Kathy Strain - Page 6

Many may have heard of the movie AN AMERICAN IN PARIS that starred Gene Kelly and featured such songs as "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise," "S Wonderful," and "I Got Rhythm." Well, the recent Broadway hit of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS took some of the story, some of the songs, and added to it. What was created was a story that pays tribute to great shows of days gone by as well as adding new parts to make an extraordinary musical. As AN AMERICAN IN PARIS tours around North America, it is preparing to make a stop in Austin, Texas at the Bass Concert Hall from May 29-June 3, 2018. BWW caught up with actress Teri Hansen who plays Madame Baurel. She shared with BWW just what it was that brought her to be part of the amazing tour of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS.

Every year, Quiet Valley Ranch just outside the small town of Kerrville, Texas is transformed into a musical wonderland as the Kerrville Folk Festival is presented for 18 days. It showcases singer/songwriters who show passion and joy for the art of folk music. People come from all over the world to camp at the ranch and enjoy entertainment day and night. It is a family friendly event that includes everyone. BWW San Antonio recently caught up with Dalis Allen, the producer of the Kerrville Folk Festival. She shared her passion and joy for being a part of the festival since its first year.

As The Public Theater of San Antonio opened its latest play, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, audiences knew it was going to be a hit. The anticipation was great as many knew that J. Scott Lapp would direct this wonderful show based on the novel by Robert James Waller with the book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown.

For 25 finalists from 11 area high schools, $105,000 in scholarship funding was at stake at the 10th Annual Joci Awards, Las Casas Foundation's annual scholarship competition, May 20 at the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre. Students sang, danced and acted before an audience of more than 500 and a panel of celebrity judges. Judges were Justin Blancard, Kirsti Carnahan, Caitlyn Caughell, Ryan Driscoll, and Christopher Windom. Each judge has quite an impressive resume of performances and directing opportunities. This made them well qualified to judge the students who were nominated. 

With the school year wrapping up around San Antonio and surrounding areas, many students are looking forward to lazy days by the pool, sleeping late and just being free from the busy school year. However, there are a group of 25 students who have been working tirelessly to succeed and be the best they can as they prepare to participate in the Joci Awards Scholarship Competition on May 20, 2018 at the Empire Theatre in San Antonio. Final rehearsals take place on Saturday and Sunday for the amazingly talented student finalists from Donna, Seguin and San Antonio High Schools.

There have recently been some exciting changes taking place at The Public Theater of San Antonio (formerly known as The Playhouse). The changes are proving to be exciting for audiences in the area. The latest show at The Public Theater of San Antonio is THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY. Opening night was May 11, 2018.

My first time attending THE BOOK OF MORMON was in 2013 right after seeing my oldest son off on a full-time Mormon mission to Sierra Leone, West Africa. Going into the theater, I wondered if the controversy surrounding the play would make me worry more about my son. Would it challenge my own belief system? Would it test ideals I held sacred? Turns out, none of that was true. Upon viewing THE BOOK OF MORMON play as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS).

As THE BOOK OF MORMON tours around North America, it has sold-out in city after city. Locals enjoy the opportunity to laugh and have a fun evening watching THE BOOK OF MORMON while they forget their outside worries. Currently on tour with the company is Andy Jones who is playing the role of Elder McKinley. BWW recently caught up with him as the tour prepared to come to Austin, Texas.

On Tuesday evening, there was a private event sponsored by a long-time attendee couple. This event wasn't as ordinary as one would think it might be. This event was, in fact, an opportunity to showcase great talent at SXSW and give them more exposure. But, along with that comes the fact that included in the lineup were Grammy Award winners and nominees, CEO's and more.

Before the cast of THIS IS US even entered the large ballroom at the Austin Convention Center, the place was buzzing. The audience was full of true Pearson Family Fans who felt that they had become a part of this family. The show takes a look at the Pearson Family and all the joyous and tragic moments that may be close to the audience members' own moments.

