Photo By: Paula Scher

The New York Times recently published a featured article titled,  “Race: Still Too Hot to Touch”, in which Matt Bai discusses the issue of race in modern politics and culture. The piece begins by stating:

“If Tom Wolfe had set out to write a “Bonfire of the Vanities” on modern Washington, a farce about lives and races colliding, he couldn’t have done much better than to invent the unlikely story of Shirley Sherrod.

An African-American bureaucrat in the Georgia office of the Agriculture Department, Ms. Sherrod became an instant celebrity last week because of a speech she gave to a N.A.A.C.P. convention in March in which she explained the evolution of her attitudes on race. A conservative blogger triumphantly circulated an edited clip in which Ms. Sherrod seemed to suggest that she had declined to help a white farmer in need of aid. (She hadn’t, to which the farmer attested.) From there, Ms. Sherrod was renounced by a jittery N.A.A.C.P., exploited by right-wing commentators, and fired and then unfired from her job, before at last receiving a conciliatory call from the president of the United States.”

It seems that race is more relevant than ever. Throughout time, the controversial issue has taken on new meaning and perspective. Daivd Mamet’s most recent play RACE, shines light on many questions regarding America’s fascination with the topic

Read the full article here: “Race: Still Too Hot to Touch”.


 

The “GO MAMET YOURSELF” Contest

Winners Announced!

_________________________________________________________________________

On May 24th, Broadway’s Best Shows and RACE announced a contest celebrating the work of David Mamet. The “Go Mamet Yourself” Contest invited RACE and David Mamet fans to submit videos of themselves answering the question:

What’s your favorite David Mamet quote?

_________________________________________________________________________

There were over 30 submissions sent in to win one of nearly a dozen prizes. Contestants participated both outside the doors of the Barrymore Theatre, where RACE is currently playing, as well as by submitting videos from home to the contest. Will Cantler, a casting director at Telsey + Company (which did casting for RACE) selected the winners of the competition.

The following individuals have been awarded prizes for their participation:

Grand Prize Winner (1):

PRIZE – A pair of tickets to see RACE (starring Eddie Izzard, Dennis Haysbert, Afton C. Williamson, and Richard Thomas) on Broadway JULY 22nd, 2010 and have an exclusive photo op. with the new cast backstage.

-A 1-Night Stay at the HILTON Times Square on July 22nd, 2010.

-Dinner for Two at the Glass House Tavern

-Race Merchandise

-A copy of David Mamet’s newest play, RACE, once available

John P’s Video


 

The “GO MAMET YOURSELF” Contest

Winners Announced!

_________________________________________________________________________

On May 24th, Broadway’s Best Shows and RACE announced a contest celebrating the work of David Mamet. The “Go Mamet Yourself” Contest invited RACE and David Mamet fans to submit videos of themselves answering the question:

What’s your favorite David Mamet quote?

_________________________________________________________________________

There were over 30 submissions sent in to win one of nearly a dozen prizes. Contestants participated both outside the doors of the Barrymore Theatre, where RACE is currently playing, as well as by submitting videos from home to the contest. Will Cantler, a casting director at Telsey + Company (which did casting for RACE) selected the winners of the competition.

The following individuals have been awarded prizes for their participation:

Finalists (5):

PRIZE – A pair of tickets to see RACE on Broadway with the new cast

-A copy of David Mamet’s newest play, RACE, once available

Ashley H’s Video

Scott’s Video

Sarah’s Video

Chelsea E’s Video

Ross D’s Video


 

The “GO MAMET YOURSELF” Contest

Winners Announced!

_________________________________________________________________________

On May 24th, Broadway’s Best Shows and RACE announced a contest celebrating the work of David Mamet. The “Go Mamet Yourself” Contest invited RACE and David Mamet fans to submit videos of themselves answering the question:

What’s your favorite David Mamet quote?

_________________________________________________________________________

There were over 30 submissions sent in to win one of nearly a dozen prizes. Contestants participated both outside the doors of the Barrymore Theatre, where RACE is currently playing, as well as by submitting videos from home to the contest. Will Cantler, a casting director at Telsey + Company (which did casting for RACE) selected the winners of the competition.

The following individuals have been awarded prizes for their participation:

Honorable Mentions (5):

PRIZE – A copy of “Theatre,” the new book by David Mamet

Lauren K’s Video

Mike Q’s Video

Simcha’s Video

Taleea C & Friend’s Video

(look for her memorable quote “…that n****r b***h…”)

Lucas G’s Video

(look for his quote “I’m going to f**k you now…”)


 

AP LIVE sat down with Eddie Izzard to talk “RACE“. Izzard, a veteran of the stage and screen, is a new addition to the Broadway cast. Check out the interview below to hear Eddie’s thoughts on David Mamet’s new compelling legal drama, “RACE“.

