Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Have you heard of her? Maybe not (I know I hadn't before last night). But even if you're unfamiliar with her, you're more than likely familiar with one of the many artists she's influenced. Artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Little Richard to name just a few. But that's kind of the point of the show, a?oeShout Sister Shout!a??, currently playing at the Seattle Rep. A show that tells the story of the a?oeGodmother of Rock n' Rolla??, and how we need to recognize these artists that have been whitewashed and mansplained from history. But even beyond that, you want to catch this for the insanely powerful performance of Carrie Compere as Tharpe, who will have you rockin' in your seat as she tears the roof off the Rep.
Cheryl News
by A.A. Cristi -
ODC Theater, part of the most active center for contemporary dance on the West Coast, has announced the program for its 2020 Season, including the kick-off to ODC's 50th anniversary celebrations. Among the season's highlights are premieres by Larry Arrington, Deborah Slater Dance Theater, Funsch Dance, Garrett + Moulton Productions, Geoff and Dan Hoyle, inkBoat with Ann Carlson, Kinetech Arts, The Living Earth Show, Robert Moses' Kin, RAWdance, Amy Seiwert's Imagery, SFDanceworks and Bobbi Jene Smith.
by Chloe Rabinowitz -
Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces the initial line-up of featured performers for the 2019 TRU Love Benefit: Follow Your Art, Fulfill Your Dreams, honoring James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director of The York Theatre, and performer-producer Haley Swindal.
by Stephi Wild -
Continuing the celebration of its 50th Anniversary year, The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, will present a concert performance of Still Getting My Act Together, a sequel to the Off-Broadway hit musical I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking it On the Road, with book & lyrics by Gretchen Cryer and music by Nancy Ford.
by Valerie-Jean Miller -
This story takes place within a few weeks' time, about an affable guy who happens to be grieving a devastating loss. a?oeChamp,a?? a nickname Richard's beloved wife dubbed him, is all stressed out. It has been a year since his wife has passed away, and he has settled into his lonely but nonetheless new pattern of going to the gym every day, then the Sandwich shop where he always gets the exact same order, brings it home and eats it as he talks to his dead wife. Susie, or as he dubbed her, a?oePrincess,a?? who is not among the living anymore, although all her photos and belongings are laid out prominently in the living room, wanders about (we, the audience can actually see her) reacting silently to his dialogue. Billed as a Dramedy, the play is cleverly written and produced by Art Shulman (a?oeI Got Troubles;a?? a?oe The Rabbi's Mission;a?oe a?oeOld Broads Can't Dunk;a?? God, Bring Me A Miracle;a?? a?oeBoxcar & Eugenia,a??) and many more, and Directed quite proficiently by Stan Mazin (As Director: a?oeDoubting Thomas;a?? a?oeGod, Bring Me A Miracle;a??a?? The Prisoner of Second Ave.;a?? a?oeGive 'Em Hell Harry;a?? a?oeStepping Out;a?? As choreographer: a?oeBells Are Ringing;a?? a?oeAnything Goes;a?? a?oeFestival;a?? a?oeChicago;a?? a?oeJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat;a?? a?oePippin;a?? a?oeDames at Sea;a?? a?oeSuperstar,a?? et al. Stan also appeared as a dancer/actor on the Carol Burnett show for a decade and his autobiography, a?oeA Dancer in Depth,a?? is available on Amazon.com and BN.com).
by Chloe Rabinowitz -
This Fall, The|Griot|Project will be mounting their rendition of Cheryl L. West's, powerful family drama, a?oeBefore It Hits Homea??. You are invited to a Preview Show on Friday, November 15th at The Table; 1800 Portland Ave, Louisville, KY 40203. Doors open at 6pm. Please RSVP by emailing louisvillegriot@gmail.com or calling 502-309-9307.
