Can-Can 2004 - Articles Page 33

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that its new play development program, HOTHOUSE AT THE PLAYHOUSE, resumes this fall and will be produced in collaboration with Furious Theatre Company (Pasadena Playhouse's Artists in Residency since 2004). Furious co-founder Dámaso Rodriguez will head the HOTHOUSE program and is set to direct the fall 2010 season's first reading The Confessions of Deacon Jim by Jason Aaron Goldberg on October 28-29, 2010 at Pasadena Playhouse's Carrie Hamilton Theatre (39 South El Molino). The reading will feature Eric Close (CBS's 'Without a Trace') and Jonathan Tucker (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre).

Lead producers Margo Lion and Hal Luftig announced today that the new musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will open on Broadway Sunday, April 10, 2011 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced. This new musical, created by a team of Tony winners, features a book by Terrence McNally, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, choreography by Jerry Mitchell and is directed by Jack O'Brien. Previews begin March 7, 2011. Casting and additional design team will be announced shortly.

Rundgren, IU's ninth Wells Professor, will teach the middle two weeks of a four-week, one-credit hour honors course designed for a maximum of 25 Wells Scholars and Hutton Honors Scholars. The class commences in late October and finishes in mid-November. Co-teaching the class will be IU Professor of Music Glenn Gass -- whose relationship with Rundgren helped make the professorship possible -- and IU Distinguished Professor of Sociology Bernice Pescosolido, who was instrumental in helping to plan the course. Gass, a professor at IU's world-class Jacobs School of Music, said he sees Rundgren's engagement at IU as the start of a trend in which legendary rock stars share their knowledge with a new generation. Rundgren, who performs frequently, gave a concert at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis on Sept. 11. 'Todd is a treasure trove of memories, knowledge, stories . . .,' Gass said. 'This class is a way for him to celebrate what he's done and allows him to share his experiences with students who really want to hear what he has to say.' In addition to learning about the culture, politics and economics of the music business, from the 1970s through today, students will visit Professor of Anthropology Nicholas Toth at IU's Stone Age Institute to view some of the earliest tools used for making music. 'I think the students will love it. For us, the appeal of the class is really both Todd and Glenn,' said Professor of Physics Tim Londergan, director of the Wells Scholars Program. Londergan is a self-professed rock 'n' roll fan who has audited three of Gass' courses. The Rundgren course is currently full with a waiting list, and course auditors/visitors, including IU students not registered for the class, cannot be accommodated. During his stay in Bloomington, Rundgren will give a public lecture titled 'LONGHAIR: Todd Rundgren on the Beatles Effect' at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 in Ballantine Hall 013. He will also present a Halloween-night recital titled 'CLUSTER: The Birth of the T Chord' at 8 p.m. Oct. 31 in Auer Hall. Both are free and open to the public. Gass said he asked Rundgren to talk about the Beatles both because of Rundgren's collaborations with various members of the band and because of the window it will provide into his own music. 'If it was going to be 'Todd talks about Todd,' he may have felt awkward,' Gass said. 'By asking him to talk about the Beatles, we can get more insight into his music, too.' Rundgren's unique associations with the Beatles include a number of covers, participation in the Ringo All-Star Band and co-producing the power pop band Badfinger with George Harrison. When Harrison died, Rundgren did a highly acclaimed version of 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' for a tribute album. In 1980, Rundgren and his then-band Utopia, did a loving sendup of the Beatles (Deface the Music) that Gass calls 'just genius.' Rundgren is also a longtime Beatles fan who credits Harrison with inventing the 'lead guitar' player, Gass said. 'When Todd was in the band Nazz, he wasn't the lead singer -- he was the lead guitar player -- which in the 50s meant one of the backup musicians. Because of George, lead guitar now means you're one of the band's leaders.' Glenn Gass Print-Quality Photo Gass initially met Rundgren in Hawaii, when Gass and his wife were on sabbatical for a year (and where they spent the past two summers). 'The kids start taking the bus together and the next thing you know, you're going to cookouts at Todd's,' Gass said. 'I quickly learned that everything they said about him was true. He's brilliant, articulate, really interesting -- and interested in things far beyond his own work and even his music. He's just a really engaged human being.' Rundgren is also known for staying true to his artistic muse. 'He refused to take the easy way out,' Gass said. 'The easy way would have been to do five more songs like 'Hello, It's Me.' He paid a price for that, but in the long run, in 50 years, I think that's why he'll matter more than starts who may have had more hits.' Rundgren was the highest paid producer of the 1970s, producing bands that ranged from the New York Dolls, The Band and Patti Smith to Meat Loaf, Hall & Oates and Cheap Trick. On Aug. 1, 1981 -- the evening MTV debuted with 'Video Kills the Radio Star' by the Buggles -- Rundgren was ready with his music video for 'Time Heals,' which premiered on MTV the same evening. Always a fan of technology, Rundgren made his music available through online downloads about 10 years before iTunes ('Everyone had dial-up connections then,' Gass commented. 'His fate is always to be just a few years ahead of his time.'). Gass said after the Beatles broke up, he was personally attracted to singer-songwriters like James Taylor, Neil Young, Carole King, Joni Mitchell -- and Todd Rundgren. 'Todd was always one of the best and most interesting performers. Even in those early albums, it was clear he wasn't just a singer-songwriter,' Gass said. At turns, Rundgren played with electric guitar or classical riffs, producing his own double album in 1972, on which he also played all of the instruments. From the time he met Rundgren in Hawaii, Gass starting thinking of ways to bring the performer to IU. A confluence of events sparked by a Rundgren speaking engagement at DePauw University led to the IU professorship. DePauw's executive director of media relations, Ken Owen, is 'a huge Todd scholar -- Todd to him is like the Beatles to me,' Gass said. 'All of a sudden it went from being a day dream to being a real possibility, and now it's actually happening,' Gass said. 'He really can call himself Professor Rundgren. This is not a gimmick: He is the Wells Professor.' About the Wells Professorships The Wells professorships are made possible by gifts from the IU classes of 1941, 1942 and 1963. Previous Wells professors have included the Honorable Helen Suzman, a South African political leader (Class of 1941 Wells Professor in 1993), Sir Malcolm Bradbury, a novelist-screenwriter-critic (Class of 1942 Wells Professor in 1997), and Holocaust scholar Christopher Browning (Class of 1943 Wells Professor in 2003). The most recently appointed Wells Professors were Sir (now Lord) Timothy Garden (Class of 1941 Wells Professor) and artist Robert Colescott (Class of 1943 Wells Professor), both of whom taught at IU in 2004.

