Anton Anderssen - Page 2

On Sunday, Maunalua performed as special talent at NA MELE NO NA PUA SUNDAY SHOWCASE.  Held Sundays at the Waikiki Beachwalk lawn stage, the event showcases the best of Hawaiian musicians and vocalists.

Outrigger Hotel Group opens its Mele Mei Festival today, where they honor the best of Hawaii's music, hula and culture. Celebrations will be held in 3 separate venues across Outrigger Waikiki, Outrigger Reef and Waikiki Beach Walk.  

They're back! Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakane and his award-winning dance troupe, Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu, are returning to the Hawaii Theatre for two performances only (May 5 and 6) of THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS, a thrilling new reiteration of the troupe's iconic show that originally premiered in 1998.

Evita used United Airlines' tactics when it came to getting what she wanted. She had no problem sending thugs with badges to rough up anyone who disobeyed her. Yet, at the same time, she had immeasurable compassion for the poor. Her marriage to dictator Juan Peron is one of the great romances of the 20th century. Whenever I can see EVITA, whether it be in London, Broadway or thousands of miles across the ocean, I make every effort to pay homage to this fascinating woman.

Now on stage at the Detroit Opera House is Disney's 'LION KING,' the larger than life spectacle about the circle of life in the African Pride Lands. This show is unique; firstly it's playing for nearly a month, secondly it has die-hard fans that know every single word of the script, and they were beyond thrilled with the performance. Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, LION KING is the most successful show in theatre history - it beat out Phantom and raked in over $7 billion. The costumes are the most imaginative ever constructed, and the score has hit tunes like 'Can you feel the love tonight?'

Are you ready for a new and improved version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA? I love the original, which I first saw in California, when Robert Guillaume (star of Benson) played the role. Of course, I saw it in London's West End and on Broadway, but it's really fun to see the new version right here in Detroit. I know it's hard to believe that PHANTOM could ever be improved upon, but they've worked some magic. The chandelier is more spooky, the catacombs look more like a person actually lives there, the costumes are different, especially the stairway costume in part two - but in this version there is no grand staircase. This phantom uses a lot of pyrotechnics to accompany his magic. You will like the way they descend into the Phantom's lair; that bridge scene what shifted like a teeter totter has been replaced by really cool steps that protrude from dungeon walls. And the best part is at the very end, when the phantom vanishes; it's in a very different way, and I have no idea how he pulled it off.

I felt the earth move under my feet when the audience of over 1000 people jumped to their feet to give the cast of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL a standing ovation, accompanied by thunderous applause. The Wharton Center showing was absolutely fabulous! Sunday night is the final performance of this amazing show.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is a delightful experience that is part musical, part history lesson, and part biography. The musical tells the story of Carole King as she grows from aspiring teenage songwriter to prolific composer and ultimately to successful and beloved recording artist. It also tells her personal story as she grows from love struck teenager to young wife and mother and ultimately to strong independent woman.

Now on stage at The Encore Musical Theatre Company is the delightful and enchanting favorite MARY POPPINS; just in time for a perfect holiday get-together with loved ones, this uplifting production runs through December 23. You've seen the Disney film, you've read the books by P L Traverse, but the live performance of this cherished tale takes the cake.

Spotlight Players is pleased to present "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," inspired by the classic holiday film of the same name. This production is performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience. The small group of seasoned actors plays dozens of characters in the radio play and produces the sound effects. The time is Christmas Eve 1946 at Studio A at WBFR in Manhattan, New York.

The Michigan Philharmonic performed its annual Phright Night concert last Saturday at the PARC in Plymouth; as always, it was a huge success. The symphony harvested some scary tunes at its beloved Halloween POPS concert.  Maestro Nan Washburn entered the building on her motorized scooter, drawing thunderous applause from patrons. She opened the concert using a large wooden spoon as her conductor's baton, then quickly switched it out with a professional one.  The selections were wonderful, and very much a treat for the ears.

If you like your Halloween entertainment a little on the wacky-creepy side, you will love Broadway in Detroit's “A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER” now on stage at the beautiful Fisher Theatre. A musical about a serial killer could never be more funny. This show won four Tonys at the 68th Tony Awards in June 2014, including Best Musical. It is based on the 1907 novel Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal by Roy Horniman and its screen adaptation, the 1949 British film Kind Hearts and Coronets. Characters in the play are penned after real-life English aristocrats, primarily a frivolous British Prime Minister.

Cedar Point's fall festival of fright is here, and family fun is lurking around every corner! This is scary theatre at it's best, with costumes to die for. From The Great Pumpkin Fest to Haunt, the spectacular 20th year of HalloWeekends is set to delight and scare beginning Friday night, Sept. 16.

Any time you hear the word 'Disney,' you know you can expect something magical about to happen. Oh yes, it is happening now at the Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak, where DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID musical is now on stage. This show is spectacular, with brilliant costumes, lively music, and a tale of relatable family dynamics. Stagecrafters never fails to deliver a first-class performance; this show will rock your soul and warm your heart.

Set in an island paradise during World War II, two parallel love stories are on the verge of destruction, as prejudice and judgment come into play. The Musical is based on actual experiences from the novelist James Michener, who wrote 'Tales of the South Pacific' while stationed on Espiritu Santo island.

The Downriver Actors Guild will be taking a step back in time when the tunes were 'Outta Site' and 'Going Steady' was a teenager's biggest concern. It's the 60's, and Leader of the Pack is sure to please. Leader of the pack celebrates the life and times of Ellie Greenwich, and her doo wop sounds that skyrocketed to the top of the 60's music charts. This high-spirited show sponsored by Biker Bob's Harley Davidson of Taylor will take you down memory lane with some of the sixties most popular hits including, Chapel of Love,' 'Da Do Ron Ron,' 'Be My Baby,' 'Hanky Panky,' Do Wah Diddy,' 'And Then He Kissed Me' and, of course, the title song 'Leader of the Pack.' Some of the most talented young adults in the downriver area will grace the stage to bring this story to life.

Back by popular demand, THE BOOK OF MORMON, returns to Detroit for a limited engagementNovember 1 - 13 at The Fisher Theatre. Tickets are now on sale at The Fisher Theatre box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 1-800-982-2787, and online at www.broadwayindetroit.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

We live in the Alps during the summer, in a little chalet with a magnificent view of the Dolomites. There is something majestic about those snow-capped peaks. From our hotel in Denver, we can see a similar view of the Rockies. When I saw that SOUND OF MUSIC was playing at the Buell I just had to see the performance, which is part of the national tour. Oh, it was stunning! No one could ask for a better production!

I love Mormons. I met my first church member while I was a teenager, studying my family history. They archive practically every family tree ever recorded. It has something to do with their religion, but they don't really like to talk about it, similar to their stance on magic underwear. Now on stage at The Wharton Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Michigan State University is the wickedly cutting, outrageously hysterical 'Book of Mormon,' a musical satire that unearths all those little idiosyncrasies associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This performance was magical, I could almost feel the mana imbued in the actors' magic underwear. One of the stars, Cody Jamison Strand plays Elder Cunningham, gave a performance to die for.