Amma Osei News

If you're looking to get a definitive Janis Joplin biography/musical (in the vein of the Carole King musical BEAUTIFUL), then you may be disappointed with A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the short-lived 2013 Broadway musical. More akin to a tribute concert rather than actual musical theater, a new regional production of the show continues at the Laguna Playhouse through September 10. But wait… don't dismiss the show quite so fast. Despite a lack of a real narrative, the production boasts some incredible, standing ovation-worthy musical performances, particularly from Kelly McIntyre who plays the title role and her four 'muses' played by the ultra-talented foursome of Sharon Catherine Brown, Tawny Dolley, Carol Hatchett, and Amma Osei. These ladies alone are reason enough to go see this production!

Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce the second show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 97th season with the Tony nominated rock and roll musical, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, in Association with the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeffrey Jampol of JAM, Inc., with musical direction by Todd Olson and written and directed by Randy Johnson.

Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce the second show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 97th season with the Tony nominated rock and roll musical, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, in Association with the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeffrey Jampol of JAM, Inc., with musical direction by Todd Olson and written and directed by Randy Johnson.

During last night's Season Release Bash at Old Irving Brewery Co., artistic director and co-founder Michael Patrick Thornton proudly announced The Gift Theatre's 2018 season will include: Stacy Amma Osei-Kuffour's world premiere of Hang Man, directed by ensemble member Erica Weiss (February 9-April 8); Shakespeare's Hamlet, directed by Monty Cole (June 1-July 29); and the Midwest premiere of Tony Award-winning playwright and ensemble member David Rabe's Cosmologies, directed by Thornton (October 12-December 9).

Continuing the fight to achieve gender parity in the American Theater, LA-based playwright/producer collective The Kilroys has facilitated its fourth annual List of industry-recommended new plays.

American singer-songwriter and the winner of NBC TV's first season of The Voice, Javier Colon, will star in Unquowa Repertory Theatre's inaugural production of Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Big River in concert, led by theatre veterans Kirby and Beverly Ward, will hit Fairfield Theatre Company's StageOne for a limited run of four performances, June 15-17, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal in the videos below!

American singer-songwriter and the winner of NBC TV's first season of The Voice, Javier Colon, will star in Unquowa Repertory Theatre's inaugural production of Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Big River in concert, led by theatre veterans Kirby and Beverly Ward, will hit Fairfield Theatre Company's StageOne for a limited run of four performances, June 15-17, 2017.

I'm always cautiously optimistic in seeing a regional production of Jonathan Larson's Rent as I am a Renthead of MANY years. The thing to remember, obviously, is art has different interpretations. It is interesting to see the different elucidations of the choreography, the varied choices the actors make, the Director's vision, et cetera. I can proudly say that The Gateway Playhouse's incarnation of the Tony and Pulitzer winner, which is kicking off a very busy Summer season for the darling Bellport venue, does not disappoint.

RENT, Jonathan Larson's famed rock opera that changed the course of a generation, opens at The Gateway in Bellport Village on Wednesday, May 17 and runs through June 3.

Janis Joplin was a force of nature. She was a candle in the wind. She was brash, vulgar, hard-drinking, hard-drugging, hard-living and fatally flawed.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the theatre's Summer Thrills Series and Broadway musical event - A Night With Janis Joplin. The Tony-Award nominated musical runs August 19 - September 18 in the Hubbard Theatre. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at alleytheatre.org or by calling the Box Office at 713-220-5700.

Casting has been announced for the new musicals in development at Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Music Theater Conference later this month. Among the actors premiering new work are Adam Chanler-Berat, Erin Davie, Colin Hanlon, Kevin Mambo, Matt Von Roderick, Christina Sajous, and Remy Zaken.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT present the fourth show of their 2015-2016 season, an all-new spectacular DREAMGIRLS, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, music by Henry Krieger, musical direction by Dennis Castellano and directed & choreographed by Robert Longbottom.  DREAMGIRLS opened on Saturday, March 26 and will run through Sunday, April 17, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

Earlier this week, the cast of Broadway's ROCK OF AGES reunited at Highline Ballroom for DON'T BREAK UP THE BAND.  Presented by Showmance Productions, the evening featured ROCK OF AGES Broadway cast members from opening night to closing night, as well as band members from the show's fictional rock band, Arsenal. Directed by Matthew DiCarlo and with music direction by Henry Aronson, The concert included songs from bands like REO Speedwagon, STYX, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and more! Check out highlights from the concert below!

DON'T BREAK UP THE BAND: A ROCK OF AGES BROADWAY CAST REUNION CONCERT is set for tonight, January 25th, 2016, at Highline Ballroom in NYC. 

Showmance Productions is proud to announce DON'T BREAK UP THE BAND: A ROCK OF AGES BROADWAY CAST REUNION CONCERT. Scheduled for January 25th, 2016 at Highline Ballroom in NYC, the evening will feature Rock of Ages Broadway cast members from opening night to closing night, as well as band members from the show's fictional rock band, Arsenal. The concert will include songs from bands like REO Speedwagon, STYX, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and more!

The PATH Fund's 22nd annual ROCKERS ON BROADWAY 80's REWIND was just held last night, honoring 80's Pop Princess, Debbie Gibson with the Rockers Lifetime Achievement Award and May Pang with the Rockers Ambassador of Rock Award. ROCKERS ON BROADWAY is a fun and unique charity concert that featured Broadway's best rockers performing the biggest hits in 80's Rock n' Roll. Proceeds from the evening benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA) and non-profit performing arts education programs.

The PATH Fund's 22nd annual ROCKERS ON BROADWAY 80's REWIND was just held last night, honoring 80's Pop Princess, Debbie Gibson with the Rockers Lifetime Achievement Award and May Pang with the Rockers Ambassador of Rock Award. ROCKERS ON BROADWAY is a fun and unique charity concert that featured Broadway's best rockers performing the biggest hits in 80's Rock n' Roll. Proceeds from the evening benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA) and non-profit performing arts education programs.

The PATH Fund's 22nd annual ROCKERS ON BROADWAY 80's REWIND was just held last night, honoring 80's Pop Princess, Debbie Gibson with the Rockers Lifetime Achievement Award and May Pang with the Rockers Ambassador of Rock Award. ROCKERS ON BROADWAY is a fun and unique charity concert that will feature Broadway's best rockers performing the biggest hits in 80's Rock n' Roll. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA) and non-profit performing arts education programs.

The PATH Fund's 22nd annual ROCKERS ON BROADWAY 80's REWIND benefit concert will honor 80's Pop Princess, Debbie Gibson with the Rockers Lifetime Achievement Award and May Pang with the Rockers Ambassador of Rock Award tonight, November 9, 2015 at Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleeker Street) at 7:30 p.m.