Watch live streaming video from aplive at livestream.com

 

The “GO MAMET YOURSELF” Contest

Approaches its Finale!

_________________________________________________________________________

On May 24th, Broadway’s Best Shows and RACE announced a contest celebrating the work of David Mamet. The “Go Mamet Yourself” Contest invited RACE and David Mamet fans to submit videos of themselves answering the question:

What is your favorite David Mamet quote?

_________________________________________________________________________

By Friday, June 25th, the deadline to submit a video, there were over 30 submissions sent in to win one of nearly a dozen prizes. Contestants participated both outside the doors of the Barrymore Theatre, where RACE is currently playing, as well as by submitting videos from home to the contest.

Submitted videos will be in competition for the following prizes:

Honorable Mentions (5) receive:

- A copy of “Theatre,” the new book by David Mamet

Finalists (5) receive:

- A pair of ticket to see RACE on Broadway with the new cast

-A copy of David Mamet’s newest play,RACE, once available.

Grand Prize Winner (1) receives:

- A pair of tickets to see RACE (starring Eddie Izzard, Dennis Haysbert, Afton C. Williamson, and Richard Thomas) on Broadway JULY 22nd, 2010 and have an exclusive photo op. with the new cast backstage.

A 1-Night Stay at the HILTON Times Square on July 22nd, 2010.

Dinner for Two at the Glass House Tavern Race Merchandise

A copy of David Mamet’s newest play, RACE, once available


Submissions will be reviewed by a Broadway casting director and will be announced at Broadway’s Best Shows by July 5th, 2010.

After taking the stage in November, RACE has garnered critical acclaim and earned a nine week extension with a new cast for the summer with a star-studded cast featuring Eddie Izzard, Dennis Haysbert, Afton C. Williamson and Richard Thomas.


 

David Mamet believes the theater is dead because they’re showing nothing but revivals that weren’t good 40 years ago.

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
David Mamet
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Fox News

What do you think about theatre? Is it always dying? Or is it always thriving? Send us a comment below and give us your thoughts!


 

Diana DeGarmo, most notably recognized from American Idol, stopped by Backstage Live to speak about her latest role on the Broadway show “Hair.”

Watch CBS News Videos Online

She’s an “American Idol” favorite, the runner-up from the show’s third season.

Diana DeGarmo, 22, has made the transformation to a full-fledged Broadway star, currently featured as Shelia in the Tony-award winning musical, “HAIR.”

She stopped by “The Early Show on Saturday Morning”’s “Second Cup Cafe” to perform “Easy to Be Hard,” and “I Believe in Love” from “HAIR.”


 

“Which Director would you Hire to direct a MOVIE version of

‘August: Osage County’?”

How to Enter:

Sweepstakes begins April 25, 2010 at 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time and ends on July 25th, 2010 at 12:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time.  To enter, write an e-mail to press@broadwaysbestshows.com.  To be considered eligible, entries must include:

- Name and contact information of Entrant

- A paragraph of at least 200 words supporting response to the question:

“Which film director would you hire to direct a MOVIE version of ‘August: Osage County’?”

Entry/Selection:

Sweepstakes entries will only be accepted from April 25, 2010 to July 25, 2010.  In August, the judging panel (consisting of employees and partners of August Tour L.P., Jeffrey Richards Associates, and Broadway’s Best Shows) will announce the finalists.  Odds of winning are dependent on the total number of eligible entries received.

Prizes:

Grand Prize Winner (1) receives:

  • A copy of the August: Osage County script signed by Tracy Letts
  • A poster signed by the cast of the August: Osage County Tour
  • A CD of Violet’s favorite music: “Complete Eric Clapton”
  • Mattie Fae’s Favorite Cook Book Blue Ribbon Recipes
  • A collection of Beverley’s favorite works by T.S. Eliot
  • Original props to be detailed at the close of the production’s tour

Finalists (3) receive:

  • A signed copy of the script to August: Osage County

Prizes are not redeemable for cash or transferable.  No substitution allowed.  Finalists will be selected on or before August 15, 2010.  Finalists must accept prizes by noon on August 20, 2010 or it will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.  Disqualification and the selection of an alternate winner may result fro any of the following: (1) potential winner’s failure to respond to notification within five (5) days after its emailing; (2) the return of any notice as undeliverable; (3) any other non-compliance with Rules.  Grand Prize Winner will be selected by popular vote of the judging panel.