The Miss America Organization and ABC announced today Chris Harrison will host the 2011 Miss America Pageant when it is broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, January 15 at 8 P.M. ET. The 2011 Pageant marks the 90th anniversary of the Miss America Pageant. Previously, Harrison hosted the pageant in 2004.

A college tour is not new for Nhojj. In 2004 he toured American colleges to promote his critically acclaimed 'Someday Peace Love & Freedom' CD. This time around there is no album to promote - just a deep rooted conviction that this is what he should do right now. In a society where homophobia still exists, Nhojj wants to share strength, hope, and pride with Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) youth everywhere. The message is - Love is a gift from God, and regardless of sexual orientation 'Love Is Love.'

Stoneham Theatre presents Always ... Patsy Cline, starring Becky Barta. Performances run from July 8 through July 25: Thurs. (7:30 pm), Fri. (8 pm), Sat. (4 pm & 8 pm), Sun. (2 pm). Tickets: $48 regular admission, $42 for seniors, $20 for students; with student/senior discount matinees available. [Special pay what you can performance on Thurs., July 8.] Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main Street, Stoneham. Wheelchair accessible. For advance tickets and information, visit or call the Box Office at 781-279-2200 (hours Tues.-Sat., 1-6pm) or log onto www.stonehamtheatre.org.

Stoneham Theatre presents Always ... Patsy Cline, starring Becky Barta. Performances run from July 8 through July 25: Thurs. (7:30 pm), Fri. (8 pm), Sat. (4 pm & 8 pm), Sun. (2 pm). Tickets: $48 regular admission, $42 for seniors, $20 for students; with student/senior discount matinees available. [Special pay what you can performance on Thurs., July 8.] Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main Street, Stoneham. Wheelchair accessible. For advance tickets and information, visit or call the Box Office at 781-279-2200 (hours Tues.-Sat., 1-6pm) or log onto www.stonehamtheatre.org.

Stoneham Theatre presents Always ... Patsy Cline, starring Becky Barta. Performances run from July 8 through July 25: Thurs. (7:30 pm), Fri. (8 pm), Sat. (4 pm & 8 pm), Sun. (2 pm). Tickets: $48 regular admission, $42 for seniors, $20 for students; with student/senior discount matinees available. [Special pay what you can performance on Thurs., July 8.] Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main Street, Stoneham. Wheelchair accessible. For advance tickets and information, visit or call the Box Office at 781-279-2200 (hours Tues.-Sat., 1-6pm) or log onto www.stonehamtheatre.org.

Barbra Streisand, the multi-gifted artist added another feather to her hat on May 25th by appearing in a casual setting at this year's BookExpo America (BEA) at the Opening Night Keynote Reception. This was the most anticipated keynote speaking event that the BookExpo experienced since Bill Clinton did the same event in 2004. People lined up a day early to secure tickets to be sure that they would see Barbra, and they did - in a new light and interviewed by the equally well known in popular culture - Gayle King, who is now a New Yorker.

The 2010 Freddy Awards are scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 27 at the State Theatre in Easton. If you can't be there in person, watch it live on 69-WFMZ and WFMZ.com at 7:00 p.m. For the full list of nominees visit: http://www.WFMZ.com/freddys.

The 2010 Freddy Awards are scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 27 at the State Theatre in Easton. If you can't be there in person, watch it live on 69-WFMZ and WFMZ.com at 7:00 p.m. For the full list of nominees visit: http://www.WFMZ.com/freddys.

Anthony Mackie, who can currently be seen on Broadway in A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE, will join Hugh Jackman in the forthcoming film 'Real Steel.' The film is set for a release in November 2011.

