December 24, 1999 --
Nathan will star in The Man Who Came to Dinner, beginning previews June 30, at the Selwyn Theatre on 42nd St. This is a Roundabout production with Jerry Zaks directing. Says Nathan: "It's the perfect job ... I just sit in a wheelchair and yell at people."

December 21, 1999 --
There's a chance Trixie may be shown at the Sundance Film Festival.

Another opening night photo, this time from Waiting in the Wings starring Lauren Bacall.

December 17, 1999 --
The best writeup yet for Stuart Little comes from The New York Times. Links to video clips are included.

December 14, 1999 --
Several items for today:

• The December issue of Vanity Fair features an article about Isn't She Great (thanks Pixie!) and there is a wonderful full page picture in this month's Town & Country, too (thanks, Karen!)
• The Broadway Theatre Archive has been working to build a collection videos of memorable theatrical performances. Two of Nathan's televised appearances are now available for purchase: The Last Mile and Great Performances: Alice in Wonderland.
• Eighteen celebrities are appearing in public service announcements for HUD's new campaign called Put a Face on Homelessness. CBS will begin airing the PSAs in a few weeks. Nathan's piece has been taped.
• Stuart Little Mania begins. Canada's Canoe website carries two articles featuring Nathan: "Nathan Turns Catty" and the more general "Fast Lane." Here is a story from Hollywood.com about the celebrity-packed premier which benefited the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. More stories about the film available by searching at Yahoo News.
• Nathan attended the opening of Liza Minnelli's show at the Palace called Minnelli on Minnelli and Playbill supplies this photo.

November 27, 1999 --
A new book, titled Laugh : Portraits of the Greatest Comedians and the Stories They Tell Each Other by William Claxton (Photographer), Mike Thomas, and Kathleen Bywater, features photos of and commentary about fifty comedians of today and past years (including Nathan, or why would I be listing it?).

November 26, 1999 --
The fate of Wise Guys (postponed, but not cancelled) has been confirmed by the New York Times, USA Today, and The NY Post.

November 22, 1999 --
The LA Theatreworks production of The Odd Couple is now available on audiocassette. The purchase price is $18.95 and you can purchase through L.A. Theatreworks at 1-800-708-8863.

November 16, 1999 --
Termite Art Productions is producing a five part miniseries, Great Streets, for PBS, which will air next season. The show takes viewers on strolls down some of the most intriguing boulevards and avenues of the world. To date, Termite Art has filmed Nathan Lane in Venice, Halle Berry along the Champs Elysee in Paris and Broadway star Brian Mitchell on New York's Fifth Avenue. Randy Newman will be the guide to Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. .

November 15, 1999 --
Playbill Online has a picture of Nathan and his clicker on Celebrity Jeopardy.

November 10, 1999 --
Nathan will appear on Jeopardy! on Thursday, November 18.

Also, Nathan is listed as one of InTheater magazine's "100 Greatest Stage Actors of the Century" in the November 15 issue. Their description:

"Nathan Lane blends a larger-than-life (and often outrageously campy) comic presence with an undertone of melancholy. Before achieving Broadway stardom as Nathan Detroit in a 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls, Lane had given a strong performance as a South African teacher in Jon Robin Baitz's The Film Society (1988). Described by Terrence McNally as his 'muse,' Lane starred in the playwright The Lisbon Traviate (1989), Lips Together, Teeth Apart (1991), and Love!Valour!Compassion! (1995). He won a 1996 Tony for playing Pseudolus in a revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."

November 7, 1999 --
Nathan attended the Nov. 1 private preview screening of Annie (to air tonight on Wonderful World of Disney) and posed with new Annie, Alicia Morton (as shown in this Playbill photo).

November 5, 1999 --
There is a new website for Stuart Little. Click on "My House", then click at the top of the stairs to find the "Ask Snowbell" section with a familiar voice.

October 26, 1999 --
Nathan is expected to speak at a memorial for George C. Scott, to be held at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Oct. 28, at 2 PM.

