Melissa Giordano - Page 11

It is truly a pleasure seeing Nice Work If You Can Get It at Bellport's Gateway Theatre. It has a zany and charming story, a beautiful Gershwin score, and the theatre is absolutely stunning. Most importantly, however, the cast is super-beyond talented. After all, many of them come from Broadway.

It is always exciting to see a world premier; to be able to say 'I saw it first'. In continuing their mission of fostering new works, the beautiful Bay Street Theatre has selected Alena Smith's The New Sincerity to kick off their 2015 season. And a wonderful choice it is.

It is a brave decision for a local theatre to take on a show that was not exactly well received for its Broadway run. However, it seems that if it is derived from a popular movie it is certainly worth the risk and, in the end, people will attend the show. In seeing Ghost, The Musical at SoLuna Studio, you will see it is an excellent decision to add this show to their 2015 season.

The Rainmaker, BroadHollow Theatre Company's current offering, seems to be produced quite often; and that's ok. It's nice to break away from the glitz and fluffiness and see a raw, truly emotional play that makes you feel. The melodrama, by N. Richard Nash, is now running at BroaHollow's BayWay Theatre in East Islip, Long Island, through June 28th continuing at their Elmont location beginning July 11th.

Audra McDonald Shines at the Tilles Center

The Hamptons theatre scene will be getting the Summer started early this year as Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theatre will be holding their Second Annual New Works Festival. Being held this weekend, April 24th through 26th, preparations are in full swing for some exciting new works to be displayed in a theme of 'Rediscovery'. Artistic Director Scott Schwartz took time to speak with me today about the festival.

While it is true that the musical Jesus Christ Superstar is done consistently among the regional and community theatre scene, we should take the opportunity to see classics like this whenever we can. The superb incarnation currently running through April 26th at Oakdale's Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC), is a great chance to see it again or see it for the first time.

Though A Chorus Line may be produced consistently, it is always refreshing to see a good quality, professional, local production. This is exactly what you'll get when you see the Tony Award winning musical running through May 10th at Long Island's stunning John W. Engeman Theatre in Northport.

In seeing the Tony winning Sherman Edwards/Peter Stone musical 1776, we get an interesting account of historical events. The cast at BroadHollow's BayWay Theatre in East Islip are comical, comfortable in their roles, and are extremely talented.

As a “renthead”, I am thrilled to see Jonathan Larson's autobiographical musical Tick, Tick… BOOM! part of SoLuna Studio's 2015 season. The cast at the charming Long Island venue is super talented and does the show justice in a forum in which it should be presented; an intimate theatre.

Christopher Durang's Tony winning play Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike is certainly one for the books for Northports's John W. Engeman Theatre. The gorgeous Long Island venue has mounted a wonderful incarnation running through March 8th and boasts an extraordinary cast.

Particularly over the past several years, the Tony winning musical Avenue Q has become a favorite show of mine. It's hilarious, relatable, and an original American production particularly with the use of puppetry which is a fascinating skill to watch. So, as you can imagine, Hauppauge's SoLuna Studio had a lot of work to do and a lengthy rehearsal process to prepare to put this show on.

Time Stands Still, a Tony nominee by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, is one of the more powerful plays that you will see. Now running through January 25th at the Quogue Community Hall, the Hampton Theatre Company (HTC) produces this gripping production superbly directed by Sarah Hunnewell. To note, this is HTC's second show of their 30th season and marks the HTC debut of each cast member.

In anticipation of NBC's exciting live broadcast of the musical Peter Pan this Thursday, I knew it was essential to attend the Patrick Grossman directed incarnation running through January 4th at The Noel Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC). They have been overly buzzing, too, as they even received a shout out from Allison Williams (who portrays the title character for NBC) on the Seth Meyer's show.

When you see a Christmas show at Northport's John W. Engeman Theatre, you are in for a special treat. The busy street is bustling and the stunning Long Island venue goes all out with the decorations for a festive atmosphere. Their offering this season is fan favorite A Christmas Story based on the 1983 movie.

The show is wonderful to begin with. Theatre Three's annual production of Charles Dickens' classic...

Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird is indeed an astonishing tale and the staged incarnation is just as powerful as the book first published in 1960. The story is Lee's account of her own observations of her own family and neighborhood in addition to an event that occurred in/near her hometown in 1936, when she was 10 years old.

Carrie, The Musical - music by Michael Gore, Lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and book by Lawrence D. Cohen - has had an interesting life; one of the most popular movies of all time, one of the biggest Broadway flops of all time, and, after many revisions by the original creators, had a successful off-Broadway limited engagement in 2012.

When you attend a production of Mel Brooks' musical Young Frankenstein, your full intension must be for laughs because this show is anything but serious. Above everything, the large cast is super talented and delivers their performances entertainingly and with heart.

The Tony nominated musical The Boy From Oz brings many emotions to the surface. The story is about the life of Australian entertainer Peter Allen. His zest for life, dealing with deteriorating health, and the love he is surrounded by create for the audience a roller coaster of feelings. For the record, Martin Sherman and Nick Enright have certainly created a story of heart and perseverance.