Reza Jacobs News

?The 50th Anniversary Season at Young People's Theatre (YPT) reaches a crescendo with The Wizard of Oz, one of the most beloved musicals of the twentieth century. Filled with all the magic and wonder of L. Frank Baum's masterpiece, YPT will offer a refreshing new take on the classic musical, including a number that was cut from the original movie.  The Wizard of Oz will be presented on the Mainstage from April 4 to May 15.

Acting Up Stage Company is thrilled to announce the lineup and dates for their annual smash concert, UNCOVERED, which re-examines the songbook of a legendary singer/songwriter through a storytelling lens by Canada's finest musical theatre artists.

Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of Waiting Room, written by the talented and multi-faceted Diane Flacks, and directed by the equally talented, multi-faceted Richard Greenblatt, teaming up for a second time as writer and director for Tarragon. This powerful new drama about diagnosis, prognosis and uncertainty opens tomorrow, January 14, 2015 and runs to February 15 (previews from January 6) in Tarragon's Mainspace. Six outstanding actors - Ari Cohen, Michelle Monteith, Jordan Pettle, Warona Setshwaelo, Jane Spidell, Jenny Young - are featured in this penetrating work. Scroll down for a first look at the show!

The Toronto premiere of KINKY BOOTS has found its Charlie Price. Multiple entertainment industry professionals have been tweeting the last few days congratulating Graham Scott Fleming on being cast as the coveted role in the Tony Award-winning musical.

In just over two weeks since she wowed crowds at Soulpepper's Global Cabaret, the great Jackie Richardson joins some of Canada's finest musical theatre talent to celebrate the ;music of Billy Joel and Elton John. Following last year's sold-out Sting concert, 'Uncovered: Billy Joel & Elton John,' this is Acting Up Stage Company's eighth annual concert dedicated to the musical catalogue of a pop star. And for the first time this year, the company has added a second concert to meet demand. The concert will take place Wednesday and Thursday Nov. 12th and 13th at Toronto's Koerner Hall in the Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, aka the Royal Conservatory of Music. Show time is 8 p.m.

The 35th Anniversary Dora Mavor Moore Awards for the 2013/2014 season were handed out in a star-studded ceremony in Toronto on the evening of Monday, June 23 at Harbourfront Centre's WestJet Stage, hosted by the hilarious Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus, Second City alumni and founding members of the National Theatre of the World.

It was an incredible night for Toronto theatre when our community joined together to celebrate another year of performing arts in Toronto on June 23rd at the WestJet Stage at the Harbourfront Centre. For the 2013-2014 season, 143 producing companies (up 41 from last season's 102) registered eligible productions. A total of 48 Dora Awards, plus the Silver Ticket Award and the Audience Choice Award, were given out in a glittering ceremony hosted by Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus, founding Co-Artistic Directors of the three-time Canadian Comedy Award-winning The National Theatre of the World.

Centaur Theatre proudly presents the critically acclaimed 2 Pianos 4 Hands, winner of a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production and a Chalmers Award for Playwriting.

Centaur Theatre proudly presents the critically acclaimed 2 Pianos 4 Hands, winner of a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production and a Chalmers Award for Playwriting.

Theatre Passe Muraille (TPM) will present Same Same But Different by Anita Majumdar. Co-produced by TPM and the Alberta Theatre Projects in association with Nightswimming, the production highlights prejudices that are sometimes hidden under the colourful facade of Bollywood films. Combining the glamour of Bollywood music, dance and glitter, Same Same But Different is directed by Nightswimming Artistic Director Brian Quirt, starring Majumdar, Nicco Lorenzo Garcia and the voice of Reza Jacobs, on stage at the TPM Mainspace (16 Ryerson Ave.) from Feb. 15 to Mar. 8, 2014.

