Times Square Gossip

A Little Bit Of Broadway Broadway Records has announced that the newest addition to its Live at 54 BELOW series, “Micky Dolenz: A Little Bit Broadway, A Little Bit Rock & Roll – LIVE at 54 BELOW” will be released on September 25, 2015. The album is now available for pre-order .  In early July, Micky Dolenz performed several sold-out evenings at 54 BELOW, the famed performance venue in New York City. This charming Broadway performer and legendary rock ‘n’ roll star will be back to 54 BELOW September 25th and 26th by popular demand to celebrate the launch of his album. This brand new show was a way for Dolenz to combine his love of Broadway with his love for rock ‘n’ roll into one exuberant concert. The album consists of The Monkees greatest hits and some rarities, along with songs from the musical roles he has performed and the shows he loves. Dolenz framed each song with personal anecdotes and behind the scenes intel, such as his friendship with the B...

Peter Asher With Bruce Grakal, Micky Dolenz, Jim Kerr And Carol Miller Micky Dolenz’s final night at New York’s 54 Below brought out a bunch of special friends; including Q104.3’s Jim Kerr and Carol Miller, as well as superstar-producer/artist Peter Asher. Kerr, who had previously introduced Dolenz for two shows at B. B. King’s, did the same this night, referencing his work in his earlier TV-show Circus Boy, as well as the fact that the three-shows were all being recorded for a live album -to be released in September- which will share the title of the show, A Little Bit Broadway; A Little Bit Rock ‘n’ Roll, on Broadway Records. Dolenz blazed through the show with stellar support from his bad, led by Michael Moritz, Jr. Plans are afoot for Dolenz to return to the club in late-September.

Micky Dolenz Monkee-Micky Dolenz knocked it out of the park at his cabaret opening this week at 54 Below. Titled A Little Bit Broadway; A Little Bit Rock ‘n Roll, Dolenz neatly segued his Broadway-chops with several Monkee-hits, including the Carole King/Toni Stern (from HEAD) “As We Go Along,” which this writer just marveled at (fact: Neil Young and Ry Cooder were in on the original recording session). Watching him do “Don’t Be The Bunny” from the show Urinetown, and, “Mr. Cellophane” from Chicago was just marvelous; as he wrapped his golden-glove of a voice lusciously around these songs. “Cellophane” was preceded by a very home-spun story, as are all of these numbers. As always, Dolenz is a succinct and funny raconteur. I'm prompted to say that a book of these vintage anecdotes would be most welcome. Of course the Monkee-hits flowed, including “Last Train to Clarksville," "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "Daydream Believer...

Micky Dolenz Next week in NYC, at cabaret-club 54 Below, Monkee-Micky Dolenz , debuts a new show called A Little Bit Broadway; A Little Bit Rock ‘n Roll, and we have an exclusive peak into his rehearsal sessions held last week. Working with a new band, with music director Michael J. Moritz, Dolenz performs several Broadway-numbers that are simply sensational. Watch him do “Don’t Be The Bunny” from the show Urinetown, and, “Mr. Cellophane” from Chicago. He also does several Monkee-numbers, including a rare performance of the Carole King/Toni Stern song from Head, “As We Go Along.” The shows are July, 7, 10, and 11, and we’ll be on hand for a closer review. A lived-album will be recorded and released on Broadway Records in September.

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G. H. HARDING **** Micky Dolenz MAGIC MICKY --- We’ve been sworn to secrecy, but we were at a super-secret rehearsal last night for Micky Dolenz’s upcoming three-play at 54 Below on July 7, 10, and 11. The show is called A Little Bit Broadway, A Little Bit Rock ‘n’ Roll, which is a nice riff on Mr. Dolenz’s Broadway experiences (Aida; Grease; Pippin’; and Hairspray) then meshed seamlessly with his rock ’n roll music we all know so well. Working with a different band than usual—fronted by the astounding Michael Moritz (Matilda; Beautiful)—the show is an amazing revelation from a gentleman with one of the best voices in rock ’n roll ever. Micky’s stories, with which he explains and introduces each song, are hilarious and informative. Suffice to say that if you were a fan of Dolenz before, then this show is a must-see. I will exclusively add that’s there a song from the way-ahead-of-its-time 1968 Monkees feature f...

