News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Nick DeSantis Headshot

Nick DeSantis

Get Nick DeSantis Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

News


Review: SENSE AND SENSIBILITY at Village Theatre

Love and longing, mistakes and matches, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY pairs all the ups and down and ins and outs of love and marriage in one show. Village Theatre’s production of this Kate Hamill adaptation also pairs the traditional story with exaggerations of the humor and sarcasm. It is light and diverting as well as deep and meaningful. In short, it has a bit of everything to satisfy the tastes of all the Mariannes and Elinors out there.
Premiere Recording Of THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES Now Available

Writing team Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond (Disney's a?oeVampirinaa??) released the world premiere recording of their musical The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes today, Friday, September 13, 2019.  The Fred Ebb Award and Jonathan Larson Grant winners return to their theatrical roots after completing three seasons of music for the hit Disney Junior series a?oeVampirina,a?? which airs in 115 countries to more than 100 million viewers. 
Kooman & Dimond Release World Premiere Recording Of THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES

Writing team Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond (Disney's a?oeVampirinaa??) announced the world premiere recording of their musical The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes will be released on Friday, September 13, 2019. After completing three seasons of music for the hit Disney Junior series a?oeVampirina,a?? which airs in 115 countries to more than 100 million viewers, the Fred Ebb Award and Jonathan Larson Grant winners return to their theatrical roots with this album. To preorder the album, visit KoomanDimond.com/store. 
World Premiere Recording Of THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES Set for Release

Writing team Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond (Disney's a?oeVampirinaa??) announced the world premiere recording of their musical The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes will be released on Friday, September 13, 2019. 
Review Roundup: ROCK OF AGES Rocks 5th Avenue Theatre!

BroadwayWorld has a first look at The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages is the '80s rock ballad blast that features the music of Styx, Joan Jett, Twisted Sister, and more. With Mickey Thomas as lead vocalist, Starship produced hits including 'We Built This City' (which appears in the production), 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now,' and 'Sara.'
VIDEO: Get A First Look at 'High Enough' From 5th Avenue's ROCK OF AGES

BroadwayWorld has a first look at The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages is the '80s rock ballad blast that features the music of Styx, Joan Jett, Twisted Sister, and more. With Mickey Thomas as lead vocalist, Starship produced hits including 'We Built This City' (which appears in the production), 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now,' and 'Sara.'
BWW Review: Bang Your Head While Laughing at 5th Ave's ROCK OF AGES

The idea of stunt casting, the practice of taking a big name and putting them in a role just to get butts in seats, has always terrified me. And I've seen it result anywhere from the sublime such as Neil Patrick Harris killing it as "Hedwig" to the shudder inducing Molly Ringwald completely out of her depth as the world's oldest taxi dancer in "Sweet Charity". And while the 5th Avenue's couple of stunt casts, specifically rock royalty Micky Thomas of Starship as club owner Dennis and Galen Disston of the Seattle rock band Pickwick as the romantic lead Drew, in their current production of "Rock of Ages" were nowhere near the latter, when it came to delivering a line or executing some choreography, you could definitely tell the musical theater folks from the rockers. However, when it came to wailing out some amazing rock songs, those stunt casts had no equal, so all told, it amounted for a pretty awesome show. But we'll get to specifics in a minute.
Photo Flash: ROCK OF AGES Rocks 5th Avenue Theatre!

BroadwayWorld has a first look at The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages is the '80s rock ballad blast that features the music of Styx, Joan Jett, Twisted Sister, and more. With Mickey Thomas as lead vocalist, Starship produced hits including 'We Built This City' (which appears in the production), 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now,' and 'Sara.'
VIDEO: Get A First Look at 5th Avenue's ROCK OF AGES

BroadwayWorld has a first look at The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages is the '80s rock ballad blast that features the music of Styx, Joan Jett, Twisted Sister, and more. With Mickey Thomas as lead vocalist, Starship produced hits including 'We Built This City' (which appears in the production), 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now,' and 'Sara.'
Seattle Theater Writers Announce the Eighth Annual Nominations of the 2018 Gypsy Rose Lee Awards

Seattle's critics' circle announces Nominees of Excellence in Seattle theatrical productions. Spanning dozens of theater companies and productions, from large and prominent to small and humble, the Gypsy Rose Lee Awards honor the excellence found in the myriad of professional theater productions that we reviewers attend in a year.
VIDEO: ROCK OF AGES Prepares To Rock 5th Avenue Theatre

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced that Mickey Thomas, the lead singer of Starship stars as Dennis in its sensational new production of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages is the '80s rock ballad blast that features the music of Styx, Joan Jett, Twisted Sister, and more. With Mickey Thomas as lead vocalist, Starship produced hits including 'We Built This City' (which appears in the production), 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now,' and 'Sara.'
Mickey Thomas Of Starship To Star In New Production Of ROCK OF AGES At The 5th Avenue Theatre; Full Casting Announced

