A Life in the Theatre 1977 - Articles Page 24

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

The only negative thing I'll say about Fela!, the Off-Broadway docu-musical inspired by the life of Nigerian political activist and musical revolutionary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, is that it never engaged this martini-swilling Manhattanite who entered the theatre unschooled in the culture and politics of the protagonist's homeland. The professionalism, exuberance and entertainment value of the piece is undeniable and I imagine many of my dear readers would have a terrific time visiting 37 Arts these days. But unless you're going in with a full knowledge of and an emotional attachment to its controversial subject, you may find, save for a well done moment late in the game, there is little dramatic pull to the proceedings to sustain interest for its two and a half hours. An audience full of fans of this internationally known artist who died in 1997 might understandably be thrilled by Fela! but while its potent message of the power of music to combat oppression is certainly universal, it took a review of the text's stage directions and a bit of Googling for this neophyte to get a fuller picture of the life and culture on display.

Goodman Artistic Director Robert Falls, acclaimed Canadian director Jennifer Tarver and celebrated star Brian Dennehy team up again for a Broadway-bound double bill, Hughie/Krapp's Last Tape; January 16- February 21, 2010 in the Goodman's Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 – $83 and go on sale Friday, November 13 at GoodmanTheatre.org.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

A LIFE IN THE THEATRE starring Tony Award nominee André De Shields will open at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta on October 28th. David Mamet's dark comedy will run through November 15th. The cast also features Ariel Shafir.

Tony® Award-winner Liev Schreiber and Golden Globe nominee Scarlett Johansson, in her Broadway debut, will star in Arthur Miller's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE directed by Gregory Mosher on Broadway at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street). Performances begin Monday, December 28, 2009 and the official opening is Sunday, January 24, 2010. The limited engagement will run for 14 weeks only.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

A LIFE IN THE THEATRE starring Tony Award nominee André De Shields will open at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta on October 28th. David Mamet's dark comedy will run through November 15th. The cast also features Ariel Shafir.

In the raw, urgent, riotous 'American Buffalo', three small-time crooks plot to steal a priceless coin collection. Strategizing from the confines of a pathetic Chicago junk shop, the would-be masterminds each try to control the logistics of their ill-fated scheme.

Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce Tony Award winners Roger Bart and Shuler Hensley will reprise the roles of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and The Monster in the first national tour of The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein. The Chicago engagement will play the Cadillac Palace Theatre for a limited six week engagement November 3 - December 13, 2009.

In the raw, urgent, riotous 'American Buffalo', three small-time crooks plot to steal a priceless coin collection. Strategizing from the confines of a pathetic Chicago junk shop, the would-be masterminds each try to control the logistics of their ill-fated scheme. But along the way they make virtually every mistake imaginable and their outlandishly bad planning, stupidity and ego ultimately make for just about the most poorly concocted heist of all time.

In the raw, urgent, riotous 'American Buffalo', three small-time crooks plot to steal a priceless coin collection. Strategizing from the confines of a pathetic Chicago junk shop, the would-be masterminds each try to control the logistics of their ill-fated scheme.

There are two things you should know about me: I am a musical theatre lover, and I love to schmooze with actors and composers. I am very fortunate to live in the DC area where our theatre community is growing by leaps and bounds. There are so many productions opening in September in DC, Maryland and Virginia theatres, my head is spinning trying to figure out which ones I will see.

In the raw, urgent, riotous 'American Buffalo', three small-time crooks plot to steal a priceless coin collection. Strategizing from the confines of a pathetic Chicago junk shop, the would-be masterminds each try to control the logistics of their ill-fated scheme.

Old Globe Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Sammy, a new musical based on the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, and additional songs by Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Directed by Keith Glover with choreography by Keith Young and music supervision by Ian Fraser, Sammy will run in the Old Globe Theatre Sept. 19 - Nov. 8. Previews run from Sept. 19 - Oct. 1. Opening night is Oct. 2 at 8:00 p.m.

Broadway In Chicago is excited to announce Tony Award winners Roger Bart and Shuler Hensley will reprise the roles of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and The Monster in the first national tour of The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein. The Chicago engagement will play the Cadillac Palace Theatre for a limited six week engagement November 3 - December 13, 2009.

American Stage Theatre Company success at the box office continues, as it's recently closed production of TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE broke all attendance records for a single production in the theatre's 30 year history.

The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s Classical Theater Ensemble, hits a milestone in company history: For the first time since the inception of the company in 1994, The Antaeus Company is proud to announce their first full season of classic plays!

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announces the final show of its 2008-09 season: Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo, staged by acclaimed director Rebecca Bayla Taichman (world premieres of Theresa Rebeck's The Scene and Mauritius and Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone). This new spellbinder by the master playwright who also penned Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and A.C.T.'s The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, is a meticulously calibrated and dangerously brutal look at relationships intimate and unexpected. The story opens with Peter, a tweedy book editor, and his wife, Ann, whose everyday conversation takes an unexpected turn into dangerously personal territory. It's the kind of conversation that can drive a husband out for a walk-to Central Park, where Jerry, a desperate outcast, awaits. An unforgettable pairing of Albee's original The Zoo Story with a freshly penned prequel, At Home at the Zoo (formerly titled Peter and Jerry) bares its teeth to threaten the delicately balanced world its characters inhabit. Artistic Director Carey Perloff has put together an all-star artistic team on this production, featuring Tony Award-nominated actor Manoel Felciano (Ragtime at The Kennedy Center, A.C.T.'s Rock 'n' Roll, and Sweeney Todd on Broadway) as Jerry and scenic designer Robert Brill, who received a Tony Award nomination last week for his work on Guys and Dolls on Broadway. Hailed by critics as 'a thoroughly satisfying package of jagged-edged provocation' (Newsday) and 'an essential and heartening experience' (The New York Times), Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo plays at A.C.T. June 5-July 5, 2009. Opening night is Wednesday, June 10, 2009, at 8 p.m. Tickets-starting at $14-are available by calling A.C.T. Ticket Services at 415.749.2228, or at www.act-sf.org.

The Thorn Birds - which began life as Colleen McCullough's multi-million copy best selling 1977 novel and went on to become one of the most successful TV mini-series of the 1980s - deals with the clash between passionate love and faithful duty to God. Anyone who finds the courage to go to see the new musical version by Ms. McCullough and German classical composer Gloria Bruni, currently in the early stages of its world premiere tour at the Swansea Grand Theatre, may well wonder that if God exists why would he allow such mindless nonsense to be presented to them.

Miracles, wild women, beautiful music and lots of laughs will entertain and enlighten audiences during the upcoming 2009 season at Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, New York. The nonprofit professional theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Joe Brancato and Executive Director Andrew M. Horn, today announced the four plays selected for the theatre's 32nd season as well as a freeze on prices.

Pan Asian Rep Artistic Director Tisa Chang interviewed about upcoming season highlights and history of the theatre.