I'm Still Here...Damn It! 1998 - Articles Page 2.6

Torian Miller is an actor. His roots in performing came from acting and improve. He has been in Abbott Elementary, Wool, and most recently Fire Island where he played Max.

With honest lyrics like while all my friends are holding hands in hallways, out for the whole damn world to see, I'm hoping I won't spend the rest of always wondering what it's like to be, '16 and in Love' is one of Spencer's most genuine songs yet.

John Patrick Shanley’s The Dreamer Examines His Pillow, is a complex and intricate story that dives not only into the depths of our subconscious but boldly sits on the surface level of our emotions as well. Allowing us as the audience to not only deep dive within the minds of these characters, but into our own past or current circumstances. Shanley’s piece while complex is told within the length of 3 scenes ultimately ending with the audience making up their own conclusion to not only the events of the story but our own lives as we’ve grown so accustomed. John Patrick Shanley achieves masterful work here even with this being an earlier part of his repertoire. Shanley, most famously known as the Pulitzer Prize/Tony Award-winning playwright for Doubt, and the Oscar-winning Moonstruck has written 23 plays most of which he has gone on to direct, and is a Screenwriter on 9 Feature Films. Out of his 23 plays few have been performed in the Tampa Bay area, so it’s a much-needed breath of fresh air that TampaRep has decided to produce one of his earlier works, and still find relevance in the piece today. Director Chris Marshall, who has wanted to direct a Shanley play for some time says it best in his Director’s Notes, “...Our process has been about using the power of language to connect, though to do so is terrifying. It’s been equally about fierce listening and seeking to be affected as a listener, something we do less and less of these days. In these spaces (the theatre as theatre and as the room to hold scenic representations), we have finite opportunity, space, and time to connect, to learn, to discover. What a gift.”

The show opens with a Ghost Light center stage. As most shows of a Brechtian nature go, characters of nondescript fashion layout the evening events in the manner of Prologue. The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, or as it is subtitled “The Parable Play,” tells the story of the rise of Arturo Ui a fictional Chicago Mobster as he ruthlessly tries to control the Chicago vegetable market despite opposition. A political satire based on Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in Nazi Germany prior to the events of World War II.

Los Angeles-based indie rock band Near Beer — Joey Siara (vocals, guitar), Brent Stranathan (drums), Jeremy Levy (bass, backup vocals) — have shared a brand new single entitled 'Yelling at a Dog.' It comes off their self-titled album. The band describes the album as a set of 'mini-anthems about insomnia, drinking, and human connection.'

Never before produced comedy with two female older leads, and four men of varying ages, it's a laugh-out-loud dysfunctional love fest.

Tonys time is here at least! The nominations for the 75th Annual Tony Awards were announced this morning by Adrienne Warren and Joshua Henry. This year's nominees are checking in with BroadwayWorld to tell us all about how they got the news. Check back for live updates!

Recently, I had the chance to speak with David about his experience in the theatre world, his off-Broadway directorial debut, and, of course, Disney! From Happy Meal toys to college professors, read on to learn more about how David became the person they are today and how he is contributing to both the theatre world and the Disney community.

Moving, heartfelt, and raw, Jagged Little Pill: The Novel draws on the musical’s story and gives readers deeper glimpses of the characters. It’s a story about the power of voicing your pain, standing up for what’s right, and finding healing and connection. BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you an excerpt from the book.

Lekkerboy is the perfect reflection of the journey Sticky Fingers have been on thus far. Written over the pandemic and the first time in thirteen years that the band were isolated from each other, living in different places across the country, the band eventually reconnected to make some of their best work to date. 

Ana Nogueira is a multi-talented writer and actor whose current and upcoming work includes everything from a world premiere Off-Broadway play, to feature films, and a role on the small screen. Ana's play WHICH WAY TO THE STAGE, now in previews at MCC Theater, will officially open on Tuesday May 10 for a limited engagement through May 22, 2022.

