Back to Broadway, which backed out and now backed back.
Roe Hartrampf, who plays Prince Charles in “Diana: The Musical”: “We were in the middle of previews when all guests and visitors backstage were suddenly stopped. Nobody could enter. My mother had flown from Atlanta with girlfriends, her whole book club, and very disappointed to not get to see us. So we knew something was up.
“Next day producers met with the Broadway League to decide what to do. We all checked our phones, trying to learn what’s happening. What happened was we got shut down. Even before that meeting wrapped, news broke about heading for full shutdown. We got an emotional speech, told in two weeks we’re back rehearsing and we open in another month. And that was one long time ago.
“The script wasn’t locked so our writers took advantage of the downtime. They reworked moments to move quicker and completely rewrote our first 20 minutes.
“Every one of us now gets tested daily. We’re reopening Nov. 17.”
And Rick Miramontez, p.r. man for many of the shows: “Theaters are small. Packed. Someone’s close on your right, left, front and back. Even for a long production you’ll need to sit 3 1/2 hours with a mask. Some Broadway houses have managed to enlarge their seats. There will be an inordinate amount of testing. In one theater in which I’m working, to be just allowed into the room with the actors I needed to be tested.”
It’s ‘Goop’ for Netflix
Coming soon on Netflix — because, frankly, what isn’t? — is Gwyneth Paltrow’s new unscripted reality series thing titled “Sex, Love & Goop.”
It follows itchy couples who, with the help of lessons and methods, learn to jazz up hotter sex and deeper intimacy. Paltrow is not paltry. Her experts are titled “Goop team.” Listen, some specialists go to universities. Hers go to mattresses. Whatever creativity’s been road-tested, the crew involved is so far staying as tight-lipped as Ben Affleck.
Listen, even stars need a little help. Christina Ricci remembers doing a sex scene and “the guy got up in the middle and said: ‘Can I take a shower after this?’ It was embarrassing. I learned later he meant a cold shower, but at the time I didn’t know that.”
The scoop on “Goop”? It premieres Oct. 21.
USA or us?
COVID-19 plagues us yet state governors and party spokespersons discourage getting the shot. That while anti-vaxxers and pro-gun controllers are permanently losing the suburbs. No longer will bipartisanship and true conservative principles prevail. This country’s lefties would die if we had able leadership. With political parties in the dumpster, this country will go the way of Russia or Hungary. Never will America be the same.
To quote one Army vet: “When I was inducted the military gave us a dozen shots. I was grateful.”
Roles abound
Our country may not be moving but our countrymen are. Jane Krakowski nailed a role in “Annie Live!,” an NBC musical thing . . . AND Diane Kruger’s grabbed a part in “Out of the Blue,” a killer thriller indie . . . AND off a wall in Times Square: “Joe Biden is so dumb he thinks Johnny Cash is a pay toilet.”
After sitting home for years we’re told exercise kills germs. Problem is, how to make the damn things exercise?
From doctors only in New York, kids, only in New York.