Finding Roger

Rick Elice's memoir of his relationship with Roger has now been published.

See Broadway.com.

The book can be ordered from various webshops.

Finding Roger

Some news on Roger's birthday.

Rick Elice has written a book about Roger and their 34 years together. It's called "Finding Roger" and will be out in October.

More information and pre-order at:

Barnes and Noble

or

Amazon.

So looking forward to reading this.

Roger Rees Fund for Musical Theater

MasterVoices has announced the establishment of The Roger Rees Fund for Musical Theater. Roger worked with Mastervoices, previously The Collegiate Chorale, often. They have now established the fund in his name.

"The Rees Fund will support the group's future musical theater projects, devised and selected by artistic director Ted Sperling, who was introduced to the organization by Rees himself. Like Rees, Sperling is committed to presenting music that is inherently dramatic, in highly theatrical productions set to the highest standards of excellence. Recent projects have featured Kelli O'Hara, Victoria Clark, Bill Irwin, Christopher Fitzgerald and Lauren Worsham."



More information at:
Broadway World

Roger Rees Awards

On the eve of the first Roger Rees Awards ceremony Roger is remembered by Rick Elice, Chita Rivera and Alex Timbers on Playbill.com.

Rick Elice writes:

“Where is Rog now? In a theater, I’m positive. Those sacred rooms where families are made every time the lights go down; where something might happen that’ll make you thank God for the day you were born. Theater was always home to Rog. He was frequently in the spotlight, but he was never a lone star; he delighted in helping others to step forward and shine. His easy, generous joy of theater – every aspect of it – was infectious and irresistible, tangible and real and right. Sharing his vast knowledge of plays and players, the insights from a fifty-year career - this was like breathing for him. And his support and enthusiasm for young talent was unconditional. He showed up everywhere, saw everything, encouraged everybody. He lived and moved beautifully in our theater world, and he made that world a wonderful home and a joyful place to work.

"Work was everything to Rog. He loved to tell students that to himself, William Shakespeare wasn’t ‘the Bard of Avon.’ He was just a guy, wearing the equivalent of jeans and sneakers, working day and night to get the right words in the right order, and maybe nudge the world a little. Dickens or Chekhov, Sondheim or Miranda, Ruhl or Vogel, Kushner or Karam – take all the fandom away, and they’re just people who work. Hard. Every day. ‘Why be finished?’ Rog would say. ‘Where’s the fun in that? Great cities are never finished. Nothing sits still, except your dog – and look how anxious he is to get on with things.’

"To Rog, perfection was a moving point, and he loved the pursuit of that point. He sprinted after it every day till the day he ran out of breath. His natural artistry, his natural humanity were utterly inspiring. As a result, he inspired whole legions of us – actors, writers, designers, directors, students, teachers – all of us raised up by Roger’s rare and great spirit. No one more than me. I have many thank you’s to make in my life, but my deepest will always be to this kind and gentle man, my beautiful husband, Roger Rees.”

Full story at playbill.com.

A list of the award winners is at Broadwayworld.com.

On Roger's Birthday

Today should have been his 72nd birthday. 

National High School Musical Theatre Awards

The National High School Musical Theatre Awards' New York Chapter have been renamed The Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance in honour of Roger!

Read more at: Broadway World and Playbill.

Hall of Fame

Roger was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame on Monday night in New York. Rick Elice spoke on his behalf during the ceremony.

Pilgrims

Roger stars as William Bradford in "The Pilgrims", a drama documentary broadcast by PBS this Thanksgiving week. The first part will be shown on 24 November at 8 pm.

More information at: PBS.

A short preview in which Roger appears is at A quote from William Bradford.

Hall of Fame

The 2015 Theater Hall of Fame Ceremony is held tonight, November 16, at 7:30 PM at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre. Roger will be one of the inductees. Rick Elice is listed as one of the presenters.

Details at Playbill.

Theater Hall of Fame

It was announced yesterday that Roger will be posthumously inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame on 16 November. Fellow inductees will be playwright Tony Kushner, songwriting partners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, director Julie Taymor, director Robert Falls, actor Stacy Keach, lighting designer Ken Billington, Broadway publicist Merle Debuskey -

See more at: Playbill.

The Memorial Service

Several reports on the service have appeared:


From Variety:

"The crowd of attendees filled the orchestra and extended up to the first and second balcony of the New Amsterdam. During the event, an emotional McNally, who wrote the book for “The Visit,” remembered the impact of watching Rees deliver his character’s climactic line from the end of the show. “‘I’m ready.’ It was only a line from a script,” McNally remembered. “But I think Roger was ready. We were the ones who weren’t ready.”"