October 21, 1999 --
The Oct 11-17 issue of Variety featured films to be shown at MIFED in Milan, a film market setting for the European market. Pandora, in Paris, if offering the film. There was a full page ad for Trixie in the issue, as a portion of it will be previewed at MIFED. Click the image to see a larger view.

October 12, 1999 --
Assorted news items and follow-ups:

• C-SPAN did cover the Human Rights Campaign dinner. You may be able to catch a rerun on C-SPAN or C-SPAN2. Nathan spoke of competing on "Celebrity Jeopardy" ("It was a bloodbath. I opened up a big can of whoop-ass on Meredith Viera and James McDaniel"), of answering the question of "is he really gay?" ("No, it's just a hoax created by my Scientology managers to cover up"), and the issue at hand ("I can't understand why at the end of this century and the dawn of the new millennium we still have to fight for basic human rights, but then I also can't understand who is going to see Cats after fourteen years.")

  Over $500,000 was raised at the dinner.

• The New York Post ran an article about the "Celebrity Jeopardy" series, available online.

• The Project A.L.S. event "Tomorrow is Tonight" raised over $1mil for the good cause.

• The current (Oct 11-17) issue of weekly Variety carries an ad for the upcoming film Trixie. Nathan is pictured with a mustache and goatee, wearing an open necked frilly shirt with a vest - like the typical casino dealer.

October 11, 1999 --
Nathan will not be co-hosting Hillary Clinton's "birthday gala" as previously announced, due to a scheduling conflict.

October 5, 1999 --
A new venue for Nathan - a TV game show. "Celebrity Jeopardy" episodes will include Nathan, Carol Burnett, Brian Dennehy, Andrea McArdle, Jon Stewart, Noah Wyle and Rosie O'Donnell, and is taping later this week at Madison Square Garden. The show is set to air on November 15. Check your local listings for air time. Nathan is playing for BC/EFA.

October 4, 1999 --
More news on Love's Labour's Lost: Fox News reports on the celebrity screening and speculated release dates, saying:

"Miramax will release LLL when they've finished trimming and polishing, but all you need to know now is that Nathan Lane steals the picture and Natascha McElhone, who should already be a bigger star, is luminescent."

Also, Harry at Ain't It Cool News (where the specialty is news and reviews on pre-released films) is predicting good things for LLL and also check the early 'review' of Isn't She Great (and an even earlier one).

There will be a charity screening of Love's Labour's Lost in London on December 6. More details at the Kenneth Branagh Compendium.

September 28, 1999 --
Stanley Donan calls it "fun, great, joyful," Kevin Kline says it is "daring," and Harvey Weinstein says "If we screw it up, well, we tried." It's all about Love's Labour's Lost which enjoyed a private screening last week. Read more in the Jeannie Williams column in USA Today.

September 28, 1999 --
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride makes its television debut on October 17. "The Wonderful World of Disney" will show the Lion King sequel on ABC at 7:00pmET.

September 24, 1999 --
Hillary Clinton's birthday celebration, called "Broadway for Hillary," will be a celebrity-filled show/fundraiser in two acts: act one to be hosted by Rosie O'Donnell and act two to be hosted by Nathan. The event is scheduled for October 25 (the day before Hillary's 52nd birthday) at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts on West 42nd Street. Ticket prices range from $250 to $1,000 each, for which supporters will see a Broadway-like production featuring Sandy Duncan and Joel Grey. Those who raise at least $10,000 for the event get to join Mrs. Clinton at a private reception before the show. Those who raise at least $25,000 will join her afterward for dinner at the Russian Tea Room.

September 23, 1999 --
Saturday Night Live's 25th Anniversary Show will air live this Saturday. Nathan is on the list of possible attendees. (Update: he was in the audience).

September 21, 1999 --
The Carnegie Hall program bio for Nathan mentions that "... he will start shooting Never Better, a British independent film written by Simon Beaufoy." The Internet Movie Database doesn't mention Nathan's involvement, but click here to read their entry about this film. Cinematter adds Bill Nye to the cast and describes the plot: a comedy about the world of competitive hairdressing. Two beauty salons compete in a small English town.

