J Brooks News

Reston Players has announced that its current production of Les Miserables, which is currently playing to rave reviews at Reston CenterStage, has been extended until February 15.

RUMORS, Neil Simon's one and only farce, comes to McLean Community Players in a production directed by Rosemary Hartman. Broadway World's Jeffrey Walker sat in on rehearsal to get a preview of the production. The production runs Fridays-Sundays, April 19-May 4, 2013, at the Alden Theatre in the McLean Community Center.

Berry Meyerowitz, President & CEO of Phase 4 Films, announced today that the company has acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney's (TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE, ENRON) hockey documentary THE LAST GLADIATORS. Larry Weitzman, Jim Podhoretz and Gibney crafted the screenplay and produced the project, which is a Jigsaw Production in association with Northern Lights Hockey, LLC.

Berry Meyerowitz, President & CEO of Phase 4 Films, announced today that the company has acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney's (TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE, ENRON) hockey documentary THE LAST GLADIATORS. Larry Weitzman, Jim Podhoretz and Gibney crafted the screenplay and produced the project, which is a Jigsaw Production in association with Northern Lights Hockey, LLC. Barry Reese, Donald "Dee" Rizzo, Michael Messner, George Gund, and Robert J. Brooks executive produced. THE LAST GLADIATORS made its premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. Phase 4 will kick off the theatrical release in Canada in October 2012 with the U.S. following in early 2013. Select engagements will feature a screening of the film, followed by an audience discussion with Stanley Cup winner Chris Nilan.

Bend and snap your way to Northern Virginia for LEGALLY BLONDE - THE MUSICAL now playing at the Alden Theatre through July 29. Presented by the McLean Community Players, the high-energy of the cast and charming performance of Kate Merryman as Elle Woods are reason enough to check out this production at the McLean Community Center.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION will feature a post-show talkback series in May with Chicago academics, atheists and psychologists to discuss Love, Sex, the Meaning of Life and the Existence of God at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport in Chicago. A current sold-out sensation Off-Broadway and winner of the 2011 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Play, the Midwest Premiere of FREUD'S LAST SESSION has received rave reviews and a Jeff Recommendation.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will host more than 120 outstanding theater students from colleges and universities across the nation as part of the 44th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), April 16-21, 2012. In January and February of this year, these artists from eight regions presented their outstanding work and were selected to travel to Washington, D.C. for an expense-paid trip to participate in National Festival events taking place at the Kennedy Center.

This show haunted my lovely companion and me for days afterwards. Can't think of a better compliment than that.

There IS something out there...

Sebastian Arcelus, Rebecca Luker, Rob McClure, Howard McGillin, Jill Paice and Lauren Worsham have been cast in Frank Loesser's Where's Charley?, the final New York City Center Encores! production of the 2010-11. Where's Charley?, based on BranDon Thomas' Charley's Aunt, has a book by George Abbott and music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. The show, running March 17 - 20, will be directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Alex Sanchez with music direction by Rob Berman.

Is there any better place to celebrate the Fourth of July than the Nation's Capital? If you're in town for the fireworks and concert on the Mall, consider popping into one of our local theatres. This month's MUST-SEES include The Capital Fringe Festival and Hip-Hop Festival, pirates, a high-flying nanny, a supreme trio, a boar with a flapjack, a crazy one-man Lord of the Rings, those loveable Tony Award-winning puppets, lots of plaid, a household of singing sisters, Stew's 'strange' score, and a concert version of a Rodgers and Hart classic musical. There's something for everyone in July on our DC area stages.

The singular images of master illustrator Edward Gorey will inspire the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players' City Center season this January as they mount a new production of the rarely produced G&S classic Ruddigore, a supernatural opera with a Harry Potterish plot, to be performed in rotation with the big three all-time G&S favorites: The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore and The Mikado.