Christopher Spaulding News

Fairly exploding onto the stage, The Nutty Professor-the new musical based on the classic 1963 film comedy-opened at Nashville's James K. Polk Theatre last night in a vibrantly told and visually stunning production helmed by Jerry Lewis, the man who co-wrote the movie and, at this moment, is probably booking a ticket to Broadway . The story of nerdy Professor Julius Kelp and his transformation into the suave and sophisticated (if boorish) Buddy Love offers plenty of laughs to be certain, but perhaps surprisingly, there's a whole lot of heart to be found in Rupert Holmes' book, set tunefully to a classic Marvin Hamlisch score.

Tonight's the night: The brain trust behind The Nutty Professor, The New Musical will officially roll out the red carpet for the new musical's opening night at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's James K. Polk Theatre. Directed by "the king of comedy" himself, Jerry Lewis, upon whose classic 1963 film comedy the brand new musical is based upon, The Nutty Professor company has already delivered a week of preview performances, garnering rave reviews from audience members. Nashville photographer Rick Malkin has captured some of the show's best moments in a collection of photographs we're happy to share with you today, only hours before the opening night curtain.

Tonight's the night: The brain trust behind The Nutty Professor, The New Musical will officially roll out the red carpet for the new musical's opening night at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's James K. Polk Theatre. Directed by "the king of comedy" himself, Jerry Lewis, upon whose classic 1963 film comedy the brand new musical is based upon, The Nutty Professor company has already delivered a week of preview performances, garnering rave reviews from audience members.

Nashville and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) host the world premiere of "The Nutty Professor" Musical this month. Directed by Jerry Lewis, the show is a new musical comedy based on the 1963 film of the same name. The Broadway at TPAC Special Event began previews on July 24, and officially opens tonight, July 31- running through August 19 in TPAC's James K. Polk Theater. Featuring music by Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line) and a book and lyrics by three-time Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), "The Nutty Professor" is a musical treat for the whole family, based on the classic 1963 film in which Lewis starred and co-wrote.

We've been doing our part to prepare ye the way, watching the action onstage, taking some furtive peeks backstage, listening to all the offstage gossip and venturing beyond the confines of the theater to gain the informed knowledge to see more shows in the Volunteer State than you ever thought possible. So, good people of the theaterati, read on and get all the information you need to know in this, our latest installment of Music City Confidential. This is #6…

Nashville and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) host the world premiere of "The Nutty Professor" Musical, opening tonight, July 24 and running through August 19. Directed by Jerry Lewis, the show is a new musical comedy based on the 1963 film of the same name. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the rehearsals below.

Nashville and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) will host the world premiere of "The Nutty Professor" Musical this Summer. Directed by Jerry Lewis, the show is a new musical comedy based on the 1963 film of the same name.

The Broadway-bound THE NUTTY PROFESSOR musical, premiering this summer at TPAC in Nashville, will feature the talents of Broadway favorites Mark Jacoby, Marissa McGowan, and previously announced Michael Andrew. They will star as Dean Warfield, Stella, and Julius Kelp respectively. In the video below, Andrew chats about playing the iconic character!

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that the Broadway-bound THE NUTTY PROFESSOR musical, premiering this summer at TPAC in Nashville, will feature the talents of Broadwayfavorites Mark Jacoby, Marissa McGowan, and previously announced Michael Andrew. They will star as Dean Warfield, Stella, and Julius Kelp respectively.

It's supposed to be 108 degrees in the Nashville area by week's end, which means stepping outside will likely leave you melted, quite literally and figuratively. But if you do have to venture out of doors, perhaps a trip to the theater is a good idea…it'll be dark and cool (with any luck, the AC will be working-and you know which theaters we're talking about) and you'll be entertained, perhaps even transported to another world. Or not. In the meantime, we present you with installment number four of Music City Confidential-our continuing effort to create a sense of community and build up some enthusiasm and excitement for the live theater industry here in our alarmingly sweaty region. So, press on, gentle readers and catch up on the latest adventures of the theaterati…

Tonight, May 21, 2012 marks the third production of BC Beat at Cielo (18 Little West 12thStreet). Produced by Jennifer Jancuska and The BringAbout Productions, BC Beat offers the Broadway and dance communities another unique and exciting way to experience dance. Focused on storytelling and set in a club with the best sound system in NYC, BC Beat will feature new work by eight highly anticipated choreographers from genres including musical theatre, contemporary, jazz and tap. Smack in the middle of the club, with the audience surrounding the sunken stage and close enough to touch the dancers, choreographers will present their unique way of storytelling and vision for Broadway's future.

