This Year The New York Times Likes Wrestling

IN THE CENTER RING Kristoffer Diaz, center, winner of the 2011 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, with, from left, Scott Heller, The Times's theater editor; Rory O'Malley, the Tony-nominated "Book of Mormon" actor, who attended the award ceremony; Arthur Sulzberger Jr., The Times's publisher; and Desmin Borges, a star of "Chad Deity," who performed. (Photograph by H.E. Yhoman)

REMEMBER the scene in "Chad Deity" when two guys get arrested with a pound of marijuana on their way to the show?

Of course you don't. That scene never made it into the final version of Kristoffer Diaz's wrestling play "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity." But if you were at the Times Center in New York earlier this month, watching Mr. Diaz receive the New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, you heard him talk about it.

As he chatted with Scott Heller, theater editor of The Times, Mr. Diaz, 33, also defined the subject of his wrestling satire, which won the Obie and Lucille Lortel Awards and received a Drama Desk Award nomination for best play.

"It's not a play about a person," he said. "It's a play about the construction of an image around a person."

"Chad Deity," which opened Off Broadway, at Second Stage, in May 2010, is set in the glitzy, contemporary, soap-opera-like world of big-time wrestling and includes characters known as Billy Heartland (played by Christian Litke), the Mace (Desmin Borges) and the Fundamentalist (Usman Ally) as well as the title character (Terence Archie).

The Times theater critics don't choose the award winner. (This year's selection committee, headed by Sylviane Gold, was made up of the playwrights James Lapine, Lynn Nottage and Richard Greenberg as well as Mr. Heller, Sam Sifton and Andrea Stevens, all of The Times.) But Ben Brantley, the newspaper's chief theater critic, gave the play a glowing review last year:

It "has the delicious crackle and pop of a galloping, honest-to-God, all-American satire," he wrote, "a genre that seldom shows up these days." He pointed out, "The joke is that we're in on the joke."

This is the third year for the New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award, which is presented to a writer whose work recently made its professional debut in New York. The 2009 award went to Tarell Alvin McCraney, whose "Brother/Sister Plays" were set in a poverty-defined African-American neighborhood in Louisiana. Last year's prize was given to Dan LeFranc for "Sixty Miles to Silver Lake," a dialogue between a divorced California father and his son on an emotion-filled car ride.

So the wrestling ring as a dramatic setting was something of a departure. Mr. Diaz made an important wrestling-related revelation at the award ceremony, held on July 12. Asked whether, during the course of developing and preparing "Chad Deity," he had ever climbed into the ring himself, Mr. Diaz said no. And then he explained: "Until recently, I didn't have health insurance."


WANT MORE THEATERGOSSIP? Scroll to read about Elaine Del Valle and her solo show, "Brownsville Bred." Then search to read about other stars and shows and their creators, like Jan Maxwell, Tyne Daley, Sutton Foster, Marin Ireland, James Franco, Sean Hayes, "The Book of Mormon," "Master Class," "Anything Goes" and, of course, Mr. Diaz, who was a Gossip Guy of the Week last year.

Gossip Girl of the Week: Elaine Del Valle

THIS summer, as in most summers, a lot of the action in New York theater is in the smaller, lower-profile productions. And we've been interested in one particular solo show since it played last fall at the tiny Schoolhouse Theater up in Westchester. Elaine Del Valle is the star, telling the story of her poverty-defined New York childhood; what was funny, sad, terrifying (a neighbor, Crackhead Wanda, was all three) and sometimes great about it; and how she escaped. Del Valle might be just as inspiring if she were ordinary-looking, but it doesn't hurt that she's movie-star beautiful.

CURRENT GIG "Brownsville Bred," her solo show about growing up Latina in the '80s. The New York Post ("You'll Eat Up Sweet 'Bred' ") critic gave it three stars.

AGE 40.

BORN AND RAISED Brooklyn, N.Y. (As the title says.)

ALMA MATER Brooklyn Technical High School. (She was also accepted by the High School of Performing Arts, but her mother was horrified by the thought of Elaine becoming an actress. Oh, well.)

AVAILABILITY Married.

OFF BROADWAY DEBUT This show, which began at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, is it.

OTHER ACTING GIGS "Elliot Loves" (2011), an indie film about a young Dominican-American man, shot in New York. And you may have caught her as the voice of Val the Octopus on "Dora the Explorer."

ADVICE FOR GETTING WHATEVER YOU WANT "It's not who's going to let you [succeed]. It's who's going to stop you." ("From Girlhood Trials to Onstage Triumph," The New York Times.)

"Brownsville Bred," by Elaine Del Valle, directed by Pamela Moller Kareman, 59E59 Theaters, 59 East 59th Street, (212) 279-4200, 59e59.org.

