Stephen Foster News

Due to an overwhelming demand and two weeks of sold-out previews, Berkeley Rep has announced that the world premiere of Paradise Square: A New Musical will extend for an additional week. Originally scheduled to close on February 17, the popular show will now run through Sunday, February 24.

See new photos from Paradise Square: An American Musical. The world premiere is helmed by acclaimed director Moises Kaufman, with choreography by the legendary Bill T. Jones and a book by Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas, and Larry Kirwan. Music by Jason Howland and Larry Kirwan, with lyrics by Nathan Tysen, and based on the songs of Stephen Foster.

In the video below go inside rehearsals for Paradise Square: An American Musical. The world premiere is helmed by acclaimed director Moises Kaufman, with choreography by the legendary Bill T. Jones and a book by Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas, and Larry Kirwan. Music by Jason Howland and Larry Kirwan, with lyrics by Nathan Tysen, and based on the songs of Stephen Foster.

In the video below go inside rehearsals for Paradise Square: An American Musical. The world premiere is helmed by acclaimed director Moises Kaufman, with choreography by the legendary Bill T. Jones and a book by Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas, and Larry Kirwan. Music by Jason Howland and Larry Kirwan, with lyrics by Nathan Tysen, and based on the songs of Stephen Foster.

Pandora Productions continues the 2018-19 season with Peter Parnell's funny and touching look at fidelity and gay parenting in DADA WOOF PAPA HOT. The title refers to the first words of the offstage child of Alan and Rob. 'Dada' for Rob, 'woof' for dog, 'Papa' for Alan and 'hot' for radiator. But as Alan explains, if you put those four words together it's 'what every gay dad wants to hear'... The play will run January 11 - 26 at the company's home at the Henry Clay Theatre and is sponsored by Crosby Law Offices, PSC. (**please see note below regarding change in scheduling.)

KINKY BOOTS will be touring North America beginning December 29, 2018 after returning from an overseas tour in China and Singapore.

The following are acts performing at City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, in December for consideration in your upcoming calendar and cultural listings. All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Tickets can be purchased by calling 312-733-WINE (9463) or by visiting www.citywinery.com/chicago.

KINKY BOOTS will be touring North America beginning December 29, 2018 after returning from an overseas tour in China and Singapore. The tour will launch in Paducah, KY and continue across North America making stops in over 80 cities including Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Winnipeg, MB; Atlantic City, NJ; Boston, MA; Tampa, FL; and New Orleans, LA. For a complete list of tour stops, visit KinkyBootsTheTour.com.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra announced the November 9 release of its latest album, American Originals: 1918, under the direction of Pops Conductor John Morris Russell. The recording is inspired by America's cultural awakening at the end of the First World War one hundred years ago and the distinctly American musical styles that reflect the country's diversity. This album celebrates and reimagines popular songs of this era that remain fresh and relevant today with acclaimed musical collaborators including Rhiannon Giddens, Steep Canyon Rangers and Pokey LaFarge. The 95th Cincinnati Pops album was recorded live at Cincinnati Music Hall November 10- 12, 2017, and is being released on the Orchestra's label, Fanfare Cincinnati.

Kick off the holidays with craziness! Continuing the series by Anthony Wilkinson, Pandora Productions proudly presents MY BIG GAY ITALIAN CHRISTMAS. We've had a Wedding, a Funeral, a Mid-Life Crisis and now the insanity that is the Pinnunziato family comes a holiday installment. Pandora is thrilled to be the first theatre company in the country to present Mr. Wilkinson's work. Pandora will host the playwright during the run of his show in Louisville on Saturday, November 17th with a reception following the performance.

