Ben Franklin News

Crystal Theatre announces Cleopatra: A Life Unparalleled. One Show Only in Norwalk! Sunday, June 28th at 1PM -- General seating, all tix $15.

Crystal Theatre announces Cleopatra: A Life Unparalleled. One Show Only in Norwalk! Sunday, June 28th at 1PM -- General seating, all tix $15.

Carrie Fisher set box-office records at Berkeley Repertory Theatre with her hilarious solo show, Wishful Drinking. Then it became a New York Times bestseller and played to sold-out crowds on a six-city national tour. Now Fisher returns to Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre, her last stop before the show bursts onto Broadway! This limited run - 15 performances only - begins July 9 and ends July 23.

A delightful new musical of GLTB fairy tales THE COUSINS GRIMM, and a new comedy about gay marriage TWO SPOONS, are the featured selections in Bailiwick's 2009 Pride Series, playing July 10 to August 23 at Hoover-Leppen Theater at Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted, Chicago.

Three studio titles will change and one production will move to the Main Stage in a major revision of the Portland Center Stage 2009/2010 season. Early strong seller The Chosen will move to the Main Stage, replacing Joe Turner's Come and Gone (which will be deferred to future season). In the studio, a possible Broadway tour causes our production of Thurgood Marshall to be postponed, and The Best So Far will be put on hold to give it a bit more gestation (and New York fundraising) time.

Three studio titles will change and one production will move to the Main Stage in a major revision of the Portland Center Stage 2009/2010 season. Early strong seller The Chosen will move to the Main Stage, replacing Joe Turner's Come and Gone (which will be deferred to future season). In the studio, a possible Broadway tour causes our production of Thurgood Marshall to be postponed, and The Best So Far will be put on hold to give it a bit more gestation (and New York fundraising) time.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) will hold general auditions for adult Equity and non-Equity actors for the 2009-2010 season on Friday, May 8, 2009 and Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 10 am-5 pm.

42nd Street Moon?s 2008/09 season draws to a close with Maureen McVerry starring in Cy Coleman?s rip-roaring musical treat, Wildcat, book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and music by Cy Coleman. The show previews on May 7 and 8, and opens on Saturday, May 9. It runs at the Eureka Theatre through May 24.

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops has pulled out all the stops for its 30th anniversary concert on Friday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. Two-time Grammy Award-winning pianist/conductor Peter Nero is joined by special guests Jack Jones, Lucie Arnaz, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Christiane Noll for an unforgettable night of music. Celebrate 30 years of Peter Nero and the Philly Pops and toast 'the best orchestra of its kind in the entire cosmos!'

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops® celebrates the magic of movie music with Hooray for Hollywood! This special concert event honors the captivating movie music that has the uncanny ability to transport us to another place and time.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Jonathan Reinis, Jamie Cesa, Eva Price & Berkeley Repertory Theatre, is proud to present the Broadway premiere production of Wishful Drinking, created and performed by Carrie Fisher and directed by Tony Taccone at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th St).

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents its week-long, student-written and performed PHILLY REALITY program, culminating in a public performance of the student works on Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

Celebrated jazz vocalist Diane Schuur joins Grammy Award-winning pianist/conductor Peter Nero and the Philly Pops for an extraordinary concert program entitled 88 Keys, a Big Band, and a Voice. These performances mark Ms. Schuur's debut with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. Between them, Peter and Diane have four Grammy awards and recording careers that combined span more than five decades. Now, take all of that brilliant talent and imagine it together on stage at Verizon Hall!

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) will hold general auditions for adult Equity and non-Equity actors for the 2009-2010 season on Friday, May 8, 2009 and Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 10 am-5 pm.

Celebrated jazz vocalist Diane Schuur joins Grammy Award-winning pianist/conductor Peter Nero and the Philly Pops for an extraordinary concert program entitled 88 Keys, a Big Band, and a Voice. These performances mark Ms. Schuur's debut with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. Between them, Peter and Diane have four Grammy awards and recording careers that combined span more than five decades. Now, take all of that brilliant talent and imagine it together on stage at Verizon Hall!

42nd Street Moon?s 2008/09 season draws to a close with Maureen McVerry starring in Cy Coleman?s rip-roaring musical treat, Wildcat, book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and music by Cy Coleman. The show previews on May 7 and 8, and opens on Saturday, May 9. It runs at the Eureka Theatre through May 24.

Greg MacKellan, artistic director of 42nd Street Moon, today announced that the company would postpone the production of The Baker's Wife scheduled in early spring, and replace it with High Spirits, the musical version of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, opening March 21 and running through April 5, 2009.

Legendary musical director Don Pippin, one of the leading conductors in the United States, has taken up the baton to lead the National Symphony Orchestra this week as Kennedy Center honors the accomplishments of Jerry Herman in JERRY HERMAN'S BROADWAY. The gifted Pippin has had a long and rich creative history with Herman as he has collaborated on the composers many works including such musicals as 'Ben Franklin in Paris', 'Mack and Mabel', 'Mame' and 'La Cage Aux Follies'.

Here are the Nominations for Outstanding Awards from the San Francisco Bay Theatre Area Critics Circle. Winners will from each catagory will be announced in approximately two weeks. A Gala Cocktail party will be held for the winners in each catagory at A.C.T. Columbia Room on May 4th. AEA Members are noted in * For 'Entire Production' and 'Best Ensemble' AEA Theatres are * THEATRES OVER 300 DRAMA

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops? steps into the magical life of one of the world's greatest entertainers, Frank Sinatra, with its sensational series Celebration of Ol' Blue Eyes. With his unmatched vocal stylings, Sinatra and his legendary friends embodied the very essence of hip. Vocalist Steve Lippia, who is known for his interpretations of the Sinatra songbook, joins Peter and the POPS as it pays homage to this late, great icon. Performances of Celebration of Ol' Blue Eyes take place February 15 at 3:00 p.m., February 18 at 8:00 p.m., February 20 at 8:00 p.m., February 21 at 3:00 p.m., and February 22 at 3:00 p.m.