Medicine Show News

Cynthia Shaw enjoyed her Colorado childhood of piano lessons and music-making. But as time went on she developed bigger dreams: moving to New York to attend the esteemed Manhattan School of Music. However, this goal was a bit more difficult than she expected. As she struggles with her self-sabotaging demons, shaky memorization and insufficient technique, she masters a falling piano, a sweltering practice room, a music-hating neighbor, a condescending teacher and other obstacles that confront an innocent, young classical pianist who has decided to tackle the Big Apple! And the big question is, does she get in?

Medicine Show Theatre presents Caligula, Albert Camus's gorgeous, provocative classic in the first production in New York City in a decade. It is a tour de force of perverse humor with splashes of vulgarity, vaudevillian tendencies and, the central figure himself: Caligula; a wild, unfettered leader of Shakespearean dimension. Sound like someone we know? Mark J. Dempsey, directs.

Medicine Show Theatre presents Caligula, Albert Camus's stunning, provocative play about an insane, narcissistic dictator wreaking havoc on his embattled nation.

Medicine Show Theatre presents Caligula, Albert Camus's gorgeous, provocative classic in the first production in New York City in a decade. It is a tour de force of perverse humor with splashes of vulgarity, vaudevillian tendencies and, the central figure himself: Caligula; a wild, unfettered leader of Shakespearean dimension. Sound like someone we know? Mark J. Dempsey, directs.

Medicine Show Theatre presents Caligula, Albert Camus's stunning, provocative play about an insane, narcissistic dictator wreaking havoc on his embattled nation.

Theater Alliance launches Season 16 with the WORD BECOMES ACTION FESTIVAL. Building on the success of last year's inaugural festival, this second annual festival explores themes from upcoming productions and bringing together performances, readings, and workshops to illuminate divergent perspectives. The festival is made possible thanks to the support of The Revada Foundation and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

In 1967, an enigmatic singer, songwriter and producer named Bobbie Gentry rose out of the Mississippi delta and enchanted audiences around the world with her beautiful, captivating voice and her "Ode To Billie Joe." An unconventional, beguiling song with simple acoustic guitar and sparse production, and notably without a discernible chorus, the song introduced Gentry and her style of storytelling that was very different to the confessional song writing of other emerging female singers. The song caused a lot of commotion as it shot to number one in America and knocked The Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" off the top spot. When the album Ode To Billie Joe was released the following month, it topped the charts and was the only record to displace Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band from its 15-week reign. Over the next several years, Gentry, whose birthday was this past Friday, July 27, released seven studio albums and broke ground in numerous ways as one of the first female musicians to write, produce and even publish her own music. She also produced her elaborate stage shows via her own production company and was the first female singer songwriter to be afforded her own BBC TV series in the UK where she was wildly popular. She became one of the most iconic and influential artists of the 1960s and 70s, and then in the early '80s she made her final appearance and disappeared from the public eye completely, never to return.

An original, new musical "Madison Square Park" will be performed at the Medicine Show Theatre. Created by playwright Michael F. Bruck and composer, Michael DeMaio, this musical instilled with humor and poignancy will feature actor/singers Mario Morales, Cassandra Lambros and Michael James Fry as the characters whose stories unfold in this heartwarming 90 minute musical.

City Parks Foundation's SummerStage is in full swing, with a diverse lineup of programming taking place all across New York City. For the most up-to-date scheduling and lineup for all SummerStage programming, visit www.SummerStage.org for all festival information. 

Joshua Hedley is the subject of the latest “My Opry Debut” episode, which premieres today at Rolling Stone Country. Watch/share HERE. Of the mini-documentary, Rolling Stone Country proclaims, “The vocalist offers a pristine delivery, reinforcing his reputation as one of country's new crop of must-hear live performers.” Chronicling Hedley's preparation and experience debuting at the legendary Grand Ole Opry, the video includes exclusive performance footage of “I Never (Shed A Tear)” plus scenes of Old Crow Medicine Show's Cory Younts surprising Hedley with the Opry invitation during a live interview at WSM Radio. 

Corkscrew Theater Festival presents Desarrollo, written by Juliany Taveras and directed by Manny Rivera. Running July 27-August 5, Desarrollo follows three queer and trans Bronx natives as they grow from exuberant 13-year olds to yearning, unmoored young adults. The creative team and cast consists entirely of queer and trans people of color, bringing the sights and sounds of the Bronx to the stage while wrestling with the disorienting changes that gentrification has brought to the neighborhood.

Grammy®-nominated R&B artist Leon Bridges joins multi-platinum Country singer-songwriter Luke Combs for the latest installment of "CMT Crossroads" premiering Thursday, June 28 at 10 pm ET/PT on CMT.

 Theater Alliance's 16th Season tackles the pressing issues of our American moment - gun violence, the bitter battles around identity politics, and a patriarchal system that simultaneously benefits from and undervalues the contributions of women. These essential conversations will gain further exploration through the company's annual Word Becomes Action Festival and Hothouse Play Development Series.

Emerging rock band Bishop Gunn are adding new tour dates throughout the summer, including select shows with Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as various festival plays and the Outlaw Music Festival Tour supporting Willie Nelson & Family, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, The Head and The Heart and Old Crow Medicine Show. See below for details.

Lincoln Theater is delighted to partner with the Napa Valley Museum to present the Americana Series, a selection of concerts and other activities celebrating America's finest in music and cultural offerings. 'Americana' refers to the history, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States, honoring national pride, patriotism and diversity. This series will feature a variety of live performances and other events, most of which will be free for children and veterans.

60 years as a chart-topping artist and 83 years young, Bobby Bare shows no signs of stopping, playing a double-header on Sunday with performances at both CMA Music Festival and Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. The country legend began the day with his friend Bill Anderson sharing stories and swapping songs on CMA Fest's Close Up Stage. He closed it out 70 miles outside of Nashville as part of the Grand Ole Opry performance at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, recalled in this Tennessean article, where he had the crowd screaming along to “Marie Laveau” and led Del McCoury and Old Crow Medicine Show on “Streets of Baltimore.”

Outdoor retailer L.L.Bean announced its annual Summer in the Park schedule of free outdoor concerts and activities for families to celebrate the summer in Maine. The concert series that brings regional and nationally-known artists to L.L.Bean's Flagship store in Freeport has become a tradition for locals and summer visitors alike for two decades. Activities also include free morning yoga, outdoor movies, and festivals from July 4 to September 1.

CMT today announced that Grammy-nominated R&B artist Leon Bridges is teaming up with global breakthrough Country singer-songwriter Luke Combs for a special outdoor 'CMT Crossroads' event premiering Thursday, June 28 at 10pm ET/PT. The one-hour show will feature chart-topping hits as well as new songs from both critically-acclaimed artists.

From the darkest corner of rural Dorset, England comes The Two Man Travelling Medicine Show. Heartfelt, ramshackle, Country Punk. Formed in 2016 in the tiny village of Witchampton these 8 musicians put the words of local poet James Lynch to music.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announces 18 awards granted from their National Fund for New Musicals, and five awards granted from their Innovation & Exploration Grant program. The National Fund for New Musicals (NFNM) is a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaborations with writers to create, develop and produce new musicals. Now in its tenth year, this year the Fund is providing grants totaling $58,000 to organizations across the country.