Andrew Wheeler News

Over 80 writers, directors, actors and musicians will present 10 unique musical shorts at SOUND BITES: a one-night-only off-Broadway event. Behind the Bites introduces the creators of the musicals featured at SOUND BITES with sneak peeks from the rehearsal process.

Pacific Theatre presents N. Richard Nash's charming prairie romance The Rainmaker. Lizzie Currie's hopes and dreams have run as dry as the barren fields of her family's drought-whipped ranch, until the charming Starbuck shows up one night with the promise of rain and something far more dangerous: hope. Playing today, Oct 10-Nov 1 Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm with 2pm matinee on Saturdays at Pacific Theatre, 1440 W 12th Ave.

Pacific Theatre presents N. Richard Nash's charming prairie romance The Rainmaker. Lizzie Currie's hopes and dreams have run as dry as the barren fields of her family's drought-whipped ranch, until the charming Starbuck shows up one night with the promise of rain and something far more dangerous: hope. Playing Oct 10-Nov 1 Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm with 2pm matinee on Saturdays at Pacific Theatre, 1440 W 12th Ave. For tickets ($19.99-29.99, taxes and fees not incl.) call 604.731.5518 or visit pacifictheatre.org.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Spectre Productions, LLC will present the new Pop Musical, ZOMBIE STRIPPERS, featuring Billboard chart-topping pop singer Sariah ('Deep N Luv'), July 21 at 3PM, July 25 at 9PM & July 26 at 1PM, at Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd St. ZOMBIE STRIPPERS is directed by Diane Englert with book, Lyrics and music by Mark LaPierre.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in association with Chinese Mother Jewish Daughter, LLC present Rescue Rue, a new musical fairytale with puppets; Concept, Book and Additional Lyrics by Stacey Weingarten, and Music and Lyrics by Kate Steinberg & Joshua Zecher-Ross. Stacey Weingarten directs a cast of seven including Jennifer Barnhart* (Bway: Avenue Q), Nate Begle(Off Bway: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), Sarah Liz Haines* (Off Bway: Freckle Face Strawberry), Jason Jacoby* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Lisa Helmi Johanson* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Brendan Malafronte (Nat. Tour: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), and Gretchen Wylder* (Off Bway: 'Til Divorce Do Us Part). Rescue Rue will be staged at the Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street (bet. 9th and 10th Avenues) in NYC for five performances from July 8-20, 2014. A special TDF Autism-Friendly performance will be held at July 20th at 11am. The Pershing Square Signature Center is the official hub of The New York Musical Theatre Festival. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

The Visual Effects Society (VES) is pleased to announce the nominees for the 11th Annual VES Awards, which recognize outstanding visual effects artistry in 24 categories of film, animation, television, commercials and video games.

SITTERS STUDIO PRODUCTIONS will produce the NYC premiere of 'HELP WANTED: PIRATES' at the MAGNET THEATRE starting May 19th. The production, with book and lyrics by CHRIS WIDNEY and music by J. SEBASTIAN FABAL, is a new musical for children performed by adults. This interactive children's musical is directed by MARY CATHERINE BURKE, choreographed by JEN LITTLEFIELD with musical direction by ANDREW WHEELER.

SITTERS Studio Productions produces the NYC premiere of 'HELP WANTED: PIRATES' at the MAGNET THEATRE starting tonight, May 19th. The production, with book and lyrics by Chris WidneY and music by J. SEBASTIAN FABAL, is a new musical for children performed by adults. This interactive children's musical is directed by MARY Catherine Burke, choreographed by JEN LITTLEFIELD with musical direction by Andrew Wheeler.

SITTERS STUDIO PRODUCTIONS will produce the NYC premiere of 'HELP WANTED: PIRATES' at the MAGNET THEATRE starting May 19th. The production, with book and lyrics by CHRIS WIDNEY and music by J. SEBASTIAN FABAL, is a new musical for children performed by adults. This interactive children's musical is directed by MARY CATHERINE BURKE, choreographed by JEN LITTLEFIELD with musical direction by ANDREW WHEELER.

In 1838, Edgar Allan Poe began a journey with a short story about the beautifully haunting Ligeia. This visionary act of romanticizing death would set forth an unstoppable path to the current resurrection of Poe's monster, the musical Ligeia. At 9:30 p.m. on March 14, 2011, you can begin your own dark education. Onstage at the Metropolitan Room, 344 W. 22nd St., between 5th and 6th Ave., in concert form with six incredibly talented performers, including Michael Lowney (Broadway's La Cage Aux Folles), Lauren Holmes, Nick Boddington (the Wonderland Robbers), Bryan Jarrett, Susanne Layton, and Elyssa Samsel, Ligeia conjures a new genre in musical theater - the horror musical.

