Andrew Black

Over its nearly sixty-year history, Hartford Stage has become synonymous with breathtaking productions of Shakespeare. Since its very first production, Othello in 1964, Connecticut audiences and beyond have traveled to downtown Hartford to experience world-class interpretations of The Bard's favorites and lesser-known works.

In partnership with Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC), the Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater (AXCBT) will present the World Premiere of Artistic Director Gabriel Chajnik's multi-media dance musical, The Lost Princess of Oz in the Pollak Theater at Monmouth University in Long Branch, NJ.

The Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs highlights the next welcome edition of the Staged Readings series at 7:30pm on Friday, July 8, at the Center for Performing Arts, Moe Auditorium & Film Center.

Tonight, June 26 (8pm EST), Broadway on Demand will premiere Haley Swindal's 54 Below show, 'Sing Happy: The Songs of Liza Minnelli.' The broadcast will be free and available on the site indefinitely.

On Monday night, Over Here! The Big Band Musical was back in New York at The Triad Theatre for the first time since its original 1974 Broadway production and the joint was jumpin'. Veteran's Day proved to be the perfect time to revive this beloved celebration of the American spirit and optimism that defined the 1940's. To make it even more worthwhile, a portion of the proceeds from the evening was donated to Vietnam Veterans of America. Over Here! is one of this journalist's favorite musicals, so I was thrilled to have it back on the boards. Under the razor-sharp direction of Will Nunziata, who is quickly becoming a go-to director, this feel-good show sparkled and shined like a freshly polished diamond. It featured a stellar cast of 19, plus an 11-piece swing band, under musical director extraordinaire Blake Allen. Choreographer Andrew Black used every inch of space to give us one eye-popping musical number after another.

A one-night only adaptation of the 1974 Tony-Award winning musical Over Here! will take place on Monday, November 11 at the Triad Theater on Manhattan's upper west side. Directed by Will Nunziata and set to the original score by the Sherman Brothers, this is the first performance of this six-time Tony award winning work since its closing in 1975.

No, it wasn't an accident the first time around in July. Just as Broadway (Chicago) has recognized her abilities and consistency of excellence so have Haley Swindal's audience's. The only difference in her performance last night was that that black is the new red and Feinstein's/54 Below had another Stephen (Sondheim) in the audience. Here's my review of Haley's July show which was corroborated last night.

A lifelong passion for Liza Minnelli has brought Haley Swindal to the hearts of audiences who will, now, have a lifelong passion for Haley Swindal.

It's in the Steinbrenner genes, known for excellence, excitement, and showmanship in all things they endeavor. Haley Swindal, Broadway and Concert star continues the legacy of one of America's most well known families and used her formidable talents in an homage to her idol Liza Minnelli last night at Feinstein's/54 Below. Whenever Haley takes time off from her Broadway commitments (presently CHICAGO) her Cabaret concerts are a major happening and last night Broadway's Supper Club was the place to be in New York City. Haley's significant voice and acting abilities, her physical stature and blond hair may be different then Liza's but the audience arousal and passion she evokes is similar to the legend.

Haley Swindal, the latest Mama Morton in Broadway's longest running American musical 'Chicago' is returning to Feinstein's 54 Below with her brand new show ' Sing Happy: The Songs of Liza Minnelli' on July 26th and Broadway World's own Richard Ridge caught up with Haley to chat about living in the musical world of the legendary Liza.

BroadwayHD presents viewers the chance to come and meet those dancing feet of 42nd Street, when it debuts in cinemas as a one-night Fathom Events screening in movie theaters nationwide on Wednesday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m. local time. It will then be available on the Webby-nominated streaming service at a date to be announced. Tickets for screenings of 42nd Street can be purchased at www.FathomEvents.com and participating theater box offices.

'A Blanket of Dust' is the story of a modern day Antigone.  The daughter of a U.S. Senator seeks justice for her husband, who has died in the World Trade Center. Her ordeal drives her to the outer fringes of society.  After struggling to establish facts that the government, the media, her family and her countrymen deny, she protests with a harrowing act of sacrificial tragedy.  The play's world premiere will be presented Off-Broadway by Delphi Film from June 6 to 30 at The Flea Theater Mainstage,  20 Thomas Street, directed by Chris Murrah.

