Connie Danese

OPENING NITE CHAT: After nearly three weeks of previews, Leap of Faith has officially opened at the Ahmanson. The cast appears to have had ample time to comfortably settle into their roles and the crew has beautifully delivered the perfect splash of excitement to the finale. Raul Esparza, talented four-time Tony nominee, delivers a performance that shows why he received the accolades but Brooke Shields is a delightful surprise. She holds the stage with a presence and simplicity that meshes nicely with her singing voice. Esparza’s soul-filled 11-o’clock number “Jonas’ Soliloquy” particularly awed the audience; not an easy feat since it followed Nicholas Barasch (young crippled son of Shields) raising his angelic voice in the show stopping “People Like Us.”

Observed enjoying the evening: Jimmy Smits, the gorgeous Vanessa Williams, Ben Vereen, the elegant Susan Sullivan and Eric McCormack. The opening night party was held at J Restaurant on Olive. Given the size of the crowd, the venue was somewhat uncomfortable and the waiters carrying trays of hot finger-food quickly vanished as they appeared to run out of appetizers (except for cheese and crackers) early in the evening. The tiny squares of desert cheesecakes were scrumptious. Overheard among the attendees: “It’s so dark I can’t see if the cast is here.” “Are there any drinks? Is it really a no-host bar?” “Loved the young boy. What a voice.” “Don’t bother going upstairs, there’s even less space to move.” “Esparza reminded me of a young Al Pacino.” “No. Andy Garcia.” “Loved the gospel and that big sistah has the voice of life. She’s amazing. So is the guy who plays her son.” The “sistah and son” were Kecia Lewis-Evans and Leslie Odom, Jr. Directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford, Leap continues through Oct. 24.

Patti Lupone. Photo by Ethan Hill

THE BOOK NOOK: Patti LuPone: A Memoir is everything you might expect from an actress known for her outspoken honesty as well as her talent. The little Sicilian girl from Northport, Long Island is always just beneath the surface and never permits LuPone to stray from telling it like it is. When revealing the struggles encountered throughout her huge success as Evita, the one name she doesn’t divulge (for whatever reason), described as her “subversive alternate,” can easily be “googled.” By all accounts, the first American actor to win an Olivier, twice nominated for an Emmy, winner of two Tony Awards (also a five-time nominee) and holding two Grammy awards, LuPone can be considered a “star.” Yet, perhaps what makes her admired by peers both successful and not may be the fact she is never far removed from the insanity associated with becoming an actor. The memoir candidly unveils her painful on again off again seven-year romance with Kevin Kline, the never-ending requests to audition despite noted success and numerous battles with anyone threatening her integrity or beliefs (including people who had the power to hire and fire). And fired she was, in a devastating manner, by Andrew Lloyd Webber. But, most of all LuPone courageously allows readers to witness her deepest fears, embarrassment and disappointments. For example, regarding Evita, “I had just done the biggest show on Broadway and at this point the rest of the world was thinking I was a huge Broadway star. But the reality is it’s not what you think it is. It never is. Goddammit.” Whether you are a struggling actor, a LuPone admirer or someone who just loves knowing what happens behind the proscenium, you’ll love this intimate look at the lady, her life and the biz. Written with Digby Diehl, the book includes nearly 100 photos and an eight page full-color insert, published by Crown/Random House…The Lee Strasberg Notes, edited by Lola Cohen, is a compilation of selections from hundreds of hours of transcriptions from classes and seminars illustrating Strasberg’s teaching technique during the last seven years of his life. Published by Routledge, it may be of interest to students past and present.

Patti LuPone reads her memoir on the audio version by Random House Audio. CLICK TO LISTEN

Evie Louise Thompson and Matthew Scott Montgomery in YELLOW. Photo by Rosemary Alexander

CHAT CHOICE: Del Shore’s Yellow is a fun, delicious evening and continues at the Coast Playhouse with a second extension expected to continue the run through Nov.  Evie Louise Thompson and Matthew Scott Montgomery deliver some of the plays most hilarious moments and when David Cowgill deals with a painful, surprising discovery, we are watching a very special actor in a memorable performance.

CHIT CHAT: The Celebration Theatre presents a special holiday musical by Brian Pugach titled The Next Fairy Tale. Directed by Michael Shepperd, it will run Dec. 3-Jan. 9…James Lapine writes and directs the musical Little Miss Sunshine with music and lyrics by William Finn. It is expected to open at the La Jolla Playhouse sometime in Feb. 2011… Patrick Meyers K2 at the Underground Theatre is the story of two mountain climbers stranded on a ledge at 27,000 feet. Pre-rehearsal preparation for actors Sean Galuszka and Jake Suffian included working with climbing consultant Tony Yeary who took them to Rubidoux, CA for training in rock climbing techniques. The mountainous set is designed by Laura Fine Hawkes. Damen Scranton directs the LA premiere running through Nov. 14…Karen Kondazian is starring as Anna Magnani in the world premiere of Franco D’Alessandro’s two-character Roman Nights at the Odyssey. The 90-minute play (no intermission) is a new version of the original two-act story concerning Magnani and Tennessee Williams. It is directed by Anthony Caldarella and opens Mar. 26, 2011, which is Williams’ 100th birthday. Kondazian reports, “We are still looking for the Williams character and hope to have it cast within a week or two. It is based on the great 20-year friendship of Tenn and Maganni during the La Dolce Vita period in Rome. If the play does well, there is a chance of going Off-B’way but that is all in the hands of the theatre gods.”

CHAT CITE: “It’s a curious thing. I suppose most people think of artists as impatient but I don’t know of any first-rate artist who hasn’t manifested in his career an appalling patience, a willingness to wait and to do his best now in the expectation that next year he will do better.” – Mark Van Doren, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet as quoted in Patti LuPone’s Memoir.