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ourists, come to Madagascar - please
By Times Staff Writer
Published June 4, 2005
On Madagascar, an island nearly the size of Texas off Africa's southeast coast, there is no Madagascar. The new DreamWorks computer-animated film is not playing in theaters there. Still, the New York Times reports, that has not deterred officials at the U.S. Embassy there from pitching the movie as a golden opportunity for the tourism industry in one of the world's poorest countries. Their message is that the film's images of bug-eyed lemurs, emerald green mountains and waves lapping pristine beaches will capture the imagination of English-speaking tourists in the same way that The Lion King sparked interest in touring the Serengeti. Last month U.S. Embassy officials summoned about 120 representatives of the Madagascar tourism industry to a meeting to chew over ways to make the most of the movie. It has been quiet. Tourists to the country tend to be bird-watchers, botanical buffs or lemur lovers.
It just doesn't pay to do plays (or musicals)
When the Tony Award for best Broadway musical revival is handed out Sunday night, a victory for Sweet Charity would be sweet indeed for a balding, self-effacing money manager-turned-producer named Ed Schloss, who has funded New York theater for 30 years.
"If you want validation in this business, you're better off patting your dog," he said.
His black Portuguese Water Dog named Zoe has been getting a lot of attention lately. Schloss, 55, lost about $600,000 on the critically acclaimed 2003 revival of the musical Wonderful Town , and he has $2-million riding on Sweet Charity , which opened May 4.
Investors typically pony up at least $500,000 for a producer credit and take home a Tony when their show wins in a top category. Schloss has been nominated twice and never won.
The Tonys will be broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m.
Other chatter
AUDIOBOOK DOWNLOADS FOR AMAZON? OR NOT?: On its Web site, Amazon.com Inc. is asking publishers for audiobooks for a new download store it says it plans to open. But the Internet retailer is being coy about such key details as a launch date. "We never say if or when we're going to be launching a store until we launch it," Patty Smith of Amazon said.
MEMORIAL DAY BEERISH ON SALES: A survey of beer wholesalers found Memorial Day sales were stronger than expected, thanks to discounting and good weather. Smith Barney analyst Bonnie Herzog said the firm's survey of about 40 wholesalers found volume was up 7 percent during the holiday compared with last year.
--Information from the New York Times, Bloomberg News and the Associated Press was used in this report.
[Last modified June 4, 2005, 06:14:28]
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