Video: Kristin Chenoweth to play Matthew Broderick’s sister in CBS comedy pilot
Kristin Chenoweth (AP file)
Emmy- and Tony-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth, who hails from Broken Arrow, is planning to return to television.
The Oklahoma native has been cast to play the sister of Matthew Broderick’s character in a yet-untitled CBS pilot from “Scrubs” writer/producer Tad Quill, according to TVLine.com.
The multi-camera comedy centers on Broderick’s Jack, a recently widowed father who is raising his 12-year old son while simultaneously jumping back into the dating pool.
Chenoweth, won an Emmy for the late, great series “Pushing Daisies,” earned a couple of Emmy nominations as a guest star on “Glee,” had her planned guest arc on CBS’ “The Good Wife” cut short by an on-set injury and her starring role in the soapy comedy “GCB” truncated by cancellation.
She will play Marnie, Jack’s cute but judgmental sister who works as a waitress at a nice but not-too-upscale restaurant. An opinionated busy-body, Marnie considers herself a therapist, even if she hasn’t quite finished her clinical hours for state certification, according to TVLine.com.
Like Chenoweth, Broderick is a Tony-winning musical theater veteran. They previously co-starred in ABC’s 2003 adaptation of “The Music Man”:
-BAM
Best Bets for April 12-14, 2013: Gary Allan, “Chalk in the Rain,” OKC Museum of Art Family Day and Miranda Lambert with Dierks Bentley
Gary Allan
Here are my picks for the Best Bets in entertainment happening around the state this weekend, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
1. NORMAN — Hear country music star Gary Allan at 8 p.m. Friday at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.
2. See the drama “Chalk in the Rain” by Muscogee (Creek) playwright and Oklahoma native Bret Jones staged at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Performances continue through April 20 as part of Oklahoma City Theatre Company’s fourth annual Native American New Play Festival. Information: 297-2264 or www.OKCTC.org.
3. Take in free admission, hands-on art activities, live music and tours of the special exhibit “Photorealism Revisited” during Family Day from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive. Information: 236-3100 or www.okcmoa.com.
4. TULSA — Catch Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley in concert as their “Locked & Reloaded Tour” plays at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. Information: (866) 726-5287 or www.bokcenter.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on April 6, 2013: Take in the festivities at Norman’s Medieval Fair
Two knights battle during a reenactment at the 2012 Medieval Fair in Norman. The Oklahoman Archives photo
Today’s featured event:
NORMAN – Get your chain mail and other period finery ready as the 37th Annual Medieval Fair continues through Sunday at Reaves Park, 2501 Jenkins.
Fair hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Sunday. Parking is available for $5 at the Lloyd Noble Center on Jenkins Avenue, one block south of the park.
The free living history fair features arts and crafts, food, games, jousting tournaments, human chess games, costume contests, minstrels, mermaids educational exhibits, demonstrations and ongoing entertainment at seven stages.
For more information, go to www.medievalfair.org.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Best Bets for April 5-7, 2013: Sugar Free Allstars with Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Lyric Theatre’s “Glass Menagerie,” “Okie Folkies & Freaks,” Leon Russell’s Birthday Bash
Sugar Free Allstars
Here are my picks for the Best Bets in entertainment happening around Oklahoma this weekend, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
1. Catch Oklahoma kindie rock duo Sugar Free Allstars in concert with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic at 2 p.m. Sunday at Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Preconcert activities start at 1 p.m. in the Civic Center lobby. Information: 842-5387 or www.okcphilharmonic.org.
2. See Lyric Theatre’s staging of Tennessee Williams’ autobiographical masterpiece “The Glass Menagerie” at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at Lyric at the Plaza, 1725 NW 16 in the Plaza District. Performances continue through April 13. Information: 524-9312 or www.lyrictheatreokc.com.
3. Listen to Scott Keeton, Susan Herndon, Empty Bottles and more at “Okie Folkies & Freaks: Songs Of Oklahoma,” a benefit show for the Music Moves Mountains Foundation, at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Doors open at 6 p.m. Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.
