Based on the novel by Manuel Puig
Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman explores the complex relationship between two men caged together in an Argentinean prison. Valentin is a tough political revolutionary undergoing torture. Molina is an unabashedly gay man serving time for deviant behavior. Molina recounts to Valentin his favorite movie-musical fantasies, and it becomes a mental refuge for both as the lines of fantasy and reality become blurred. This compelling musical drama resonates love, longing and liberation.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced casting for its production of RAGTIME in the Eisenhower Theater April 18 - May 10, 2009. Based on a 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow, the production features book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and will be directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. The musical is part of the Kennedy Center's Broadway: The Third Generation, a series celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers. The official press night will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Florida Studio Theatre opens Jose Rivera's Boleros for the Disenchanted in its continuation of the Winter Mainstage Season. 'Boleros for the Disenchanted is one of the most moving and life affirming stories of love and commitment I have seen on the stage in the past quarter century,' stated FST Artistic Director and show Director Richard Hopkins.
From 1953 Puerto Rico to contemporary America a young couple overcomes adversity and discovers a world of hope and love. Immigrating to the United States, Flora and Eusebio experience new adventures, obstacles and life lessons. In a mystical journey through the ages, they realize they have overcome the biggest obstacle of all...finding true love.
Boleros for the Disenchanted made its World Premiere at the Yale Repertory Theatre in April, 2008. Other productions include the Huntington Theatre in October of 2008.
Jos? Rivera's plays have been translated into six languages. His plays include Marisol (Obie Award winner for Best Play), References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot (Obie Award), Cloud Tectonics, Each Day Dies with Sleep, The Promise, The House of Ramon Iglesia, Giants Have Us In Their Books, Sueno, The Street of the Sun, Sonnets for an Old Century, Brainpeople, and Adoration of the Old Woman. He studied with Gabriel Garc?a Marquez at the Sundance Institute and was writer-in-residence at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on a Fulbright Arts
Fellowship in Playwriting. Mr. Rivera's television work includes the critically lauded NBC series Eerie, Indiana, which he co-created and produced. He has also written teleplays, among them an adaptation of his own The House of Ramon Iglesia for PBS, as well as feature screenplays, including The Motorcycle Diaries (Academy Award Nominee). The native Puerto Rican also serves on the boards of The Sundance Institute and the Independent Feature Project.
The Boleros for the Disenchanted cast will include New York Actor Damian Buzzerio (Don Fermin/Older Eusebio). Buzzerio regional credits include Vinnie in The Odd Couple at the Carousel Dinner Theatre, Claudius in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead and Gremio/Vincentio in Taming of the Shrew at the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey. He has also been cast in leading roles in four NYC based Independent Films. New York Actress Rainbow Dickerson
(Flora/Eve) has played Kate in Taming of the Shrew and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare Saturdays, Patriot ensemble in The Accidental Patriot at Stolen Chair Theatre Company and the Dalai Lama in The Buddha Prince for Tiger Lion Productions.
On March 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., The Collegiate Chorale appears with The New York City Opera Orchestra at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall in a performance of Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin's 1945 Broadway operetta The Firebrand of Florence. The performance, led by guest conductor Ted Sperling, stars baritone Nathan Gunn, soprano Anna Christy, baritone Terrence Mann, and soprano Victoria Clark. Krysty Swann, David Pittu and Patrick Goss complete the cast, and narration will be provided by Stage Director Roger Rees.
Boasting a score by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by playwright and screenwriter Edwin Justus Mayer, The Firebrand of Florence had a short run on Broadway in 1945. The work was subsequently not heard for over a half-century until three presentations - Ohio Light Opera (1999), the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London (2000) and the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Vienna (2000) - shed new light on the relatively obscure work. The performances were not only accepted, but widely acclaimed, thus giving hope for a new life in a new century. Variety's theater critic Steven Suskin says 'I have long believed that Firebrand in concert should be a dazzling delight.'
Benvenuto Cellini, the great Florentine artist, is sentenced to hang, but he is pardoned when the duke realizes that he has not completed a previously commissioned sculpture. Freed, he is able to turn his attention to his favorite model (and object of his affections), Angela. The Duke also is interested in Angela. In a typical operetta plot, Cellini swashbuckles around the stage, keeping the Duke away from Angela, keeping himself away from the Duchess, and escaping yet another death sentence by fleeing to Paris, as the end of the show recapitulates the beginning.
Upright Cabaret transformed into a winter wonderland of song last week as producers/hosts Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel presented their 4th Annual HOLIDAY BLOWOUT 2008. This highly anticipated yearly event featured over 40 of Los Angeles' most talented performers, three Music Directors including Upright's Chris Bratten and guests Ben Toth and Gerald Sternbach, and welcomed over 700 patrons who came to be entertained on these four incredible evenings of cuisine, style and song.
Astoria Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce the production of RAGTIME, a musical directed by APAC's very own Artistic Director, Tom Wojtunik. Ragtime will play a 3-week limited engagement at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (30-44 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102). Performances begin Thursday, February 5th and continue through Sunday, February 22nd.
tick, tick...BOOM! by Pulitzer Prize Winner Jonathan Larson returns to the Provincetown Theatre on December 26th for 8 performances only until January 3rd. Perormances run every night at 7pm, except for Thursday, January 1st. Counter Productions is proud to present a reprisal of their critically acclaimed, smash hit production of tick, tick...BOOM! which played the Provincetown Theatre June 23-July 3rd, 2008.
