Just Once 1986 - Articles Page 5

Dixon Place will present a developmental production of SEX V. LOVE: A Musical With Words and Dance Only; Just Kidding; Sadly, A Latino Investigation of Neo-Sex; Can We Ever Forgive The OG White Capitalist Who Invented Porn?; Or, Have You Ever Felt Guilty For Using A Water Cup At Chipotle For Soda?; Take That Feeling, Acknowledge It, Embrace It, Squash It. by Sean Anthony Chia.

In celebration of her upcoming induction into the National Theater Hall of Fame on November 18th, I sat down with Broadway legend, Donna McKechnie for a spirited, informative, career-spanning chat.

In his Broadway debut in 1988, BD Wong won his Tony Award (Best Featured Actor in a Play) for his ground-breaking role of Song Liling in David Henry Hwang's M. BUTTERFLY. Over the last year, in between shooting his two television series (as Whiterose on Mr. Robot, and as Awkwafina's father in Comedy Central's Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens), BD has managed to star in two theatrical productions of Lauren Yee's THE GREAT LEAP (in New York and in San Francisco), and now will be directing THE GREAT LEAP at the Pasadena Playhouse, which begins previews today November 6, 2019.

ABC is the home for unforgettable holiday programming as the network celebrates the joy of the season. In November, the network serves up a bounty of Thanksgiving-themed episodes and the classic animated special “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” In December, ABC decks the halls with special Christmas and Hanukkah-themed episodes—the return of fan-favorite series “The Great Christmas Light Fight” and “The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition”; and an all-new holiday movie, “Same Time, Next Christmas,” starring Lea Michele. Timeless cartoons and beloved holiday films will also return. The fun continues after Christmas with New Year's-themed programming ringing in 2020. 

On October 23 the Lied Center for Performing Arts will be filled to the magnificent chandelier with glorious sets, costumes, music, and 52 cast members and musicians, making this one of the largest touring productions. Derrick Davis, the first African American Phantom on national tour, is an artist who has realized his dream from childhood.

Actor-singer-dancer-choreographer Adam Fleming became a part of Broadway history originating the roles of Sketch in Hairspray and Lucas in Bare. In 2005, he starred in David Brind and Adam Salky's acclaimed short film, Dare, about two teenage boys' tense, spark-filled encounter in a pool following high school play practice. Dare gained a cult following as part of Strand Releasing's 'Boys Life' series and ultimately achieved worldwide popularity via more than 12 Million views on Youtube. The fan fervor (and fan fiction!) eventually inspired a sequel, ten years later. The original and the sequel are now being presented together as The Dare Project and attracting new legions of fans.

Rachel Bertone has set the bar high for the 45th anniversary season of the Lyric Stage Company with her pitch perfect production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Assuming the mantle of both director and choreographer, with the dependable Dan Rodriguez as music director by her side, Bertone and her design team capture the grit and the innocence of the story set in the early 1960s, while finding ways to punctuate it with flashes of contemporary pizzazz. Puppet designer Cameron McEachern has crafted an Audrey II without gender bias on its menu, and despite being voiced by a woman (Yewande Odetoyinbo), the plant is no shrinking violet.

Audiences are getting ready to head to Skid Row this fall! As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's classic sci-fi musical Little Shop of Horrors is returning to New York at the Westside Theatre, with previews beginning September 17th and opening night set for October 17th. The production is set to run for a limited engagement through November 24th. To prepare you to go somewhere that's green, we're getting to know the show's cast, including Jonathan Groff, Tammy Blanchard, Christian Borle, and more. Check it all out!

British synthpop stalwarts Nature of Wires present their new double album 'Modus', out on August 16 via Manchester's Analogue Trash label. Comprising 18 tracks, this is 80s-influenced synthpop with a dark edge. The album had its genesis in the late 80s and early 90s, when the band were in the middle of a creative hot streak.

An inspired choice of a show, the Hollywood Bowl has decided to present an effervescently buoyant new production of the Tony Award-winning 1986 musical INTO THE WOODS, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's much beloved twisted take on traditional fairy tale stories mashed together with witty charm, tongue-tying lyrics, and gallows humor. Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, this enjoyable, sublime production is exquisite and thoroughly delightful from start to finish---much of which can be attributed to its top-notch, musical theater-trained cast that includes Tony Winners Sutton Foster and Patina Miller giving exceptional acting and singing performances alongside theater favorites Cheyenne Jackson, Skylar Astin, Sierra Boggess, Hailey Kilgore, and Stranger Things breakout star Gaten Matarazzo. The show continues with two additional evening performances July 27-28, 2019.

Violinist Itzhak Perlman, one of the reigning artists of our day, will make a rare appearance for a recital to inaugurate the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts' 2019-2020 Season on September 19 at 7pm.  Perlman is accompanied by Rohan De Silva, piano.

