People Like Us 2005 - Articles Page 12

Visit our list of the best musicals & shows you can watch from home! We've got you covered with all the must-sees on streaming sites including Tony-award winners, favorite stars and top performances.

Sherry Glaser is bringing her one-woman a?oeOh My Goddess!  A Comedy of Biblical Proportionsa?? to The Marsh Berkeley for a 6-week run. To say she has had an unorthodox career would be an understatement. After spending her formative years in the early 80's San Diego improv scene alongside other young upstarts like Whoopi Goldberg and Kathy Najimy, she shot to prominence with a?oeFamily Secretsa?? which remains the longest-running female solo show in Off-Broadway history. Shortly thereafter, tragedy struck with the disappearance of her husband and creative partner. Stunned by that turn of events, Glaser focused on raising her two daughters while also developing new works and playing smaller venues close to her northern California home. She is now back, feisty and funny and political as ever.

There are certainly plenty of movie-to-stage adaptations that have appeared (and continue to pop up) on Broadway, but few can boast being one of the most jubilant and unabashedly open-minded as the gloriously glam 2012 hit KINKY BOOTS, the Tony Award-winning stage musical adaptation of Geoff Deane and Tim Firth's 2005 independent cult film inspired by actual true events. The critical and audience favorite---which features memorable music from Grammy-winning pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a book by Tony winner Harvey Fierstein---enjoyed a healthy run on Broadway and in several national tours that followed, spreading its genuinely heartwarming yet cheekily-delivered message of acceptance and empathy. Now back in Southern California for its flashy, beautifully remounted West Coast regional premiere for 3-D Theatricals, KINKY BOOTS---now continuing performances through March 1, 2020 at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts---is just as fun and fabulous as ever.

One of the most interesting cabaret performers in town, Joanne Halev debuted her first club act in 2018 to great response, and part of it is because she is SO interesting a?? and so is her former career. Stephen Mosher talks with Joanne about transitioning from perfume to performing.

Authentic Community Theatre in Hagerstown, MD plans on bringing in the New Year with a bang. Authentic Community Theatre (ACT) first announced August 1st, 2019 via a Facebook video that Wilson Jermaine Heredia (best known for being in the Original Broadway Cast of RENT and the 2005 film adaptation) would be joining their cast of West Side Story. The Tony Award winner came to ACT December 1, 2018 to teach a master class in conjunction with their production of RENT which took place in March 2019 at the historic Maryland Theatre to over 1500 people in just 2 nights.

Roald Dahl wrote books for the children of his time and it is a wonder that many of his creations have remained as popular and well-loved as they have decades after his death. Although James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Witches, and The Twits can all trace thematic influence back to Dahl's involvement in World War II, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory seems to be the most heavily-informed by an unquestioning devotion to western industrialization and hope for the germinating seeds of our present-day capitalism. The 1971 movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is indicative of its time not only in its psychedelic colors and film effects but in its Vietnam-Conflict-era praise of Americanized consumerism. While Tim Burton's 2005 film adaptation reclaimed the title of the 1964 book and attempted to be a more faithful translation, its darkness and sterile settings have not garnered the cultural embrace of its predecessor, mainly because (I believe) of the public's common, shifting relationship with and disdain for industrialization and capitalism.

“I think early on as a band, we were trying to be one thing - a punk and ska band,” says Glenn Stewart, drummer for Clearwater, FL's punk band VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCE (VOC). “When it came time to write the fifth album, we didn't want to do that. There wasn't any specific direction.  In the end, we all feel like we've achieved a bigger, more mature sound that still has that great VOC flavor.”

Eva Marie Saint will receive the Life Achievement Award at the 20th Annual Ojai Film Festival on Sunday, November 3.

Actor-singer-dancer-choreographer Adam Fleming became a part of Broadway history originating the roles of Sketch in Hairspray and Lucas in Bare. In 2005, he starred in David Brind and Adam Salky's acclaimed short film, Dare, about two teenage boys' tense, spark-filled encounter in a pool following high school play practice. Dare gained a cult following as part of Strand Releasing's 'Boys Life' series and ultimately achieved worldwide popularity via more than 12 Million views on Youtube. The fan fervor (and fan fiction!) eventually inspired a sequel, ten years later. The original and the sequel are now being presented together as The Dare Project and attracting new legions of fans.

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot will present 'Romeo and Juliet,' directed by Lukas Raphael, September 21, 2019 at 4:00pm as part of the 2019 Michael Chekhov Festival in Ridgefield. This is the 11th year of the festival and the fourth year New York's The Drilling Company has joined with The Michael Chekhov Theatre Festival to bring FREE Shakespeare to Ballard Park. The Drilling Company's Shakespeare production, a popular New York summer institution, is now in its 15th year. Its concept a?' presenting Shakespeare plays with a 'poor theater' aesthetic in a working parking lot a?' is now widely imitated around the US and around the world, with productions as far away as New Zealand. The Drilling Company, led by Artistic Director Hamilton Clancy, has produced the attraction since 2005.

Unfurling like an Irish folk tale, Michael Keegan-Dolan's Swan Lake tells a magical story of transgression, reconciliation, and the tyranny of the modern-day church and state. Garnering critical acclaim in London, Toronto, Dublin, Sydney, Hong Kong, Seoul, Moscow, Cologne, and Stuttgart, Swan Lake comes to BAM in its US premiere. The BAM engagement launches a North American tour which includes Minneapolis, Ottawa, Los Angeles, Michigan, and North Carolina.

