'If Danny Kaye had not been born,' a Hollywood writer once observed, 'no one could possibly have invented him. It would have been stretching credibility far past the breaking point'. Those words begin almost every biography of the legendary Danny Kaye and it is fitting words. Kaye may not have been as popular as Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly, or may have been the person to get when Donald O'Connor wasn't available, but Kaye left a legacy on entertainment. You can narrow down to a handful of influential artists whose legacy is still being found in modern day entertainers. You can see pieces of Kaye in early Robin Williams, or Will Ferrell in his Saturday Night Live days. Kaye took the 'song and dance' man routine and went one step further - the patter song and the foppish mannerisms that made his style unique.
Jim Dale got his big break at an audition after getting a big laugh from a big fall. From that moment on, he would use his physicality for laughs, making him part of a long line of artists unafraid of falling down on the job.
The Full Monty Musical, book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek, coming to Biddeford's City Theater today, July 11th-27th, tells the story of Jerry Lukowski, an unemployed steel worker, too proud to take entry-level work, who along with his best pal, Dave Bukatinski, sneaks into a Chippendales performance, to spy on Dave's wife, Georgie (Ashley Christie, Steep Falls), where they hatch a get-rich-quick scheme, which relies on their ability to outdo the Chippendales at their own game... with a little help from Keno, a discontented Chippendale dancer (Brandon O'Roak, S. Portland), Jeannette (Gretchen Wood, Shapleigh), a 'very-retired' music director, and, quite frankly, the last person they ever thought they would ask for help!
The Full Monty Musical, book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek, coming to Biddeford's City Theater July 11th-27th, tells the story of Jerry Lukowski, an unemployed steel worker, too proud to take entry-level work, who along with his best pal, Dave Bukatinski, sneaks into a Chippendales performance, to spy on Dave's wife, Georgie (Ashley Christie, Steep Falls), where they hatch a get-rich-quick scheme, which relies on their ability to outdo the Chippendales at their own game… with a little help from Keno, a discontented Chippendale dancer (Brandon O'Roak, S. Portland), Jeannette (Gretchen Wood, Shapleigh), a 'very-retired' music director, and, quite frankly, the last person they ever thought they would ask for help!
They say that everyone has a twin somewhere in the world. Well, I'm sure that Ethel Merman is proudly smiling down at hers as Heather Carvel boldly tackles the role of a lifetime in the World Premiere of Warehouse Theatre Company's BIG VOICE: THE ETHEL MERMAN EXPERIENCE. Directed, conceived and written by Kristofer Green, every look, nuance, expression, and style is exactly dead-on, from hair to dress to even the way Ethel raised her eyebrows and smiled after a song.
Sterling's Upstairs - housed at popular LA hot spot The Federal in North Hollywood's NoHo Arts District - has not only been described by the Los Angeles Times as "LA's cabaret destination;" but was just cited by LA Weekly as one of Los Angeles's top five supper clubs, With an arsenal of similar accolades from LA based media, Sterling's Upstairs celebrates its eight-year anniversary this month with Broadway performers Maura Hanlon Smith (June 9), Sandy Bainum (June 22) and Bernard Dotson (June 29-June 30). Kritzerland Records' Nobody Does it Better... The songs of Dorothy Fields kicked off the month-long celebration on June 1st featuring Tara Browne, Cynthia Ferrer, Zachary Ford, Kim Huber, Jenna Lea Rosen, Sami Staitman, Sarah Staitman, Robert Yacko and Special Guest... Broadway's Kerry O'Malley.
Cleveland Play House enthusiastically welcomes dance legend Maurice Hines to Cleveland in the toe-tapping extravaganza, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Co-produced with Alliance Theatre and Arena Stage, CPH audiences will be dazzled by this infectious production, which brings the history of American tap to life. Directed by Tony-nominee Jeff Calhoun (Newsies) and featuring contemporary tap icons The Manzari Brothers and music from the all-female big band The Diva Orchestra, Tappin' Thru Life will dance its way onto PlayhouseSquare's Allen Theatre stage for an extended run from today, May 30 - June 29. Special gratitude is given to CPH's generous sponsor, Zinner & Co.
Jon Peterson brings his new one man show HE WROTE GOOD SONGS to the Hollywood Fringe Festival beginning June 8. Here Jon tells us why he loves this story and why it's perfect for the Fringe.
Cleveland Play House enthusiastically welcomes dance legend Maurice Hines to Cleveland in the toe-tapping extravaganza, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Co-produced with Alliance Theatre and Arena Stage, CPH audiences will be dazzled by this infectious production, which brings the history of American tap to life. Directed by Tony-nominee Jeff Calhoun (Newsies) and featuring contemporary tap icons The Manzari Brothers and music from the all-female big band The Diva Orchestra, Tappin' Thru Life will dance its way onto PlayhouseSquare's Allen Theatre stage for an extended run from May 30 - June 29. Special gratitude is given to CPH's generous sponsor, Zinner & Co.
They say that spring showers bring May flowers. At The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, spring showers have brought the musical Singin' in the Rain to the stage. Based on the classic MGM film, Singin' in the Rain is part of the theatre's 20th Anniversary Season. Last seen in Frederick nearly twenty years ago, Singin' in the Rain continues its run at Way Off Broadway through May 31st.
The Wallis Center for the Performing Arts presents Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life for 19 performances only from May 9 - 24, 2014 in the Bram Goldsmith Theater. Maurice Hines, a Tony Award nominee, is a celebrated dancer, choreographer, director, and singer, whose impressive career spans over 40 years. Directed by Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life features D.C.'s dynamic tap-dancing duo, the Manzari Brothers, as well as the all-female, nine-piece big band, The Diva Jazz Orchestra.
The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre's upcoming production of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN runs now through May 31, 2014 and is based on the classic Gene Kelly film. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!
The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre's 20th Anniversary Season continues this spring with a new staging of the singing and dancing musical based on the classic MGM film, Singin' in the Rain. Nearly twenty years after the show was last seen on a Frederick stage, Way Off Broadway's production will open tonight, March 28th and run through May 31st.
Familiar friends and new sensations take their turns on the Heinz Hall stage during the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's 2014-2015 PNC Pops season, one that promises an eclectic mix of favorites and surprises.
Music Director Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announce the Orchestra's 2014-2015 season, its eighth under the direction of Maestra Alsop. The full schedule and details about each production follow.
Patricia Ward Kelly's compelling presentation combines rare and familiar film clips, previously unreleased audio recordings, personal memorabilia, and insights culled from her hours of interviews and conversations with her husband whom she met in 1985 in Washington, D.C., where she was the writer for a television special about The Smithsonian for which he was the host and narrator. She was 26; he was 73. Soon after, he invited her to California to write his memoir. They fell in love, married, and were together until his death in 1996.
The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre's 20th Anniversary Season continues this spring with a new staging of the singing and dancing musical based on the classic MGM film, Singin' in the Rain. Nearly twenty years after the show was last seen on a Frederick stage, Way Off Broadway's production will open March 28th and run through May 31st.
