A Chorus Line is a musical with a book by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics by Edward Kleban, and music by Marvin Hamlisch.
The original Broadway production was an unprecedented box office and critical hit, receiving 12 Tony Award nominations and winning nine of them, in addition to the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It ran for 6,137 performances, becoming the longest-running production in Broadway history up to that time. The show has enjoyed many successful productions worldwide and was revived on Broadway in 2006.
Synopsis
At an audition for an upcoming Broadway production, director Zach and his assistant choreographer Larry put the gypsies through their paces. Every dancer is desperate for work ("I Hope I Get It"). After the first selection, 17 dancers remain. Zach tells them he is looking for a strong dancing chorus of four boys and four girls. He wants to learn more about them, so he tells them to introduce themselves. With reluctance, they reveal their pasts. The stories generally progress chronologically from early life experiences through adulthood to the end of a career.
The first candidate, Mike, explains that he is the youngest of 12 children. He recalls his first experience with dance, watching his sister's dance class when he was a pre-schooler ("I Can Do That"). Mike took her place one day when she refused to go to class – and he stayed. Bobby tries to hide the unhappiness of his childhood by making jokes. As he speaks, the 17 dancers have misgivings about this strange audition process and debate what they should reveal to Zach ("And..."), but since they all need the job, the session continues.
Zach is angered when he feels that the streetwise Sheila is not taking the audition seriously. Opening up, she reveals that her mother married at a young age and her father neither loved nor cared for them. When she was six, she realized that ballet was a relief from her family life. Bebe adds that, as she was not a beautiful child, she was also drawn to ballet, where she could feel beautiful. At the ballet, notes Maggie, someone is always there, unlike the father she has never had ("At the Ballet").
The scatter-brained Kristine is tone-deaf, and her lament that she could never "Sing!" is interrupted by her husband Al finishing her phrases. Mark, the youngest of the dancers relates his first experiences with pictures of the female anatomy and his first wet dream, and the other dancers share memories of adolescence ("Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love"). Gregory speaks about his discovery of his homosexuality, and Diana recollects her horrible high school acting class ("Nothing"). Don remembers his first job at a nightclub, Richie recounts how he nearly became a kindergarten teacher, Judy reflects on her problematic childhood, and the 4'10" tall Connie rants on the problems of being short. Finally, the newly-buxom Val explains that talent doesn't count for everything with casting directors, and silicone can really help ("Dance: Ten; Looks: Three").
The dancers go downstairs to learn a song for the next section of the audition, but Cassie stays onstage to talk to Zach. She is a veteran gypsy who has had some notable successes as a soloist. They have a history together: Zach had cast her in a featured part previously, and they had lived together for several years. Zach tells Cassie that she is too good for the chorus and shouldn't be at this audition. But she hasn't been able to find solo work and is willing to "come home" to the chorus where she can at least express her passion for dance ("The Music and the Mirror"). Zach sends her downstairs to learn the dance combination.
Zach calls Paul on stage, and he emotionally relives his early career in a drag act, coming to terms with his manhood, homosexuality and sense of self. Cassie and Zach's complex relationship resurfaces ("One"). Zach confronts her, feeling that she is "dancing down," and they rehash what went wrong in their relationship and her career. Zach points to the good-but-not-great dancing of the rest of the cast, the gypsies who will probably never get out of the line. Cassie replies, "I'll take chorus, if you'll take me!" During a tap sequence, Paul falls injured and is carried off to the hospital: his career is over. Zach asks the remaining dancers what they will do when they can no longer dance. Whatever happens, they reply, they will be free of regret ("What I Did For Love"). The final eight dancers are selected: Cassie, Bobby, Diana, Bebe, Val, Mike, Mark and Richie.
"One" (reprise/finale) begins with an individual bow for each of the 19 characters, their hodgepodge rehearsal clothes replaced by identical spangled gold costumes. As each dancer joins the group, it is suddenly difficult to distinguish one from the other; ironically, each character who was an individual to the audience is now an anonymous member of an ensemble.
**wikipedia.org
Saturday, October 13, 2007
A Chorus Line
Friday, October 12, 2007
Avenue Q
Avenue Q is a Tony award-winning musical that was conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book is by Jeff Whitty. The show is largely inspired by (and is in the style of) Sesame Street: Most of the characters in the show are puppets (operated by actors onstage), the set depicts several tenements on a rundown street in an "outer borough" of New York City, both the live characters and puppet characters sing, and short animated video clips are played as part of the story.
Also, several characters are recognizably parodies of classic Muppet characters: for example, the roommates Rod and Nicky are versions of Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie, and Trekkie Monster is based on Cookie Monster. However, the characters are in their twenties and thirties and face adult problems instead of those faced by pre-schoolers. The characters use profanity, and the songs concern adult themes. A recurring theme is the central character's search for a "purpose."
After an Off-Broadway opening, directed by Jason Moore, the production moved to Broadway in 2003 and won several Tony Awards, including the award for Best Musical. It is still running on Broadway and currently holds the position of 30th longest running musical in Broadway history. The show has spawned a 2005 Las Vegas production, a 2006 West End production and various international productions. A U.S. national tour began in July 2007.
Background
The show is explicitly a homage to the PBS children's television program Sesame Street. Both Marx and puppet designer/original cast member, Rick Lyon, have worked for Sesame Street, as have the other puppeteers in the original cast. Unlike Sesame Street, Avenue Q openly addresses adult topics such as racism, pornography, and homosexuality; in fact, because of its adult language and content and "full puppet nudity" (including simulated sex between puppets), the show specifically disclaims any connection to the Children's Television Workshop or The Jim Henson Company. In an interview with Britain's The Times, addressing the question of potential conflicts with Henson, Marx claimed, “During early previews in the States we invited Jim Henson's widow and children and they could see that what we were doing was a homage and love letter to 'Sesame Street.'"
The characters who are not puppets relate to the puppets, rather than to the actors holding them. The puppets also speak directly to each other and never to the actors operating them. During the course of the show, a puppet character may be operated by more than one of the actor-operators, although the same actor creates the voice for a particular puppet even if he or she is not holding the puppet at the time.
