Mon, May 14, 2012
Now that Rebecca has decided not to return to "Bombshell", the creative team, beyond the need for Tom and Julia to rewrite the ending which will include one more song, has a major decision: whether to cast Ivy or Karen in the lead role for tonight's preview, the decision which could affect the show's future. Karen is the official understudy, but the understudy, as is generally the case, does not rehearse the role until after the previews have been completed. And Ivy knows the role more comprehensively at this stage having been in the lead earlier in the project's history. This issue causes major dissension among the team. A decision is made, which only increases the tension within the creative team. It also causes a four sided issue between Derek, Karen, Dev and Ivy. Meanwhile, Ellis makes an admission to Eileen, which he did for what he believed the good of the show, but which Eileen may see differently. And Frank comes to a possible impasse in his relationship with Julia, regardless of Michael's presence or not and regardless of if she remains faithful.
Sun, May 26, 2013
"Bombshell" and "Hit List" lead the Tony nominations with twelve and thirteen nominations respectively. Some things seem a certainty at tonight's awards ceremony, primarily that Derek, who has three individual nominations, will win nothing as he is now seen as persona non grata by the Broadway community after his public announcement of his casting couch process, the latest which led to Ana's firing and Daisy's hiring, and that he will not attend the ceremony. Since he made that announcement, he has been in hiding in his apartment, with none of his closest confidantes being able to get him out of his funk. In part because of Derek's situation, Ivy is uncertain if she will tell him that she's pregnant. Based on advice from Ivy, Karen and the "Hit List" cast decide to hold a revolt against Daisy at the Tony ceremony, their tactic which may backfire on them. The one person who may not be involved at all is Jimmy, who has decided not to attend the ceremony, but which he has told no one or his reason. Eileen, who has learned that Nick has been released from prison, goes on a search for him, he who doesn't seem to want to be found. Julia makes a decision about her divorce from Frank. And based on the Tony results, Tom decides to be a winner in love, but the object of his desire may have some say in the matter.
Sat, Apr 20, 2013
It's "Bombshell"'s opening night, to which Eileen has provided tickets to the cast and crew of "Hit List". While trying to avoid any on-line chatter leading up to the opening, Ivy can't help but be affected by one comment that she is only a chorus girl not up to a starring role. Karen, on the other hand, isn't sure if she wants to see someone perform the role she voluntarily gave up. And even before the opening, Tom and Julia contemplate their next move, which may or may not be together as a team. Much of what happens will depend on the reviews, the Times' which may be the most important but the one which may be in jeopardy if only because of Eileen's disintegrating relationship with Richard Francis. Meanwhile, Jimmy contemplates telling Karen of his sordid past. He may be beaten to the punch as Adam hangs around more, he who is getting closer to Ana. And based on the fact that "Hit List" has sold out its entire run even before its first show, Derek and Scott contemplate taking the show to Broadway for this season, which would then place it in direct competition with "Bombshell".
Sat, May 4, 2013
The teams and individuals at both "Bombshell" and "Hit List" are going about their regular routines, both with regard to their respective shows and with their interpersonal relationships. This business includes Tom taking legal measures to dissolve his partnership with Julia, much to her ire, and Karen contemplating beginning a sexual relationship with Derek following her fall-out with Jimmy. But all comes to a screeching halt with the news of Kyle's death, he who was struck by a car. The team at "Hit List" is particularly hard hit by the news. The one person who isn't yet is Jimmy, who is no where to be found. However, Derek and Scott have to figure out what to do about this evening's show. Julia wants to do something special to remember Kyle which she hopes will be supported by the Broadway community despite Kyle not yet having done anything on Broadway. But Kyle's death has an unintended result, which is helped along by Jerry, much to Eileen's chagrin.
Mon, Mar 19, 2012
In the lead up to showing the workshop to potential investors, things don't seem to be going well for anyone involved with the show except Karen, whose biggest issue is if her allegiances lie with the show or furthering her music career, as a big time music producer, who only has a limited time to see her, can only do so during the investor's show. Eileen is having problems with the building manager and getting the boiler repaired in time for the show as the building is like a furnace. Eileen gets some help on this matter from an unexpected source, which may add a little spice to her personal life. Julia's work is suffering because of her angst over her continuing sexual relationship with Michael, and the fact that she learns that Leo knows about the affair. And Ivy, still recuperating from her vocal strain, has the additional concern about her visiting hypercritical mother, ex-Broadway star Leigh Conroy, who, in Ivy's words, sucks all the spotlight on herself like a black hole whenever she's around. Ivy is thrown for a further loop when two specific people show up for the show, one who could affect her performance and another who could jeopardize her maintaining the role of Marilyn regardless of her performance. After the show, the creative team have to make some tough decisions, some which are made more from a personal rather than professional stance.