Full story at Variety.


Jeremy Gerard, Deadline Hollywood:

"McNally was followed by Chita Rivera, Rees’ co-star in The Visit, who lamented coming into his circle later than the others and who sang “Love And Alone” — stunningly — from that show."

Full story at Trove.


From Reel Life With Jane, written by Melanie Votaw:

"Finty Williams, the daughter of Judi Dench, spoke on behalf of both herself and her mother, saying that when Williams was four years old, she asked Rees to marry her."

Full story on Reel Life With Jane.


Playbill also has a full report:

"Bebe Neuwirth, a frequent Rees collaborator/co-star, took to the stage next and performed a powerhouse rendition of "The Bilbao Song" by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, from a show Rees had conceived and directed for her at the now-defunct Zipper Theatre, Here Lies Jenny. "This is for Roger, as directed by Roger," she said."

Full story at Playbill.

Memorial

The memorial for Roger takes place today at 1 PM at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York. I wish I could be there, but I am in "old" Amsterdam. My thoughts will be there.

I first met Roger just a few years ago at the stage door of the Apollo Theatre in London, a meeting I will never forget. I was in London when I heard he had passed away and went back to that stage door. When I was in London last week I went back again, for my own little memorial.

Memorial in New York

A memorial for Roger will be held September 21 at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre. The hour-long memorial, celebrating his life, will begin at 1 PM.

See more at: Playbill.

Alex Timbers Remembers Roger

Alex Timbers, who directed "Peter and the Starcatcher" with Roger wrote this lovely tribute for American Theatre Magazine.

Broadway Lights

Yesterday Broadway dimmed its lights to honour Roger. Michael Patrick Walker posted a short film on   Twitter

Dimming the Broadway Lights

Broadway theatres will dim their lights for a minute to honour Roger on July 15 at 7.45 pm. 

See broadway.com

Tributes

Many tributes are being paid to Roger. A lovely one was published on The Shakespeare Blog.

The obituary in The Guardian.

And some reactions from other friends and colleagues  The Guardian.

A piece from the New York Daily News.

To Remember

Sadly, Roger passed away last Friday. Only 71 years old. I loved his work, have been a great fan for over 30 years. When you are a fan like that meeting the person you admire can be a disappointment, but I am so happy to have met him a few times in recent years, to have been able to speak to him, and to find out that he was a generous, loving, gracious, kind man, with a quick mind, a big heart and a huge enthusiasm for his work. I remember all the work, and I remember a lovely, lovely man. I am so glad over the past day or so to have been reading so many people remembering him just this way.

When I first approached him in London and explained I had created a website for him, he immediately knew who I was, invited me into his dressing room and made me feel special. He always did when I met him again. I feel like I've lost a friend because he made me feel I was his friend.

Drama League Awards

Yesterday Roger attended the 81st Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon. Some pictures at: Zimbio.

Happy Birthday, Roger!

Recording Pictures

Both Theatermania and Broadway World have posted pictures of yesterdays recording session.

David Gordon's group picture for Theatermania:

Walter McBride's picture of Roger with Chita Rivera and John Kander for Broadway World:

Full stories and more pictures at: Theatermania and Broadway World.

Tony Nominations

"The Visit" was nominated for best musical, best book, best score, best lighting design, and Chita Rivera was nominated for best actress in a musical!

Cast Album

Today the cast album of "The Visit" was recorded!

Roger Rees recording "I Know Claire"! Other than @TheVisitMusical what is your favorite Roger Rees performance? pic.twitter.com/8zSJZp5hSD

— Broadway Records (@BwayRecords) April 27, 2015

@Chita_Rivera and Roger Rees on a short break while #recording @TheVisitMusical #playbill #legends pic.twitter.com/SYisU0b5lx

— Broadway Records (@BwayRecords) April 27, 2015

Curtain Call

The #VisitOpening curtain call. pic.twitter.com/5SaudgOoXn

— The Visit - Musical (@TheVisitMusical) April 24, 2015

As tweeted by "The Visit"!

Opening Night Pictures

Theater Mania and Broadway.com have picture galleries of "The Visit"s opening night!

Squigs

Broadway.com resident artist Justin “Squigs” Robertson has created his portrait of the cast of "The Visit":

For the original story see Broadway.com.

Drama Desk

"The Visit" has been nominated for 7 Drama Desk Awards.