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By:: G. H. HARDING **** Hugh Dancy HANNIBAL SILENCED? --- Word came down Monday night that NBC has canceled Hannibal, Bryan Fuller’s juicer-than-you-can-believe take on the whole Hannibal Lecter/Thomas Harris mystique. NBC said that the ratings weren’t rising enough, which I can understand. What I can’t understand, though, is would NBC would cancel such a brilliant show. Everything about this series was top-notch, from the brilliant acting of Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy; the inspired camera and cinematographer work; and especially the writing. From the moment this news of cancellation was announced, there has been immediate interest from other broadcast platforms (including the increasingly ubiquitous Amazon, which has the rights to the first two series. Believe me, I wondered what kind of storyline would actually make its way to NBC network TV based around a series like this. Since its debut, though, it has prove...

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G. H. HARDING **** Anna Wintour WINTOUR FOR HIRE --- I'm amazed at all the ink that Vogue’s Anna Wintour has generated due to her “spit-and-polish” tweaking of Sunday’s televised Tony Awards fete. Seems the powers that be at the American Theatre Wing called on Ms. Wintour (who is said to have been famously immortalized in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada as “Miranda Priestly” played to perfection by the great Meryl Streep) to ensure some real-life visual drama at the event. That seemed to include making the red carpet look redder than ever before and to have some real-life models, like Kendall Jenner, in attendance. Now, I’m not saying a little tweak here and there wasn't necessary at the hallowed Tony event (which, more often than not these days, looks like some sort of class reunion) . . . but super-models was a surprise. Several of the attendees said that they got a direct call from Wintour, asking if...

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G. H. HARDING **** Bruce Springsteen “THE BOSS” IS BACK--- Is it possible that Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band could be releasing a new album before the end of the summer? The sources are less than concrete, but rumors of just that scenario are running rampant on the Springsteen fan site BlogItAllNight, as follows: “I heard that Bruce Springsteen has finished recording his new album and it is now in the mixing stage. The best part of it all was that I was told it would be released this summer! It seems unprecedented for Springsteen to release a new album without a few months’ notice but after all, he is The Boss. As for what the album consists of, I was told it was very different from what Springsteen has put out before. So with my grain of salt, here is to hoping that this particular rumor is true!" His last album, High Hopes (with the brilliant Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist T...

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G. H. HARDING **** Taylor Swift SHEP’S BACK --- To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Madonna’s “Vogue” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the venerable music magazine has reached out to the song’s co-producer and co-writer, dance legend Shep Pettibone, for—amazingly—his first interview in twenty years. Back in the day, Shep was the go-to guy for all-things-remix, and his candid responses throughout this new interview are all terrific. He explains to Billboard that he has successfully stepped away from the business for a host of other projects—but for most, myself included, he remains a sorely-missed craftsman. A man still of impeccable taste and gentle persuasion, his new interview makes for a very good read. Interesting fact: Pop artists, like Madonna, all loved working with him. Check out the story right HERE . EXTRA-EXTRAORDINARY --- 20th Century Fox is rebooting its 20...

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G. H. HARDING **** Don Rickles BACK TO THE EGG --- Micky Dolenz, with daughter Georgia, visited at LATTC (Los Angeles Trade and Tech College) last week in L. A., at their 90th anniversary event. LATTC was the school where he studied architecture at right before his audition with The Monkees. Said Dolenz, “My parents wanted me to have something to fall back on … just in case that other career didn't work out.” Also attending the event were: LA County supervisor and former US Labor Secretary Hilda Solis; president of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Gary Toebben; and, Secretary-treasurer of the LA County Federation of Labor Rusty Hicks. Dolenz and Georgia attend the Dwell on Design event ( dwellondesign.com ) in L. A. next week. JOHNSON PASSES --- Louis Johnson, founding member of funk band the Brothers Johnson and an in-demand bassist who appeared on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean...