The Act 1977 - Articles Page 8

D.L. Coburn's Pulitzer Prize winning The Gin Game with its focus on two elderly people in a run down nursing facility circa 1977 is rarely if ever revived in Los Angeles. Why? I'm not sure. It requires great actors, but LA does have them. Maybe it's the theme. Too depressing? No excuse! The play is a brilliant, thought-provoking work of art. On the surface it's exceedingly funny but underneath, a seriously disquieting potboiler for seniors. Loneliness, and insufficient finances for decent old age care create a bleak outlook. Currently onstage at the Sierra Madre Playhouse through October 6, real life husband and wife Alan Blumenfeld and Katherine James beautifully play Weller Martin and Fonsia Dorsey under the meticulous direction of Christian Lebano.

Roundabout Theatre Company's premiere of Theresa Rebeck's Bernhardt/Hamlet begins previews today. Get to know the cast as they begin Broadway performances!

Even if you have seen it before, I cannot stress enough how miraculous the current production of ANNIE is at the Hollywood Bowl, directed with creative ingenuity by Michael Arden. Featured in the cast of incredibly talented triple-threat (acting, singing, dancing) performers are Ana Gasteyer as the ruthless headmistress Miss Agatha Hannigan, David Alan Grier as the refined, generous billionaire Oliver 'Daddy' Warbucks, Lea Salonga as his dedicated and caring assistant Grace Farrell, with newcomer Kaylin Hedges as Annie, who won the role over hundreds of other young girls from across the country who submitted video auditions to win role. Miss Hedges is the cornerstone of the production and her soaring, pitch-perfect voice and effervescent stage presence setting the jubilant tone for the entire ensemble.

Quite possibly the most popular family-friendly stage musical of all time, ANNIE---the classic 1977 Tony Award winner for Best Musical based on Harold Gray's 'Little Orphan Annie' comic strip---seems like a no-brainer choice to appear as the annual all-star summer musical at the world-famous Hollywood Bowl. So it's actually not a surprise that this plucky, unabashedly charming production---now causing giddy bursts of laughter and collective choruses of 'awwww's' at Hollywood's iconic 18,000-seat outdoor arena for two more performances this weekend---is such a perfect fit. And judging by its marvelous opening night performance this past Friday, July 27, the production itself is sure to win over anyone in attendance of its remaining shows.

It's 1977 and Deloris Van Cartier is an aspiring singer in funky Philadelphia. After auditioning for her gangster boyfriend, Curtis' nightclub, she accidentally sees him kill one of his cronies. Deloris runs to the police, who place her in hiding until she can testify at Curtis' trial. But where can you hide a larger-than-life diva? Police officer and old friend of Deloris, Eddie Southers, finds the one place he's sure no one will look; a convent!

Lakewood Theatre Company will open on today April 27, 2018 with the divine musical, Sister Act. The production title sponsors for Sister Act are Marylhurst University and Samantha Richardson. The directorial sponsors are Don & Jessie Adams.

Lakewood Theatre Company will open on today April 27, 2018 with the divine musical, Sister Act. The production title sponsors for Sister Act are Marylhurst University and Samantha Richardson. The directorial sponsors are Don & Jessie Adams.

Larry Blank is a prolific composer, conductor and orchestrator. He's worked on shows on Broadway and across the States, including Sugar Babies, Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line and A Little Night Music, as well as contributing to orchestrations on films like The Producers and Chicago.

From Wednesday, May 2 through Sunday, May 20, BAMcinématek presents A Different Picture: Women Filmmakers in the New Hollywood Era, 1967—1980. A counter-narrative to the traditional macho mythology of the New Hollywood era, this series seeks to correct a historical wrong. As programmer Jesse Trussell explains, “This series is a redress to the established Easy Riders and Raging Bulls narratives; women from coast to coast radically altering film form, film subject and film power structures.” This series spotlights the prodigious work of female filmmakers in the United States from 1967—1980; films made both inside and outside of the Hollywood system and encompassing a wide array of genres from comedy to drama, art house to exploitation.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 209th season with Michael Frayn's classic backstage comedy, NOISES OFF. Directed by Frank Anzalone, this production begins previews on March 13th, opens on March 21st, and runs through April 29th on the Walnut's Mainstage.

