Ryan Landry and the Gold Dust Orphans mash-up THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and the politics of oil and the Middle East in their latest side-splitting musical, THOROUGHLY MUSLIM MILLIE. Scott Martino's to-die-for costumes and scenic design aesthetic are on display, along with a cast made up of long-time favorites and fresh talent, singing and dancing to a batch of borrowed musical theater gems. Put on your harem pants and belly dance down to Machine in the Fenway.
While watching the Next Stage production of Gina Gionfriddo's RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN at Theatre Memphis, I was reminded of John Van Druten's screenplay for the 1943 Warner Brothers film OLD ACQUAINTANCE. It was one of those 'women pictures' which provided thespic opportunities for the likes of actresses like Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins, who, in fact, were the lead players in this particular film. In their youth, the two women had been friends, but as their paths parted in life, the Davis character, brittle and alone, became a critically acclaimed (if financially challenged) author, while the Hopkins character, finally penning a bestseller (trash that it is, it rakes in the 'big bucks'), jealously desires what Davis has. I couldn't help thinking, if Gionfriddo's RAPTURE had fallen into the hands of a director like Vincent Sherman, I could see Davis as the 'Catherine Croll' character, who, despite national recognition and an evidently fulfilling career, begins to have doubts about her life choices. (If you've ever seen the famous car scene in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's ALL ABOUT EVE, also starring Davis, you'll hear the character of stage actress 'Margo Channing' lament what a woman gives up when she devotes herself entirely to a career: I wonder if this very scene influenced Ms. Gionfriddo in her characterizations.) The other character, 'Gwen,' would obviously have been given over to Hopkins, who would have shone as the once promising woman who jettisoned her own burgeoning promise to marry 'Don Harper,' who once had been Catherine's intended (George Brent, anyone?).
Masterworks Broadway continues to make good on its promise to make available its extensive catalog of cast recordings with the release of three classic albums from the archives previously unavailable on CD - Dames at Sea - The Original London Cast Recording (April 14), Two's Company (May 4), andAges of Man (June 16). Upon release, each title will be accompanied by new album pages and photos on MasterworksBroadway.com.
The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present the Orange County premiere of the Smash-Hit, Off-Broadway musical, MURDER FOR TWO, book and music by Joe Kinosian, book and lyrics by Kellen Blair, choreography by Wendy Seyb, musical direction by David Caldwell and direction by Scott Schwartz.
Poor 'Edna Pontellier' of Kate Chopin's THE AWAKENING - as 'corseted' by society as she is by the habiliments of the day. I'd like to imagine a tea party where she'd feel welcome. Let's see . . . whom to invite? One of Henrik Ibsen's stifled heroines - HEDDA GABLER or 'Nora' from A DOLL'S HOUSE; and there's 'Janie Crawford,' the African-American heroine of Zora Neale Hurston's THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD. What about Gustave Flaubert's MADAME BOVARY? Oh, yes, and let's not neglect the movies: Vivien Leigh's convention-daring 'Scarlett O'Hara,' her foot dancing away while she sports widow's weeds, or a black-wigged Bette Davis gyrating to get out of a small town in King Vidor's hothouse melodrama BEYOND THE FOREST. Now, that would be some group, but they'd all end up smashing the teacups.
Greed and familial betrayal is at the darkly comic heart of The Little Foxes by Tony Award-winning playwright Lillian Hellman-'an expertly constructed, grippingly paced plot machine that pits good against evil and lets evil win' (The New York Times). Artistic Associate Henry Wishcamper directs the classic 1939 play about wealth's corrupting power-one of Hellman's most notable works, which was adapted into a 1941 film starring Bette Davis-centering on the Hubbard family's ruthless pursuit in the South's post-bellum economic slump. The Little Foxes appears May 2 - June 7 in the Albert Theatre (opening night is Monday, May 11). Tickets ($25-$81; subject to change) are on sale now at GoodmanTheatre.org/LittleFoxes, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). The Goodman Theatre Women's Board is the Major Production Sponsor, Ernst & Young LLP and Interactive Health are the Corporate Sponsor Partners and Towers Watson is the Opening Night Sponsor for The Little Foxes.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today that Barbra Streisand (recipient of the 40th Chaplin Award) will present the 42nd Chaplin Award to Academy Award-winner Robert Redford
The Theatre Royal Bath has announced its 2015 Summer Season, 1st July - 5th September, comprising three productions and starring Anita Dobson, Stephanie Cole and Janie Dee.
