When you hear the first few notes of the rollicking overture, you know Bernstein is genuflecting hard to Johann Strauss. Yet this is a story in which the principal characters are bayoneted, hanged, maimed, raped, prostituted, ravaged by disease, and enslaved, among other things, a story which, thematically, takes the characters and us right to the edge of the Nietzschean abyss and gives us a good long sobering look into it - not the sort of thing Strauss or Gilbert and Sullivan ever did.
LA's own Impro Theatre continues their residency at The Edye at The Broad Stage, presenting a different style of their signature improvisation for one weekend, each month. For the penultimate show in their residency, Impro Theatre will pay homage to the genius of the American satirist Dorothy Parker with Dorothy Parker UnScripted (May 18 - 20). Starting with audience suggestions, Impro Theatre picks up Dorothy's comedic scalpel and recreates an impressionistic night of Dorothy-style scenes and observation, reminiscent of the Roaring 20's.
SKIN JOBS, a new play about whitewashing in superhero blockbusters from the director of the acclaimed Obama-meets-Trump comedy TRANSITION, will make its world premiere May 31, 2018 at The Broadwater in the Hollywood Fringe Festival. SKIN JOBS will run five shows, with closing night set for June 20.
LA's own Impro Theatre continues their residency at The Edye at The Broad Stage, presenting a different style of their signature improvisation for one weekend, each month. Paying homage to the genius of William Shakespeare, Shakespeare UnScripted (April 20 - 22) spontaneously creates a brand new play, for every performance, in The Bard's unmistakable style. Using language that sizzles with poetry, colorful imagery and bawdy innuendo, Impro Theatre brings to life the monarchs, spirits, lovers and fools that make up Shakespeare's world.
2018 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will acknowledge thissignificant anniversary by participating in the global celebrations to honour Bernstein's legacy, with two planned performances of the choral masterpiece, Candide (1956) on Saturday 29th September and Sunday 30th September 2018 at the Sydney Opera House.
Two-time Tony Award and Emmy Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth brings Stories with Piano to Walnut Creek's Lesher Center for the Arts (1601 Civic Dr., Walnut Creek) on Wednesday, May 30 at 7 p.m. for one performance only. Presented by Feinstein's Presents, Feinstein's at the Nikko's series showcasing world-class performers at larger venues throughout the Bay Area, this intimate cabaret-style evening will weave together songs and stories from throughout Bebe's celebrated career.
The Village Players of Birmingham opens its 4th production of its 95th season with James Lapine's tribute to a life in the theatre; Act One. The play is based on playwright Moss Hart's autobiography of the same title.
LA's own Impro Theatre continues their residency at The Edye at The Broad Stage, presenting a different style of their signature improvisation for one weekend, each month. From the darkest corners of reality to the land of the unexplained Twilight Zone UnScripted is a completely improvised show in the style of classic 60's sci-fi television shows. Enter a dimension of pure imagination as the company starts with audience suggestions and creates new and completely improvised episodes at every performance, March 16 - 18.
This March, The Iridium will once again host four weeks of fierce female performers in celebration of Women's History Month. HERSTORY, HER VOICE at The Iridium will showcase some of today's most prolific women in pop, rock, jazz, and blues beginning with platinum-selling singer/songwriter Anna Nalick on March 1 & 2, and actress and cabaret chanteuse Myriam Phiro's MARIPOSA: An All-Female International Jazz Band on March 6. ?Inspired by their mutual devotion to jazz, world music, and social justice, Myriam Phiro (vocals and bandleader) and Hyuna Park (piano and musical direction) have created MARIPOSA as a jazz collective with a mission.
It's Shameful! A Deadbeat Dad's [True] Story by Murray Meyer premieres in the 12th Annual FRIGID Festival in New York City on Feb 16-28, 2018 at Under St. Mark's.
Doyle will be auctioning off property from the estate of Tony Award winner Barbara Cook. The auctions will begin on February 14, and will include items such as fine jewelry, stage jewelry, accessories, furniture and art.
