Now that 2015 is squarely in the rearview mirror, and everyone is back to work after the holidays, it is time to take a look at some of the best films of the past year. As was the case with my Top 15 TV Shows of 2015 list, this is not intended to be a comprehensive list. I am one man, and I have not yet seen every major movie released last year. However, as I continue to work through screeners and upcoming screenings (I live in Orlando, so not all of the awards-bait has been released here yet), I will count down the top 2015 releases that I saw during the calendar year. Notable omissions are BRIDGE OF SPIES, THE REVENANT, THE DANISH GIRL, and CONCUSSION, all of which I hope to see by the end of the week.
There was a moment tonight in the Orpheum's presentation of NEWSIES that I envisioned the entire production as an animated feature -- and why not? There was the infectious music of Alan Menken, who long ago set the 'gold standard' for the resurgence of Disney animation beginning with THE LITTLE MERMAID; there was, too, the 'underdog' hero ('Jack Kelley,' played with panache and charisma by Joey Barreiro), who serves as a point of inspiration for a horde of ragtag 'newsies'; and instead of an 'Ariel' or 'Belle,' there was 'Katherine,' the spirited young 'girl reporter,' who, with her independence and ingenuity, could fall right in line with the other young heroines of Disney films.
dick clark productions announced today that Academy Award-nominated actress Carey Mulligan will be honored with the 'Hollywood Actress Award' for Suffragette; Actor Joel Edgerton will receive the 'Hollywood Breakout Actor Award' for Black Mass
The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director) announced today that legendary director, choreographer and producer Kenny Ortega will be the 2015 Diversity Award Artistic Honoree, and Abel Ramirez, founder of Pasadena's El Portal Restaurant and business and cultural leader of the Pasadena community, will be the Community Honoree at the 9th Annual Pasadena Playhouse's Wells Fargo Theatrical Diversity Project fundraising benefit on Sunday, September 13, 2015, in honor of the opening of Josefina Lopez's Real Women Have Curves.
Two-time Emmy Award-nominee Mandy Moore will spice up the FANTASY stage by choreographing the show's new opening number. Moore, best known for her unforgettable work and role as a guest judge on the hit television series "So You Think You Can Dance," is a world-class director, choreographer and dancer. She will travel to Las Vegas to teach the FANTASY ladies a new routine set to a mash-up of Little Mix's "Salute" and Jordin Sparks' "I Am Woman."
Writer/Director Adam McKay (Anchorman, Talladega Nights, You're Welcome America) and Funny Or Die have joined forces with Archie Comics,one of the most popular comics ever produced, to bring Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and the Riverdale gang to Broadway in an all-new musical. McKay is slated to bring his singular brand of comedy to the musical, writing the book for the show, with a creative team and timing for a New York run to be announced at a later date.
The Bay Street Shakespeare Initiative and Hamptons Shakespeare Festival are proud to announce that Piper Perabo will star as Viola in their upcoming co-production of outdoor staged readings of TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL by William Shakespeare on August 14 and 15 at Mashashimuet Park in Sag Harbor, NY. The two readings are free to the public and will start at 7 pm. A VIP Benefit performance will take place on August 16 at a private, oceanfront estate. Contact Kim Fink, Bay Street's Director of Development, at 631-725-0818 Ext. 112 for tickets to the VIP Benefit. Sponsored also in part by Mashashimuet Park.
Creative YouTube poster Salliethesalad has shared a mashup of Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars mega hit song 'Uptown Funk' and a scene from the 1992 cult Disney Film NEWSIES, starring Christian Bale. Check it out below!
As a preteen in 1992, thanks to a 'free week' of The Disney Channel, I became an expert on the working conditions of the 1899 newsboys of New York, and their famous conflict with newspaper giants William Randolph Hurst and Joseph Pulitzer. I also discovered a love for musical theatre, as I watched the dozens of acrobatic young men singing, dancing and exploding onto the streets of New York City as NEWSIES. When the tape I'd recorded the film on was eventually 'eaten' by my VHS player (and with Disney discontinuing distribution) my mother and I convinced Blockbuster to sell us their copy, once they acknowledged that we'd been the only rental for several months. When a DVD was eventually released the following decade, my mother immediately gifted me a copy, which I memorized word-for-word. NEWSIES finally made it's way to the stage in 2011, and I excitedly traveled to New Jersey for its premier, followed by two additional trips to see the production on Broadway. To say I'm a 'Fansie' may be an understatement, so I couldn't have been more excited to seize the day with the touring company earlier this week.
Once upon a time, before smart phones and the Internet and Facebook, there were newspapers. And if someone wanted to find out what was happening in the world, they had to buy a paper, often from boys selling the paper on city streets, hawking its headlines like town criers.
Admittedly, I am not in the target demographic for Disney's musical NEWSIES, running through February 1st at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. This musical, which concluded its two-and-a-half year Broadway run last fall, has inspired a legion of young, female fans who have dubbed themselves 'Fansies.' So while I might not be who the show is normally marketed towards, I left the Walt Disney Theatre on Opening Night completely infected by the optimism, athleticism, and heart of this movie-musical adaptation. Though far from being without fault, the score (which won a Tony for composer Alan Menken and lyricist Jack Feldman), the script (by Tony-winner Harvey Fierstein), and the immense talent of the young ensemble made this a exceptionally enjoyable evening of entertainment.
With vigorous dancing and impressive sets, Newsies is currently entertaining audiences in Atlanta. Disney once again provides an excellent spectacle in theatrical mastery.
This week students are honing their acting skills on-camera with NTI alum Matt Newton (NTI Fall '97). Matt is the founder of MN Acting Studio NYC and currently the on-set acting coach for Season 5 of the hit CBS show BLUE BLOODS. As well as teaching Auditioning and Business of the Business for NTI, he is a contributor to BACKSTAGE and the author of the book 10 STEPS TO BREAKING INTO ACTING. Scroll down for photos of Newton working with NTI, plus an exclusive Q&A for Risk Again, in which he shares his NTI memories, what it's like returning to campus as a faculty member, and his advice for young actors!
For the upcoming epic action-adventure Exodus: Gods and Kings, acclaimed director Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator) has recruited three-time Academy Award nominee Alberto Iglesias to compose the film score
