Gale Joins "Suddenly Last Summer" Cast

Gale Harold, star of the new drama series "Vanished", and best known for his role as sexy manwhore Brian Kinney on Queer As Folk, has joined the off-Broadway cast of Tennessee Williams' "Suddenly Last Summer". Joining Blythe Danner and Carla Gugino, Gale will fill the role of Dr. Cukrowicz, the young neurosurgeon hired by the wealthy Violet Venable (Danner) to lobotamize the awful truth about her sons tragic demise from her troubled niece's mind in order to save his reputation.

Other cast members added include, Becky Ann Baker (Mrs. Holly), Sandra Shiply (Sister Felicity), Karen Walsh (Mrs. Foxhill), and Wayne Wilcox (George Holly). Opening night for this play is November 15th.

The 1960 film version of this brilliant play, starring Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Montgomery Clift, is one of my favorite films of all time. The dialogue is absolutely genius. I am greatly looking forward to this being one of the theatre pieces I see when I go to New York in December.

Gaby In subUrbia

My brother and I have been trying to make plans to go to New York for the long weekend in October. Along with those plans we have been trying to decide what shows we should go see while there. One of the shows we have looked at is the play "subUrbia" at the Second Stage off-broadway. The play presents a day in the life of seven young Americans who hang out every night in the parking lot of a Pakistani family's convenience store. The return of their high-school friend Pony (who is now a successful rock singer), sparks a night of drinking, sex, and violence as the friends air their resentments and examine the choices they've made.

Up til now, the only drawing name in the cast has been Kieran Culkin (younger brother of Maculay, and star of independent hit film "Igby Goes Down"), but it has just been announced that due to scheduling conflicts, actress Kelli Garner has backed out of the role of "Sooze". The role will now be filled by one time cutie child actress Gaby Hoffmann, known for her roles in such films as "Uncle Buck", "Now & Then", and "200 Cigarettes". Now I really want to go see this. If for some reason I don't make it to the Big Apple, I can always rent the movie version, which stars (among others) Parker Posey, Steve Zahn and Giovanni Ribisi. But I have heard that the play far surpasses the film.

Aladdin Jr. In Niagara

Since the summer holiday season is still upon us for a few more weeks, many family's will be hustling about trying to find ways to spend their last moments of freedom before the kids have to go back to school and fall slowly creeps up on us. Might I suggest that if you are (or you are going to be) in the Niagara Falls region, you go catch a matinee or evening showing of Aladdin Jr. at The Greg Frewin Theatre. The kids will have a blast seeing one of their favorite Disney films coming to life on stage, and the parents will love the three drink minimum (ba-dum-bum). The cast is energetic, witty, and mesmerizing, featuring Rob Torr as the Genie (The parents will get a kick out of this fast talking, impersonation spitting, scene stealing bundle of blue hilarity), Aaron Kyte (a friend and teacher of mine) as the man himself "Big Al", and the gorgeous Ashley Taylor as every little girls favorite Princess, Jasmine (she's not a loser like Cinderella).

Pictured above: Aaron Kyte (Aladdin) & Rob Torr (The Genie)

The songs you love (A Whole New World, Friend Like Me, etc.), the story you know, a great day of theatre, plus the kids will get to meet their favorite characters after the show. Running now through to September 4th, you can find ticket information at www.gregfrewintheatre.com .