Martin Pakledinaz News

One of the many delights of director Michael Blakemore's revival of Noel Coward's giddily funny 1941 froth, Blithe Spirit, is that this 2009 production looks like it could have been seen in the play's premiere year. No doubt contemporary Broadway theatre can provide more spectacular ways for an actress playing a ghost to enter a room than to just have her walk through the French windows. And certainly if an invisible spirit chooses to destroy her husband's drawing room, modern technology can whip up a few tricks more gasp-inducing than simply having a picture frame fall and a bookshelf topple over. But when you have one of the English language's great comedies played by a company that excels in the verbal dexterity of the playwright's wit, there's no need for such distractions.

Complete casting has been announced for the brand new production of GREASE, starring American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, playing the Golden Gate Theatre beginning Tuesday, March 24 through Sunday, April 19. Taylor Hicks made his debut on Broadway in the role of 'Teen Angel' this past summer. This brand new production of GREASE will feature songs from the smash hit 1978 motion picture performed for the first time ever in a Broadway production. GREASE is presented as a part of the 2008-2009 Citibank Best of Broadway series season under the direction of Carole Shorenstein Hays. Tickets on sale now. Taylor Hicks achieved widespread fame in 2006 as a contestant on the hugely successful FOX singing competition 'American Idol.' On May 24, 2006, Hicks was named the winner of the fifth season of 'Idol' with over 63.4 million votes in total. Winning the title over Katharine McPhee, the announcement was made during the live finale episode which aired to a worldwide audience of over 200 million viewers. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Taylor Hicks' passion for music began at an early age. He toured the Southeastern Unites States during his teenage years and released two independent albums. Known for his energetic performances with influences derived from classic soul, blues and R&B music, he quickly grew a large fan base among the millions of viewers and voters who tuned in to 'Idol' each week. His fans ultimately dubbed themselves the 'Soul Patrol.'

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Sunday, March 22, 2009.

The 16th Annual Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration program, honoring world class scenic designer Todd Rosenthal (August: Osage County), will take place on Monday, April 27, at the Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a viewing of the third annual ?Theater Design Expo' showcasing the works of over 20 Chicago-area emerging theatrical designers and a student portfolio review. Martha Lavey, Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, will moderate an inclusive discussion, 'Moving Chicago Productions to New York and Beyond' with the awardees, Director Anna Shapiro and Joshua Schmidt, composer and librettist, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of American Lyric Theater, has announced that Kyrian Friedenberg, the ten-year old singer, violinist and actor most recently seen in Gypsy with Patty LuPone on Broadway, has been cast as Charlie Bucket in ALT's upcoming workshop and reading of The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Speaking of the young performer, Edelson said that 'Kyrian has a wonderful voice, is incredibly musical, and has charisma that is truly contagious. After hearing him sing Charlie's first act Aria from The Golden Ticket, I had no doubt that he was the right boy to bring Roald Dahl's classic character to life in our upcoming workshop.'

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit began preview performances on Thursday, February 26, 2009 and opened on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (West 44th Street). We were of course there to bring you all the excitement of the opening night party!

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit began preview performances on Thursday, February 26, 2009 and opened on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (West 44th Street). We were there to capture all the starry arrivals at opening night!

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit began preview performances on Thursday, February 26, 2009 and opened on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (West 44th Street). BroadwayWorld.com was of course there to bring you all the excitement of opening night!

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit began preview performances on Thursday, February 26, 2009. It will open Sunday, March 15, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (West 44th Street).

The brand new production of GREASE, stars American Idol winner Taylor Hicks alongside Eric Schneider as 'Danny' and Emily Padgett as 'Sandy.' Eric made his Broadway debut in Jersey Boys. His previous credits include Altar Boyz (Off-Broadway) and the national tours of Altar Boyz and The Full Monty. Emily made her Broadway debut in GREASE, where she understudied the role of Sandy. Her other credits include Legally Blonde on Broadway and the national tours of CATS. Starring as 'Rizzo' will be Allie Schulz, a contestant on NBC's 'Grease: You're the One That I Want.' Allie comes directly from the Broadway company of GREASE.

