Jeffrey Ellis - Page 107

With a score filled with so many Cole Porter tunes that you're fairly drunk with delight after hearing them, the expert direction and choreography of musical theatre aficionado Kate Adams-Johnson, and a cast of extraordinarily gifted performers breathing vigorous life into the time-honored text, the new production of Kiss Me, Kate at The Keeton Theatre should be atop your list of must-see theatrical events in this very busy month of February. Sam and Bella Spewack's witty, sparkling script is brought to life with flourish, proving this period piece-which was named winner of the very first Tony Award for best musical-to be, in fact, a timeless classic, a musical theatre masterpiece that deserves to be seen over and over again.

Due to overwhelming audience response, Christ Church Cathedral's Sacred Space for the City art series has added another performance of Regina Taylor's critically acclaimed gospel musical Crowns on Friday February 17 at 7:30 p.m., officials announced on Friday morning.

Beautifully conceived by an ambitious, driven director and artfully brought to life by a stellar cast of actors, Pacific Overtures-the musical by Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman-seems, at first, an unlikely choice for the sophomore season of Nashville's Blackbird Theater. Yet when you consider the company's prior offerings (which include Twilight of the Gods, an original play by Wes Driver and Greg Greene, the company's co-founders; Tom Stoppard's intellectually compelling Arcadia; and G.K. Chesterton's rarely produced Magic), it fits perfectly into the Blackbird canon. And, like those earlier productions, Pacific Overtures is another artistic triumph, the realization of a long-held dream by director Greene to bring his favorite work for musical theater to the stage.

Marvin Hamlisch has been forced to cancel his appearance in the Nashville Symphony's Bank of America Pops Series this weekend due to illness. Taking his place will be trumpeter Doc Severinsen, who will perform Thursday February 2, at 7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, February 3-4, at 8 p.m. The legendary Tonight Show maestro so thoroughly enjoyed performing with the Nashville Symphony in 2009 that he quickly cleared his schedule to appear at Schermerhorn Symphony Center this weekend.

Nashville audiences-and chattering, anticipatory theater critics-will be given the opportunity to weigh in with their own impressions of Pacific Overtures, thanks to an ambitious production from Blackbird Theater, the acclaimed company now in its sophomore season at David Lipscomb University's Shamblin Theatre.

Marvin Hamlisch has been forced to cancel his appearance in the Nashville Symphony's Bank of America Pops Series this weekend due to illness. Taking his place will be trumpeter Doc Severinsen, who will perform Thursday February 2, at 7 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, February 3-4, at 8 p.m. The legendary Tonight Show maestro so thoroughly enjoyed performing with the Nashville Symphony in 2009 that he quickly cleared his schedule to appear at Schermerhorn Symphony Center this weekend.

The event will feature Broadway star Alli Mauzey (Wicked, Hairspray) reprising her role as Cinderella, and new to the cast this year is Melinda Doolittle ('American Idol') as one of the stepsisters. More Broadway stars and the Nashville Symphony will join in to make this special evening a memorable celebration of the important work that Show Hope is doing.

Emily Landham and ten-year-old Madeleine Hall star as Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller in Studio Tenn's upcoming production of William Gibson's The Miracle Worker. Studio Tenn, resident professional theatre company of the Franklin Theatre today announced complete casting for the production that debuts February 23 and runs through March 4.

The hilarious, roller-skating, musical adventure about following your dreams rolls along to the original hit score composed by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, including "Magic," "All Over the World," "Suddenly," "I'm Alive," "Evil Woman," "Have You Never Been Mellow" and "Xanadu," to name a few, and is based on the cult-classic movie that starred Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta and Gene Kelly.

The Sound Of Music returns to Crossville on February 10, as the Cumberland County Playhouse revives the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical directed by Weslie Webster, with musical direction by Ron Murphy, and starring Lindy Pendzick (named to First Nights Top 11 of 2011 for her performance in Little Shop Of Horrors) starring in the role of Maria.

The play provided the impetus for the venerable Columbo television series, starring the late Peter Falk. The cast includes Eric Link (2011 Lakie Award Winner for Best Lead Actor), Buffi Holland, Pamm Howard (named BroadwayWorld.com's 'Best Featured Actress in a Play' for her performance in A Few Good Men), Rod Streng, April Hardcastle-Miles and Patrick Goedicke as 'Lt Columbo.'

Starring Heather Anderson, Josh Bernaski, Ryan Bowie (who does double duty as director of the production) and Ashley Laverty, this celebration of the mating game explores the journey from dating and waiting to love and marriage, and reveals the agonies and triumphs of in-laws and newborns, trips in the family car and pick-up techniques of the geriatric set.

If you can find a more joy-filled, inspirational musical than Regina Taylor's Crowns-a tribute to African-American women, their church-going traditions, their friends and families and their gorgeous chapeaux-I can't imagine what it could possibly be! Raising the roof of the historic Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Nashville to praise the Lord and recount the struggles and achievements of generations of proud African-American women resplendent in their fashion and finery, showing off their ingrained "hattitude" with dignity, pride and grace, Crowns works its way into your heart easily, ultimately taking its place in your soul with its universal tale of love, hope and devotion.

Nashville productions of Aida and The Color Purple highlight the 63rd season announced today by Circle Players, the community theatre that's been treating audiences to award-winning shows since 1949. In addition, the company will mount a production of The Piano Lesson, the August Wilson classic that was first produced by Circle Players in its 1993-94 season, the acclaimed musical Next to Normal (which is currently running in Memphis in its Tennessee premiere starring Belmont University graduate Ben Laxton and will be produced later this season by Boiler Room Theatre), and the regional premiere of Band Geeks, an all-youth production directed by Catherine McTamaney.

What is described as 'an incredible slice of Broadway' comes to Franklin for the sixth annual Broadway at Bethlehem - Divas & Desserts benefit on Saturday, February 18 with an array of talented performers including Broadwayworld.com award-winning actors Dietz Osborne and Martha Wilkinson co-hosting and featuring singers Megan Murphy Chambers, Melodie Madden Adams, Laura Matula, Kandace Williams and Maggie McNulty at the Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Performing Arts Center, 2419 Bethlehem Loop Road in Franklin, Tennessee.

Nashville Children's Theatre (NCT) kicks off its Summer Drama Camp registration on Saturday, February 11 at 8 am. 2011-12 season subscribers and friends of NCT at the Explorer level and higher are eligible for Early Bird registration, which begins on Saturday, February 4 at 8 am.

World-renowned dance and ballet masters will lead and teach intermediate to advance and professional level classes created from their unique experiences. Classes are open to the public, with a maximum class size of 35 attendees. The cost to participate is $15 for students and community members.

Nashville audiences-and chattering, anticipatory theater critics-will be given the opportunity to weigh in with their own impressions of Pacific Overtures, thanks to an ambitious production from Blackbird Theater, the acclaimed company now in its sophomore season at David Lipscomb University's Shamblin Theatre.

Imperious and commanding, confident and resolute, Maria Callas is the quintessential opera diva-Leonard Bernstein referred to her as "The Bible of opera"-and with her oversized personality and regal bearing, she remains a force to be reckoned with almost 35 years after her death. ACT 1 continues its remarkable 2011-12 season with Terrence McNally's Tony Award-winning Master Class, a revealing and intimate portrait of la Divina in the latter years of her storied life and career.

Carol Irvin, Michael Ruff and Daniel W. Black star in Cumberland County Playhouse's 48th season-opening production of Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning Driving Miss Daisy, which opens this Saturday, January 21.