4. TULSA — Hear Oklahoma native and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell play his 27th Annual Birthday Bash featuring Rachele Lynae at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Brady Theater, 105 W Brady. Doors open at 7 p.m. Information: (918) 582-7239 or www.bradytheater.com.
-BAM
RIP Richard Griffiths of “Harry Potter” film fame
ctor Richard Griffiths poses for a photograph in New York, in this June 18, 2008 file photo. Griffiths, the British actor who played the boy wizard’s unsympathetic Uncle Vernon in the “Harry Potter” movies, has died. He was 65. Griffiths died Thursday March 28, 2013of complications following heart surgery. (AP file)
Richard Griffiths, the British stage and character actor best known for portraying Uncle Vernon Dursley in the “Harry Potter” movies, has died. He was 65.
He died Thursday at University Hospital in Coventry, central England, from complications following heart surgery, according to the Associated Press.
Griffiths won a Tony Award for “The History Boys” and appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows. He had a big stage presence and particularly excelled at playing larger-than-life characters from the buffoonish knight Falstaff with the Royal Shakespeare Company to King George in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”
On television, he played a crime-solving chef in 1990s’ British TV series “Pie in the Sky,” and he had parts in movies ranging from historical dramas “Chariots of Fire” and “Gandhi” to slapstick farce “The Naked Gun 2 ½.”
But he will be most widely remembered as a pair of contrasting uncles — Harry Potter’s magic-fearing Uncle Vernon Dursley and Uncle Monty in cult film “Withnail and I.”
According to the AP, Griffith once said he took the role of Uncle Vernon “because that gives me a license to be horrible to kids.”
But Radcliffe recalled Griffiths’ kindness.
“Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career,” said Radcliffe, who in 2007 starred with Griffiths in a London and Broadway production of “Equus.”
“In August 2000, before official production had even begun on ‘Potter,’ we filmed a shot outside the Dursleys’, which was my first ever shot as Harry. I was nervous, and he made me feel at ease.
“Seven years later, we embarked on ‘Equus’ together. It was my first time doing a play, but, terrified as I was, his encouragement, tutelage and humor made it a joy.”
Griffiths was born in northeast England’s Thornaby-on-Tees in 1947 to parents who were deaf and mute — an experience he and his directors felt contributed to his exceptional ability to listen and to communicate physically.
“The first language he learned was sign. And therefore his ability to listen to people with his eyes as well as his ears is incredible,” Thea Sharrock, who directed “Equus,” told The Associated Press in 2008.
Griffiths’ last major stage role was in a West End production of Neil Simon’s comedy “The Sunshine Boys” last year opposite Danny DeVito. The pair had been due to reprise their roles in Los Angeles later this year.
Griffiths is survived by his wife, Heather Gibson.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fans.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Kristin Chenoweth sings Broadway favorites on her PBS special
As previously reported, Oklahoma native Kristin Chenoweth paid homage to “The Dames of Broadway — All of ‘Em!!!” during a special “Live from Lincoln Center” concert televised Sunday on PBS.
Check out these unaired clips from the show of the Tony- and Emmy-winning actress/singer performing “Dance: 10; Looks: 3″ from “A Chorus Line” (in which she introduces her parents, who still live in her hometown of Broken Arrow, and tells a funny story about winning a role in the famed musical) and “Edelweiss” from one of her favorite musicals, “The Sound of Music.” Also, view the full-length version of her performance of “Somebody, Somewhere” from “Most Happy Fella.”
To see the broadcast of “The Dames of Broadway — All of ‘Em!!!,” click here.
Chenoweth will appear tonight on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” airing at 10:35 p.m. weekdays on NBC.
In addition, she will appear on “The Talk” at 1 p.m. Friday on CBS.
She plays a self-absorbed businesswoman taken hostage by her frustrated teenaged daughter (Olesya Rulin) in her latest film, the outrageous comedy “Family Weekend,” which is due in theaters March 29 but already available on video on demand.
Watch Kristin Chenoweth performs "Dance: 10; Looks: 3" on PBS. See more from pbs.
