The Mother of Us All Photos - Off-Broadway

2019 has come and gone, and we are reflecting on those we have lost in the Broadway and theatre communities throughout the year.

One Performance Only! This Sunday, November 3, 2019! Long ago but not far away at all, there were many TV Variety Shows, Award Ceremonies, Music Centers and Theatre abounding with live Musical Performances, all with massive budgets; and dancers in this town, Los Angeles, made a darn good living, albeit having to work their asses off to do so, but it was a good and plentiful, fulfilling life. Besides myself, there was a plethora of working, professional dancers who ended up bonding together pretty easily, as a dancer's life is one of a nomad, or gypsy, going from one job to another, but in doing so, finding kindred spirits and lifelong connections. Jay Johnson, husband of one of these dancers and artistically gifted himself, was part of the artistic community, as was his wife, Sandi, and, typical with dancers, became close friends and comrades with other dancers, choreographers, and like-minded performers. As Jay was earning international fame as a ventriloquist, actor and comedian, and starring on the hit TV Series 'Soap,' us dancers were slaving away, happy to be able to make a living doing what we loved. Jay is best known for his role on ' Soap' as Chuck Campbell, a ventriloquist who believed his puppet Bob was real and demanded everyone treat Bob as human.

As 2018 comes to a close, we are reflecting on those we have lost in the Broadway and theatre communities throughout the year.

Zhong-Jing Fang was promoted to soloist at the American Ballet Theatre in 2018, the first Chinese ballerina to be promoted to soloist since Yan Chen in 1993. Almost ten years ago, she tore her posterior tibial tendon in her right foot during a rehearsal. Doctors told her that the chances of her returning to the stage were extremely slim.

In the opening scene of PARALLEL LIVES, two Supreme Beings plan the beginning of the world with the relish of two slightly sadistic suburban wives decorating a living room. From this moment, the audience is whisked through a series of skits that catapult them into the outrageous universe of comediennes Kathy Najimy and Maureen (Mo) Gaffney. Najimy and Gaffney first performed PARALLEL LIVES in 1983 at The Old Town Theatre in San Diego. Six years later, they opened the show off-Broadway at The Westside Theatre in New York and in 1991, PARALLEL LIVES became an HBO special. Later this month, Emily Levinstone and Keith Liles step into Kathy and Mo's shoes for the opening of PARALLEL LIVES at Burning Coal Theatre as part of the North Carolina Women's Theatre Festival. Judy Long, who is making her Raleigh directorial debut, says the show covers themes that are relevant today as they were 35 years ago, including women's rights, LGBTQ rights, and acceptance. Gaffney and Long opened up about the relevancy of PARALLEL LIVES 35 years later.

PROFILE THEATRE presents a production of the comedic drama 2.5 Minute Ride by Pulitzer and Tony-winning playwright Lisa Kron. Riding the rails of humor and horror, this solo performance features NYC-based actor Allison Mickelson, who recently impressed audiences at Portland Center Stage in Lisa Kron's award-winning musical Fun Home. It will be directed by Jane Unger, Profile's founding artistic director, and marks the first full (double!) season for Profile's ambitious new Artistic Director Josh Hecht, as well as the third year of the Diversity and Inclusivity Initiative.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is pleased to announce the return holiday engagement of The Secret Garden - The Musical. Written by Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon and once again directed by KC Wilkerson and Casey Long, The Secret Garden will preview from November 24 through December 1; regular performances will begin December 2 and continue through December 23 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage.

This show is one that you will hold close to your heart. Children will love it. Adults will smile and appreciate the layers of meaning, but will also enjoy the sheer frivolity of it all. If I may say so, 'ewe' will love this Grand Challenge. It's a winner.

TimeLine Theatre Company continues its 20th Anniversary season with a daring new production of A DISAPPEARING NUMBER, the exquisite 2007 play by Complicite about love, math and how the past and future connect. Winner of the 2007 Critics' Circle Theatre, Evening Standard, and Laurence Olivier awards for Best New Play, it was originally conceived and directed by Simon McBurney and devised by the original company. TimeLine's new production of A DISAPPEARING NUMBER will be directed by Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling.

Yes, A CHRISTMAS STORY is again lighting up the stage at the Cleveland Play House. It's a new production, which incites new comments, but the history and my unexpected involvement in the tale is still the same!

Earlier today, BroadwayWorld reported that Lady Gaga had posted a photo of herself posing in Fanny Brice fashion with Barbra Streisand. Now, we've procured a part two to the story. Babs herself posted a photo to Facebook this afternoon, featuring a group of A-listers including Gaga, plus GLEE and AMERICAN HORROR STORY producer Ryan Murphy, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, and James Brolin.

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

Broadway stars Emily Padgett and Matthew Hydzik will star as "Alex" and "Nick" in the world premiere of FLASHDANCE - THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation. Padgett and Hydzik will be joined on stage by the legendary Rachelle Rak in the role of "Tess." Sergio Trujillo, director and choreographer for the production returned to the home of FLASHDANCE and launch of the world premiere, Pittsburgh's Heinz Hall, to announce the lead casting from a press conference. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Kevin McMahon, CEO of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, were also on hand to welcome the cast and creative team to Pittsburgh and to make a proclamation, naming January 1, 2013 as FLASHDANCE DAY. Check out a photo from the celebration below!

In celebration of the company's 40th Anniversary, The Music-Theatre Group (Diane Wondisford, Producing Director) presented 'Music-Theatre Jam,' a one-time-only happening featuring a treasure-trove of material from their past productions on April 9th in DUMBO.