Andrew Eckert News

Riverside's celebrated 2014-2015 Season continues with the most anticipated show of the season, West Side Story. Conceived by Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins, West Side Story tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers from different worlds who fight to keep their passion alive. West Side Story performs on the Stark Stage from February 17 - March 8, 2015 and is sponsored by The O'Haire Fessler Group/Merrill Lynch Wealth Management along with Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers.

Irish Repertory Theatre presents THE SPECTACULAR SONGS OF LERNER AND LOEWE, this season's Benefit Gala production, on Monday, June 9th at 7 PM at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street).

Ensemble Theatre's TheatreCLE concludes its 2013-2014 season with VOODOO MACBETH in collaboration with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival. Originally written by William Shakespeare and adapted by Orson Welles, the production will be directed by Celeste Cosentino and Tyson Rand, opening May 23. The production plays Thurs.- Sat. at 8pm; Sunday at 2pm through June 8th. Preview performance: tonight, May 22nd.

Ensemble Theatre's TheatreCLE concludes its 2013-2014 season with VOODOO MACBETH in collaboration with the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival. Originally written by William Shakespeare and adapted by Orson Welles, the production will be directed by Celeste Cosentino and Tyson Rand, opening May 23. The production plays Thurs.- Sat. at 8pm; Sunday at 2pm through June 8th. Preview performance: May 22nd.

Ensemble Theatre concludes its 34th Season with BEYOND THE HORIZON by EUGENE O'NEILL, directed by CELESTE COSENTINO.

Ensemble Theatre concludes its 34th Season with BEYOND THE HORIZON by EUGENE O'NEILL, directed by CELESTE COSENTINO.

The Ensemble Theatre Presents Knock me A Kiss by Charles Smth, directed by Caroline Jackson Smith.

The Ensemble Theatre Presents Knock me A Kiss by Charles Smth, directed by Caroline Jackson Smith.

It is the purpose of THE CLEVELAND CRITICS CIRCLE AWARDS to recognize outstanding Cleveland area productions, performers, directors and designers who contributed to the professional theatre scene during the 2013 season. For a listing of the theatres considered for 'Best of' and 'Superior Achievement' awards, go to: clevelandtheaterreviews.com

Ensemble Theatre will open its 34th season with ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER by Rajiv Joseph, co-writer of the upcoming film 'Draft Day' (2014) and Cleveland Hts. native! Directed by Celeste Cosentino, the production will run tonight, September 27th-October 20th, 2013.

Ensemble Theatre will open its 34th season with ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER by Rajiv Joseph, co-writer of the upcoming film 'Draft Day' (2014) and Cleveland Hts. native! Directed by Celeste Cosentino, the production will run September 27th-October 20th, 2013.

Ensemble Theatre concludes its critically acclaimed 33rd Season with THE ICEMAN COMETH by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Ian Wolfgang Hinz with assistant director Valerie Young, tonight, April 19 - May 12, 2013.

Ensemble Theatre concludes its critically acclaimed 33rd Season with THE ICEMAN COMETH by Eugene O'Neill, directed by Ian Wolfgang Hinz with assistant director Valerie Young, April 19 - May 12, 2013.

Charles Smith, author of THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JAMES, which is now getting its Ohio Premiere at Ensemble Theatre, is an award-winning writer, and playwright-in-residence for the Indiana Repertory Theatre. He is also head of the Professional playwriting program at Ohio University.

The Jacksonville premiere of MARY POPPINS opens tonight, Tuesday, January 22 at 7:30PM at the Times-Union Center for a limited engagement of 8 performances through Sunday, January 27. 'We are delighted that sales have exceeded expectations, but there are still great seats available for this wonderful musical,' said Milt Russos, Executive Director of the Artist Series.

Producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh are pleased to announce full casting for the Jacksonville premiere engagement of MARY POPPINS. Jacksonville's most eagerly anticipated stage production will begin performances at the Times-Union Center's Moran Theater on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 for 8 performances only through Sunday, January 27. Opening night is also the 11th Annual Family Night on Broadway, with pre-show activities beginning in the lobby at 6:30PM for the 7:30PM show. Buy one Adult ticket for Family Night, get the Child's ticket free with passcode: CHILD. Restrictions apply; please inquire at (904) 442-BWAY (2929) or purchase online at www.artistseriesjax.org.

Producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh announce full casting for the Miami engagement of MARY POPPINS. Miami's most eagerly anticipated stage production will begin performances at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County on Tuesday, January 1st for a limited engagement of one week through Sunday, January 6th. Opening night is Tuesday, January 1st at 8 p.m. MARY POPPINS is part of the Broadway in Miami 2012-2013 subscription season presented by Bank of America.

My distant cousin Walter Elias 'Walt' Disney had a knack for turning everything into perfection, or at least practically perfect in every way. He took the mean, cranky nanny from P.L. Travers' book "Mary Poppins" and turned her into a saint. He excised two of the four Banks children, allowing the cutest ones to remain in the story. Travers' nanny couldn't dance on rooftops, didn't have adventures with Bert, didn't win at the horse races and couldn't sing. Travers was Australian; they take pride in being able to endure aggressive crocodiles, harsh deserts and appalling alloparenting. For those of us in the northern hemisphere who prefer our protagonists to be a bit on the spoonful of sugar side, Disney's Mary Poppins is just the ticket.

BroadwayWorld collected all of yesterday's evening Saturday Intermission Pics to bring you Part 2 of our October 13th SIP round-up! Yesterday's evening photos featured a SIP from ANNIE's Lilla Crawford, the cast of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA going full-out Halloween, EVITA's George Lee Andrews celebrating his 70th birthday, and more from NEWSIES, KINKY BOOTS, MARY POPPINS, THE BOOK OF MORMON, JERSEY BOYS, CHICAGO, BRING IT ON, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, WICKED, ROCK OF AGES and tons of regional shows!