Setting
As stated in the Broadway Playbill, the scene is a fictional street located "in an outer borough of New York City." Manhattan, the center of New York City, has Avenues A, B, C, and D, making up the Alphabet City neighborhood (now considered part of the East Village). Some say Avenue Q is the hypothetical extension of that sequence: far from Manhattan, where the rents are actually affordable for recent college graduates.
Alternately, Avenue Q could be in the Midwood and Gravesend area of Brooklyn, where there are also Avenues A, B, C, etc. all the way up to Avenue Z, with a few exceptions. One of the exceptions is Avenue Q; the street between Avenue P and Avenue R is known as Quentin Road, named for Quentin Roosevelt, the youngest son of President Theodore Roosevelt. The Q subway train, whose symbol used to be a Q in an orange circle resembling the Avenue Q logo, travels through this neighborhood. However, the authors have stated that Avenue Q is fictional and is not related to this or any other particular street.
Act One
Princeton, a recent college graduate, is looking for an affordable apartment in New York City ("What Do You Do with a BA in English"). At Avenue Q, he meets a group of neighbors: Kate Monster, a single assistant kindergarten teacher; Nicky and Rod, two long-time roommates; Brian, an unemployed comedian; Christmas Eve, Brian's Japanese fiancée, who is a therapist but has no clients; and Gary Coleman, former child star of the TV show Diff'rent Strokes, now the apartment superintendent. They all complain about their lives ("It Sucks to Be Me"), and all agree that Gary's life sucks the most. Princeton takes an apartment, and everyone welcomes him to the block.
Rod is reading a book about "Broadway musicals of the 1940s," when he is interrupted by Nicky, who wants to share a story about a gay man he met on the subway. Rod gets defensive at the mention of homosexuality, and Nicky assures his roommate that he would have no problem accepting Rod ("If You Were Gay"). Rod mentions two musicals, High Button Shoes and Pal Joey.
The job that Princeton had lined up is eliminated and he needs a purpose in life. He finds a penny minted in his birthyear — a lucky omen ("Purpose"). Everyone explains their purpose in life. Gary is afraid he has already fulfilled his purpose. Kate says that she wants to open a school especially for monsters. When Princeton asks whether she and Trekkie Monster are related, Kate is offended at the implication that all monsters must be related, calling him racist. Princeton notes that her dream of a monster school is also exclusionary. Everyone comes in to join the song and all agree that "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist". In the American production Gary laughs about Polacks (but in the UK version, he laughs about the French). Princeton is approached by the Bad Idea Bears, two innocent-looking cuddly teddy bears who distract him from finding his purpose and encourage him to spend his money on beer.
Kate receives a phone call from her boss, the unpleasant, humorless Mrs. Thistletwat, telling her that she has heart replacement surgery the next day and needs Kate to teach the morning class, and that Kate may teach on whatever subject she likes. Kate plans to teach about the Internet. Trekkie Monster and the other men frustrate her attempts at a lesson plan by telling her that "The Internet is for Porn." Princeton comes over to deliver a "Mix Tape", confirming her suspicions that he has a crush on her. Princeton invites Kate to the Around the Clock Café (a well known East Village haunt) that night.
At the café, Brian performs the opening act ("I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today") and introduces Lucy the Slut, who sings "Special". Kate refrains from drinking, as she has the important teaching assignment in the morning. Kate and Princeton are ready to go home, but the Bad Idea Bears suggest that they have some harmless Long Island Iced Teas (Absinthe Daiquiris in the London show) and play drinking games. While Kate retrieves a round of drinks, Lucy tells Princeton that when he's ready for a real woman, she'll be around. The Bad Idea Bears convince the tipsy Kate and Princeton to go home together and have sex. The tenants ask Gary Coleman to tell the wild lovers to quiet down, but Coleman says "You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want [When You're Making Love]". A sleepless Rod hears Nicky talking in his sleep about his attraction to Rod, who is jubilant that his secret crush is mutual. However, he wakes to discover that it was he who had been dreaming and is crushed to find out. Meanwhile, Kate and Princeton lie in bed happily. Princeton gives Kate his lucky penny to let her know how much she means to him ("Fantasies Come True").
The next day, Mrs. Thistletwat calls: Kate has missed the morning class that she was supposed to teach. Mrs. Thistletwat calls Monsters lazy. Angry, Kate quits her job. Princeton asks Kate to be his girlfriend and to accompany him to Brian and Christmas Eve's wedding. At the wedding, the neighbors ask Nicky whether Rod is gay. Nicky confirms that Rod is a "closeted homosexual"; Rod overhears him and vehemently denies this – they simply have not met "My Girlfriend Who Lives in Canada". Rod throws Nicky out of their apartment. Princeton, scared of commitment after witnessing the wedding, breaks up with Kate, asking her to be friends. Kate is hurt and defiant: "There's a Fine, Fine Line" between love and a waste of time.
Act Two
Princeton sits alone in his apartment two weeks later. He is in debt, unemployed, alone, and still purposeless ("It Sucks to Be Me" [Reprise]). The Bad Idea Bears suggest hanging himself. The neighbors take Princeton outside to remind him that "There is Life Outside Your Apartment". Princeton decides to take Lucy the Slut home with him. Kate is jealous, and Christmas Eve explains that Kate is angry because she actually loves Princeton ("The More You Ruv Someone"), which pays homage to "I Have a Love" from "West Side Story". Kate stops by to give Princeton an invitation to meet her at the top of the Empire State Building. He is in the shower, so she leaves the letter, which Lucy promptly destroys. Nicky has stayed with neighbors since he was kicked out, but they are all fed up with his sloppiness and throw him out on the street. Nicky begs for money. Gary Coleman admits that he cannot help feeling a sense of "Schadenfreude" at Nicky's painful situation.
Princeton looks for Lucy, who has left without saying goodbye. Kate, angry that Princeton seems to have stood her up, throws the penny that he gave her from the top of the Empire State Building. Far below, Lucy, passing by, is hit in the head by the penny and knocked into a coma. At the hospital, Kate and Princeton attempt to work out their problems, but Princeton is still not ready for commitment. Rod, depressed, consults with Christmas Eve, who comforts him. Everyone ponders what it would be like to return to happier times ("I Wish I Could Go Back to College").