Canadian Stage brings England's London Road to Toronto with North American premiere of 5-star musical documentary Written by Alecky Blythe and Tony Award-winning composer Adam Cork; directed by Jackie Maxwell at the Bluma Appel Theatre January 19 to February 9, 2014 Toronto, ON - Canadian Stage presents the North American premiere of London Road, the captivating 5-star hit from the UK created by playwright Alecky Blythe and set to music Tony Award-winning composer Adam Cork. Part musical, part documentary, the new Canadian production is directed by the Shaw Festival's artistic director Jackie Maxwell with music direction by Reza Jacobs. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast (Sean Arbuckle, Damien Atkins, Ben Carlson, Michelle Fisk, Deborah Hay, George Masswohl, Julain Molnar, Glynis Ranney, Fiona Reid, Steve Ross and Shawn Wright) London Road transforms the stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre (27 Front St. E) from January 19 to February 9, 2014.

Acting Up Stage, one of Toronto's top musical theatre companies, kicks off their 10th anniversary season November 18 with its annual smash tribute concert, UnCovered: Sting and The Police. 10 of Canada's top Musical Theatre vocalists will perform 19 of Sting's hit songs, featuring new arrangements by Music Director Reza Jacobs. BWW's own Jeff Madden is thrilled to be a featured vocalist at this concert, and to give an inside look into how this show gets brought to life, through the eyes of a performer.

UnCovered: Sting and The Police will play Toronto's Koerner Hall this Monday, November 18, 2013. This tribute concert, which features such notable vocalists as Jackie Richardson, Thom Allison and others (including myself), has become known as a 'don't miss' event for lovers of music and/or theatre. A small number of tickets remain; please call 416-408-0208 to order or visit www.actingupstage.com

Evangeline is a brand new Canadian musical with book, lyrics and music by Ted Dykstra. It opens today at the Charlottetown Festival and features Adam Brazier and Chilina Kennedy in a famous story based on Longfellow's poem EVANGELINE. BWW is thrilled to take its readers on a behind the scenes journey at the birth of this show.

Three world premieres, seven productions in all, are scheduled for the 10th season at the Douglas. The works range from a new rock musical to a sweeping new drama to a masterful interpretation of the works of Beckett, plus the bonus option of The Second City's one-of-a-kind Christmas show. In addition, three Los Angeles solo artists will be presented in the popular DouglasPlus program, and will represent CTG in the Radar L.A. festival.

Falsettos is a Tony Award winning musical which explores complicated issues surrounding family and love amidst the backdrop of the emergence of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York City. It is the latest offering in Acting Up Stage's exciting season, and opens tonight at Daniel's Spectrum (formerly the Regent Park Arts Centre). BWW sat down and spoke with the three ladies of the production, Sara-Jeanne Hosie, Glynis Ranney and Sarah Gibbons about what the experience has been like so far, and about how relevant they feel the material is today:

Canadian Stage today announced additional details about the 2013.2014 theatre season, including casting for London Road, the musical documentary directed by Jackie Maxwell with musical direction by Reza Jacobs, on stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre from January 19 to February 9, 2014. The 5-star hit from London, England will have its Canadian premiere with an all-star cast of some of the country's most talented performers: Sean Arbuckle, Damien Atkins, Ben Carlson, Michelle Fisk, Deborah Hay, George Masswohl, Julain Molnar, Glynnis Ranney, Fiona Reid and Shawn Wright.

Blue Balloon Productions is proud to present a production workshop presentation of R-E-B-E-C-C-A, written and performed by Sara Farb. This unique solo piece is based on her sister who was born seven weeks prematurely in the month of May, and was diagnosed as mentally retarded at a very young age. The story centres on this real-life Rebecca, as well as on an alternate Rebecca - the one that might have been, had she been born in July - as they celebrate their respective 18th birthdays. These two Rebeccas, although universes apart, ultimately manage to find a connection and unite in a strange and powerful way.

At BroadwayWorld we pride ourselves in showcasing theater content from all corners of the globe. Our regional contributors do an amazing job each day of bringing you the latest theater news in their cities and countries. Sit back and catch up on this week's regional reviews, features, interviews and more!

This past Monday, stars of Toronto's theatre scene joined together for a fundraiser in support of Acting Up Stage, a 'modern musical theatre' company in Toronto. Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus once again teamed with Musical Director Reza Jacobs to create an evening filled with unique songs by popular composers. Tapestries featured the music of Carole King and James Taylor and included stars such as Cynthia Dale, Jake Epstein, Josh Young and more. BWW is thrilled to bring its readers photos from the special evening.