The Broadway theatre season officially ended two weeks ago, the Tony Award nominations were announced, and I kept busy trying to draw as many Broadway productions as possible.
Pippin is a real winner of a revival of a fine musical from the early 1970s. I have fond memories of the original production, which Bob Fosse helped make into a big success with his unique choreography and direction.
Extremely talented Diane Paulus has added her touch and circus themed vision to this very exciting revival.
I am a big fan of the very talented and extremely funny Andrea Martin, and was very happy to get the chance to draw her doing the role of Granny in this new Pippin. Andrea has one of those rubber comic faces, which can change in a flash. In repose, she is a very lovely lady, with big, warm eyes, but when she turns on the funny stuff, you never know what hilarious expression she can make.
Last week, I attended a rehearsal of the Encore's production of the 1936 Rodger's and Hart musical, On Your Toes. I did some quick pencil sketches of some of the major performers. One of my favorites was prima ballerina, Irina Dvorovenko. She is pencil thin, with a gorgeous angular face, and long flowing hair. My first quick sketch captured what I needed, and I simply put that version into the finished drawing.
Another beautiful woman, and a caricaturist's dream is Christine Baranski, who you would know from the CBS series, The Good Wife. Miss Baranski has the slightly exaggerated features, full lips, twinkling eyes, and an adorable turned up nose that is perfect for the stage. I had fun drawing her.
Cicely Tyson received a well deserved Tony nomination for Best Actress in a play, for her very moving performance in A Trip To Bountiful.
I will admit to you that I am not too pleased with my drawing of Miss Tyson. I had time restraints, which forced me to settle on a version that did not convey what I had hoped in the drawing. She has such a warm face, with those huge expressive eyes, and try as I might, my sketches never satisfied.
Jake Shimabukuro is a world renown player of the ukulele. I did this drawing of Jake for an article in this past week's Wall Street Journal.
I have always enjoyed the challenge of drawing the Asian face, so expressive, and full of angles and special lines. Jake has a face that reveals his Japanese bloodline, mixed with his native Hawaiian background. Right after my drawing was published, I saw a very good documentary about Jake on PBS. I wish I had seen it before I tackled the drawing, but I feel I did a pretty fair job.
