Mark Martino News

Theatre Aspen (Jed Bernstein, Producing Director) continues its 36th Season with Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's, sci-fi musical-hit, Little Shop of Horrors, which officially opens tomorrow, Friday, July 12 at 7:30pm at the Hurst Theatre in Rio Grande Park (470 Rio Grande Place).

There is magic afoot at MSMT's Pickard Theater - and miracles! Not supernatural ones, but rather those that happen when a fresh new work of musical theatre dazzles the public with its excitement and beauty. And that is exactly what Marc Robin and Curt Dale Clark's TREASURE ISLAND A MUSICAL ADVENTURE does as its charts an epic and extraordinary course that gives MSMT audiences a production that is grand, genuinely thrilling, and emotionally satisfying in a timeless way. Robert Louis Stevenson's novel has been adapted for stage and screen numerous times, but none has been as compelling, as simultaneously classic and contemporary as this new musical version, which had its world premiere at the Fulton Theatre in 2018. This East Coast premiere of TREASURE ISLAND offers audiences an opulent production, a brilliant team of creatives, cast, and crew, who pour all their energies into crafting an adventure for the ages. Known for bringing 'Broadway to Brunswick,' with TREASURE ISLAND MSMT has produced a show that is worthy to inhabit any Broadway stage and to find a lasting place in the American musical repertoire.

"I would love to play an iconic adventure hero role, and this is a herculean moment for me that is incredibly gratifying. It is a beautiful story." Michael William Nigro is talking about playing the young hero of TREASURE ISLAND, Jim Hawkins, in the new musical version by Marc Robin and Curt Dale Clark, which begins a run of its East Coast premiere at Maine State Music Theatre on June 26th. The twenty-year-old Nigro, who returns to the show after having made his debut in the Fulton Theatre's world premiere in September 2018, says that not only is TREASURE ISLAND a coming of age story for Jim Hawkins, but that he, himself, has "experienced moments of huge personal growth. The experience of the show has informed me so much in this last year. And now [returning to reprise the role], I get an opportunity to connect my own coming of age experience to the character - to bring what is so real to me into the role." Nigro's journey from the New Jersey suburb of Cranford to New York and regional stages as well as to television and film began, he recalls, at age three. "My Mom took me to see LES MISERABLES at the local high school. An actor named Jonathan Schwartz caught me attention. I was enamored of his work, and I followed his career as I grew up. He was the first person in the theatre whom I looked up to; I wanted to be like him. Fast forward to when I was fourteen and about to perform in THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE, I received a message from him as he was rehearsing ALADDIN on Broadway," he smiles, noting the serendipitous way lives intertwine in the theatre.

Theatre Aspen is the proud recipient of seven Henry Award nominations from the Colorado Theatre Guild for the company's 2018 production of Ragtime.

"I had been looking for a reason to come back, and do another show here, so I was pleased when my managers sent me to audition for TREASURE ISLAND [A MUSICAL ADVENTURE]. Doing new work is always great; I love that process where I get to be more involved in the actual creation." Broadway star Aaron Ramey is explaining how he has come to find himself back in Maine to play the plum role of Long John Silver in MSMT's East Coast premiere of Marc Robin and Curt Dale Clark's new epic musical which plays at the Pickard Theater from June 26 - July 13, 2019. Ramey had been an intern in 1997 while he was still a student at Otterbein University. "Ironically," he notes, "that was the summer of renovatios and MSMT performed at Crooker Auditorium, so this production will actually be my first time on the Pickard stage." He recalls the shows from that season: "I was in SWEENEY TODD, CAROUSEL, and TOMMY. I wasn't a good enough dancer to be in THE MUSIC MAN, but I did get to carry the pool table across stage, and in A CHORUS LINE, I played trombone in the pit," he laughs. "And then, too, I knew Michael Nigro [who plays Jim Hawkins] from a workshop we had both been in in New York, and he had urged me to audition."

The Colorado Theatre Guild's 14th Annual Henry Awards will take place Monday, July 22, 2019 at the Lone Tree Arts Center, located at 10075 Commons St. Lone Tree, CO 80124. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and the awards ceremony will begin at 7 p.m., followed by a catered reception at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Tickets are $35 for CTG members, $40 non-members or $50 at the door. Tickets go on sale Tuesday June 18, 2019 at 1:00PM MDT through the Lone Tree Arts Center website at www.LoneTreeArtsCenter.org or by calling the box office at 720-509-1000.

