John Farrar News

Do you enjoy theatre trivia and anecdotes? How about talking about a performance immediately following the show with other theatre enthusiasts? Would you like to hear the actors' motivation for their characters? Are you interested in hearing from guest speakers? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, then TheatreZone's TalkBack is a must for you.

         Artistic director Mark Danni today unveiled that actress and singer Joan Ellison will perform a one-night-only concert Love Finds Judy Garland, Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 8 pm.         

The UK Premiere of the smash-hit Broadway musical comedy, XANADU, based on the 1980s classic cult movie, comes to Southwark Playhouse this autumn. Press night is slated for Tuesday, 3 November 2015 at 7.30pm; the show runs Friday 16 October - Saturday 21 November 2015, presented by Xanadu Theatre Productions Limited. 

Mark Danni, founder and artistic director of TheatreZone, the not-for-profit, Equity professional theatre group in residence at the G&L Theatre in Naples, reports that Season 11 single show tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, June 1.

TheatreZone founder and artistic director Mark Danni today unveiled his musical selections for the non-profit Equity professional theatre group's 11th consecutive season opening with legendary composer Marvin Hamlisch's final Broadway show Sweet Smell of Success on January 7, 2016 closely followed by The Boy From Oz in February, Stephen Sondheim's Into The Woods in March and concluding with the tap dancing comedic gem Dames at Sea in May.

Four time Grammy Award winner Olivia Newton-John will release a two-CD, 22 song recording of her acclaimed concert 'Summer Nights - Live in Las Vegas,' recorded live at Flamingo Las Vegas today, March 3, 2015, to coincide with her return to the Flamingo for her 2015 concerts.

Four time Grammy Award winner Olivia Newton-John will release a two-CD, 22 song recording of her acclaimed concert 'Summer Nights - Live in Las Vegas,' recorded live at Flamingo Las Vegas on March 3, 2015, to coincide with her return to the Flamingo for her 2015 concerts.

Award-winning Pantochino Productions Inc., a professional, non profit theatre company specializing in family theatre, presents its Teen Theatre production, "Xanadu Jr." on February 28 and March 1 at the Center for the Arts in Downtown Milford.

In FYI's new series, 'Midnight Feast,” New York's Chelsea Market sets the stage for a late-night culinary showdown between some of the hottest chefs in the country. Six one-hour episodes will premiere tonight, October 16 at 10pm ET.

City Circle Acting Company of Coralville will present the Broadway hit musical Xanadu for six performances today, October 10-19 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.

City Circle Acting Company of Coralville will present the Broadway hit musical Xanadu for six performances October 10-19 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.

In FYI's new series, 'Midnight Feast,” New York's Chelsea Market sets the stage for a late-night culinary showdown between some of the hottest chefs in the country. Six one-hour episodes will premiere on Thursday, October 16 at 10pm ET.

North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre brings the tongue-in-cheek, award-winning hit Broadway musical Xanadu to the Triangle for its local premiere tonight, September 5th through 21st.

BWW Reports: GREASE Is The Word

A middle-aged brother and sister, Amy and Andy, are stuck living at home in regional Australia, caring for their chronically ill mother. To escape this mundane existence, Amy creates a fantasy world in her lounge room that revolves around her idol, Olivia Newton-John. In between working two jobs to pay for the medical bills, Andy indulges his sister's devotion. He knows that if it weren't for Olivia, they'd both be going mad. But Andy is starting to change. He's ready to move on. The problem is, Amy is perfectly happy in her fantasy world and wants things to stay the same.

North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre brings the tongue-in-cheek, award-winning hit Broadway musical Xanadu to the Triangle for its local premiere September 5th through 21st.

There have been a lot of versions of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's (book, music and lyrics) GREASE that I've seen over the years. Only one, New Line Theatre's brilliant staging a few years back, actually adhered to the musical as originally conceived. The majority have followed the template laid down by the 1978 movie version that was tailored to fit the stars; Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta. That's the version currently gracing the stage of The MUNY, although it features a number of interesting changes, beginning with a choral version of the opening "Alma Mater" that actually utilizes the lyrics to the song "We Go Together". It's certainly an entertaining ride, and is much improved in many ways over the version staged here back in 2007.

A middle-aged brother and sister, Amy and Andy, are stuck living at home in regional Australia, caring for their chronically ill mother. To escape this mundane existence, Amy creates a fantasy world in her lounge room that revolves around her idol, Olivia Newton-John. In between working two jobs to pay for the medical bills, Andy indulges his sister's devotion. He knows that if it weren't for Olivia, they'd both be going mad. But Andy is starting to change. He's ready to move on. The problem is, Amy is perfectly happy in her fantasy world and wants things to stay the same.

Today in 2007, Xanadu opened at the Helen Hayes Theatre, where it ran for 512 performances. Xanadu is a musical comedy with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, based on the 1980 cult classic film of the same name. The story of the musical focuses on a Greek muse, Clio, who descends from Mt. Olympus to Venice Beach, California, in 1980 on a quest to inspire a struggling artist, Sonny, to achieve the greatest creation of his life - a roller disco. It earned an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Best Book. It was also nominated for Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book.

Paper Mill Playhouse concludes its 75th Anniversary Season with America's favorite musical, GREASE. With book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease will be directed by Daniel Goldstein with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Additional songs are by John Farrar, Barry Gibb, Scott Simon and Louis St. Louis. Grease plays the Millburn, New Jersey, theater through June 29, 2014. Click below to watch a fun video of audience members attempting to join in on 'We Go Together'!