The World Premiere of Don Nguyen's Hello, From the Children of Planet Earth opens tonight, on March 7 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project. Presented by The Playwrights Realm (Katherine Kovner, Founding Artistic Director; Roberta Pereira, Producing Director) and directed by Jade King Carroll, this philosophical, and tender comedy is split between the perspectives of a lesbian couple trying to conceive, and their potential-sperm-donor/aerospace engineer friend as they're stretched to contemplate the unknowns of their future.

The World Premiere of Don Nguyen's HELLO, FROM THE CHILDREN OF PLANET EARTH Opens Tonight, on March 7 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project. Presented by The Playwrights Realm (Katherine Kovner, Founding Artistic Director; Roberta Pereira, Producing Director) and directed by Jade King Carroll, this philosophical, and tender comedy is split between the perspectives of a lesbian couple trying to conceive, and their potential-sperm-donor/aerospace engineer friend as they're stretched to contemplate the unknowns of their future.

Award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and director David Mamet tackles America's most controversial topic in a provocative tale of sex, guilt, and bold accusations. Two lawyers find themselves defending a wealthy white executive charged with raping a black woman. When a female legal assistant gets involved in the case, the opinions that boil beneath explode to the surface. When David Mamet (Pulitzer Prize winning author of Glengarry Glenn Ross), turns the spotlight on what we think but can't say, dangerous truths are revealed, and no punches are pulled.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights writing in the English language. Chosen from over 150 nominated plays, the Finalists are:

Kronos Quartet/Kronos Performing Arts Association (KPAA) is proud to announce the fourth group of composers for Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire. Launched in 2015, Kronos' Fifty for the Future is an exciting partnership with Carnegie Hall and others to create 50 new works - by 25 women and 25 men - expressly for the training of students and emerging professionals. Each year, ten composers are announced. As ever, scores, parts, recordings, videos, and other learning materials for the compositions will be offered free of charge online at kronosquartet.org/fifty-for-the-future. 

Kodo is one of the best known and most influential taiko performing arts ensemble in the world and returns to the Birmingham to drum in the new year on Monday 5 February at Symphony Hall, Birmingham. This exclusive date for the Midlands is just one of five performances across the UK and marks the European premiere performances of Evolution.

China Broadway Entertainment announces its latest original global musical: Road to Heaven: The Jonathan Lee Musical. Adapted from the novel by internationally acclaimed author Li Xiuwen, the original musical will feature music by one of China's most iconic singer-songwriters Jonathan Lee.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announces Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. The live-to-picture performance of Oscar-winning composer John Williams's musical score will arrive in the Walt Disney Theater on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public Monday, December 4, 2017 at 10 a.m. Tickets start at $49.50 and may be purchased online at drphillipscenter.org, by calling 844.513.2014 or by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Online and phone ticket purchases are subject to handling fees.

This Black Today Party like it's 1977 with Disco Inferno at White Eagle Hall.

With the holiday season just around the corner, Virginia Stage Company adds a special late night show for mature elves only. Santaland Diaries is based on the memoir of award-winning comedic author David Sedaris.

Kodo is one of the best known and most influential taiko performing arts ensemble in the world and returns to the UK in 2018 with the European premiere performances of Evolution.

Theatre Rhinoceros presents THE NORMAL HEART by Larry Kramer, directed by John Fisher, at The Gateway Theatre, running November 3 - 25, 2017.

This Black Friday Party like it's 1977 with Disco Inferno at White Eagle Hall.

Theatre Rhinoceros presents THE NORMAL HEART by Larry Kramer, directed by John Fisher, at The Gateway Theatre, running November 3 - 25, 2017.

The Baxter Theatre Centre is available for conferences, events and film shoots. Find out all about this historical Capetonian venue in this video, released as a part of the theatre centre's fortieth anniversary celebrations.