1/30/05 - 2/5/05

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PICK OF THE WEEK BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL AT FEINSTEIN'S Starts Tuesday, February 1 Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell is one of Broadway's most swoon-worthy stars, with matinee idol good looks and a rich baritone that has melted audience members at shows like Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime, Kiss Me, Kate and Man of La Mancha. As Don Quixote in La Mancha, Mitchell ("Stokes" to his friends—you included) dusted off that iconic show tune rouser "The Impossible Dream," making it seem as vital today as it first did when the show opened back in the 1960s. Now, after a year away from the stage (spent mostly playing with one-year-old son Ellington), Stokes is dreaming his own not-so-impossible dream and presenting his very first cabaret show, titled Love/Live, at Feinstein's at the Regency, starting February 1.        Love/Life will feature the charming performer's favorite selections from the American songbook. "Gershwin, Berlin, Porter," he reveals. "A lot of love songs—but 99 percent of all songs are love songs!" Conveniently timed to run through Valentine's Day, Stokes is more than happy to spread some love to his fans with the intimate show. "I want to warm people up during the coldest month of the year," he said. "Like a cup of hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps. Make them feel warm and fuzzy and good. And give them a little romance to boot!" —Paul Wontorek Love/Life plays from February 1-19 at Feinstein's at the Regency, 540 Park Avenue. Call (212) 339-4095 for reservations and more information.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30
JIM STEINMAN SALUTE AT JOE'S
Yes, we know his musical Dance of the Vampires bit the big one a few seasons back, but you still have to admit that composer Jim Steinman knows his way around a muscular pop anthem. For that reason alone, we think that a night of his tunes—tonight and tomorrow at Joe's Pub—could provide some thrilling moments. Lennon-bound Mandy Gonzalez, who played young virgin Sarah in Vampires is apparantly still speaking to Steinman cause she's set to appear, as is Rob Evan, who stood by for leading man Michael Crawford as the bloodsucker in the misunderstood show. Our question is this: Will any songs from Steinman's oft-delayed musical version of Batman be on the bill? If so, we are so there!
Over the Top: Songs by Jim Steinman will play at Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, at 9:30PM on January 30 and 7PM on January 31. Click for tickets or more information!

ALSO: An alarming number of shows will play their final performance: Pacific Overtures, Whoopi and Wonderful Town on Broadway as well as Bug and Doubt off-Broadway (although the latter will probably transfer to Broadway in time for award season). In other departure news, Tony-nominated Avenue Q favorite John Tartaglia plays his final performance in the show.
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MONDAY, JANUARY 31
DIRTY ROTTEN DEBUT
After a record-breaking run at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre last fall, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels plays its first performance tonight at Broadway's Imperial Theatre. We're in awe of the cast assembled for this stage version of the 1988 film—John Lithgow as the suave scammer, Norbert Leo Butz (Wicked) as the vulgar wannabe and Sherie Rene Scott as the woman that comes between them. As the shows not-so-young lovers, Tony winner Joanna Gleason and Gregory Jbara make welcome Broadway returns. The book is by TV guy Jeffrey Hatcher and the score is by that twisted talent David Yazbek, last represented by The Full Monty.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels plays at the Imperial Theatre, 249 West 45th Street. Opening night is set for March 3. Click for more tickets and more information!

ALSO: Stephanie J. Block, Eden Espinosa (Brooklyn), Cheyenne Jackson (All Shook Up ), Jose Llana, Andy Karl (Altar Boyz), Orfeh and others pay tribute to Eva Cassidy at Songbird, an 8PM benefit at Prohibition for the Johns Hopkins Melanoma Cancer Research Center. Tickets available at the door...

...Queer Eye for the Straight Guy culture vulture Jai Rodriguez promises a "Moulin Rouge style rendition of his life" at Xposed, a benefit for the Actors' Fund of America. The show is at 8PM at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall. Special guests include Shoshana Bean (Wicked) as well as Queer Eye guys Ted Allen and Carson Kressley. More info!
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1
KRAKOWSKI OFFERS NAUGHTY SONGBOOK
Jane Krakowski, last seen on the stage slithering on Antonio Banderas in Nine (winning a Tony for her efforts) and on the big screen making out with Jude Law in the back of a limo in Alfie, has certainly been taking sexy to the bank. Now she's set to sizzle for Lincoln Center's American Songbook series with her solo concert debut, provocatively titled Better When It's Banned: A Sinful Songbook. An evening of numbers banned during the Prohibition era, the performance will see Krakowski tackling songs made famous by folks like Marlene Dietrich, Billie Holiday, Cole Porter and Mae West.
Jane Krakowski performs Better When It's Banned at the Allen Room at Lincoln Center on February 1 at 7:30PM and 9:30PM 3 East 15th Street, on February 1. Click for tickets and more info!

ALSO: Robert Foxworth and Byron Jennings join the cast of Broadway's Twelve Angry Men, playing through March 27 at the American Airlines Theatre. Click for tickets and more information!...

...the Worth Street Theatre production of Samuel Beckett's Happy Days starts at CSC's East Village Theatre. Lea DeLaria and David Greenspan co-star...

...a live recording of Kiki and Herb's historic "final" 2004 concert at Carnegie Hall, Kiki and Herb Will Die For You is unleashed on music stores, courtesy of Evolver Records.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2
VIBRATIONS FACES CRITICS
They may have partied at last week's pre-opening bash, but the company of Good Vibrations is celebrating the official night of their show tonight. Using more than 30 songs first made famous by Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, Good Vibrations tells the story of three high school guys (newcomers Titus Burgess, David Larsen and Brandon Wardell) whose lives are changed forever after they take a road trip to the beaches of California, with the unpopular class valedictorian (Kate Reinders) in tow.
Good Vibrations plays at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230 West 49th Street. Click for tickets and more information!

ALSO: American Songbook presents a concert version of popster Duncan Sheik's musicalization of the 1891 play about tragic young love. Michael Mayer (Thoroughly Modern Millie) directs. Click for more information!...

...The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!—a hit on the east side last year—reopens at Dodgers Stages, tongue firmly in cheek. Click for tickets and more information!
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3
BROOKLYN BOY OPENS ON B'WAY
Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies (Dinner With Friends, Sight Unseen) tackles the subject of success and how it can quickly change the lives of those it touches in this new play starring Adam Arkin. Opening tonight at MTC's Biltmore Theatre, Brooklyn Boy arrives in New York after a well-received run at the South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa, California last year. Funny and incredibly touching, Brooklyn Boy is directed by Tony winner Daniel Sullivan.
Brooklyn Boy plays at the Biltmore Theatre, 261 West 47th Street. Click for tickets and more information!
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4
MACKIE MAKES A RETURN AS MCREELE
Up-and-comer Anthony Mackie, last seen on Broadway in Drowning Crow, stars in this gripping new drama by Stephen Belber, which starts previews tonight at the Roundabout. The title character is a former inmate who spends 16 years on death row for a murder rap before being freed thanks to an investigative journalist, which leads to an ultimate rise to political power. Rounding out director Doug Hughes' (Frozen) stellar cast are Jodi Long, Michael O'Keefe, Portia and Henry Strozier.
McReele plays at the Laura Pels Theatre, 111 West 46th Street. Click for tickets and more information!

ALSO: Amy Ryan plays a former rock and roller and Alison Pill her "iPod obsessed teenage daughter" in Christopher Shinn's latest, On the Mountain, starting tonight at Playwrights Horizons and set to open February 24. Click for info!...

...yet another return evening of John Tartaglia: AD-LIBerty at Joe's Pub. Click for info!
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