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced that Mickey Thomas, the lead singer of Starship (formerly Jefferson Starship), will star as Dennis in its sensational new production of Rock of Ages. Rock of Ages is the '80s rock ballad blast that features the music of Styx, Joan Jett, Twisted Sister, and more. With Mickey Thomas as lead vocalist, Starship produced hits including "We Built This City" (which appears in the production), "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now," and "Sara."
Hilarity Ensues in Village Theatre's THE NOTEWORTHY LIFE OF HOWARD BARNES

Village Theatre is thrilled to kick off the 2018-2019 Season with the World Premiere of The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes by Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond (Romantics Annonymous at the Old Globe in London, Disney Channel's Vampirina). This production will be directed by Village Theatre associate artistic director,Brandon Ivie (Lizard Boy, Jasper in Deadland) and choreographer Al Blackstone, who was recently nominated for an Emmy for his work on the popular television show So You Think You Can Dance
BWW Review: Village's HAIRSPRAY is a Triple Threat of a Show

Once again, Dear Readers, we've ventured into the realm of one of my favorites. We recently had my all-time number one in town, but I'd have to say Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's "Hairspray", is certainly in the top five with its infectious and rousing score and incredible book from Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. I've seen countless productions including the original cast and even had the honor of being in the show. And now Village Theatre has thrown their wig in the ring with their own production and I have to say in some ways it surpasses all those others. With its Beat, Power, and Humor it's a true show triple threat.
You Can't Stop The Beat With HAIRSPRAY At Village Theatre

Village Theatre is closing out their season with an all-new stage production of the Broadway hit musical, Hairspray. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and an even bigger dream: to dance her way onto national TV, dethrone the reigning teen queen, win the affections of the local heartthrob, and integrate a TV network… all without denting her 'do! The Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning Best Musical teach us to look past skin color and size in the fight for equal rights. "What excites me about this show," says co-director Timothy McCuen Piggee, "is that we get to tell stories that humanize in a world that constantly works to dehumanize. This play is really clever because it offers the opportunity to examine issues like racism, sizeism, homophobia, and bias. This show is thoughtful and courageous and I'm excited to bring it to life with such a strong team of individuals."
You Can't Stop The Beat With HAIRSPRAY At Village Theatre

Village Theatre is closing out their season with an all-new stage production of the Broadway hit musical, Hairspray. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair and an even bigger dream: to dance her way onto national TV, dethrone the reigning teen queen, win the affections of the local heartthrob, and integrate a TV network… all without denting her 'do! The Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning Best Musical teach us to look past skin color and size in the fight for equal rights. "What excites me about this show," says co-director Timothy McCuen Piggee, "is that we get to tell stories that humanize in a world that constantly works to dehumanize. This play is really clever because it offers the opportunity to examine issues like racism, sizeism, homophobia, and bias. This show is thoughtful and courageous and I'm excited to bring it to life with such a strong team of individuals."
The 5th Avenue Theatre's Third Annual NEXTFEST: A FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS Launches This Weekend

The 5th Avenue Theatre is a vibrant hive of musical theater activity as the projects of NextFest: A Festival of New Musicals have started rehearsals this week. A three-week musical theater intensive development cycle, NextFest has played a role in the creation of musicals ranging from Persuasion by Harold Taw and Chris Jeffries (Taproot Theatre, 2017) to  Come From Away by Irene Carl Sankoff and David Hein (Broadway). Nationally recognized for its contribution to the contemporary musical theater cannon, The 5th Avenue Theatre is a celebrated incubator for new musicals. Each year, the nationally renowned theater company connects writers at all stages of development with some of the region's most brilliant performers, giving life to the words on the page and allowing book writers, composers and lyricists to see their work in action. This year's various works are brought to life by Alexandria Henderson, Justin Huertas, Matthew Kacergis, Shaunyce Omar, Brandon O'Neill, Timothy Piggee, Hannah Schuerman, Billie Wildrick and many more.
BWW Review: Taproot's Sweet PERSUASION Brims with Potential

There are certain things that spring to mind when thinking of a Jane Austen story. Blistering on again, off again romances. Sweeping emotions. And of course, Colin Firth emerging from a lake. Well the new musical adaptation of Jane Austen's "Persuasion", currently playing at Taproot Theatre, may not have Colin Firth but the romances and emotions are there in spades.
Photo Flash: First Look at Rufus Bonds, Jr., Nova Payton, Don Darryl Rivera and More in 5th Avenue Theatre's MAN OF LA MANCHA

Broadway's Rufus Bonds, Jr. takes over the role of Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha at 5th Avenue Theatre. Bonds was recently seen as Porgy in The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess in London's West End, and was a member of the original Broadway casts of RENT and Parade. This new production is the first of The 5th Avenue Theatre's 2016/17 season and also features Don Darryl Rivera as Sancho and Nova Payton as Aldonza with direction by Allison Narver and choreography by Maria Torres.
Norm Lewis to Star as 'Don Quixote' in MAN OF LA MANCHA at 5th Avenue Theatre

Just announced, Norm Lewis will star in the iconic dual roles of Cervantes/Don Quixote in the legendary Broadway musical, Man of La Mancha at The 5th Avenue Theatre.

Get Nick DeSantis Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos