Alice Ripley Returns to 54 Below

The inimitable Alice Ripley will be performing March 4 and 5 at Feinstein's/54 Below. A little bird tells me the set may include songs that crossed over from Broadway to pop -- and songs that should have. (Consider me intrigued!) Tickets HERE.

Page 1 Roundup (08/21)

The Daily News: Brooklyn's famed Di Fara Pizza shut down amid tax woes

Queens woman sentenced to 23 years in prison for hacking aunt to death with meat cleaver, raping underage relative

Instagram: I'd sure like to impregnate Matthew

NPR: Planned Parenthood withdraws from Title X program over Trump abortion rule

54 Below: Tony winner Alice Ripley and her band return for two nights, Aug 29 and 30

Dlisted: Prince Andrew is reportedly willing to answer questions related to Jeffrey Epstein

CT Post: Sorry, but I'm with the "criminal" here. Did Mom ever think of minding her own business or not sitting near this woman? (It sounds like she actually dragged her child over to her for the confrontation.) I hope Mom has to pay for years of therapy that result from teaching her child that women's breasts are something to be ashamed of. (Removing her pants was the perfect response!)

Towleroad: Our men in uniform died for this?

Lucky Pierre: I wonder if my [insert body part here] will look like this when my shirt arrives

Boy Culture: Trump says Jews who vote for Democrats show ignorance, disloyalty

You know you've made it as an A-gay when ...

New York Post: This man is the model behind Epstein’s bizarre Clinton painting

 She wore this ridiculous skintight romper through the streets of Manhattan and you'll never guess what happened

Instagram: Singer Maria McKee further explores her coming out process, laments finding it more difficult to connect with people in her native Los Angeles than her adopted London

NBC News: We're officially the laughing stock of the world

Michelangelo Signorile: Trump has a devastating record on LGBTQ rights. Don’t deny the truth.

Twitter: Yet somehow he still finds time to enact heinous policies

The Washington Post: Elizabeth Warren just met her look-alike at a rally. Can you tell them apart?

The Randy Report: Michael Henry asks, "Are you a gentleman?"

GQ: John Travolta is still bald and loving it

Vox: After losing appeal, Dumpster rapist Brock Turner must register as sex offender for life



The New York Times: NRA gets results in one phone call with Trump

She beat cancer. Now, she’s in another fight for her life.

Frozen-food heir(ess) Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show loses more advertisers



The Wall Street Journal: Japan’s digital pop stars blur line between virtual and reality

Going 'Psycho' for Benjamin Walker

"American Psycho" on Broadway

I think I like his Patrick Bateman better than Christian Bale's! More HERE.

Alice Ripley to Play Patrick Bateman's Mom(!) in 'American Psycho' Musical

I'm a huge fan of the Tony-award winning actress. Now read about her dual role in the Broadway adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis' twisted cult classic HERE.

If Benjamin Walker needs a daddy ...

'Sing Along' Has Its World Premiere

I didn't make it to the Broadway-centric premiere of "Sing Along," a short film I have been championing for some time now. But Broadway.com has details HERE!

Bright Lights, Big Singing

Last summer I wrote about "Sing Along," a short film about a sheltered boy with a dream of starring on Broadway, who survives day-to-day life by imagining the world as a musical. Mark Oxman's film reached its Kickstarter goal, and the trailer is now up and running. Enjoy!

Synopsis: Like many his age, Stephen (Myles Erlick) is a kid with a big dream -- to star on Broadway one day.Unfortunately, the 14-year-old is so shy, he is afraid to speak to others and when he does, he stutters uncontrollably. Still, he cannot turn his imagination off, picturing the scary world as an upbeat musical with with singing cafeteria ladies (Uzo Aduba) and history tutors (Sam Tsui). And while teacher (Heidi Blickenstaff) supports him, his mother (Alice Ripley) is less than encouraging, pointing out that a career in musical theater is destined for failture. Will she ever understand that being creative is not something that can be compromised? And what will happen if he forces himself to shut off his talent?

Official site HERE.

Hee Haw: It's Alice Ripley!