The Laurie Beechman Theatre, located within The West Bank Caf? (407 West 42nd St.), is pleased to continue our Friday night soiree, THE AFTER PARTY. Now going strong it's third, THE AFTER PARTY is billed as 'a weekly schmoozefest for the theatrically inclined.' Every Friday from 10:30 pm until the wee hours, pros from Broadway and aspiring stars alike belt it out on the stage of The Laurie Beechman Theatre. Join hosts BRANDON CUTRELL (MAC & Bistro Award winner) and ALYSHA UMPHRESS (XL Star) with RAY FELLMAN (Captain Louie) at the piano for this weekly party in the theatre district. There is no cover charge for this event. Come and sing yourself as the mic is always open, or sit back and enjoy a cocktail with friends. Located just blocks from the Great White Way, you never know who might drop in.
The award‐winning new musical Empire, by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull, is headed to the Great White Way for the 2009‐2010 season.
Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Northwater Entertainment, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced the complete cast and design team for the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS. The first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, GUYS AND DOLLS will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's newly refurbished Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is March 1, 2009.
Bailiwick Repertory artists and friends will gather at the Bailiwick Arts Center , 1229 West Belmont, on December 29th to bid FAREWELL TO 1229: Fifteen Years of Great Musicals from POPE JOAN to HUNCHBACK. The special benefit performance features musical selections POPE JOAN, PARADE, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, DR. SEX, Q, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, JERRY SPRINGER ? THE OPERA, THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.
This February, THE STORY OF MY LIFE, a new musical comes to Broadway. Starring Will Chase (Rent, Aida, The Full Monty) and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets (Amour, Merrily We Roll Along, 'Caroline in the City'), the show is directed by Tony Award winner Richard Maltby, Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Song & Dance), THE STORY OF MY LIFE features a score by Neil Bartram and a book by Brian Hill. Performances begin Tuesday, February 3rd on Broadway at The Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street). Opening night is Thursday, February 19th at 7:30PM.
Bailiwick Repertory artists and friends will gather at the Bailiwick Arts Center , 1229 West Belmont, on December 29th to bid FAREWELL TO 1229: Fifteen Years of Great Musicals from POPE JOAN to HUNCHBACK. The special benefit performance features musical selections POPE JOAN, PARADE, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, DR. SEX, Q, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, JERRY SPRINGER ? THE OPERA, THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.
Fresh on the heels of its 18 Ovation Award nominations (the most by any Southern California theatre company), Cabrillo Music Theatre continues the 2008-2009 season with the West Coast Premiere of the new musical sensation, BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO, featuring a book by Erik Jackson and Ben H. Winters, and lyrics by Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield and Cody Philip.
Black 2: Broadway, the acclaimed production celebrating the contributions of performers of color in the arts, returns with its final production of 2008. Celebrating the life and work of Broadway Veterans BJ Crosby & Adrian Bailey, this exciting evening will feature performances by Broadway's Chuck Cooper, Marva Hicks, Ebony Jo-Ann, Tina Fabrique, Alyson Williams, The Broadway Boys, Chester Gregory, Multi Award Winning Recording Artist Tonex (currently spelled: 'TON3X') and many more on Monday, November 3rd at The Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture located in Harlem.
Broadway In Chicago will host the world premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, beginning performances Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St., Chicago).
The Havok Theatre Company in association with the Bootleg Theatre have announced that the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre premiere of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN has been extended through Sunday, November 9. KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN performs at the Bootleg Theatre in Los Angeles.
New Repertory Theatre is pleased to be kicking off its third season of Downstage @ New Rep, Up Close, On The Edge, in the Black Box Theater with Scott Brown and Anthony King's zany production of Gutenberg! The Musical.
Black 2: Broadway, the acclaimed production celebrating the contributions of performers of color in the arts, returns with its final production of 2008. Celebrating the life and work of Broadway Veterans BJ Crosby & Adrian Bailey, this exciting evening will feature performances by Broadway's Chuck Cooper, Marva Hicks, Ebony Jo-Ann, Tina Fabrique, Alyson Williams, The Broadway Boys, Chester Gregory, Multi Award Winning Recording Artist Tonex (currently spelled: 'TON3X') and many more on Monday, November 3rd at The Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture located in Harlem.
Samuel West will direct Harley Granville Barker's Waste, which runs at the Almeida from 25 September - 15 November 2008, with press night on 2 October. Designs are by Peter McKintosh with lighting by Guy Hoare and sound by John Leonard.
The newly formed Havok Theatre Company in association with the Bootleg Theatre is thrilled to present its third production, the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre Premiere of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, book by Terrence McNally, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, choreography by Lee Martino, with musical direction by Michael Paternostro and directed by Ovation Award-winner and Artistic Director of the new Havok Theatre Company Nick DeGruccio. KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN will preview on Thursday, September 18; Friday, September 19; Saturday September 20 at 8pm; Sunday, September 21 at 3pm and Thursday, September 25 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 26 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 26, 2008 at the Bootleg Theatre, 2220 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.
The Prince Music Theater celebrates two Broadway masters - John Kander and Fred Ebb - in a newly re-imagined production of THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND, the smash hit Off-Broadway show that explores the entire career of one of Broadway's most extraordinary creative teams.
Brenda McNab will now be playing the role of Bud and Austin Ku will now be playing the role of Doug in GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL.
New Repertory Theatre is pleased to be kicking off its third season of Downstage @ New Rep, Up Close, On The Edge, in the Black Box Theater with Scott Brown and Anthony King's zany production of Gutenberg! The Musical.
On Sunday September 7, 2008 the curtain fell on Broadway for the final performance of the landmark musical Rent. In celebration of this production going out in 'one blaze of glory', BWW TV spoke with Will Chase about the power of Jonathan Larson's words and music and how its message of love will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of the people it touched.
Variety is reporting that Tony-nominated choreographer Rob Ashford will be joining the creative team of the upcoming production of Shrek on Broadway.
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