In 1838, Edgar Allan Poe began a journey with a short story about the beautifully haunting Ligeia. This visionary act of romanticizing death would set forth an unstoppable path to the current resurrection of Poe's monster, the musical Ligeia. At 9:30 p.m. on March 14, 2011, you can begin your own dark education. Onstage at the Metropolitan Room, 344 W. 22nd St., between 5th and 6th Ave., in concert form with six incredibly talented performers, including Michael Lowney (Broadway's La Cage Aux Folles), Lauren Holmes, Nick Boddington (the Wonderland Robbers), Bryan Jarrett, Susanne Layton, and Elyssa Samsel, Ligeia conjures a new genre in musical theater - the horror musical.

Canadian Stage is proud to partner with Vancouver's Electric Company Theatre to bring a fascinating production of Studies in Motion: The Hauntings of Eadweard Muybridge to Toronto audiences. The show is a visually and physically explosive spectacle, drawn from the life and work of 19th century photographer Eadweard Muybridge. Directed by 2010 Siminovitch Theatre Award-winner Kim Collier, written by Governor General Award-winning dramatist Kevin Kerr and choreographed by the Dora Mavor Moore Award-winner Crystal Pite, the production is on stage from November 22 to December 18 (media night: November 25) at the Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front Street East, Toronto. Tickets are available in person, by phone 416.368.3110, or online at www.canadianstage.com.

Canadian Stage is proud to partner with Vancouver's Electric Company Theatre to bring a fascinating production of Studies in Motion: The Hauntings of Eadweard Muybridge to Toronto audiences. The show is a visually and physically explosive spectacle, drawn from the life and work of 19th century photographer Eadweard Muybridge. Directed by 2010 Siminovitch Theatre Award-winner Kim Collier, written by Governor General Award-winning dramatist Kevin Kerr and choreographed by the Dora Mavor Moore Award-winner Crystal Pite, the production is on stage from November 22 to December 18 (media night: November 25) at the Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front Street East, Toronto. Tickets are available in person, by phone 416.368.3110, or online at www.canadianstage.com.

Canadian Stage unveiled its highly anticipated 2010-2011 season today, marking the first season programmed by Artistic & General Director Matthew Jocelyn. The season heralds a bold, new direction for the company. Jocelyn seeks to redefine Canadian Stage as a centre for national and international multi-disciplinary theatre that pushes boundaries, adopts a 21st-century perspective and reflects Toronto's cultural diversity. The work will be driven by directors and auteurs at the forefront of contemporary theatre and audiences will have the opportunity to discover a new generation of story-tellers who challenge and entertain.

Canadian Stage unveiled its highly anticipated 2010-2011 season today, marking the first season programmed by Artistic & General Director Matthew Jocelyn. The season heralds a bold, new direction for the company. Jocelyn seeks to redefine Canadian Stage as a centre for national and international multi-disciplinary theatre that pushes boundaries, adopts a 21st-century perspective and reflects Toronto's cultural diversity. The work will be driven by directors and auteurs at the forefront of contemporary theatre and audiences will have the opportunity to discover a new generation of story-tellers who challenge and entertain.

Canadian Stage unveiled its highly anticipated 2010-2011 season today, marking the first season programmed by Artistic & General Director Matthew Jocelyn. The season heralds a bold, new direction for the company. Jocelyn seeks to redefine Canadian Stage as a centre for national and international multi-disciplinary theatre that pushes boundaries, adopts a 21st-century perspective and reflects Toronto's cultural diversity. The work will be driven by directors and auteurs at the forefront of contemporary theatre and audiences will have the opportunity to discover a new generation of story-tellers who challenge and entertain.

Vital Theatre Company has extended the production 'ISABELLE AND THE PRETTY-UGLY SPELL,' with music and lyrics by Steven Fisher, book by Joan Ross Sorkin and Steven Fisher and directed by Vic DiMonda, through June 27th at 45 Bleecker Street. Performances continue every Sunday at 1pm through June 27th. Tickets are $25. The show is appropriate for ages 3-12. For reservations visit www.vitaltheatre.org or call (212) 579-0528. 45 BLEECKER STREET is at the corner of Lafayette, in NOHO.