Stage: Is Twelfth Night The Greatest Cast In History?

The hottest theatrical production of 2009? Without a doubt, it's The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park offering, Twelfth Night, which begins June 10. Even before today's announcement, it had a cast to die for: The Devil Wears Prada's Anne Hathaway as Viola, four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald (Private Practice) as Olivia, Raúl Esparza (Speed-The-Plow) as Orsino and David Pittu (Lovemusik) as Feste. NOW, add the genius that is Julie White -- star of film (Transformers), television (Grace Under Fire) and stage (The Little Dog Laughed), who just also happens to be ModFab's Favorite Actress In The Whole Entire Universe -- and Stark Sands (Die Mommie Die, Journey's End) as Sebastian. Oh, and did I mention the whole thing was FREE?

ad;iuvhasiouv;asofh;oewfhao;dvuya[bpaerg7= ;a;oehf;odahf W;OFh;ghW;OE'PWOFU 'eg0tWYCBIAEUAHFCLKASUaolieru8ig ya;sd f;weofh lsidh pN(SD8fc a;oewfh c;ieSfuh sleiguh caeuhc liwau liwaeugf ;cowthc liwaeufh liesgyfh liazsuehg alefh lawegf ;leaoofdffdgfdffffffffffffffffffffffffff fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff!!!!!!!!@#$@^$&$!!!!!!!!!! Aaaaaaagh!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry. I just had a theatrical orgasm. How embarrassing. I need to go clean up. Did you get any of it on you?

Stage: A Little Night Music To Play, Once Again, On Broadway

The musical most in need of a revival, above all others, will see the light of day on Broadway by December. It's the heralded London transfer, too, although it will probably have a new (and starrier) cast. And the fact that it just happens to be one of the form's most elegant, sophisticated and charming efforts is just icing on the cake. Next season just gets better and better and better...

The Monday ManScan

101 Boys : Jewels of the Web
io9 : The Real Reason The Comedian Died
Argentine Men : Juan Carlos Lopez
Asian Men : Bing Yang
Beautiful : Easter Baskets
Butt Boys : On The Couch
Cisoto Fotos : Cesar Suarez
Closet Conundrums : Happy Happy Joy Joy
Definition of a Man : Handsome Kenneth
Suvacos de Machos : Gay Times

A National Day Of Gay Mourning: Bea Arthur

I don't even know what to say. She has been an icon, an inspiration...and yes, I still watch Golden Girls in reruns every week. (Is that embarrassing to admit? I don't care.) Hopefully, the tributes over the next few days will mention her brilliant stage work, her excellent contributions to television history (Girls, Maude, All in the Family)...and maybe even her sexuality, which has been an open secret for most of her life. (The "in"-ing of Arthur has already begun in her obits today, which tout her marriages when she was young, etc. But having stood next to her while she quite clearly and brazenly hit on a very famous comedienne, I'll say: that wasn't my experience of Ms. Arthur. She was too fabulous, in all senses of that word.)

Bye, Bea. I will miss you very, very, very much.

On Beauty Queens, Drama Queens, Tiaras and Marriage Equality

Image by vrysxy via Flickr

I know, I know...I should have said something by now.

I'm talking, of course, about the brouhaha created when my mortal enemy, He Who Shall Not Be Linked, decided to start a very public bitchslap war with Miss California at the Miss USA pageant. In the interview round, he sucker-punched her with a question on gay marriage, and she had the balls to tell him (to his face!) that she was agin' it. You know, on Dynasty, when Krystle and Alexis sparred like this, they threw each other into the pool. That's how a TRUE diva handles her shit, Perez.

But still the e-mails come, asking me to weigh in with my thoughts on their catfight. (I'm known, as least to my readers, as the web's preeminent Hilton-hater, thus their interest in my oh-so-bitchy response.) So here it is.