Celebrating its 37th anniversary, Outfest - the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization promoting equality by creating, sharing, and protecting LGBTQ stories on the screen - today announced the complete programming lineup for the 2019 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival, presented by HBO. The nation's leading LGBTQ festival will be held July 18-28, 2019.

Dorothi Fox and Arthur French will star in the premiere of 'Imminently Yours' by Karimah, to be presented by The Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) from June 17 to 30 at Theatre 80, 80 St. Marks Place. The play deals with the socio/philosophical issues of expropriation of their land and history by eminent domain in today's politics.  A secret mountain enclave has been inhabited for centuries by descendants of slaves. When its tradition of secrecy is breached by a millenial resident, the remote hamlet is discovered by the state's governor, who aims to evict its elderly residents by eminent domain for nonpayment of taxes, but underestimates the savvy community there. The play depicts an antagonistic society pitted against elders who are peacefully reliving their history. Generations ban together as they learn the past, teach the present and fight for their legacy. Count Stovall directs.

Ute Lemper talks to BroadwayWorld UK about her role in Rendezvous with Marlene, her 'personal homage to that great lady', at the Arcola Theatre

The Actors' Gang's latest production VIOLENCE: THE MISADVENTURES OF SPIKE SPANGLE FARMER has just opened this week. This revival of their original 1986 piece, co-written by Actors' Gang Artistic Director Tim Robbins and frequent collaborator Adam Simon, seems, unfortunately, timely as ever. Adam shared with me his history with Actors' Gang, Tim and Roger Corman.

May is Lower East Side History Month, and Queer|Art is the new kid on the LES block, having recently relocated their offices from Nolita to the East Village this past year. Heralding their arrival to the neighborhood, they've organized four days of programming throughout May to celebrate the queer past, present, and future of their beloved new East Village home.

Like the rest of you, I've spent this week obsessing over 'Fosse Verdon' on FX and especially Gwen Verdon, played brilliantly on the series by Michelle Williams, in a performance that makes you want to reinvestigate what made Gwen so great. Sweet Charity is the perfect place to start. Gwen became a star and won her first Tony in a featured role in Can Can and she gained worldwide acclaim (and number 2 in a total of four Tonys) as Lola in Damn Yankees on stage and screen and of course there were many other shows and movies and TV appearances, but Sweet Charity was the show Bob Fosse (and Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields and Neil Simon) created just for her. She may have lost the Tony to Angela Lansbury in Mame, but Gwen got that iconic poster and all those songs.

As fans get ready for a new chapter of the Ghostbusters universe, attendees of the first-ever Ghostbusters Fan Fest, presented by Wizard World, will hear from Jason Reitman, the director and co-writer (with Gil Kenan) of Sony Pictures' upcoming 2020 Ghostbusters film, on the famed Sony Pictures Studio Lot this June 7th and 8th in Culver City, California. With Ghostbusters (1984) stars Dan Aykroyd (Dr. Raymond Stantz), Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore) and director and producer Ivan Reitman already slated to attend the event with several other stars from across the franchise and a bevy of themed activities, it's the ultimate, once-in-a-lifetime celebration of everything Ghostbusters.

Today's subject Laura Giannarelli has been living her theatre life for many years now on both sides of the footlights. As a performer she just completed a star turn in Gulf View Drive at Washington Stage Guild (WSG), the company she helped found back in 1986. The company's current show Resolving Hedda runs through April 14th at their home at The Undercroft Theatre at Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church.

Lauded jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, accompanied by THE MEMPHIS SOULPHONY, will be bringing her latest show MEMPHIS: YES, I'M READY, based on her latest musical release Memphis: Yes, I'm Ready to The Wallis for one night only March 23, 2019. The most warm and delightful Ms. Bridgewater managed to entertain and enlightened me on the phone for an informative, heartfelt forty-five minutes.

Everyone knows the musical all too well. At least for those who were already breathing theater when The Phantom of the Opera opened in London's West End in 1986, and on Broadway in 1988.

Zeiders American Dream Theater (The Z) in Town Center under the leadership of Artistic Director Bart Kuebler and Executive Director Terry Flint, is pleased to present the critically acclaimed, comical one-woman show The Pink Hulk: One Woman's Journey to Find the Superhero Within by playwright and two-time cancer survivor Valerie David.

The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) has selected six finalists for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association 2019 New Play Award, recognizing playwrights for the best scripts that premiered professionally outside New York City during 2018.

The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, today unveiled its feature film lineup. Continuing its tradition of elevating exceptional storytelling rooted in today's global film communities, the 18th annual Festival will showcase debut works from emerging talent and new works from notable filmmakers. The program includes discoveries, comedies, music-centered, political and social films. The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 24 - May 5.  

Sandy Hackett Rat Pack Show, which has stacked up rave reviews over the years, is a theatrical, musical production which recreates what it would have been like to see legendary icons, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop live onstage together. After a successful run in 2013, it returns to Bristol Riverside Theatre April 5 - 7, 2019.