The list is:
Outstanding Musical
Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Chita Rivera
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Outstanding Music
Outstanding Lyrics
Outstanding Book of a Musical
Outstanding Set Design

Cast Album "The Visit"

On the day of its Broadway opening a cast album for "The Visit" has been announced. The album will be released on June 26.

For more information see Broadway.com.

Almost Visiting Time

Jason Danieley Blog

"The Visit" cast member Jason Danieley, who plays Frederich Kuhn, regularly tweets and writes about The production.

.@GloriaEstefan & @EmilioEstefanJr get on their feet to visit @Chita_Rivera & our killer cast: http://t.co/XZDWsYG2Rk pic.twitter.com/ARkZC9GmdL

— The Visit - Musical (@TheVisitMusical) April 13, 2015

He posts lovely picture on Instagram too:

Our dashing and indomitable star Roger Rees. @TheVisitMusical #photoshoot

Een foto die is geplaatst door Jason Danieley (@jdanieley) op 16 Apr 2015 om 12:16 PDT

His blog is at: Jason Danieley.

Award Nominations

Today Roger was nominated for a Drama League Award for his portrayal of Anton Schell in "The Visit", two days before the production opens on Broadway. "The Visit" itself was nominated as well, as was Chita Rivera.

Earlier the production received 5 nominations for Outer Critics Circle Awards, including a nomination for Chita Rivera and for the production.

The Visit Website

More information on "The Visit" and booking tickets through the official website at The Visit Musical.

On the website there are links to the show's Facebook Page and Twitter Account.

Previews "The Visit"

Previews of "The Visit" have started at the Lyceum Theater. One of the early visitors was Harvey Fierstein. Read the report at Broadway.com.

"The Visit" Starts Previews!

Tomorrow "The Visit" starts previews at the Lyceum Theater. Broadway World has a photogallery on their website.

Special Breakfast

Roger and co-star Chita Rivera had breakfast with the Swiss ambassador André Schaller, and his wife, Brigitte, to celebrate the upcoming transfer of "The Visit" to Broadway. A report is at Theater Mania.

A second report is at: Broadway.com.

And a third one at the Wall Street Journal.

Visit Trailer

The first trailer for "The Visit" is at Theater Mania.

Visit New York

The Williamstown production of "The Visit" is to transfer to Broadway. Previews start on 26 March, the production opens on 23 April. Roger will star alongside Chita Rivera.

For more information see New York Theatre Guide.

The Real Thing

Roger attended the opening night of Stoppard's "The Real Thing" at the American Airlines Theatre on October 30. He originated the part of Henry in London in 1982.

Hound of the Baskervilles

This Saturday 2 November BBC Radio 4 Extra will broadcast "The Hound of the Baskervilles" with Roger playing Sherlock Holmes. The programme will then be available on BBC iPlayer for a week.

Visit Visual

The Williamstown website has published production pictures and videos.

Also, a nice series of black and white rehearsal pictures.

Find all the pictures and videos at WTF.

The original pictures are at Flickr.

Chita Rivera on The Visit

"The Visit is about to open at Williamstown and Chita Rivera and Roger are interviewed by the Boston Globe on the piece and appearing at Williamstown.


“We’re finding more and more that it’s funny and dramatic at exactly the same time, which is like all the great plays,” says Rees, who plays Anton. “The pizzazz that you expect from a musical has been allowed to shatter a little bit, and underneath you see what makes the human heart tick, and the selfishness and the hypocrisy of that. That’s what’s wonderful for the audience, to be near something that’s like a piece of Chekhov.”

Read the full piece at The Boston Globe.

Theatermania Interview

Roger talks to Theatermania about "Dog and Pony", collaborating and relationships.

Read the interview at Theatermania.

Dog and Pony

Roger directs a new musical written by Rick Elice at the Old Globe, San Diego from 28 May to 4 June. The cast includes Heidi Blickenstaff (Jane, Annie), Beth Leavel (Rhoda, Doris), Eric William Morris (The Host, Jeff, Joe), Nicole Parker (Mags), and Jon Patrick Walker (Andy).

Broadwayworld.com shows the pictures.

The Visit

Roger will return to the Williamstown Festival to appear in a production of Kander and Ebb's "The Visit" with Chita Rivera, Judy Kuhn, Howard McGillin and Nancy Opel. The show will run from 31 July to 17 August. Roger will play Anton.

For more information on the show and on how to book tickets check the festival website at Williamstown Festival.

