Lauren Wolman - Page 94

'When I was 9 years old and first heard Elvis Presley, that was a defining moment for me,' ‘Professor' Doug Bell says, reminiscing about his four-decade long career of singing and songwriting. Bell, founder of the 20 year-old retro-swing band Bellevue Cadillac (www.bellevuecadillac.com ) and nominated for 9 Grammys since 2007, just returned from Italy where he recorded a CD with another legendary ‘Professor': Professor Louie of the Crowmatix, who co-produced, engineered and performed on Bob Dylan and The Band's last recordings in 1974.

Mandi and Meg are doing fine until Mandi asks about her father. Meg has kept the story secret for 15 years and is not about to tell her daughter now. Meg and Mandy are forced to face the truth about the past, themselves and each other. Asking Questions is about a woman coming to terms with her shame, lies and loneliness, a daughter longing for the father she never knew existed, and a guy acknowledging that he's been a creep.

On Tuesday, August 9, at Seattle Opera's Annual Meeting at McCaw Hall, the company announced that it achieved a balanced budget (unaudited) for the 2010/11 season, which included productions of Tristan und Isolde, Lucia di Lammermoor, The Barber of Seville, Don Quichotte, and The Magic Flute. The original budget for the season totaled more than $23 million; the total expense budget for the season, unaudited, is projected to be just less than $21.5 million.

THE WHARF SESSIONS will present a free performance by Sydney's electronic four-piece band Ghoul on Friday August 19, 2011 at 10 PM.

Elizabeth Maupin, a longtime theatre writer and critic in central Florida let the readership of her theatre blog, Elizabeth Maupin on Theater, on Aug. 8 that she is done with criticism.

here! TV will air a new one-hour documentary special titled, 'Heart of Broadway: The Ensemble Behind Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' on September 9, 2011.The program will be available on demand for four weeks afterward its premiere.

Multi-award winning Rogue Machine is extending the performance schedule for David Harrower's critically acclaimed play, Blackbird (CRITIC'S CHOICE-LA Times; GO - LA Weekly, CRITIC'S PICK-Backstage, Ovation RECOMMENDED), staged in Los Angeles for the first time. The company's recently extended run of Small Engine Repair (CRITIC'S CHOICE-LA Times; GO - LA Weekly, CRITIC'S PICK-Backstage, Ovation RECOMMENDED) runs through August 27th (moved to the Beverly Hills Playhouse).

You'll quickly forget the moppet-haired urchins of musical fame when Joel Sass designs and directs the Midwest premiere of an inventive new adaptation of OLIVER TWIST at Park Square. This theatrical adventure is told by a chameleon cast of 13, who combine Dickens' original text with Victorian music hall tunes. 'So much of the story hinges on our hopes and fears for little Oliver as he voyages through the exciting but highly dangerous world of Victorian London,' Sass explains. 'It's a grown-up world, even for streetwise ruffians-so placing one lone boy among a cast of grown-ups who are playing all the other parts instantly helps us feel the immensity of the challenge Oliver is facing.'

Starring real-life couple Matthew Ashford (of NBC's 'Days of Our Lives') and Christina Saffran Ashford, I Do! I Do! opens at Sacramento Music Circus August 16-21. With book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt (the team behind The Fantasticks), I Do! I Do! will delight audience members of all ages.

A Hilarious Two-Man Tour-de-Force THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, by Charles Ludlam, opens at CRT on August 19, 2011 at 7:30 PM.

The transition into Shadowbox Live's new theater space at 503 S. Front Street may not be complete just yet, but the dedicated troupe of metaperformers are already rehearsing the first musical to be staged in their Downtown location: The Rocky Horror Show, set to open on September 11th!

RACHEL CALOF, starring Kate Fuglei and adapted by Ken LaZebnik from the memoir 'Rachel Calof's Story' will open at the Fringe Festival on August 12, 2011. The show features original music and lyrics by Leslie Steinweiss and is directed by Ellen S. Pressman.

The legendary Broadway star, actress/singer Betty Buckley will offer a special four day Song Interpretation & Monologue Workshop in Los Angeles beginning August 30. The Tony Winner will assist aspiring artists, educators and experienced performers in the craft of singing, acting and storytelling.

BEN CAMERON (Wicked, Aida, Footloose) is the host and creator of BROADWAY SESSIONS at THE MIDTOWN THEATRE at the HA! Comedy Club (163 West 46th Street / Between 6th & 7th Avenues) every Thursday night at 11:00pm. Broadway Sessions is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway guest each week, and features musical director/composer Will Van Dyke (The Addams Family) on piano. In addition after the show we open the microphone up to anyone who wants to sing. Open mic from 12:00-2am.

This summer, California youth and the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program (est. 1995) workshopped Ryan Scott Oliver's brand new Jasper in Deadland, August 5 and 6.

On August 6th, the World Premiere of GLEE The 3D Concert Movie took place at the Mann Village Theater. Click below to watch Perez Hilton talking to the GLEE stars on the red carpet!

San Francisco director/producer Marc Smolowitz presents his new film The Power Of Two on Sat. Sept. 10, 2011 for two screenings at the Castro Theatre - 429 Castro St. in SF 94114. There is a 2:00 pm screening which includes film and Q & A with featured interview subjects The Stenzel Twins - Ana Stenzel and Isa Stenzel Byrnes, and Anna Modlin, and director/producer Marc Smolowitz.

On August 16th, 2011, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) releases digitally the motion picture soundtrack for the new movie One Day, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. The soundtrack One Day features a brand new track written and composed exclusively for the movie by Elvis Costello; titled 'Sparkling Day,' the song is only available on this soundtrack. Also included is a stellar roster of songs by a diverse group of artists from the last two decades; plus selections from the original film score by Academy Award winner Rachel Portman (Emma, The Cider House Rules, Chocolat).

After a summer of relaxation it's going to be tough to shake off the laid-back lifestyle and get back into super parent mode.

Algonquin Seaport Theater Productions proudly presents 'The Art of Love', a new musical revue by Al Tapper at its theater on the South Street Seaport, August 28th, at 3pm and 7pm. Directed by David Flora, with musical direction by Larry Nachsin, featuring Kelli Maguire and Robert Vest, the show will play the final weekend of every month through December.