The Public Theater announced the line-up for the popular Spotlight Series of free staged readings of new plays by The Public's Emerging Writers Group, beginning on Tuesday, April 7 and running through Tuesday, May 26 at the Sheen Center Black Box Theater (18 Bleecker Street). Now in its seventh year, the Emerging Writers Group is an important part of The Public's commitment and long legacy of supporting current and future generations of our country's most important writers.
Tickets go on sale on tomorrow (Mon 16th Feb) for the Australian Premiere of James Kirkwood's hilarious and touching comedy Legends! The national tour of this hilarious production stars screen and stage royalty, Hayley Mills and Juliet Mills. The Australian Premiere opens in Brisbane at QPAC in May for a strictly limited season, followed by seasons in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.
Tickets go on sale on Monday for the Australian Premiere of James Kirkwood's hilarious and touching comedy Legends! The national tour of this hilarious production stars screen and stage royalty, Hayley Mills and Juliet Mills. The Australian Premiere opens in Brisbane at QPAC in May for a strictly limited season, followed by seasons in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne.
Artistic director Charles Busch -- in his Lyrics & Lyricists debut -- serves up a cavalcade of stories and songs about the legendary women of Hollywood's movie musical Golden Age in 'Here's to the Girls!' this weekend, February 7, 8 and 9, 2015 at 92Y.
Truly unique, Tina Del Twist is Australia's much-loved nightingale, known for her 'beautiful voice and wicked sense of comic timing' (The Age Melbourne). Loved by audiences and critics alike, this gin-soaked velvet draped madame has been described as the lovechild of Dame Edna and Amy Winehouse.
Author/actor/TV talk show host Dick Cavett will star at Theatre 40 in the controversial play Hellman v. McCarthy beginning February 6. Cavett is best known for his TV talk shows from the 70s to present time on CBS, ABC, PBS, USA Network and currently on TCM hosting reruns of his classic 70s interviews. He is known for his laid-back conversational style with such celebrities as Groucho Marx, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Jack Benny and Mel Brooks among many others. He is a three-time Emmy Award winner. He also currently writes a blog published by the New York Times.
On January 30, Houston's two major opera houses will begin performances of Mozart's final two completed operas - LA CLEMENZA DI TITO and THE MAGIC FLUTE. Opera in the Heights will open LA CLEMENZA DI TITO for the first time in Houston since 1991, and Houston Grand Opera will open THE MAGIC FLUTE.
Artistic director Charles Busch -- in his Lyrics & Lyricists debut -- serves up a cavalcade of stories and songs about the legendary women of Hollywood's movie musical Golden Age in 'Here's to the Girls!' on February 7, 8 and 9, 2015 at 92Y.
PRETTY BABIES, a new play by Antony Raymond who also serves as the director, will have its World Premiere at 13th Street Rep on February 26th. The ensemble cast is led by Stacey Roca who had a recurring role as Rachel on the UK series The Office staring Ricky Gervais; she also played Katrina Howard in Waking the Dead (BBC). PRETTY BABIES is being produced by the critically acclaimed Elsinore County Theater Company who previously produced the plays Elsinore County (The Lion Theatre/Theatre Row), Julio! (The Kraine Theater), and Gin & Milk (FringeNYC).
Leading Australian theatre producer John Frost today announced the return to the Australian stage by stars of screen and stage, Hayley Mills and Juliet Mills. The sisters will star in a national tour of the Australian Premiere of James Kirkwood's hilarious and touching comedy Legends! which has broken box office records around the world wherever it has played.The Australian Premiere opens in Brisbane at QPAC in May for a strictly limited season, followed by seasons in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. Tickets are on sale from 9 February.
