In a bungalow in a forest in Essex lives Mrs. Bramson, a fussy hypochondriac. She pays her niece Olivia a small salary to act as her companion and the household also includes her cook, Mrs. Terence, and her maid Dora. When Dora gets pregnant, Mrs. Bramson is determined to get the boyfriend to marry her. At the same time, a woman disappears from a nearby hotel. The police begin investigations and, when Dora brings home her boyfriend Dan, Olivia immediately notices that his behavior is not quite normal. He is perpetually putting on an act and soon he worms his way into the affections of Mrs. Bramson, leaves his job as pageboy at the hotel and moves in. Then the woman's body is found - headless...
Last fall, Theatre Development Fund (TDF) piloted the new program, Autism Theatre Initiative, as part of TDF's Accessibility Programs (TAP), to make theatre accessible to children and adults on the autism spectrum, and their families. They presented the first-ever autism-friendly performance of a Broadway show at Disney's landmark The Lion King on October 2, 2011 and followed that up with an autism-friendly performance of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins on April 29, 2012.
On September 30, the cast of The Lion King took part in another autism-friendly performance, and Rod Thomas, an actor in the show, wrote about the experience from his perspective. The full piece is as follows:
Dixon Place has announced its October 2012 events lineup. See full details below!
Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller and directed by Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd, begins performances tonight, September 28, opens officially Wednesday, October 3, and runs through Sunday, October 28 on the Hubbard Stage.
American Theater Company announces two American classics never-before-paired on a single night-The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God-directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner.
This week saw the second Britney Spears-centric episode of the musical dramedy series GLEE, "Britney 2.0", as well as the second three-hour block of new episodes of the reality singing competition THE X FACTOR, the latter featuring none other than new judge Britney Spears as it continued to offer up even more preliminary auditions as the arbiters hone in on a Top 20 and we gear up for the live shows starting soon. While the theme of Thursday night on Fox may have very well been their $15 million investment given glam, grand primetime treatment as only the network AMERICAN IDOL and GLEE built really could, both shows proved that the pop princess of the 21st century is at the top of the entertainment heap for very good reason, leaving X FACTOR fans, gleeks and entertainment junkies alike left requesting one thing and one thing only by the time 11 o'clock rolled around: "Gimme gimme more."
Producers of THE ADDAMS FAMILY announced additional dates today for the Fall 2012 leg of the musical's North American tour. The production will play Dallas (Oct. 2 - 21), Seattle (Oct. 24 - Nov. 11), Salt Lake City (Nov. 13 - 18), Las Vegas (Nov.20 - 25), Tempe (Dec. 11 - 16) and Costa Mesa (Dec. 18 - 30). Plus, Curtis Holbrook (West Side Story, Xanadu) will join the cast of the national tour as "Lucas Beineke."
Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller and directed by Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd, begins performances Friday, September 28, opens officially Wednesday, October 3, and runs through Sunday, October 28 on the Hubbard Stage.
American Theater Company announces two American classics never-before-paired on a single night-The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God-directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congress as a vital American "Cultural Ambassador to the World," will return to Paris for Les Etes de la Danse 8th International Dance Festival from today, June 25th through July 21st at Theatre du Chatelet. The 32-performance engagement, supported by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, follows successful sold-out and extended festival appearances in 2009 and 2006. After an acclaimed 27-city North American Tour, Ailey's extraordinary dancers will move audiences in France in a series of 15 premieres, new productions and repertory favorites, sharing internationally the next era in Ailey history led by dynamic Artistic Director Robert Battle.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congress as a vital American "Cultural Ambassador to the World," will return to Paris for Les Etes de la Danse 8th International Dance Festival from June 25th through July 21st at Theatre du Chatelet. The 32-performance engagement, supported by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, follows successful sold-out and extended festival appearances in 2009 and 2006. After an acclaimed 27-city North American Tour, Ailey's extraordinary dancers will move audiences in France in a series of 15 premieres, new productions and repertory favorites, sharing internationally the next era in Ailey history led by dynamic Artistic Director Robert Battle.
San Francisco's cutting-edge Cutting Ball Theater today announced the lineup for its 13th season. The season opens in October with Strindberg Cycle: The Chamber Plays in Rep, August Strindberg's Chamber Plays in new translations by Paul Walsh, directed by Cutting Ball Artistic Director Rob Melrose; this will be the first time all five of Strindberg's Chamber Plays will be performed together in repertory in any language.
The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the full slate of 34 musical productions and special events for its ninth annual festival. This year's Festival will begin July 9th and continue through July 29th. An additional slate of free events, including 12 staged readings and several educational panel discussions, will be announced shortly.
The Old Globe's 2012-13 Season will feature the World Premieres of two new musicals: Allegiance - A New American Musical by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak. The season also includes George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion in celebration of the classic play's 100th anniversary and the World Premiere of a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House by Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey and Kirsten Brandt. Two recent Broadway hits will make their San Diego debuts at the Globe: David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People and Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities. Rounding out the season are the West Coast Premiere of Bekah Brunstetter's Be a Good Little Widow and the Southern California Premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brothers Size.
Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Nixon will join soprano Lisa Delan and pianist Kristin Pankonin in an evening that features Gordon Getty's The White Election, a song cycle based on the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Ms. Nixon will read selections from Emily Dickinson's letters. The event will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse (Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 165 West 65th Street, Manhattan).
Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Nixon will join soprano Lisa Delan and pianist Kristin Pankonin in an evening that features Gordon Getty's The White Election, a song cycle based on the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Ms. Nixon will read selections from Emily Dickinson's letters. The event will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse (Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, 165 West 65th Street, Manhattan).
Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that critically acclaimed Broadway actress Rachel York will star as "Reno Sweeney" in the national tour of the 2011 Tony® Award winning Anything Goes. Presented by Roundabout Theatre Company, the national tour will set sail in Cleveland this fall. Anything Goes is the winner of three Tony® Awards including Best Musical Revival.
Peter Gill, returns to his native city with a portrait of provincial life in 1890s Russia. Based on Chekhov's short story, A Provincial Life follows one young man's struggle to exchange his privileged position for the life of a worker.
Let's see what the critics had to say about the new Broadway production of Arthur Miller's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece DEATH OF A SALESMAN directed by eight-time Tony Award® winner Mike Nichols and starring Academy Award® winner Philip Seymour Hoffman as Willy Loman, Obie Award winner Linda Emond as Linda Loman and Andrew Garfield, making his Broadway debut as Biff Loman.
Peter Gill, returns to his native city with a portrait of provincial life in 1890s Russia. Based on Chekhov's short story, A Provincial Life follows one young man's struggle to exchange his privileged position for the life of a worker.
Led by Miami native Robert Battle in his inaugural season as Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's favorite dance companies, returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County through February 26 as part of a 27-city North American Tour. Following critically-acclaimed sold out performances in New York City, Ailey's extraordinary dancers will move audiences in two special programs containing a series of premieres and new productions that launch an exciting new era in Ailey history. Ailey's Miami engagement in the Ziff Ballet Opera House, is part of the Knight Masterworks Season, Sanford and Beatrice Ziff Dance Series.
Those who have made significant contributions to the arts in a variety of categories will be recognized for their achievements in enriching the communities and citizens of Utah at the 7th Annual Star Awards held Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem.
Led by Miami native Robert Battle in his inaugural season as Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's favorite dance companies, returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County from February 23 through 26 as part of a 27-city North American Tour. Following critically-acclaimed sold out performances in New York City, Ailey's extraordinary dancers will move audiences in two special programs containing a series of premieres and new productions that launch an exciting new era in Ailey history. Ailey's Miami engagement in the Ziff Ballet Opera House, is part of the Knight Masterworks Season, Sanford and Beatrice Ziff Dance Series.
Those who have made significant contributions to the arts in a variety of categories will be recognized for their achievements in enriching the communities and citizens of Utah at the 7th Annual Star Awards held Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem.
Led by Miami native Robert Battle in his inaugural season as Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, one of the world's favorite dance companies, returns to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County from February 23 through 26 as part of a 27-city North American Tour. Following critically-acclaimed sold out performances in New York City, Ailey's extraordinary dancers will move audiences in two special programs containing a series of premieres and new productions that launch an exciting new era in Ailey history. Ailey's Miami engagement in the Ziff Ballet Opera House, is part of the Knight Masterworks Season, Sanford and Beatrice Ziff Dance Series.
Headlining the most successful entertainment of all time, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Michael Crawford was actually not the first name the creative team considered for the gothic musical undertaking during its creation in the mid-1980s, believe it or not. Steve Harley famously recorded the original single of the title song with composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's muse Sarah Brightman and subsequently starred in the grandiose Ken Russell fever dream music video. While the public and critics alike assumed Harley's bid for the lead role in the gestating show was all but guaranteed after the video debut, it was not meant to be. Master director Hal Prince had his sights set on a British stage and screen star who had made a name with American audiences decades before in the troubled film versions of two Broadway hits - A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and HELLO, DOLLY! - as well as made a name for himself the world over in the British sitcom SOME MOTHERS DO 'AVE 'EM. Crawford had also cemented his place in the musical theatre with his roles in FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON and BILLY, but it was PHANTOM that would catapult him into the ranks of iconic musical megastar. So, today, let us take a look at what made Michael Crawford's performance in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA so unforgettable as we celebrate this week's US release of the simply spectacular DVD/Blu-ray of the 25th anniversary production mounted late last year at the Royal Albert Hall starring Ramim Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, loving assembled and presented by original lead producer Cameron Mackintosh and featuring a grand finale complete with original PHANTOM cast-members Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, among a host of other glories.
Videos
