the equipment? The ripple effect of what happens on stage really changes their lives as they try to make a banquet for you every night. Celebrating the roadies. Bottom line.”

What’s next for him? Cameron said, “More of these I hope. There are not to many stories that you can’t filter through the prism of the road crew. You can write about marriage and all forms of love, devotion and obsession and all that kind of stuff.” I mentioned that all the roadies I’ve met are some of the most laid back, nicest people ever. Cameron agreed. “Yeah, they’re pretty nice. I just went to see The Who. I saw some of the guys who have been with them for 48 years, and they’re still nice. And they’re still rooting for the band. “ Audiences no doubt will root for the terrific “Roadies,” which premieres on June 26th, for a long time to come.

Al Pacino-Anthony Hopkins Movie Has 16 Executive Producers, Cost $11 Mil, Made $0

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Apparently Lions Gate released a movie called “Misconduct” in February. It starred two Oscar winners– Al Pacino and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Co-stars including Malin Akerman, Josh Duhamel, and Alice Eve.

“Misconduct” played for a week, somewhere, and made $15,000 at the box office– maybe since there is almost no record of it.

This past weekend in England “Misconduct” took in around $150.

Huh?

The film has 16 listed executive producers and three actual producers. The first time director is Chicago born Shintaro Shimosawa. He has some credits producing minor TV shows.

The published budget was $11 million. It rated an 8– eight– on Rotten Tomatoes.

You wonder, how did this happen? Who put up the $11 million? All those executive producers? Why? And why did the actors do it? For the paycheck?

I’ve answered my own questions.

Tom Hanks Isn’t Having Such a Good Time at the Box Office Either

Death Hoax: However, NFL’s Roger Goodell Is Alive and Well, Making Millions of Dollars

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NFL commish Roger Goodell’s Twitter account was hacked today. And the hacker announced Goodell, 57, had died today.

Goodell, however, is very much alive. And loving every minute of it. In the last year his compensation was published (2013) he was paid $35 million in salary. The year before he was paid $44 million. In 2011, the salary was $29.5 million.

If he were dead, he’d come back, believe me. With that kind of dough, you can figure out a way.

Still waiting for the most recent NFL tax filing. One more year and they’ll be converting from a tax free foundation to a private business so no one can look into their paperwork.

Broadway: Laura Linney, Cynthia Nixon to Co-star Next Winter in “The Little Foxes”

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More big name actresses coming to Broadway next winter!

Cynthia Nixon and Laura Linney will co-star in Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes” at Manhattan Theater Club. Daniel Sullivan will direct.

Linney and Nixon will trade off playing the parts of Regina and Birdie, which is pretty cool and means you have to see the show twice.

Lynne Meadow and Barry Grove are rocking over there at MTC. They also have Ruben Santiago-Hudson directing August Wilson’s “Jitney” in their January-February 2017 slot. Right now Frank Langella is an extended run of “The Father,” for which he’s Tony nominated this Sunday.

“Foxes” begins with previews in March and an opening night of April 19th.

James Corden’s “Hamilton” Tony Award Carpool with Broadway Stars Not to Be Missed (Watch)

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 Oh yeah, it’s longish. But ffwd to around 9 minutes when this gang– Lin Manuel Miranda, Jane Krakowski, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and the amazing Audra McDonald perform “One Day More” from “Les Miz.” You’ll be clapping at your desk.

The Tonys are this Sunday on CBS at 8pm.

 

 

Theater: Sally Field Coming to Broadway Next Winter, As Scooped Here in February

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Sally Field is coming to Broadway next winter. Surprise!

I told you back on February 23rd that two time Oscar winner Sally would star in Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie,” with Sam Gold directing. Sally last appeared in the play 12 years ago in a Kennedy Center production directed by Greg Mosher.

The new production will co-star Finn Wittrock, hot as a pistol after his tours of duty in “American Horror Story.” Finn co-starred with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield in Mike Nichols’ “Death of a Salesman.”

This production will also bring back to the stage Joe Mantello, who’s been busy directing “The Humans” and “The Last Ship” among other Broadway shows.

Broadway next winter is shaping up– Cate Blanchett will be there at the same time.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Calls Judge Attacked by Donald Trump in Trump University Case A “Hero”

Arnold Schwarzenegger has just voiced his support on Twitter to Judge Curiel, the so called Mexican judge Donald Trump has been attacking. (Gonzalo Curiel was born in Indiana.) Trump says he can’t get a fair trial in the Trump University case from Curiel because he– Trump– wants to put up a wall between the US and Mexico. He’s offended all Mexicans.

