The world premiere of 'The Good Ship St. Louis' is beautiful, theatrical, stylish, poetic, rich. It's a gracefully told tale of doomed refugees.
A BINTEL BRIEF, comprised of a selection of sixty years of letters from the lower East Side of New York to The Jewish Daily Forward, a popular local paper among the Yiddish speaking immigrants, is being presented online by Pacific Resident Theatre, I wanted to find out more about how the production was conceived, directed and produced to find out if anyone on the team also shares a family story similar to mine. Here is what producer Marilyn Fox shared with me.
This Spotlight focuses on John Wuchte, a talented actor/director/writer/composer and amazing Tribal Acting theater creator, who I first met during last year's Hollywood Fringe Festival when I attended his masterful musical production Scarlett Fever which told the true story of the great search to find an actress to portray Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind in 1939. The production utilized John's unique style of performance, which he calls Tribal Acting; a combination of movement, gesture, song and dance, all accompanied by live percussion. And I was hooked!
Take an unforgettable 75-minute journey down the Yellow Brick Road to the magical land of Oz, and share the wonder and delight of live theater with the young people in your life this summer.
NATIVE SON, a novel written in 1940 by Richard Wright, tells the story of 20-year of Bigger Thomas, an African American youth living in utter poverty in a poor area on Chicago's South Side in 1939. While not apologizing for Bigger's crimes, Wright portrays a systemic inevitability behind them, making the case that there is no escape from his destiny since he is the inevitable product of the society in which he has lived since birth, faced by expectations imposed upon him by others tasked to teach him the proper way for a Black man to live in society. It is often said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. This is certainly the case in Wright's original story which could have been written today, given the similar news stories filling the airwaves right now involving police beatings of Black men and gun violence leading to senseless murders.
AlphaNYC Theater Company's THE WIZARD OF OZ provides family fun on a shoestring.
Lou Volpe, the retired theatre education pioneer was recently inducted into the prestigious Bucks County Playhouse Hall of Fame, following such honorees as Angela Lansbury, Oscar Hammerstein and Shirley Jones. A formal ceremony was held on April 14 at the historic playhouse. Volpe, whose career is the inspiration behind "Rise," the new TV series on NBC, was heralded for his life's work as a high school drama teacher at Harry S. Truman High School in Levittown, PA. During his tenure there, he transformed this Bucks County community with the magic of theater.
From the cast to the production design, Theater J's production is as good as it gets. We just wish Uhry's play was the same way.
Rehearsal images have been released from the Tabard Theatre's Christmas production of The Little Match Girl, based on the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The musical that launched the Christmas single Mistletoe and Wine, will be directed by the original show's composer, Keith Strachan.
The extraordinary beauty of Jericho Farms, one of Bucks County's most storied estates, and the rocking sounds of a 1960s-pop sensation set the stage for the Third Annual Galavant in the Garden Gala that benefited Bucks County Playhouse. Presented by Playhouse Artists, the non-profit organization that supports the growth and sustainability of the Playhouse, Galavant in the Garden was held on Saturday, September 23 and featured a concert by The Midtown Men, four of the original stars of 'Jersey Boys.' BroadwayWorld has photos from the event below!
Moorestown Theater Company's production of ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA JR. brims with charm and imagination and is fun for children of all ages.
Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 208th season with an exciting stage adaptation of the all-time classic musical THE WIZARD OF OZ. Directed by Glenn Casale, with choreography by Rodney Glen Roberts, THE WIZARD OF OZ began previews on November 8th, opens on November 16th and runs through January 8th on the Walnut's Mainstage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Kentwood Players proudly presents the wickedly inspired musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN with book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, opening Friday, November 11 through Saturday, December 17, 2016 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Los Angeles, CA 90045. The production is directed and choreographed by Alison Mattiza, assisted by Musical Director Catherine Rahm and Assistant Director Valerie Ruel, produced by Lori A. Marple-Pereslete by special arrangement with Musical Theatre International.
As the final production for the 2015 - 2016 season, Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts is proud to present one of the most beloved musical tales from film, 'The Wizard of Oz' performed live by adults and children on the Main Stage now through July 24. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Great Lakes Theater (GLT), Cleveland's Classic Company, commences the second half its 2016-17 season with Agatha Christie's classic mystery thriller, And Then There Were None. The production will be performed in the company's intimate and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square, February 26 - March 20, 2016. Charles Fee, GLT's Producing Artistic Director, directs the production. And Then There Were None is presented through special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
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.
Follow the yellow brick road to The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, for the enchanting musical production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, running from November 7, 2014 through January 4, 2015, with a press opening on Saturday, November 22 at 10AM. The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences favorite Rachel Rockwell will direct and choreograph, with musical direction by Ryan T. Nelson. Based on the classic 1939 MGM movie, this special one-hour presentation of THE WIZARD OF OZ features the classic songs 'Follow the Yellow Brick Road,' 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead,' and 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' A Question & Answer session with the cast will follow every performance.
This enchanting musical tells the tale of Dorothy Gale (Devon Perry), who lives on a Kansas farm with her aunt and uncle and dreams of one day traveling 'Over The Rainbow'. One day, a tornado sweeps her house up into the sky and Dorothy and her little dog Toto suddenly find themselves in the magical Land of Oz! Dorothy joins Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion and they journey through the magical Land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their hearts' desires.
The San Pedro Theatre Club presents CABARET, a musical based on a book written by Christopher Isherwood, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The production is directed by Drew Fitzsimmons and Victoria Miller, who also choreographed, with music directed by Leslie Sharp. The intimate 78-seat theater allows the actors to interact with the audience on several occasions, making it really feel as if we are inside the small German cabaret rather than watching a show about it.
Based on the 1939 MGM movie musical, this production includes all your favorite songs and characters from the film, including 'Over The Rainbow' and 'We're Off To See The Wizard' and features a cast of 36 professional and local actors of all ages, presented with full sets, costumes brilliantly designed by Diana Mann, and spectacular lighting effects out on the baseball field.
Bucks County Playhouse's 2013 Playhouse Productions summer season is set to include the world premiere of a new play by four time Tony Award -winning playwright Terrence McNally, starring Tony and Emmy Award- winner Tyne Daly. The balance of the season is made up of acclaimed musicals and plays and a production specifically for families. The summer season kicked off on Thursday, May 23rd at the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA).
The cast and creative team for the 2013 Bucks County Playhouse summer season productions met the press earlier today and you can check out full photo coverage from the festivities below!
Bucks County Playhouse's 2013 Playhouse Productions summer season is set to include the world premiere of a new play by four time Tony Award -winning playwright Terrence McNally, starring Tony and Emmy Award- winner Tyne Daly. The balance of the season is made up of acclaimed musicals and plays and a production specifically for families. The summer season kicked off on Thursday, May 23rd at the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA).
The cast and creative team for the 2013 Bucks County Playhouse summer season productions met the press earlier today and you can check out a photo preview from the festivities below!
Charles Smith, author of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JAMES, which is now getting its Ohio Premiere at Ensemble Theatre, is an award-winning writer, and playwright-in-residence for the Indiana Repertory Theatre. He is also head of the Professional playwriting program at Ohio University.
FREUD'S LAST SESSION, the off-Broadway runaway hit by Mark St. Germain, is now playing at The Cell - home of the Fusion Theatre Company - and I urge you not to miss it!
TINY KUSHNER by Tony Kushner makes its Northwest premiere at New City Theater, Sept. 20 to Oct. 6. Check out new production photos below!
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