Against all odds, Los Angeles' El Portal Theatre celebrates 10 years of live theatre, following the rebuild of the historic movie venue, severely damaged by the Northridge Earthquake of 1994. To mark the anniversary, producers Jay Irwin and Pegge Forrest have programmed a line up of audience favorites and special events specifically catering to the historic theatre's loyal audience, including the return of the one and only Debbie Reynolds, Renee Taylor & Joe Bologna, Rip Taylor, Fritz Coleman, Adam Corolla, and brand new large-scale holiday musical extravaganza produced by the Lythgoe Family (So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars), plus a breath taking Parisian follies/cirque special for the summer.

Today, we present the final section of the Sondheim Palooza for this week with a discussion of Sondheim's work in the last two decades. The shows themselves stand as solid proof that this is a composer/lyricist still at the absolute height of his abilities and at the top of his game, as we can very clearly hear in the scores for ASSASSINS, PASSION, THE FROGS and ROAD SHOW...

Reprise Records will release The Original Broadway Cast Recording of American Idiot on April 20, 2010, the same day the show will open at the St. James Theatre in New York City. The official album features the 24-member cast accompanied by Green Day, marking another incredible collaboration between the band and the musical. Based on Green Day's chart-topping 2004 album American Idiot, the musical and the cast recording include every song from American Idiot, as well as several songs from the band's GRAMMY® Award-winning current album 21st Century Breakdown.

Reprise Records will release The Original Broadway Cast Recording of American Idiot on April 20, 2010, the same day the show will open at the St. James Theatre in New York City. The official album features the 24-member cast accompanied by Green Day, marking another incredible collaboration between the band and the musical. Based on Green Day's chart-topping 2004 album American Idiot, the musical and the cast recording include every song from American Idiot, as well as several songs from the band's GRAMMY® Award-winning current album 21st Century Breakdown.

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS makes its much-anticipated premiere Sunday, April 11, 2010 at the Circus Theatre in Scheveningen, Holland, outside of Amsterdam. This marks the fifth major production of the title since it opened in London in 2004. Only three months after the Dutch opening, a sixth production opens in Melbourne, Australia in July 2010.

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's MARY POPPINS makes its much-anticipated premiere Sunday, April 11, 2010 at the Circus Theatre in Scheveningen, Holland, outside of Amsterdam. This marks the fifth major production of the title since it opened in London in 2004. Only three months after the Dutch opening, a sixth production opens in Melbourne, Australia in July 2010.

2004 is hardly ancient history. Sure, things have changed in this country, but in many ways we're still feeling the remnants of the previous administration. We don't need it treated like a relic, or a chapter in the proverbial textbook.

Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Co-Founder and Executive Director) and INTAR (Eduardo Machado, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director) will present Havana Journal, 2004, a new play by Eduardo Machado, directed by Stefanie Sertich, beginning performances Friday, March 26th and continuing through April 18th only, at Theater for the New City, 155 1st Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets. Opening Night is set for Saturday April 3rd.

Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Co-Founder and Executive Director) and INTAR (Eduardo Machado, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director) will present Havana Journal, 2004, a new play by Eduardo Machado, directed by Stefanie Sertich, beginning performances Friday, March 26th and continuing through April 18th only, at Theater for the New City, 155 1st Avenue between 9th and 10th Streets. Opening Night is set for Saturday April 3rd.

'The Cove,' 'Man on Wire' and 'An Inconvenient Truth' will be among the 12 Oscar-winning short and feature documentaries that will screen as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 'Oscar's Docs, Part Six: Academy Award-Winning Documentaries 2004-2009' beginning Monday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy's Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

'The Cove,' 'Man on Wire' and 'An Inconvenient Truth' will be among the 12 Oscar-winning short and feature documentaries that will screen as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 'Oscar's Docs, Part Six: Academy Award-Winning Documentaries 2004-2009' beginning Monday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy's Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood.

The New York Philharmonic will present SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert on March 15 and Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. This celebration of the 80th birthday of the great Broadway and film composer/lyricist will include his most enduring orchestral music and songs - performed, in some cases, by the stars of the original Broadway cast productions - in addition to rarely-heard material. Joining the celebration will be (in alphabetical order) Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Jason Danieley, Nathan Gunn, George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, and others to be announced, including surprise guests. Paul Gemignani, Mr. Sondheim's longtime collaborator, will conduct the New York Philharmonic; Lonny Price is the director; and Mr. Price and Matt Cowart are the producers.

Thirty-something-year-old Chicago-based saxophonist, composer and bandleader Chris Greene is no overnight sensation. He has paid his dues on the Chicago club scene since the early 90's, playing in bands like The Trippin' Billies and Kevin O'Donnell's Quality Six, and freelanced on the city's rich jazz scene. He studied at Indiana University, home of one of the country's strongest Jazz Studies Programs, and formed his first band, Chris Greene and New Perspective, in 1994. That band performed regularly, and released two albums of what Greene calls 'electric jazz/funk/hip-hop/fusion' music, 'On The Verge' (1998) and 'jazz' (2004). In 2005 he formed his current unit, The Chris Greene Quartet (or 'CGQ'), a band that has maintained a stable roster since its inception.