Musical Theatre West (MTW) opens its 2016-2017 season with Broadway's smash hit musical Memphis, at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center October 21 - November 6. The winner of four Tony Awards, including 'Best Musical,' 'Best Original Score,' 'Best Book' and 'Best Orchestrations,' is filled with roof-raising Rock & Roll, high-octane dancing, and an extraordinary tale of fame and forbidden love that sparked a cultural revolution.
North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre is thrilled present the regional premiere of the 2009 Outer Critics Circle Award winner for Best Off-Broadway Musical, The Toxic Avenger, running October 7th through October 23rd. Based on the campy cult classic movie and featuring a wailing rock score, The Toxic Avenger is written by the award-winning duo behind the hit musical Memphis, with book and lyrics by Broadway veteran Jo DiPeitro and music and lyrics by David Bryan.
There's nothing wrong with a bit of mindless fun at the theater. Some of my happiest memories are sitting in a darkened theater laughing hysterically at Mormons or man eating plants or oversexed puppets. But while the fun in those instances may be base and mindless they were all still backed up by a well crafted and well put together show and that's where "The Toxic Avenger Musical", currently being offered from STAGEright, falls flat. Sure, it's goofy, in your face, over the top fun but appealing to our love of things a little bit gross and repeatedly calling someone a slut cannot replace good writing and pacing.
Loosely based on the life and career of Dewey Phillips, one of the first disc jockeys to have ever played black music on the radio in the 1950's, Memphis tells the story of a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black nightclub singer who is ready for her big break.
5th Wall Theatre, the award-winning professional theatre dedicated to breaking through boundaries, will open its third season this fall with a comedic examination of gender politics. "Rapture, Blister, Burn," by Gina Gionfriddo, which was hailed as "one of the top 10 plays of 2012," kicks off a three-show subscription season in September.
Robert Cuccioli and Glory Crampton reunited at a special gathering for the official release of the new cast recording of the York Theatre Company production of Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Sherman Yellen's musical Rothschild & Sons last night, July 25, at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). The event featured appearances by cast members Mr. Cuccioli and Ms. Crampton, along with Sheldon Harnick, Sherman Yellen, Jeffrey B. Moss, and James Morgan, York's Producing Artistic Director. BroadwayWorld has photos from the celebration below!
Robert Cuccioli and Glory Crampton will reunite at a special gathering for the official release of the new cast recording of the York Theatre Company production of Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Sherman Yellen's musical Rothschild & Sons on Monday, July 25 at 6:00pm at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).
Are you ready to ROCK, Pittsburgh? Pittsburgh CLO is proud to announce casting for the Pittsburgh premiere of THE TOXIC AVENGER, September 22 - December 18 at the CLO Cabaret. This cult film-turned musical smash is a toxic love story with an environmental twist you won't want to miss! Featuring a rock score with instant hits such as: "Who Will Save New Jersey," "Thank God She's Blind," "My Big French Boyfriend" and "Evil is Hot," THE TOXIC AVENGER is sure to satisfy musical theater and movie lovers from the 'Burgh and beyond.
There seems to be a trend in the choices theaters are making regarding musicals they produce. Maybe it's a desire to attract younger audiences, or it's the popularity of comic book heroes as the subject of television shows and movies, but like it or not, the age of 'unusual' protagonists is here.
After 309 performances at the Davenport Theatre, the Drama Desk Award-Nominated new musical DADDY LONG LEGS will play its final Off-Broadway performance on Monday, June 6th.
When Director and Co-Choreographer Jordan Nichols first saw and enjoyed MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL, he knew that he just had to stage a production in the city itself; as polished and entertaining as it was, it needed just a little something . . . 'an infusion of Memphis grit.' In Playhouse on the Square's powerful, pulsating production of the musical, he has achieved just that. Memphians are very proud and protective of their musical heritage, and though originators Joe DiPietro and David Bryan have not attempted to portray real persons and events, their knowledge of the early 'rock and roll' era and its personalities has resulted in a satisfying approximation. Having few musical gifts outside a kazoo, I could nonetheless play 'Six Degrees of Elvis Presley' with some confidence: My third cousin was Bill Black, bassist for Elvis Presley in those early days; and my first cousin's brother-in-law was cult rockabilly musician Charlie Feathers ('Tongue-tied Jill'). I remember enjoying disc jockey Dewey Phillips (on whom MEMPHIS protagonist 'Huey Calhoun' is based) and his outsized personality, and anyone with any knowledge of Sun Studios and the early careers of Jerry Lee Lewis (who shocked an older generation with his marriage to a younger cousin), Johnny Cash, and Elvis Presley know that these artists came from humble ('cracker,' in the play) beginnings. These icons always acknowledged their debt to black gospel and blues musicians. All of that, together with racism and interracial relationships, surfaces in MEMPHIS.
Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment in association with the King's Head Theatre, Guy James and Szpiezak Productions presents the European premiere of THE TOXIC AVENGER, directed by Benji Sperring with musical director Alex Beetschen. Performances run now through Saturday 21 May 2016. Click below for a new trailer featuring highlights from the show!
By 2009, when the musical MEMPHIS opened on Broadway, America had nearly 60 years since the Civil Rights Movement began in the 1950s. But, despite significant progress, headlines even today continue to affirm our society's failings in the areas of discrimination and prejudice. Monday night, when the house lights faded for opening night of MEMPHIS at Theatre Three, the crowd cheered. Although I was just as eager to support the company's newest production, I'd not considered how moved I would be by the historic, but still timely themes.
Good People Theater Company and Producer Alejandro Patiño announced the first Hollywood Fringe Festival production of THE TOXIC AVENGER MUSICAL, 2009's winner of the Outer Critics Circle's award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical.
Ken Davenport and Michael Jackowitz, the producers of the new Off-Broadway musical DADDY LONG LEGS, have announced that the winner of the "Give A Girl Her Chance" contest will perform live tonight at the Davenport Theatre. Una Morrison of Derry City, Ireland will take the stage for her Off-Broadway debut after tonight's 7pm performance of DADDY LONG LEGS.
Memphis is set in the 1950s where rock 'n' roll was born: the seedy underground nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically-rich Tennessee city. With an original book and score by David Bryan (keyboard player, songwriter and founding member of Bon Jovi) and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change and All Shook Up!), it tells the fictional story of Huey Calhoun, a white radio DJ with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black club singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey's close-minded mama and Felicia's cautious brother, a club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. Filled with high-octane dancing, songs that perfectly capture the era, and an absorbing tale of fame and forbidden love, the show offers soaring emotion and roof-raising rock 'n' roll.
Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment in association with the King's Head Theatre, Guy James and Szpiezak Productions presents the European premiere of THE TOXIC AVENGER. It runs through 21 May 2016. The production just officially opened, and BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside the after-party!
Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment in association with the King's Head Theatre, Guy James and Szpiezak Productions presents the European premiere of THE TOXIC AVENGER, directed by Benji Sperring with musical director Alex Beetschen. Press night was last night 26 April at 7.30pm, and performances run through Saturday 21 May 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Theatre Three presents the Tony Award-winning rock 'n' roll musical MEMPHIS by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, running April 28 - May 22, 2016, with opening night set for May 2. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!
