Donna Drake News

'If you build it they will come. If you want diversity in the theatre, you have to build that diversity from the ground up. You can't just expect it to happen.' Actor Kingsley Leggs is speaking with quiet intensity about his passion for theatre, music, and dance and his belief that theatre must not only please, but also educate and empower its audiences. These are beliefs he has honed in a long career which has taken him from his native St. Louis to Broadway, regional theatre, and television. As he recounts his story, he is taking a break on what he calls 'a three show day' at Maine State Music Theatre, where he is in the last week of performances of The Full Monty and set to open June 25th in Sister Act. He has just finished the morning rehearsal and will soon head over to the theatre for a matinee and evening show. For all the obvious demands of this schedule, he appears relaxed and animated. He tells the story of how he came to be in Brunswick this summer:

In a lively, funny, often piquant conversation cast and creative team members from Maine State Music Theatre's The Full Monty convened on June 10 to talk with Broadway World in the first of this summer's highly successful talkback series, A Peek Behind the Curtain. The audience was delighted to have the opportunity to meet director, Donna Drake, stars Peter Matthew Smith, Amanda Rose, MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark and Outreach Sales Manager Katie White. The discussion focused on the show's appeal, its message, and, of course, on the show stopping strip finale.

Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) is proud to be one of the first regional theatres to present the feel-amazing musical comedy smash SISTER ACT, running June 24 - July 11, 2015.

Musical theatre actress Amanda Rose has been living her dream since her graduation from Charleston College over a decade ago; she has been performing steadily on Broadway, on tour, and in regional theatres across the country. Now based in New York City, she, nonetheless, understands that an actress' life is peripatetic and unpredictable, and she relishes the new experiences that come with her journey.

The Full Monty, which opened Maine State Music Theatre's fifty-seventh season, has all the makings of a new hit for the company! The rollicking, sometimes raucous story of unemployed Buffalo steel workers who create a male strip act to make money has characters to embrace and identify with, clever and provocative dance numbers, music which underscores advances the dramatic development of the script, and one of the most anticipated final numbers in all of Broadway musicals. In addition, at MSMT in a shared production with Lancaster's Fulton Theatre, the David Yazbek -Terrence McNally show is blessed with a stunning ensemble and witty, heartfelt direction and choreography by Donna Drake.

“This show is such a great ride for the cast and the audience!” the actor says enthusiastically. Peter Matthew Smith is referring to his latest gig as Jerry Lukowski in back-to-back runs of the musical, The Full Monty, which opens Maine State Music Theatre's fifty-seventh season on June 4, after closing at the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster. It is Smith's first visit to Maine and his second essay of the part of the unemployed Buffalo steel worker who organizes a male strip tease act to raise money for his child support payments.

Well-Strung, The Singing String Quartet, have just announced that they will return to New York with their latest production, 'POPssical' tonight, May 28 at 6:30 PM for one show only, at the new venue URBO, located at 11 Times Square, at 42nd St. & 8th Avenue.

Well-Strung, The Singing String Quartet, have just announced that they will return to New York with their latest production, 'POPssical' on Thursday, May 28 at 6:30 PM for one show only, at the new venue URBO, located at 11 Times Square, at 42nd St. & 8th Avenue. 'POPssical' is written and performed by Well-Strung, starring Edmund Bagnell, Christopher Marchant, Daniel Shevlin and Trevor Wadleigh, with musical arrangements by Well-Strung, Dana Levinson and Bruce Carter, and directed by Donna Drake. For tickets please visit: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1626705 or call 800-838-3006.

?Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) kicks off the 2015 season with the heartwarming upbeat comedy THE FULL MONTY. This 10-time Tony Award-nominee is filled with honest affection, engaging melodies and a raucous mix of razor-sharp humor and toe-tapping pizazz, not to mention the most highly anticipated closing number in Broadway history! THE FULL MONTY runs June 3 - June 20, 2015.

Donna Drake and a terrific cast tell the story of six men's journey to self-discovery

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Now in the midst of their second international concert tour, Well-Strung, The Singing String Quartet, will return to New Orleans with their latest production, 'POPssical' at Cafe Istanbul tonight, March 18 at 8:00 PM for one show only.

?Now in the midst of their second international concert tour, Well-Strung, The Singing String Quartet, will return to New Orleans with their latest production, “POPssical” at Cafe Istanbul on March 18 at 8:00 PM for one show only.

'All our stories this year will be about families or individuals who are broken, but they come back to make the best of it - to survive. That is our job as human beings, and if our shows can give somebody the strength and courage to do just that, then we in the theatre are doing our jobs.' Curt Dale Clark, Artistic Director of Maine State Music Theatre, is waxing eloquent about the company's plans for the 2015 summer season, the fifty-seventh for the company, and his second in the leadership position. Together with his partner, Managing Director, Stephanie Dupal, Clark outlines their plans for what they hope will be a worthy encore to last year's spectacularly successful season.

Following the showcase, Candice Guardino's hit show Italian Bred will perform on Tuesday February 3rd, 10th, and 17th at the Hudson Theatre. Italian Bred opens Tuesday February 3rd at 8pm.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

It was announced today by Bull by the Horns Productions, that Actress, Writer, and Storyteller Candice Guardino has been invited back to the Hudson Theatre to perform her smash hit show Italian Bred.

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Maine Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.