Hope Clark News

While Thanksgiving is right around the corner, holiday festivities are commencing in full force. For many Houston theater goers, the highlight of the holiday season is the Alley Theatre's infamous production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL - A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS. Michael Wilson's imaginative stage adaptation of the Charles Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, is celebrating its 24th year and continues to be a spectacle that is hauntingly delightful and heartwarming. With family-friendly thrills, chills, and a hearty dose of laughter, this festive production remains a holiday favorite.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is presenting a modern masterpiece with their soaring production of FLY. The acting is excellent, the direction is sharply focused, and the technical achievements are spectacular. I'm probably going to run out of superlatives before I finish this review, so bear with me as I gush on about one of the most amazing examples of 'action' theatre that I've had the privilege to witness. FLY is a theatrical experience that pays tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II in a most remarkable way, and it's an absolute must-see event.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) proudly reveals this season's Joe A. Callaway Award winners for Direction and Choreography from more than 200 eligible productions in the 2012 - 2013 New York City theatre season. This year's awards will be presented to Ruben Santiago-Hudson for his direction of The Piano Lesson produced by Signature Theatre and Marlo Hunter for her choreography of Unlock'd produced by Prospect Theater Company. The winners join previous Joe A. Callaway Award Winners including Susan Stroman (1991), Harold Prince (1993), Julie Taymor (1996), Jack O'Brien (2001), Bartlett Sher (2002), Daniel Sullivan (2004), John Tiffany (2012) and Steven Hoggett (2012).

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents the inspiring playFly by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan and directed by Ricardo Khan. This extraordinary and uplifting production will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, October 16-November 10, 2013.

The inspiring story of World War II's heroic Tuskegee Airmen is brought to vivid life in FLY by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan. The play opens the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's Robert S. Marx Theatre season from Sept. 7 through Oct. 5.

What do you get when you combine 3000 pounds of dry ice, 200 pounds of plastic snow, 33 presents under a tree, and a seven pound goose? You get 15 years and 661 total performances of Hartford Stage's thrilling and heartwarming holiday production of A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport will present RUDOLPH, part of the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Youth Theater Series.

The Alley Theatre in Houston has been annually producing a stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' novella A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas since 1988. In 1990, Michael Wilson's adaptation, titled A CHRISTMAS CAROL - A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS, had its premiere at The Alley. With family friendly chills and a thrilling, Wizard of Oz-esque spin on the classic parable of redemption and the true meaning of Christmas, the show continues to delight audiences year after year.

On November 15th, the winners of the Stage Directors and Choreographers' Joseph A. Callaway award were announced at an intimate presentation at the SDC offices, attended by most of the finalists. John Tiffany, director and Steven Hoggett, choreographer each won the prestigious award for their collaborative work on Once, produced by New York Theatre Workshop.

What do you get when you combine 3000 pounds of dry ice, 200 pounds of plastic snow, 33 presents under a tree, and a seven pound goose? You get 15 years and 661 total performances of Hartford Stage's thrilling and heartwarming holiday production of A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story of Christmas.

Even if you have heard the Tuskegee Airmen's story before, I urge you to take a chance on this exceptional production. It's heart-felt, challenging, and certainly well-presented. Ford's has definitely started its 2012-2013 season out with a bang.

Ford's Theatre presents the Washington premiere of "Fly," by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan, directed by Ricardo Khan, now through October 21, 2012. The centerpiece of this year's programming for The Lincoln Legacy Project, "Fly" is based on the experiences of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport will present Seussical The Musical, part of the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Youth Theater Series.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport presents Seussical The Musical, part of the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Youth Theater Series. SEUSSICAL will run from September 22 to October 28, 2012 and will play the following performance schedule: Saturdays at 11:00am and Sundays at 10:30am. Join the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters in a fantastic musical adventure.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport will present Seussical The Musical, part of the Bethpage Federal Credit Union Youth Theater Series.

Ford's Theatre presents the Washington premiere of "Fly," by Trey Ellis and Ricardo Khan, directed by Ricardo Khan, September 21 through October 21, 2012. The centerpiece of this year's programming for The Lincoln Legacy Project, "Fly" is based on the experiences of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

Actress Diana Sands (1934-1973) refused to be bound by stereotypes. An African-American woman who knew full well the sting of prejudice, she constantly searched for roles with strength and dignity while battling the mindset of the entertainment establishment. Often overlooked today, her story and legacy will be told by Tony Award nominee Hope Clarke (Caroline or Change, Jelly's Last Jam) in the world premiere of Steve Willis' Diana Sands: A Certain Toughness of Spirit. Directed by Sue Lawless, the show begins performances tonight, May 15 at the Workshop Theatre Company's Jewel Box Theatre, at 312 West 36th Street, on the 4th floor.