Nicky, begging in the street, tells Princeton that he should be thinking about other people ("The Money Song"). Struck with inspiration, he determines to raise the money to build Kate's monster school. Nicky likewise realizes that, to get back to his apartment, he needs to help Rod by finding him a boyfriend. The neighbors raise some money ("The Money Song" [Reprise]), but not much. Trekkie Monster, finding out what the appeal is for, remembers his hellish school days and donates ten million dollars that he earned by investing in pornography ("School for Monsters").
Kate is delighted with the new school. Brian has a new job and Christmas Eve has a steady client (Rod), so they are leaving Avenue Q for the Lower East Side (In some performances, they move to Hell's Kitchen). Rod reveals, to no one's surprise, that he is gay. He invites Nicky back in. Nicky has found a boyfriend for Rod named Ricky, who looks just like Nicky, only more muscular. Meanwhile, the Bad Idea Bears have found Scientology, and Lucy has recovered to become a born-again Christian. Kate is impressed that Princeton has made her monster school a reality. Princeton asks her for a second chance, and Kate says they'll take it a day at a time ("There's a Fine, Fine Line" [Reprise]).
A new kid, just out of college with a BA in English, comes to look at Brian and Christmas Eve's for-rent apartment, and Princeton has a revelation: he must pass on everything he's learned. His purpose may be to put all his knowledge into a show. Everyone shoots the idea down, and the kid does not want Princeton's wisdom. Princeton worries that he may never find his purpose, but the others encourage him to cheer up. Life may be bad at the moment, but everything in life is only "For Now."
source: www.wikipedia.com
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley (1860-1926), who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.
Berlin had taken on the job after the original choice, Jerome Kern, collapsed and died suddenly. It is said that the showstopper song, "There's No Business Like Show Business", was almost left out of the show altogether because Berlin, wrongly, got the impression that the producers, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, did not like it. The original 1946 production was a hit and had long runs in both New York and London, spawning many revivals, a 1950 film version and television versions. Other songs that became hits include "Doin' What Comes Natur'lly," "You Can't Get A Man With A Gun," "They Say It's Wonderful," "Anything You Can Do."
Plot summary
When a traveling Wild West show visits her town, Annie Oakley enters a shooting contest, wins, and is asked to join the show. She has fallen in love with the star of the show, Frank Butler, and agrees to join, although she has no idea what "show business" is--she is informed with the classic song, "There's No Business Like Show Business". Over the course of the musical, Frank, although insisting that the girl he wants will "wear satin..and smell of cologne" ("The Girl That I Marry"), becomes enamoured of the tomboyish Annie. Unfortunately, his ego is bruised and he becomes jealous when Annie becomes a star, and he walks out on her.
After various complications, which keep Annie and Frank apart, they come together again, only to have one last shooting duel in the finale -- "Anything You Can Do". Annie deliberately loses to Frank to soothe his ego, and they go off together. (In the 1999 revival, the match ends in a tie.)
Characters
Annie Oakley -- a sharpshooter in the Wild West show
Frank Butler -- the Wild West show's star
Foster Wilson -- hotel owner
Chief Sitting Bull -- Sioux warrior; Annie's protector, but used by Pawnee Bill's competing show
Tommy Keeler -- knife-thrower in the Wild West show; Winnie's boyfriend; part Native American
Charlie Davenport -- manager of the Wild West show
Winnie Tate -- Dolly's sister; Tommy's girlfriend and his assistant in the knife-throwing act
Col. Wm. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) -- owner of the Wild West show
Dolly Tate -- Frank's assistant; Winnie's sister
Pawnee Bill -- owner of a competing western show
Nellie -- Annie's sister*
Jessie -- Annie's sister*
Little Jake -- Annie's brother*
Minnie -- Annie's sister (written out of the 1999 revival)
*In the 1999 revival, Annie had three siblings rather than four
Productions
1946 and 1947 productions
Annie Get Your Gun was first staged on Broadway at the Imperial Theater on May 16, 1946 and ran for 1,147 performances. Directed by Joshua Logan, Ethel Merman starred as Annie Oakley with Ray Middleton in the leading male role as Frank Butler. Foster Wilson was played by Art Barnett, Chief Sitting Bull was Harry Bellaver, Tommy Keeler was Kenneth Bowers, Charlie Davenport was Marty May, and Buffalo Bill Cody was William O'Neal.
The show opened on the West End at the Coliseum on June 7, 1947 and ran for 1,304 performances. Dolores Gray played Annie with Bill Johnson as Butler.
The first Australian production opened at His Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne, Australia, on July 19, 1947. It starred Evie Hayes as Annie with Webb Tilton as Frank Butler. Later Australian productions have featured Gloria Dawn, Nancye Hayes, Toni Lamond, Bunny Gibson and Rhonda Burchmore as Annie.
Mary Martin starred as Annie Oakley in a U.S. national tour, which started on October 3, 1947 in Dallas, Texas. Other cities the touring company played were Chicago and Los Angeles. Martin left the tour in mid-1948. (New York Times, October 4, 1947 and April 26, 1948)
1963 recording and 1966 revival
There is a 1963 studio recording starring Doris Day and Robert Goulet.
The 1966 Broadway revival starred Ethel Merman reprising her role as "Annie", with Bruce Yarnell as "Frank Butler" and Jerry Orbach as "Charles Davenport". It opened first at the Music Theater of Lincoln Center. It was transferred to the Broadway Theatre on September 21 and ran for 78 performances.
This production was telecast in an abbreviated ninety-minute version by NBC on March 19, 1967 and is the only musical revived at Lincoln Center during the 1960s to be telecast.
source: www.wikipedia.com
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Into The Woods
Inspired by Bruno Bettelheim's 1976 book, The Uses of Enchantment, the musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales and follows them further to explore the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. The main characters are taken from the stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella, tied together by an original story involving a Baker and his wife and their quest to begin a family, and including references to several other well-known tales.
