Latest news with #Rep
The Courier
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Courier
Brian Cox: 'I was transfixed by actress's stockings and called 'darling' on my Dundee Rep debut'
Brian Cox has recalled being 'transfixed' as he watched an actress's stockings slide down her leg during his first-ever stage appearance at the old Dundee Rep Theatre. As the Emmy-winning Dundee born and bred star of Succession returns to his theatrical roots in Make It Happen, he's spoken with warmth and candour about his formative years as a teenager at the theatre, dating back to the early 1960s. 'The first thing I ever did was a play called The Dover Road,' Brian recalled in an interview with The Courier. 'I was just a wee boy – maybe 15 or 16 – and I was playing a servant. 'I was standing behind a girl, a bona fide actress, and I remember her stockings hadn't been done up properly. 'Slowly, they just came down her leg. I was transfixed!' he laughed. Cox, now 79, is back on the modern day South Tay Street stage more than 60 years after first setting foot in the Rep's original venue on Nicoll Street. That theatre – which tragically burned down on Cox's 17th birthday, June 1 1963 – holds a sacred place in his heart. 'The Rep was my salvation,' he said. 'I left school at 15. My school was a disaster – St Michael's Junior Secondary – designed to send me into the building trade. 'I was meant to be a brickie. But I wanted something different. I wanted to be in the theatre.' It was in the old Nicoll Street building that Cox found not only his craft but his sense of belonging. 'I remember coming into the front of the theatre and this wifie in the box office said, 'You cannae get to the front fae the front, son – you've got tae go tae the back,'' he chuckled. 'So I did. And as I came in the back, I walked into a row between two actors. 'One of them was Nicol Williamson – a big name back then – and they were knocking hell out of each other. I just wanted to get past them and upstairs.' Another unexpected moment was waiting at the top of the stairs. 'There was this guy, just smoking away, and he looked at me and said, 'Are you alright, darling?' 'I thought, bloody hell, this is the place for me. Chaos downstairs, affection upstairs. That contrast – it stayed with me.' During his two years at the Rep, Cox immersed himself in all aspects of theatre life. 'I lived there,' he said. 'I used to sleep under the stage. Never went home to my mum in Tullideph Road. 'I hated where we'd moved to on Brown Constable Street, so I stayed in the theatre.' Those early performances weren't without hiccups. 'One time I had to serve food on stage,' he recalled. 'I got white sauce on my sleeve and leaned across the lead actor – splashed it all over him. 'Another time I dropped a bit of fish on the floor and thought, 'Nobody's looking' – there's a full audience in – and I slapped it back on the plate!' he laughed. The old Dundee Rep may have burned down in 1963, but the fire it lit in Cox never dimmed. After stints performing in temporary venues, he left Dundee to attend drama school in London. It was the beginning of an illustrious journey that would eventually see him become a star of stage and screen, win a Golden Globe and command stages from Broadway to the West End. Cox has returned to Dundee Rep several times since, notably in 1994 with The Master Builder and a special 'Evening With' event. He's now proud to be a patron of the theatre that launched his life. 'Yes, the Rep was great for me. It was my home,' he said. 'When it burned down, I was heartbroken. Theatre has given me everything.' His latest return to the Rep – starring in Make It Happen as the spirit of Scottish economist Adam Smith, a powerful new production celebrating resilience and creativity – feels like a full-circle moment for the veteran actor. 'I just fell in love with the job,' he said. 'That was my vocation. And I was so lucky to be welcomed here – to be part of something. I've never forgotten that.' Brian Cox, who recently called on Dundee's city father to 'sort the f***ing High Street out' in a Courier interview, appears in Make It Happen at Dundee Rep from July 18 to July 26. Dundee Rep artistic director Andrew Panton confirmed that Cox has been living up to his 'sweary reputation' in the rehearsal room. Brian is also set to host another special one-man Evening With Brian Cox' event at the Caird Hall this October. After Dundee Rep, Make It Happen, a co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland, runs at the Edinburgh International Festival.
