William Katt

Reviewer Peter Nason counts down the greatest 101 YACHT ROCK HITS for your summertime listening pleasure.

The Noel S. Ruiz Theater at CMPAC does it again with their production of Pippin. Pippin was a wise choice to wrap-up CMPAC's 43rd season. Inspired by the real-life individuals of the early Middle Ages, Charlemagne and his hunchbacked son Pippin, the show tells the fictionalized story of the young prince in search for meaning and significance in his life.

Led by the Master of Ceremonies (Totia Meireles), a theatrical troupe tells the story of Prince Pippin (Felipe de Carolis), son and heir to the throne of King Charlemagne (Jonas Bloch). In search of the meaning of his life, and to achieve an extraordinary existence, he follows the advice of his grandmother (Nicette Bruno) and stepmother Fastrada (Adriana Garambone), goes through battles, experience power, the simple life and love.

There are the warhorse musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin; there are the lavish productions befitting Phantoms in opera houses and French revolutionaries and revisionist fairy tales (and you know the ones I mean); there are the Disney powerhouses; and . . . there are musicals of a quaint, mind-nudging nature that don't quite fit into any category. Certainly THE FANTASTICKS comes to mind, and -- at least in the previous productions I have seen -- Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN. Somewhere in my video collection is a filmed version of the musical with William Katt, and just a few years ago PIPPIN was the first musical staged at the shiny, new Playhouse on the Square (with Alvaro Francisco stepping in for a sidelined Jordan Nichols). I sometimes think that small-scale musicals are better suited to venues less grand than the Orpheum; I needn't have worried, however, as PIPPIN has acquired the kind of theatrical, Cirque du Soleil-style atmosphere that perfectly suits the show's opening number, 'Magic to Do.'

 Kicking off the 2015-16 season and the company's ninth season is the cult-classic novel made into a cult-classic film made into a cult-classic musical theater piece as American Repertory Theater of WNY presents CARRIE, THE MUSICAL. From the mind of Stephen King to the film directorial eyes of Brian DePalma to the musical creativity of Michael Gore, this is an ugly ducking turn prom queen who sees this dream turn into a 'night we'll never forget' story. 

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces a celebration of films from the Swinging Sixties (and beyond) with the retrospective Richard Lester: The Running Jumping Pop Cinema Iconoclast

Arguably, director Diane Paulus' greatest triumph to date is the spectacular new production of PIPPIN, the 2013 Tony-winning revival of Stephen Schwartz's trippy but winsome musical about the angst-riddled but hyper-aspirational young son of King Charlemagne, and his erratic, sometimes frustrating journey of self-discovery. In her marvelously inventive, re-imagined update---now playing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through November 9---Paulus brilliantly orients the topsy-turvy machinations of the entire story within the canvas-lined confines of a big-top circus. Here, the over-the-top performance troupe that 'guides' our hero's search for self-fulfillment aren't merely just actors (or 'players') but are also all agile, athletic circus performers that tumble, leap, and balance themselves for our (and Pippin's) entertainment pleasure. As expected, both Pippin and the audience are equally lulled into submission.

The GREATEST AMERICAN HERO of the '80s has returned. According to Entertainment Weekly, Fox has planned a reboot of Stephen J. Cannell's dramedy series about an average school teacher who discovers a superhero suit that gives him super powers.

Tackling a show like Pippin takes some major cojones. The original Bob Fosse production featured an iconic, Tony Award winning performance from Ben Vereen and was the first Broadway musical to feature the work of composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The current Broadway revival of Pippin just won four Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress, Best Actress, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Revival of a Musical. Pippin is certainly not a safe choice for a troupe of young performers like the High School and college age artists of SummerStock Austin. That said, the award-winning SummerStock Austin never takes the safe road, and their courageousness pays off with their exciting, enjoyable, and thrilling production of Pippin.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on 10-time 2013 Tony Award-nominated Best Revival, PIPPIN, which was also the recipient of five 1973 Tony Awards.

Ask Brent Crayon what it's like to music direct for composers such asJohn Bucchino and Stephen Schwartz and the answer may surprise you

The Crawley family's fate hangs in the balance when MASTERPIECE CLASSIC "Downton Abbey, Season 3" returns in January.

'Ballroom With A Twist' at the El Portal Theatre drew, quite possibly, the most eclectic audience in the history of the landmark venue.

Few stars - or even legends, like this one - boast a resume that includes a Tony Award, the leading role on one of the most cherished sitcoms of the early eighties, a star-making film debut in one of the greatest horror films ever made (with one of the most exciting casts ever assembled), as well as an unparalleled career on the concert and cabaret stages around the world - in addition to a dozen or so leading roles in musicals on Broadway and in the West End, and just as many notable film roles, ranging from intimate indies to big-budget behemoths. Yes, Betty Buckley has conquered every arena of entertainment and it is a rare thrill to reveal such exciting news as Ms. Buckley revealed to me in our comprehensive conversation last week. In this BroadwayWorld Exclusive InDepth InterView we discuss her upcoming albums, BOOTLEG: BOARD MIXES FROM THE ROAD and GHOSTLIGHT - the latter produced by Oscar and Grammy-winning producer extraordinaire T Bone Burnett - both in connection to her Town Hall concert on October 16th. Here you will also find the first news of working with Jason Moore, Jake Shears and the rest of the cast and crew of the hotly anticipated new musical based on Armistead Maupin's TALES OF THE CITY premiering next Spring in San Francisco where Ms. Buckley is creating the lead role of Anna Madrigal. We also talk the recent big Emmy-winner out of all of TV this year, HBO's miniseries THE PACIFIC. In this illuminating conversation, Ms. Buckley bares all and reveals that it is the supreme dedication to excellence and unwavering commitment to craft that has helped her to become one of the biggest Broadway names of our age with an astoundingly accomplished career almost beyond any comparison. And if all of this breaking news weren't enough, this is the complete unedited conversation where we also look back and talk about everything from CARRIE to TENDER MERCIES, CATS to SUNSET BLVD, William Finn to WYATT EARP, Roman Polanski to Robert Duvall, cabaret to country concert stage and much, much more. Now is the very best time of all to let the memory live again, so it's all eyes (feline and otherwise) on the extraordinary future in the life and career of the legendary Betty Buckley!

Syfy celebrates America's birthday with a 20-hour July 4th marathon of the cult classic The Greatest American Hero, which hasn't been seen on national television since its original network run in 1983. The holiday celebration airs Sunday, July 4, from 9AM-5AM (ET/PT).

Syfy celebrates Summer 2010 with its first ever Thursday night reality block (Mary Knows Best and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files); new scripted series (Haven) based on a Stephen King novella; popular returning series (Warehouse 13, Eureka, Ghost Hunters Academy and Ghost Hunters International), and fan favorite Saturday Original Movies including Stonehenge Apocalypse and Lake Placid 3, along with a Memorial Day weekend movie marathon and a special July 4th presentation of The Greatest American Hero.

Syfy celebrates America's birthday with a 20-hour July 4th marathon of the cult classic The Greatest American Hero, which hasn't been seen on national television since its original network run in 1983. The holiday celebration airs Sunday, July 4, from 9AM-5AM (ET/PT).

If you closed your eyes last night,you would have thought you were back in New York even though you knew you had just valeted your car in West Hollywood. Yes, Broadway came to Hollywood to a new, beautiful new supper club called Eleven for 'Changed for Good: An Intimate Evening with Stephen Schwartz.'

Emily Bergl (FICTION) talks about journals, secrets and her career.