Plot summary
Act I
A narrator introduces the major characters: Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; Jack, a lonely and impoverished young man who wishes that his beloved cow, Milky-White, would give milk; and the Baker and his Wife, who wish they could have a child. Little Red Riding Hood buys some bread from the Baker to take to her grandmother in the woods. An ugly old Witch visits the Baker and his Wife, revealing that the Baker's father had stolen from the Witch's garden to feed his pregnant wife, taking some of her magic beans. The Witch cursed the family, making them barren, and imprisoned their daughter Rapunzel. The Witch explains that the spell may be reversed if the Baker and his Wife can find the four ingredients she needs for a certain potion: a milk-white cow, a blood-red cape, corn-yellow hair and a gold slipper, all within the next three days.
All begin journeys into the woods: Jack's mother sends a reluctant Jack to market to sell his beloved Milky-White; and Cinderella decides to escape to the festival, first visiting her mother's grave and receiving a beautiful dress and shoes ("Cinderella at the Grave"). Little Red Ridinghood goes to her grandmother's house and is stalked by a hungry wolf along the way ("Hello, Little Girl"). The Baker's Wife helps him con the sad Jack into selling Milky-White ("I Guess This Is Goodbye") for five beans, telling Jack that they're magic. The Baker, feeling guilty about the lie, sends his Wife home with the cow ("Maybe They're Magic"). The Witch has locked Rapunzel, who has hair "as yellow as corn", in a tower to shield her from the outside world ("Our Little World"). When Little Red Riding Hood arrives at her grandmother's house, she is swallowed by the Wolf, who has also feasted on her grandmother. The Baker (who has been following her) slays the Wolf, saving Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother, and she rewards him with the red cape ("I Know Things Now"). Jack's mother is angry that he was duped, returning only with the beans, and tosses them aside, not knowing they really are magic and will grow into a beanstalk that will reach the heavens. Cinderella leaves the festival before the "First Midnight."
The Baker's Wife spots Cinderella's pure gold slippers, but she is also taken with Cinderella's Prince ("A Very Nice Prince"). Milky-White runs away, with the Wife in pursuit. Jack, meanwhile, returns from the giant's home with five gold coins, hoping to repurchase Milky-White ("Giants in the Sky"). The Wife confesses that she has lost the cow – a setback. The two Princes sing of their endless longing ("Agony"). The Wife fools Rapunzel into letting down her hair and steals a piece. The Mysterious Man appears and gives Milky-White back to the Baker. The Baker realizes that his Wife has helped considerably, and admits the need to join together in their quest ("It Takes Two").
Jack then arrives with a hen that lays golden eggs and attempts to buy Milky-White, but she has died. The Baker's Wife meets Cinderella again, and almost succeeds in getting one of her shoes. As the second midnight begins, the Witch discovers that the Prince is visiting Rapunzel and begs Rapunzel to return to her ("Stay with Me"). The Witch angrily cuts off Rapunzel's hair and banishes her to a desert, and her Prince is blinded while trying to escape from the Witch. The Mysterious Man gives the Baker money to buy another cow, and Jack, taunted by Little Red Ridinghood, returns once again to the Giant's home to steal a magical harp.
Cinderella's Prince is giving another festival and spreads pitch on the stairs to try to capture and identify her ("On the Steps of the Palace"). The Baker's Wife arrives and attempts to trade her remaining bean for Cinderella's one remaining slipper; Cinderella throws the bean aside but, needing two shoes, trades shoes with the Wife and flees. The Baker arrives, and they have now met all of the Witch's demands before the end of the third day. Jack's mother reports that a dead Giant has fallen from the beanstalk. As the third midnight approaches, the potion does not work: the cow is not pure white – it has only been covered with flour. However, the Witch revives Milky-White, and the items are fed to her. The Baker and Wife milk her, and the Witch drinks the magic potion but it does not work because the Witch had touched the hair of Rapunzel they had used in the potion (which explains why she needed the Baker to get the ingredients for her, instead of getting them herself). The Mysterious Man appears and tells the Baker to use the hair-like strands on the husk of corn he had used to compare with one of the step-sister's hair. The new potion works. The curse is reversed, also breaking a spell that had afflicted the Witch, and she becomes youthful and beautiful, although she loses her magical powers.
Cinderella's Prince searches for the maiden whose foot will fit the golden slipper. The step-sisters mutilate their feet trying to cram them into the slipper, but Cinderella appears and becomes the Prince's bride ("Ever After"). The Witch explains that the Mysterious Man is the Baker's father, who abandoned him but the Man dies before the Baker can talk to him. Rapunzel finds her Prince and restores his vision with her tears. All seems well, but another beanstalk suddenly rises from the ground.
Act II
Everyone is living happily, with the Baker and his Wife having a baby and Cinderella living with her Prince in the Palace, though there are some minor inconveniences ("So Happy"). Suddenly, however, the Giant's widow (also a giant), climbs down the beanstalk looking for Jack. The two Princes have grown bored with their marriages and now lust after Snow White and Sleeping Beauty ("Agony" Reprise). To satisfy the widow's thirst for vengeance, everyone offers her the narrator. Jack's mother aggressively defends her son, angering the Giant's widow, and Cinderella's Prince's steward clubs Jack's mother to make her be quiet, inadvertently killing her. The widow stomps Rapunzel, much to the dismay of Rapunzel's Prince and the Witch ("Lament"). The Baker and his Wife decide that they must tell the Royal Family, despite the Witch's insistence that the Royal Family can't do anything about it, and that if they want to survive, everyone must go to battle.
Everybody searches for Jack, while Cinderella's Prince seduces the Baker's Wife ("Any Moment"). She realizes her error just moments before being crushed by a falling branch ("Moments in the Woods"). The Witch finds Jack and wants to give him to the Giant's widow, causing an argument – the characters blame each other for their predicament before they all blame the Witch ("Your Fault"). Disgusted, the Witch throws more beans on the ground before vanishing ("Last Midnight"). The Baker, grieving after his Wife's death, leaves his child with the others. He is then visited by his father's spirit, which convinces him to face his responsibilities ("No More"). He returns to the group and helps them plan to kill the giant. Cinderella, after leaving her unfaithful Prince, helps comfort Little Red Ridinghood upon realizing that her grandmother has succumbed to the giant's reign ("No One Is Alone").
Everyone helps to slay the Giant's widow, and each of the previously deceased characters returns to describe the lesson they learned ("Children Will Listen"). All seem satisfied, except for a final "I wish" from Cinderella.