The term hometown hero is an understatement when it comes to John Devereaux. Having spent his formative years within Space City, attending Westfield High School and Texas Christian University, John Devereaux is excited to be back in home and around family as he tours with HAMILTON.

San Francisco Ballet's remarkable new Program 2 features 3 terrifically enjoyable works, including a new dance by William Forsythe set to the music of James Blake, and Jerome Robbins' rapturously romantic classic 'In the Night.' It runs through February 13th at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.

Anyone that has read my reviews or columns over the years knows that I always pay attention to the orchestrations and orchestrator of any given musical. Let’s face it, without the orchestrator, the score is only a piano. Today’s subject Doug Besterman has been living his theatre life for many years as an orchestrator for Broadway, regional, and West End theatre as well as doing scoring for films and TV.

In partnership, Skylight Theatre Company and Playwrights' Arena have launched the first of four World Premiere productions for the 2021/2022 Season with Inda Craig-Galván's play A HIT DOG WILL HOLLER. Read my interview with her about the process of bringing the play to life onstage at the Skylight Theatre.

The most important figure in musical theatre history is gone; let's celebrate his life by listening to his incredible works. Reviewer Peter Nason gets you started by listing his choices for the 91 greatest Sondheim songs.

In the wake of Stephen Sondheim's passing, there has been an outpouring of grief from the Broadway community and beyond. Read them all here.

Whether it's a memory of seeing a middle school performance in an orchestra classroom like yours truly, watching the movie for a class, or starring as Tevye in your high school’s production, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who has no connection to the musical. And for cast members in the current National Tour like Jack O’Brien, that means being received by audiences like an old friend.

The musical stars Edred Utomi as Alexander Hamilton, alongside Josh Tower as Aaron Burr, Zoe Jensen as Eliza Hamilton, Bryson Bruce as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, Jon Viktor Corpuz as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton, Tyler Belo as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, and more.

Alex Wyse and Ben Fankhauser have joined forces to write and star in A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet, a new musical off-Broadway. The show is “is everything you want the first new musical premiering in NYC to be: whip-smart and stupid funny, packed with songs as catchy as a jingle.” I had the opportunity to see Regina Comet this past weekend and had such a fun time!

CHICKEN & BISCUITS officially opens on October 10, at the Circle in the Square Theatre. Meet the cast here and learn more about who is starring in this new play!

The national tour of MY FAIR LADY opens October 7th in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre, running through October 31st. Bartlett Sher directs this timeless story of Professor Henry Higgins’ experiment to transform the social standings of Eliza Doolittle, a lowly flower girl, to one fitting comfortably in high society. MY FAIR LADY, brimming with familiar musical standards, stars Laird Mackintosh as Professor Higgins and Shereen Ahmed as Eliza Doolittle. Had the chance to catch Laird during his offstage time before his evening performance.

The cast is led by Pierre Jean Gonzalez as Alexander Hamilton, with Ta'Rea Campbell, Marcus Choi, Jared Dixon, Desmond Sean Ellington, Warren Egypt Franklin, Neil Haskell, Elijah Malcomb Stephanie Jae Park, Paige Smallwood, and more.

Performance artist John Fleck will present four live, work-in-progress performances of his musical cabaret/special event it’s alive, IT’S ALIVE! at the Odyssey Theatre starting September 18th. Had the chance to chat up this infamous NEA FOUR artist on his creativity, his patience in the makeup chair and his creative history with David Schweizer.

How lucky are we in Wichita to have such a wonderful theatre community?! Better still, how lucky are we to have such a gem like Music Theatre Wichita? Producing Director Wayne Bryan and his cohort of Wichita Favorites paid homage to the city that has supported MTW for the past 50 years by showering them with some of the amazing talent that has graced the Concert Hall stage. Talent that was nurtured by Wayne and the MTW organization; talent that cut their baby teeth and grew up on the Concert Hall stage.