What did our critic think of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Desert Theatreworks?
History credits the first modern musical production to the year 1866 and a little-known work called “The Black Crook” that premiered in New York on September 12 of that year. It was credited as the first play that added dance and original music to help tell the story. But after seeing Palm Canyon Theatre’s newest production of “Something Rotten”, maybe the historians have it wrong.
The 2024 HAYES season will deliver joy, delight, surprises, heartfelt emotions, intriguing ideas, and distinct and remarkable experiences.
Richard Carroll and Victoria Falconer are the enthusiastic and inspired Artisitic Directors who proclaim- “A breathtaking adventure awaits”.
Almost 4 decades after BENEFACTORS premiered in 1984, Michael Frayn’s comic contemplation of the effect of an Architect’s solution to London’s housing crisis on his family and friends retains a relevance as human behavior with regards to giving and taking, supporting and surviving is eternal.
As the theater community in NYC continues to get back on its feet following the pandemic, two new theaters have just been added to the mix as La MaMa re-opened its landmark theaters at 74A E. 4 St. – following a 3-year, $24 million renovation.
What did our critic think of THE FANTASTICKS at Powerhouse Performing Arts Center?
A native New Yorker, Neil Simon is recognized as Broadway's King of Comedy. Following his very successful 1961 production of COME BLOW YOUR HORN, Simon's name on a script basically meant instant box office sell-outs during the era from 1960-1980, the Great White Way's era of comic plays.
COME FROM AWAY, the warm welcoming hug of hope and the best of humanity has finally arrived in Sydney to the delight of audiences that have been waiting for this incredible piece of theatre based in truth to arrive after a pandemic induced delay.
I have visited Laguna Beach for several consecutive summers, enjoying the vibrant arts scene by spending a full day wandering through THE SAWDUST FESTIVAL, THE LAGUNA ART A-FAIR, FESTIVAL OF ARTS and PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS, with all sites, including the Laguna Playhouse, within walking distance of each on the main street into the city. The beautiful coastal city has so much to offer in the way of fine dining, art galleries, shopping, theatre, beach activities, all accessible via a free shuttle service, it would easily make for a wonderful week-long family vacation site or a jam-packed day of celebrating the arts.
This baroque masterpiece is gorgeous and disturbing.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will kick off the new year with the Tony and Olivier Award nominated drama Frost/Nixon. Written by Golden Globe winner Peter Morgan (creator of Netflix's The Crown), Frost/Nixon is a riveting political prizefight where the cameras roll, the truth spins, and it becomes clear that he who controls the medium controls the message. With America caught in the riptides of Watergate and Vietnam, the former leader of the free world and a lightweight British talk-show host clash in a legendary series of TV interviews that will determine the President's legacy forever. Directed by Leslie Martinson, Frost/Nixon will be presented January 16 - February 10, 2019 (press opening: January 19, 2019) at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View. For tickets ($40-$100) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.
There are many reasons why THE FANTASTICKS original off-Broadway production ran a total of 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running musical which continues to enchant audiences around the world. Aside from it being a 'Romeo and Juliet' type story we can all relate to, but with a much happier ending, its most well-known song, 'Try to Remember,' speaks to everyone wanting to go back to a time in our lives when all things were much more simple, romantic, and totally carefree.
Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) is widely recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969, and is best known for his play Waiting for Godot which launched his career in theater. He then went on to write numerous successful full-length plays including Endgame in 1957, Krapp's Last Tape in 1958 and Happy Days in 1960, as well as several short, one-act plays. While his plays may not be for everyone, Beckett's works capture the pathos and ironies of modern life, yet still maintain his faith in man's capacity for compassion and survival no matter how absurd his environment may have become.
One of the most eagerly awaited new shows of this year's New York Musical Festival (NYMF) is the special event 'Midnight at the Never Get' which will be presented at 42WEST (514 West 42nd Street) for three (3) performances: Thursday, July 28 @ 9pm; Sunday, July 31 @ 9pm; Monday, August 1 @ 8pm. Produced by Michael Chase Gosselin, the musical is conceived by and starring Sam Bolen and Mark Sonnenblick, with musical direction and arrangements by Adam Podd, choreography by Andrew Palermo and directed by Max Friedman. Audiences will be transformed back to 1965 when they enter the venue to the back room of The Never Get. Featuring a sultry score fashioned after the American Songbook, 'Midnight at The Never Get' imagines two men who never existed at a time that very much did.
Legendary theatrical attorney Donald C. Farber was honored in a ceremony on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, where his caricature was unveiled and placed on the wall at Sardi's, following in the grand tradition of so many beloved theater stars and stalwarts before him. Scroll down for photos!
Hit songs of the 60's are recreated in GEORGY GIRL – THE SEEKERS MUSICAL as the scandal free history of The Seekers is recounted.
The two-time Tony Award-winning actress Tammy Grimes (PRIVATE LIVES, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN) and composer David Amram (scores for the films SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS and THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE) were just honored at Theater for the New City's 12th annual LOVE 'N COURAGE evening. An annual event that benefits TNC's Emerging Playwrights Program, this year's LOVE 'N COURAGE event was hosted by Phoebe Legere and Matt Morillo and featured performances by Ms. Grimes, Mr. Amram, Vinie Burrows, Judy Gorman, Yip Harburg Foundation's Rainbow Troupe, Luba Mason, Human Kinetics Movement Arts, and The Love Show, along with select excerpts from plays by Andrea Fulton, Georges Bizet, Daniel Catan and Seymour Barab.
KAREN WYMAN - the celebrated pop/jazz vocalist currently celebrating a renaissance since her days performing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and 'The Dean Martin Show' - returned to The Metropolitan Room on Saturday, January 31 at 7:00 PM. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of her performance below!
Just a few weeks ago I was dodging a falling chandelier at the Orpheum's staging of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; at the 'Phantom Event' held prior to the play, I was reminded of all the physical (as well as fiscal) requirements for properly staging this production. I kept thinking, 'How many small, financially strapped towns would breathe a sigh of relief if the proceeds from such a production were to come their way?' Well, that's one extreme of theatre. Tonight I was exposed to the opposite; Circuit Playhouse's production of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones' allegorical THE FANTASTICKS reminded me of Thornton Wilder's minimalism in the staging of OUR TOWN. If musicals like PHANTOM and LES MISERABLES are the 'central air' of theatre, THE FANTASTICKS is rather like a quaint little oscillating fan. Yet, its breeze can be refreshing.
Few popular novels have been as powerful about a subject as Harper Lee's 1960 novel, To Kill A Mockingbird. As a film with an A-list star and as a play that is produced from time to time (but not nearly as often as it should be, in this critic's opinion), it's always a solid hit. Thankfully, the creative team at the Bridgeport Theatre Company did not depend on this.
TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley is set to present the West Coast Premiere of THE PITMEN PAINTERS, from the writer of the hit film and musical Billy Elliot and the co-writer of the period drama screenplay War Horse.
The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) and 3-Legged Dog will present THE HUMAN SCALE, an unsparing and graphic exploration of the ongoing crisis in Gaza
BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there as 'Queen of All Media' and frequent theater blogger Perez Hilton stopped by backstage after catching the performance last night!
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play Tony Award Nominee, Jane Fonda -- was honored with her very own caricature unveiling at the world famous Broadway eatery, Sardi's Restaurant (234 West 44th Street) on Tuesday, May 12th.
Eric McCormack, Emmy Award winner for 'Will & Grace,' will play El Gallo, Lucas Grabeel from 'High School Musical' will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy in 'The Fantasticks,' which concludes the 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse May 5-May 17 (press opening May 6).
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