September 18, 1999 --
A benefit for Project ALS will be presented on September 27th at the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. Hosting are Janeane Garofalo, Kristen Johnston, Jon Stewart and Ben Stiller.

Scheduled to appear are: Jane Alexander, Connie Britton, Gina Gershon, Jane Krakowski, Nathan Lane, Julianna Marguiles, Penelope Ann Miller, Rob Morrow, Cheri Oteri, Paul Rudd, Amy Stiller, Marisa Tomei, Scott Wolf, and (the next Harold Hill) Craig Bierko. An online invitation at the Project ALS website lists ticket prices and more details.

I'm also tracking down information on a benefit for Hillary Clinton's birthday with Nathan and Bette Midler as hosts.

September 15, 1999 --
Catch a new appearance on Late Show with David Letterman on September 28 (with synchronized swimmer Bill May, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris).

September 14, 1999 --
Last Sunday was a big day in the NY Times for Wise Guys. Three articles, including an in depth piece written by Stephen Sondheim himself, anticipate the musical which is set to open April 27, 2000. Ben Brantley presented his thoughts on "the landscape of Broadway", including:

"Wise Guys," the story of two archetypal American dreamers and schemers of the 1920s, the Mizner brothers, would seem to offer especially fertile terrain for Sondheim: a chance to again anatomize both all-American ambition (as he did in "Merrily We Roll Along" and "Assassins") and the show business legacy of vaudeville (as in "Follies"). It should be added that few performers today embody that legacy with the style and swagger of Nathan Lane, who will be playing one half of the fraternal team of the title. (His co-star is another nicely seasoned pro, Victor Garber.)

The Times also ran a piece on shows anticipated by those in the business of theatre. Bernadette Peters and Susan Strohman (choreographer & director) both mentioned Wise Guys, Nathan, and Victor Garber topping their lists.

August 28 --
TV update: the Lifetime Intimate Portrait of Jaqueline Susann (Nathan narrates) will air this Monday (8/30) and September 9, both at 3:00pmET. The June Late Night with Conan O'Brien appearance will be rerun on September 7 ... check local listings for time. (this is really the Monday night episode of Late Night, though technically the show airs at 12:35am on Tuesday the 7th in most markets).

August 25, 1999 --
The dates for the New York Theatre Workshop Wise Guys workshop are confirmed for October 29 - November 20. Only NYTW subscribers can purchase tickets, although this is not an official NYTW production. Nathan and Victor Garber are also confirmed to be reprising their roles as Addison and Wilson Mizner.

August 24, 1999 --
Nathan will be the featured guest at the 3rd Annual Human Rights Campaign National Dinner on Saturday, October 9, 1999, 6:30pm. Also appearing will be Betty DeGeneres, Michael Feinstein, Martina Navratilova and special guests Dennis & Judy Shepard. The theme is "Honoring Our Families - In Memory of Matthew Shepard", and the event will take place at the Washington DC Hilton & Towers. Tickets for this black tie event are $250 per person; $1000 special table tickets are available. For more info, call 1-800-494-TIXS, or visit the Human Rights Campaign website.

August 19 --
Nathan, Bobby Short, Faith Prince, Elaine Stritch, Diane Schurr and David Campbell are among the entertainers to be featured in a 2-day "Salute to Comden and Green" September 16-17 at Carnegie Hall. Betty Comden and Adolph Green are noted Broadway lyricists and playwrights; Green's wife and daughter, Phyllis Newman and Amanda Green, will join the lineup on the first day only. Tickets are $18-75. Call Carnegie Charge 212-247-7800 for reservations or visit the Carnegie Hall website to purchase tickets.

August 17, 1999 --
Yesterday's (Variety) by Michael Fleming presents some new news:

• Nathan will voice the "villainous cat" character in the upcoming film Stuart Little
• Nathan makes his producing debut with David Rubin and Stanley DeSantis in the long rumored Jackie Gleason biopic. Director Neil LaBute and Jon Robin Baitz are now being wooed to direct and script.
• Now under production, Trixie may be released by December or January

August 4, 1999 --
The audio version of L.A. Theatre Works' The Odd Couple will be available this fall.