'It's always hard to follow an anniversary season, where you've pulled out all the stops for that special celebration,' confides Maine State Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Curt Dale Clark, as he sits down with Broadway World Maine to preview the company's upcoming 61st season. 'It's a bit scary because after the anniversary, then, what next? But the beautiful thing about what we do for a living [in the theatre] is that every year seems like an anniversary. MSMT has carved out a niche here in Brunswick where we pull out all the stops year after year. Our public expects it, and it is pour job to do it!'

Theatre Aspen (Jed Bernstein, Producing Director) announced today the complete casts and creative teams for the company's 36th Season, which includes the Tony Award-winning musical Guys & Dolls, the smash-hit musical Little Shop of Horrors, and the Tony-winning play God of Carnage, as well as additional programming and special events for the summer. This season, loaded with talent from Broadway, national tours, and training programs from across the country, promises to provide one not-to-be-missed event after another. The 2019 Theatre Aspen main-stage season runs June 21st through August 17th at the Hurst Theatre in Rio Grande Park.

There is a joyful feeling in the air at Westchester Broadway Theatre's production of "Newsies." That's the only way to describe the euphoric energy one feels upon leaving the theatre.

Deep in the heart of Iowa sits Francesca, a lonely young woman who long ago left Italy with the young American GI finding herself supposedly content until she realizes she's really accepted the hopeless acceptance of captivity.

Philadelphia Theatre Company continues its 44th season with the Philadelphia premiere of Marsha Norman and Jason Robert Brown's sweeping musical version of the best-selling novel, The Bridges of Madison County.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is kicking off the New Year with a rare four-week run of the sunny and funny musical that took Broadway by storm: Mamma Mia!

Jed Bernstein, Producing Director of Theatre Aspen, announced today that Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play God of Carnage, directed by Karen Azenberg (Artistic Director of Salt Lake City's largest non-profit, Pioneer Theatre Company) will round out the 2019 Summer Season. God of Carnage joins the previously announced Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls, directed by Tony Award nominee Hunter Foster and choreographed by Lisa Shriver, Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Carbonell Award winner Mark Martino, and the Theatre Aspen Summer Conservatory's student production of The Wizard of Oz, all at the Hurst Theatre.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is kicking off the New Year with a rare four-week run of the sunny and funny musical that took Broadway by storm: Mamma Mia!

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre has announced that the big and splashy Broadway hit Mamma Mia! is the long-awaited surprise show of its 2018/19 season!

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is kicking off the New Year with a rare four-week run of the sunny and funny musical that took Broadway by storm: Mamma Mia!

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the Philadelphia premiere of Marsha Norman and Jason Robert Brown's sweeping musical version of the best-selling novel, The Bridges of Madison County. The production is the second of the inaugural season under Producing Artistic Director Paige Price. For Bridges, Price has tapped Mark Martino to direct a cast rich with local theatre stars and Barrymore Award-winners, alongside actors with notable national and Broadway credits. The cast is led by Philadelphia actress Sarah Gliko and PA Native and Broadway actor Gregg Goodbrod. Recent Barrymore Award winner Amanda Morton (Passing Strange, Wilma Theater) will serve as the Music Director. The Bridges of Madison County runs February 8-March 3, 2019 at Philadelphia Theatre Company's stage at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad Street. Single tickets and subscriptions are on sale now and available at the box office, online at philatheatreco.org or by phone at 215-985-0420.

Philadelphia Theatre Company announces the director and full cast for the Philadelphia premiere of Marsha Norman and Jason Robert Brown's sweeping musical version of the best-selling novel, The Bridges of Madison County. The production is the second of the inaugural season under Producing Artistic Director Paige Price. For Bridges, Price has tapped Mark Martino to direct a cast rich with local theatre stars and Barrymore Award-winners, alongside actors with notable national and Broadway credits. The cast is led by Philadelphia actress Sarah Gliko and PA Native and Broadway actor Gregg Goodbrod.  Recent Barrymore Award winner Amanda Morton (Passing Strange, Wilma Theater) will serve as the Music Director. The Bridges of Madison County runs February 8-March 3, 2019 at Philadelphia Theatre Company's stage at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad Street. Single tickets and subscriptions are on sale now and available at the box office, online at philatheatreco.org or by phone at 215-985-0420.

Producing Director Jed Bernstein announced today that Theatre Aspen will launch the organization's inaugural one-person show festival, Solo Flights, next September following the 2019 summer season in Aspen, Colorado.

Jed Bernstein, Producing Director of Theatre Aspen, announced today two musicals for the 2019 season. The Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls will kick off the summer production slate, directed by Tony Award nominee Hunter Foster, who returns to Theatre Aspen for his second summer. Additionally, Carbonell Award winner Mark Martino returns for a remarkable eleventh time to direct a newly reimagined production of Little Shop of Horrors.