Today in Madonna History: May 3, 1988

May 3, 2020 By sonicboy19 in 1988, May Tags: Broadway, David Mamet, Speed-the-Plow 2 Comments

On May 3 1988, David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow premiered on Broadway at the Royale Theatre in a production by the Lincoln Center Theater, closing on Dec 31, 1988 after 279 performances. The original Broadway cast featured Joe Mantegna, Ron Silver and Madonna until August 30 1988, after which the production was recast with David Rasche, Bob Balaban and Felicity Huffman for the remainder of its run.

The play was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play and Best Direction of a Play (Gregory Mosher). Silver won a Tony Award for Best Actor (Play).

It has since been produced countless times for regional and national theatre audiences worldwide.

Today in Madonna History: May 2, 2016

May 2, 2020 By sonicboy19 in 2016, May Tags: Blond Ambition World Tour, Canada, CBC, Interview Videos, Jose Gutierez, Kevin Stea, Oliver Crumes, Strike A Pose 3 Comments

On May 2 2016, three of Madonna’s Blond Ambition Tour dancers – Jose Gutierez, Kevin Stea & Oliver Crumes – were interviewed by Gill Deacon for CBC-Radio’s arts and culture show, Q.

The dancers were in Toronto to promote their documentary, Strike A Pose, which was being screened during the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival between April 27–May 7 and the Inside Out Toronto film festival from May 27–June 5, 2016.

For anyone who hasn’t yet watched Strike A Pose, be sure to check it out! It’s a beautiful film!

Today in Madonna History: April 25, 1987

April 25, 2020 By sonicboy19 in 1987, April Tags: La Isla Bonita, Number One, Remix Videos, UK Singles Chart 1 Comment

On April 25 1987, Madonna became the first female solo artist to have four Number One singles in the UK with La Isla Bonita.

Today in Madonna History: April 13, 1995

April 13, 2020 By sonicboy19 in 1995, April Tags: Bedtime Stories, Bedtime Story, Ed Steinberg, Junior Vasquez, Remix Videos, Single Release 1 Comment

On April 13 1995, Bedtime Story was released as a single in North America by Maverick/Sire as the third single from the album Bedtime Stories. The song was written by Björk, Nellee Hooper & Marius DeVries and was produced by Madonna & Nellee Hooper.

Bedtime Story was released in Europe in February but the release was delayed for several months in North America due to the prolonged chart reign of her previous single, Take A Bow.

The commercial maxi-single featured remixes by Junior Vasquez and Orbital. Additional promo-only remixes by Mark Picchiotti & Teri Bristol were also later serviced to clubs.

An official remix video was released to promote the Bedtime Story maxi-single. It was edited by Ed Steinberg – the director of Madonna’s very first music video for Everybody in 1982 – and was set to Junior’s Single Mix.

Today in Madonna History: April 12, 1994

April 12, 2020 By sonicboy19 in 1994, April Tags: Controversy, David Letterman, Letter 1 Comment

On April 12 1994, Madonna sent a handwritten note to David Letterman wishing him a “Happy Fucking Birthday”.

Sent less than two weeks after her infamous profanity-laced appearance on the Late Show, the cheeky letter takes Letterman to task for having used the controversy to his advantage.

Today in Madonna History: April 11, 1990

April 11, 2020 By sonicboy19 in 1990, April Tags: Emmy, Get Over, Keep It Together, Like A Prayer (Album), Nick Scotti, Stephen Bray 1 Comment

On April 11 1990, the Keep It Together single was certified gold for sales of 500,000 units in the USA.

Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, the main inspiration behind Keep It Together was Madonna’s relationship with her family—whom she dearly missed after her divorce from actor Sean Penn.

Keep It Together became the last Madonna single release to feature a collaboration with Bray—a partnership that had begun romantically when Madonna & Stephen were college students at the University of Michigan. Madonna later persuaded Bray to join her in New York where he became the drummer for her band, Emmy. After briefly falling out over Madonna’s decision to work with more established producers after signing to Sire Records in 1982, the pair quickly made amends and went on to write and produce some of Madonna’s most memorable 80’s hits.

A final collaboration between Madonna & Bray, Get Over, was reworked by Madonna and Shep Pettibone for possible inclusion as one of the new tracks on The Immaculate Collection, but was instead given to Warner Bros artist Nick Scotti to record in 1991. Although Madonna’s background vocals are featured prominently in Scotti’s versions of the song, a full Madonna vocal version has yet to surface.