Jacques Brel News

Tony Award winner Brent Carver is set to star in JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN PARIS at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival beginning May 14. The musical revue features the songs of Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel. This production will be directed by Stafford Arima. JACQUES BREL will begin previews on May 14 and will officially open on June 11 and is set to close on September 25.

The A.C.T. Young Conservatory proudly presents the world premiere of Beautiful Child: The Music of Rufus Wainwright, featuring a book written by Craig Slaight, direction by A.C.T. Associate Artist Domenique Lozano, musical direction by Jane Hammett, and choreography by Christine Mattison. The 'disarmingly beautiful' (The New York Times) music of Rufus Wainwright takes center stage as A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory continues its exploration of modern composers in this theatrical tribute to the acclaimed singer-songwriter.

Based on Charles Dickens' classic novel Oliver Twist, Lionel Bart's musical masterpiece vividly brings to life the timeless characters in this beloved story of the boy who asked for more. Join Nancy, The Artful Dodger, Fagin, and many more as Oliver navigates the treacherous streets of London in his search for a home and a family. Featuring outstanding songs including "Food, Glorious Food," "Consider Yourself," "As Long As He Needs Me," and "Where is Love?" the beautiful score will stir and captivate audiences of all ages. OLIVER! is "a glorious reminder of just how life-enhancing a musical can be." - Daily Telegraph.

The City of Cleveland Heights and Cain Park proudly announce that Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Hugh Wheeler) opens Cain Park's 2010 season in the Alma Theater June 11-27 (preview June 10). Paul Gurgol, founder/artistic director of Kalliope Stage, directs this 1979 Tony Award-winning musical thriller with music direction by Jodie Ricci.

Joe's Pub presents Gay Marshall July 14, reprising her one-woman tribute show to Edith Piaf, 'Piaf: Queen of Heart.'

Join us in celebrating the songs of French composer Jacques Brel, including a diverse blend of ballads, tangos, boleros, rock, and classics. Each song tells a story, examining themes of love, war, adventure, broken dreams, being young, growing old, and death...but never forgetting that life, with all its tragedies and complexities, shows us much humor.

GHOSTS has been held over by popular demand and will now run through May 8th. A classic and gripping theatrical event not to be missed... GHOSTS is written by Henrik Ibsen and directed by David Ellenstein. The show is featuring Rosina Reynolds*, Richard Baird*, John Herzog*, Jonathan McMurtry* and Aimee Burdette

For this week's FLASHBACK FRIDAY we are bringing together the subjects of my two other columns from this week - SOUND OFF: The Way We Are and InDepth InterView: Maury Yeston - with a perfect performance showcasing the supreme l'actrice/chanteuse Streisand's take on a song from Yeston's 1982 Best Musical and Best Score Tony-winner NINE: the evocative, eerie, sensual "Unusual Way".

This week, we are taking a look and a listen to one of the foremost interpreters of song - whether originating from the stage, film, the Great American songbook, world music, tailor-made-music and virtually everything else - the legendary Barbra Streisand. Nothing can be said that hasn't been said about Ms. Streisand, she is a star unlike any other, but her recent intimate concert before 120 lucky audience members on September 26 of last year - marking her fortieth anniversary in show business - is perhaps her most arresting concert ever preserved on home video, a feat in itself considering her past pitch-perfect television specials. Let's not focus on the way we were, but more how we are today: in the case of Ms. Streisand, simply irresistible.

American pop music has a plethora of songs with French titles. Take, for example, Rodgers' & Hammerstein's 'Dites-moi', and Lerner and Loewe's 'C'est moi' from the world of Broadway. And, legendary French pop singers of the past like Chevalier, Piaf, Brel and Aznavour are almost as well known in the US as Dylan, Presley and Sinatra. So, we should not take for granted the effects of French culture on American music. International singer Lee Lessack concurs as he presents an outstanding cabaret of mixed French and American tunes with a French flavor called Chanteur, vibrantly conceived by director Brian Lane Green.

North Coast Repertory Theatre will end its production of a classic and gripping theatrical event not to be missed...GHOSTS on May 2nd.

Agoraphobia, adultery, spray cheese, road kill, hysterical pregnancy, kleptomania, flan and disco - these are just a few of the subjects covered in hit Off-Broadway musical comedy THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL, which will have its Boston-area premiere April 30-May 30, produced by SpeakEasy Stage Company.

The A.C.T. Young Conservatory proudly presents the world premiere of Beautiful Child: The Music of Rufus Wainwright, featuring a book written by Craig Slaight, direction by A.C.T. Associate Artist Domenique Lozano, musical direction by Jane Hammett, and choreography by Christine Mattison. The 'disarmingly beautiful' (The New York Times) music of Rufus Wainwright takes center stage as A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory continues its exploration of modern composers in this theatrical tribute to the acclaimed singer-songwriter.

GHOSTS has been held over by popular demand and will now run through May 8th. A classic and gripping theatrical event not to be missed... GHOSTS is written by Henrik Ibsen and directed by David Ellenstein. The show is featuring Rosina Reynolds*, Richard Baird*, John Herzog*, Jonathan McMurtry* and Aimee Burdette

Based on Charles Dickens' classic novel Oliver Twist, Lionel Bart's musical masterpiece vividly brings to life the timeless characters in this beloved story of the boy who asked for more. Join Nancy, The Artful Dodger, Fagin, and many more as Oliver navigates the treacherous streets of London in his search for a home and a family. Featuring outstanding songs including "Food, Glorious Food," "Consider Yourself," "As Long As He Needs Me," and "Where is Love?" the beautiful score will stir and captivate audiences of all ages. OLIVER! is "a glorious reminder of just how life-enhancing a musical can be." - Daily Telegraph.

Act II Playhouse presents the intimate new musical The Story of My Life, on stage April 27-May 23 and written by Neil Bartram (music and lyrics) and Brian Hill (book). Directed by Bud Martin, The Story of My Life stars Tony Braithwaite and Jim Stanek as lifelong best friends.

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage will end its production of 'Doubt' a Parable by John Patrick Shanley on April 25th. This production marks the Fairfield County professional debut of one of the most celebrated plays of our generation.

Elegance and gorgeous music have a new home as Bay Area Cabaret moves into its new venue - The Empire Ballroom at San Francisco's iconic Sir Francis Drake Hotel (450 Powell Street off Union Square). Fresh off its sold-out Valentine's Day performance by Tony Award winner Sutton Foster, Bay Area Cabaret continues its sixth season of seasoned Broadway, pop and jazz vocalists on Sunday, March 28th when Broadway star Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!, Hairspray, Sunset Blvd) performs a new program of showstoppers and pop originals. Next up on Friday, April 16th is The Rose songwriter Amanda McBroom, performing a tribute to her songwriting inspiration Jacques Brel. The season closes with Grey Gardens star Christine Ebersole in a recent award-winning Carlyle program with Michael Feinstein's accompanist John Oddo leading a four-piece band on Sunday, April 25th.

InnateVolution Theater Productions presents the world premiere of April Smallwood's Right As Rain-a moving exploration of sexuality, religion, friendship and loyalty-directed by InnateVolution's Artistic Director, Toma Tavares Langston.

The Pulitizer and Tony Award winnning rock opera RENT comes to the Broadway Theatre Center May 21 through June 20 as part of the Sylight Opera Series. Ticket prices range from $62 to $20 and are available at the Box Office, 414-291-7800 or www.skylightopera.com.