HWSNBL was a complete dick to put her on the spot, I think. But then, he's always a dick. Everyone knows this. It's his shtick. And the pageant knew who they were getting when they chose him as a judge. He's an embarrassment to gays, to serious bloggers, and to anyone that prizes intellect and culture. And apparently, he's now also an embarrassment to beauty pageants.

This doesn't let Miss California, Carrie Prejean, off the hook. Her whiny post-pageant publicity tour has revealed a quintessential sore loser, spoiled and self-absorbed. ("Woe is me! The mean homosexual asked me a hard question! The gays stole my tiara!") I say: deal with it. You decided to be a bigot on national television. This is the response that bigotry receives when you broadcast it to millions of offended gays and gay-friendly straights, who -- let's face it -- are the only ones still watching beauty pageants these days.

The conservative media's response has been, of course, that she has the right to her own opinion. That's true...although I bet if she'd advocated denying rights to other minorities -- the reinstitution of slavery, perhaps? -- she'd never have gotten away with it. The problem is that it's somehow OKAY to say you're against gay marriage, at least in conservative circles. It's OKAY to say that this group of people should never have rights or status. It's OKAY to believe that fairness isn't fundamental. (And how you justify this hateful stance with your myopic religious beliefs is beyond me...it's insane, in fact.)

So I say: Perez, you're an asshole. But Miss California, you're a bigger one. And you both deserve what you got.

The Gays Took My Lunch Money

You've probably seen by now the ridiculous, unintentionally hilarious "Gathering Storm" commercial put out by the ultra-right National Organization for Marriage (and no, I'm not linking to either one of the sonsabitches, the video or the group; Google if you must). There have been some brilliant parodies of the ad cropping up in the last week, but this is definitely my favorite.

How long will it take for the Religious Right in this country to realize their positions on gays are antithetical to spiritual doctrine, modern existence, and common sense?



This one cracks me up too.

The Cannes Film Festival 2009 Lineup

Wowsa. The best in a decade, methinks. I mean, where else in the universe have you gotten Almodovar, Von Trier, Campion, Noe, Resnais, Tarantino, Lee, Bellocchio, Haneke, Amenabar, Kore-Eda, Gilliam, Gondry...all in one spot? I am a fan beyond measure of this festival...and I've never been. [Cue the violin.] Here's what I'll be missing this May...

In Competition:
“Abrazos Rotos” (Broken Embraces), directed by Pedro Almodovar
“Antichrist,” directed by Lars Von Trier
“Bright Star,” directed by Jane Campion
“Enter The Void,” directed by Gasper Noe
“Faces,” directed by Tsai Ming-liang
“Fish Tank,” directed by Andrea Arnold
“Kinatay,” directed by directed by Brillante Mendoza
“Les Herbes folles,” directed by Alain Resnais
“In The Beginning,” directed by Xavier Giannoli
“Inglorious Basterds,” directed by Quentin Tarantino
“Looking For Eric,” directed by Ken Loach
“Map of the Sounds of Tokyo,” directed by Isabel Coixet
“A Prophet,” directed by Jacques Audiard
“Spring Fever,” directed by Lou Ye
“Taking Woodstock,” directed by Ang Lee
“The Time That Remains,” directed by Elia Suleiman
“Thirst,” directed by directed by Park Chan Wook
“Vengeance,” directed by Johnny To
“Vincere,” directed by Marco Bellocchio
“The White Ribbon,” directed by Michael Haneke

Opening Film:
“Up,” directed by Peter Docter (out of competition)

Closing Film:
“Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky,” directed by Jan Kounen (out of competition)

Out of Competition:
“Agora,” directed by Alejandro Amenabar
“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,” directed by Terry Gilliam
“L’Armee du Crime,” directed by Robert Guediguian

Midnight Screenings:
“A Town Called Panic,” directed by Stephane Aubier and Vincent Patar
“Drag Me To Hell,” directed by Sam Raimi
“Ne Te Retourne Pas,” directed by Marina de Van