WANT MORE THEATERGOSSIP? Scroll to read about the stunning Atlantic II production of Howard Barker's "Victory: Choices in Reaction." Then search to read about John Larroquette, Norbert Leo Butz, Edie Falco, Tyne Daly, Brian Bedford, Laurie Metcalf, Sutton Foster, Christian Borle, Julie Taymor, this year's Tony Awards, this year's Commy Awards, "War Horse," "The Book of Mormon" and a lot of other fabulous people and shows.

You Just Never Know What You're Going to Find In a Basement Theater on 16th Street

EMO KING Both Jan Maxwell, as the widow Bradshaw, and David Barlow, as Charles II of England, look a lot better in earlier scenes of "Victory: Choices in Reaction." But this may be the only time they touch.

July 21, 2011

A FRIEND asked me to join him on Monday night to see "Victory: Choices in Reaction." And I am so glad I said yes. Between that invitation and the 7:30 curtain that night, I was asked to review that very play for the newspaper of record. And I am so glad I had the chance to weigh in on it.

"Victory" is playing at the Atlantic Theater's Stage II on a quiet block of West 16th Street. To get to the tiny basement theater, we walked down multiple flights of stairs, past the cleaning crew's mops and buckets. It was one of the most rewarding trips I've taken this year.

Here are some reasons you should see this play. And you only have one more week to catch it: the last performance is on Sunday, July 31.

(1) It's a powerful drama with huge laughs.

(2) Jan Maxwell gives a performance for the ages. And where else are you going to get to see this powerhouse actress, up close, for $25? Trust me, when her reviews come in for "Follies" this fall, normal people won't be able to get even bad seats for less than a hundred bucks plus a long wait.

(3) Howard Barker is a playwright who deserves to be discovered. And he's no kid.

(4) David Barlow, who plays King Charles II, is a find.

(5) The rest of the ensemble cast, including Robert Zukerman, Michaela Lieberman, Robert Emmet Lunney, Ele Woods, Alex Cranmer, Steven Dykes and Willy McKay, are outstanding.

(6) Reviewing the most recent London production of "Victory," the critic for The Guardian called it "so meaty and juicy that it makes what currently passes as political playwriting seem bloodless and trivial."

Here's the link to my review of "Victory" in today's New York Times ("Puritan Widow Confronts a Randy, Profane King"). It has links to lots more info about Barker, Maxwell, John Milton (who makes a cameo appearance), Nell Gwynn (famous prostitute), the director Richard Romagnoli and the Restoration (but you don't really need to know your English history to totally get the play and be bowled over by it).


"Victory: Choices in Reaction," by Howard Barker, directed by Richard Romagnoli, Atlantic Stage II, 330 West 16th Street, (212) 279-4200, ticketcentral.com. Closes July 31, 2011.


WANT MORE THEATERGOSSIP? Scroll to read about our most recent Gossip Guy and Gal, Julian Ovenden in the otherwise imperfect "Death Takes a Holiday" and Tyne Daly as Maria Callas in "Master Class." Then search to read about stars and shows and backstage geniuses of the past New York theater season and a half and the season ahead -- among them Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Josh Gad, Carey Mulligan, Sutton Foster, Sean Hayes and the talented and lovely but very badly dressed Frances McDormand.

Gossip Guy of the Week: Julian Ovenden

BRAD PITT played the role in "Meet Joe Black." Robert Redford did it in an early "Twilight Zone" episode. Now Julian Ovenden, a young Brit with a gorgeous singing voice, is doing it on the New York stage. And he proves that Death can be just as seductive when he's tall, dark and handsome. (Well, O.K., Fredric March proved that in a certain 1934 movie. But he didn't sing.)

CURRENT GIG Playing the Grim Reaper disguised as a handsome Russian prince in the new Roundabout production of "Death Takes a Holiday," now in previews. It's a musical.

AGE 35.

BORN AND RAISED Sheffield, England, and London.

ALMA MATER Eton and Oxford.

AVAILABILITY Married since December to the lyric soprano Kate Royal. (They combined the wedding with the christening of their son, Johnny.)

BROADWAY DEBUT "Butley" (2006), playing Nathan Lane's gay ex-lover.

BEST KNOWN HERE FOR The short-lived ABC series "Cashmere Mafia" (2008), in which he played Frances O'Connor's hunky architect husband.

STUFF YOU'D HAVE SEEN HIM IN ONSTAGE IF YOU LIVED IN LONDON "Merrily We Roll Along," "Grand Hotel" and "Annie, Get Your Gun."

FAMOUS RELATIVE His father, Canon John Ovenden, is Queen Elizabeth's chaplain.