Productions
San Diego production
Into the Woods started at the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, where it opened on December 4, 1986 and ran for 50 performances. Many of the performers from that production were in the Broadway cast. John Cunningham, who played the Narrator, Wolf and Steward was replaced by Tom Aldredge, who played the Narrator and Mysterious Man. LuAnne Ponce, Little Red Ridinghood, was replaced by Danielle Ferland. Ellen Foley as the Witch was replaced by Bernadette Peters.
Original 1987 Broadway production
Into the Woods opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 5, 1987, closed on September 3, 1989, and played 764 performances. It starred Bernadette Peters, Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien, Kim Crosby, Ben Wright, Danielle Ferland, Chuck Wagner, Merle Louise, and Robert Westenberg. The original production won the 1988 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, and the original cast recording won a Grammy Award. Joanna Gleason won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and James Lapine (book) and Stephen Sondheim (original score) also won the Tony Award.
Peters left the show after 5 months due to prior commitments and was replaced by Phylicia Rashad, who was later replaced by Nancy Dussault. In 1989, Betsy Joslyn took over for Ms. Dussault, then left to join the national tour, and Ellen Foley returned to the role of the Witch at the end of the run.
Tenth Anniversary benefit performances of this production were held on November 9, 1997 at The Broadway Theatre (New York), with the original cast.
1988 National United States Tour
The national tour began on November 22, 1988 with Cleo Laine playing the Witch, replaced by Betsy Joslyn in May 1989. Rex Robbins played the Narrator and Mysterious Man, Charlotte Rae Jack's Mother, and the Princes were played by Chuck Wagner and Douglas Sills. The tour played cities around the country, such as Fort Lauderdale, FL, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and the Kennedy Center.
1990 London production
The original London Production opened on August 25, 1990 at the Phoenix Theatre and played until February 23, 1991. It was directed by Richard Jones, choreographed by Anthony Van Laast, and produced by David Mirvish, with costumes by Sue Blane and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. It starred Clive Carter, who was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award. Some story aspects and one song that were cut from the original production were added to the London production. The song "Our Little World" was added. This song was a duet sung between the Witch and Rapunzel giving further insight into the care the Witch has for her self-proclaimed daughter and the desire Rapunzel has to see the world outside of her tower.
1991 television production
Into the Woods was taped for video and aired on U.S. public television on March 20, 1991. The taping was done in May 1989 with the original Broadway cast. It is available on DVD.
2002 Broadway revival
The 2002 Broadway revival, directed by James Lapine and choreographed by John Carrafa, began previews on April 13, 2002 and opened April 30, 2002 at the Broadhurst Theatre, closing on December 29, 2002 after a run of 18 previews and 279 regular performances. It starred Vanessa Williams as the Witch, the recorded voice of Judi Dench as the Giant, and cast including John McMartin (Narrator), Stephen DeRosa (the Baker), Gregg Edelman (Prince/Wolf), Christopher Sieber (Prince/Wolf), and Laura Benanti (Cinderella).
The plot was retooled, with a subplot added involving The Three Little Pigs restored from the earlier San Diego production. Other changes included the addition of the song "Our Little World," a duet between the Witch and Rapunzel that was part of the London production; Jack's cow was a puppet with a live performer inside who dances; "The Last Midnight" was sung by the Witch as a menacing lullaby to an infant held hostage. There were two Wolves rather than only one, sung by the two performers who also play the Princes.
The revival won the Tony Awards for the Best Revival of a Musical and Best Lighting Design.
2007 London Revival
A revival at the Royal Opera House's Linbury Studio in Covent Garden had a limited run from June 14 - June 30, 2007. This is the second Sondheim musical to be staged by the company, following 2003's Sweeney Todd.
Other productions and adaptations
The musical has been adapted into a child-friendly "Junior" version for use in middle schools. Act II is completely edited out, as well as the not-so-child-friendly elements from Act I. In addition, the show is shortened to fit in a 60-80 minute range.
source: http://www.wikipedia.com/
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde is a musical with a book by Heather Hach and music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin, based on the Amanda Brown novel and the 2001 film of the same name.
Legally Blonde had its pre-Broadway tryout at the Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco beginning in previews on January 23, 2007, and playing its final performance in San Fransisco on February 24, 2007. After some changes to the score and minor adjustments to the book, the show opened for previews on April 3, 2007. The Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, opened on April 29, 2007 at the Palace Theatre to mostly positive reviews.
During the week ending June 24, 2007, Legally Blonde: The Musical hit a milestone by joining the millionaires' club for the weekly Broadway grosses, by grossing $1,003,282.
The musical was filmed for television on September 18, 2007 and will be broadcast on the MTV network starting on October 13, 2007 with subsequent air dates.
ACT I
The screaming, hyper-caffeinated girls of sorority Delta Nu, led by Serena, Margot, and Pilar, celebrate the imminent engagement of Warner Huntington the Third, to their blonde sorority president, Elle Woods ("Omigod You Guys"). The girls send Elle off to dinner with Warner, where he tells Elle that he needs someone more serious and breaks up with her ("Serious"). Elle is devastated but soon comes up with a plan to win back Warner ("What You Want"). She decides to chase Warner to Harvard, to show him that she can be serious. With help from Delta Nu sister, Kate, Elle studies for the LSAT's, missing all spring semester parties in the name of love. In place of writing a personal essay, Elle bursts into the Harvard admission offices with the entire UCLA marching band to prove that she is Harvard material. She is then accepted to Harvard.
Elle's snobby classmates disapprove of her attire, and the only person who is willing to help her out is the law technical assistant, Emmett Forrest ("The Harvard Variations"). However, he can not protect her in class with the blood-thirsty Professor Callahan ("Blood in the Water"). Elle, being under-prepared, gets kicked out of class by Vivienne Kensington, who happens to be Warner's new girlfriend. This tragedy summons the sisters of Delta Nu, who, acting as a greek chorus, tell her to be positive ("Positive"). Elle, deciding that being blonde is a problem, heads to the Hair Affair. She meets beautician Paulette, who tells Elle that when she is down, she puts on her favorite CD, and dreams of Ireland ("Ireland"). At the Hair Affair, Vivienne gives Elle a surprise invitation to a "costume party." Paulette sends Elle off with a costume for the party, her positivity and blonde hair still intact ("Ireland Reprise").
