Today we are talking to one of Broadway's best baritones all about his accomplished career in musical theatre that began nearly 20 years ago with a memorable turn in MISS SAIGON, the thoughtful and debonair Matt Bogart. In addition to looking back at his arrival on Broadway during the mega-musical era, Bogart also comments on subsequent starring roles in Broadway productions ranging from Elton John and Tim Rice's Tony Award-winning AIDA to Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy's THE CIVIL WAR and far beyond. Additionally, Bogart sheds considerable light on projects he has participated in over the years in regional productions and workshops, including THE BAKER'S WIFE, CAMELOT, ACE and more. Most importantly, Bogart offers the full 411 on this weekend's hotly anticipated evening of music from famous rock concept musical CHESS and clues us in on what we can expect from the starry evening, directed by Scott Coulter. Furthermore, Bogart shares stories from the set of SMASH, outlines some of his favorite musical theatre songs to date and details the process in bringing his previous solo albums to fruition along with JAY Records executive producer John Yap, looking ahead to the release of a brand new release set for later this year. All of that, a thorough analysis of participating in 2500 performances of long-running Tony Award-winning Broadway super smash JERSEY BOYS, appearing in the international broadcast and DVD edition of SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, memories of the legendary 2002 Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration and much, much more!
Conceptual artist Allie Pohl's Ideal Woman jewelry line is now available at the MASS MoCA Store. Pohl is a Los Angeles-based conceptual artist whose work explores the social and cultural constructions of contemporary Western society. Pohl created the Ideal Woman by digitally enhancing Barbie to fit Western society's ideal female measurements of 36-24-36—addressing the social constructs of perfection and the demands made on a woman's body. Pohl's Ideal Woman symbolizes anti-perfection and is repeated throughout Pohl's work in sculpture, video, ceramic, installation, and neon. Pohl's Ideal Woman jewelry line was created in an effort to continue the 'anti-perfection' conversation outside of galleries and museums. Pohl's Ideal Womanjewelry has been seen on Lena Dunham, Sophia Bush, Rosario Dawson, Kate Mara, Jill Soloway, and Zosia Mamet; featured in ELLE, Marie Claire, Purple Diary, and Hello Giggles, among others, and carried by the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles. For the month of February, purchase selections from the jewelry line at Pohl's online shop, and receive 15% off when using the promotional code LOVE.
The new Broadway production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical, Gigi, began its pre-Broadway engagement in the Eisenhower Theater at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C
Penguins in musical chairs, a cat trapped in a giant paper bag, huge frogs doing calisthenics, larger-than-life alligators taunting the audience-FROGZ features illusion, puppetry, and acrobatics that are goofy and packed with giggles for both adults and children. Imago Theatre's FROGZ comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Sunday, February 8, 2015 at 3 pm. Tickets are $19-39.
Off-Broadway's hilarious comedy OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES makes its Southland debut March 5-15 at the Scherr Forum Theatre of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Presented by Theater League, the musical comedy revue plays Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday at 8:00pm, Saturday 2 and 8pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are on sale now at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza box office, online at www.theaterleague.com or by calling 805.449.2775.
'Iowa is God's country,' says Chris Soules, America's First Farmer Bachelor (or AFFB). Chris was the hands-down fan favorite from last season of 'The Bachelorette' starring Andi Dorffman, mainly because of his charm, All-American good looks, and seemingly complete normality on a franchise riddled with potential sociopaths. In the requisite introductory sequence, Chris drives a tractor, gazes lovingly at his crops, and tastes a plant (peas? beans? what is it??) as he declares that 'love is a lot like farming,' and uses the word 'journey' for the first of many times this season.
Closing Saturday, December 20 at 6pm, The Photography Show-a group show presented by The Committee + AKArt-features works by Dietmar Busse, Janine Gordon, Allie Pohl, Sepideh Salehi, Marielis Seyler, Aiden Simon, Philip Smith, Michael Tharp, and Shadi Yousefian. The images included in the exhibition seek to expand and reframe the boundaries of the medium by presenting new, experimental perspectives and commentary on gender, identity, and the photographic process itself. On view at Site/109, located at 109 Norfolk Street, The Photography Show is made possible with the support of Perrier.
Santa Claus is coming to town! Or better yet, Rudolph. Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center hosts the touring production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer this week. Here at BroadwayWorld Nashville, we had the chance to interview Rudolph himself (or herself!), Lexy Baeza.
Opening tomorrow, Thursday, December 11 from 6-9pm, The Photography Show—a group show presented by The Committee + AKArt—features works by Dietmar Busse, Janine Gordon, Allie Pohl, Sepideh Salehi, Marielis Seyler, Aiden Simon, Philip Smith, Michael Tharp, and Shadi Yousefian. The images included in the exhibition seek to expand and reframe the boundaries of the medium by presenting new, experimental perspectives and commentary on gender, identity, and the photographic process itself. On view at Site/109, located at 109 Norfolk Street, from December 11 through December 20, 2014, The Photography Show is made possible with the support of Perrier.
Little did I realize as I stood many years ago, as an extra, in front of Higbee's Department Store in downtown Cleveland at 3 AM, that I was participating in the filming of what would become one of the most popular winter holiday movies of all times.
Hungarian design student Kinsco Nagy has redesigned the covers of J.K. Rowling's beloved HARRY POTTER series as part of her studies - check a sampling of them out, via Hello Giggles, below!
Miami, FL (November 24, 2014) — Today, December 2, through the 7th, Black Book Gallery will present an installation by conceptual artist Allie Pohl at SCOPE Miami Beach. Featuring life-size sculptures of Pohl's signature Ideal Woman series, the installation will be on view at booth F07. Addressing the social constructs of perfection and the demands made on a woman's body, Pohl's installation shows how these conceptions can be represented by trends in pubic hair.
IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS is a tap dancing good time at the theatre. The classic movie-made-into-a-musical has plenty of charms, but it truly shines when Jeremy Benton & Kaitlyn Davidson are dancing.
Miami, FL (November 24, 2014) — December 2-7, Black Book Gallery will present an installation by conceptual artist Allie Pohl at SCOPE Miami Beach. Featuring life-size sculptures of Pohl's signature Ideal Woman series, the installation will be on view at booth F07. Addressing the social constructs of perfection and the demands made on a woman's body, Pohl's installation shows how these conceptions can be represented by trends in pubic hair.
Pohl created the Ideal Woman by digitally enhancing Barbie to fit Western society's ideal female measurements of 36-24-36. The Designer Ideal Woman series is finished in layers of glitter, referencing youth, glamour, and the notion of 'never letting go of your sparkle.' The sculptures have touchable muffs which show the evolution of the bikini line—or the evolving trend of shrinking pubic hair—influenced by the infiltration of porn culture and the increased demand for hairless vaginas.
Billed as the 'Confucius of Comedy' by the New York Post, Academy Award-winner and Grammy Award nominee Steven Wright brings his trademark wit, absurdist one-liners and monotone voice to Concord's Capitol Center for the Arts for one night only today, November 7, at 8pm.
From protecting wildlife to overcoming disabilities and bullying, retired professional singer Lisa Batch (aka Lisa Manning Batchelder) wants to teach children valuable lessons through her books, but mostly she wishes to entertain them. She's partnered with Halo Publishing International (http://www.halopublishing.com) to release 'Rosie Babysits, A Roseate Spoonbill Story' and 'Star's Journey.'
'I've travelled around the world singing for nearly 50 years, and when I retired I missed entertaining people and I needed a creative outlet,' says Batch. 'I hope my books and music bring lots of smiles and giggles.'
'Rosie Babysits, A Roseate Spoonbill Story' tells a whimsical tale about a real species of bird. The comical story ends with a glossary of photographs of Floridian wildlife, like the roseate spoonbill, manatee and shark, so children can associate the characters in the book with their true-life counterparts. They also learn how to protect the wildlife around them. A book about a roseate spoonbill is rare, and Rosie and her brother Billy are one-of-a-kind characters. 'I heard that Disney is making a movie about a vulture. What about a Disney movie starring Rosie?' says Batch.
In 'Star's Journey,' the book is interactive for either a classroom setting with hand gestures and movements or a soothing bedtime story that includes hugs. It's a story about a visually impaired pony that masters his fears and gains friends in the process. Young children will learn valuable lessons about being a friend, overcoming personal obstacles/disabilities, the value of work, and the importance of not giving up.
'I was inspired to write 'Star's Journey' because I volunteer with a lady who has vision issues and who runs benefits for the Foundation Fighting Blindness,' says Batch. 'Children need to know that it's okay to be different, and it's good to be friends with someone who has a disability. Let's remember that a person may have difficulty in one area but shine in another. In the book, while playing hide & seek, the pony has difficulty seeing, but his other senses, hearing and smell, are keener to compensate.'
'These stories are creative and the illustrations are stunning,' says Halo Publisher Lisa M. Umina. 'The illustrators, Mallette Pagano and Brian Peters, bring the books to life with an illustration on every page.'
Batch also released a CD with a narration followed by seven songs for children called, 'Star's Journey, Narration and Songs.' She is singing the songs she wrote and the narration is by professional voice-over artist, Robert Gillies.
You can purchase 'Star's Journey', 'Rosie Babysits, A Roseate Spoonbill Story' and the CD through http://www.LisaBatch.com. The hardcover books each cost $15.95 and the CD is $9.95. As a promotion, if you buy two books, the CD is free. You may also buy the books alone through Halo Publishing and Amazon. Ebook will soon carry them for $5.95.
Biography:
Lisa Batch is a member of SCBWI, GCWA and FAA. Raised in Waban, MA, she now lives in FL and RI with her husband, Herb. For more information, visit http://www.LisaBatch.com or email her at LisaBatch7@gmail.com.
Press & Media Contact:
Lisa M. Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176,
San Antonio, TX 78213 - USA
+1 877-705-9647
http://www.halopublishing.com
Roll up, roll up - the circus is back in town! Last seen in London in 2011, multi award-winning cult hit La Soiree returns to the capital celebrating a triumphant world tour and the 10 year anniversary of the troupe's first show.
