'Mad Men' stars sing and dance. Broadway next?
Oct 23, 2008, 07:21 PM | by Shirley Halperin
Categories: Television, Theater, TV Biz
Los Angeles' El Rey theater was transformed Tuesday night from indie-rock club to Rat Pack time capsule as the stars of AMC's Mad Men, led by musical director David Carbonara, took the stage for the first ever 'Night on the Town with Mad Men' revue (read Whitney Pastorek's On The Scene report here). Accompanied by a 13-piece orchestra and complete with cigarette girls, retro fashions, and endless pours of Chivas Regal, the evening featured performances of 14 old-time standards sung with surprising aplomb by cast members.
At a post-show celebration at the Chateau Marmont hotel, Carbonara told EW.com that Bryan Batt (Salvatore Romano) was the first to sign on to the revue idea: "Bryan has been on Broadway, and when I first pitched the idea at the wrap party, he chose that exact song ["Sway"]. Once he was in, I was able to get others involved." Cast members were presented with 40 songs to choose from and had three weeks to practice the numbers on their own, Carbonara explained. "I then spent one hour with each person and day-of-show was the only rehearsal with the band." Carbonara's only regret? "I wanted more duets."
Not that anyone was complaining. By all accounts, the sold-out night was a smashing success. So are there plans to take the show from the El Rey to the Great White Way? After all, Mad Men's New York setting is much more Madison Ave. than Wilshire Blvd. Don't rule out a Broadway bow, said Carbonara. "We're talking about New York, Las Vegas and London. We're just getting into it, and nothing's been booked yet, but the train has left the station."
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