The producers of Blithe Spirit employ an official 'psychic consultant', Paula Roberts for the Broadway revival of Noel Coward's comic play, in which Angela Lansbury plays medium Madame Arcati. Roberts 'conjured' up all the info on the new production for The New York Daily News.

Seattle Theatre Group (STG) presents Mark Morris Dance Group's acclaimed MOZART DANCES at The Paramount Theatre May 1-3, 2009 for three performances only. Formed in 1980, Mark Morris Dance Group is recognized as one of the world's leading dance companies and noted for its commitment to live music, a feature of every performance on its full international touring schedule since 1996. Seattle's premiere of MOZART DANCES will feature Seattle Symphony with pianists Garrick Ohlsson and Yoko Nozaki conducted by Stefan Asbury.

If thoughts of Augustus Gloop being swept away in the Chocolate River, Violet Beauregarde inflating like a giant blueberry, Mike Teavee being demagnified into the tele-dimension, and Veruca Salt being thrown down the rubbish shoot by a gang of nut-inspecting squirrels sound like your idea of a fun night at the opera - or better yet, unlike any night at the opera or theater you've ever experienced - The Golden Ticket, ALT's opera commission based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is not to be missed! All of Dahl's beloved characters find a unique voice in this exciting new opera, and now, you have a chance to get a sneak-preview...

Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of ALT, has announced that the company has commissioned The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In his announcement, Edelson explained that all of Dahl's beloved characters find a unique voice in this exciting new opera. 'If thoughts of Augustus Gloop being swept away in the Chocolate River, Violet Beauregarde inflating like a giant blueberry, Mike Teavee being demagnified into the tele-dimension, and Veruca Salt being thrown down the rubbish shoot by a gang of nut-inspecting squirrels sound like your idea of a fun night at the opera - or better yet, unlike any night at the opera or theater you've ever experienced - The Golden Ticket is....just the ticket!'

The producers of the first national touring production of the Tony Award nominated Broadway musical GREASE? are proud to announce that 'American Idol' winner, Taylor Hicks, will continue on with the tour during the 2009 ? 2010 season. Hicks made his Broadway debut in the role of 'Teen Angel' and has been on the road with GREASE? since the tour began in Providence on December 2, 2008. New cities and dates to be announced shortly.

The Fisher Theatre announced today that ?American Idol? winner, Taylor Hicks will appear in the first national touring production of the Tony Award nominated Broadway musical GREASE? when it comes to Detroit for a limited engagement

TAYLOR HICKS, star of the Broadway national tour of GREASE?, will appear on 'Live with Regis and Kelly' on Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20, 2009. The platinum selling singer and 'American Idol' winner will appear as part of Regis and Kelly's 'Dating with the Stars' segment. 'Live' airs in NYC at 9:00 a.m. on WABC Channel 7.

BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you a daily sneak peek of some of the wonderful creations that await you at BROADWAY BEARS XII, so it is time to 'sing out' with the 'Broadway Bear' from GYPSY!

Legendary designers WILLIAM IVEY LONG and BOB CROWLEY are among the four recipients of the 2009 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards. Five-time Tony Award winning costume designer William Ivey Long will receive the 2009 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for theatrical costume design, and, for his achievements as both a costume and scenic designer, Bob Crowley (also a five-time Tony Award winner) will receive the TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards' special Robert L. B. Tobin Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatrical Design at a ceremony on Friday, March 27, at the Hudson Theatre in New York City.

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit begins performances on Thursday, February 26, 2009. It will open Sunday, March 15, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (West 44th Street). The starry Blithe Spirit cast revealed themselves to the media on Friday, January 30th at the 2nd Stage Theater Rehearsal Studio in midtown Manhattan, BroadwayWorld conjured up our cameras to bring you all the coverage on the special media event.