The 69th Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday June 7th at 8/9c hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming. It's the biggest award show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long award season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. We can't help but wonder what chances this year's Best Musical and Best Play nominees have of taking home the ultimate prize.
In this taut 2013 theatrical adaptation of Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela's award winning-book, the apartheid regime's most notorious assassin and head of its death squad, Eugene de Kock (played by Matthew Marsh), sits opposite psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela (played Noma Dumezweni) in Pretoria Central Prison in 1997. Gobodo-Madikizela is a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission determined to understand his actions. She questions de Kock, who is sentenced to two life terms plus 212 years for crimes against humanity, murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, and fraud.
Awards shows are catnip for entertainment enthusiasts around the world not only because they are a celebration of the best of the breed in whatever medium or genre the presentation recognizes but also because a live telecast with so many stars and so many categories allows for ample room for entertainment - and error. In Tony Awards history, there have been a few unmistakably unmissable moments that live on thanks to the magic of YouTube for a variety of reasons - thrilling battles to the finish in tight categories, chilling reactions from non-winners when the top prize is announced, and, of course, some very unusual albeit unforgettable ties and inconsistent category tweaks. Nevertheless, the Tony Awards is always the biggest night of the year for Broadway babies and this year should prove to be no exception with the hot competition and spectacular stars scheduled to appear on June 7 at Radio City Music Hall and presented to the world, once again, via CBS at 8 PM.
42nd Street Moon presents INVENTING CHAMPAGNE, a two-night-only engagement celebrating legendary film and Broadway lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, starring two-time Tony-nominated actress Nancy Dussault (The Sound of Music, Do Re Mi).
In this taut 2013 theatrical adaptation of Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela's award winning-book, the apartheid regime's most notorious assassin and head of its death squad, Eugene de Kock (played by Matthew Marsh), sits opposite psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela (played Noma Dumezweni) in Pretoria Central Prison in 1997. Gobodo-Madikizela is a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission determined to understand his actions. She questions de Kock, who is sentenced to two life terms plus 212 years for crimes against humanity, murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, and fraud.
The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the final production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the Los Angeles Premiere of WORDS BY IRA GERSHWIN A Musical Play by Joseph Vass, directed by David Ellenstein, Musical Director Kevin Toney, Musical Arranger Joseph Vass. WORDS BY IRA GERSHWIN will preview today, April 15; Thursday, April 16; and Friday, April 17 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, April 18 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, May 17.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton are excited to announce the main company's 2015-16 season performances in Chicago. Tickets to four engagements at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 East Randolph Street, are available immediately as a Season 38 subscription; single tickets will go on sale in August 2015.
The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the final production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the Los Angeles Premiere of WORDS BY IRA GERSHWIN A Musical Play by Joseph Vass, directed by David Ellenstein, Musical Director Kevin Toney, Musical Arranger Joseph Vass. WORDS BY IRA GERSHWIN will preview on Wednesday, April 15; Thursday, April 16; and Friday, April 17 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, April 18 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, May 17.
The Public Theater announced additional casting today for the 2015 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, beginning Wednesday, May 27 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. This summer will feature Shakespeare's late romances with THE TEMPEST, directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, and CYMBELINE, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan. Jesse Tyler Ferguson will return to the Park this summer as Trinculo in THE TEMPEST, along with Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe teaming up again with Daniel Sullivan on CYMBELINE to play Posthumus Leonatus/Cloten and Imogen, respectively.
Bristol Riverside Theatre explores what it means to be an American with its production of Ragtime tonight, March 17-April 12.
1812 Productions is pleased to present the world premiere production To The Moon, a modern comedy inspired by the life and work of legendary performer Jackie Gleason. Taking its cue from the great domestic comedy of The Honeymooners, and the sharp writing and physical comedy of The Jackie Gleason Show, To The Moon features an original script by Jennifer Childs, choreography by Tony Award winner Bill Irwin, and an integrated production design-sound, scenic, lighting, video-by Jorge Cousineau.
Bristol Riverside Theatre explores what it means to be an American with its production of Ragtime on March 17-April 12. The Tony Award-winning musical with book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens is directed by Keith Baker and features Leslie Becker, Derrick Cobey, David Edwards, Tamar Greene, Michael Thomas Holmes, Matt Leisy and Ciji Prosser. Supporting roles will be played by Ciaran Barlow as Edgar, Will Connell as Houdini, Jim Conte as Grandfather, Stephen Dagrosa as Willie Conklin, Sarah J. Gafgen as Emma Goldman, and Chelsey Jean as Evelyn Nesbitt. The ensemble includes Rajeer Alford, Amy L. Armstrong, Charles Michael Bendas, Daniel Bontempo, Elena Camp, John DiFerdinando, Jessica Gruver, Brian Michael Henry, Adam Hoyak, Angelica Jackson, Jessica M. Johnson, Walter E. Tucker, Dwayne Washington, and Paul Weagraff.
Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent.
Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.
Two Sides To Every Story, the criminally long out-of-print solo album from Gene Clark, a founding member of The Byrds, will be released as a deluxe CD today, November 18th via High Moon Records.
Palo Alto Players follows up on its successful season premiere with the hare-raising comedy classic Harvey. Written by Mary Chase, this beloved play won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945 and has been charming audiences ever since! Harvey will play for 11 performances (tonight, November 7-23, 2014) at the Lucie Stern Theater located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto.
Sony Classical is delighted to announce the release of songs from the original motion-picture soundtrack and the original score by Theodore Shapiro from the upcoming movie St. Vincent available digitally on October 21 and on CD on October 27. A comedy drama, St. Vincent opens nationwide on October 24 and stars Academy Award nominees Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts.
Pat Barker's Booker-nominated novel, REGENERATION, has been adapted for the stage by Olivier Award-winning playwright Nicholas Wright (His Dark Materials, Vincent in Brixton), it opened at Royal & Derngate, Northampton on 29 August 2014 prior to a national tour. The production plays Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from 4 - 8 November 2014.
Palo Alto Players follows up on its successful season premiere with the hare-raising comedy classic Harvey. Written by Mary Chase, this beloved play won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945 and has been charming audiences ever since! Harvey will play for 11 performances (November 7-23, 2014) at the Lucie Stern Theater located at 1305 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Tickets are on sale now by ordering online at www.paplayers.org or by calling 650.329.0891.
Few actors come with sleuthing skills as sharp as Jason Durr who continues his celebrated run as the diminutive detective Hercule Poirot in the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie's, espionage classic Black Coffee this autumn. As the Belgian investigator, Jason is now set to get his "little grey cells" working in the celebrated crime collective's latest production at the Theatre Royal Glasgow from Monday 3 November.
Two Sides To Every Story, the criminally long out-of-print solo album from Gene Clark, a founding member of The Byrds, will be released as a deluxe CD on November 18th via High Moon Records.
Houston Grand Opera (HGO) will present El Pasado Nunca Se Termina/The Past Is Never Finished, an opera featuring the internationally renowned ensemble Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitla?n, on May 13, 16, and 17, 2015 in the Wortham Theater Center, it was announced by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers and Managing Director Perryn Leech. HGO's 2010 mounting of the world's first mariachi opera, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna/To Cross the Face of the Moon, with Mariachi Vargas, not only captivated audiences in Houston, but went on to hit runs in Paris, San Diego, Chicago, and Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. HGO brought Cruzar back to Houston in 2013 for three sold-out performances. Now the company will present a second mariachi opera from the same creative team of Jose? “Pepe” Marti?nez and Leonard Foglia, fresh from its March 2015 world premiere at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Set on a Mexican hacienda in 1910, just prior to the Mexican Revolution, the story traces how the country's cultural conflicts and nationalistic struggles shape one family across generations. El Pasado Nunca Se Termina/The Past Is Never Finished will be sung in Spanish and English with projected translations.
Now, in his 69th year, Fogerty is calling us back to 1969, to re-invigorate those ties that bind us, with his upcoming '1969' World Tour. The tour will kick-off this November with Cross-Country Canadian performances beginning in St. John's, Newfoundland, on November 7 before heading west to finish in Victoria, BC on November 29th. More dates and countries will be announced for 2015.
True to its mission of nurturing local theatre artists, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) presents the Montgomery Davis Play Development Series staged reading of THE BOY INSIDE, by Wisconsin playwright Richard Kalinoski on Oct. 13. Leda Hoffmann directs a cast of nine Milwaukee favorites including Doug Clemons, Di'Monte Henning, Carrie Hitchcock, Karl Iglesias, Dan Katula, Ryan Schabach, Deborah Staples, Noah Totzke and Tami Workentin.
Creatures of the night take over October, as Sony Movie Channel unleashes a "Killer Thursdays" block loaded with tricks and treats every week at 10 p.m. ET.
Of the terrifying statements a musician can hear, 'Your master recordings have been lost' has to rank among the most gut-wrenching. But that's exactly what occurred to the Buckeye Politicians after recording their album in 1975. It only took four decades to make good on the promise of their musical vision, but 'now they're back with the crunch of rock, the rhythms of soul music, and the punch of a horn section,' states their long-time manager, Herb Gart.
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