John Bell

The Ballard Institute to Celebrate The Opening Of Wonderland Puppet Theater Exhibit
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 29, 2024

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at UConn will open the Wonderland Puppet Theater Exhibit in August. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

Interview: Give Credit Where Credit is Due When it Comes to The Orchestrator!
by Elliot Lanes - Jun 21, 2024

Recently I wrote a Broadway World feature dealing with a partial restoration of Robert Ginzler’s original orchestrations for Bye, Bye, Birdie at the Kennedy Center by conductor John Bell with additional work by Joshua Clayton. When the piece was shared on social media, it started a bigger conversation about proper credit for the original orchestrator. Robert Ginzler was somehow never acknowledged in the Kennedy Center program.

Review: BYE, BYE, BIRDIE at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - Jun 12, 2024

The latest entry into Kennedy Center’s Broadway Center Stage series is one that you don’t see produced professionally very often which is a good thing. The 1960 Charles Strouse/Lee Adams/Michael Stewart musical Bye, Bye, Birdie was at one point the most produced musical by high schools and community theatres but strangely it has had very few large-scale revivals. Roundabout Theatre Company’s production in 2009 marked the last time the show was seen on Broadway in a major production.

Interview: Kennedy Center's Musical Director on Why BYE, BYE, BIRDIE's Orchestrations Sound Better Than Ever
by Elliot Lanes - Jun 10, 2024

Nowadays orchestra size has become more and more of an issue for me. Even when seeing productions of classic Broadway musicals, there is a tendency to reduce the size of the orchestra for more in the way of production elements. It’s even worse when a production “reimagines” the charts completely and wipes away the work of Robert Russell Bennett, Don Walker, and even Jonathan Tunick. The latter should be deemed sacrilege.

Video: STARZ Reveals OUTLANDER Premiere Date and Releases First Look Teaser
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 3, 2024

STARZ has announced that the highly anticipated second half of “Outlander” season seven will premiere on Friday, November 22. New episodes will be available weekly on Fridays at midnight ET on the STARZ app, all STARZ streaming and on-demand platforms. In addition to the eight remaining episodes in season seven, “Outlander” is currently in production on a 10-episode eighth and final season. Watch the new teaser!

Shereen Ahmed, Ali Ewoldt & More Join Irish Rep's 2024 Gala
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 28, 2024

Irish Repertory Theatre has revealed additional performers and presenters for its 2024 Gala concert, Let’s Put On A Show! 35 Years of Irish Rep Musicals. See who is taking part and learn how to purchase tickets.

Irish Rep Announces 2024 Gala LET'S PUT ON A SHOW! 35 YEARS OF IRISH REP MUSICALS
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 24, 2024

Irish Repertory Theatre has announced its 2024 Gala concert, Let's Put On A Show! 35 Years of Irish Rep Musicals, which will take place at The Town Hall (123 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036) on Monday June 3, 2024, at 7PM.

SPAMALOT Plays Final Broadway Performance Today
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 7, 2024

The Broadway revival of Monty Python's SPAMALOT will conclude its noble quest on April 7, 2024 at Broadway's St. James Theatre following 17 previews and 164 regular performances.

'Taking Care: Puppets And Their Collectors Puppet Forum' Comes to The Ballard Institute Presents in March
by Stephi Wild - Feb 27, 2024

As part of its 2024 Spring Puppet Forum Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will host Taking Care: Puppets and Their Collectors, a discussion with UConn Dramatic Arts Professor Dr. Jungmin Song, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 7 p.m.

DANCE NATION to be Presented At The National Womens Theatre Festival in March
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 5, 2024

Tickets now on sale for The National Women's Theatre Festival production of DANCE NATION, a frenzied fantasia following a pre-teen competitive dance team as they claw their way cross-country to the national finals.

The Ballard Institute And Museum Of Puppetry Celebrates The Opening Of TAKING CARE: PUPPETS AND THEIR COLLECTORS
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 27, 2024

The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut will present the grand opening of its new exhibition Taking Care: Puppets and Their Collectors on Thursday, Feb. 15, with refreshments served at 4:30 p.m. and an in-person exhibition tour at 5 p.m. by curator Dr. Jungmin Song and Ballard Institute director Dr. John Bell, which will also be streamed on Ballard Institute's Facebook Live.