Not So Long Ago 1920 - Articles Page 2

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the greatest theatrical works (non-musical) from 1920-2020; see if your favorites made the list!

After a raucous sold-out performance this summer, Amber Martin returns with her tribute to the legendary Continental Baths and Bathhouse-era Bette Midler... in Bathhouse Bette. This performance focuses on the early 70's era of Bette Midler during Continental Baths days singing with her as yet unknown accompanist was Barry Manilow. As per the fashion of Bette... copious amounts of singing, stories, and dancing ensue!

Sitting Bull. Geronimo. Red Cloud. These are some of the famous historical Native American figures featured in a rare collection of photographs newly acquired by the University of Michigan William L. Clements Library.

25 Shows & Performances in the Tampa Bay Area That Rocked Our World from 2010 to 2019!

The cabaret sensation will help the patrons of 54 Below ring in the New Year with a brand new show... and this time he's doing something he has never done before.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the company for A Thousand Splendid Suns, adapted for the stage by Ursula Rani Sarma and based on the 2007 New York Times bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini (Kite Runner). Set in 1992 in war-torn Afghanistan, this gripping story centers around a friendship that develops between two Afghan women following a tragedy. While facing insurmountable odds of a brutal and oppressive way of life, the two form an unlikely bond in a heart-rending fight for survival. Directed by Carey Perloff, A Thousand Splendid Suns runs January 17 - March 1, 2020 in the Kreeger Theater.

David Hirata is the creator and sole performer of a?oeA Box Without a Bottom (Soko-nashi Bako)a?? currently running at The Marsh Berkeley. Within the context of a magic show, Mr. Hirata connects his own personal story to that of earlier Japanese magicians in a way that explores the illusions of race and identity in America. Talking with him, it's evident that he's a true magic geek as he delights in sharing his extensive knowledge about the history of magic and finding hidden links to his heritage as a Japanese American.

There's a reason that Frank Loesser's a?oeGuys & Dollsa?? has endured all these years and keeps coming back, it's a near perfect musical. It's fun and frothy with that rare breed of songs that all move the story along and tell a story of their own. But with these songs, and because of them, you need a love story that reads true, connections with everyone on stage, and storytelling in the staging and choreography as well as in the dialog and lyrics. And while the current production at Village Theatre has some numbers that worked and some wonderful performers, it lacked those three elements making the show a nice collection of performances with no spark or cohesion.

It's true what they say; the classics never do go out of style. That's particularly true with 1927's The Jazz Singer. The first feature-length 'sound film,' Alan Crosland's The Jazz Singer made history with its use of synchronized sound, however it's also remembered for its controversial use of blackface. Now, almost a century later, audience members get the opportunity to re-discover such a significant production in an entirely new medium.

Broadway and TV actor Frances Jue is currently starring in TheatreWorks' production of Julia Cho's 'The Language Archive.' Mr. Jue recently talked to BroadwayWorld about his lengthy and surprising career path, from his formative experiences with Stephen Sondheim and TheatreWorks to working with Tony winners David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori, and of course his continuing role on the CBS television series 'Madam Secretary.' His fascinating story serves as an inspiring example for anyone who doesn't see a clear path to success or struggles to find a place to fit in.

First Stage is delighted to announce its upcoming 2019/20 season. The 33rd season includes a little something for every member of the family - including Madeleine L'Engle's beloved sci-fi/fantasy adventure A WRINKLE IN TIME; an epic musical battle royale in THE LEGEND OF ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS; a cup overflowing with heart and inspiration in playwright/actor James DeVita's world premiere play ALEX AND THE AMAZING LEMONADE STAND; a huge dose of holiday cheer in ELF - The Musical, which leaps from the screen to Broadway and now to First Stage; the bilingual, world premiere play ON THE WINGS OF A MARIPOSA - and so much more! This upcoming season is bound to offer the best family experiences in Milwaukee and to those Milwaukee theatergoers who enjoy great theater.

The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre launched its 2019 20 season on 4th March with the theme Long Live the Classics! , both prolonging the appeal of works that have stood the test of time and creating new homegrown works in hopes of developing tomorrow's classics. Season highlights include the contemporary Chinese masterpiece A Dream Like a Dream, the renowned Cantonese musical The Good Person of Szechwan, a preview of The Great Pretender a musical and revivals of the celebrated productions Le P re and The Big Meal as well as the 2019 edition of Invisible Men, the Australian play Speaking in Tongues, and two Black Box productions: The Unforgettable Chapter and The Ward.

