Patti Perkins News

Theatre Now New York has announced it is accepting online submissions for SOUND BITES 4.0, a 10-minute musical theatre festival and benefit, now through Saturday, October 1, 2016. The festival offers composers, lyricists, and librettists the opportunity to showcase their work in front of theatre-goers and industry professionals.

Last night, January 18th, 2016, Theatre Now New York presented its 3nd Annual festival of new musicals, Sound Bites 3.0 (sponsored by Music Theatre International and Disney Theatrical Productions) to a sold-out house at the 47th Street Theatre. An after-party, sponsored by MTI, was held after at Hurley's Saloon where awards were given. Sound Bites showcases ten 10-minute musicals or musical excerpts in one evening. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Music Theatre Wichita's 44th Season includes Elton John and Tim Rice's 'Aida,' the professional premiere of Disney's 'My Son Pinocchio,' the area debuts of 'Billy Elliot - The Musical' and 'Big Fish,' and the return of 'Hello, Dolly!' after a 21-year absence.

Casting is announced today for Music Theatre Wichita's 44th Season, which includes Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida," the professional premiere of Disney's "My Son Pinocchio," the area debuts of "Billy Elliot - The Musical" and "Big Fish," and the return of "Hello, Dolly!" after a 21 year absence.

Casting is announced today for Music Theatre Wichita's 44th Season, which includes Elton John and Tim Rice's 'Aida,' the professional premiere of Disney's 'My Son Pinocchio,' the area debuts of 'Billy Elliot - The Musical' and 'Big Fish,' and the return of 'Hello, Dolly!' after a 21-year absence.

Another St. Louis tradition continues this summer with the start of the MUNY's 96th season. The opening show is BILLY ELLIOT the Musical, and there are some absolutely electric moments to be found here. Adapted from the excellent film of the same name, the story follows a young boy who would rather dance in the ballet than take boxing lessons, drawing the ire of a strict father who's coping with the loss of his wife, and the possible loss of his livelihood due to the current politics of the time. The story is set in the early 1980's during the time that union-busting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was in power, and personally orchestrating the swift decline of a once thriving British coal industry. Despite this rather dire backdrop, this is an inspirational show that's well worth seeing under the stars in Forest Park.

The Muny is currently presenting the first show of its spectacular 96th season, Billy Elliot the Musical, directed by Steven Minning, choreographed by Alison Levenberg, with music direction by Colin Welford. Starring as Billy Elliot, and making his Muny debut, is 11 year-old Tade Biesinger. Co-starring are Emily Skinner as Mrs. Wilkinson, Daniel Oreskes as Dad, and Patti Perkins as Grandma. Joining them are Ben Nordstrom as Tony, Steve Isom as George,Michael Harp as Michael, and Maria Knasel as Debbie. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

The Muny is currently presenting the first show of its spectacular 96th season, Billy Elliot the Musical, directed by Steven Minning, choreographed by Alison Levenberg, with music direction by Colin Welford. Starring as Billy Elliot, and making his Muny debut, is 11 year-old Tade Biesinger. Co-starring are Emily Skinner as Mrs. Wilkinson, Daniel Oreskes as Dad, and Patti Perkins as Grandma. Joining them are Ben Nordstrom as Tony, Steve Isom as George, Michael Harp as Michael, and Maria Knasel as Debbie. Check out highlights from the production below!

The Muny announced principal casting for the first show of its spectacular 96th season, Billy Elliot the Musical, directed by Steven Minning, choreographed by Alison Levenberg, with music direction by Colin Welford. Billy Elliot the Musical is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.

Voting is now underway for Austin! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Austin! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Austin! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Austin! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Directed by Stephen Daltry, Dickenson (displaying a ribald belt), Perkins (a hoot), Garner and Hebert all give strong performances. Parets dances well with steps performed with precision and technical skill if not all the heart we expect. The same could be said of the special effects: fog and fly rigging are used precisely, but they fail to make our spirits soar the way they did on the Broadway stage. It's also hard to understand several of the kids who are trying very hard to do northern English accents. Entire lines of dialogue are lost.

If you haven't had the chance to catch up on your theater news, look no further than today's recap of all things theater - exclusive features, interviews, reviews and more! - around the Broadway World for the week of April 29!

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is the joyous celebration of one boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising talent that inspires his family and his whole community and changes his life forever. Patti Perkins portrays Billy's Grandma in the touring production.

I first reviewed the national tour of BILLY ELLIOT - THE MUSICAL during its triumphant five-week stop at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre a year ago (which you can read HERE) and found it to be quite an entertaining, well-executed show. Now an entire year has passed and the show has finally returned to Southern California, this time playing at Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts through April 28. Does it still hold up? In a special guest column, Robert Neale offers 'A Second Opinion' Review.

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films Old Vic Productions and NETworks Presentations, LLC bring the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to Segerstrom Center for the Arts from tonight, April 16 - 28, 2013.

"Billy Elliot" features all the elements of theatricality theatregoers love, although friends of the late Margaret Thatcher may wish to stay away. The Elton John musical balances great storytelling with three intense dance numbers performed by an incredibly talented child and some stunning lighting that highlights the highest points of the lofty production.