Everybody knows West Side Story. Even if you have never seen the show before, even if you haven't seen the movie, you know West Side Story. The iconic show is so enmeshed in American culture that it is inescapable. For good reason, I might add. West Side Story is landmark theater, marking the genesis of the modern musical. And it's at the Durham Performing Arts Center now.
In a special limited engagement, Signature Theatre presents the world premiere musical A Second Chance, featuring a book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen. Directed by Jonathan Butterell (Signature's Giant), A Second Chance fuses jazz and musical theater stylings, with musical direction by Zak Sandler.
The potential prospect of the entertainment behemoth known as GLEE taking on perhaps the finest American musical ever written - WEST SIDE STORY - is enough to make any Broadway baby near-exultant, yet when the songs of the classic Bernstein/Sondheim score then are allowed to act as all-too-apt musical commentary on risque dramatic content in the highly controversial episode itself - all-too-appropriately named "The First Time" - a cataclysmic consequence can almost be counted on to inevitably arise. And, it did. Again. And again. And again - all night long. While it may have very well been Kurt, Rachel and Blaine's first roll in the hay, it would be akin to searching for a needle in a haystack to find much - if any - fault whatsoever with GLEE's button-pushing and excellently played tribute to Tony and Maria. Given what resulted from the doomed coupling of those Shakespeareans - Tony and Maria being more modern-day answers to Romeo and Juliet, of course - the ire of all the up-in-arms conservative helicopter parents in the country - and Capulets and Montagues, too, for that matter - could not even dare to try and contain the joy, excitement and sheer pleasure of what is undoubtedly one of GLEE's finest hours to date. There was a message or two to be learned, too. Yes, indeed, GLEE taking on WEST SIDE STORY went all the way - and then some. So, whether you are a Jet or Shark, you must be compelled to give it up for GLEE and its ode to WEST SIDE STORY.
In a special limited engagement, Signature Theatre presents the world premiere musical A Second Chance, featuring a book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen. Directed by Jonathan Butterell (Signature's Giant), A Second Chance fuses jazz and musical theater stylings, with musical direction by Zak Sandler.
A.R.T.'s soaring pre-Broadway revision of 'The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess' offers many grace notes and an exquisite cast
A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) opens its 2011-12 season with The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin. The adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and Obie Award-winning composer Diedre L. Murray, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Ronald K. Brown, begins previews on August 17 and opens for the reviewing press on August 31 at 7pm. Performances are at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge. Tickets for preview performances are currently on sale, remaining tickets for the run go on sale on July 12.
WEST SIDE STORY was a landmark work when it premiered some fifty odd years ago. There had been ‘serious' musicals before; SHOW BOAT from decades earlier was certainly not a musical comedy. I do believe WEST SIDE STORY was the first successful musical driven by dance. How intoxicating those dance sequences in WEST SIDE STORY remain all these decades later. The dance in WEST SIDE STORY is from the genius of Jerome Robbins. If we are to believe some sources, including the show's original Anita, Chita Rivera, the ‘shark' dances were done by Robbins' assistant, Peter Gennaro.
Given the odds, for one to have been involved with a singular Broadway success would be impressive. To have been involved with two would solidify one's status as a true Broadway 'player.' How about 4, running at the same time? Only two artists have been able to boast such an accomplishment, the first being Susan Stroman, whose productions of Contact, The Producers, The Music Man, and Thou Shalt Not all ran simultaneously for a short time in 2001. Last season, Broadway's go-to choreographer, Sergio Trujillo, joined her company with his superfecta of Next to Normal, Jersey Boys, The Addams Family and Memphis. It appears that like Jersey Boys, Memphis, and The Addams Family, Trujillo is showing no signs of breaking his streak, or going anywhere, with new projects in the pipeline incoming.
Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) will offer a series of musical theater master classes in September 2010. A trio of Broadway dance luminaries, Charlotte d'Amboise, Mary Ann Lamb and Mary MacLeod, will focus on technique and choreography from Broadway masters for whom they have danced such as Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, and Michael Bennett.
Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) will offer a series of musical theater master classes in September 2010. A trio of Broadway dance stalwarts, Charlotte d'Amboise, Mary MacLeod and Mary Ann Lamb, will focus on Broadway technique and choreography from luminaries for whom they have danced such as Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, and Michael Bennett.
Today, I am sharing with you Part II of my exclusive InDepth InterView with legendary Broadway star Donna McKechnie who is perhaps best known as the genius director-choreographer Michael Bennett's muse and primary interpreter as well as the originator and inspiration for the character of Cassie in A CHORUS LINE - for which she won Best Actress In A Musical at the 1976 Tony Awards - in addition to her many roles on Broadway and the West End, as well as all over the country on tours of every kind over the years. In Part II of this comprehensive chat we discuss her new show with Kaye Ballard and Liliane Montevecci that kicks off next year titled BROADWAY LADIES, working with choreographers Jerome Robbins and Ron Field, Bennett's thoughts on Leonard Bernstein, Robbins and ON THE TOWN, what Robbins work meant to Bennett growing up, what Gwen Verdon's work meant to her, her thoughts on punk rock and amplification in the theatre as well as working with Rock Hudson, Dick Van Dyke and, of course, Bennett himself.
Davit Karapetyan, an internationally acclaimed principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet, will travel to Charleston to dance the role of Albrecht in the National Ballet of Georgia's upcoming production of Giselle.
'Let Me Entertain You" is not only the motto of Hillbarn Theatre, but also a song featured in the last production of Hillbarn's 69th Season, the Broadway classic Gypsy, performing May 7 - 30. Further, Hillbarn is thrilled to debut its new air conditioning system during the May months for all their "cool" customers. For information visit HillbarnTheatre.org. Gypsy is the last show of Hillbarn's 69th Season titled "Next of Kin."
It will be a triple first when the newly opened Jerome Robbins Theater at the Baryshnikov Arts Center presents the American debut of the young Swiss troupe Zimmermann & de Perrot in the U.S. premiere of 'Gaff Aff.'
'Let Me Entertain You" is not only the motto of Hillbarn Theatre, but also a song featured in the last production of Hillbarn's 69th Season, the Broadway classic Gypsy, performing May 7 - 30. Further, Hillbarn is thrilled to debut its new air conditioning system during the May months for all their "cool" customers. For information visit HillbarnTheatre.org. Gypsy is the last show of Hillbarn's 69th Season titled "Next of Kin."
It will be a triple first when the newly opened Jerome Robbins Theater at the Baryshnikov Arts Center presents the American debut of the young Swiss troupe Zimmermann & de Perrot in the U.S. premiere of 'Gaff Aff.'
'Let Me Entertain You" is not only the motto of Hillbarn Theatre, but also a song featured in the last production of Hillbarn's 69th Season, the Broadway classic Gypsy, performing May 7 - 30. Further, Hillbarn is thrilled to debut its new air conditioning system during the May months for all their "cool" customers. For information visit HillbarnTheatre.org. Gypsy is the last show of Hillbarn's 69th Season titled "Next of Kin."
It will be a triple first when the newly opened Jerome Robbins Theater at the Baryshnikov Arts Center presents the American debut of the young Swiss troupe Zimmermann & de Perrot in the U.S. premiere of 'Gaff Aff.'
The Wooster Group will present its first benefit artauction on the occasion of its 35 th Anniversary. Dubbed 'The Wooster (Support)Group', the event will feature live and silent auctions of contemporary art.
The Wooster Group will present its first benefit artauction on the occasion of its 35 th Anniversary. Dubbed 'The Wooster (Support)Group', the event will feature live and silent auctions of contemporary art.
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