Walking into the party as a Playboy bunny, Elle realizes that she has been tricked by Vivienne into thinking it was a costume party, but, with courage, Elle seeks out Warner in an effort to win him back ("Serious Reprise"). Warner still does not take Elle seriously. Elle runs away from the party, only to run into Emmett. Emmett is un-moved by Elle's love problems, due to the fact that he has had a difficult, self-run life. He tells her that she has to buckle down and study. He slowly gets Elle to reexamine her priorities until Elle defeats Warner in a classroom discussion ("Chip on My Shoulder"). Warner and Vivienne win two of Callahan's coveted internship positions, and Warner proposes on the spot in front of Elle. Before Elle's heart can break, Emmett shows her the internship list. Below the names of Vivienne, Warner, and Enid is the name "Elle Woods" ("So Much Better").
ACT II
Callahan, Emmett, and the four interns are studying the jump rope workout video of their newest client, fitness mogul Brooke Wyndham ("Whipped into Shape"). Brooke's step-daughter, Chutney, is accusing Brooke of murdering Brooke's much older husband. Callahan and the interns visit Brooke in jail, but are unable to extract an alibi from her, until she is alone with Elle. Elle recognizes Brooke as a former Delta Nu member. Swearing Elle to secrecy, Brooke reveals her alibi: she was getting liposuction the day of the murder. Not willing to betray her Delta Nu trust, she asks Callahan to trust her when she says that she is innocent. Callahan then releases his rage on Emmett. Emmett begs Elle to break her promise. Elle refuses, but then offers to help impress Callahan in a different way by taking Emmet to a department store ("Take It Like a Man"). The results impress both of them.
Back at the Hair Affair, Elle is getting a manicure when in walks the sexy new UPS man, Kyle. Paulette is nothing short of stunned, but she is too shy to talk to him, believing that she has nothing to offer. As she bends down to pick up the package, however, the Greek chorus is summoned by Paulette's amazing 'bend and snap' ("Bend and Snap"). The sorority girls tell Paulette that she can impress Kyle, but when Kyle comes back, Paulette does the bend and snap and breaks Kyle's nose.
In the third day of Brooke's trial, Brooke's pool boy, Nikos, shocks the court by claiming to have an affair with Brooke. Brooke denies it, and Elle believes her. Elle tries the bend and snap in front of Nikos and gets no response. Elle concludes that he is gay ("There! Right There!"). Callahan, however, believes him to be simply European. It is revealed by Carlos, Nikos boyfriend, that Nikos is gay and European.
Later that night in Callahan's office, the interns celebrate Elle's skill. However, after dismissing Emmett and the other interns, Callahan tries to kiss Elle, and it is revealed that Callahan only hired Elle to be 'blonde arm candy.' Elle slaps Callahan, and he fires Elle. As Elle leaves Callahan's office, Elle bumps into Warner and Vivienne, who both saw the kiss, and now believe that she is sleeping her way to the top. Elle gives up on law school and love, and prepares to go home against Emmett asking her to stay ("Legally Blonde").
Elle heads to the Hair Affair to say good-bye to Paulette, but, before she can leave, Vivienne shows up and convinces Elle otherwise ("Legally Blonde Remix"). Confident again, she leads a parade back to the courtroom, picking up her parents, and the sorority sisters. The last person they pick up is Kyle, who takes a liking to Paulette. Back at the trial, Brooke fires Callahan and hires Elle. Emmett, being a licensed lawyer, supervises Elle. Then, Chutney goes to the witness stand. Her testimony is damning, but Elle triumphs by revealing Chutney's lie with her knowledge of hair. Chutney confesses that she was the one who killed her father. Chutney thought that Brooke was walking through the door when she shot the gun off, but it ended up being her father. Chutney hated having a mother that was younger than her. Elle's victory is so great, that Warner proposes to her, having been dumped by Vivienne. Elle kindly refuses, claiming to have been changed ("Find My Way").
Three years later, Elle ends up as the valedictorian of her class. Paulette tells the audience that Enid practices family law, Vivienne's training for the peace corps, and Warner quits law school to pursue a modeling career. Callahan ran for governor but was defeated, and his wife hired Emmett to handle their messy divorce. Paulette married Kyle, had two kids, and is pregnant with a third. At the end of the graduation ceremony, Elle proposes to Emmett, and Emmett accepts.
**wikipedia.org
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905.
Fiddler on the Roof was originally entitled Tevye. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters (or Tevye the Milkman) and other tales by Sholem Aleichem which he wrote in Yiddish and published in 1894. The story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions while the world and civilization around him change rapidly. He must cope with both the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters — each daughter's choice of husband moves progressively further and further away from established custom — and with the edict of the Tsar that upends his village.
The musical's title stems from a painting by Marc Chagall, one of many surreal paintings he created of Eastern European Jewish life, often including a fiddler. The Fiddler is a metaphor for survival, through tradition and joyfulness, in a life of uncertainty and imbalance.
The original Broadway production of the show, which opened in 1964, was the first musical to surpass the 3,000 performance mark, and it held the record for longest-running Broadway musical for almost 10 years until Grease surpassed its run. The production earned $1,574 for every dollar invested in it.
The show was highly acclaimed. It was nominated for ten Tony Awards, winning nine, including Best Musical, score, book, direction and choreography. It spawned four Broadway revivals, a successful 1971 film adaptation, and has enjoyed enduring international popularity. Joseph Stein, who wrote the book for Fiddler, created a version of the show called Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. for elementary and middle schools that cuts out a few of the scenes, including the dream sequence.
SYNOPSIS
Act I
As a lone fiddler stands on a roof playing a tune, Tevye, the philosophical village milkman, explains the customs of the Jewish people and their lives in the Russian shtetl of Anatevka, where life is as precarious as that of a fiddler on a roof ("Tradition"). At Tevye's home, everyone is busy preparing for the Sabbath meal. His sharp-tongued wife, Golde, orders their five daughters, Tzeitel, Hodel, Chava, Sprintze, and Bielke, about their tasks.