July 29, 1999 --
The Lifetime network will present an Intimate Portrait of Jacqueline Susann, including her success as a writer and her battle with cancer; Nathan narrates. Watch Lifetime Online's Intimate Portrait page for more info. The first airing is scheduled for August 30th at 3:00pm.

July 29, 1999 --
Universal Studio has opened their Real Hollywood Online Auction, with a current item being tuxedo shoes and socks worn by Nathan in Birdcage.

July 29, 1999 --
A scheduled fifth reading of Wise Guys has been cancelled, due to participants' other commitments. The subscriber-only workshop is still set for November at New York Theatre Workshop. A detailed account of the fourth reading in April is included in the current issue of The Sondheim Review.

July 29, 1999 --
Don't forget the August 7 repeat of Nathan's appearance on Sesame Street.

July 22, 1999 --
Nathan will be appearing in a Robert Altman/Sony Pictures film called Trixie, a "film noir/screwball comedy". His co-stars will be Emily Watson, Dermot Mulroney, Nick Nolte, Brittany Murphy, Lesley Ann Warren and Will Patton. The film has begun principal photography in Vancouver.

July 15, 1999 --
The Boston Globe ran an interview with Nathan in their Sunday magazine (July 11). The text of the interview is available online at The Globe.

July 12, 1999 --
A kinder, gentler promo for the Pops concert from People Magazine:

Evening at Pops
PBS (Thurs., July 15, 8 p.m. ET)

Though optimistically titled Encore! Encore!, Nathan Lane's first TV series earned no ovations during its short life on NBC last season. The sitcom seemed like a serious waste of talent to those who've admired Lane's hilarious performances on the stage (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) and screen (The Birdcage). So it's nice to report that he puts his abundant gifts to good use in this guest shot on Evening at Pops. Exuding energy--and dripping perspiration--Lane joins the Boston Pops Orchestra for a mostly rollicking, sometimes tender tribute to musical-comedy great Danny Kaye. In one especially impressive segue, he crawls under a quilt to play a little boy fighting sleep in the song "Mommy, Gimme a Drinka Water," then slips into a smoking jacket (with bunny slippers, no less) to join two dancing lovelies in "Ballin' the Jack." Go ahead, shout "Encore!" Bottom Line: Lotsa fun in the fast Lane

July 10, 1999 --
The July 16 issue of "Entertainment Weekly" includes a pictures and mini-review of the upcoming Evening at the Pops show in their "What to Watch" section (page 58):

July 15
8-9PM*
EVENING AT POPS (PBS, TV-G) There are few stars who can match the charm, or the lung capacity, of the inimitable Danny Kaye, whose work is honored in this edition of Pops. But, while tonight's featured performer, Nathan Lane, would appear the perfect man for the job, hearing those songs only serves to prove that Kaye's talent remains unmatched.
B-
-- Eileen Clarke

June 24, 1999 --
News items from the last week:

• Nathan participated in a fund raising concert for President and Mrs. Clinton in Washington D.C. on June 13. The concert will air on ABC on July 29 at 8:00pmET as "A Celebration of American Music." According to the TV Guide Close-up (with picture), he will sing a "playful rendition of" "There's No Business like Show Business" to open the show.

• The Do Re Mi cast recording session took place early last week. Hopes are for a September 1 release from DRG.

• A little publicized but new Conan O'Brien appearance aired last Thursday. Nathan spoke of Bette Midler, of meeting President Clinton, and sang the "Tchaikovsky" from the Pops concert. I will have clips and a transcript soon (thanks to Amy D.).

June 7, 1999 --
The Boston Globe has published a review of Nathan's first Boston Pops concert, "Nathan Lane acts up as Pops jester."