Special Screenings:
“My Neighbor, My Killer,” directed by Anne Aghion
“Martin Manila,” directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr.
“Min Ye,” directed by Souleymane Cisse
“L’Epine Dans Le Coeur,” directed by Michel Gondry
“Petition,” directed b Zhao Liang
“Kalat Hayam” (Jaffa), directed by Keren Yedaya

Un Certain Regard:
“Mother,” directed by Bong Joon Ho
“Irene,” directed by Alain Cavalier
“Precious,” directed by Lee Daniels
“Demain Des L’Aube,” directed by Denis Dercourt
“Adrift,” directed by Heitor Dhalia
“Nobody Knows About the Persian Cats,” directed by Bahman Ghobadi
“Los Viajes del Viento,” directed by Ciro Guerra
“Le Pere de mes Enfants,” directed by Mia Hansen-Love
“Tales from the Golden Age,” directed by Hanno Hoefer, Ravan Marculescu, Cristian Mungiu, Constantin Popescu, Ioana Uricaru
“Tale in the Darkness,” directed by Nikolay Khomeriki
“Air Doll,” directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda
“Dogtooth,” directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
“Tzar,” directed by Pavel Lounguine
“Independence,” directed by Raya Martin
“Politist, Adjectiv,” directed by Corneliu Porumboiu
“Nymph,” directed by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
“Morrer Como Un Homem,” directed by Jao Pedro Rodgrigues
“Eyes Wide Open,” directed by Haim Tabakman
“Samson and Delilah,” directed by Warwick Thornton
“The Silent Army,” directed by Jean van de Velde

[Title of Show] - Tony "Jeffigibility"

Sure, lots of musicals are hilarious. But few are hilarious a full seven months AFTER they close. Check out [Title Of Show]'s Tony Award Special, and for even more fun, the Tony "Jeffigibility" Chart. Brilliant.

The Top Ten Songs In The Universe

Image by Getty

Bombay Bicycle Club : Always Like This (James Rutledge Mix)
Calvin Harris : I'm Not Alone (Extended Mix)
Human League vs. Empire of the Sun : Human Dream
It's A Musical! : The Music Makes Me Sick
The Juan MacLean : Accusations
La Roux : Quicksand (Mad Decent Mix)
New Order : Here To Stay (Felix Da Housecat's Extended Gltiz Mix)
Noisettes : Don't Upset The Rhythm
Phoenix : 1901 (Diese Mix)
Private : My Secret Lover (Starsmith Mix)

Classic of the Universe : Towa Tei ft. Kylie Minogue : Sometime Samurai (Lullaby Radio Edit)
Album of the Universe : M People : One Night In Heaven: The Very Best

Prize Giveaway: Win Depeche Mode's Sounds Of The Universe!

Musical acts from the 1980's have an undeserved reputation for being transitory, of the era, kitschy...not built for longevity. Okay, so maybe it's not totally undeserved. But there are exceptions from the decade that have served the tests of time: U2, Pet Shop Boys, Madonna, Annie Lennox. And of course Depeche Mode, who, at the end of their third decade of music-making, release today their 12th studio album...and it's one of their most arresting and challenging discs ever.

Sounds of the Universe shakes up the band's instrumental base, employing old-school retro synths and found effects; the record also explores some of their most challenging lyrical terrain. If you're wondering if it's radio-friendly, well, not exactly (although the next single, "Peace," should sit far better with fans than the first, "Wrong," did this spring). But what Sounds of the Universe lacks in catchy hooks, it makes up for in meditative tonalities and introspective wandering. It's that rarest of rarities in today's pop landscape -- a smart, thoughtful, accomplished effort.

Why don't you judge for yourself? Depeche Mode is giving readers of Modern Fabulousity a chance to win the new CD. Three lucky winners will be chosen at random.

