Joseph F. Panarello - Page 4

Klea Blackhurst talks about her career, Jerry Herman and starring in HELLO, DOLLY! at the Goodspeed Opera House

After playing The Mute and understudying Matt in THE FANTASTICKS, Daniel Rowan will take leave of the show to play Chris in MISS SAIGON at Fort Worth's Casa Manana.

Actor A. J. Shively stars in the new Off-Broaddway musical UNLOCK'D and talks about the show, his career and the people whe's worked with.

Broadway star Megan Hilty makes her debut with the Boston Pops this week.

Everyone has heard of the recent tragic events in Boston. Hearts around the world were touched by what happened at this year's Boston Marathon. As a result there's been an incredible outpouring of help and kindness to those who were directly affected by the two explosions on April 22, 2013. Monetary donations are pouring in and the likes of Neil Diamond have lent their support in various ways.

Actor Tony Lo Bianco brings his critically acclaimed one-main show about Fiorello H. La Guardia to New York for a limited engagement.

From television's beloved THE WALTONS, Michael Learned tours in the title role in DRIVING MISS DAISY.

Maestro Keith Lockhart and singer Ann Hampton Callaway tour America's Southeast with the Barbra Streisand Songbook

The musical THE FIG LEAVES ARE FALLING had a notoriously short run on Broadway the first time around. It is now being presented at Off Broadway's Connelly Theater and its star Jonathan Rayson chats about it and his career.

Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops, discusses the orchestra's holiday season. He also talks about appearances that Megan Hilty and Matthew Morrison will be making with them.

Anyone who follows the theater scene in New York realizes that hardly a year goes by when actor Darren Pettie isn't appearing on Broadway, Off Broadway or regional theater. He's also been seen on television in "Mad Men", "Pan Am", "Castle", "Gossip Girl", "Brothers and Sisters" and a host of other shows. Not only is he one of New York's busiest actors, he's one of its finest, too. Take, for example, his performance two seasons ago in THE MILK TRAIN DOESN'T STOP HERE ANYMORE. As the enigmatic Christopher Flanders, Pettie was required to utter the single syllable word "Boom" to emulate the crashing of the waves upon the rocks surrounding Italy's Divina Costiera. Other actors in the role have faltered here, but Pettie imbued the line with authority and conviction that were never apparent in previous incarnations of the work. "Thanks," responds the actor via telephone. "There were some nights that I was very self conscious about that line."

There's a moment in the current production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CAROUSEL at Connecticut's Goodspeed Opera House where James Snyder steps onto the dock which is constructed over the orchestra pit to deliver Billy Bigelow's famous "Soliloquy" that absolutely electrifies the audience. Snyder's strong stage presence and powerful singing voice had enraptured the crowd for most of the first act. Now he was literally in their laps singing of his character's concerns regarding impeding fatherhood. The moment has them sharing his outpouring of emotion.

The New York Music Theater Festival can easily be considered a harbor for the freshest talents in musical theater. Over a period of several weeks, an astonishing number of musical productions are presented on vest pocket stages throughout New York City. As is often the case with harbors, there is a confluence of talent feeding into it. Not only is this talent from all over the nation, but it ranges from the youngest to the most experienced and they all converge on the city for this event.

In 1966 the Hallmark Hall of Fame presented a television adaptation of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's Off Broadway musical THE FANTASTICKS. Ricardo Montalban appeared as El Gallo and Bert Lahr and Stanley Holloway were the two fathers. The young lovers were played by Broadway's favorite ingenue, Susan Watson, and a clean-cut young man named John Davidson who had made a strong impression on Broadway audiences as Lahr's son in the musical FOXY.

Recently, conductor Keith Lockhart was joined by Bernadette Peters to present the schedule for the Boston Pops' Spring 2012 season. Peters was the guest during the Opening Night concert at Boston's beautiful Symphony Hall. As stellar as she is, Peters is only one of the sensational artists who have been scheduled to appear with the Boston Pops which is celebrating its 127th season. On June 5th, 6th and 7th, Broadway's Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley will perform "A Tribute to Cole Porter". American Idol's Melinda Doolittle will join Gospel singer Crystal Aitkin and Charles Floyd for the 20th Gospel Night Celebration on June 9th. Although many people know Steve Martin as a comic actor and playwright, he is also a very serious musician who will be bringing his bluegrass band, The Steep Canyon Rangers, to play with the Pops on May 29th and 30th. Anne Hampton Callaway, who is one of the premier interpreters of the American Songbook will bring her unique stylings to what is being billed as "The Barbra Streisand Songbook" on May 15th and 16th. Singer Maureen McGovern will join the Pops to sing selections from her Broadway show LITTLE WOMEN as a tribute to the novel's author Louisa May Alcott.

New York's City Center can be a dark and unwelcoming place on a Friday afternoon. The recently restored interior is obscured by shadows and the only light comes from the merciless worklights over the stage which only partially illuminate the two performers beneath them. Yet, even through these shadows, the admirable skills of two Broadway veterans are evident as they recreate their roles in WEST SIDE STORY. Both actors appeared in this musical classic over forty years ago at Lincoln Center.

A careful look through the New Testament indicates that Jesus Christ liked to eat. In addition to the notable Last Supper, he dined at the home of Martha and Mary; grilled fish at the seashore; multiplied loaves and fishes; was a guest at a friend's wedding at Cana; and ate with friends on the road to Emmaus. After healing Peter's mother-in-law, she got up and prepared a meal for Him and His coterie. It's a small wonder then that Hunter Parris, who plays Jesus in the Broadway revival of GODSPELL, chooses to be interviewed over lunch at one of his favorite Chelsea eateries.

There's no doubt about who is speaking on the other end of the telephone connection. The voice is deep, rich and mellifluous. It's the envy of any classically trained actor, yet there's incredible humor and intelligence in it. It can only belong to actor Kevin Sorbo.

The Cenacle Retreat Center lies in one of the most serene areas of Long Island. It is run by the Sisters of the Cenacle, a French religious order founded by St. Therese Couderec who died in 1885. Located just north of the Long Island Expressway in Ronkonkoma, the Retreat Center provides retreats, spiritual direction and human development programs for the laity. It is also the site where Maude Adams lies buried.

Musical theater is filled with thrilling moments. Not the least of these is in PETER PAN, when Peter is trying to get the three Darling children to fly and young John finally utters the word "Christmas". Suddenly they become airborne along with Peter. The scenery whisks away, the music swells and a starlit sky appears over the misty clouds and Peter and the Darlings fly with abandon in one of Jerome Robbins' most stunning theatrical feats of choreography. With former gymnast Cathy Rigby playing Peter, there are some stunning aerial feats of derring-do as she whizzes through the stars and leads the three youngsters to Neverland. Even the most jaded theatergoer finds himself caught up in what has to be one the most exhilarating moments in the theater.