Elaine Stritch News

Jay Michaels discusses indie theatre marketing at Theatre Resources Unlimited (TRU) BOOTCAMP: 2018 Weekend Intensive for Showcase Producing

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) continues its 2017-2018 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell (based on the Victor Hugo Novel and songs from the Disney film), musical direction by Dan Redfeld, choreography by Michelle Elkin and directed by Misti B. Wills. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME opens on Friday, April 20, 2017 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2018 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.  

For 22-year-old Nicky Wood, there is no better way to spend a weekend off than onstage at the Barn Theatre. Wood is back in his old stomping grounds (Stuart, FL) for one day only to raise a glass to a century of Broadway's brightest stars, shows, songs and stories.

Producers Zach Laks, Sarah Galli, and Joseph Lucius in association with Form Theatricals announce the world-premiere of Larry Owens in LIZA '79, conceived and directed by Ben Rimalower, for five unforgettable performances at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street) June 11, 17, 18, 24, AND July 2 (9:30 PM).

Audiences are invited into the live audiobook recording session of John Hill's memoir, #octobottom detailing his torrid, turgid life on the fringes of show business on both coasts. Together John and his director Broadway wannabe Ben Rimalower must battle their egos, demons and John's psychosomatic laryngitis in this epic meeting of the minds. You'll laugh with them, at them and despite them in a show that promises to leave you feeling great about your own mental health.

Check out the trailer for upcoming documentary Always At The Carlyle.

Merman becomes a critic, discussing the new Angles in America, praising Andrew Garfield, Nathan Lane takes on Peter Sellars, Stritch goes multi-cam, Lucy plays Dolly, Madeline Kahn takes a walk, Elaine conquers the West End, the legacy of Elaine Stritch, accentuating the positive, being on the line (for real), how a revival comes to life, the A Chorus Line legacy, the secret passageways of Broadway, loving Michael Bennett, Freddie Martinez makes a comeback, and Rob brings out new impressions.

Catskill's Bridge Street Theatre invites audiences to experience ENCORES!, a special one-time only performance by the legendary Flo Hayle on the BST Mainstage Saturday April 21st at 2:00pm. Producer Jan Grice and Musical Director Jay Kerr join Ms. Hayle for a potpourri of terrific tunes and fascinating tales in celebration of her 89th trip around the sun!

The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, a department within the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University, will honor legendary Broadway lighting designer, Natasha Katz, with the 2018 Apple Award on Thursday, April 19, 2018 during an invitation-only ceremony at the Fisher Theatre prior to that evening's performance of Broadway's 'School of Rock,' for which Ms. Katz designed the lighting.

On March 24, 2018, Kitchen Theatre Company (KTC) presented its first ever Lip Sink Spring Fundraiser. Celebrating M. Bevin O'Gara's first season as Producing Artistic Director at KTC, the evening brought the community together in support of the theatre. Teams of performers chose songs to lip sync and dance to, and fundraised on behalf of the theatre, culminating in an incredible show, delighting the audience of KTC supporters. The event was hosted by longtime Kitchen Theatre actor and local favorite Karl Gregory. The fundraising celebration featured an open bar, buffet, and a dance party (DJ Gibran).

Deborah's passion not only extends into the literary world, where she wrote Sing Out Louise: 150 Stars of the Musical Theatre Remember 50 Years of Broadway, The Night and the Music: Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Cook and Julie Wilson Inside the World of Cabaret, and On the Sunny Side of the Street: The Life and Lyrics of Dorothy Fields, she served for ten years as the Artistic Director of the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics and Lyricists Series and is now the Artistic Director of the Classic American Songbook Series at Feinstein's/54 Belo.

Tony Award winning choreographer and director George Faison (The Wiz) presented Andre De Shields, a two-time Tony nominee, Drama Desk nominee, Emmy winner and multi-Audelco Award and Outer Critics Circle Award winner, with the 2018 Bob Harrington Lifetime Achievement Award at the 33rd Annual Bistro Awards Gala, held at Gotham Comedy Club in New York on March 12th. De Shields received the Bistro Awards' highest honor for his five decades of stage and nightclub accomplishments.

John Wolf chairs the prestigious Theatre and Dance department at Detroit's Wayne State University, creating well-rounded and meticulously educated students turned theatre professionals. Wolf took a moment to speak with us at BroadwayWorld about the program he oversees and how he encourages the future generations of arts professionals.

With ELECTRICITY, the hit LGBT comedy/drama starring stars Terry Ray ('My Sister is So Gay') & Mel England ('Best Day Ever'), sparks fly again in Palm Springs April 9-11. This  immersive theater experience plays inside an actual motel room at INNdulge Resort, 601 S. Grenfall Rd., Palm Springs, CA. I had the opportunity to catch up with the actors as they prepare for this upcoming engagement to talk about their own careers and coming together for this very unique production. Here are a few experts from that conversation:

The original producers of Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber & Stoller, Broadway's longest running musical revue, announced today that the show will return to New York this summer following a limited engagement at Maine's Ogunquit Playhouse. Preview performances will begin at New York's Stage 42 (422 West 42nd Street) on July 6 and opening night is set for July 22. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, March 12 through telecharge.com and the box office will open on June 25. Casting is to be announced.

The 17th annual Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, revealed its feature film lineup championing the discovery of emerging voices and celebrating new work from established filmmaking talent. To close the Festival, Tribeca will World Premiere The Fourth Estate, from Oscar®-nominated director Liz Garbus, which follows The New York Times' coverage of the Trump administration's first year. The Centerpiece Gala will be the World Premiere of Drake Doremus' sci-fi romance Zoe starring Ewan McGregor, Lea Seydoux, Rashida Jones, and Theo James. The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 18-29.

The 17th annual Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, revealed its feature film lineup championing the discovery of emerging voices and celebrating new work from established filmmaking talent. To close the Festival, Tribeca will World Premiere The Fourth Estate, from Oscar®-nominated director Liz Garbus, which follows The New York Times' coverage of the Trump administration's first year. The Centerpiece Gala will be the World Premiere of Drake Doremus' sci-fi romance Zoe starring Ewan McGregor, Lea Seydoux, Rashida Jones, and Theo James. The 2018 Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 18-29.

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) continues its 2017-2018 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell (based on the Victor Hugo Novel and songs from the Disney film), musical direction by Dan Redfeld, choreography by Michelle Elkin and directed by Misti B. Wills. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME opens on Friday, April 20, 2017 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2018at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

VIVIAN REED, the two-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway star and concert artist called "remarkable and ferocious" by The New York Times and "a force of nature" by The New York Post, will continues her tribute to entertainment icon Lena Horne in a special centennial celebration at Feinstein's / 54 Below. For one more show on Wednesday, March 7, Reed will offer high-energy, fearless renditions of Lena classics such as "Stormy Weather," "The Lady is a Tramp," "A Fine Romance," "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face" and "On A Wonderful Day Like Today." She is accompanied by an all-star quartet featuring Conductor William Foster McDaniel on piano, Calvin Jones on bass, Damon DueWhite on drums and Don Tipton on guitar. Earlier this season, Vivian received the Mabel Mercer Award from the Mabel Mercer Foundation at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA; Jeffrey Horowitz, Founding Artistic Director) announces the full cast and creative team for William Shakespeare's tragicomedy The Winter's Tale, directed by OBIE Award-winner Arin Arbus. The production plays March 13-April 15, 2018, at Polonsky Shakespeare Center (262 Ashland Place), TFANA's home in the Brooklyn Cultural District.