Patti Lupone

Critic's Notebook: The dramatist who used to regularly scorch the stage with complex stories has let his anti-P.C. rage blunt his work. What in the world has happened to David Mamet? The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Glengarry Glen Ross," a modern classic that can survive even the ham acting of Al Pacino at his Broadway goofiest, has become a wide-ranging controversialist, ever ready to tap dance on eggshells with military boots. Music producer Phil Spector was convicted of murdering actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra mansion.

When the Hollywood Bowl kicks off its season Friday, it will be with a little bit of Broadway, a little bit of rock 'n' roll. Roger Daltrey, Patti LuPone and the Smothers Brothers will share the stage as inductees at the Fourth Annual Hollywood Bowl of Fame Gala.

Clear skies smiled above, the way they generally do out here, but in musical-theater terms, it was The Perfect Storm: John Mauceri conducting his 200th concert with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and the first-ever pops concert pairing of two superb Broadway-savvy thrushes, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald. Crash went the waves of Jerome Kern strings. BANG!

Scott Joplin's "Treemonisha" and Marc Blitzstein's "The Cradle Will Rock" will launch a new season of "America's Musical Theater" on KCET Channel 28. Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee will introduce the Houston Grand Opera production of Joplin's ragtime parable, which premieres July 12, at 2:30 p.m. The cast includes Carmen Balthrop, Delores Ivory and Curtis Rayam. "The Cradle Will Rock," a Depression-era satire of American institutions and values, will air at 10:30 p.m. July 18.