Every year, despite a litany of warnings they come to the Big Apple with big dreams. Warnings like: “You have to pay your dues.” “It's a tough business, kid.” “How are you going to survive?” There's no such thing as an overnight success, yet still they come to be at “the top of the heap,” as Kander and Ebb so eloquently put it. The four young performers featured here haven't yet vaulted to the top of the cabaret heap, but they've certainly made their marks with excellent shows during 2014, while exhibiting the potential to get there. The spotlight is already shining on Chrysten Peddie, Angela Dirksen, Rembert Block, and Kristoffer Lowe.
2015 promises to be a momentous year for Davidson Community Players as they celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their first show.
Below, check out quotables from THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON for the week of November 3 - November 7
The national tour of ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its Houston premiere today, October 14-19 as part of the 2014-2015 Season of Broadway at the Hobby Center.
The national tour of ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its Houston premiere October 14-19 as part of the 2014-2015 Season of Broadway at the Hobby Center. Individual tickets will be on sale beginning Sunday, August 24 at 10:00 a.m.
Debbie Reynolds – actor, singer, dancer, author, champion for the preservation of the artifacts of film history and for the understanding and treatment of mental illness – has been named the 51st recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest honor:
PBS' Masterpiece Mystery raises the curtain on the final episodes of their adaptations of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot adventures, starring David Suchet, with their 90 minute version of THE BIG FOUR, based on a novel originally penned by Christie in 1927. However, anyone familiar with the novel should be prepared for significant plot changes and a sentimentally-tinged (but underused) cast of characters in this production, which is indeed theatrically over the top. And for one key SPOILER ALERT: despite the episode's initial framing, Poirot does not die, though anyone worth their Christie salt should be able to see through this from the outset.
Brownells officially turns 75 years old this June, and the Montezuma, Iowa-based company has a big celebration planned. Tonight, June 21, 2014, Brownells and the city of Montezuma are hosting 'Monte Fest presented by Brownells.'
The Pear Avenue Theatre's closing production of its 13th season celebrates the 100th anniversary of a classic play from one of our most revered and beloved playwrights, George Bernard Shaw. Written in 1912, Pygmalion premiered on the London stage in April, 2014, and became an instant hit for Shaw and his leading lady, Stella Campbell, in the role of Eliza. Audiences for the last century have enjoyed this timeless tale of an East End flower girl and her West End phonetics tutor. Pear veteran actor and director Michael Champlin helms the production, which runs today, June 20 through July 13, 2014 (no performance on July 4th).
The San Pedro Theatre Club presents CABARET, a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The production is directed by Drew Fitzsimmons and Victoria Miller, who also choreographed, with music directed by Leslie Sharp. The intimate 78-seat theater allows the actors to interact with the audience on several occasions, making it really feel as if we are inside the small German cabaret rather than watching a show about it.
The Pear Avenue Theatre's closing production of its 13th season celebrates the 100th anniversary of a classic play from one of our most revered and beloved playwrights, George Bernard Shaw. Written in 1912, Pygmalion premiered on the London stage in April, 2014, and became an instant hit for Shaw and his leading lady, Stella Campbell, in the role of Eliza. Audiences for the last century have enjoyed this timeless tale of an East End flower girl and her West End phonetics tutor. Pear veteran actor and director Michael Champlin helms the production, which runs June 20 through July 13, 2014 (no performance on July 4th).
If you are even a semi-regular reader of this column of reviews, you know that about every three or four months, I post a compilation of observations of shows from the previous quarter of the year. This cabaret critiquing mash up happens for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I admittedly see too many cabaret shows for the amount of time I have to promptly review them (and then, of course, the usual writer's procrastination sets in). So I have to prioritize the timeliness of the reviews based on the prestige of the performer, the length of a show run, the strength (or lack thereof) of the performance, etc. The quality of the shows in these compilations—which can range from a half dozen to a dozen reviews in one shot—are usually a mixed bag of outright raves, qualified positives, and constructive pans (I'm not a fan of the word “negative” in the reviewer lexicon). With that in mind here are a collection of cabaret show reviews going back to the start of a very harsh winter.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Hold onto your hats! Shows beginning in late April include 'Avenue Q,' 'Ragtime,' 'Juno,' 'Hey! Dancin'! Hey! Musical!,' 'How To Succeed...,' 'Hair,' 'The Sound Of Music,' 'Motown' and 'The Wizard Of Oz!' AMAZING! Plus news from The Second City, the Goodman, that JCS arena tour, a 2015 'Little Shop' and the return of the Mormons! Whew!
Sung in English, this short, lively one act work is an ideal introduction to opera, with its tuneful melodies and comic subject matter.
