A Tale of Two Cities 2005 - Articles Page 18

Upon the January 27th Finale of six, sold-out nights of competition among 18 contestants at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA, the vivacious Theresa Anne Swain was named LA's Next Great Stage Star 2009. The annual talent search has become the most high profile stage competition in Los Angeles since its inception in 2006. Ms. Swain was awarded a $1000 cash prize, an equally lucrative, paid headlining engagement at Sterling's Upstairs. As the event's Gold Sponsor, the Sheraton Universal Hotel, located adjacent to Universal Studios, will provide the talented redhead with dinner for two at the hotel's noted 'California's Restaurant,' and an overnight stay in a beautifully appointed suite to coincide with her return to Sterling's on a date to be announced prior to May, 2009.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award-winner in years is coming to Cleveland. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will open at PlayhouseSquare's PalaceTheatre and play for 16 performances, March 3-15. Spring Awakening is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare. Spring Awakening swept the 2007 Tony Awards? winning eight out of its eleven nominations, including Best Musical, Best Director (Michael Mayer), Best Book (Steven Sater), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik), Best Lighting Design (Kevin Adams), Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher Jr.).

Broadway stars John Treacy Egan ('Little Mermaid'), Gregg Edelman ('Into the Woods,' 'Passion'), Alison Fraser ('Gypsy') and Kate Shindle ('Legally Blonde') will be featured in the cast at a benefit concert performance of the new musical EINSTEIN'S DREAMS-- based on Alan Lightman's best-selling novel -- for one performance only on Monday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.) in New York City.

Julie Taymor's hit production of Mozart's The Magic Flute returns to the Met as this season's special holiday presentation beginning December 22. The abridged, English-language version is specially priced to appeal to families and will have four matinees and one holiday evening performance, running through January 1.

British actress Rebecca Hall was cast as jetsetting Caroline Cushing, one of the few women who might tame notorious lothario David Frost. Ex-wife of wealthy socialite Howard Cushing, she met Frost shortly before he met with Nixon to propose the interview series; Cushing remained his girlfriend for several years thereafter. A former secretary to columnist Liz Smith, she later became successful Hollywood editor Caroline Graham.

This February, THE STORY OF MY LIFE, a new musical comes to Broadway. Starring Will Chase (Rent, Aida, The Full Monty) and Tony Award nominee Malcolm Gets (Amour, Merrily We Roll Along, 'Caroline in the City'), the show is directed by Tony Award winner Richard Maltby, Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Song & Dance), THE STORY OF MY LIFE features a score by Neil Bartram and a book by Brian Hill. Performances begin Tuesday, February 3rd on Broadway at The Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street). Opening night is Thursday, February 19th at 7:30PM.

Pittsburgh CLO's production of A Musical Christmas Carol will make musical memories once again at the Byham Theater from December 5 - 21. The talented cast will feature returning audience favorites as well as several new faces, including previously announced Pittsburgh native Tom Atkins as Scrooge.

Friday, November 7th, features a special PRE-PARTY edition of THE AFTER PARTY. This one night only event will present THE AFTER PARTY from 7:30pm to Midnight, rather than its usual time of 10:30pm to 4am. THE AFTER PARTY's PRE-PARTY will feature Avenue Q's SHARON WHEATLEY and Tale of Two Cities' DEVIN RICHARDS. All will be on hand to greet fans and perform as only they can.

Friday, November 7th, features a special PRE-PARTY edition of THE AFTER PARTY. This one night only event will present THE AFTER PARTY from 7:30pm to Midnight, rather than its usual time of 10:30pm to 4am. THE AFTER PARTY's PRE-PARTY will feature Avenue Q's SHARON WHEATLEY and Tale of Two Cities' DEVIN RICHARDS. All will be on hand to greet fans and perform as only they can.

Esteemed lighting designer, theatre consultant, and author Richard Pilbrow is the winner of the 2008 Wally Russell Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be presented on Saturday evening, October 25, at the LDI Awards ceremony during LDI2008 in Las Vegas.

Classic 70s funk infuses pioneering hip hop theater artist Will Power's fierce new coming-of-age tale, debuting October 24 at The Children's Theatre Company (CTC). FIVE FINGERS OF FUNK, created by Power in collaboration with composer Justin Ellington and director Derrick Sanders, runs through November 16 on the Cargill Stage as the first show in the ctc4teens season.

Classic 70s funk infuses pioneering hip hop theater artist Will Power's fierce new coming-of-age tale, debuting October 24 at The Children's Theatre Company (CTC). FIVE FINGERS OF FUNK, created by Power in collaboration with composer Justin Ellington and director Derrick Sanders, runs through November 16 on the Cargill Stage as the first show in the ctc4teens season.

South Ark Stage (Rhoda Herrick, Producing Artistic Director) has announced that it will present the world premiere of the new chamber musical The Black Monk, with book, lyrics and music by Wendy Kesselman. Under the direction of Kevin Newbury, the four-member cast features Austin Pendleton as the Monk, Scott Robertson as Igor, Elon Rutberg as Andrei, and Sarah Ziegler as Tanya.

