F Brown News

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that Tamyra Gray will star as 'Della' in the Pasadena premiere of TWIST - An American Musical, based on Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist. This heart-warming family musical features a book by Tony Award-nominee William F. Brown (Broadway's The Wiz - winner of seven Tony Awards) and Tina Tippit, music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winner Tena Clark (Natalie Cole's Still Unforgettable), and music by Gary Prim (songwriter for Dionne Warwick and CeCe Winans). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen (Broadway and the West Ends' Cat on A Hot Tin Roof - 2010 Olivier Award for Best Revival of a Play and TV's 'Fame') is set to direct and choreograph the new musical. TWIST is presented in association with TAM Producing Partners - Skyline Pictures (Michelle Seward and Dror Soref), Edgework Productions (Willette Klausner), and GGE Live (Gary Goddard & Forbes Candlish). Performances begin June 14, 2011 and play through July 17, 2011 with the official press opening on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino).

Westport's Sunrise Rotary will present an original musical comedy spoof, 'Forbidden Westport III: Beaches, Banks, Barons & Budgets,' on Saturday, April 30, 7:30 p.m., at Bedford Middle School, 88 North Avenue, Westport. Proceeds will benefit Westport's Homes with Hope. Two previous 'Forbidden Westport' productions in 2001 and 2002 were sellouts.

Westport's Sunrise Rotary will present an original musical comedy spoof, 'Forbidden Westport III: Beaches, Banks, Barons & Budgets,' on Saturday, April 30, 7:30 p.m., at Bedford Middle School, 88 North Avenue, Westport. Proceeds will benefit Westport's Homes with Hope. Two previous 'Forbidden Westport' productions in 2001 and 2002 were sellouts.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley will take audiences around the globe from The Rose main stage, April 1-17. The amusing, fast-paced musical is based on the popular children's book series by Jeff Brown.

Con-artists Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson are up to no good on the French Riviera. Maurer Productions Onstage presents the hit musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre Fridays, May 13 and 20 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, May 14 and 21 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, May 15 and 22 at 2 p.m.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced casting details for Shooting Star which will be performed on the Main Stage May 27 - June 26, 2011.

Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias, continues its season with George Bernard Shaw's classic Candida, directed by David Staller. Performances will end Sunday, April 10.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2010-2011 Season with the World Premiere of Lonesome Traveler, a musical event that takes audiences on a journey down the rivers and streams of American Folk Music -- from the hills of Appalachia to the nightclubs of San Francisco and New York; from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Little Mary Sunshine is a charming musical spoof in the vein of Gilbert and Sullivan. With stalwart Forest Rangers, a sweet and lovely heroine and her 'naughty' sidekick, a chorus of simpering school girls, and a villainous Indian, it pokes fun at the overly earnest heroes and heroines, dastardly villains and every coquettish soubrettes of bygone eras.

Little Mary Sunshine is a charming musical spoof in the vein of Gilbert and Sullivan. With stalwart Forest Rangers, a sweet and lovely heroine and her 'naughty' sidekick, a chorus of simpering school girls, and a villainous Indian, it pokes fun at the overly earnest heroes and heroines, dastardly villains and every coquettish soubrettes of bygone eras.

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), the world's first year-round presenter of American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts, debuts at the esteemed DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place in Chicago, May 15 at 5 p.m. for Windy City Rhythms, its annual performance celebrating National Tap Dance Day.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley will take audiences around the globe from The Rose main stage, April 1-17. The amusing, fast-paced musical is based on the popular children's book series by Jeff Brown.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will produce the first in-the-round staging of Ruined, the 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama by Arena Stage Project Resident Lynn Nottage and directed by Resident Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright (Director of Arena Stage's Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies). Ruined is the stirring tale of Mama Nadi, a mother figure loosely based on Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children, who provides refuge for women affected by civil war ravaging the Democratic Republic of Congo. The production features an expanded company with cast members playing live music and additional ensemble roles featuring University of Maryland students. Ruined runs April 22-June 5, 2011 in the Fichandler Stage.

Asolo Repertory Theatre is thrilled to introduce Florida audiences to Las Meninas, by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage.

McCarter Theatre presents Beth Henley's modern American classic Crimes of the Heart. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the cast features Mary Bacon (Lenny MaGrath), Molly Camp (Babe Botrelle), Georgia Cohen (Meg MaGrath), Dustin Ingram (Barnette Lloyd), Lucas Van Engen (Doc Porter) and Brenda Withers (Chick Boyle). The production is sponsored by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. Crimes of the Heart will close Sunday, March 27.

Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias, continues its season with George Bernard Shaw's classic Candida, directed by David Staller. Performances will begin at Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Tuesday, March 22 and continue through Sunday, April 10. The opening night performance is Saturday, March 26 at 8pm.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that tickets are now on sale for TWIST - An American Musical, based on Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist.

Asolo Repertory Theatre is thrilled to introduce Florida audiences to Las Meninas, by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. The play is directed by Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards, who directed the World Premiere of Las Meninas at San Jose Rep in 2002. The Asolo Rep production of Las Meninas runs from March 18-May 15, 2011 in Asolo Rep's Mertz Theatre; then will travel to Miami to perform as part of the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC) soft opening. The SMDCAC performance is hoped to foster a further artistic exchange between the two cities and the two organizations, and lead to more projects. Complete details about the Miami performances will soon be released. Check out images from the production below!

Signed to Disturbed's Reprise Records imprint Intoxication Records, Vancouver's Art of Dying release their major-label debut album, Vices and Virtues today. The lead single off the album, 'Die Trying,' is currently the iTunes 'Single Of The Week' and available on the iTunes homepage as a free download.

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), the world's first year-round presenter of American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts, debuts at the esteemed DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place in Chicago, May 15 at 5 p.m. for Windy City Rhythms, its annual performance celebrating National Tap Dance Day.