Parker Esse News

SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE-THE SONGS OF LEIBER AND STOLLER opened on Thursday, May 8 at Arena Stage and runs through June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage. Scroll down to watch highlights from the show!

It offers a fun time and one can't ask for much more than that.

Opening night for SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE-THE SONGS OF LEIBER AND STOLLER was last night (Thursday, May 8) at Arena Stage. Check out the full produciton photos below! The show runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Opening night for SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE-THE SONGS OF LEIBER AND STOLLER was last night (Thursday, May 8) at Arena Stage. Check out the photos below! The show runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Rick Fox will be taking over the role of musical director in Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's production of Smokey Joe's Cafe--The Songs of Leiber and Stoller from Victor Simonson, who will be departing the show for personal reasons.

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The show runs tonight, April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

A 'crazy talented cast' brings the Leiber and Stoller songbook to life once again when Arena Stage presents SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE April 25 through June 8 in the Fichlander Stage. Director Randy Johnson and choreographer Parker Esse talked with BroadwayWorld's Jeffrey Walker about their vision for the show.

Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller comes to Arena Stage April 25 to June 8, 2014. Part 1 of our interview with director Randy Johnson and choreographer Parker Esse looks at the legacy of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's collaboration and impact on the rock and roll era.

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The show runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Don't miss your chance to get the best seats at the greatest values for each of the three terrific musicals during the upcoming 2014 season at the Goodspeed Opera House. Unprecedented demand is expected when tickets go on sale for the new season so audience members are encouraged to call right away. The Box Office will open at 10 a.m. this Sunday offering great deals on three fantastic musicals that are sure to delight theatre-goers: the home-run hit Damn Yankees - The Red Sox Version; the vibrant Fiddler on the Roof; and the World Premiere production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn. Be among the first to purchase tickets for all three shows at Goodspeed Musicals - the first regional theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards.

As always, Connecticut's professional theaters offerered a bountiful selection of excellent theater in 2013. It's hard to pick just a few, but here are some of the year's standouts from the theaters I cover for BroadwayWorld.com:

Bernadette Peters, Norm Lewis, Jeremy Jordan and Cyrille Aimee just concluded their run in Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis's new musical event featuring Sondheim's music arranged and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra withWynton Marsalis. This Encores! Special Event, directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator John Doyle, with choreography by Parker Esse and musical supervision by David Loud, was conceived by Peter Gethers, Jack Vierteland John Doyle. BroadwayWorld was there for last night's closing night cast party and you can check out photo coverage below!

Bernadette Peters, Norm Lewis, Jeremy Jordan and Cyrille Aimee star in Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis's new musical event featuring Sondheim's music arranged and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. This Encores! Special Event, directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator John Doyle, with choreography by Parker Esse and musical supervision by David Loud, was conceived by Peter Gethers, Jack Vierteland John Doyle, and will run for seven performances, now through November 17 at City Center. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night curtain call below!

Winton Marsalis adds jazz arrangements and John Doyle whips up a narrative for an evening that vividly showcases the great dramatist's songs at fresh angles.

Bernadette Peters, Norm Lewis, Jeremy Jordan and Cyrille Aimee star in Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis's new musical event featuring Sondheim's music arranged and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra withWynton Marsalis. This Encores! Special Event, directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator John Doyle, with choreography by Parker Esse and musical supervision by David Loud, was conceived by Peter Gethers, Jack Vierteland John Doyle, and opened last night, November 13 at City Center. Let's see what the critics had to say...