Times Square Gossip

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G. H. HARDING **** Gloria Reuben ROCK N’ ROLL PR GUY CALLING --- Ever see the 1957 movie The Sweet Smell Of Success with Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis? It’s a pretty good tutorial on exactly what a PR-guy does and how he works. Plus, the film's a stone-cold classic for sure! In the record business, the 70’s and 80’s were prime time for the PR-guys who really made the business what it was ... in addition to the brilliant music. Me, I’m old enough to remember guys like Norm Winter, Dick Gersh, Howard Bloom and Ren Grevatt … who handled many of the big names like Linda Ronstadt, Steve Martin, James Taylor, Jerry Garcia and Willie Nelson. I remember when I was a young buck breaking into this business, meeting Ren (always wondered what his real name was!) and trying my best to worm my way (for lack of a better word) into his good graces. The right relationship with the right PR-guy would reap much for an...

**** TIMES SQUARE GOSSIP BROADWAY NEWS *** HURRY TO SEE NICK SPANGLER IN THE FANTASTICKS **** Snapple Theater Center 210 West 50th Street (212) 921-7862 **** Nick Spangler And Starr Spangler Nick Spangler In The Fantasticks Nick Spangler, currently starring as Matt in the Off Broadway revival of The Fantasticks, will be a contestant on the latest edition of The Amazing Race. Born and raised in northern California with three siblings, Spangler’s theater career started at the age of five when he appeared as a Munchkin in a local production of The Wizard of Oz. He continued to pursue musical theater and attended college at NYU where he performed the leads in Bat Boy: the Musical and The Last Five Years. His other theater credits include Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Gateway Playhouse), Jean Michael in La Cage Aux Folles (Arvada Center) and Matt in The Fantasticks (Casa Manana). Prior to assuming the role of Matt in The Fantasticks Off Broadway, Nick appeared in the production for n...

Jordan Nichols With Erica Piccininni And Nick Spangler Recently the entire Fantasticks audience was invited to join the cast and creators of the show for dinner and drinks at a party celebrating the return of the world’s longest-running musical. 250 guests attended the reception, which was sponsored by Carter-Parke Productions and catered by 1050 Restaurant and Lounge’s Patrick Robustelli. It was held in the 4th floor studios of Times Square’s Snapple Theater Center. Audience members mixed with the show’s co-creator Tom Jones, Chicago star Brent Barrett, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me star Jill Abramovitz, Backstage Editor-At-Large Sherry Eaker, author Ward Morehouse, Broadway Bulletin’s Valerie Smaldone and the cast and producers of The Fantasticks. “The Fantasticks has played in every corner of the world, from Afghanistan to Iran to Zimbabwe, so it’s truly a universal show,” said publicist John Capo. “It was great to have the audience there to celebrate with our crew.” Photo By: Jam...

Bainie Wild with Tom Jones and Larry Wild Is The Fantasticks the most romantic musical in the world? Larry and Bainie Wild think so. Their daughter, Paige who lives in Virginia (they live in Connecticut) called the Snapple Theater where The Fantasticks is currently playing and explained that her parents had tickets for the evening performance the other night. She asked if the actors could sign a program for them. They met on a blind date at the Sullivan Street Playhouse 40 years ago and saw The Fantasticks that night. They married soon after. He was a soldier; she was a nurse. They fell in love. Paige also arranged for the electronic sign by Toys R Us to read "Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad." On Saturday night Larry and Bainie attended a performance of The Fantasticks and Tom Jones, lyricist-librettist-director and actor made a curtain speech telling the Wild's story and the audience cheered and applauded. The Wilds then posed for photos with the cast. Larry and Bainie...

Mayor Bloomberg and the cast of The Fantasticks While all the nation speculates if he will mount a third-party bid for President, Mayor Bloomberg prepared for his "official" duties which included releasing the ball at the 100th New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square. The billionaire Mayor decided to attend a performance of THE FANTASTICKS, the worlds longest running musical, now playing at the Snapple Theater Center's Jerry Orbach Theater. The Mayor watched the hit show with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly before ringing in the New Year in Times Square. Photo By: James Edstrom