The Act 1977 - Articles Page 15

Returning to Las Vegas for a record-smashing 54th consecutive year, internationally renowned comedian, actor and entertainer Don Rickles will return to The Orleans Showroom September 28 and 29.

On August 16, 1977 we lost an American music and cultural icon: Elvis Presley. But, he has never truly left us. His memory endures with the vast amounts of music he recorded, the movies he made, and his likeness being used all over the planet. You would be hard pressed to find someone in this world that has never heard of Elvis Presley. With tribute artists performing in his likeness and multiple festivals around the world attracting fans of every age, it's no wonder that his music was lent to a Broadway musical. And just in time for the 36th anniversary of his passing, The Arundel Barn Playhouse's ALL SHOOK UP will help you relive yesteryear and maybe even hear the King's music in a completely new way.

Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, continues their 2013-2014 season with a revival of one of Broadway's most popular rock musicals, GODSPELL. The groundbreaking production based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew runs Thursday, September 12 through October 20. Featuring a sparkling score by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked), and an energetic book by original director John-Michael Tebelak,GODSPELL is the upbeat retelling of a series of biblical parables. The production will be directed and choreographed by Stacey Flaster.

Back in March, Liza Minnelli and Alan Cumming, in celebration of Liza's birthday, joined forces at The Town Hall to sing familiar songs from 'Cabaret' and and more. The show was previously performed at Fire Island last summer, produced by Daniel Nardicio, and according to Michael Musto for Out.com, the act will move again- this time to Broadway.

Don't dismiss Theatre by the Sea's current production as 'just another' summer stock ANNIE. Matunuck's staging of this long-time family-favorite musical is one of the best of Rhode Island's theatricals so far this year.

Lincoln Center Festival, which runs from today, July 6 through 28, 2013 will unfold in six venues on and off the Lincoln Center campus. Music figures prominently in the 2013 Festival with international productions by an eclectic range of renowned composers, singers, musicians and directors. In addition to performances, a panel discussion on Lera Auerbach's opera, The Blind, is scheduled. A chronological listing follows.

When ANNIE first opened on Broadway in 1977, it was filled with sage advice that the city needed to hear. New York City was teetering on the edge of perilous bankruptcy, but this plucky little orphan girl reminded audiences that there would always be a tomorrow worth waiting for. The 2012 revival of ANNIE opened in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and as the nation braced itself for the possibility of another Great Depression like the one the spirited orphan smiles through with her beloved and well-known anthems, the themes of remaining cheerful and overcoming adversity struck a chord with audiences again. That infectious joyful charisma is perfectly preserved on ANNIE (The New 2012 Broadway Cast Recording).

No one mines an audience for laughter like Frank Ferrante; the actor/comedian who keeps a crowd in stitches, improvising on a whim. Back in Seattle after last summer's sold-out run at ACT, Frank re-ignites his hilarious tribute performance as Groucho Marx that is partly scripted, partly improvised, and completely ridiculous. Frank Ferrante reprises the critically acclaimed An Evening With Groucho, that amazed audiences and created a buzzing smash hit. Winner of the 1987 New York Theatre World Award, nominee for the Outer Critics Circle Award and Laurence Olivier Award, and well-known for his comic creation 'Caesar' with Teatro ZinZanni, Ferrante is always a sure-fire hit for new audiences and a must-see for comedy lovers.

Lincoln Center Festival, which runs from July 6 through 28, 2013 will unfold in six venues on and off the Lincoln Center campus. Music figures prominently in the 2013 Festival with international productions by an eclectic range of renowned composers, singers, musicians and directors. In addition to performances, a panel discussion on Lera Auerbach's opera, The Blind, is scheduled. A chronological listing follows.

If you see only one Comedy Improv show during The Hollywood Fringe Festival, go to the source, The Spolin Players, touted by the LA Times as presenting 'Improv as pure and unpredictable as you will find it.'

Packed with a plethora of talent heading the cast - Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Debbie Reynolds, Rob Lowe, Scott Bakula, Cheyenne Jackson and Dan Aykroyd - and supposedly the final feature film from Academy Award-winning auteur Steven Soderbergh, HBO's BEHIND THE CANDELABRA is a shimmering, glittering Hope Diamond of a musical biopic - and, also, an all-too-befitting final film to feature musical arrangements by the late, great Marvin Hamlish.

Tonight and Saturday, May 24 and 25, The Kitchen will present the world premiere of artist and playwright William Leavitt's one-act play Habitat, which takes place among neighbors whose adjoining backyards are located in a small American town. Registering the psychological impact of everyday things beyond one's power to control, the play continues themes of subtly estranged domesticity seen in Leavitt's earlier plays, such as The Radio (2002) and Pyramid Lens Delta (2003/2011). This marks the first time the artist's theatrical work has been presented in New York. Performances start at 8:00 P.M. Tickets are $15.

The MET Orchestra concludes its 2012-2013 season at Carnegie Hall with the much anticipated return of Music Director James Levine leading the orchestra today, May 19 at 3:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. Maestro Levine is set to conduct the prelude to Act I of Wagner's Lohengrin; Schubert's Symphony No. 9, 'Great'; and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58, with pianist Evgeny Kissin. Maestro Levine last performed at Carnegie Hall with the MET Orchestra on Sunday, April 10, 2011 with Mr. Kissin.

On Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25, The Kitchen will present the world premiere of artist and playwright William Leavitt's one-act play Habitat, which takes place among neighbors whose adjoining backyards are located in a small American town. Registering the psychological impact of everyday things beyond one's power to control, the play continues themes of subtly estranged domesticity seen in Leavitt's earlier plays, such as The Radio (2002) and Pyramid Lens Delta (2003/2011). This marks the first time the artist's theatrical work has been presented in New York. Performances start at 8:00 P.M. Tickets are $15.

No one mines an audience for laughter like Frank Ferrante; the actor/comedian who keeps a crowd in stitches, improvising on a whim. Back in Seattle after last summer's sold-out run at ACT, Frank re-ignites his hilarious tribute performance as Groucho Marx that is partly scripted, partly improvised, and completely ridiculous. Frank Ferrante reprises the critically acclaimed An Evening With Groucho, that amazed audiences and created a buzzing smash hit. Winner of the 1987 New York Theatre World Award, nominee for the Outer Critics Circle Award and Laurence Olivier Award, and well-known for his comic creation 'Caesar' with Teatro ZinZanni, Ferrante is always a sure-fire hit for new audiences and a must-see for comedy lovers.

The paper reports that 'the Broadway version is expected to cost about $15 million, according to Bill Taylor of Stage Entertainment USA, which is producing 'Rocky' on Broadway with Mr. Stallone.' and that 'The Broadway production is expected to be fairly similar to the one in Hamburg, Mr. Taylor said, including the finale - Rocky's climatic fight against Apollo in a regulation-size boxing ring - and the use of music from the movies, like Bill Conti's theme music and 'Eye of the Tiger.'

Immediately, speculation began at what might replace MAMMA MIA! in the theatre, which was previously home to CATS. Today, Michael Riedel reports that Broadway might see a Spring transfer of the ROCKY musical, now running in Germany. He writes that '"Rocky das Musical" cost $20 million to stage in Germany. Sources say the price tag could hit nearly $30 million in New York. With so much money to recoup, the show would inevitably have to land at one of Broadway's largest theaters.'

Last night, The Alley Theatre hosted the press opening night of Bernard Pomerance's well-known 1977 tragic drama THE ELEPHANT MAN. The nearly 100-minute one act production is a fascinating look at the life of Joseph 'John' Carey Merrick, who began developing severe bone and skin abnormalities by age two. The play takes place from 1884 to 1890, focusing primarily on the parts of Joseph Merrick's life when he was acquainted with and studied by Dr. Frederick Treves, a surgeon in London. Throughout Joseph Merrick's life these abnormalities worsened, significantly increasing the physical strain these deformities subjected his body to. Joseph Merrick passed on April 11, 1890, at the age of 27. The official cause of death is asphyxia.

The MET Orchestra concludes its 2012-2013 season at Carnegie Hall with the much anticipated return of Music Director James Levine leading the orchestra on Sunday, May 19 at 3:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage. Maestro Levine is set to conduct the prelude to Act I of Wagner's Lohengrin; Schubert's Symphony No. 9, 'Great'; and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58, with pianist Evgeny Kissin. Maestro Levine last performed at Carnegie Hall with the MET Orchestra on Sunday, April 10, 2011 with Mr. Kissin.

Ghostlight Records will release the New Broadway Cast Recording for Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's beloved coming-of-age musical comedy PIPPIN, which is now playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street) and opens on Thursday, April 25. The cast will record the album on April 29. The album will be release in June 2013 (date to be announced) and will feature material from the show never previously recorded. The album will be co-produced by composer Stephen Schwartz and Kurt Deutsch, and executive produced by Howard & Janet Kagan.

Returning to Las Vegas for a record-smashing 54th consecutive year, internationally renowned comedian, actor and entertainer Don Rickles will perform at The Orleans Showroom April 13 and 14.

Artists Rep will present The Gin Game by D.L. Coburn, starring Allen Nause and Vana O'Brien, directed by JoAnn Johnson. This two-person, two-act play is a 1978 Pulitzer Prize winner and garnered multiple Tony Award nominations both with its original 1977 production and the Broadway revival in 1997. This play replaces the originally planned production of The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Artists Rep will present The Gin Game by D.L. Coburn, starring Allen Nause and Vana O'Brien, directed by JoAnn Johnson. This two-person, two-act play is a 1978 Pulitzer Prize winner and garnered multiple Tony Award nominations both with its original 1977 production and the Broadway revival in 1997. This play replaces the originally planned production of The Invisible Hand by Ayad Akhtar.

Boston Ballet's spring season will continue with Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty tonight, March 22 - April 7. Those whose imaginations were inspired by the shimmering beauty of The Nutcracker will be struck by the extraordinary history and sheer opulence of The Sleeping Beauty.

Boston Ballet's spring season will continue with Marius Petipa's The Sleeping Beauty on March 22 - April 7. Those whose imaginations were inspired by the shimmering beauty of The Nutcracker will be struck by the extraordinary history and sheer opulence of The Sleeping Beauty.