June 3, 1999 --
The Pops concert of June 7 will be telecast on PBS in their "Evening at the Pops" series on July 15 at 8:00pm (check your local listings). The song list from this weekend's concerts include:

Life Could Not Better Be ("The Court Jester")
The Maladjusted Jester ("The Court Jester")
Lullaby in Ragtime ("The Five Pennies"

Selections from "Mommy, Gimme a Drinka Water":
I'm Five
Colored Kisses
Crazy Barbara
I Like Old People, Don't You?
Mommy, Gimme a Drinka Water

Ballin' the Jack

Selections from "Hans Christian Andersen":
The King's New Clothes"
Wonderful Copenhagen
Thumbelina
Inch Worm
No Two People
Anywhere I Wander
(with members of PALS - Performing Artists at Lincoln School)

Tschaikowsky ("Lady in the Dark")
Fiddle Faddle

May 21, 1999 --
Nathan's 8/4/98 appearance on Letterman will be repeated on June 1.

May 11, 1999 --
On May 3, the Film Society of Lincoln Center gave a tribute to director Mike Nichols. The Daily News reported that those attending included Nathan, Nichols' wife Diane Sawyer, Buck Henry ("Between [Diane and Mike], they know where everything is ... it's like being trapped in an elevator with Isaiah Berlin and Charlie Rose - on speed."), Harrison Ford, Henry Kissinger, Elaine May, Candice Bergen, Steve Martin, Meryl Streep, Carly Simon, Matthew Broderick, Joel Schumacher, Harvey Weinstein, Paul Simon, and Art Garfunkel. Also see a USA Today story with picture.

Also, the Daily Telegraph reports that Mel Brooks' plans to make the film The Producers into a stage musical are heading full steam ahead and Brooks wants Nathan for the lead (formerly played by Zero Mostel) role. [Meanwhile, mentions have been made of Martin Short as co-star, Thomas Meehan for libretto, and Susan Stroman as director).

May 7, 1999 --
It looks like there will be a third cast recording of Do Re Mi. The Encores! production cast will be in the studio in ten days, according to Ken Mandelbaum and another source. It should be a fantastic CD.
Update: the recording session is still scheduled and expected to take place in the middle of June.

May 6, 1999 --
The current issue of Time Magazine includes a writeup by Richard Corliss on the recent BC/EFA benefit, "The Playwright's the Thing."

May 6, 1999 --
The Kenneth Branagh Compendium offers a London Daily Mail article on Love's Labour's Lost.

April 29, 1999 --
News from the Boston Symphony Orchestra office. The Pops concert of June 5 will be repeated on Monday, June 7 and the 7th concert will be taped for a future PBS "Evening at the Pops" concert. The concert features Nathan as soloist and Keith Lockhart conducting for at tribute to Danny Kaye with music from his best films. Including will be selections from The Court Jester and Hans Christian Andersen. Seats are still available. Visit the Pops website or call 617) 266-1200.

April 27, 1999 --
"The Playwright's the Thing" benefit for BC/EFA last night raised $248,000 for the charity. Participants included Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, David Hyde Pierce, Nathan Lane, Swoosie Kurtz, Paul Rudd, Martha Plimpton, Stockard Channing, Elizabeth Franz, Audra McDonald, Betty Buckley, George Wendt, Robert Klein, Christine Baranski, Brian Dennehy, Jane Alexander, Debra Monk, Lorraine Toussaint, and Zoe Caldwell reading excerpts from the works of three of the theatre's most celebrated playwrights, Christopher Durang, Terrence McNally and Wendy Wasserstein. Steve Martin and Stockard Channing read a scene from Christopher Durang's "Beyond Therapy;" Nathan Lane, David Hyde Pierce, Swoosie Kurtz, Stockard Channing, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin and Paul Rudd did a scene from Terrence McNally's "It's Only a Play;" and Christine Baranski, Robert Klein and Jane Alexander did a scene from Wendy Wasserstein's "The Sisters Rosensweig." The evening ended with an original piece written by the three playwrights especially for this evening, "Dr. Gorgeous's Radio Show," where Dr. Gorgeous (from Wasserstein's "The Sisters Rosensweig") played by Christine Baranski, has an hilarious encounter with Sister Mary Ignatius (from Durang's "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You"), played by Elizabeth Franz, the original Sister Mary Ignatius, and Buzz (from McNally's "Love! Valour! Compassion!") played by Nathan Lane, the original Buzz.

