A Contemporary Theatre Board President Colin Chapman announces that Artistic Director Kurt Beattie will retire at the end of ACT's 2015 50th Anniversary Season and will be succeeded by John Langs, a nationally recognized theatre artist who has served as ACT's Associate Artistic Director since 2013. Beattie, ACT's Artistic Director since 2003, will assume the role of Artistic Director Emeritus upon his retirement, stewarding long-term projects already in development as well as acting and directing in upcoming seasons.
I had the chance to catch SDSU's production of Spamalot on Saturday night Oct. 18th before it closed on Sunday the 19th. The first thing you need to know about this show is that is based on the 1975 movie Monty Python and The Search For the Holy Grail. Monty Python is a British comedy troupe known for its specific form of humor. Monty Python is referenced at just about every level of pop culture, as I am writing this my toddler is watching Sesame Street and a silly puppet is yelling, "Bring out your N!" which is a reference to, "Bring out yer dead!" from none other than Monty Python. Monty Python has a cult like following, to know Monty Python is to love Monty Python in most cases. In order to pull off the musical the cast had a responsibility to not only be familiar with Monty Python but to study it, in detail. This production of Spamalot did not disappoint. It was a wonderful night of theatre. It gave the audience the chance to sit back for two hours and be totally entertained.
With his unique vocal style, Grammy Award-winning Al Jarreau is one of the world's musical treasures. This special concert at Smothers Theatre in Malibu at 8 p.m. on Monday, December 15, showcases his warm, inimitable voice interpreting favorite holiday classics, as well as some of his biggest hits.
This morning we are taking a look at the illustrious career of Dame Maggie Smith. I mean, she's a Dame after all; Queen Elizabeth doesn't just hand those out to anyone. Her career includes highlights from on stage, including 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' 'Private Lives,' and 'Lettice and Lovage;' to in films as 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,' 'Sister Act,' and 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel;' to her iconic role as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham on 'Downton Abbey,' for which she is nominated for an Emmy for the fourth-consecutive year.
From September 4-14, 2014, Houston Ballet launches its 45th season with the company premiere of John Neumeier's three-act ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream. The ballet is based on Shakespeare's lighthearted play of the same name and follows the hijinks and hilarity that ensues when a well-intentioned plan with a love potion goes awry. Created in 1977, A Midsummer Night's Dream has served as Mr. Neumeier's calling card, being seen as one of his most joyous and popular creations. Houston Ballet is the first American ballet company to perform the famous work and it is the first piece by Mr. Neumeier to enter the Houston Ballet repertoire.
Following a critically acclaimed and sell-out run at the Finborough Theatre, the first production in sixty years of R. C. Sherriff's supernatural drama, The White Carnation transfers for a limited three week run to Jermyn Street Theatre, opening tonight, 4 February 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 6 February 2014 at 7.30pm). The show stars Michael Praed (Design for Living - West End, Robin of Sherwood, Dynasty) who joins the existing superlative Finborough Theatre cast, which includes acclaimed newcomer Daisy Boulton and Benjamin Whitrow (Mr. Bennet in BBC's Pride and Prejudice).
Following a critically acclaimed and sell-out run at the Finborough Theatre, the first production in sixty years of R. C. Sherriff's supernatural drama, The White Carnation transfers for a limited three week run to Jermyn Street Theatre, opening on Tuesday, 4 February 2014 (Press Night: Thursday, 6 February 2014 at 7.30pm). The show stars Michael Praed (Design for Living - West End, Robin of Sherwood, Dynasty) who joins the existing superlative Finborough Theatre cast, which includes acclaimed newcomer Daisy Boulton and Benjamin Whitrow (Mr. Bennet in BBC's Pride and Prejudice).
Whatever else you think of Richard Strauss, you can't accuse him of picking easy subjects. While Die Frau Ohne Schattenremains one of the most elusive of opera plots, Elektra among the most bloodthirsty and Salome among the most disturbing, it is the rarely-heard one-act Feuersnot that proved a step too far to Strauss's own audiences. But then what did he expect? The plot revolves around lust and sex – and the fact that it has always been regarded as possibly semi-autobiographical no doubt didn't help his cause. Yet the opera is fascinating enough that the world premiere was conducted by Gustav Mahler.
