Alliance Theatre News

Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's 'Harmony,' a new musical, opens next Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and plays through April 13 (Previews began March 4). Directed by Tony Speciale, with music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Sussman, 'Harmony' tells the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in pre-WWII Germany who rose from unemployed street musicians to become world-famous entertainers, selling millions of records, starring in over a dozen films, and selling out the most prestigious concert halls around the world. Yet while The Comedian Harmonists' sophisticated music, paired with hilarious comedy, made them the brightest of stars, the group's mixture of Jews and non-Jews put them on a collision course with history. 'Harmony' is a co-production with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta. Below, check out a first look at the cast in action!

Rehearsals started today for the Alliance Theatre's world premiere of THE TALL GIRLS, a play set in the depression-era Midwest where the success of a girls' basketball team may be the only way to a better life for the team's members. Playwright Meg Miroshnik, winner of the 2012 Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition for her play The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls, has been described by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as 'a ferocious talent with a promising career in store.'

Jeffrey Khaner, the Principal Flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, will make his Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) debut performing Jonathan Leshnoff's Flute Concerto with Music Director Robert Spano and the Orchestra tonight, March 6, 2014, at 8:00 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center. Mr. Khaner and Mr. Spano gave the world premiere of this work together in 2011 in Philadelphia.

All the Way, the new play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, starring BREAKING BAD's Bryan Cranston, is currently in previews on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre. The production officially opens on Thursday, March 6, 2014 for a strictly limited engagement. The play is directed by Bill Rauch, Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where All the Way began its theatrical life. Scroll down to learn more about the full cast of ALL THE WAY, plus watch interviews with the company below!

Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) in an all-Brahms concert weekend April 4-6, 2014, in Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Atlanta's nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre will host its 6th annual A Tony Evening at the W Hotel - Midtown on May 10, 2014. The star-studded party of the year benefits the Alliance Theatre's programs for youth and families, connecting the arts to children both young and young at heart.

The Wells Fargo ArtsVibe Teen Program has announced more than 40 participants who will perform as finalists in the second annual, free Voices & Vibes Festival on Saturday, May 10, 2014, at the Woodruff Arts Center. The selected teens will demonstrate their skills ranging from spoken word to singing, and dance to musical performances, during the showcase in the finale of the Festival.

Atlanta's nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre and Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Susan V. Booth just announced the 2014/15 Season for the Alliance Stage, Hertz Stage and Theatre for Youth and Families series. The 46th season includes seven exciting world premieres, including two new American musicals.

The newest piece from playwright, actor and hip hop artist Psalmayene 24 , THE MOST EXCELLENT (AND BUSTED) BATTLE, will be presented in an industry reading on Friday March 7th at Playwrights Horizons. Book and Lyrics are by DC Based Psalmayene 24, Music is by DJ Nick tha 1da and it is directed by Wendy C. Goldberg, the Artistic Director of the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.

Kindling Theatre Company has announced the World Premiere of TAKE ME BACK, written by Emily Schwend and directed by Jay Stull. TAKE ME BACK begins performances tonight, February 28 for a limited engagement through Saturday, March 22. Opening Night is Wednesday, March 5 at 8 PM. The performance schedule is Wednesday - Saturday at 8 PM, with added performances on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4 at 8 PM. Performances are at Walkerspace (46 Walker Street, between Broadway and Church Streets).

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will present David Ives' THE HEIR APPARENT, adapted from the play by Jean-Francois Regnard, beginning performances Friday, March 28 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). Directed by John Rando, THE HEIR APPARENT will feature Suzanne Bertish (Madame Argante), Carson Elrod (Crispin), Claire Karpen (Lisette), Amelia Pedlow (Isabelle), David Pittu (Scruple), Dave Quay (Eraste) and Paxton Whitehead (Geronte). The official press opening for THE HEIR APPARENT is Wednesday, April 9. The production will play at limited engagement through Sunday, May 4.

Last night at Opening Night of Carson Kreitzer's Lasso of Truth, Marin Theatre Company's artistic director Jasson Minadakis and managing director Michael Barker announced the company's 2014-15 season programming today. Featuring six new plays by living contemporary playwrights in MTC's intimate 231-seat mainstage Boyer Theatre, the season includes:

INTAR today announced the cast for the next production of its 2013-14 season: Adoration of the Old Woman, by Academy Award-nominated and Obie Award winning Jose Rivera and directed by Patricia McGregor will star Raul Castillo (HBO's 'Looking'), Danielle Davenport, Jose Joaquin Perez, Socorro Santiago and Carmen Zilles. This limited Off-Broadway engagement begins March 13th and continues through April 6th only. Opening Night is set for Wednesday March 19th.

The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences are thrilled to present the inaugural TODDLER TAKEOVER: an arts festival for the very young, May 31-June 2, 2014, at the Woodruff Arts Center. This one of a kind experience will feature performances of all six original productions of the Alliance Theatre for the Very Young, the debut of the Atlanta Symphony's Music for the Very Young, side by side art making at the High Museum of Art, and an interactive play space hosted by Young Audiences artists.

Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company announce the upcoming Atlanta Premiere of David Mamet's Race directed by John Dillon. Race will run from today, February 25 - March 23, 2014 at Fulton County's Southwest Arts Center located at 915 New Hope Road, Atlanta, GA 30331.

Atlanta's nationally acclaimed ALLIANCE THEATRE will present Shrek the Musical, based on the beloved Dreamworks film character and William Steig's 1990s book, today, February 22 through March 16, 2014 as part of its Alliance Stage Family Series. Rosemary Newcott, the Sally G. Tomlinson Artistic Director of Theatre for Youth and Families, directs this enchanting production which ran for 12 months on Broadway and is now adapted to a family friendly one-act experience.

The Smith Center announced today that single tickets for The National Tour of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, will go on sale today, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m.

East West Players (EWP), the nation's largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work and the longest-running professional theatre of color in the country, continues its 48th Anniversary Season Making Light, with the world premiere of 'A Nice Indian Boy,' written by Madhuri Shekar and directed by Snehal Desai.