Watch Kristin Chenoweth performs "Edelweiss." on PBS. See more from pbs.
Watch Kristin Chenoweth performs full-length "Somebody, Somewhere" on PBS. See more from pbs.
-BAM
Video: Kristin Chenoweth pays homage to “The Dames of Broadway – All of ‘Em!!!” during a special “Live from Lincoln Center”
As previously reported, Broken Arrow native Chenoweth, 44, paid homage to “The Dames of Broadway — All of ‘Em!!!” during a special “Live from Lincoln Center” concert televised on PBS. Part of the center’s “American Songbook” series, the show aired Sunday night on OETA.
“I will continue to put all kinds of music out there because I love all kinds of music … but the truth is I am linked to Broadway forever. And I’m very proud of that,” said Chenoweth in a teleconference prior to co-hosting December’s American Country Awards for the second straight year.
As you can see in the video below, Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Richard Jay-Alexander joined the Oklahoma City University alumna in performing the greatest hits from musicals like “42nd Street,” “The Most Happy Fella,” “Carousel,” “Show Boat,” “Wonderful Town,” “The Music Man,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Funny Girl” and “Hello, Dolly!” (The video embedded here features the first 20 minutes of the almost hour-long show; at the end, you will get a handy prompt to link to the PBS site to watch the rest.)
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer proudly mentions her Sooner State heritage in the show’s opening moments and later tells a funny story about taking criticism from OCU voice professor Florence Birdwell.
In 1997, Chenoweth made her Broadway debut in Kander and Ebb’s original musical “Steel Pier,” winning a Theatre World Award. She earned a Tony for her turn in the 1999 revival of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” as little sister Sally Brown, a role that wasn’t part of the original production. She also received a 2004 Tony nomination for originating the part of Glinda the Good Witch in “Wicked.”
Chenoweth said she enjoyed starring in Broadway revivals of “The Apple Tree” and “Promises, Promises,” too.
“I am kind of an odd duck. “I view every role I do as original. If I thought for a second about Barbara Harris playing ‘The Apple Tree’ or anything I’ve done as a revival, I might be too intimidated. So I view them all as, ‘OK, you’re putting your stamp on this,’” she said. “Of course, I love doing original work because there are no rules … and I enjoy that aspect of creating. But I look at them both the same. If it’s a revival or if it’s new, I think in my mind, ‘Don’t think that it’s ever been done before. Do it your way.’”
-BAM
Best Bets for March 22-24, 2013: Jim Gaffigan, “Bug,” Maroon 5 and Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s tribute to the Carpenters
Jim Gaffigan
Here are my picks for the Best Bets in entertainment in Oklahoma this weekend, as listed in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. For even more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
1. Hear the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s “Yesterday Once More – A Tribute to the Carpenters” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: 842-5387 or www.okcphilharmonic.org.
2. MIDWEST CITY — Laugh with comedian Jim Gaffigan at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Rose State College Performing Arts Theatre, 6420 SE 15. Information: 297-2264 or www.myticketoffice.com.
3. Watch Oklahoma City Theatre Company and Ghostlight Theatre Club’s co-production of Tulsa native Tracy Letts’ psychological stage thriller “Bug” at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N Walker. Information: 297-2264 or www.okctheatrecompany.org.
4. TULSA — Catch Maroon 5, Neon Trees and Owl City in concert at 7 p.m. Friday at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. Information: (866) 726-5287 or www.bokcenter.com.
-BAM
Kristin Chenoweth pays tribute to ‘The Dames of Broadway — All of ‘Em!!!’ in “Live from Lincoln Center” TV concert
Kristin Chenoweth (AP file)
A version of this column appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Kristin Chenoweth pays tribute to ‘The Dames of Broadway — All of ‘Em!!!’
Column: The Tony Award winner, who hails from Broken Arrow, will perform hits from musicals like “42nd Street,” “Carousel” and “Show Boat” during her televised “Live from Lincoln Center” concert, airing Sunday night on PBS.
But the Broken Arrow native knows that many people primarily regard her as a star of the Great White Way.
