The Global Film Village

Broads at El Portal in NoHo

// March 1st, 2010 // Stage Play

by Marla Lewin

I spoke with Jules Aaron, the director of Broads! the Musical at the El Portal in NoHo, I had seen his recent productions of LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOO and attended the World Premiere in LA of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, THE MUSICAL, and had been most impressed.

Asked about his new show, he said,”We need to have fun!”  Jules has directed Julianne Moore, Allison Eastwood, Mercedes Ruehi, and one of his stars from the two shows mentioned above, Ellen Crawford, (ER) attended last night along with other actor friends of the company and crew. Ellen will be in Jules next production of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, THE MUSICAL at the Utah Shakespeare Festival this summer.

I spoke with Dick Van Patten, and his son James, who really enjoyed the show, as well as Lee Merriweather and Stephanie Zimbalist.

Joe Symon who is the composer/ lyricist dedicates the show to his grandmothers, and told me the show is almost sold out.  He expects it to go to Broadway next.  We spoke about The Palm Springs Follies, and he likened his current show to the Golden Girls, with some stand up and songs thrown in to the mix.

I remember when I produced a show at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, which I also wrote, called A Tribute To The Arts.  It was right before The Palm Springs Follies went in, and we were also doing an aids benefit, with the wonderful Kay Ballard as our spokesperson.  She said,” I am not Elizabeth Taylor, but we have lost many friends in the theatre, and so many people are losing their lives, and it is like war. “  She told the joke, that she was writing the book, How I lost ten pounds in twenty five years, and got a big laugh.  In BROADS, the four darling actresses, live up to their name singing beautifully in harmony. Dancing around the intimate stage, and slinging one liners.  “After I lose forty pounds, I will go poolside.” (Ba Boom) “My doctor puts me under the knife, and cuts my age in half.”  “I prefer flowers at my wedding to flowers at my funeral, I like to be able to smell them.”

The cast includes: June Gable  who appeared as Estelle on the TV show Friends.  Leslie Easterbrook and Ivonnce Coll are both veteran  Broadway actresses.  Barbara Niles played Mary Magdeline on Broadway in the first revival of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR,  We spoke after the show, and she said that working with the other three Diva’s was a great joy.  They all bonded and got along.  She felt this show is important as so many women wind up living alone in their later years, and how important their women friends and relationships become.

Here are some of the song titles: Beautiful Broads; A Day at Millennium Manor, Just Yesterday We Were Girls, Lift It Up, You Can Count On Me, It Aint Over/Finale.

Jennie Fahn, who wrote the book for the show has been friends with Joe Syman since childhood, over 27 years ago they met at summer camp in the Catskills.  She too dedicates the show to her grandmother, “she lived in a retirement community and was the life of the party.  I wanted to show the vitality they share, and the importance of their relationships to one another.”

Performances February 19 –April 4

El Portal Forum Theatre

5269 Lankershm Blvd.

North Hollywood, CA, 91601

818 508-4200 or online at www.broadsthemusical.com