Alan Henry - Page 27

As in previous years, BWW Toronto is participating in 'Summer Stages' which attempts to pick five of the most anticipated productions hitting our city of the summer. It was harder than ever to narrow the list down, but we hope you enjoy these pics for summer theatrical entertainment:

Flashdance, the 1980's Paramount Pictures movie which led to the creation of the MTV format has been translated to the stage by a group which includes the original film creative team. The show tells the story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer.

David Mirvish has released updates in the highly controversial Mirvish/Ghery project which had originally called for the destruction of The Princess of Wales Theatre. Today, information on new plans was released - and the new announcement includes plans to save the theatre, and lowers the number of condos planned for the King Street site from three down to two.

The Il Divo 'A Musical Affair' tour played the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto on Wednesday night, and after the show, BroadwayWorld Toronto Senior Editor Alan Henry was able to go backstage and chat with a BroadwayWorld favorite - Lea Salonga. Salonga is, of course, best known for originating the role of Kim in Miss Saigon (the west end revival had its opening last night), and being the singing voice of two Disney princesses - Mulan and Jasmine. She is joining Il Divo on their international tour.

The Toronto Theatre Critics' Award just announced their 2014 winners. The awards are in their fourth year, and are voted upon by Toronto critics who represent five of the city's newspapers and weeklies: The Globe and Mail (J. Kelly Nestruck); The Grid (Martin Morrow); NOW (Glenn Sumi); The National Post (Robert Cushman); and the Toronto Star (Richard Ouzounian). Shows which opened between June 2013 and May of 2014 were open for consideration.

The Toronto Theatre Critics' Award just announced their 2014 winners. The awards are in their fourth year, and are voted upon by Toronto critics who represent five of the city's newspapers and weeklies: The Globe and Mail (J. Kelly Nestruck); The Grid (Martin Morrow); NOW (Glenn Sumi); The National Post (Robert Cushman); and the Toronto Star (Richard Ouzounian). Shows which opened between June 2013 and May of 2014 were open for consideration.

On May 20th and 21st, Pops Maestro Steven Reineke and company will pay homage to a legendary Broadway duo: Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe. You'll enjoy all the most memorable songs from such classic musicals as My Fair Lady, Camelot, Gigi, and Brigadoon, sung with verve by a top-notch cast of singers.

It's no secret that there are more Jews in Musical Theatre than stars in the sky - and the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, along with Angelwak Theatre are shouting it from the rooftop of the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts.

BroadwayWorld Toronto is pleased to announce a new feature part of our 'roundups' section - Shows Playing This Week! To be published once weekly, the new feature will give our readers a summarized list of all the productions opening and running in the city throughout the week, as well as any discounts available!

If you get concerned taking your children to the theatre because of all the recent productions featuring violence, swearing, and sexed-up drag queens - you should know The Lion King is fantastic, wholesome family entertainment with none of those (okay, there is one moment in drag, but I promise it's harmless)!

For the longest time, I was under the impression that Toronto audiences were not fans of drama - for we just don't seem to get many of them in our biggest theatres during most theatre seasons. From now until June 1st, Toronto audiences have the opportunity to experience drama at it's finest - The Last Confession starring veteran stage and screen actor David Suchet is a brilliant work of art that can only be described as utterly brilliant.

Canadian Stage has publicly released a detailed timeline of events relating to the Helen Lawrence controversy after BroadwayWorld sent requests for transparency in this matter to both the producing company and Canadian Actor's Equity. The CAEA replied that 'Arden R. Ryshpan's statement [the first and only statement available] stands as Equity's official response on this issue. Out of respect for the affected Equity members, the Association will not provide any further comment'

The Festival Transameriques announced today the cancellation of Helen Lawrence by Stan Douglas because an agreement could not be agreed upon between the producers, Canadian Stage, and the Canadian Actors Equity Association. The play was set to be the opening piece of the festival in Montreal on May 22, 23, and 24 at La Place des arts' theatre Jean-Duceppe.

In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre - not a handsome prince - shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won't shut up, a bad guy with a short temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand...and his name is Shrek.

Rebecca Caine is most known around town as the lady who created the role of Christine in the Canadian premier of The Phantom of the Opera, and since then she's continued to have incredible success in the musical theatre, and the Opera (Caine had also done a considerable amount of Opera in Britain before coming over to Canada for Phantom.)

Toronto's three favourite not-for-profit musical theatre companies have joined forces to create 'And 5, 6, 7, 8... A Musical Theatre Dance Party,' a celebration of the amazing Toronto musical theatre community and an excuse to cut loose and shake your 'Shipoopi'! The event, jointly hosted by Acting Up Stage Company, Angelwalk Theatre and Theatre 20, will take place at the Drake Underground, the Drake Hotel's swanky underground lair (1150 Queen Street West).

Luminato Festival is thrilled to present the world premiere of IF I LOVED YOU: Gentlemen Prefer Broadway - An Evening Of Love Duets, conceived by composer, singer and songwriter Rufus Wainwright, for one night only on Saturday, June 14 at the Sony Centre For The Performing Arts.

BroadwayWorld Toronto bring you exclusive coverage of the Luminato Festival season announcement today! Tune in with us starting at 10:00 AM EST to watch the announcement live on BroadwayWorld! Our contributor Catherine Kustanczy will be attending the event and providing us exclusive coverage later in the day, along with photos by Racheal McCaig

American bass Branch Fields, a star in the world of Opera and Broadway, will be featured as Emile de Becque alongside Chilina Kennedy as Nellie Forbush in Drayton Entertainment's production of South Pacific, the award-winning theatre company confirmed today.

Do you think you have what it takes to be in a Broadway show? You can test out your theory by auditioning for the most successful musical of the 21st century, Disney's The Lion King! The Lion King is an international phenomenon, having played productions on every continent except Antarctica, and has grossed over one billion dollars to date. The Broadway production is a top-grosser every week, pulling in over one million dollars regularly in just eight performances. Known for it's incredible visuals, without the use of excessiv