To enter, e-mail the following:
- Your Name
- Your Mailing Address (for the CD to be delivered)
- The rest of this lyric: "I'm taking a ride with my best friend/I hope ________"

If you don't win, I suggest two alternatives. First, I'd snatch one of the limited-edition box sets, because they are sexier than Tyson Beckford showering. (God, but it's gorgeous, isn't it?) And you might also want to set the DVR for Thursday night's episode of Jimmy Kimmel, because Depeche is shutting down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles for an exclusive nighttime performance. Enjoy the silence indeed!

Pop Quiz Of The Week: Karoake Nightmare

The question:

You're trapped in a karaoke bar with your stupid drunk friends, who thought it would be "fun" and "different." Actually, everyone in the place is drunk. Everyone, that is, but you. What song do you choose when they force you to sing?

Write your answer in the comments below, or write a response on your own blog and email us with the link. We'll add it to this page.

ModFab's own answer will be in the comments later today.

Showtune Sunday: "The Pirate Queen"

As we head into the big week of theatre awards nominations -- the Drama League, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics all announced in the next seven days -- I thought it would be a good time to look back at...well, a big honking stinkpile of a musical. The Pirate Queen was supposed to be Les Miz: Part Deux, written by the same composers (and with Irish stepdancing!). But as you'll see in this clip, it was really just soggy treacle wrapped inside an incomprehensible design and some shameless choreography. (Those stepdancers seem out of sync? That's because the stepping sounds were TAPED. DURING THE SHOW.)

It might surprise you to know that The Pirate Queen did not, in fact, win the 2007 Tony Award. It wasn't even nominated. Let's hope this year's nominators have similar wisdom about the big, boozy, badly-executed musicals of 2009. West Side Story, I'm talking to you...

Disco Friday: Empire of the Sun

Australia's Empire of the Sun has been an internet sensation since last fall, but their debut CD, Walking On A Dream, is just seeing the light of day next Tuesday here in the States. I bought the disc on import a while back, and enjoy the band...not my favorite record of the year, but a solid effort that will please electronic music fans. The sound is a little Scissor Sisters, a little New Order, with a dash of Bronski Beat, and a sprinkling of Ultravox; the videos, as you can see above, channel the flamboyance of Elton John and Boy George to great effect. Worth watching.

The Top Ten Songs In The Universe

Bear McCreary : All Along The Watchtower (Battlestar Galactica Mix)
Beirut : My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille
The Cardigans : I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer
Empire of the Sun : Walking On A Dream (Van She Mix)
Golden Girls : Do The Criminal (CCENTURIESS Mix)
Kanye West : Gay Fish (South Park Parody)
Lady Sovereign : So Human (Sinden Mix)
Lily Allen : The Fear (Stonebridge Club Mix)
Marvin Gaye : What's Going On (Beatnick K Salaam Mix)
Napoleon : I Try To Despise The Ugly People (But The Beautiful Ones Keep Turning Me Down)

Classic of the Universe : Adam Lambert : Mad World
Album of the Universe : Level 42 : The Remixes

Just Because...

...I needed it today. And so do you.

Pop Quiz Of The Week: Rap Superstar

Wu-Tang Clan

The question:

Just last week, you cut your first single. It skyrockets to #1 in 14 countries, and overnight you become a world-famous rapper. What celebrities would be in your posse?

Write your answer in the comments below, or write a response on your own blog and email us with the link. We'll add it to this page.

ModFab's own answer will be in the comments later today.

The Monday ManScan

Closet Conundrums : Stocking Stuffer
The Daily Slab : Office Supplies
eMackinations : The Lads
Just Beautiful Men : Didio Defines Male Beauty
Made In Brazil : Stalking Caua Reymond
MostProper : Green
Serenidade : Untitled
Sexy Black Dudes : BLK Tuesday
Speedo Junkie : Meditation
101 Boys : Posing and Smiling

Showtune Sunday: "Rock Of Ages"

Yes, this is a clip from the show's 2008 run, before it moved to Broadway (when the cast didn't yet include the truly superb Amy Spanger, who has taken over the lead in a Farrah-licious turn...and when it did include Will Swenson, who has since found Broadway glory three streets south, in Hair). And yes, the clip doesn't exactly show off the musical's kitschy charm. But since it's the only currently-running show on Broadway I've seen four times (and would go again), I feel the need to share. Plus...dude. Whitesnake.