April 27, 1999 --
Nathan will host the APLA (AIDS Project Los Angeles) 11th annual Commitment to Life fundraiser on May 27. Honorees will be Janet Jackson, Gucci's Tom Ford and Time Warner chairman Gerald Levin. Tickets are priced from $50 to $1,000 and are available through Ticketmaster or the Universal Amphitheatre box office.

April 23, 1999 --
Nathan is once again honorary chairperson for the Celebrity Doodle and Scribbles Auction to be held on April 26 at the Princeton Club in New York. Andre Braugher will host. More details available at Playbill Online.

April 23, 1999 --
The NY Daily News Rush & Molloy column reported on "Rude Entertainment", the Paul Rudnick tribute held on Monday for the Drama Dept.:

"Bette Midler's friends got an early peek at her star turn as "Valley of the Dolls" author Jacqueline Susann on Monday night.

Dressed for the part like a pink-and-green acid flashback, the Divine Miss M was a 'Pucci explosion,' said Paul Rudnick, screenwriter of Isn't She Great

Rudnick admitted that busty Bette doesn't look like skinny Susann. But it didn't matter.

'Jackie Susann was an amazingly gutsy, funny, bawdy, self-proclaimed "broad," ' said Rudnick. 'Bette Midler carried that banner proudly.'

Midler was joined at the benefit for Off-Broadway's Drama Dept. theater company by her Great co-stars, Nathan Lane and Stockard Channing, as well as Bill Murray and Sarah Jessica Parker."

April 23, 1999 --
Final casting for Do Re Mi: Nathan Lane, Randy Graff, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Heather Headley, Lewis J. Stadlen, Stephen DeRosa, Lee Wilkof, and Michael Mulheren. Details at Playbill Online.

April 16, 1999 --
A small piece in today's NY Times makes it look like the Do Re Mi rumors are fact. Read this report on Nathan's return to New York City.
Also in today's Times is a report on Paul Rudnick and Isn't She Great. Playbill also reports.

April 9, 1999 --
(Update: the City Center box office stated today that Lane & Prince are only rumored to be in this show. However, I'll leave the information up until the casting is announced.)

Nathan and Faith Prince are said to be the stars of the upcoming Encores! concert production of Do Re Mi on May 6-9 at City Center. The Jule Styne Betty Comden-Adolph Green musical will be directed by John Rando. Originally starring Phil Silvers and Nancy Walker, Do Re Mi is a show business satire about the recording industry and introduced the song "Make Someone Happy" in its original run in 1960. I have yet to confirm this news with Encores! Phone (212) 581-1212 for more information.

April 7, 1999 --
Nathan, Kenneth Branagh, and Alicia Silverstone appeared last week on E! News Daily in a small feature on Love's Labour's Lost which is currently filming. Based on what is described as one of Shakespeare's least known plays, the film is a romantic comedy/musical done in the 1930s style with music from that era. On E!, Nathan spoke of the film:

"It has a score by Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and Irving Berlin. I think it's such a romantic play. The play itself is sort of a feast of language and I think suddenly it's not such a big transition to make -- from speaking verse to singing."

A few more clips are available here.

April 4, 1999 --
George & Martha, episodes 1 and 3, will appear tomorrow evening on regular HBO beginning at 7:00pmET. Episode #1 is named "The Tooth; The Dance Recital'; George gets a gold tooth; Martha tries to get George to dance. Episodes #3 is named "The Book; The Scary Movie"; George wants to read in peace; they go to a horror movie.

Future episodes will appear on the HBO Family channel.

March 26, 1999 --
According to Ken "Always First with the News but not Always Right" Mandelbaum of InTheater magazine:

I hear that Bette Midler and Nathan Lane --co-stars in the Jackie Susann film bio that opens in late May-- were offered the chance to co-host this year's Tonys. Midler has apparently turned it down, but Lane is considering it and appears likely to accept. Offered co-hosting chores is a glittering former Tony host scheduled for a return to Broadway next season: Angela Lansbury.

March 24, 1999 --
A few news items: