Brenda Bell News

In 1837 Hans Christian Anderson wrote his most beloved tale "The Little Mermaid".  180 years later she is still swimming her way into the hearts of young and old.  On February 26th, Literally Alive Theatre opened their Off-Broadway musical adaptation of this classic tale with books and lyrics by Brenda Bell and music by Michael Sgouros at the Players Theatre located at 115 MacDougal Street (between Bleeker and West 3rd) in Manhattan.  Their adaptation is true to the original story by Hans Christian Andersen, unlike the Disney version, which has a different ending.  "We tell the story in its original form" says Artistic Director Brenda Bell, "We believe that the true ending shows children that every wish has a price and that love comes with many sacrifices."

It may be tempting to reduce Keith Maitland's new rotoscoped documentary film TOWER, about the 1966 shooting at the University of Texas, to its device - a curious novelty, a cartoon about a decades-old school shooting - but that would miss the point, and the difficulty, of what Maitland and his team have accomplished through an approach still closely associated with Saturday morning Hanna-Barbera fare.

The Players Theatre Short Play Festival - Boo! has announced that Michael Long's short horror play, Details, is the winner of the sixth annual October festival.  A best of the week winner is chosen by audience vote for this three week festival. Scroll down for photos!

If you are hungry for a great family show, that can tickle the funny bone and tug at your heart strings, all while serving up a beautiful message - then Stone Soup should be on your fall menu. A proclamation of gratitude and collaboration are the notable themes in Literally Alive Theatre's fall musical, "Stone Soup". With music by Michael Sgouros, book and lyrics by Brenda Bell, and directed/choreographed by David M. Beris, the began performances this weekend and runs through November 13th at the Players Theatre located at 115 MacDougal Street (between West 3rd and Bleecker) in the West Village.

As autumn seeps into our summer daydreams and long days surrender to long shadows, the idea of a gothic horror story has much appeal. Be Bold! Productions new musical, Frankenstein, will begin previews Off-Broadway tonight at 7p, officially opening on October 8 and running through November 13 at the Players Theatre in Greenwich Village, NYC. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

As autumn seeps into our summer daydreams and long days surrender to long shadows, the idea of a gothic horror story has much appeal. Be Bold! Productions new musical, Frankenstein, will begin previews Off-Broadway tonight at 7p, officially opening on October 8 and running through November 13 at the Players Theatre in Greenwich Village, NYC. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Driving Miss Daisy, the 1988 Pulitzer Prize winning play by Alfred Uhry will be staged this summer at the Players Theatre in Greenwich Village.  The production is part of Be Bold! Productions American Classic series which produced "The Glass Menagerie" in 2015 and stars Catherine Henry as Daisy, Ken Straus as her son, Boolie and Jonathan Rion Bethea as Hoke.  

There is no place like New York! With a city this rich in culture, scandal and diversity, the possibilities for theatrical reenactment are endless. The Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival encourage playwrights to mine this precious resource by offering an annual NYC - themed festival each June. Celebrating its 6th year, 'Only in New York' opens Thursday, June 9 and runs for three weeks. Each week five or six original short plays (and one musical), by a variety of playwrights (including two high school students) will be presented and a 'Best of the Week' production will be selected by audience vote.

An original musical adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, based on the 1740 French Novella, begins previews this Sunday on Valentine's Day and opens tonight, February 27, running through April 26 at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street (between West 3rd and Bleeker) in the West Village. the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street (between West 3rd and Bleeker) in the West Village.

An original musical adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, inspired by the 1740 French Novella, began previews on Valentine 's Day and opens this weekend, February 27, running through April 26 at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street (between West 3rd and Bleeker) in the West Village. The production features a live chamber ensemble of three percussionist and cello, which hightlingts the rich somber tones of the score (by Michael Sgouros) as well as the magical dream-like tambers. Book and lyrics are by Brenda Bell who also directs with choreography by Bekah Shade. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

An original musical adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, based on the 1740 French Novella, begins previews this Sunday on Valentine's Day and opens February 27 running through April 26 at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street (between West 3rd and Bleeker) in the West Village. the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street (between West 3rd and Bleeker) in the West Village.

With over 200 shows presented at FringeNYC Festival and 900 at Edinburgh Fringe, it's hard to be in the know about what's worth seeing. Even worse is having missed the show everyone is talking about post festival. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the Fringe Encore Series will present some of the most critically-acclaimed and crowd-pleasing shows from both festivals. But more importantly, pinpoints and cultivates the theater talent of tomorrow.

With over 200 shows presented at FringeNYC Festival and 900 at Edinburgh Fringe, it's hard to be in the know about what's worth seeing. Even worse is having missed the show everyone is talking about post festival. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the Fringe Encore Series will present some of the most critically-acclaimed and crowd-pleasing shows from both festivals. But more importantly, pinpoints and cultivates the theater talent of tomorrow.

There is no place like New York!  With a city this rich in culture, scandal and diversity, the possibilities for theatrical reenactment are endless.  The Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival encourage playwrights to mine this precious resource by offering an annual NYC - themed festival each June.  Celebrating its 5th year, "Only in New York" opens Thursday, June 4 and runs for three weeks.  Each week five original short plays, by five separate playwrights will be presented and a "Best of the Week" production will be selected by  audience vote.

In 1945 The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams premiered on Broadway, more than seventy years later this classic snapshot of a struggling American family holds the intimate stage at the Players Theatre with a firm grip while unfolding a gentle, fleeting vision.

In 1945 The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams premiered on Broadway, more than seventy years later this classic snapshot of a struggling American family holds the intimate stage at the Players Theatre with a firm grip while unfolding a gentle, fleeting vision.

There is nothing like a spicy play to chase away those winter blues. With the soon to be released "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie on audiences minds, The Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival - SEX! satisfies our craving for a peak through the keyhole. The festival encourages playwrights to push the boundaries of convention and explore our most basic instincts by producing something new and provocative.

Ebenezer Scrooge (Played by Eric Fletcher) and the cast of 'A Christmas Carol' the musical by Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell will sing in the holiday season on Wall Street at the 91st annual tree lighting at the New York Stock Exchange at 5p on Tuesday, December 09, 2014. A fitting place for Mr. Scrooge to celebrate his charitable redemption.

Opening November 30th at the Players Theatre, 'A Christmas Carol' is a warm and uplifting adaptation of the classic Dickens tale celebrating holiday spirit. With original music by Michael Sgouros, played by a live percussion trio, the show is wrapped in the warmth of joy, suspense and a sprinkling of tender-hearted redemption.

It's that time of year when we all start to thirst for spooky tale or a good blood-curdling scream. The Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival encourage playwrights to dig into their dark crevices by offering an annual horror-themed festival each October. Celebrating its 4th year, "Boo!" runs through October 26 for three weeks. Each week four original short plays, by four separate playwrights will be presented and a "Best of the Week" production will be selected by judge and audience vote.