Disco Friday: Echo and the Bunnymen "Bring On The Dancing Horses"

Echo & The Bunnymen - Bring On The
by scootaway

Ah, Pretty in Pink. The soundtrack of a decade. Can anyone explain to me the metaphors of this song? From the very first time I heard it, it's made me think of the Budweiser Clydesdales.

The Top Ten Songs In The Universe

Bat For Lashes : Daniel (Duke Dumont Mix)
Camera Obscura : French Navy
Cicada : Metropolis (The Twelves Mix)
Daniel Merriweather and Adele : Water and a Flame
Gathania : Blame It On You (Sidechains Mix)
Junior Boys : Hazel
Kid Cudi, Kanye West, Common and A-Trak : I Poke Her Face
Marianne Faithfull : Down From Dover
The Style Council : A Solid Bond In Your Heart
Tori Amos : Losing My Religion

Classic of the Universe : Eurythmics : (I Love To Listen To) Beethoven (Razormaid Mix)
Another of the Universe : The Sugarcubes : Blue Eyed Pop (2nd Mix)
Album of the Universe : Kylie Minogue : Intimate and Live

Pop Quiz Of The Week: Superpowers

Image by karla_k

The question:

Today, without any warning, you encounter alien radiation and become a superhero. What's the one superpower you've got to have?

Write your answer in the comments below, or write a response on your own blog and email us with the link. We'll add it to this page.

ModFab's own answer will be in the comments later today.

The Monday ManScan

Cisoto Fotos : La Muralla Infernal
Dude Flesh : Lifeguards
Guycandi : Hot Boys
Gym Fanatic : Admire
Hoodsworld : Austin
ManWatch : Ian Cheng
No Apologies : Thursday Tank Tops
Norway Underwear Lovers : Delicious Men
Troy : 53s
Underground Construction : Bruno Faria

Dude, Theater Is Totally Like My Skank Ex-Girlfriend

From Artsbeat:

A spokesman for the Broadway production of Neil LaBute’s “reasons to be pretty” said Sunday that the show’s producers had beefed up the security detail at the Lyceum Theater following an incident at the Saturday evening performance. During the first act, the character played by Marin Ireland (“Blasted”) lights into her ex-boyfriend, played by Thomas Sadoski (“Becky Shaw”), with a litany of all the things she believes are wrong with him. A male audience member must have felt something a bit too personal in the verbal assault because he stood, called her a bitch twice, said a few other things that cannot be printed, and stormed out of the theater. For those in attendance: No, it was not part of the show.

Hahahahah! Wow. Freakin' BRILLIANT. I wish that had happened at my performance. It might have made sitting through Labute's weakest, most preposterous script in years worth it. (Do love Sadoski and Ireland, though.)

Showtune Sunday: "The Witches Of Eastwick"

Fans of the new television show Kings (or the old television show Deadwood) will probably enjoy this clip, featuring both shows' lead villain, the inimitable Ian McShane, as Darrel Van Horn in the musical adaptation of The Witches of Eastwick. The show never transferred after its mixed-review London run in 2000 (landing instead a couple of years ago in a regional production at D.C.'s Signature Theatre...although it's currently touring the UK with a new cast, including former Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow). Listening to this irritatingly chipper duet (featuring McShane and the always divine Maria Friedman) it's not hard to understand the decision to let it die a quick death. Ugh.

Fabstuff: Napoleon Might Just Be The Summer Soundtrack for 2009

One of my music blog friends (and I'm so sorry, I don't remember who!) recommended this Swedish band Napoleon last week, and I haven't been able to stop playing the song since. Catchy as all hell, perfect for summer, and more fun than a extra large bag of happy. Will this album ever come out in America? (I shan't hold my breath...)

