Theater

T.V. critic David Bianculli reviews "Bye Bye Birdie," a three hour TV version of the 1960 stage musical. It airs on ABC Sunday night.

Composer and Lyricist Ralph Blane died Monday at the age of 81 at his home in Oklahoma. He is best known for his work with Hugh Martin. Together they wrote songs for Broadway and Hollywood. They are best known for songs in the MGM classic, "Meet Me in St. Louis." That starred Judy Garland and featured the songs "The Trolley Song," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "The Boy Next Door." (Originally aired 10/31/89)

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews recordings by British singers soprano Margaret Tate (stage name Maggie Teyte), and tenor Heddle Nash. (on the British label, Pearl.)

Actor Jason Robards. He's 73 years old and he's been acting for 50 of those. He won an Oscars for his performance as Ben Bradlee in "All the President's Men," and Dashiell Hammett in "Julia." In 1956 Robards first came to the attention of the critics with his performance in Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh." His performance helped define the role for a generation. It also began Robards collaboration with director Jose Quintero, resurrecting the works of O'Neill.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new CD of early recordings by Mary Martin, "Mary Martin--The Decca Years 1938-1946" (Koch label). It includes songs by Cole Porter, the Gershwin's, Frank Loesser, and others.

South African playwright and actor Athol Fugard. For years Fugard fought apartheid on the stage in his plays including "My Children! My Children," "The Blood Knot," (in which he put a black actor alongside a white actor on the same stage) and "Sizwe Banzi is Dead." For his efforts Fugard's passport was revoked, and he was put under virtual house arrest from 1967-1971. His new play "Valley Song" is his first play in the post-apartheid Africa.

Silent film legend Buster Keaton was born 100 years ago today. Kino Video collected many of Keaton's films in box set. An interview with Keaton from the set will be played. We will also hear a portion of guitarist and composer Bill Frisell's score for Keaton's film "Go West."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews two new productions by Peter Sellars.

Monologist, actor and writer Spalding Gray. He's written and performed several monologues including, "Monster in a Box" about all the distractions that prevented him from completing his novel, Impossible Vacation, and Swimming to Cambodia about filming a movie in Cambodia. Now Gray has a new monologue and book about his eye problems, and his adventures in the mainstream and alternative health care industries. It's called Gray's Anatomy. (Vintage Books).

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the film about the failed 1970 moon mission, directed by Ron Howard.

Playwright and satirist from South Africa Pieter-Dirk Uys. He has a television talk show in South Africa with an unusual twist: instead of hosting his show as himself, he dresses in drag as an Afrikaner dowager named Evita. His guests have included such leaders as Nelson Mandela.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new summer release “Batman Forever," which features a new star and director from the previous two installments.

Producer Kathleen Kennedy and her husband, the producer-director Frank Marshall, made their names by helping Stephen Spielberg make his movies. Now they they've made the movie, “Congo,” adapted from a Michael Crichton novel. Film critic Stephen Schiff has this review.

Movie Critic, Stephen Schiff reviews "Bridges of Madison County," starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

Movie critic Stephen Schiff reviews the new, three-hour epic based on the life of William Wallace.

Broderick is making his singing and dancing debut in the revival of the Frank Loesser musical. He plays J. Pierrepont Finch, an ambitious window washer who climbs the corporate ladder by "fawning, brown-nosing, sucking up and a touch of backstabbing." Broderick is best known for his acting, in such movies as "Torch Song Trilogy," "War Games," and "The Freshman."

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Crimson Tide," the new submarine movie starring Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. Schiff says he wonders why other critics haven't praised the movie for its intelligence.

T.V. critic David Bianculli has a review of tonight's episode of "E.R." It will be directed by Quentin Tarantino, director of "Pulp Fiction."

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new Ethel Merman collection, "I Get a Kick Out of You."

Film Critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Kiss of Death." It stars David Caruso, Samuel Jackson, and Nicolas Cage.