Daily Mirror
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Iconic comedian set for UK return after 10 years and teases 'truths'
An iconic movie star and comedian from the United States is coming back to the United Kingdom to entertain fans for the first time in almost a decade A huge stateside star is set to return to the UK for the first time in almost a decade. The intimate experience will see a UK audience able to grill the comedian-turned-actress for the first time in nearly 10 years - and they've been told to expect "stories, laughs and truths". Iconic Sister Act actress Whoopi Goldberg, 69, heads back to the UK in September. A release for her two-date tour says: "Audiences are invited to experience an intimate evening with the multi-award-winning actress, author, and producer as she reflects on her extraordinary career and trailblazing journey, delivered with her trademark wit, warmth and razor-sharp candour." It also revealed fans will get a chance to act the star questions in a Q&A segment, calling the experience "a rare and unmissable opportunity to witness a living legend up close". Speaking ahead of the events in London and Cardiff, the host of stateside lunchtime chat show The View said: "I've always loved performing for UK audiences. "I can't wait to take the stage at these two incredible venues and share some stories, some laughs, and maybe even a little truth." As well as her roles on screen, Whoopi is also a bestselling author, producer, successful entrepreneur and noted humanitarian. In recent months, Whoopi's comments on The View have led to a number of controversial moments. And at this year's Oscars, the star was jokingly told to "behave" by her daughter. Whoopi gave Oscar aides a fierce side-eye on the red carpet when told to "move over further to the right". In response her daughter Alex Martin quipped, "I'm bad," prompting Goldberg to humorously retort, "I'm a good girl", according to lip reader NJ Hickling. The playful banter continued with Alex warning, "Hey behave, you're on camera," leading to laughter between the two. And last year some of her followers were only just realising her name is actually her stage name. After decades in the industry, some fans were stunned to realise Whoopi's real name is Caryn Elanie Johnson. In her memoir, Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me, the Oscar winner shared the truth behind her unusual stage name after she had received countless questions about it throughout her long career. She wrote: "Once I started getting parts in plays, I wanted a name that sounded more interesting. Caryn Johnson wasn't it. Some people at the Rep called me Whoopi because I would sometimes let loose with a fart. I added 'Cush-ione' to it, with a French pronunciation. "Then, I got a review written by journalist Welton Jones. It was a good one, so I sent it to my mother. Later, when we talked on the phone, she said, 'What is this Whoopi Cushione?' Her mum suggested changing Cushione to Goldberg to create a 'more substantial name' so she'd be taken more seriously by the industry."
Boston Globe
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
A raucous night at the Elliot Norton awards
The cast of the Sullivan Rep performs a song from "A Little Night Music." JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE There were, as always, heartwarming stories. Jenny Tsai, who won outstanding music direction for Sullivan Rep's 'A Little Night Music,' told us that when she came to the US from Taiwan at age 23, she knew nothing about musical theater. Accepting outstanding lead performance in a musical for her work in 'Next to Normal,' Sherée Marcelle said, 'There was a time that I was told I was not cut out for this industry,' before confessing, 'This is only the second professional show of my career.' Advertisement Armando Rivera, who directed Gloucester Stage/Teatro Chelsea's 'The Hombres' (outstanding play and outstanding director in the midsize division), said, 'We Latino hombres are not bad men, we are human,' and 'If you tell stories in any language, I promise you will be understood. Because the heart is there.' Winners for outstanding sound design (large) for the Huntington's 'Toni Stone,' Lucas Clopton and Aubrey Dube hugged each other at the podium before Clopton explained that 'We haven't seen each other for a year' and Dube gave a shout-out to his native Botswana. From left, Aubrey Dube and Lucas Clopton celebrate their prize for Outstanding Sound Design in a large play for their work on "Toni Stone." JOSH REYNOLDS FOR THE BOSTON GLOBE There's always room for humor at the Norties. When it seemed no one from American Repertory Theater was coming to accept the outstanding lighting design (large) award, BTCA member Bob Verini offered to fill in: 'I saw 'Gatsby' and I'll be happy to tell you about the lighting.' Presenting the outstanding featured performance (midsize) award, a cheeky Mishka Yarovoy caught the audience off guard with 'And the winner is' before the nominees had even appeared on the screen. A special citation honoring the Boch Center Wang Theatre's 100th anniversary