Following a critically acclaimed and sell-out run at the Finborough Theatre, the first production in sixty years of R. C. Sherriff's supernatural drama, The White Carnation transfers for a limited three week run to Jermyn Street Theatre, opening tonight, 4 February 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 6 February 2014 at 7.30pm). The show stars Michael Praed (Design for Living - West End, Robin of Sherwood, Dynasty) who joins the existing superlative Finborough Theatre cast, which includes acclaimed newcomer Daisy Boulton and Benjamin Whitrow (Mr. Bennet in BBC's Pride and Prejudice).
Publishers Newswire (PNW), an online resource established in 2004 for small publishers, as well as lesser known and first-time book authors, today announced its latest semi-annual 'Books to Bookmark' round-up. This list of 21 new books is from the second half of 2013 which may have been missed due to not originating from major New York book publishers, or 'big name' authors.
Barter Theatre opens its 2014 Season next week with a comedy that goes behind the scenes of one of the greatest movies of all time. 'Don't Cry for Me, Margaret Mitchell' is the true story of how three sleep-deprived men (and one very overworked secretary) had just seven days to save the movie "Gone With the Wind." Can they rewrite an entire movie script in one week - before they all go bananas?
Following a critically acclaimed and sell-out run at the Finborough Theatre, the first production in sixty years of R. C. Sherriff's supernatural drama, The White Carnation transfers for a limited three week run to Jermyn Street Theatre, opening on Tuesday, 4 February 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 6 February 2014 at 7.30pm). The show stars Michael Praed (Design for Living - West End, Robin of Sherwood, Dynasty) who joins the existing superlative Finborough Theatre cast, which includes acclaimed newcomer Daisy Boulton and Benjamin Whitrow (Mr. Bennet in BBC's Pride and Prejudice).
The Film Society of Lincoln Center welcomes Ben Stiller to direct, today, December 6-8, a complete survey of actor-director-producer-writer Ben Stiller's work behind the camera. Following the world premiere of his new film, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, at the 51st New York Film Festival, the Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrates Stiller's body of work as a director - one that happens also to include several of his greatest performances. Tickets are now on sale, visit Filmlinc.com.
The sounds of Philadelphia, the Motor City, and the Great White Way combined to honor the founder of Motown Records at the 2013 Marian Anderson Awards
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ Today Cumberland Farms announced the opening of a new store in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston at 801 Massachusetts Ave., marking the brand's first urban location to open in Boston since 1981. (If you need a refresher, '81 iswhen Ronald Reagan reigned, Lady Di married Charles, Blondie was blaring from our boom boxes- and Cumberland Farms proudly opened in South Boston.)Featuring a modernized design and architectural features, the Roxbury store also now offers a range of new, hot food items from pizza slices to grilled hot dogs to fried favorites. In addition, Roxbury features touch screen ordering kiosks where customers can customize their meals. A grand opening event on Tuesday, November 19 th will kick-off the store's month-long fundraiser for Boston Medical Center. During the fundraiser, 10 cents from every purchase of Cumberland Farms' iced or hot coffee, brewed teas, fountain sodas, and Chill Zone drinks will be donated to the neighboring hospital.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ Today Cumberland Farms announced the opening of a new store in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston at 801 Massachusetts Ave., marking the brand's first urban location to open in Boston since 1981. (If you need a refresher, '81 iswhen Ronald Reagan reigned, Lady Di married Charles, Blondie was blaring from our boom boxes- and Cumberland Farms proudly opened in South Boston.)Featuring a modernized design and architectural features, the Roxbury store also now offers a range of new, hot food items from pizza slices to grilled hot dogs to fried favorites. In addition, Roxbury features touch screen ordering kiosks where customers can customize their meals. A grand opening event on Tuesday, November 19 th will kick-off the store's month-long fundraiser for Boston Medical Center. During the fundraiser, 10 cents from every purchase of Cumberland Farms' iced or hot coffee, brewed teas, fountain sodas, and Chill Zone drinks will be donated to the neighboring hospital.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today Ben Stiller Directs, December 6-8, a complete survey of actor-director-producer-writer Ben Stiller's work behind the camera.
'Some force within myself would not be denied expression.' Vivien Leigh
For the first time in over fifty years, Harbinger Records will release 'Ballads for the Age of Science,' the most successful educational recordings of all time, as a six-CD box set. Featuring more than four dozen original songs written by Hy Zaret, co-author of the iconic popular song 'Unchained Melody,' and Lou Singer between 1959 and 1961, the albums introduced scientific concepts and terms using catchy, easy-to-learn lyrics and music to grade school students across America in the early 1960s.
| 1939 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
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