Whatever else you think of Richard Strauss, you can't accuse him of picking easy subjects. While Die Frau Ohne Schattenremains one of the most elusive of opera plots, Elektra among the most bloodthirsty and Salome among the most disturbing, it is the rarely-heard one-act Feuersnot that proved a step too far to Strauss's own audiences. But then what did he expect? The plot revolves around lust and sex – and the fact that it has always been regarded as possibly semi-autobiographical no doubt didn't help his cause. Yet the opera is fascinating enough that the world premiere was conducted by Gustav Mahler.
Yoshi's San Francisco announces updated calendar for club and restaurant through December 1. Details below!
Let's see what the critics had to say...
Director Dustin LeBlanc and company sing, dance, and don't... spoil... their pants in a ridiculously funny production of a very serious show indeed
Media Theater opens their exciting new season with a stellar production of SPAMALOT!
The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today the details of the additional programming that will complement the Main Slate selections at the 2013 New York Film Festival.
You know you aren't in for the typical Broadway musical, when, at the start of SPAMALOT, now on stage at Beck Center, a historian gives a brief overview of medieval England and a Finnish village appears with dancers slapping each other with dead fish as they perform the 'Fisch Schlapping Song.' That opening, complete with women knocking down their male partners, is just the start of the bizarre goings on.
It's difficult to know where to start with my praise for this outrageously spectacular production. Starting with a remarkable cast able to transform themselves into what seemed to be hundreds of characters in a matter of seconds, every single element combined brilliantly to make the production shine from start to finish.
In Texas, they like their legends. The Alamo, Sam Houston, even the Dallas Cowboys. And down in San Antonio they have another: the Krayolas, the band started in 1975 by the Saldana brothers, a pair of Mexican-American teenagers in love with powerpop. The great Augie Meyers, the Texas Tornado himself, calls them up to go in the studio with him, and Little Steven, Dave Marsh, and Ben Fong-Torres think they're the coolest thing since an iced bottle of Lone Star.
Celebrating the 80th birthday of playwright and novelist David Storey, the first London production in over 30 years - and the first production in London since the original National Theatre production- David Storey's Early Days plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Today and Monday evening and Tuesday matinee performances from tonight, 16 June 2013 (Press Night: Monday 17 June 2013 at 7.30pm).
Celebrating the 80th birthday of playwright and novelist David Storey, the first London production in over 30 years - and the first production in London since the original National Theatre production- David Storey's Early Days plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Sunday and Monday evening and Tuesday matinee performances from Sunday, 16 June 2013 (Press Night: Monday 17 June 2013 at 7.30pm).
Winner of the 2005 Tony Award for Best Musical, Monty Python's SPAMALOT tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table in 932AD as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail.
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) announced that the contract for Music Director Peter Oundjian has been extended through the end of the orchestra's 95th concert season in 2016-17. Toronto-born Peter Oundjian is the 10th Music Director in the history of the TSO. With the contract extension, Mr. Oundjian will be the longest serving Music Director since Sir Andrew Davis (1975-1987), who now serves as Conductor Laureate.
You will laugh out loud, even though you know what's coming next.
Newnan Theatre Company is proud to be staging the first amateur production in the state of Georgia of the musical comedy 'Monty Python's Spamalot.' The show contains all the best jokes and gags so fondly remembered from the 1975 movie 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' plus song and dance numbers that satirize Broadway theater and Las Vegas entertainment.
Newnan Theatre Company is proud to be staging the first amateur production in the state of Georgia of the musical comedy 'Monty Python's Spamalot.' The show contains all the best jokes and gags so fondly remembered from the 1975 movie 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' plus song and dance numbers that satirize Broadway theater and Las Vegas entertainment.
One of the great stage actors of our time once gave a chilling performance on the small screen that lured tourists to Broadway.
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