Sat, Apr 13, 2013
Both "Bombshell" and "Hit List" have important upcoming full run throughs. "Bombshell" is doing a "friends and family" performance before going into its first preview the following day, which coincides with "Hit List" doing a run through the same day for Richard Francis, who plans to write an article on the show. A multitude of technical problems in the "Bombshell" "friends and family" performance may end up delaying the first preview show, which Tom wants to avoid at all cost as he sees a delay in preview as a public declaration of failure. Tom does whatever he needs to in six hours to correct all the technical problems to be able to satisfy Eileen to go through with the preview as planned. One of those technical problems, a wardrobe malfunction, ends up being something that Eileen and Julia want left in, as Marilyn in the nude adds a sense of vulnerability to the character. They leave it up to Ivy to decide if she will agree to this change. With Tom feeling like he alone has to provide direction to rectify the "Bombshell" issues, Julia heads to "Hit List" to continue her dramaturg work for that show. Based on Julia's suggestion, Derek makes an important change to the show's structure, which Jimmy and Karen see as Derek getting back at them for their relationship. Are they correct as to Derek's rationale? These run throughs have an unexpected public outcome.
Sat, Apr 27, 2013
Despite "Bombshell" not getting the ticket sales they were hoping, Eileen and Agnes are certain they are still on track for the show to sweep the Tonys. They just have to keep the show open until the awards, so they drum up whatever publicity they can featuring Ivy at whatever opportunity. One of those publicity items - Ivy moderating a Q&A session with Tom and Julia - may be bad timing. Tom has found out that he didn't get the "City of Angels" directing job. His belief that he would then work on "The Great Gatsby: The Musical" with Julia doesn't seem to be in the cards as Scott has already announced to his board that Julia is doing Gatsby as a play with him. This news, which happens just before the Q&A, may bring their private feud into the public realm. Eileen and Agnes' obstacle-less drive to the Tonys hits a snag when they learn that Derek and Scott are trying to bring "Hit List" to Broadway this season. Tonight's performance is perhaps the most important as it will be done in front of potential Broadway producers. But Jimmy's self-destructive behavior, which Derek in particular has to put up safety nets for, may threaten the show altogether.
Mon, Feb 6, 2012
With their latest show "Heaven on Earth" still running on Broadway, the song and book writing team of Julia Houston and Tom Levitt have decided to take a professional break, in part to give Julia and her husband Frank time to go through an adoption process and in turn allow Julia to be a stay-at-home mom. But a germ of an idea from Tom's new assistant Ellis Tancharoen leads to the thought of writing a new musical based on Marilyn Monroe. A further move by Ellis which could kibosh the idea before it even gets off the ground instead generates buzz around the new project. On board is producer Eileen Rand, who, because of divorce proceedings, is unable to continue work on what would have been her focus of a revival of "My Fair Lady". Eileen wants to hire Derek Wills to direct, much against Tom's wishes as the two hate each other. Julia and Tom believe that their friend Ivy Lynn, who currently performs in the ensemble of "Heaven on Earth", would be perfect to play Marilyn. But during open auditions, an unknown named Karen Cartwright makes an impression on Derek, enough so that she is called back. Beyond her unknown status, other things working against Karen are her New York-phobic Midwestern parents who don't agree with her choice of career, and Karen's own morals which could stop her from doing what she believes she needs to do to get the part.
Tue, Feb 5, 2013
After a successful run in Boston with Karen in the lead, "Bombshell" seems destined for Broadway, making Karen a Broadway superstar. As such, Karen is now part of the show's power team, and, based on advice she gets from Broadway star Veronica Moore, she can make whatever requests she wants to protect the material. Despite most of the cast and crew being automatically rehired for the Broadway run, Karen has the power to dismiss Ivy, who not only tried whatever she could to thwart Karen's success, but was also the reason for her break up with Dev. Ivy, in turn, does whatever she can to secure her place in the show. The road to Broadway may not be a totally smooth one as Eileen's personal life takes its toll on her professional life. Meanwhile, Julia, who has not read the reviews, is unaware that her contributions were the one heavily criticized area of the show. But she and Frank try to repair their marriage following Julia's affair, which may continue to preoccupy her thoughts.