Winners and Finalists will be responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes.  By participating entrants agree to be bound by the rules and the show’s decisions, and if selected as a winner, agree to the sponsor’s use of his or her name and/or city of residence for commercial purposes without further notification, permission, compensation, except where prohibited by law.  Void where prohibited.

Conditions:

All entrants will automatically be added to the Broadway’s Best Shows, Inc. monthly newsletter distribution list.  Each entrant by entering the Sweepstakes agrees that: (1) he/she will abide by and be bound by the Rules and the Partner’s decisions; (2) the entry becomes solely the Company and Partner’s property and will not be acknowledged or returned; (3) the Company and Partner are not responsible for claims, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind resulting, in whole or in park, directly or indirectly, from the awarding, delivery, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss, or misdirection of the prize or participation in the Sweepstakes or in any activity or travel related therefore; (4) winner’s acceptance of the prize constitutes the grant of an unconditional right to Partner and assigns to se winner’s name, address (city and state only), voice, likeness, photograph, biographical and prize information and/or statements about the promotion for any publicity, advertising, and promotional purposes without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law; (5) in the event of unauthorized human intervention, Acts of God, acts or regulations of any governmental or supra-national authority, war, national emergency, accident, fire, riot, strikes, lock-outs, industrial disputes, acts of terrorism or other matters beyond the Partner’s reasonable control, corrupt, prevent, or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Sweepstakes, so that it cannot be conducted as originally planned, the Partner has the right to cancel, modify, terminate, or suspend the Sweepstakes; and in such event, to select a winner by random drawing from among all eligible entries received up to such time of cancellation, modification, termination or suspension; (6) the Partner is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the offer or administration of the Sweepstakes including but not limited to : errors in the advertising, rules and selection and announcement of the winner; (7) any portion of the prize not accepted or used by the winner will be forfeited; (8) the Partner is not responsible for any inability of the winner to accept or use the prize (or any portion thereof) for any reason; (9) all entrants upon entering agree to be added to the Broadway’s Best Shows, Inc. monthly newsletter.

Limitations:

Open only to persons 18 or older upon entering.  Void where prohibited. Employees of Broadway’s Best Shows Inc., ACT Productions LTD, Stuart Thompson Productions, O & M, SpotCo Advertising, Jeffrey Richards Associates, Jam Theatricals Ltd., JK Productions LLC, Richards/Climan Inc., Serino Coyne, Situation Interative, Telsey & Company,  Allied Live, their immediate families, and respected affiliates, including advertising and promotion agencies, are not permitted. All federal, state, and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winner. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery of prizes. For show tickets, certain show-time limitations do apply. No substitution, cash alternative, or transfer of prize is permitted.


 

THE RED DRESS EVENT

The Cast of RACE join the Red Sequined Dresses outside the Broadhurst Theatre.

To cast decided to take a quick break outside the Broadhurst Theatre yesterday on 49th Street to take in the beautiful weather and get a few photos in with promoters for the show, a team of women wearing the show’s iconic image, red sequin dresses.  While plenty of street passerbys snapped photos to share with friends, BBS took some photos to once again share the event with those who couldn’t make it to Times Square yesterday.  Enjoy!

RACE, the critically acclaimed new play written and directed by DAVID MAMET, currently stars JAMES SPADER, DAVID ALAN GRIER, KERRY WASHINGTON and RICHARD THOMAS through June 13th, 2010 (David Alan Grier and Kerry Washington) and June 20th, 2010 (for James Spader).  Richard Thomas will continue with the show through its extension through until August 21st, 2010.

RACE is Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet’s (Glengarry Glen Ross, The Untouchables, Speed-the-Plow) most explosive four-letter word yet and proves that nothing is as simple as black-and white. Three-time Emmy® Award winner James Spader (“Boston Legal”), David Alan Grier (“In Living Color”), Kerry Washington (Ray) and Emmy® Award winner Richard Thomas (Democracy) star in this incendiary story about the perceptions and realities that color our world – and the subtle shades between being a victim and being victimized.

Tickets for RACE may be purchased by visiting Telecharge.com or calling (212) 239-6200. RACE is making its world premiere at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (located at 243 West 47th St.).

Photos by Andy S. Drachenberg/Broadway’s Best Shows.