With laughter through tears, the Barn Theatre shares how the bonds of female friendship can help us wade through life's hardest times in STEEL MAGNOLIAS playing July 30 a?" August 11.

The French Institute Alliance Fran aise (FIAF), New York's premier French cultural and language center, today announced the 2019 Crossing the Line Festival, featuring 11 performances and a gallery exhibition from a geographically, generationally, and artistically diverse group of artists whose work transcends genres and boundaries. All performances are world, US, or New York premieres; they are united by their convention-breaking fearlessness as they confront topics from social injustice to personal demons. Many of the performances pay homage to legendary artists of our time and previous eras, while the theme of migration and its transformational effects on identity informs several others. The festival runs from September 12 to October 12. Ticket are available at crossingtheline.org.

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot will present 'Romeo and Juliet,' directed by Lukas Raphael, July 11 to 27 at La Plaza @ The Clemente Parking Lot, 114 Norfolk Street.  This popular New York summer institution is now in its 25th year. Its concept--presenting Shakespeare plays with a 'poor theater' aesthetic in a working parking lot--is now widely imitated around the US and around the world, with productions as far away as New Zealand.  The Drilling Company, led by Artistic Director Hamilton Clancy, has produced the attraction since 2005.

As part of the varied and top-notch Dance Series that Curator Jamie Nichols gifts us with every year, Presented by The Brand Associates in conjunction with The Brand Library and Art Center; the Dance Company GRAYSCALE performed outside on the lush grounds of the Glendale Brand Library and Art Center this past Saturday, May 11th, 2019 in 'Give Yourself Credit For Having More than Personality.' And since the series comprises of site-specific pieces it was performed exteriorly, on the outer stairs, landings and surrounding grounds of the magnificent Brand Library. GRAYSCALE, was Founded by Jessica Kondrath in 2005 in NYC, and relocated to Los Angeles in 2009. Collaborating and Accompanying Jessica and the dancers was Kevin Litrow's LITRONIX, a self-contained sound machine; performing his Brian Eno-influenced floating and drumbeat-driven compositions.

Tom Brennan explains that what you want, what you really, really want, is a comedy set in a school in May 1997.

Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot, Merlin-these names spark the imagination and bring to mind images of knights, swords, castles, and magic. The tales of King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, and the legendary Camelot are the subject of myriad novels, movies, TV shows, songs, plays, and musicals. From the 1938 tale The Sword the Stone (which was made into the animated film by Disney in 1963) to the 2008 TV series Merlin to the 2005 Broadway show Monty Python's Spamalot (based on the 1975 movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail), for generations these stories have taken us on magical adventures. The 1960 musical Camelot, by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe is based on the T.H. White novel The Once and Future King. Camelot comes to life at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre May 9-June 22. Check out our interview with Matthew Blake Johnson, who can be seen on stage at Dutch Apple as Mordred in Camelot.

When it comes to developing a loyal fan base, Troubadour Theater Company has found the secret: do outstanding work, stay true to your aesthetic, and give the people what they want - a great time at the theater. Artistic Director Matt Walker started the troupe and, with the help of longtime friend and foil, Beth Kennedy, continues to lead his merry band into the great theatrical unknown. Next up for the company is JULIUS WEEZER, which combines Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR and the music of Weezer to tell its tale of political intrigue Troubie style. Today, they talk about what it's like putting together a new show and why they keep on coming back for more.

Atticus Finch might be the voice we remember from To Kill a Mockingbird- the classic story that Aaron Sorkin brought to Broadway this season- but Adam Guettel is the man who made Mockingbird sing. The Broadway composer traded musical theatre for drama this season as he created the score for the critically-praised hit. Below, Guettel tells us all about how he found the sound of the play, and shares an exclusive clip from the To Kill a Mockingbird score.

JERSEY BOYS has been a Broadway favorite since the jukebox musical premiered in 2005. It can still be seen Off-Broadway at New World Stages, but in case you're not traveling to Manhattan any time soon, you can catch the show as it travels across America to a city near you. The story of the Four Seasons wouldn't be complete without the character of the incomparable Frankie Valli, whose perfect falsettos gave the group its iconic sound. I caught up with Jonny Wexler in Atlanta, who's been playing Frankie on tour for his second season. He's been with the production for 5 years total, having played Joe Pesci for 3 seasons. Here's what he had to say:

Fifteen years on from the release of their seminal, dance-punk single “Banquet,”Bloc Party are thrilled to announce they will be playing select shows in America performing their beloved, milestone debut album, Silent Alarm, from start to finish.  A list of dates is below; all shows go on sale on March 29th at 10 am local time at blocparty.com.

Taking us back to a world of hideous stonewashed denim, huge hair and even bigger rock anthems, Rock of Agesis on a new national tour. The jukebox musical has been doing the rounds since it first appeared in Hollywood in 2005, but this particular version shows that it has not aged well. The paper-thin plot focuses on sweet Southern gal Sherrie arriving in LA's bright lights. Here she meets the sweet and clean-cut Drew at the Bourbon Club. With the threatened demolition of the club as a background, Sheree is drawn into the murky LA underworld where she ends up working in a strip club. After various misunderstandings, the show concludes with a vaguely happy ending; so far, so predictable.

Next week when DANCING WITH THE STARS LIVE rolls into the Fox Theatre, Atlanta audiences will get a taste of the elegant show for one night, but fortunately for us, one of the dancers is leaving a 'microcosm of that experience' for us to engage with all year round.

Pippa Evans talks about the long-running Showstopper! (back in the West End) and about her life in theatre.