by Valerie-Jean Miller -
The 9th Annual World Choreography Awards (WCA) celebrate creativity and innovation by recognizing global excellence in the art of choreography in movies, TV, music video and digital media. Based on works completed in 2018, the winners of eight categories will be announced at the Red Carpet Ceremony on November 11 at The Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. The Show will be hosted by Heather Morris (a?oeGLEEa??) and limited tickets are still available on eventbrite.com a?" ticket link: http://bit.ly/2NrgrVZ, www.tickets-center.com/a?? or through the Saban Theatre.
by Stephi Wild -
Dance To The Holidays comes to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Sunday, December 8 at 4pm and 7:30pm. This holiday spectacular for the whole family stars a?oeDancing with the Starsa?? Mirrorball Champions Tony Dovolani and Anna Trebunskaya along with other celebrity pros from a?oeDancing with the Stars,a?? a?oeAmerican Idol,a?? and a?oeSo You Think You Can Dance.a?? Backed by a live band, see all the talent-based reality TV show stars up close and personal in an unforgettable spectacular, directed and choreographed by Jaymz Tuaileva from a?oeDancing with the Stars,a?? a?oeDonny and Marie's Las Vegas Christmas Showa?? and a?oeSo You Think You Can Dance.a?? Dance To The Holidays is part of Northern Trust Broadway & Cabaret Series, Bruce Bennett Nissan Family Series, and the Holiday Series, presented by La Quinta Inn & Suites, sponsored by Arthur Murray Dance Center of Danbury & Ring's End, and partially underwritten by Benchmark Senior Living at Ridgefield Crossings. Join us in the lobby before the show for a complimentary wine tasting courtesy of Treasury Wine Estates. The Leir Foundation Arts for Everyone Recipient for this show is SPHERE of CT with additional sponsorship provided by Union Savings Bank. Make it a great night out with dinner and a show! Visit Bailey's Backyard (23 Bailey Avenue a?? Ridgefield) for dinner and receive 10% off when you show your ticket! Media partners for this event are WEBE 108 and Macaroni Kid.
by A.A. Cristi -
On Thursday, November 7, Odyssey Media will host its fifth-annual IN THE BLACK Tour and a sea of little black dresses will flood the area in anticipation of a powerful, inspiring evening of networking, coaching and programming.
by Sarah Jae Leiber -
Let's talk about...Lifetime's highly anticipated 3- hour biopic on pioneering female rap group Salt-N-Pepa has found its leading cast with GG Townson (In the Cut, Everybody Hates Chris) as Cheryl 'Salt' James and Laila Odom (The Bobby DeBarge Story, Undercover Brother 2) set to portray Sandra 'Pepa' Denton. Currently in production in Toronto, the authorized biopic uncovers the women behind the music and reveals how their very different personalities - one salt of the earth, the other hot and spicy - fueled their creativity and tested the bonds of their enduring friendship. The project will also star Cleveland Berto as music producer 'Hurby Azor,' Jermel Howard as rapper 'Treach' and Monique Paul stars as 'DJ Spinderella.' by Sony Pictures Television, Mario Van Peebles (New Jack City) is directing.
by Vicki Trask -
'Cultural Rocketfuel' Vivek Shraya (Vanity Fair), legendary Canadian theatre artist Daniel MacIvor, and the rare return of a One Yellow Rabbit hit to be included in 34th Annual International Festival of the Arts
by A.A. Cristi -
Author Dan E. Hendrickson is pleased to announce the release of his new crime action mystery, The Legend of Deputy Jim. Released in September 2019, the book is already receiving rave reviews from readers and reviewers.
by A.A. Cristi -
Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) will once again present the area's most beloved production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL sponsored by MarketStreet Lynnfield. This award-winning, original musical adaptation was created solely for North Shore Music Theatre in 1989 and cannot be seen anywhere else. A CHRISTMAS CAROL will play 14 performances from Friday, December 6 thru Sunday, December 22, 2019.
by Jack L. B. Gohn -
The Knight of the Burning Pestle is rarely produced, and it certainly deserves the occasional outing, if only as a reminder that our forbears were just as interested in trying experiments with theatrical genre and form as we are.
by Nancy Grossman -
It's probably just a coincidence, but two fine plays currently running at two award-winning regional theaters share an unusual commonality. Both focus on the issue of white privilege and the prevailing attitude that acknowledging its existence will end it. In THE THANKSGIVING PLAY at Lyric Stage Company of Boston, the idea is to honor Native Americans in an elementary school play without benefit of any of them participating. In ADMISSIONS, receiving its Boston premiere at SpeakEasy Stage Company, a couple of white liberal educators work hard to expand racial diversity at their small New England prep school, but their progressive values are tested when their exceptional son's Ivy League dreams are derailed. Remarkably, there are no indigenous people or people of color on stage in either production, an intentional, pointed omission by the playwrights.
by A.A. Cristi -
On Friday, November 15 at 8pm Jane Lewis, originally from St Catharines and Toronto's Eve Goldberg invite local friends and fans to join their duo 'Gathering Sparks' in celebrating the St Catharines release of their new CD a?oeAll That's Reala?? at the Niagara Artists Centre.
by Alan Henry -
The National Tour of Anastasia had its official opening night in Schenectady, New York last week! The production stars Lila Coogan as Anya, Stephen Brower as Dmitry, Jason Michael Evans as Gleb, Joy Franz as Dowager Empress, Tari Kelly as Countess Lily, Edward Staudenmayer as Vlad and Victoria Amelia Bingham as Little Anastasia. The ensemble includes Brianna Abruzzo, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Alison Ewing, Peter Garza, Jeremiah Ginn, Brett-Marco Glauser, Lucy Horton, Mary Illes, Fred Inkley, Kourtney Keitt, Beth Stafford Laird, Mark Mackillop, Kenneth Michael Murray, Taylor Quick, Claire Rathbun, Michael McCorry Rose, Matt Rosell, Sareen Tchekmedyian, and Addison Mackynzie Valentino.
by Sarah Jae Leiber -
The weekend of November 1st & 2nd at The Hollywood Show - Mike Pingel's personal Charlie's Angels Toy collection will be on display. The display will showcase over 100+ different Charlie's Angels toys which were made on the 1970s TV series Charlie's Angels.
by Courtney Castelino -
The Ottawa Little Theatre's production of Patrick Hamilton's psychological thriller, Gaslight, takes the audience back to nineteenth century England and into the home of Bella (Heather Archibald) and her husband, Jack Manningham (J.T. Morris). Bella seems to be slowly going out of her mind, just like her mother did, as evidenced by her hiding of random household objects for no apparent reason, as well as her lapses in memory. Jack taunts Bella cruelly, rewarding her for being good with the promise of a night out at the theatre, before almost instantly rescinding the gift because she has misplaced a grocery receipt. Jack further threatens to place Bella in a lunatic asylum if her behaviour doesn't improve. When Jack goes out, a detective named Rough (Geoff Gruson) comes to the house, seeking Bella. He can see that Bella is distraught and, because of his caring demeanour, Bella confides her worst fear to him - she is going out of her mind. She tells Rough that, aside from hiding insignificant household items, she also hears noises when she is alone in the house and has noticed other odd things, like the gas lights dimming downstairs, as if someone is on the top level of the house, even though that floor is unused and off-limits. Rough gives Bella the house's macabre history, providing her with another, more horrifying, explanation for these events. Together, they set out to find the truth.
by A.A. Cristi -
Cheryl Strayed's TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, the best selling book that collects the highlights of The Rumpus's “Dear Sugar” advice columns, is loved for its insight, humor, and compassion. Nia Vardalos, the star of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, along with Marshall Heyman and Thomas Kail, co-conceived a stage version inspired by Strayed's beloved book. TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, the play, makes its Philadelphia premiere at Arden Theatre Company this fall. The production runs now through December 8 at the Arcadia Stage.
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