A. Gentle News

HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME comes to life at the La Jolla Playhouse, now playing through December 14th.

In celebration of its 70th Anniversary, Milwaukee Repertory Theater mounts a new production of Mary Chase's Harvey, the classic American comedy that won the Pulitzer Prize, played for 1,775 performances on Broadway and was immortalized by Jimmy Stewart's iconic 1950 film. Directed by KJ Sanchez, who returns to The Rep after last year's hilarious and sold-out production of Noises Off, Harvey will welcome back to the Quadracci Powerhouse stage Rep Associate Artists Jonathan Gillard Daly, Laura Gordon, James Pickering, and Deborah Staples. A perfect offering for the whole family just in time for the holidays, Harvey is sure to fill the theater with laughter and delight with its timeless tale of finding one's place in the world.

I think I say this every year, but this time I really mean it: This is the best season yet of THE WALKING DEAD. I was so consumed (heh, episode title) with this episode that I barely remembered to take notes. It was a gentle reminder just how invested in these characters I am and how devoted I've become to their well being.

Starz announced today that the limited series, 'The Missing,' will debut tonight, November 15th at 9pm ET/PT on STARZ.

The 2010 American Idol runner-up, the first female finalist in three years, Crystal Bowersox has made it her mission to live life and her music to the fullest. With a gentle warmth and wisdom well beyond her years, the consummate artist has an uncompromising vision of herself and her music that is refreshing and rare. Singer, songwriter and actress Crystal Bowersox will be in concert at The Capitol Center for the Arts tonight, November 14, at 8pm.

Z2 Entertainment is proud to present JD McPherson at the Fox Theatre tonight, November 12th, 2014.

San Francisco Opera presents CINDERELLA, November 9-26, 2014. Check out a sneak peek at highlights below!

For its fall offering, the New England Regional Theatre Company mounted an ambitious and stirring production of Man of La Mancha at the Orion Performing Arts Center in Topsham, Maine. The sixteen-person cast and twelve-musician ensemble invested this touching revival with passion and intelligence. Directed by John Willey, the 1965 Dale Wasserman-Mitch Leigh-Joe Darrion musical based on Miguel de Cervantes' epic novel, Don Quixote still burns with intensity, idealism, and a much-needed antidote in a chaotic modern world - the courage and hope to 'fight for the right' and follow the quest. Willey strikes the right balance between comedy and drama, and he handles the musical's framing device - that of Cervantes recounting his tale in a prison of the Inquisition - with visual and theatrical aplomb. He keeps the entire cast on stage for the duration and uses the exceptionally wide Orion space inventively, so that the action flows naturally and his musical staging is completely organic. Moreover, he elicits from his actors a fervent luminosity that proves inspiring.

Caroline Davis, taking on the role of Charlotte Shaw, has performed with various local theatre groups-ACT 1, Blackbird, Carrick, Circle, Groundworks, Rhubarb-"on occasion as an ice skater, a geisha, a monkey, a dog, a Marx Brother, a shepherdess (twice) and a dead person (thrice)."

The Old Globe today announced that James Vasquez (Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show) will direct the final show of its 2014-2015 Season, the West Coast premiere of an exciting new American play, Rich Girl, by acclaimed playwright Victoria Stewart. Rich Girl will play May 23 - June 21, 2015.

Boston's Lyric Stage plumbs the poetry and prose of Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell in Sara Ruhl's quietly aching DEAR ELIZABETH, a play in letters that chronicles the 30-year friendship of two lost literary souls.

Angélique Kidjo will headline Carnegie Hall tonight, November 5 in a tribute to 'Mama Africa,' the great South African singer and political activist Miriam Makeba-whom Kidjo cites as her own role model and career-long inspiration.

Today, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts announced that the legendary Bill Cosby will perform for a one-night-only performance at the Ruth Finley Person Theater (50 Mark West Springs Road) in Santa Rosa on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 8:00 pm.

Based on Daniel Wallace's 1998 novel and Tim Burton's 2003 film of the same name, Big Fish, with a few minor changes in plot, becomes quite an imaginative musical...with Andrew Lippa composer of some of the best songs written for a Broadway show in a long time. So, it is hard to imagine why its Broadway run ended after a mere three months. Now in its West Coast premiere, Big Fish comes to MTW with a glorious cast directed by Larry Carpenter and choreographed by Peggy Hickey with vibrant sets and costumes from the original New York production. It's a real charmer and another big win for MTW.

Second Stage Theatre's production of Terrence McNally's play, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, directed by Peter DuBois, opens tonight, October 29, 2014. Let's see what the critics had to say...

CBS's holiday programming this year will be highlighted by the 50th anniversary celebration of the perennial favorite RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. The festive season, which kicks off with THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE ON CBS, will also include festive specials and beloved animated classics.

One of America's most beloved comedians of all time, Bill Cosby, whose comedy transcends age, gender and cultural barriers, is making a rare appearance at the Belk Theater and will be performing 2 shows at 3 p.m. and 7p.m. Cosby has captivated generations of fans with his comedy routines, iconic albums and best-selling books, including 'Fatherhood,' 'Time Flies' and his current bestseller, 'I Didn't Ask to Be Born, (But I'm Glad I Was.)'

THE LAST SHIP - the new musical with music and lyrics by 16-time Grammy Award-winner Sting and book by Tony Award winner John Logan and Pulitzer Prize-winner Brian Yorkey opens tonight, October 26, on Broadway. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Adelaide Festival Centre today launched its 2015 Come Out Children's Festival program with hundreds of shows that promise to engage, stimulate, challenge, educate and entertain young minds.