May 26, 2000

Samuel G Freedman comment on his and his young children's reactions to Broadway musicals; photos of scenes from The Music Man and Annie Get Your Gun (M)

Ben Ratliff preview of three upcoming jazz events in New York City: list of scheduled performances in Vision Festival, Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival and JVC Jazz Festival; photos (M)

New-home buyers want high-speed Internet connections in their houses, prompting some developers and builders to jump into telecommunications business; builders are offering Internet access, bundled with cable and phone service, either by building and owning neighborhood networks, or joining with telecommuncations companies; costs to homeowners are up to $20 a month below typical cost; these efforts are in early stages, with most wired developments sprouting only in last year; how developers eventually fare against regional phone companies, cable companies and other providers is not known; builders see way to have continuing revenue from these services, income that is welcome in business that has its ups and downs; consumers used to speedy connections at work have been frustrated about not having same high-speed, or broadband, access in their homes (M)

Full-size clay model for final design of new Volkswagen Beetle to be auctioned by Christie's photo (S)

Two gunmen shoot seven employees, five fatally, at Wendy's restaurant in Flushing, Queens; massacre occurs shortly after closing time; men were let in by manager, Jean Dumel Auguste, who seemed to know them; Auguste is among those shot dead; all seven employees had hands bound and mouths gagged with duct tape; plastic bags were slipped over their heads; they were shot at close range, all in the head; investigators say crime appears to have been carefully planned and timed; they think one of gunmen either worked at Wendy's or knew someone who did because of their knowledge about how place operated; police say suspects include former employee of Wendy's who was arrested last summer in connection with robbery of McDonald's, where he had also worked; it is unclear how men made their getaway; total of $2,000 was stolen; crime scene leaves some of city's most experienced homicide investigators sickened; photos; diagram (M)