Shirley Jones News

Today's subject, John Leslie Wolfe, has been living his theater life to the fullest for many years now. His credits include Broadway, national tours, television, and film. Local theatergoers might remember him from his performances at Signature Theatre in Titanic, The Threepenny Opera, and West Side Story or in 1776 or Ragtime at Ford's Theatre. Currently, John is back at Signature Theatre in rehearsal for the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical Passion directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner. Performances begin on August 14th in Signature's MAX Theatre space. The production runs through September 23rd.

Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with magic and wonder fit for all ages with Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, July 27 - August 5. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran for a staggering 13 years and over 5,000 performances on Broadway. Now, Pittsburgh CLO brings this treasured story to life for a new generation, continuing the organization's commitment to providing young patrons the opportunity to enjoy live musical theater at home in Pittsburgh. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Select half-price tickets for children 3-14 are sponsored by Giant Eagle, offering an affordable option for families to enjoy this timeless tale together.

Disney's Classic Film and subsequent Broadway Musical are not easy to recreate and to do justice to as well, both to the animated film version and the original stage production. Five Star Theatricals has opened this past weekend at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza/Kavli Theatre with a most lavish, charming and authentic version! I had the opportunity to speak with the Choreographer, Cheryl Baxter, of this delightful musical, and learned what it takes to be able to tackle this type of exciting but daunting project. I was not at all surprised to learn that it takes a careers'-worth of experience and dedication to be at this level.

Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with magic and wonder fit for all ages with Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, July 27 - August 5. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran for a staggering 13 years and over 5,000 performances on Broadway. Now, Pittsburgh CLO brings this treasured story to life for a new generation, continuing the organization's commitment to providing young patrons the opportunity to enjoy live musical theater at home in Pittsburgh. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Select half-price tickets for children 3-14 are sponsored by Giant Eagle, offering an affordable option for families to enjoy this timeless tale together.

Governor Mary Fallin today issued a state proclamation celebrating an Oklahoma-inspired musical treasure and its major milestone in music history: the 60th anniversary of the first Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)-certified gold album.

Pittsburgh CLO is proud to bring Lerner and Loewe's BRIGADOON from the Scottish Highlands to the Benedum Center stage July 17 - 22. As part of its ongoing mission to celebrate musical theater, Pittsburgh CLO often revives classics, thus introducing new audiences to the masterpieces of Broadway's golden age.

'There is something so simple, so wholesome about the story and the characters. When Curly made his entrance on opening night at the St. James Theatre in 1943 and sang 'Oh, what a beautiful morning,' the whole audience took a huge sigh of relief. There in the midst of war was a breath of optimism and that beautiful music.' And, indeed, when the speaker, actor Stephen Mark Lukas makes the same entrance seventy-five years later on the stage of the Ogunquit Playhouse in the company's new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic Oklahoma, the entire audience reacts in exactly same way. With a smile as expansive as the territory and a voice as luminous as the bright morning about which he sings, Lukas establishes immediate affection and rapport for the character of Curly, as does his co-star, the lovely, radiant Taylor Quick.

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) is thrilled to announce that Broadway's original "Belle" SUSAN EGAN, will reprise her iconic performance once again (for one last time!) in its final show of its 2017-2018 season, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

A brand-new dance narrative Alexa is coming alive at Inwood Art Works' Culture Hub on Friday, June 29th at 9pm, at 440 W. 202nd Street in Northern Manhattan. Alexa , a site-specific show based on the Amazon device, closes out the month-long programming at Culture Hub, a pop-up community arts center that is part of a vacant space activation program by Inwood Art Works. The Culture Hub is 'Inwood's Creative Space' for the entire month of June, with the hope to eventually create a permanent space for arts and culture in the Inwood community.

GFour Productions, winner of 44 Tony Awards and 54 Drama Desk Awards, proudly brings the international hit show Menopause The Musical® to Long Wharf Theatre (222 Sargent Drive) in New Haven, Conn., for a limited engagement Friday, June 15 through Sunday, July 1. Tickets are on sale now and available at the Long Wharf Theatre Box Office, www.longwharf.org, or by calling (203) 787-4282. Greater discounts for groups of 10+ available by calling (203) 772-8202.

June is busting all over, y en menos de dos meses podremos disfrutar en Barcelonade la version concierto de CAROUSEL, que se representara en el Festival Grec los dias 28 y29 de juliodirigida por Daniel Anglescon direccion musical de Xavier Torrasy coreografia de Óscar Reyes.

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) Board of Directors announced today that Patrick Cassidy will assume the responsibilities of Artistic Director for the critically acclaimed, award-winning organization effective immediately. Will North has resigned his position as managing director to pursue other creative opportunities. Comments 5-Star Theatricals Board Chair Bart Leininger, "On behalf of the Board of Directors, we are so excited to welcome Patrick Cassidy in his new role as Artistic Director after serving on our Executive Advisory Board for many years. Patrick brings a wealth of Broadway talent and experience to Thousand Oaks' own resident theater company. We would also like to thank Will for his many contributions to 5-Star Theatricals and we all wish him nothing but the best in his future creative endeavors."

GFour Productions, winner of 44 Tony Awards and 54 Drama Desk Awards, proudly brings the international hit show Menopause The Musical to Long Wharf Theatre (222 Sargent Drive) in New Haven, Conn., for a limited engagement Friday, June 15 through Sunday, July 1. Tickets are on sale now and available at the Long Wharf Theatre Box Office, www.longwharf.org, or by calling (203) 787-4282. Greater discounts for groups of 10+ available by calling (203) 772-8202.

After two successful engagements in NYC, Sarah Boone will light up the stage at Upstairs at Vitello's Supper Club on May 16 with the West Coast Premiere of her new show paying homage to the fair-haired leading ladies of classic film musicals. Sarah Boone and Her Hollywood Blondes is an evening of musical treasures first introduced by Jane Powell, Judy Holliday, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Jones, Debbie Reynolds, Betty Grable, Alice Faye, Betty Hutton and Doris Day

I'll be honest. I was not a huge fan of the musical Oklahoma! In my opinion, it's one of those creaky old chestnuts that gets done to death by every theater company at some point or another, right up there with other overdone 'classics' like The Music Man, My Fair Lady, or Oliver! I appreciate the historic value of these oldies, but I feel like newer and lesser-known fare gets shoved aside.

Lou Volpe, the retired theatre education pioneer was recently inducted into the prestigious Bucks County Playhouse Hall of Fame, following such honorees as Angela Lansbury, Oscar Hammerstein and Shirley Jones. A formal ceremony was held on April 14 at the historic playhouse. Volpe, whose career is the inspiration behind "Rise," the new TV series on NBC, was heralded for his life's work as a high school drama teacher at Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown, PA. During his tenure there, he transformed this Bucks County community with the magic of theater.

After two successful engagements in NYC, Sarah Boone will light up the stage at Upstairs at Vitello's Supper Club on May 16 with the West Coast Premiere of her new show paying homage to the fair-haired leading ladies of classic film musicals. Sarah Boone and Her Hollywood Blondes is an evening of musical treasures first introduced by Jane Powell, Judy Holliday, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Jones, Debbie Reynolds, Betty Grable, Alice Faye, Betty Hutton and Doris Day

Lou Volpe, the retired theatre education pioneer, is being given the prestigious Bucks County Playhouse Hall of Fame Award, following such honorees as Angela Lansbury, Oscar Hammerstein and Shirley Jones.

The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts is welcoming exciting talent for a variety of April events.

Celebrating 75 years on the stage! Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on March 31st, 1943, forever changing what we thought musical theatre could be.