was unexpectedly interrupted by the opening bars of 'The Music of the Night' from 'The Phantom of the Opera,' prompting the observation that 'There are ghosts in these old theaters.' Presenter Paul Melendy appeared in a T-shirt bearing the image of this year's Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence recipient, Kathy St. George, and announced he'd be selling copies from the back of his Subaru after the show. St. George's five-minute acceptance speech was a show in itself, as the Stoneham native told the crowd how at age seven she decided she wanted to be a second-grade teacher and that she actually taught second grade before becoming an actress. In New York, she played a life-size Lamb Chop alongside Shari Lewis; she answered an ad to 'Work on Broadway this Christmas' and got the part — as an elf at Macy's. Her real Broadway debut came in 1981 when she was cast in the Jerome Robbins–directed 'Fiddler on the Roof.' Advertisement But Boston called her back: 'You are my people. Being part of the Boston theater community is the best thing ever.' Channeling her one-woman show 'And Now Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Judy Garland,' she whispered mischievously toward the wings, 'Auntie Joyce?,' before concluding, three times, 'There's no place like home.' Even then St. George wasn't done: she appeared in the musical number 'Streets of Dublin,' from SpeakEasy Stage Company's ' Four awards were given in memory of theater luminaries whom we lost over the past year. Former BTCA member Terry Byrne remembered James Earl Jones. Lenelle Moïse recited a poem to honor South African playwright Athol Fugard. Paula Plum recalled getting her first job in Boston from Lyric Stage Boston co-founder Ron Ritchell. And Scott Edmiston extolled 'Falsettos' creator William Finn. As the ceremony wound down, I created a couple of unofficial awards. The Huntington's ' Advertisement Despite giving out 39 actual Elliot Norton Awards, the BTCA wrapped up the show in just over three hours. In what's become an Elliot Norton Awards Ceremony tradition, the entire BTCA crew assembled on stage to announce the outstanding ensemble winner. After they'd shouted out 'Titanic' and no one from NSMT immediately responded, Kulhawik peered anxiously into the audience and wondered, 'Did the ship go down?' It didn't; the award was accepted and the Boston theater community sailed exuberantly into the ceremony's afterparty. Jeffrey Gantz can be reached at
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fans in disbelief over Hollywood actor Vin Diesel's real name
Fans have been stunned to learn that Fast & Furious legend Vin Diesel isn't actually called Vin Diesel, with the story of his stage name dating back to his pre-fame years as a New York bouncer Known for his tough guy persona, the very name Vin Diesel conjures up images of an action hero ready for any scenario, whether that be racing cars at top speeds or fighting in intergalactic battles. Many have therefore been stunned to learn that Vin Diesel isn't actually called Vin Diesel at all, having deliberately picked a stage name that would better reflect his super buff public image. Away from the bright lights of the movie studio, however, the 57-year-old Fast & Furious legend goes by a very different moniker. In a 2005 appearance of The Ellen Show, a clip of which has since gone viral, host Ellen DeGeneres pressed Vin on the moniker 'Vin Diesel', which she asserted couldn't "possibly" be the name on his birth certificate. To the amazement of viewers, California-born Vin confessed: "You know what, it's not." He then went on to reveal: "My real name is Mark Vincent." Going on to detail the origins of his famous stage name, Vin explained that it dates back to his time working as a New York City nightclub bouncer. He shared: "I was a bouncer for nine years, and the name stuck. We all had fictitious names just in case we got in trouble or anything." While Vin is of course a shortened version of Vincent, 'Diesel' is a reference to the star's love of working out. Vin continued: "Vin from Vincent. [...]When you're probably built up a little, you say, 'that guy is diesel'." Fans have naturally been baffled by this revelation, with one aghast person tweeting: "Vin Diesel has a real name?" In a humorous nod to Vin's most famous character, another commented: "I think we all know that his REAL name is Dominic Torreto." Of course, Vin is far from the only Hollywood star who has opted to go for a completely different name. Whoopi Goldberg of Sister Act fame was, in fact, born Caryn Elaine Johnson, but wanted something that would stand out a little bit more in the world of showbiz. As Whoopi explained in her 2024 memoir, Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me, the name she is best known for was partially inspired by her tendency for flatulence. She admitted: "Some people at the Rep called me Whoopi because I would sometimes let loose with a fart." Meanwhile, acclaimed Golden Globe winner Jamie Foxx is actually called Eric Marlon Bishop. During a 2024 appearance on Angie Martinez's radio show, the