Langella is new "Man for all Seasons" on Broadway

By Robert Osborne

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - A new musical and a revival have joined the Broadway boards this week.

The new Jason Robert Brown musical "13" opened Sunday at the Jacobs, a day before the official premiere of the Roundabout's revival of "A Man for All Seasons" at the American Airlines Theater.

In the latter, Frank Langella plays Sir Thomas More, a role that brought the late Paul Scofield a 1962 Tony Award and a 1966 Oscar. That's a statistic Langella might soon be able to similarly claim if his performance in the film version of "Frost/Nixon" lives up to its pre-Oscar buzz. Langella won the Tony for best actor for the 2007 legit version of "F/X."

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Also on the docket in the near future: an October 30 salute to the lady who is probably today's best-liked Manhattanite, the indefatigable Liz Smith. Liz might have once had some competition in that much-admired category from the older Brooke Astor and Kitty Carlisle Hart, but Liz, declared a Living N.Y. Landmark in 1996, holds that torch these days. One of the many things she's done through the years with her syndicated columns is champion the world of cabaret and its ever-changing venues both in New York and across the country, which is why the second night of the 19th annual Cabaret Convention running October 29-November 1 will celebrate Liz.

The convention, produced as always by Donald Smith for the Mabel Mercer Foundation, is always one of the great N.Y. treats as well as one of the town's best bargains: four days of performances by some of the best and best-known cabaret talents working today, gathered in a single setting (Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall) and at a bargain price (tickets start at $25).

This year's participants will include Julie Wilson, Karen Akers, Marilyn Maye, Eric Comstock, Mary Cleere Haran, Barbara Carroll, KT Sullivan, Craig Rubano, Ann Hampton Callaway, Jeff Harnar, Klea Blackhurst, Karen Mason, Matt Cavenaugh and some three dozen others, plus, as Smith always delivers, a few unannounced surprises.

And who knows? Liz Smith has been known to chirp a tune or two in public before, though I've not heard of any recording contracts resulting from any of her song sessions. But maybe Don Smith will be able to convince her to lean against a piano and turn chanteuse again on "her" night.

(Robert Osborne is the primetime host and anchor of Turner Classic Movies)

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter