Pat McRoberts News

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes Project Y Theatre Company with the world premiere of the anti-musical LOVESICK or THINGS THAT DON'T HAPPEN, written by Lia Romeo, with music and lyrics by Tony Biancosino, musical direction by Jon Spurney, and conceived and directed by Michole Biancosino.

There have been several musical plays based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. The first and biggest hit was Lionel Bart's Oliver, which went on to a major film in 1968 and a multitude of Oscars. There has been a gay version as well, also titled Twist, that was nominated for Critics' prizes in New York, and now there's the interracially cast adaptation Twist in its West Coast premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse. From top to bottom the show is slick and a triumph for director/choreographer Debbie Allen. The cast is fine-tuned, and much of the music quite memorably singable. Its only flaw, for purists like me, is in the book, which does not include the charming Fagin, whose deliciously mischievous manipulation of everybody in Oliver Twist is a major highlight.

Reworking a classic story is not a new concept in the theatre world. Just ask the creators of Wicked or West Side Story. Taking something that audiences are already familiar with and turning it on its ear can be quite a task and is not without its challenges. First, there are the constant comparisons to the source material (or previous adaptations). Next, there is the daunting task to "reinvent" the plot and bring audiences on a fresh and new journey. But with the Alliance Theatre's premiere of Twist - an American Musical (a modern, American take on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist) they beat the odds and have created a magical tapestry of music, story and life that, even with a classic tale at its heart, feels like a something completely new.

Pat McRoberts gave a show stopping performance as Buddy Holly in BUDDY here at WBT. Our audiences jumped to their feet for this dynamic performer! Pat replaces Jonathan Rayson effective Friday, August 21st.

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story, plays Westchester Broadway Theatre through April 19, and tells the story of the three years in which he became the world's top recording artist. The show features over twenty of Buddy Holly's greatest hits.

Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story , to play Westchester Broadway Theatre February 14 through April 19, tells the story of the three years in which he became the world's top recording artist.

Ring of Fire stars Jarrod Emick, Beth Malone and others performed in an open press rehearsal for the Johnny Cash musical, which will open on Broadway on March 12th

The Johnny Cash musical Ring of Fire will open on Broadway on March 12th, 2006, after beginning previews on February 8th

The Johnny Cash musical Ring of Fire will open at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in February, 2006, after playing engagements in Buffalo and San Francisco

Tony Award-winner Jarrod Emick and Cass Morgan have been cast in Ring of Fire, the Johnny Cash musical that will begin a test run in Buffalo on September 2nd before moving to San Francisco and to Broadway in early 2006