Amy Clark 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.

Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director of the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre announces the cast and creative team for the world premiere of Rajiv Joseph's Describe the Night. Commissioned by the Alley, Describe the Night premieres September 15 and runs through October 15 in the Neuhaus Theatre.

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.

American Conservatory Theater's (A.C.T.) critically acclaimed production of A Night with Janis Joplin ends its six-week run this Sunday, July 16 following two extensions and resounding critical and audience response. The performance schedule for the final week is as follows: Wednesday, July 12 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, July 13 at 8 p.m.; Friday, July 14 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, July 15 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday, July 16 at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Good seats for all remaining performances are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or visiting www.act-sf.org.

Due to unprecedented ticket demand and widespread critical acclaim, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has announced the second and final extension of A Night with Janis Joplin at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary St.). Tickets are on sale now through Sunday, July 16, 2017. Receiving the highest rating by the San Francisco Chronicle, A Night with Janis Joplin is a 'transcendent' (San Francisco Chronicle) and 'intoxicating' (SFist.com) musical journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences-icons like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone, and Bessie Smith-who inspired one of rock and roll's greatest legends. Hailed as 'a psychedelic flashback to the glory days of Haight-Ashbury' (Bay Area News Group), A Night with Janis Joplin features such unforgettable songs as 'Me and Bobby McGee,' 'Piece of My Heart,' 'Mercedes Benz,' 'Cry Baby,' 'Summertime,' and more! Tickets for all performances are available at the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.

While not particularly illuminating on the life of the singer, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN (now extended to July 9) delivers powerful vocal performances from Kacee Clanton and a strong supporting cast including Sharon Brown.

Take a silly yet beloved movie that breeds nostalgia in all who love it and turn it into a musical. It's the way of the world of musical theater anymore. Sure, we still get some original pieces but the safe money for producers is on the recognizable name. Sometimes it works and sometimes it crashes and burns. 'Legally Blonde' works, 'The Wedding Singer' kind of works, and 'Amelie' definitely did not. And now the latest to join the ranks of those movie translations to musical theater is trying things out at the 5th Avenue Theatre. I am, of course, referring to 'Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, The Musical'. A cute and quirky little romp that has potential but needs some serious help before it falls into the 'it works' category.

Experience the fireworks of love-first love, unrequited love and mature love-on stage this summer, as Goodman Theatre concludes its 2016/2017 Season with a major revival of Eugene O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness!

In response to strong advance ticket sales, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) will extend the run of Broadway's critically acclaimed musical A Night with Janis Joplin at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary St.). Tickets are now on sale through Sunday, July 9, 2017. Fueled by such unforgettable songs as 'Me and Bobby McGee,' 'Piece of My Heart,' 'Mercedes Benz,' 'Cry Baby,' and 'Summertime,' A Night with Janis Joplin is a musical journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences-icons like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone, and Bessie Smith-who inspired one of rock and roll's greatest legends. Tickets are available at the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.

Joining Broadway star Cortney Wolfson and Disney star Stephanie Renee Wall onstage this summer in the world premiere production of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion at The 5th Avenue Theatre is a sensational cast that's the coolest thing since the invention of Post-its!

This summer, experience the agony and ecstasy of first love all over again in Goodman Theatre's major revival of Ah, Wilderness! - the sole comedic work of playwright Eugene O'Neill, the father of American drama. Steve Scott, the Goodman's longtime Producer, directs O'Neill's portrait of family life at the turn of the century - and the bliss, excitement and adventure of first love. 

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the legendary Summer of Love in San Francisco-coinciding with A.C.T.'s 50th anniversary-American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) will close out its 2016-17 season with Broadway's critically acclaimed musical A Night with Janis Joplin (June 7-July 2, 2017).

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle is proud to announce a new special award to be presented at its upcoming awards ceremony on March 20: The Gordon Davidson Award for distinguished contribution to the Los Angeles theatrical community. The award is sponsored by the Center Theatre Group, where Gordon Davidson served as the founding Artistic Director from 1967 to 2005, and will be presented this year to Pro99.

Last night, Ariel and her underwater friends swam into the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for a weeklong stay, appropriately at the Walt Disney Theatre. The limited engagement, which originated at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in November 2016, is a silly dose of fun and nostalgia for theatregoers of all ages. Though there are performances and elements that seem less than fitting for the grand Dr. Phillips stage, the show as a whole ends up being more than the sum of its parts.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ventura County theatre for the year 2016 (Dec. 1, 2015 - Nov. 30, 2016).

Down Where its Wetter

A spectacular new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid kicks off at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 for a limited two week run. Featuring the critically acclaimed work of Director Glenn Casale, this beloved tale of a young mermaid's coming-of-age adventure is told like never before. Previously announced casting includes Diana Huey as Ariel and Matthew Kacergis as Prince Eric, with Broadway's Jennifer Allen as Ursula and Steven Blanchard as King Triton. Melvin Abston, Connor Russell and Jamie Torcellini join the cast as Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle. 

Glimmering coral reefs and a colorful cast of underwater creatures are brought to life in breathtaking detail in 'Disney's The Little Mermaid,' which opened in Columbus Tuesday night. Presented by Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, 'The Little Mermaid' is a stage adaptation of the 1989 animated Disney movie that was, in turn, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale.

The original animated film of "Disney's The Little Mermaid" is arguably one of the best of the Disney canon. With songs written by the incredible Alan Menken and Howard Ashman it marked the rebirth of the Disney animated musicals. The original conversion of it into a Broadway musical was not so great. With bad staging and flow, achieving the illusion of swimming by putting the actors on Heelys (shoes with wheels in the heels) so they would glide across stage, and additional songs from Menken and Glenn Slater (owing to the passing of the great Howard Ashman) the show lost much of it's core cleverness and heart in favor of the cliche and gimmicky. Now there's a new version with a reworked book and score and much improved staging which is currently being offered at the 5th Avenue Theatre and while it still may not have that magical greatness of the original film it does manage a magic of its own largely due to some new stage magic and a stellar cast including an Ariel (Diana Huey) who is the most layered, honest, real and still adorable Disney Princess ever.