2017 Tony Nominees

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

Best Musical “Come From Away” “Dear Evan Hansen” “Groundhog Day” “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812” Best Play “A Doll’s House, Part 2” “Indecent” “Oslo” “Sweat” Best Revival of a Musical “Falsettos” “Hello, Dolly!” “Miss Saigon” Best Revival of a Play “Jitney” “The Little Foxes” “Present Laughter” “Six Degrees of Separation” Best Book of a Musical “Come From … Read More

This Is Slightly Obscene

Ken AshfordPopular Culture, TheatreLeave a Comment

I saw “Hamilton” with the original cast (except Anthony Rannells was substituting for J Groff) last October, a couple of months after it opened.  I knew it would be big and a tough ticket to get in a few months, but I had no idea.  Check this out. Of course, these are tickets for one week from now, and Lin-Manuel … Read More

For THIS, I Finally Appear In Playbill

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, Local Interest, Sex/Morality/Family Values, TheatreLeave a Comment

Sigh: In a new statement provided to Playbill.com by Schwartz’s team, the composer-lyricist takes a hard line against North Carolina Governor McCrory and encourages citizens of the stage to turn their anger into activism. It can be read in full below: First of all, I think it’s important to remember that this is not just me, this is a collective … Read More

2015 Tony Nominations

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

Not much to say about these.  No Gigi, No It’s Only A Play, no Larry David’s Fish In the Dark, no Side Show, no Finding Neverland, no Honeymoon in Vegas… There aren’t too many surprises, although I am pleased that The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time got a nod for Best Choreography, even though it is a … Read More

Jersey Boys Case: No Copyright Infringement

Ken AshfordCourts/Law, TheatreLeave a Comment

This blog used to do a lot more law stuff — not so much anymore.  But I wanted to point to a case which highlights my interest in copyright law.  Today, the Ninth Circuit ruled against SOFA Entertainment in its lawsuit against Dodger Productions, the producers of "Jersey Boys". In Jersey Boys, a 7-second clip of Ed Sullivan (from the … Read More

Hell, Yes

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

<A href="http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&vid=aa88f4cc-9d41-43e4-8ad3-186317750e2b&from=shareembed-syndication&src=v5:embed:syndication:&from=shareembed-syndication" _mce_href="http://www.bing.com/videos/browse?mkt=en-us&amp;vid=aa88f4cc-9d41-43e4-8ad3-186317750e2b&amp;from=shareembed-syndication&amp;src=v5:embed:syndication:&amp;from=shareembed-syndication" target="_new" title="'Les Miserables' movie teaser">Video: 'Les Miserables' movie teaser</A>  

In Which I Get A Nice Review

Ken AshfordPersonal, Theatre1 Comment

Standout performances bring about laughs in 'A Funny Thing' By: LYNN FELDER | Special correspondent Published: May 06, 2012 Ken Ashford and Gray Smith have proved themselves to be two of the funniest men in town in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," which opened Friday at Twin City Stage. Appearing in nearly every scene, Ashford carries the show with … Read More

2012 Tony Nominations

Ken AshfordTheatreLeave a Comment

Best Play    Clybourne ParkAuthor: Bruce Norris Other Desert CitiesAuthor: Jon Robin Baitz Peter and the StarcatcherAuthor: Rick Elice Venus in FurAuthor: David Ives Best MusicalLeap of FaithNewsiesNice Work If You Can Get ItOnce Best Revival of a PlayArthur Miller’s Death of a SalesmanGore Vidal’s The Best ManMaster ClassWit Best Revival of a MusicalEvitaFolliesThe Gershwins’ Porgy and BessJesus Christ Superstar … Read More

A ‘Funny’ coincidence 20 years later

Ken AshfordPersonal, TheatreLeave a Comment

Reprinted from the Winston-Salem Journal: By: LYNN FELDER | Special correspondent Published: April 29, 2012 "A Funny Thing Happened" 20 years ago at Twin City Stage — then the Little Theatre of Winston-Salem — and it's going to happen again Friday when "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opens. What these two funny things have in common are actor Gray … Read More