Regional Roundup: Top 10 Stories This Week Around the Broadway World - 10/14; 2016 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards Nominations Now Open!

**Bonus** Nominations are NOW OPEN for the 2016 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards! Click on your region below and nominate your favorites thru October 31st only!

Appleton,WI, Atlanta, Austin, AustraliaSydney, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Cabaret, CD/Books/DVDs, CentralNewYork, CentralPennsylvania, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Connecticut, Dallas, Delaware, Denver,Detroit, Houston, Israel, Italy, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Long Island, Los Angeles, Louisville, Madison, Maine, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, WI, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New Orleans, Omaha, Orlando, Palm Springs, Philadelphia,Philippines, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh, Rhode Island, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Sioux Falls, South Africa, South Bend, St. Louis, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Toronto, UK / West End, Washington, DC, West Virginia, and Wichita

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Washington, DC, Chicago, Seattle and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include WOODSTOCK at Signature Theatre, THE BURIALS in Chicago, and A RAISIN IN THE SUN in Seattle, just to name a few.

East/Northeast

1. Washington, DC: Editor Benjamin Tomchik reviews WOODSTOCK at Signature Theatre. He says, "Palka injects a remarkable level of depth into her performance and is easily the evening's standout. She gives Joan Baez's "The Last Thing on My Mind" and Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" tremendous feeling, but also channels the great storytelling ability of each artist. Her performance is a great homage to the folk and rock singers of that era." Read more here.

2. Central NY: Editor Natasha Ashley reviews the Regional Premiere of TENDERLY: THE Rosemary Clooney MUSICAL at The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. She says, "While we have the opportunity to get to know Ms. Clooney, the real person, we also get to know her music - or become reacquainted with her familiar and captivating songs. The familiar tunes are placed perfectly throughout the show to capture so many people, memories, and struggles that were part of Ms. Clooney's life. The music is emotionally and passionately performed onstage by the three person orchestra under the always brilliant direction of Jeff Cox." Read more here.

Midwest

3. Kansas City, MO: Editor Alan Portner reviews SONGS OF THE GREAT WAR at Musical Theater Heritage. He says, "All the performers in "Songs From The Great War" are excellent. The choral work offered by all singers is outstanding and each singer is featured in at least solo number David Adams is an operatic Tenor with credits from the Metropolitan Opera among others and ownership of 2012 Grammy. Kayla Wilkens is David's female counterpoint. She is this year's winner of the Bill Hays Award at the National Music Theater Competition. Taylor Avazpour, Christopher ThomasOwen, and Bob Wearing complete the male cast. The female cast members include Ms. Wilkens, Jessica Alcorn, and Maggie Marx." Read more here.

4. Milwaukee, WI: Editor Peggy Sue Dunigan reviews MKE Rep's THE ROYALE. She says, "For those Milwaukeeans believing boxing might be violent, The Rep beautifully choreographs this story to rhythmic beats. with hand clapping and foot stomping, instead of any actual punches, which creates the dance to the sport instead of those body blows. Director Kevin Ramsey coordinates every aspect of Scott Davis' scenic design, Alison Siple's' costume design and Thom Weaver's lighting design (including a backdrop of 48 lights, the number of stars in the 1910 American flag), to create stellar effects around the one boxing ring on center stage, adapted to how this might appear in 1910. The team collaborates so seamlessly, the production flows through approximately 90, no intermission minutes with lean, pure dramatic tension." Read more here.

5. Chicago, IL: Editor Rachel Weinberg reviews Steppenwolf's THE BURIALS. She says, "The performances throughout THE BURIALS are equally charged. Cygan gives a nuanced and compelling performance as Sophie, allowing us to see her character's detailed, confusing thought process. And Parrish's script brilliantly gives Sophie room to grow over the course of the play-just as Sophie must attempt to process what has happened to her, so too must she come into her own views and identity as an adolescent and learn to trust the validity of her own opinions and voice. Cygan portrays this arc beautifully." Read more here.

South/Southeast

6. St. Petersburg, FL: Editor Peter Nason reviews Stephen Sondheim's ASSASSINS at freeFall Theatre. He says, "ASSASSINS is terrifyingly timely. Stephen Sondheim's musical on the lost, angry, real-life souls who take their frustrations out by shooting Presidents of the United States first premiered 26 years ago, but some of the monologues (especially Samuel Byck's) could be shouted at the current rallies of a certain Presidential candidate. Did freeFall Artistic Director Eric Davis, who chose the season, know that a work like this, which deals with the darkest sides of American history, would be so chillingly current during this particular election season? Did he pick it because he knew it would be like holding a mirror up to those what-about-me angry voters out there? Whatever the reason for its selection (a literal gun blast to open the season), ASSASSINS is a brilliant choice." Read more here.

7. Louisville, KY: Editor Taylor Clemons reviews MACBETH at Actors Theater Of Louisville. He says, "For me personally, this is Jessica Fances Dukes world, and we're all living in it. From her first entrance, she commands the stage with vast power and charisma, and we as the audience are treated to a wonderfully crafted path to Lady Macbeth's descent into madness. She is given a particularly juicy moment at the end of the first act. I don't want to spoil it for you, but with no worlds at all, Jessica's actions bring an entire audience to The Edge of their seats and end's the act with rapturous applause." Read more here.

West Coast

8. Los Angeles, CA: Editor Gil Kaan interviews Kelli O'Hara before her AN EVENING WITH KELLI O'HARA at the Valley Performing Arts Center. Kaan asks, "So, AN EVENING WITH KELLI O'HARA will be much different than your previous show at VPAC? New songs to include from new shows you've been in. Maybe, a song from KING & I?" and O'Hara responds, "Indeed-- this will be a personal show, a journey through my career and personal life. King and I will definitely be represented, but I will be singing a song I adored listening to every night, but never got to sing myself. I like to take these opportunities when I can. In fact, I will open the show this way. :)" Read the full interview here.

9. Seattle, WA: Editor Jay Irwin reviews RAISIN IN THE SUN at Seattle Repertory Theatre. He says, "This honest and real classic could be looked on as a period piece and it is but unfortunately we still hear far too many of these attitudes today. Sure we can nervously laugh and gasp at the inequality these people face in the 50's and 60's but we must remember there are still places in America where dramas like this still play out in real life. And as difficult as that may be to watch, director Timothy McCuen Piggee has crafted a solid production of it keeping it all very grounded and real and it's that honesty from the entire cast and crew that makes this production shine." Read more here.

National Tour Highlight:

10. Washington, DC Editor Jennifer Perry reviews THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at the Kennedy Center. She says, "One of the primary reasons this production is so powerful - aside from Stephens' brilliant writing, and detailed characterizations - is Adam Langdon's portrayal of Christopher Boone (Benjamin Wheelwright plays the role at select performances). From the moment Langdon utters his first word, we're captivated. He physically and emotionally throws himself into the demanding role, and gives an utterly believable and compelling performance of a young man on the autism spectrum determined to figure out the mysteries in his life, face his own fears, and prove his capabilities." Read more here.

STUDENT BLOGGERS! We'd like to feature a few of our student bloggers below!

*BONUS* We have launched our 2016 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards nominations in a record-breaking number of regions! Don't miss out! Nominate your favorites thru October 31st!

*BONUS* - Interested in joining our team, but not exactly sure what we do? All of your questions are answered, along with every open position from guest and student bloggers, Regional Editors, BWW sites and more! Check it out here!

This week, we'd like to welcome our newest contributing writer in Houston, Gary Laird; our new Austin writer, Lacey Cannon Gonzales; and Karis Rogerson who is joining our Cabaret team.