Welcome to BWW's Coverage of SXSW Conference & Festivals 2018. This year there are so many great movies, musicians, innovators; new and old attendees. Every year, the same question comes up for those attending: “How can I choose which events to attend? How will I know I made the best choice?” There are bound to be decisions made that one feels was a bad choice. Other times, it will seem to be the best choice made. Often, one is heard to say things like, “I happened upon this event and it turned out to be the best of all of them.”

A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER is a fun, whacky, entertaining show that won four Tony Awards including Best Musical. It seems to be a favorite by everyone. It's one that will entertain the entire family. As the show prepares to come to Austin, Texas, BWW caught up with Colleen McLaughlin who plays on of the love interests, Sibella Hallward.

In a recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee on a chilly December evening, four musicians came together for a visit and an impromptu jam session. That jam session at the famed Sun Record Studios would go down in history because the four musicians have become known as some of the greatest musicians in history. The four were Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley. The evening was recorded by Sam Philips of Sun Record Studios and it was an evening that will never be forgotten for those in attendance. Currently on tour, the MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET relives that evening and includes many songs that have become so memorable for so many. As the show makes a stop in San Antonio at the Tobin Center, BWW caught up with Taylor Gray who portrays Jerry Lee Lewis to get his perspective on playing Jerry Lee Lewis and how performing in the show has impacted his life.

THE COLOR PURPLE is the story of a young girl named Celie who must overcome so many trials and troubles of growing up an African American girl in Georgia at the beginning of the 20th Century. She must navigate all of her personal problems while protecting the women around her. One important character in the story was Harpo, who stands beside the women and wants to not allow the past traditions impede his desire to protect all women. J. Daughtry currently plays the part of Harpo on the North American Tour of THE COLOR PURPLE. BWW caught up with Daughtry as the show prepares to open in San Antonio.

Many children growing up are given the opportunity to enjoy fairy tales and funny stories. One very popular show was always CINDERELLA. The story of the girl who lived in cinders with a mean stepmother and two stepsisters is the quindecennial story of rags to riches from sad to happy from hate to love! Rogers and Hammerstein created some wonderful music surrounding this story and it has been enjoyed by many generations.

FINDING NEVERLAND is a beautiful story of the man responsible for writing the beloved PETER PAN many years ago. J.M. Barrie is searching for the next great play and he realizes it's time to write a play just for children. The show opened on Broadway to great praise and success. In recent years, FINDING NEVERLAND began a national tour that leads them to Austin, Texas from January 16-21, 2018 at Bass Concert Hall. Most recently, John Davidson (best known for hosting That's Incredible and Hollywood Squares ) took over the dual role of Barrie's producer as well as Captain Hook in this wonderful tour that continues its trek across the country. BWW caught up with Davidson recently to discuss his past roles, hosting opportunities as well as landing such a fun role in FINDING NEVERLAND.

Rodgers and Hammerstein have been a household name for many years. Even younger generations know them as one of the greatest musical duo's in the history of Broadway. With the creation of THE KING AND I, Rodgers and Hammerstein proved that they would take their place in history amongst the greats.

With the holiday season in full swing, it's not surprising that a wonderfully iconic show would come through San Antonio, Texas just in time for Christmas. Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS is everything you would hope to see in this classic movie brought to stage in 2017. As the show began, the music of years gone by played by the orchestra led you straight back to the days that are long gone and long forgotten. WHITE CHRISTMAS was a chance to feel the nostalgia for simpler times and memories of loved ones and celebrated with growing up.

The success of THE KING AND I over the years has been nothing short of remarkable. The movie version from the 1950's brought Yul Brynner to center stage as he played the role of this famous king. With so many incarnations of the iconic musical there have been quite a few actors who have worked hard to shed the Brynner version of the King and portray him in the way it's most comfortable for them. One such actor is veteran performer Jose Llana. BWW had the opportunity recently to chat with Llana as he is out on tour with THE KING AND I.

LIKE STARS, MOONIE is a two act play written and directed by thespian Morgan Clyde. Although comfortable onstage and starring in such local shows as SHREK THE MUSICAL as Princess Fiona and others, Clyde seems well adept at creating and directing this original work. LIKE STARS, MOONIE follows a seemingly normal, average all American family. Upon further viewing, we soon discover that things aren't as we would think.