Django Unchained actor divulged how his pick dates back to his early days as a stand-up starting out in LA. He recalled: "I went on as Eric Bishop [and] killed. Standing ovation. I come back the next weekend. You sign your name. I don't get on. Next week, I don't get on again. Come to find out, the comics are running the list. So I could never get on." After trying out another venue, Jamie found he had more success using "unisex names" due to male comics vastly outweighing the number of female comics. The name Jamie Foxx git him booked, and he's stuck with it ever since. Legally Blonde icon Reese Witherspoon is another A-lister who has opted for a different name. Born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon, Reese ultimately decided on a name that felt more 'Hollywood', as previously reported by Women's Health.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' at Detroit Repertory Theatre delivers a solid performance
Detroit Repertory Theatre continues its exploration of legendary playwright August Wilson's Century Cycle with 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' a work especially well known to many since 2020's Netflix adaptation starring Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman. During the freezing winter of 1927, 'Mother of the Blues' Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey and her band struggle to record a few new songs in a rundown Chicago studio. Egos and tempers clash, and lives are changed in a mostly solid production that's proven very popular with local audiences. The real meat on the bones of this premise is the interactions between Ma's four sidemen as they prepare for and work their way through the gig. Their bickering, reminiscing, storytelling and wisecracking form the majority of the show's content, and the four actors portraying them here – Antoine McKay (Cutler), T. Pharoah Muhammad (Toledo), Will Bryson (Slow Drag) and Evan Lewis Smith (Levee) – display a great, lived-in chemistry together. Muhammad's world-weary Toledo is a treat, and Smith shows great range in an iconic role without chewing the scenery. And it's always an embarrassment of riches when Detroit Rep regulars McKay and Bryson share the stage together; their hilarious back-and-forth jabbing shows the mark of an excellent comedic duo, but they bring the fire and fury when things turn serious. Melanie Jones does some terrific singing as Ma, but lacks some of the booming force that's needed from the character. It's a pleasure to see X'ydee Alexander again after her great work in Detroit Public Theatre's 'Fat Ham' earlier this season, but she's given sadly little to do here as Dussie Mae, Ma's kept girl. In his Rep stage debut, James Herriotte give a warm and winning performance as Sylvester, Ma's nephew with an unfortunate speech impediment. Matt Hollerbach (recently seen in the Rep's 'Between Riverside and Crazy') and Jeff Nahan make a humorous duo as Irvin and Sturdyvant, the beleaguered and possibly shady duo trying to wrangle the circus of characters. You can practically smell the stale air in the recording studio of Jamie Hope's well-done set, and costumer Sandra Landfair Glover ensures everyone looks period-perfect. Cassaundra Freeman's direction varies when it comes to pacing, which stretches the show to nearly three hours with intermission, and also with movement, frequently stranding the ensemble in the same locations for very long periods, creating static energy; it's unusual to watch someone give a lengthy and impassioned rant while firmly planted in one spot. With such agitation among the characters, one wants more movement as the tension amps. Still, as the action careens toward a devastating conclusion that feels somehow inevitable, quality performances bring it home. One wonders what might be done to help with audience etiquette at the Rep, however. Talkative viewers and active cell phones tend to be a regular issue, but a recent matinee performance of 'Ma Rainey' was so rife with audience chatter and frequent cell phone noises that the actors were clearly thrown off their game a few times and the audience had to be admonished by theater admin before the second act. (Which didn't stop yet another phone from ringing – at length – during Act Two.) The Rep is a valuable community asset worth supporting. Which means it's worth supporting politely so that all present may enjoy its offerings. 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' currently one of the hottest tickets in town, is sold out for all remaining performances. But standby rush seating is available for every performance, and thus far, no one has been turned away. To purchase rush tickets, you must be present in the lobby one hour before a performance, check in at the lobby box office, and ask to put your name on the standby list. Closer to showtime, tickets for any open seats are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are $30. Performances continue through March 2. Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Review: 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' at Detroit Repertory Theatre