Singing You Home: Children's Songs for Family Reunification - a new bilingual children's album featuring multiple award-winning artists - has debuted at #1 on the Billboard 'Top Children's Current Albums' chart its first week of release. It also charted #2 on Billboard's 'Top Children's Overall Albums' chart, #112 on the 'Top Current Albums' chart and #162 on the 'Top Albums' chart.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the full cast and creative team for Paradise Square: An American Musical. The world premiere is helmed by acclaimed director Moises Kaufman, with choreography by the legendary Bill T. Jones and a book by Marcus Gardley, Craig Lucas, and Larry Kirwan. Music by Jason Howland and Larry Kirwan, with lyrics by Nathan Tysen, and based on the songs of Stephen Foster. Paradise Square is produced by special arrangement with Garth H. Drabinsky in association with Peter LeDonne and Teatro Proscenium Limited Partnership.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, is pleased to announce the recipients of the second and third rounds of the 2018 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards. The awards, totaling $1,114,000 allow 27 productions extra time for the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, hoping to extend the life of the world premiere play after its first run.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra announced the November 9 release of its latest album, American Originals: 1918, under the direction of Pops Conductor John Morris Russell. The recording is inspired by America's cultural awakening at the end of the First World War one hundred years ago and the distinctly American musical styles that reflect the country's diversity. This album celebrates and reimagines popular songs of this era that remain fresh and relevant today with acclaimed musical collaborators including Rhiannon Giddens, Steep Canyon Rangers and Pokey LaFarge. The 95th Cincinnati Pops album was recorded live at Cincinnati Music Hall November 10- 12, 2017, and is being released on the Orchestra's label, Fanfare Cincinnati.

Multiple award-winning artists will join forces to release a new bilingual children's album. Singing You Home - Children's Songs for Family Reunification, to be released through all digital music and streaming providers on Friday, October 26, will feature tracks from Lin-Manuel Miranda & Mandy Gonzalez, Josh Groban & Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald & Jason Robert Brown, Kristin Chenoweth, Cynthia Erivo, Laura Benanti & Isabella Preston and Ingrid Michaelson & Ana Villafañe

Kick off the holidays with craziness! Continuing the series by Anthony Wilkinson, Pandora Productions proudly presents MY BIG GAY ITALIAN CHRISTMAS. We've had a Wedding, a Funeral, a Mid-Life Crisis and now the insanity that is the Pinnunziato family comes a holiday installment. Pandora is thrilled to be the first theatre company in the country to present Mr. Wilkinson's work. Pandora will host the playwright during the run of his show in Louisville on Saturday, November 17th with a reception following the performance.

There's just something about Kristin Chenoweth. It's almost undefinable, perhaps even undescribable, yet as with any writer's efforts to put into words how remarkable the woman behind the image is, I'll give it my best shot, attempting to encapsulate the wonder that is Kristin Chenoweth in 2,000 words or less (but if I go over, don't judge too harshly - I'm simply stating the facts that prove the folly of my initial hypothesis).

There's just something about Kristin Chenoweth. It's almost undefinable, perhaps even undescribable, yet as with any writer's efforts to put into words how remarkable the woman behind the image is, I'll give it my best shot, attempting to encapsulate the wonder that is Kristin Chenoweth in 2,000 words or less (but if I go over, don't judge too harshly - I'm simply stating the facts that prove the folly of my initial hypothesis).

Linda Thompson's career began in the much beloved late '60s/early '70s British folk-rock scene, when she went by the name Linda Peters. At first, she was mostly a session singer and a part of a short-lived duo with Paul McNeill with whom she released two singles, in 1968 and 1969. McNeill happened to be friends with Sandy Denny, and soon so was Linda. She became one of the “supergroup” of musician friends related to Fairport Convention for the 1972 The Bunch album, a side project of sorts that highlighted rock hits of the '50s. The album's single featured Linda and Sandy covering the Everly Brothers' “When Will I Be Loved.” Also in 1972 Linda married Richard Thompson; she and Sandy can be found in the credits for his solo debut, Henry the Human Fly. Beginning in 1974, albums started appearing by Richard & Linda Thompson, winding up with 1982's classic Shoot Out the Lights — which also signaled the end of their marriage.

There's just something about Kristin Chenoweth. It's almost undefinable, perhaps even undescribable, yet as with any writer's efforts to put into words how remarkable the woman behind the image is, I'll give it my best shot, attempting to encapsulate the wonder that is Kristin Chenoweth in 2,000 words or less (but if I go over, don't judge too harshly - I'm simply stating the facts that prove the folly of my initial hypothesis).