LA's own Impro Theatre continues their residency at The Edye at The Broad Stage, presenting a different style of their signature improvisation for one weekend, each month. February brings Chekhov UnScripted. For each performance Impro will create a full-length play, in the style of the great Russian master. Starting with audience suggestions, each performance will feature characters dreaming of a different life, all the while dealing with the everyday unpredictability of feeling love, disillusionment and the certain catastrophe that is the comedy of life! LA Weekly called Chekhov UnScripted a "Pick of the Week," adding, "You don't have to be a Chekhov aficionado to appreciate this entertaining and clever mock-up of his art."
On January 27, 2018, Los Angeles Opera presented the Bernstein work at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with a cast that included Emmy-winning television star Kelsey Grammer. He is best remembered for his two-decade-long portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the situation comedies Cheers, Wings, and Frasier. As Voltaire and Pangloss, Grammer had a huge speaking role that he acquitted with a commanding personality and considerable wit. Surprisingly, he sang quite well, too.
From the moment the amazing James Conlon-conducted orchestra began their crisp, lively 'Overture' to 'Quartet Finale,' the close of Act One; this remarkable production of CANDIDE entranced the Dorothy Chandler audience. Then after a short intermission, these talented performers and musicians had the audience right back in the palms of their skilled hands, beyond the tears-inducing finale 'Make Our Garden Grow,' to the extended and most deserved standing ovation for the cast, orchestra, and creatives.
92Y announces Ted Chapin, President & Chief Creative Officer of Rodgers & Hammerstein, will serve in the newly created role of Producer of Lyrics & Lyricists, beginning next season. For nearly five decades, L&L has been at the forefront of exploring and sharing the best of the American Songbook, and this opens a new chapter.
The Koffler Centre of the Arts announced today that due to overwhelming demand, a second show has been added on Saturday April 21 at 6 PM for Fran Lebowitz: In Conversation, an intimate chat with the author, raconteur, cultural satirist and American cultural icon. The event on Sunday April 22 at 4 PM, which has almost sold out, will be hosted by the award-winning journalist and host of CBC Radio's The Current, Anna Maria Tremonti. Both events take place at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, and tickets are available through the Koffler Centre of the Arts by calling 647-925-0643 or online at kofflerarts.org.
LA's own Impro Theatre delves into the world of fairytales featuring wondrous magic, dangerous journeys and true love, with a lesson or two along the way at The Broad Stage on Saturday, February 3 at 11am. Inspired by the suggestions and imaginations of our youngest audience members, Fairytales UnScripted brings to life stories that no one has ever seen and no one will ever see again.
It's Shameful! A Deadbeat Dad's True Story will debut as part of the 11th Annual FRIGID Festival in New York City. It's Shameful! A Deadbeat Dad's True Story is written and performed by storyteller Murray Meyer who has been a practicing criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles for more than thirty years. Director/playwright Laurel Ollstein, who is married to Meyer, will direct. It's Shameful! A Deadbeat Dad's True Story is sponsored by Bad Boy Bail Bonds of Los Angeles.
The Old Globe today announced it will present the fifth annual Powers New Voices Festival, a weekend of readings of new American plays by professional playwrights, playing January 12 14, 2018. The festival will kick off today, January 12 at 7:30 p.m. with Voices of the Community: Celebrating Local Playwrights, an evening of work created by San Diego residents through the Globe's arts engagement initiatives Community Voices and coLAB, and will continue with four readings by some of the most exciting voices writing for the American theatre today. The new American play readings commence on Saturday, January 13 at 4:00 p.m. with Laurel Ollstein's They Promised Her the Moon, directed by Giovanna Sardelli (Somewhere, The Whipping Man at the Globe), followed at 7:30 p.m. by Too Heavy for Your Pocket by Jir h Breon Holder, directed by Patricia McGregor (Globe for All's Measure for Measure).The Festival continues on Sunday, January 14 at 3:00 p.m. with The Tale of Despereaux, with book, music, and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co. (The Old Man and The Old Moon at the Globe), based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo and the Universal Pictures animated motion picture. The Festival will wrap up that evening at 7:30 p.m. with The Great Leap by Lauren Yee, directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg (Globe's Skeleton Crew).
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