134 stories from ronfassler.medium.com
Picture postcard of the Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth, Massachusetts circa 1940s.June 21, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
On this first day of summer, I find my…
June 10, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Between 41st and 66th streets there are forty-two legit Broadway theatres (this includes the Palace, currently under renovation …
Sutton Foster (center) hosts PBS's "Great Performances: Celebrating 50 Years of Broadway's Best."May 12, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Premiering tonight on PBS is a j…
May 9, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Forty-five years ago tonight, the musical revue Ain't Misbehavin' opened at the Longacre Theatre. Based on music made famous by Th…
Alfred Lunt as Anton Schill and Lynn Fontanne as Claire Zachanassian in "The Visit" (1958). Photo by Vandamm.May 5, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
On this date sixty…
After April 16, 2023 the marquee goes dark.April 15, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Tomorrow, after thirty-five years, the epic run of The Phantom of the Opera will …
Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel taking their bows at a curtain call of "Wicked" (2003).April 11, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Tonight, Wicked will become the 4t…
Michael Bennett (1943"1987).April 8, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Had he lived, today would mark Michael Bennett's 80th birthday. He died in Tucson, Arizona in 1987 f…
The original cast of "Oklahoma!" with Lee Dixon in plaid jacket (Will Parker), Celeste Holm in yellow (Ado Annie), Alfred Drake (Curly) & Joan Roberts (Laurey) under the surrey, Joseph B…
Current cast members of "A Chorus Line" at the Cincinnati Playhouse: Musa Hitomi (Connie), Diego Guevara (Paul), Courtney Arango (Diana), Drew Lachey (Zach), Jonathan Duvelson (Ritchie) and …
Donna Murphy, Philip Johnson Richardson and Samantha Williams in "Dear World" (photo by Joan Marcus).March 20, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
The plea for a "dear wo…
John Kander, born on this date March 18, 1927.March 18, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Today is the 96th birthday of the legendary composer John Kander, who is still…
Angela Lansbury as the Countess Aurelia in "Dear World" (1969). Photo by Friedman-Abeles.March 17, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
"I was terribly spoiled," Jerry Herman…
Mary McCarty leading the charge with "Who's That Woman?" (1971). That's Alexis Smith in red on the left and Dorothy Collins and Yvonne De Carlo on the right.March 15, 2023: Theatre Yester…
Ethel Shutta belting out "Broadway Baby" in "Follies" (1971).March 13, 2013: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
When the musical Follies opened on Broadway in 1971, a show set at…
Dual record set for "Sondheim: A Musical Tribute," or as it's commonly known, the "Scrabble Album" (1973).March 10, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
On March 11, 1973,…
March 3, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
"I think probably one of the worst reviews that I got was actually from a person on the street, and not a paid critic. I remembe…
February 27, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
"The thing about Doug Henning was that he could make the audience disappear, too!" " Nathan Lane
Merlin, the …
February 23, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Today is the anniversary of when the 1979 musical Sarava, "the new hot musical" as it was billed, reluctantly opened on Broa…
February 20, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
In May of 1964, an election year, a new play opened on Broadway by A. E. Hotchner titled The White House. It depicted a rela…
Barry Bostwick and Carole Demas, the first Broadway Danny and Sandy, in "Grease" (1972).February 14, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Fifty-one years ago, on Valentine…
Latecomer Larry Kert with the original cast of "Company" (1970).Theatre Yesterday and Today, February 1, 2023, by Ron Fassler.
To continue with more on replacements, the story of how Larr…
Elaine Stritch as she appeared on Broadway as Martha in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1963).Theatre Yesterday and Today, January 30, 2023, by Ron Fassler.
Due to a warm response t…
Tovah Feldshuh (left) and Lea Michele (right) as Mrs. Brice and Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl" (2022).Theatre Yesterday and Today, January 28, 2023, by Ron Fassler.
When an original cast …
James Earl Jones, born on this date, January 17, 1931.January 17, 2023: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
James Earl Jones, who turns ninety-two today, was the first dramatic…