For all of you Alice Ripley fans, I've got two exciting bits of news for you. The Tony-award-winning actress/singer will be playing this coming Monday, July 9, at 8 p.m. at the Pink Elephant, 40 W. 8th St. She will perform an intimate acoustic set, including songs from her "Daily Practice" album. This new venue is located where the legendary Bon Soir night club was -- where Barbra Streisand, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller and others got their start. Doors open at 7 p.m. For ticket information, click HERE.

Meanwhile, Alice -- as well as fellow Tony winner Levi Kreis (Jerry Lee Lewis in "Million Dollar Quartet"), Uzo Aduba ("Godspell") and Myles Erlick ("Billy Elliot") -- have signed on to appear in "Sing Along," a short musical film about a introverted 14-year-old boy who survives day-to-day life by imagining the world is a musical. (I'm guessing creator Mark Oxman loosely based this on every gay guy's childhood!) The film will feature original songs by award-winning composer Ron Wasserman. For more information, including details of the upcoming Kickstarter effort, click HERE.


I've always thought it would be incredible if Alice did a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Only Living Boy in New York." Might this film inspire Alice to make my wish come true on Monday?

And if you dare, watch this video to find out about Alice's secret past as the Joyce DeWitt of "Hee Haw," and why a girl from Dayton with an insincere smile would have made the ultimate Eva Peron.

 

Ripley Rocks the Metropolitan Room

My friend Ken (the pilot) and I went to see Ripley (the band) earlier this week at the Metropolitan Room, my second time seeing the Tony-award-winning Alice Ripley live in concert. Last time around, the guitar-wielding actress/songstress was accompanied by just keyboardist and friend of the (212) Christopher Schelling, but on Monday the stage was at near-capacity, with Christopher, bassist Steve Millhouse, drummer Shannon Ford, plus (adorable) special guest percussionist Nick Cearley. (Only special guest cellist Lauren Molina was missing from the party -- her bail revoked, perhaps?)

After promising Ken, a true child of the '70s, a potpourri of covers by his favorite artists of the decade -- Alice is a sucker for Carole King, Cat Stevens, Jackson Browne, the Eagles and did songs by all of them when I saw her in January at the Laurie Beechman Theater -- Alice threw me curve both physically (what a bod!) and musically, playing mostly songs from her extensive theater repertoire -- "The Who's Tommy," "Side Show" and "The Rocky Horror Show" (but not, unless I'm mistaken, "Next to Normal") -- and originals recorded as a solo artist, and with Ripley (the band).

Opening with "Science Fiction/Double Feature" from "Rocky Horror" -- a show that I, for some reason, find intolerable -- was a pleasant surprise, as it allowed me to fully appreciate the music away from the spectacle. "Who Will Love Me as I Am?" (from "Side Show") was next, which I later learned was a last-minute addition to the set list, after Alice discovered its lyricist, Bill Russell, was in attendance. (No one was complaining.) A nice cover of Elvis Costello's "Beyond Belief" (the opening track on "Imperial Bedroom") was her one nod to the world of classic pop music, which was followed by the evening's strongest moment, their "Tommy" medley. (Her "Pinball Wizard" is two for two in giving me goose bumps.)

My favorite originals of the night are both from the band's "Outtasite" album: "Miss America" and "When I'm Olde," an ode to a former flame with whimsical lyrics that reminds me a bit of Maria McKee. (Alice says she threw the "e" in for fun, but warns that anything with an extra one added to the end is just a ruse to jack up the price!) Despite the abundance of actual showtunes being performed, the stage got even more dramatic during the band's new single, "Beautiful Eyes" (info HERE), which Liza Minnelli would be foolish not to cover herself.

Afterward, Christopher invited us to come "backstage" to meet the evening's star, who was exhausted from giving a great performance, yet couldn't have been more lovely. We thanked her for a wonderful show -- Ken absolutely adored every second of it -- then were joined by Bill Russell and Christopher's boyfriend, Augusten Burroughs, who was also in the house. Alice returns to the Metropolitan Room on Sunday, May 27 at 7 p.m. For ticket information, click HERE.

Ripley set list

(Metropolitan Room, April 16, 2012)

Science Fiction/Double Feature Who Will Love Me As I Am Beyond Belief Tommy Medley Sky Romeo Beautiful Eyes When I'm Olde She Keeps Her Love Away Miss America For Your Art Violet Tree Humiliating Circumstances Outtasite