Monday May 21, 2012 marks the third production of BC Beat at Cielo (18 Little West 12thStreet). Produced by Jennifer Jancuska and The BringAbout Productions, BC Beat offers the Broadway and dance communities another unique and exciting way to experience dance. Focused on storytelling and set in a club with the best sound system in NYC, BC Beat will feature new work by eight highly anticipated choreographers from genres including musical theatre, contemporary, jazz and tap. Smack in the middle of the club, with the audience surrounding the sunken stage and close enough to touch the dancers, choreographers will present their unique way of storytelling and vision for Broadway's future.

Dancing With The Stars finalist and N'SYNC star Lance Bass, theater producer and last years' honoree Michel Butler and New York Yankees pitcher David Robertson will be featured guests at tonight's fourth annual Broadway in South Africa gala. Tonight's event will feature Broadway artists and Broadway in South Africa (BSA) students from South Africa sharing the stage to present and perform world-premiere songs written my many of New York's most talented songwriters and composers. For tonight's show, held the Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom, located at 311 West 34th Street, general admission tickets are now selling for $25, and can be purchased at the door, or by visiting www.broadwayinsouthafrica.org. Curtain is 7:30p.

The Word of the Day has recently become a consistent element of the Broadway in South Africa camp curriculum. Every morning at the Opening Assembly we all gather together in a big group circle to do a quick physical warm-up, breathing exercises to get everyone on the same page, we play a theater game or two to get our blood pumping and minds racing and then we introduce a Word of the Day: one word or concept that the students can focus on throughout the day as they rotate through each of their 4 classes (Acting, Playwriting, Music and Dance.)

We've given each of our students their own pens and journals, and time to reflect on the work we are doing in our classes through free-writing exercises. After a 40 minute continuous open Viewpoint session with the kids in acting class today, we asked them to journal about their experience. We use the time to write in our journals as well. This is my entry from the first block of classes today:

We've hit the ground running and couldn't be off to a more amazing start. Today was the first day of our Diepsloot Camp- our first camp in JoBurg and our first camp we've ever run that is co-taught by BSA US Artists (Sean, Frankie, Lilli and myself) and BSA SA Artists (South African Musical Directors Bryan Schimmel and Rowan Baker, and our dear friends Steven and Rochelle Hicks- without whom, this endeavour would not be made possible.) In fact, this particular trip is full of firsts: the first time we've ever been picked up at the airport by friends, the first time we've ever had our t-shirts, supplies and camp logistics supplied and provided on the ground in SA (thanks to generous contributions made by Montecasino and the support of Bryan Hill at the Teatro and Ryan Nicholas at Monte,) the first time there's been such a small group of BSA artists traveling (4) and the first time we've ever been able to come back to SA twice in one year.

Graham Phillips, of The Good Wife and Broadway's 13, will join a host of Broadway artists in singing seasonal favorites at Broadway in South Africa's third annual holiday party fundraiser and digital camera drive.

Graham Phillips, of The Good Wife and Broadway's 13, will join a host of Broadway artists in singing seasonal favorites at Broadway in South Africa's third annual holiday party fundraiser and digital camera drive.

Graham Phillips, of The Good Wife and Broadway's 13, will join a host of Broadway artists in singing seasonal favorites at Broadway in South Africa's third annual holiday party fundraiser and digital camera drive.

Brooke Shields, the internationally-acclaimed model and film, television and Broadway star, headlined the Broadway in South Africa (BSA) charity event last night, October 28, in New York City. Shields, a constant supporter of children's causes, joined a host of Broadway and New York City artists in donating their time and talents to support BSA's efforts toward providing children, from South Africa's neediest communities, with necessary life skills through arts education. The event took place at The Box and featured an evening of songs, dance and many surprise, vaudeville-style variety acts, typical of late-night shows produced at the lower east side hotspot.