WHAT HE LIKES ABOUT AMERICA "I was amazed by the breadth on offer on U.S. TV. There's some of the best writing you'll see anywhere." ("Marguerite's Man," London Evening Standard, May 20, 2008)

"Death Takes a Holiday," by Thomas Meehan, Peter Stone and Maurey Yeston, directed by Doug Hughes, Laura Pels Theater, 111 West 46th Street, (212) 719-1300, roundabouttheatre.org. Opening night: July 21, 2011.

WANT MORE THEATERGOSSIP? Scroll to read about our most recent Gossip Girl, Tyne Daly, now starring in "Master Class." Then search to read about Tony Awards memories, the infamous Commy Awards, stage stars like Cherry Jones and Bobby Steggert, and playwrights like Lynn Nottage.

Gossip Girl of the Week: Tyne Daly

WHENEVER Tyne Daly plays a role that seems an unlikely choice, some of us doubt her. But not for long. The minute she makes her entrance, on stage or screen, it seems as if the part might have been written with her in mind. Tough police detective. Pushy Depression-era stage mother. And now Greek-American opera star past her prime.

CURRENT GIG The revival of "Master Class," which just opened on Broadway. She plays the late-career Maria Callas, whose voice may be gone but whose diva-hood keeps her going.

WHAT THE TIMES THOUGHT "One of the most haunting portraits I've seen of life after stardom." ("Enough About You; Let's Revisit My Glory Days")

AGE 65.

BORN AND RAISED Born in Madison, Wisc. Then the family moved to Westchester County, N.Y.

ALMA MATER Brandeis.

AVAILABILITY Divorced.

BEST KNOWN AS Detective Mary Beth Lacey on the cop series "Cagney & Lacey" (1981-88). She won four of her six Emmy Awards for the role.

BROADWAY DEBUT "That Summer, That Fall" (1967), a Frank D. Gilroy play based on "Phedre." She appeared with Irene Papas and Jon Voight, but it ran only 12 performances.

HER TONY For her freshly imagined Momma Rose in "Gypsy" (1989).

FAMOUS RELATIVE Cute brother, Tim Daly. Star of the series "Private Practice," which also stars Audra McDonald, who won a supporting-actress Tony for the original production of "Master Class."

WHY SHE WAS ALL WRONG TO PLAY MARIA CALLAS "I play blue collar, available, recognizable."

WHY SHE WAS RIGHT TO PLAY MARIA CALLAS "I am a greedy actor in the sense that I like the big bites." (Both quotes from "A Tough Mama Tries to Find Her Inner Diva," David Rooney's New York Times interview with her last month.)

"Master Class," by Terrence McNally, directed by Stephen Wadsworth, Samuel J. Friedman Theater, 261 West 47th Street, (212) 239-6200, telecharge.com. Opening night: July 7, 2011.

WANT MORE THEATERGOSSIP? Scroll to read Cassie the Westie's first column, about Broadway Barks. Then search to read about this year's Tonys highlights and stage stars like Stockard Channing, Bobby Steggert, Sean Hayes, Liza Minnelli, Mark Rylance and Sutton Foster.

Introducing Cassie the Westie's New Column

CASSIE'S CHOICE: BROADWAY BARKS

HI. My name is Cassie, and I'm the newest staff member at theatergossip.com. (Yes, we're expanding.)

I'm a Westie. I'm 6 years old (that's 42 in publicist years). And if my mommy had ever gotten around to giving me an official, registered AKC name, it would have been Gates's Cassie One Singular Sensation. And I live "Way Out West on West End Avenue." So I like to think I have Broadway credentials.

From time to time, I'll be sharing my opinions about shows, stars and special events. And there was never any question what my first selection would be.

Broadway Barks happens on Saturday!

So if you love theater and you love doggies and kitties, head to Shubert Alley between 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

The hosts are Bernadette Peters, the Broadway superstar who'll be doing "Follies" this fall, and Mary Tyler Moore, the television superstar who has done Broadway in the past (but doesn't like to talk about "Breakfast at Tiffany's"). They really love us animals. And a bunch of current Broadway stars will be there, including:

Victoria Clark, the Tony winner who's the mother superior in "Sister Act," and Patina Miller, who plays the Whoopi Goldberg character in the same show.

Edie Falco, who was so fabulous in "The House of Blue Leaves."

John McMartin, the ultimate dapper, Sondheimesque Broadway leading man, currently in "Anything Goes."

Andrew Rannells and Nikki M. James, two stars of the hottest musical of the season, "The Book of Mormon."

Yul Vazquez, who played the cousin in "The Motherwoofer With the Hat."

But the real purpose of Broadway Barks is for humans to come and meet some adorable, adoptable dogs and cats who need what animal-loving humans call "forever homes." 'Cause even though they are cynical, sophisticated theatergoers, dog-people and cat-people are disgustingly sentimental when it comes to their pets. It's really kind of sad.


Broadway Barks, Saturday, July 10, 2011, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Shubert Alley, next to the Shubert Theater, between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenues. Free.