On Sunday, April 8 at 3:00 p.m., Axelrod Performing Arts Center presents Let's Face the Music…The Timeless Songs of Fred Astaire featuring vocalists Danny Bacher and Alexis Cole, performing with an all-star jazz band led by Dr. Art Topilow on piano, with Aaron Weinstein on violin, Mike Lee on saxophone, Doug Clarke on guitar, Rudy Petschauer on percussion and Gary Mazzaroppi on bass. Special guests: two leading Broadway dancers, Cory Lingner ("On the Town," "American in Paris") and Eloise Kropp ("Dames at Sea," "CATS") choreographed by Gabriel Chajnik and Andrew Black.

The Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) is celebrating the Fred Astaire songbook on Sunday, April 8 at 3 p.m. with star vocalists Danny Bacher and Alexis Cole, who recently appeared together at Carnegie Hall, and two leading Broadway dancers, Cory Lingner("On the Town," "American in Paris") and Eloise Kropp ("Dames at Sea," "CATS"), performing with an all-star jazz band led by Dr. Art Topilow on piano, with Aaron Weinstein on violin, Mike Lee on saxophone, Doug Clarke on guitar, Rudy Petschauer on percussion and Gary Mazzaroppi on bass.

Keeping it brief, since the show only runs through this Saturday, LGBTQ theater group Fantastic.Z has a series of short plays currently performing at The Eclectic Theater called 'Family'. The six-play series has a family motif, each story showcasing modern examples of what it means to be a unit in the modern era. In a more deductive sense, this new works micro-festival highlights specifically pain within the family unit. Half of the shows work through that pain less successfully with staged therapy (moping, finger-pointing, and yelling), and the other half of the show work through that pain more successfully with comedy.

From a humble beginning in 1979 when Carol Paumgarten, the Artistic Director of Steps on Broadway with her then partner Patrice Soriero opened for business in a small space on 56th and Broadway in NYC, Steps has burgeoned into a bustling, internationally acclaimed dance studio boasting top teachers and a huge clientele that ranges from pre-schoolers to leading professional dancers.

Central Works (CW) world premiere of Patricia Milton's political comedy Hearts of Palm has been extended through Sunday, August 21.

Central Works (CW) presents the world premiere of Patricia Milton's latest political comedy Hearts of Palm, opening with a press night July 16th (previews July 14th &15th), and running through August 14 at the historic Berkeley City Club. Unrequited Love meets Unregulated Capitalism in Milton's very funny new play Hearts of Palm, developed in the Central Works Writers Workshop.  A multi-award winning playwright, Patricia Milton's hit Enemies: Foreign and Domestic, wan produced by Central Works in 2015 and awarded  "Outstanding World Premiere" by Theatre Bay Area (TBA) when judged against all Bay Area theater companies.

Intersection of foreign 'black ops' and family politics...'because counter-terrorism begins at home.' Patricia Milton's plays have been performed in New York, Boston, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and places in between. Enemies: Foreign and Domestic is Central Works World Premiere #46, and will be directed by Gary Graves.

Central Works launches their 25th season with Patricia Milton's hilarious comedy Enemies: Foreign and Domestic, opening with a press night Feb 21 (previews Feb 19, 20), running through March 29 at the historic Berkeley City Club. A family drama with a sharp political edge, Enemies: Foreign and Domestic by Patricia Milton begins when the rebel among three odd sisters returns home to reconcile with her estranged mother, cultures clash, sibling rivalries erupt, and bombs start falling. Following on the success of her hilarious economic comedy, Reduction in Force, 'a timely, witty farce' (SF Examiner) that played to packed houses in 2011, local playwright Patricia Milton returns to Central Works with this darkly comic intersection of foreign 'black ops' and family politics...'because counter-terrorism begins at home.' Patricia Milton's plays have been performed in New York, Boston, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and places in between.