I'm sitting in rehearsal watching Will Swenson (brilliantly) do 'Crash At The Plate' and everyone is laughing so much we are taking a break now. Benny Elledge who plays the umpire, marking Crashes strike outs, is so nuts and can make a meal out of the word 'Steeeeeee' which is (I quote) 'a derivation of the word STRIKE' Benny says umpires in general don't always finish words. He grunts grotesquely to teach me this moments later, as I interview him for this blog.
Nominees have been announced for the 4th Annual Streamy Awards, which will be live-streamed on September 7, 2014 from The Beverly Hilton at 7:30PM PT at www.streamys.org.
When composer/arranger/pianist Billy Childs was introduced to the music of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Laura Nyro at the age of 11, he was left with a powerful and lasting impression of Nyro's unique blend of Broadway-inspired melodies, jazz improvisations and socially conscious lyrics. Childs returned to that early experience for his latest project, creating and orchestrating his newest album, Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro. Orange County jazz fans will have the opportunity to hear Childs' loving homage to the late great Nyro at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Friday, October 17 at 8 p.m. in the Rene?e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
Ralph Towner, Wolfgang Muthspiel and Slava Grigoryan are acclaimed as three of the world's finest guitarists in their own fields. Although they share a common bond of being classically trained and inspired, each guitarist has a distinctive approach to composition and performance, and are all intent on expanding the guitar oeuvre having led vividly different forays into world, jazz, and modern classical music. Coming together for a one-off trio tour in Australia in 2005, they felt an instant personal and musical connection and agreed to make this an ongoing project alongside their solo careers and other collaborations.
PRIDE is about the extraordinary true story of two very different communities who unite to defend the same cause. Below, check out a brand new trailer for the film, featuring theatre stars Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West! The movie is out in the UK on September 12.
ReGroup Theatre Company's production of Preston Jones's THE LAST MEETING OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE WHITE MAGNOLIA played it's first preview last night, and officially opens tonight, Aug 8th, 2014, at the renovated McAlpin Hall, 165 W 86th St, N/E corner of Amsterdam.
After a hugely successful tour in the USA, Queen - It's A Kinda Magic will arrive in Australia in just four weeks to begin its nationwide tour on September 9 2014.
Get set for a hot night of blues featuring the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band's 'Going Home Tour,' Saturday, September 6, 2014 at Mayo Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $39-69.
Singer and songwriter Amos Lee makes his Segerstrom Center for the Arts debut today, Wednesday, August 6 at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall as part of the second leg of his 2014 Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song Tour. His recent fall and winter headline tour included sold-out shows at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, ACL Live in Austin and the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Lee will be joined by band members, Freddie Berman, drums; Zach Djanikian, mandolin; Annie Clements, bass and vocals; Andy Keenan, guitar, banjo and vocals; and Jaron Olevsky, keyboards.
Multi-award-winning stage and screen composer John Kander discusses the latest edition of his long-aborning musical adaptation of the classic Friedrich Durrenmatt play THE VISIT as part of a new interview.
The Alliance Theatre has announced the world premiere of NATIVE GUARD. Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey's NATIVE GUARD will be brought to the stage with actors, music, imagery, and visual art in a complete theatrical staging. NATIVE GUARD will open the Hertz Stage season at the Alliance Theatre September 26 - October 19, 2014. Opening night is Wednesday, October 1, 2014.
On Sunday July 27 powerhouse vocalist Jeanne Page made a stylish return to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal for a marvelous evening of standards done her way, entitled Reboot. This lady has a unique brand of humor that is intoxicating and infuses every song she sings with the true colors they deserve. She is about to release a CD of her work, so Reboot was a preview of the album. Believe me, it's a knockout!
Tony-nominee and Obie and Theatre World Award winner Adam Pascal, has created some of the most memorable roles in recent Broadway history. He shot to stardom for originating the role of Roger in the Broadway blockbuster 'Rent,' as well as the London production, and starred in the film version. Today and tomorrow, July 26 and 27, he returns to the acclaimed, original Broadway @ The Art House series, where he joins pianist and host Seth Rudetsky for an unforgettable evening of conversation and song.
The National New Play Network (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, in collaboration with the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and Stanford University's National Center for New Plays, will host nearly fifty playwrights, directors and dramaturgs today, July 26 - August 3, 2014 as part of a week-long workshop for new works by MFA students from New York University-Tisch School of the Arts, Hunter College, University of California-San Diego, and the Juilliard School.
A great, big Broadway season is on its way, with fourteen productions already slated to open in the next few months. With several weeks until the craziness begins, there is still plenty of time to catch up on what's been going on at Broadway's already occupied theaters .
BroadwayWorld will be profiling the hits of the Great White Way that continue to draw crowds after months, years, and (in some cases) decades. Meet the current cast of Broadway's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA below!
Sue Gillespie Booton of Omaha's Rose Theater was one of eight outstanding educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country selected to work one-on-one with Broadway greats at the 5th Annual FREDDIE G BROADWAY EXPERIENCE which just wrapped in New York City. The event was underwritten by Myrna and Freddie ('G') Gershon, Chairman and CEO of leading theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI).
Commonly known as A Texas Trilogy, the three plays centered on small-town life set the theatre world afire in 1974. Originally presented at the Dallas Theatre Center, the plays drew such attention that NY critics and theatre luminaries were soon flying to Dallas to witness American theatre at its finest. Signed by legendary agent Audrey Wood, who had also discovered Tennessee Williams and William Inge, Jones's plays then transferred to a sold-out run at the Kennedy Center. Preston Jones went from obscurity to being on the cover of many national magazines. The Saturday Review cover proudly proclaimed him "The Next O'Neill." A bidding war then broke out to bring the plays to New York, and, directed by Alan Schneider, they finally arrived on Broadway in 1976.