Disco Friday: Belle Stars "World Domination"

If you remember this band at all, it's probably for "Sign Of The Times" or their only Stateside hit, "Iko Iko." But this single always struck me as the most danceable of the bunch. And wow, that's some big hair they got goin' on, huh?

Blogcrushing: The New Math

[via New Math]

Breaking News: There Are Gays (Lots Of Them) Performing On Broadway

Getty Images

Apparently, this is news. I mean sure, when a superstar like Queen Latifah or Tom Cruise eventually comes out, I guess it matters. Straight people get upset by stealth gays -- they upset their heterosexist sense of the way the world works, and like other cataclysmic world events (typhoons, wars, Kardashians) it can loosely, very loosely, be termed "newsworthy."

But a musical theatre actor on Broadway? A talented, mildly effeminate one at that? (We're not talking John Wayne here.) This warrants front page news? I just don't see how anyone could have imagined Mr. Creel otherwise...and that's a compliment to him, not an insult. News Flash: Broadway is, at its core, a pretty freakin' gay endeavor. That's not to say straight guys aren't welcome, of course they are. They're just outnumbered. Significantly.

Just look around. I mean, in the latest revival of West Side Story, it takes a HUGE suspension of disbelief to think those guys doing the arabesques and twirls and four-part harmonies are street-hardened gang thugs. From my seat in Row J, it seemed quite obvious that the Sharks and the Jets were seriously into one another. (At the rumble, I kept waiting for someone to break out the poppers and KY.) And don't get me started on the miners in Billy Elliot. Or the seamen (heh) in South Pacific. (And this is pure speculation on my part, but having seen it, I'll bet my house and my entire 401K that Gavin isn't the only 'mo in Hair. I'm guessing at least six, not counting lesbians.)

And for the record...I really loved Hair. It is easily, EASILY the best musical revival of the season, and should take the Tony in a walk if there's a God. Great stuff. (Gavin is also doing the best work of his career, I think.) And it's great that Gavin -- whose sexuality may be an "issue" now vis-a-vis the Advocate interview, but who has been open in the industry for most of his career -- is serving as a role model for LGBT youth. Everyone should come out. Period.

But this isn't about one actor. This idea of sexuality-as-news just doesn't make sense to me when you're talking about musical theater, which is right up there with the floral industry and the Catholic Church in terms of its homo history. Broadway basically screams Emerald City to me, and I can't believe, honestly, that this is shocking to people.

The only reason I can possibly imagine this is a news story is to warn homophobes that (EEEK!) there are godless sinners roaming up and down 42nd Street. But if the gajillion people who have seen Gavin in La Cage aux Folles, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Hair, Godspell and other shows were under the impression that he was a rapid beaver hound, and now feel cheated and want their money back, I say, give it to 'em. There's a bus leaving for Branson, Missouri tonight with your name on it, people. We'll keep Broadway, you get Pat Boone. Enjoy.

The Top Ten Songs In The Universe

A-Ha : Take On Me (The Twelves Mix)
Annie : Antonio (Designer Drugs Mix)
Avenue : Can You Feel It (Soda Boys Mix)
Calvin Harris : I'm Not Alone (Herve's See You At The Festivals Mix)
The Decemberists : The Rake's Song
Depeche Mode : The Sun And The Moon And The Stars (Electronic Periodic's Microdrum Mix)
Fischerspooner : Supply & Demand
Flo Rida vs. MSTRKRFT : 1000 Times Right Round
Master Shortie : Dance Like A White Boy (Crystal Fighters Mix)
Royksopp : Across The Graveyard

Classic of the Universe : M People : Renaissance (Roger S Uplifting Club Mix)
Album of the Universe : Amber : Greatest Hits
Another of the Universe : Ultravox : The Collection