Ethel Waters News

Passage Theatre performs in the historic Mill Hill Playhouse an intimate 115-seat theater in the heart of downtown Trenton adjacent to the beautiful Mill Hill district. Security-guarded on-street parking is available on S. Montgomery St., Ernie Kovacs St., E. Front Street and in the Artworks parking lot.

Artistic Director Preston Lane notes 'We will bring you five stories next season that will bring us together to laugh, engage, and rejoice. Stories that take us literally around the world to the end of summer in the middle of America to a woman who has her life transformed by song to a university torn apart by accusations and from the piedmont to the mountains of the state we call home. Our new season at Triad Stage is ?A Season Together.? We look forward to seeing you with us, at the theater.'

Passage Theatre, Trenton's premiere professional theater company, will present its 7th annual Solo Flights Festival March 5 through March 29, featuring one-person plays, music and dance at Trenton's historic Mill Hill Playhouse (Front and Montgomery Streets).

The Human Race Theatre Company will bring a new musical about the rags-to-riches life of one of the 20th century's most acclaimed performers to The Loft Theatre in June. Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On The Sparrow tells Waters' story, from birth to a 13-year old mother in a Philadelphia slum, through massive trials and travails, to becoming a star of nightclubs, recordings, Broadway, film and the Billy Graham Crusade. While His Eye Is On The Sparrow presents a happy opportunity for local audiences to see a fine new work, one that includes such massive hits for Waters as the title song and 'Stormy Weather,' the event that led to its selection is a sad one. August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, part of the late playwright's famed Pittsburgh Cycle, had been scheduled for June, but will not be performed.

This year Walnut Street Theater celebrates its 200th birthday, and on February 3rd they will hold a big birthday bash. Boasting over 56,000 subscribers, The Walnut is not only the most popular theater company in Philadelphia, but also the most subscribed theatre company in the world. This season includes three magnificent and beloved musicals: get ready for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, OLIVER! and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The Walnut also offers two spellbinding plays: A world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY and Noel Coward's classic comedy, FALLEN ANGELS. The New Year brings new theatre to the Walnut stage with the world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY (January 19 - March 7). It's the 1960's, and in order to become the big man on campus, you've got to play the game. In this fraternal society, new recruits need testing and traditions need to be upheld. This new American play celebrates the spirit of youth and the mischief that follows.

This year Walnut Street Theater celebrates its 200th birthday, and on February 3rd they will hold a big birthday bash. Boasting over 56,000 subscribers, The Walnut is not only the most popular theater company in Philadelphia, but also the most subscribed theatre company in the world. This season includes three magnificent and beloved musicals: get ready for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, OLIVER! and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The Walnut also offers two spellbinding plays: A world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY and Noel Coward's classic comedy, FALLEN ANGELS. The New Year brings new theatre to the Walnut stage with the world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY (January 19 - March 7). It's the 1960's, and in order to become the big man on campus, you've got to play the game. In this fraternal society, new recruits need testing and traditions need to be upheld. This new American play celebrates the spirit of youth and the mischief that follows.

Back in Pictures celebrates the songs that were originally written for the masterpieces of the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring music from Casablanca, Easter Parade, A Star Is Born, Pennies From Heaven, Disney, Meet Me In St. Louis, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, The Wizard of Oz and many more. Back in Pictures is showing at the Reprise Room, 245 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, New York, from April 7, 2008 through January 5, 2009.

The York Theater Company presents the Developmental Reading Series GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK BOOK BY MELBA THOMAS, MUSIC BY DAVID FRIEDMAN, LYRICS BY MURIEL ROBINSON Based on the wonderful short story by Grace Paley, set on Manhattan's lower east side during the era of the Yiddish theatre, Goodbye and Good Luck tells the story of Rosie Lieber, whose life is upended and set on a new track when she loses her job in a sweatshop because she wants to sit by a window. Her search for her 'window' leads to a job as cashier at a famous Second Avenue theatre and a livelong involvement with its charismatic and considerably older star. This is the story of an 'ordinary' girl who makes 'extraordinary' choices that lead to a life full of surprises, twists and turns.

Bristol Riverside Theatre celebrates the holiday season with its Winter Musicale from December 11 - 21, 2008. Conceived and directed by Artistic Director Keith Baker, this BRT tradition for the entire family features an evening of traditional carols, popular classics, contemporary arrangements and even original songs, such as 'Do You Hear What I Hear,' 'Merry Christmas Baby,' 'Go Tell It On the Mountain,' 'Baby, It's Cold Outside,' 'The Little Drummer Boy,' and '12 Days of Christmas.'

Bristol Riverside Theatre celebrates the holiday season with its Winter Musicale from December 11 - 21, 2008. Conceived and directed by Artistic Director Keith Baker, this BRT tradition for the entire family features an evening of traditional carols, popular classics, contemporary arrangements and even original songs, such as 'Do You Hear What I Hear,' 'Merry Christmas Baby,' 'Go Tell It On the Mountain,' 'Baby, It's Cold Outside,' 'The Little Drummer Boy,' and '12 Days of Christmas.'

Florida Studio Theatre opens its Cabaret Winter Season with Steppin' Out, October 21st, featuring a jazz and modern day influence on Berlin favorites such as 'Puttin' On The Ritz,' 'Anything You Can do,' 'Cheek to Cheek' and 'Always.'

Florida Studio Theatre opens its Cabaret Winter Season with Steppin' Out, October 21st, featuring a jazz and modern day influence on Berlin favorites such as 'Puttin' On The Ritz,' 'Anything You Can do,' 'Cheek to Cheek' and 'Always.'

Back in Pictures celebrates the songs that were originally written for the masterpieces of the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring music from Casablanca, Easter Parade, A Star Is Born, Pennies From Heaven, Disney, Meet Me In St. Louis, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, The Wizard of Oz and many more. Back in Pictures is showing at the Reprise Room, 245 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, New York, from April 7, 2008 through January 5, 2009.

MAGGIE MAES & KIMBERLY VAUGHN will present Four Women & a Waitress, at the ArcLight Theatre, June 10-22, 2008. The two plays, Rosemary with Ginger by Edward Allen Baker & The Stronger by August Strindberg, will be directed by KARL BURY & STEPHEN WADSWORTH, respectively.

MAGGIE MAES & KIMBERLY VAUGHN will present Four Women & a Waitress, at the ArcLight Theatre, June 10-22, 2008. The two plays, Rosemary with Ginger by Edward Allen Baker & The Stronger by August Strindberg, will be directed by KARL BURY & STEPHEN WADSWORTH, respectively.

'Sweet Mama Stringbean', an entertaining jukebox musical based on the life of Ethel Waters, produced by Woodie King's New Federal Theatre, has a brilliantly talented cast that more than make up for the script's weaknesses.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre will present the world premiere of Beth Turner's new musical, SWEET MAMA STRINGBEAN (based on the life of Ethel Waters, the legendary star of stage, film and television) April 3, 2008 through April 27, 2008. The production will have its official opening on Wednesday, April 9, 2008. Elizabeth Van Dyke Directs.

One of the American theater's greatest actresses is six-time Tony Award recipient Julie Harris. She dazzled audiences in The Lark, Forty Carats, I Am a Camera, The Belle of Amherst, The Last of Mr. Lincoln and of course The Member of the Wedding. Miss Harris reminisces about working with Ethel Waters and the impact that the young up and coming Brandon De Wilde had on her in The Member of the Wedding.

For two and a half glorious hours your only care in the world should be deciding which of the magnificent songs you'll be humming on your way out of the theatre.