Donna Drak News

To witness an entire audience on its feet, joyfully clapping, singing, and dancing into the aisles, one might have imagined rocking at Woodstock rather than in picturesque college town of Brunswick, ME. But, indeed, the exuberance and energy that filled the Pickard Theatre on the Bowdoin campus was a tribute to the triumphant production of The Buddy Holly Story with which Maine State Music Theatre opened its 56th season. The jukebox musical which recounts the last three years in the life of rock legend Charles Hardin 'Buddy' Holly is, in many ways a perfect vehicle to showcase this company's strengths and its new optimistic and visionary artistic direction. Buddy features a largely youthful and hugely talented cast of music theatre singer-actor-musicians, dazzlingly production values, and demonstrates the company's ability to forge an intense connection with its audience.

ITALIAN BRED, a new comedy written and performed by Candice Guardino, is making its Los Angeles premiere this spring at the Hudson Theatre Mainstage, prior to opening at Off-Broadway's Theatre Row in the fall. ITALIAN BRED is set to open at the Hudson Theatre tonight (Thursday) at 8 PM.

Writer, actor, and storyteller Candice Guardino will bring her new solo show Italian Bred to the Hudson Theatre Mainstage for 12 performances only, it was announced today by Bull by the Horns Productions. Directed by Donna Drake, Italian Bred will play one preview today, May 28 at 2pm and opening is set for Thursday, May 29 at 8pm. The limited engagement will run through June 29.

Producing Artistic Director Mark Cortale, now entering his fourth season at the helm of Provincetown's Art House Theater, has made the picturesque Cape Cod town a must-do stop on the itinerary of Broadway's brightest stars. The Art House continues to somehow top itself with each successive summer's celebrity lineup.

Over fifty years ago, a 'kid with glasses' from Lubbock, Texas, changed the face of popular music forever. Buddy Holly's meteoric rise to stardom was cut short when, at the age of just 22, he died tragically in a plane crash.

Director Donna Drake and a seasoned cast of musician-actors rock the house at the Fulton all night in BUDDY

Writer, actor, and storyteller Candice Guardino will bring her new solo show Italian Bred to the Hudson Theatre Mainstage for 12 performances only, it was announced today by Bull by the Horns Productions. Directed by Donna Drake, Italian Bred will play one preview on Wednesday, May 28 at 2pm and opening is set for Thursday, May 29 at 8pm. The limited engagement will run through June 29.

Over fifty years ago, a bespectacled kid from Lubbock, Texas changed the face of popular music. Buddy Holly's meteoric rise to stardom was cut short when at the age of just 22 he died tragically in a plane crash. Fulton Theatre's production of Buddy-The Buddy Holly Story tells the tale of the three years in which he became the world's top recording artist.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

This March, April and May at 54 BELOW presents a lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

This February and March at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond, including Christopher Sieber, Annaleigh Ashford, Randy Graff, Melinda Doolittle, Jeff Daniels, Linda Eder, Andrea McArdle, Sondheim Unplugged, Taboo: 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert, Beth Leavel, Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena.

One Direction step aside, there's a new kind of boy band on the circuit! After two sold-out engagements in December 2013, Feinstein's at the Nikko welcomes the return of all-male string quartet Well-Strung: The Singing String Quartet for four performances - Thursday, April 3 (8 p.m.); Friday, April 4 (8 p.m.); Saturday, April 5 (7 p.m.); and Sunday, April 6 (7 p.m.). Called the 'hottest thing with a bow since Jennifer Lawrence in 'The Hunger Games' by the New York Daily News, Well-Strung will feature music of Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach as well as new arrangements of songs by Pink, Adele, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, and more! Tickets for Well-Strung range in price from $35 - $50 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

In the midst of their first National concert tour and their first major magazine cover spread, Well-Strung, The Singing String Quartet, will make their debut at New York's celebrated Broadway club 54 Below with shows on February 2 and March 16 at 9:30 PM. The foursome have been referred to as "absolutely amazing" by BBC Radio host Jo Good during their recent London debut, and as "the hottest thing with a bow since Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games" by the New York Daily News. The new show directed by Donna Drake features new arrangements of songs by Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and Third Eye Blind among others as well as new material written by Jeffery Roberson (aka Varla Jean Merman). For tickets please visit www.well-strung.com.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

While making their London debut this fall, BBC Radio host Jo Good called Well-Strung "amazing, absolutely amazing" after their on-air performance and interview for her show. In the States, they've also been called the "hottest thing with a bow since Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games" by the New York Daily News. Well-Strung: the Singing String Quartet returns to Highline Ballroom - for the first time since May with a new show directed by Donna Drake on Sunday, November 24 at 8:00 PM for one performance only. The group has been on a roll: in addition to their London debut last month, they are just off of a three-month run at the prestigious Art House in Provincetown, two recent hit New York productions Off-Broadway in the past year, their first album just released in spring, and a new music video that has caught the eye of the national press. The new show will feature new arrangements of songs by Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and Third Eye Blind among others as well as new material written by Jeffery Roberson (aka Varla Jean Merman). For tickets please visit www.well-strung.com.

One Direction step aside, there's a new kind of boy band on the circuit! Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein welcome the all-male string quartet Well-Strung: The Singing String Quartet to Feinstein's at the Nikko for two performances only - Friday, December 27 (8 p.m.) and Saturday, December 28 (7 p.m.). Called the "hottest thing with a bow since Jennifer Lawrence in 'The Hunger Games'" by the New York Daily News, Well-Strung will feature music of Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach as well as new arrangements of songs by Pink, Adele, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, and more! Tickets for Well-Strung range in price from $25-$40 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein have announced the upcoming lineup at the all-new Feinstein's at the Nikko for the months of October, November and December. Artists include Emmy Award winning actress Megan Mullally ('Will and Grace) and actress Stephanie Hunt ('Friday Night Lights,' 'Californication') and their band Nancy & Beth; actress, producer and singer Rita Wilson; Broadway star and recording artist Linda Eder; soul and jazz vocalist Oleta Adams; and more!

XL Nighclub Announces Its October line up!

While making their London debut last week, BBC Radio host Jo Good called Well-Strung "amazing, absolutely amazing" after their on-air performance and interview for her show. In the States, they've also been called the "hottest thing with a bow since Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games" by the New York Daily News. Well-Strung: the Singing String Quartet returns for their first performances in NY of a new show directed by Donna Drake at XL Cabaret on October 4 and 25, for two performances only. The group has been on a roll: in addition to their London debut last week, they are just off of a three-month run at the prestigious Art House in Provincetown, two recent hit New York productions Off-Broadway in the past year, and their first album just released in spring. The new show will feature new arrangements of songs by Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and Third Eye Blind among others as well as new material written by Jeffery Roberson (aka Varla Jean Merman). For tickets please visit the www.well-strung.com.

Well-Strung will make their European debut in a show directed and co-written by Donna Drake, at Leicester Square Theatre from tonight 19 September - Saturday 21 September.