Yente, the village matchmaker, arrives to tell Golde that Lazar Wolf, the town's wealthy butcher, a widower of Tevye's age, wants to wed Tzeitel, their eldest daughter. Tevye must be persuaded to meet Lazar to arrange the marriage. The two middle daughters, Hodel and Chava, speculate excitedly about what their mother and the matchmaker were talking about, but the eldest daughter Tzeitel warns them not be so hasty. They are poor, so their parents will have no choice but to take whatever husband Yente brings ("Matchmaker"). Tzeitel is not eager to have a match found for her, as she is already in love with the tailor, Motel Kamzoil, her friend since childhood.
Tevye's horse is lame, and he must pull the cart himself. He asks God, who it would hurt "If I Were a Rich Man?" The men of the village confront Tevye, as he is late delivering their milk and cheese. Avram, the bookseller, has news from the outside world about pogroms and expulsions. A student from Kiev, Perchik, newly arrived in town, hears their conversation and scolds them for doing nothing more than talk. The men dismiss Perchik as a radical, but Tevye takes a liking to him and invites him home, offering him room and board in exchange for tutoring his two youngest daughters. Motel also joins the family for dinner. Golde tells Tevye to meet Lazar after the Sabbath but does not tell him why, knowing that Tevye does not like Lazar. Tzeitel is afraid that Yente will find her a husband before Motel asks Tevye for her hand. Motel is very shy and afraid of Tevye's temper, and tradition says that a matchmaker arranges marriages. Motel, who is poor, is saving up for a sewing machine and wants to buy it before he approaches Tevye. The family gathers around for the "Sabbath Prayer."
After the Sabbath, Tevye goes to meet Lazar at Mordcha's inn, where many of the villagers are drinking, including a group of non-Jews. Teyve assumes incorrectly that Lazar wants to buy his milk cow. After the misunderstanding is cleared up, Tevye agrees to let Lazar marry Tzeitel – with a rich man, he knows that his daughter will never starve. All join in the celebration of Lazar's good fortune. The Russian youths at the inn join in the celebration and show off their dancing skills ("To Life"). Outside the inn, Tevye bumps into the Russian Constable, who has jurisdiction over the Jews in the town. The Constable warns him that there is going to be a "demonstration" in the coming weeks (a euphemism for a minor pogrom). The Constable has sympathy for the Jewish community but is powerless to prevent the violence.
The next morning, a hungover Tevye delivers the news to the family that he has agreed that Tzeitel will marry Lazar Wolf. Golde is overjoyed, but Tzeitel is horrified and pleads with Tevye not to make her marry Lazar. Motel arrives and gathers the courage to tell Tevye that he and Tzeitel gave each other a pledge to marry. Tevye is outraged at this breach of tradition, but Motel argues that even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness. Tevye is impressed when the formerly-unassertive young tailor stands up for himself. He relents ("Tevye's Monologue") but worries about how to break the news to Golde. An overjoyed Motel celebrates with Tzeitel ("Miracle of Miracles").
Tevye is struck with inspiration: he tells Golde that he has had a dream in which Golde's Grandmother Tzeitel returned from the grave to bless the marriage of her namesake, Tzeitel, but to Motel, not to Lazar. In the dream, Lazar's late (but fearsome) wife, Fruma Sarah, also rises from the grave to warn, in graphic terms, of severe retribution if Tzeitel marries Lazar ("Tevye's Dream"). Frightened, Golde agrees that Tzeitel must marry Motel. While returning from town, Tevye's middle daughter, the bookish Chava, is teased and intimidated by some Russian youths, but one of them, Fyedka, protects her, dismissing the others. He offers Chava the loan of a book, and a secret relationship begins.
The wedding day of Tzeitel and Motel arrives, and all the Jews join to celebrate ("Sunrise, Sunset") and dance ("The Wedding Dance"). Lazar gives a fine gift, but he and Tevye argue over the broken agreement. Perchik ends the tiff by breaking another tradition: he crosses the barrier between the men and women and dances with Tevye's daughter Hodel. The celebration ends abruptly when a group of Russians rides into the village to perform the "demonstration". They disrupt the party, damaging the wedding gifts and wounding Perchik, who attempts to fight back, and wreaking more destruction in the village. Ever practical, Tevye advises everyone to clean up the mess.
Act II
Months later, Perchik tells Hodel he must return to Kiev to work for the revolution. He proposes marriage, admitting that he loves her, and says that he will send for her. She agrees ("Now I Have Everything"). They tell Tevye that they are engaged, and he is appalled that they are flouting tradition by making their own match, especially as Perchik is leaving. When he forbids the marriage, Perchik and Hodel inform him that they do not seek his permission, only his blessing. After some soul searching, Tevye finally relents – the world is changing, and he must change with it ("Tevye's Rebuttal").
Tevye explains these events to an astonished Golde. "Love", he says, "it's the new style." Tevye asks Golde, "Do You Love Me?" After 25 years of living and struggling together and raising five daughters, she admits that she does. Other events are moving apace. Yente tells Tzeitel that she saw Chava with Fyedka. News spreads quickly in Anatevka ("The Rumor"). Perchik has been arrested and exiled to Siberia, and Hodel is determined to join him there. At the railway station, she explains to her father that her home is with her beloved wherever he may be, yet she will always love her family ("Far from the Home I Love").
Weeks pass, and Chava finally gathers the courage to ask Tevye to allow her marriage to Fyedka. Again Tevye reaches deep into his soul, but marriage outside the Jewish faith is a line that he cannot cross. He forbids Chava ever to speak to Fyedka again. When Golde brings the news that Chava has eloped with Fyedka, Tevye wonders where he went wrong ("Chava Sequence"). Chava returns and tries to reason with him, but he refuses to speak to her and tells the rest of the family to consider her dead. Meanwhile, rumors are spreading of the Russians forcing Jewish villagers to leave their villages. While the villagers are gathered, the Constable arrives to tell everyone that they have three days to pack up and leave the town. In shock, they reminisce about the miserable town, and how hard it will be to leave what has for so long been their home ("Anatevka").