Multiple Grammy and Oscar winning artist, musician and producer T Bone Burnett gave a thought provoking keynote speech at SXSW today, warning of the current dangers of the dominance of digital monopolies like Google and Facebook, while championing the value of the independence of artists. See below for the full text of the speech.

'19: The Musical' is the brainchild of Through the 4th Wall co-founders, Jennifer Schwed and Doug Bradshaw. Both DC natives, Schwed and Bradshaw conceived the idea of a musical about the passage of the 19th Amendment back in 2016, and have been overseeing workshops and concert performances for a little over a year, with an eye toward a full production in time for the Amendment's centennial in 2020.

Premiere Stages at Kean University will present Martin Casella's 'Black Tom Island' from October 11 to October 21 at the 1882 Carriage House, Liberty Hall Museum. Broadwayworld.com had the pleasure of interviewing Casella about his career and the upcoming show.

A dark horse candidate with little political acumen lacking in smarts is battling to become the Republican candidate for president, while keeping silent one in a series of illicit affairs. Sound familiar? In 'Fifteen Men In a Smoke-Filled Room,' playwright Colin Speer Crowley focuses on the candidacy of Warren Gamaliel Harding, who would become the 29th President of the United States. The play examines his loveless marriage and lack of appetite for the political machinations that would eventually result in his election.

'Hey Nonny Nonny!' 'Sigh No More!' Shakespeare's classic, playful comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, is this year's rip-roaring Season 5 opener for the vibrant, 30 by Ninety Theatre in Mandeville, Louisiana. This suburban playhouse, positioned just across the lake from New Orleans, is named for its' common latitude and longitude, but doesn't hold back on big city ambitions to invigorate, entertain, and challenge local audiences to grow from shared experiences through the stage. It is an idea not lost on Shakespeare himself nearly five millennials ago.

Today's subject Ann Hould-Ward is both a Tony and Drama Desk Award winning costume designer. Her work isn't limited just to the theatre by any means. Besides contributing designs for such legendary Broadway productions as Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George (co-design with her mentor Broadway legend Patricia Zipprodt), her work has also been seen with many dance and opera companies all over the world.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature A CHORUS LINE, BEAUTIFUL, and More!

As part of BroadwayWorld's expansive coverage of the 72nd Annual Tony Awards, we are providing the full text of all of the acceptance speeches; from the emotional to the bizarre, and everything in between. Keep up with all of the winners' speeches on our continuously updated list below.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature TONY DANZA, LES MISERABLES, THE WHO'S TOMMY, And More!

It is always exciting when you sit in a theater to see the world premiere of a new musical. The Arena Stage's Kreeger Theater was a buzz in anticipation of SNOW CHILD which is a co-production with Alaska's Perseverance Theatre. Why Perseverance? Well, Arena Stage's Artistic Director Molly Smith actually grew up in Alaska, returned there after schooling and founded the Perseverance Theatre in Juneau. She served as Artistic Director there for 19 years before coming to Arena Stage. Four years ago, Smith and Perseverance Artistic Director Art Rotch discussed the idea for an adaptation for SNOW CHILD.

Continuing the momentum created with the current season launch of its Music Knows No Borders series, Executive Director Thor Steingraber unveils the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts' 2018-19 Season, which features four world premieres, two American premieres, several of the world's greatest orchestras, innovative jazz programs, two tributes to Hollywood legends, Broadway classics plus artists from 18 different nations who will appear on stage at The Soraya next season.  New Subscription Series tickets will go on sale May 1, 2018.

Once in a while, you come across a stage show that, on paper, may not have had the buzz that other high-profile shows may have had initially, but then you see it … and it just completely surprises you in the best possible way. That pretty much sums up my recent experience with the oh-so delightful NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, Musical Theatre West's buoyant and sublime new regional production of the 10-time Tony Award-nominated 2012 musical comedy now on stage at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach, CA through April 22. An irresistibly silly and infectiously tuneful stage show that will have you smiling from start to finish, this roaring 20's throwback with modern sensibilities provides lots of zany antics, lots of witty one-liners, and lots of spectacular song-and-dance showstoppers that will have you wondering---where has this show been all my life?

Under the direction of conductor Anton Armstrong, the St. Olaf Choir kicks off an 11-city tour on January 31, 2018 at Seattle's Benaroya Hall. For more than a century the world-renowned St. Olaf Choir has set a gold standard for choral singing and for this tour the ensemble's 75 singers present an eclectic program of sacred and secular choral masterpieces that range from Baroque classics to American folk songs, world music, hymns, and spirituals.