“I will continue to put all kinds of music out there because I love all kinds of music … but the truth is I am linked to Broadway forever. And I’m very proud of that,” said Chenoweth in a teleconference prior to co-hosting December’s American Country Awards for the second straight year.
On Sunday, Chenoweth, 44, will pay homage to “The Dames of Broadway — All of ‘Em!!!” during a special “Live from Lincoln Center” concert televised on PBS. Part of the center’s “American Songbook” series, the show will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on OETA.
Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Richard Jay-Alexander will join the Oklahoma City University alumna in performing the greatest hits from musicals like “42nd Street,” “The Most Happy Fella,” “Carousel,” “Show Boat,” “Wonderful Town,” “The Music Man,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Funny Girl” and “Hello, Dolly!”
“Nothing makes me happier than to be doing what I love to do and that’s singing,” Chenoweth said. “I’ve always said that that’s the way I want to die … which sounds a little morbid, but I would because it makes me happy.”
Her musical tastes are as varied as the rest of her resume. With her 2002 appearance in the Lincoln Center’s “American Songbook” series, she performed songs from “Let Yourself Go,” her album devoted to songs from 1930s musicals. She followed that collection with a gospel album, “As I Am,” in 2005; a holiday offering, “A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas,” in 2008; and her country music debut, “Some Lessons Learned,” in 2011.
“I find it sort of frustrating that … with country music it has to be just that. That’s it. That’s not me. If that means I never really get accepted or played on the radio there, that’s OK, but it bums me out that it’s like that,” she said. “I am who and I am, and there’s a lot in there, a lot in this voice.”
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer attributes her diverse sonic palate to her suburban Tulsa upbringing.
“It’s so funny when people say, ‘Who are your favorite performers?’ It’s Julie Andrews, Madeline Kahn and Dolly Parton and Sandi Patty, which I know is very eclectic. But that was how it was for me in Oklahoma,” she said.
In 1997, Chenoweth made her Broadway debut in Kander and Ebb’s original musical “Steel Pier,” winning a Theatre World Award. She earned a Tony for her turn in the 1999 revival of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” as little sister Sally Brown, a role that wasn’t part of the original production. She also received a 2004 Tony nomination for originating the part of Glinda the Good Witch in “Wicked.”
Chenoweth said she enjoyed starring in Broadway revivals of “The Apple Tree” and “Promises, Promises,” too.
“I am kind of an odd duck. “I view every role I do as original. If I thought for a second about Barbara Harris playing ‘The Apple Tree’ or anything I’ve done as a revival, I might be too intimidated. So I view them all as, ‘OK, you’re putting your stamp on this,’” she said. “Of course, I love doing original work because there are no rules … and I enjoy that aspect of creating. But I look at them both the same. If it’s a revival or if it’s new, I think in my mind, ‘Don’t think that it’s ever been done before. Do it your way.’”
Her “do-it-your-way” attitude applies to her stage and screen ventures. She and Seth MacFarlane closed last month’s Academy Awards by belting a cheeky custom-written variation on Frank Sinatra’s standard “Here’s to the Losers,” and she plays a self-absorbed businesswoman taken hostage by her frustrated teenaged daughter (Olesya Rulin) in her latest film, the outrageous comedy “Family Weekend,” which is due in theaters March 29 but already available on video on demand.
The singer/actress said in December she hopes to return to Broadway soon in a long-planned revival of “On the Twentieth Century” and a screen-to-stage adaptation of “Soapdish.”
“It’s the roles that I love to play,” she said. “I’m not going to be coy about this, though. I do better … and I love the live audience. So I probably thrive there more.”
ON TV
Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth will pay homage to “The Dames of Broadway — All of ‘Em!!!” during a special “Live from Lincoln Center” concert televised on PBS. Part of the center’s “American Songbook” series, the show will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on OETA.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on March 22, 2013: See Poteet Theatre’s staging of “The Sound of Music”
Today’s featured event:
See Poteet Theatre’s production of “The Sound of Music” at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at 222 NW 15.
For more information, go to www.poteettheatre.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