The Havok Theatre Company in association with the Bootleg Theatre have announced that the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre premiere of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN has been extended through Sunday, November 9. KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN performs at the Bootleg Theatre in Los Angeles.

Rock-It Science Records presents Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Volume 10. Featuring highlights from the Volumes 1-9, as well as the incredible talents of stars from the 2008 Broadway season, the annual holiday CD benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA). This two-disc set offers 36 original and traditional holiday songs recorded especially for this benefit CD, and features the cast of Billy Elliot with the premiere of an original song by Elton John, 'Cold Christmas.' Included are the voices of Antonio Banderas, Harvey Fierstein, Idina Menzel, Bernadette Peters, and Andréa Burns, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Nick Jonas and American Idol's Constantine Maroulis and Ace Young, plus new recordings with performances by stars from In the Heights, South Pacific, Wicked plus many more! Also performing on this year's CD are Rosie's Broadway Kids, young students in the performing arts program founded by Rosie O'Donnell.

Classic 70s funk infuses pioneering hip hop theater artist Will Power's fierce new coming-of-age tale, debuting October 24 at The Children's Theatre Company (CTC). FIVE FINGERS OF FUNK, created by Power in collaboration with composer Justin Ellington and director Derrick Sanders, runs through November 16 on the Cargill Stage as the first show in the ctc4teens season.

The newly formed Havok Theatre Company in association with the Bootleg Theatre is thrilled to present its third production, the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre Premiere of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, book by Terrence McNally, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, choreography by Lee Martino, with musical direction by Michael Paternostro and directed by Ovation Award-winner and Artistic Director of the new Havok Theatre Company Nick DeGruccio. KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN will preview on Thursday, September 18; Friday, September 19; Saturday September 20 at 8pm; Sunday, September 21 at 3pm and Thursday, September 25 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 26 at 8pm and run through Sunday, October 26, 2008 at the Bootleg Theatre, 2220 Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Managing Director) is proud to present the world premiere production of Beau Willimon's play FARRAGUT NORTH, directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes (Doubt), and featuring Dan Bittner (The Vertical Hour) Kate Blumberg (Atlantic's Celebration and The Room), Tony Award winner John Gallagher, Jr. (Spring Awakening), Golden Globe Award nominee Chris Noth ('Sex and the City'), Otto Sanchez (HBO's 'Oz'), Olivia Thirlby (Juno) and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (HBO's 'The Wire').

It has been confirmed that actor John Gallagher, Jr. will be joining the cast of Atlantic Theater Company's upcoming production of FARRAGUT NORTH in the lead role of Stephen

The newly formed Havok Theatre Company in association with the Bootleg Theatre is thrilled to present its third production, the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre Premiere of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, book by Terrence McNally, Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb, choreography by Lee Martino, with musical direction by Michael Paternostro and directed by Ovation Award-winner and Artistic Director of the new Havok Theatre Company Nick DeGruccio.

Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer; Daniel Sullivan, Acting Artistic Director 2007-2008) has announced the 2008 recipients of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Initiative commissions.

Les Misérables in Concert makes its Hollywood Bowl debut in a production featuring Melora Hardin as Fantine, Maddie Levy as Young Cosette, Tom Lowe as Enjolras, Michele Maika as Cosette, Michael McCormick as Thénardier, J. Mark McVey as Valjean, Lea Michele as Éponine, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Javert, Sage Ryan as Gavroche and John Lloyd Young as Marius. Rosie O'Donnell, who was to play the role of Madame Thenardier, has withdrawn from the performances in order to care for her eldest son, who broke his wrist. She will be replaced by veteran actress Ruth Williamson.

Atlantic Theater Company has just announced its exciting 2008-2009 season. The main stage season at the Linda Gross Theater will mark premieres from Academy Award® winning filmmakers Ethan Coen and Martin McDonagh, who return to the Atlantic stage, and the debut of young playwright and screenwriter Beau Willimon.

CELIA: THE LIFE & MUSIC OF CELIA CRUZ, INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW, THE WORLD PREMIERE OF MIAMI LIBRE, THE CENTER'S ORIGINAL PRODUCTION, AND FAMILY FAVORITE GO, DIEGO, GO LIVE! PLUS THE RETURN OF SUMMER SHORTS AND XXIII HISPANIC THEATRE FESTIVAL

THE ADRIENNE ARSHT CENTER ANNOUNCES 2008 SUMMER SEASON CELIA: THE LIFE & MUSIC OF CELIA CRUZ, INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON SLAVA'S SNOWSHOW, THE WORLD PREMIERE OF MIAMI LIBRE, THE CENTER'S ORIGINAL PRODUCTION, AND FAMILY FAVORITE GO, DIEGO, GO LIVE! PLUS THE RETURN OF SUMMER SHORTS AND XXIII HISPANIC THEATRE FESTIVAL