As the Jews leave Anatevka, Chava and Fyedka stop to tell her family that they too are leaving. Her mother and sisters are afraid to talk to her with Tevye present. Although Tevye does not speak directly to Chava, he mutters, "God be with you." As Tevye and his family leave the village for America, the fiddler begins to play. Tevye beckons with a nod, and the fiddler follows them out of the village.
**wikipedia.org
24
24 is an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American television series. Broadcast by Fox Network in the USA and syndicated worldwide, the show first aired on November 6, 2001, with an initial thirteen episodes. In January 2007, 24 was made available online to US viewers through Fox on Demand. It is set in the fictional U.S. government Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU).
24 is presented in real time, with each season depicting a 24-hour period in the life of Jack Bauer, who works with the U.S. Government as it fights threats on her soil. Bauer is often in the field for the fictional Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) as they try to safeguard the nation from terrorist threats. Based in Los Angeles, the show also follows the actions of other CTU agents, government officials and terrorists associated with the plot.
After leading actor Kiefer Sutherland won a Golden Globe for his role in the first 10 episodes, the ratings of the show increased, leading FOX to order the second half of the season. There have been six seasons of 24 produced. On May 15, 2007, it was confirmed that FOX has ordered seventh and eighth seasons, with the seventh planned to begin airing in January 2008. A motion picture based on the show has been written and was scheduled to be filmed in 2007 for a 2008 release but plans for production were put on hold to focus on the TV series.
ELEMENTS
Real Time
24 is a thriller that is shown in "real-time," with each minute of airtime corresponding to a minute in the lives of the characters. Commercial breaks are placed at times when non-essential plot is taking place (i.e. characters driving somewhere will begin when a commercial break starts and arrive at their destination at the end of the commercial break.) This allows for the show to actually occur in real time without compromising action.
Actual show run time without commercials is about 45 minutes, as is typical for hour long television shows on many commercial stations. However, the effect only works if episodes are shown with commercial breaks during the show (which, for example, is uncommon for public television stations in Europe), and then only if these are inserted at the right points in time and have the exact right length, which may not fit in with the normal programming of a commercial station.
Watched continually each season would take approximately 18 hours to finish. This real-time nature is emphasized by an on-screen digital clock appearing before and after commercial breaks, with a distinct beeping noise for each second, alternating between C and D tones. This time corresponds to the in-universe time of the show. The characters will often place time windows (such as the common "within the hour") on certain events such as terrorist threats, thus strongly hinting that the attack/event will occur before the end of the episode.
The action switches between different locations tracing parallel adventures of different characters involved in the same overarching plot. As a result, there may be long sections of unseen narrative for each character; in that case, a character may only be seen for a portion of an episode's overall running time.
Storytelling and Visual Style
24 employs fast-paced and complex plots.
A recurring theme of 24 has characters faced with the decision of whether or not to let something tragic happen for the sake of a greater good. In Season 2, a Dept. of Defense staffer has the chance to warn CTU of an imminent attack on their building, but argues that doing so would put the culprits on alert and thus cause a valuable trail to go cold. A similar situation occurs in Season 5, when terrorists plan to release a canister of nerve gas inside a busy shopping mall. In Season 3, the President and CTU agents must choose between the life of a high-ranking CTU official and the imminent threat of further attacks, while Season 4 is notable for a scene in which two men — one of whom possesses crucial information about a nuclear missile strike, and the other is the husband of a major character — lie dying in an emergency room, creating the ethical dilemma of whom to save. In addition, the sitting President often has to deal with a similar quandary. For example, in Season 6, President Wayne Palmer asks Jack Bauer to sacrifice himself in exchange for the location of a known terrorist.
The first season began and ended at midnight, leading to the situation that the main characters had to go almost two days without sleep. Later seasons have tended to use a less punishing time window, starting in the morning or early afternoon.
For the first two seasons, 24 frequently used split-screen action to follow multiple plots, although from Season 3 onward this was scaled back somewhat and confined mostly to phone conversations and shots leading into and out of commercial breaks.
Counter Terrorist Unit
Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) is a fictional elite branch of the CIA and similar to the real-life FBI/NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force and the CIA Counterterrorist Center's Special Activities Division. Its headquarters are in Washington, D.C. with satellite operations in major cities where threats are likely. CTU's primary mission is to disrupt and destroy foreign and domestic terror cells hostile to the United States, as well as protect it from terrorist attacks. With an office in nearly every major city, CTU also has a role in creating security policy and fighting groups of organized crime that fund terrorism. Although CTU is fictional, a similar department, the National Counterterrorism Center, was set up by the government.
CTU offices are run by a Director, also called the Special Agent in Charge, to whom the Director of Field Operations and the Chief of Staff report. Departments within a CTU office include Communications ("Comm"), Logistics, and Tactical ("Field Ops"). Communications and Logistics personnel report directly to the Chief of Staff, whereas Tactical personnel are deployed into Tactical Teams ("Tac Teams") by the Director of Field Operations.
The Los Angeles CTU Field Office houses several areas. The first floor contains the Situation Room, as well as the main communications complex and command center, often referred to as "The Floor." On the second floor is the Director's office and Field Ops office. Situated elsewhere in the building are the Information Technology department (I.T.), an in-house Medical clinic, Meteorology department, several Holding Rooms used for interrogation and confinement, and Tech Rooms, which contain the bulk of the physical computer hardware used by CTU.
The CTU offices within a region report to a Divisional Office, overseen by the Division Director. Divisional offices cover a larger amount of territory in their jurisdiction. Finally, the Divisional office and all other offices report to a District Headquarters, overseen by a Regional Director. This title implies that each District Headquarters has jurisdiction over an entire region of the United States. However, in Season 1, the reverse was implied: the District Director, George Mason, reported to District Manager Richard Walsh (who was killed in the second episode), and then Ryan Chappelle, the Regional Director from Division. However, in the Season 2 finale, Chappelle referred to a Mr. Vaughn, the District Director, as his superior.
CTU often suffers setbacks for the sake of plot. Despite the high-profile and high-risk nature of its duties, it is frequently infiltrated by double agents, and several times has been attacked or seized by terrorist forces.
According to recent rumors about the upcoming seventh season, which takes place three years after the events of season six, CTU has been disbanded by the government. The season will take place in New York and Washington.
**wikipedia.org
