“We battle with other theatres to get the rights for shows. We always try to get MSMT on the national radar as much as we can and get first rights if possible, but it is very competitive,” explains Curt Dale Clark, Maine State Music Theatre’s Artistic Director, as he recounts how the Brunswick theatre managed a virtual coup for this 2024 season by becoming the first regional theatre to receive the rights to produce FUNNY GIRL after it closed its recent revival on Broadway. “In the case of FUNNY GIRL, Concord Theatricals was holding our money for a show that we planned to produce in 2020 before the pandemic shut everyone down. Since they do not return money, they were eager for us to choose another show from their catalog and clear their books. I agreed if they would give us the first rights to FUNNY GIRL after the Broadway show closed.”
Clark is sharing his thoughts with the audience at MSMT’s second Peek Behind the Curtain on July 3 at the Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, where he is joined by actors Sue Cella, Douglas Raymond Williams, and Michelle Beth Herman, as well as panel moderator, Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold.
Funny Girl is a solidly entertaining vehicle for a high-profile performance by Katerina McCrimmon as beloved vaudeville performer Fanny Brice. Now playing at the Kennedy Center, this popular musical (from the original stage version starring Barbra Streisand and her Oscar-winning performance in the 1968 hit film –and the recent hit on Broadway starring Lea Michele) is a lively, sassy, and brassy summer musical treat.
Next month, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.
Maine State Music Theatre’s new production of FUNNY GIRL is a triumph for its star and a coup for the company. Obtaining the first rights to produce the show after the closing of the recent Broadway revival is an unprecedented accomplishment for the theatre’s Artistic Director, Curt Dale Clark. In addition, the production, itself, is arguably the first FUNNY GIRL anywhere to use the state-of-the art video technology, and perhaps the most thrilling feat of all: not only does the entire cast deliver stunning performances, but Jenna Lea Rosen, who makes her MSMT debut and role debut as Fanny Brice, is unquestionably a superstar. The result is an evening in the theatre that is as exhilarating and spellbinding as any you will see on any stage and an experience not to be missed!
Michelle paid tribute to Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Stockard Channing, Dionne Warwick, and many others, each song revealing new sides of Alexis and showcasing her range as both a singer and an actress. With the change of a lyric, she could shift from funny to touching, from charming to deep. Alexis exudes star quality.
Ann Hampton Callaway - Finding Beauty: Inspired Classics and Originals will come to Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill & Jazz next month. The performance is on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 6:00 PM.
Birdland welcomed back singer Natalie Douglas performed “Juneteenth Jubilee – The Women” on the historic stage on Monday, June 17. See photos from the show below!
Are you trying to plan your entertainment for the week or looking for a fun show to see this weekend? We have you covered with a few top picks for jazz, cabaret, comedy, and more! NYC has so many incredible events, but here are a few top picks to consider this week, including an If/Then reunion and plenty of shows celebrating Pride.
A 'Big' salute to songwriters Maltby & Shire, hosted and music-directed by Michael Lavine, brings us 'Closer Than Ever' to perfection. As tributes go, the one filled with the songs of Maltby and Shire, as they were bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award, was tops. Filled with theatre and cabaret performers, it was a great night.
Vocalist and rising artist Stella Cole will release her first studio album on August 30, 2024 via La Reserve Records. A highly anticipated debut, Stella interprets a collection of classics in a variety of settings, including many highlighted by an orchestra arranged by multiple Grammy-winner Alan Broadbent. Listen to her new rendition of the timeless song 'Moon River!'
Alexis Michelle is back at Joe’s Pub for PRIDE! From the start, Alexis idolized the female titans of showbiz; Judy, Carol, and of course LIZA! In an evening celebrating women, expect offerings from the likes of Dame Shirley Bassey, Chita Rivera, and Barbra Streisand.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's CATS, based on T.S. Eliot's work, will be performed at the Essentia Health Plaza in West Fargo from June 30 to July 18. The musical follows Jellicle Cats vying for a new life.
Maine State Music Theatre is the first - and only - regional theatre to be granted the rights to produce Funny Girl since the Broadway National Tour launched. We chat with Kenny Ingram about the upcoming production.
“There was no one else like Fanny Brice! Since I was a child, I have identified with her in so many ways,” enthuses Jenna Lea Rosen, who makes her MSMT debut and role debut this week in the first regional revival since the Broadway show’s recent closing.
Players Circle Theater presents an enticing lineup of highly acclaimed live entertainment throughout the summer season, ranging from sidesplitting stand-up comedy to sizzling hot musical revues.
For its first sold out concert of the 2024 season, Maine State Music Theatre presents the music of two vocal virtuosi of Pop, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand. Performed by twin sisters, Susie Pepper and Ali Butler, with guests and their band, Mixology, The Way We Were The Music of Celine & Barbra pays homage to both divas in electric and riveting arrangements of their greatest hits.