Return to What You Will

This Monday 28 April Roger will perform his Shakespeare show at the Old Globe in San Diego for one night. The show starts at 7 p.m.

More information at Broadwayworld.

An interview with Roger can be found at U-T San Diego.

Winslow Video

Broadwayworld.com has a short video with scenes from "The Winslow Boy" at Broadwayworld.com.

I Want To Be Roger Rees

The cast of the Winslow Boy has created an interesting short video explaining why they want to be Roger Rees. It's available at Broadwayworld.com.

Winslow Reviews Part 2

The Huffington Post has only praise for Roger's performance: "Roger Rees delivers a sterling performance as the driven Arthur Winslow" and "The elder Winslow is so convinced of his son's innocence he is determined to prove it even at the cost of his own health -- Rees brilliantly progresses from limp to cane to wheelchair over the course of play -- his family's financial ruin, and social ostracism."

Full review at the Huffington Post.

Bloomsberg Business News says that "The Roundabout has struck gold with Terence Rattigan’s 1946 play, “The Winslow Boy.” It returns Roger Rees to Broadway after a long hiatus, perfectly cast as a man determined to defend family honor against extraordinary odds." And continues: "Rees ideally captures the almost sickly Arthur’s invigoration at the challenge and his slow, subsequent diminishment as he is sapped of health, wealth and stamina by the prolonged battle."

Full review at Business Week.

BroadwayWorld has a short video feature, which includes an interview with Roger and some footage of the production at BroadwayWorld.com.

Playbill has collected more reviews at Playbill.com. They also have a photo gallery of the curtain call and the party.

Winslow Reviews Part 1

The reviews for The Winslow Boy are coming on and Roger is praised for this portrayal of Arthur Winslow.

The Washington Post says the production shines with Roger Rees and adds: "Roger Rees is excellent as the Winslow patriarch, a man whose body is beginning to betray him but whose dry humor and compassion stays intact. The touching scene in which Rees first confronts the frightened Ronnie over his expulsion reveals this father will be no stern Edwardian robot."

Read the full review at the Washington Post.

Theatermania also praises Roger's performance: "Rees shines as the head of the Winslow household, exhibiting a silent regality that slowly crumbles as the fight to wipe the stain from his son's name takes its emotional and physical toll. Though the sacrifices he and the rest of his family make, weighed against the potential gains of a legal victory, do not balance the scales of justice, Arthur insists on striving for right, living by the words "let right be done" (translated from the Latin phrase "fiat justitia") — a term that becomes both his personal motto and a necessary legal endorsement he must obtain for his petition of right to be heard by the courts."

Full review at Theatermania.com.

Theatermania also has a set of opening night pictures at Theatermania.

Winslow Interview

Roger talks to Broadway.com about the new production of "The Winslow Boy": "This is the first revival since it was done on Broadway in 1947, and it’s lovely to see the audience reacting so well. I’ve always loved the play, so I jumped at the chance to do it. It’s British in its sensibilities, but the subject matter—a father’s belief in his son’s truth and honor, and the ends he will go to to protect that honor—is universal."

For the full interview see Broadway.com.

The Winslow Family

Squigs has created a family and cast portrait for the Winslow Boy:

For more information on the production and the artist check Broadway.com.

Winslow Pictures

Broadway World has published a series of production pictures for "The Winslow Boy", the first official pictures or Roger in the role of Arthur Winslow:

The full gallery is at Broadway World.

Winslow interview

Roger was interviewed by Broadwayworld.com about playing Arthur Winslow in "The Winslow Boy". In the interview he calls Arthur Winslow 'one of the great parts".

Read the interview and check the pictures at: Broadwayworld.com.

Roundabout Winslow

Previews have now started for Roundabout's "The Winslow Boy" with Roger starring as Arthur Winslow. The play will open on 17 October and close on 1 December. For tickets go to the Roundabout Theatre website.

Catching Stars

Rick Elice talks about working with Roger on "Peter and the Starcatcher" to the Dallas Voice as the production opens at the Winspear Opera House. This was an unusual cooperation as it wasn't as simple as a playwright writing and a director directing.

For the full interview check Dallas Voice.

Winslow Boy Tickets

Tickets are now on sale for the new Broadway production of "The Winslow Boy" starring Roger. The first performance will take place on 20 September at the Roundabout Theatre and the play opens on October 17 for a limited run through December 1.

For tickets check Broadway.com

Upstairs at the Beresford

The New York Times has published an article on Roger's apartment in the Beresford, New York. An interview and some lovely pictures of the apartment can be found at the New York Times website.