But of course Judge Curiel is American. And now Schwarzenegger is calling him a “hero.”

What’s really weird is that Arnold is the new host of “Celebrity Apprentice” and is essentially Trump’s employee. What’s next?

Broadway: Scott Rudin out of Groundhog Day, plus Tonys, Fiddler, Humans, Eclipsed

THE TONY AWARDS are coming this Sunday on CBS at 8pm. Yes, it’s all about “Hamilton.” But it’s got to be about a few other things, too. The show at the Beacon is going to be off the hook and very exciting. And Barbra Streisand is coming!

If “The Humans” wins Best Play, I’ll be disappointed. But it seems like that’s where we’re headed. The Best Play, in my opinion, is Durira Gurai’s “Eclipsed.” That is a theater experience, so exciting and fresh. The subject matter– these women imprisoned in Liberia, finding their freedom–opens us to new worlds. The actresses are superior, and not just Lupita Nyong’o.

“The Humans” is well acted and directed but it feel like an off Broadway production. Stephen Karam’s set up of a family revealing secrets to each other at Thanksgiving has frankly, been done to death. And these secrets aren’t at all as mesmerizing as the ones from O’Neill or Miller, let alone “August: Osage County.”

Most of the play’s so called secrets are telegraphed from the beginning of the 95 minutes (with no intermission). The father (Reed Birney) tells enough in the first few minutes that you know he’s lost his job or all his money, and that something has gone wrong with his job at a Catholic school.

The rest of the family consists of his wife (Jane Houdyshell), the grandma in wheelchair (Lauren Klein), the two daughters (Sarah Steele as the cute one, Cassie Beck as the Lesbian with stomach problems) and Arian Moayed as the older boyfriend with a trust fund and sleep problems.

Much of the play circles around electrical problems in the crappy duplex basement Chinatown apartment. Apparently, no one can go to the corner and buy lightbulbs, so little by little the lamps blow out and then the stage is drenched in darkness. Is this supposed to a statement that  We Are All Powerless? Yes, typical American family except we’ve met them before. I think Joe Mantello’s direction is good that it makes us think the material is better than it is.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF doesn’t look like it will win Best Revival of a Musical, as “She Loves Me” and “The Color Purple” seem to be the favorites. But my second trip to see Danny Burstein last week as Tevye was more than rewarding. Burstein is better than ever. Jessica Hecht as Golde seems to have grown by leaps and bounds. The sets, the dancing, and the songs are a masterwork woven together.  Some women from the Dominican Republic sat next to me and front of me, they were all crying.  “Fiddler” is the ultimate Immigration Musical, the anti-Trump opera of all time. This show is rightly a Classic now, well beyond any of its competitors. Ironically, Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock wrote the songs for “She Loves Me,” also. It’s their secondary work, and it may beat their primary one. How weird. See this show without fail.

I received an anonymous tip early Monday morning: Scott Rudin was out of “Groundhog Day” and would no longer be the producer. The musical based on the movie is starting in London and then moves here. “Matthew Warchus is fed up with his antics,” my spy wrote of the famed director (“Matilda”). Well, may be. Scott Rudin isn’t easy. But he has a lot on his plate already for 2016-17. Rudin will live without “Groundhog Day.” And he has to deal with all the changes at “Shuffle Along” including replacing a departing star with a singer who doesn’t act, a choreographer who’s coming into the show in a role that doesn’t exit, and a lack of story for the second act. Groundhogs, he doesn’t need.

 

Good Times! The Monkees Finish at Number 8 Chart Debut with New Album, Beat Adele, Prince, Ariana Grande

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All hail The Monkees.

In pure sales– CDs and digital downloads– the 50 year old group beat Adele, Prince and Ariana Grande this week on the charts.

The Monkees’ new album– “Good Times!”– sold a little over 24,000 copies and finished at number 8 for the first week on the charts.

They added about one thousand streams and finished at number 15 when streamed play was counted in according to hitsdailydouble.com.

For one week, “Good Times!” was number 1 on the amazon.com bestsellers. They’re at number 3 now as Paul Simon’s new “Stranger to Stranger” and the Broadway “Hamilton” score moved up to 1 and 2.

At the Monkees show last week at Town Hall, Micky Dolenz told me: “I’ll be happy to make the top 40.”

The number 8 finish is quite an accomplishment. It also means that Monkees fans, who are older, wanted to own the album not just passively listen to it on their phones. The royalty rate is higher for actual sales, too, than for streaming.