Hanley Smith News

Fulton Theatre is going all in this Halloween season.  Not only do they have the creepy Jekyll and Hyde on the mainstage, but they are doubling down with the suspenseful thriller, Deceived on the fourth floor.

A Drinking Game NYC celebrates 10 years staging iconic films like 'The Princess Bride' and 'Mean Girls'. Join them for a special performance of 'Back to the Future' on January 20, 2024, at The Bell House in Brooklyn. Dress up as your favorite character and enjoy a night of comedy, audience participation, and a DJ dance party.

Get a first look at THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Pittsburgh CLO! Experience the magic of this beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein classic as it comes to life on stage. Don't miss the inspiring true story and unforgettable melodies that have captured the hearts of millions.

A heightened comic sensibility makes this old classic feel fresh to even the most cynical viewer (namely, me).

As the curtain is about to rise on Pittsburgh CLO's 2023 Summer of Musicals at the Benedum Center between June 13 - August 27, 2023, now is your chance to meet the cast and creative teams!

The latest standings as of Monday, December 19th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

After three seemingly endless years, Maine's theatrical landscape has truly begun to come to life again after the pandemic. I am thrilled to be able to pen this article, having experienced a 2022 that saw the remarkable 'comebacks' of Maine's theatres. While the year was not without continued challenges, these brave, resilient companies managed to produce first-class live theatre for grateful audiences. These are my personal choices of the best in Maine for 2022, grouped by theatre company and show.

The latest standings as of Monday, December 12th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

The latest standings as of Monday, December 5th, have been released for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

The first live standings have been announced for the 2022 BroadwayWorld Central Pennsylvania Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

The Fulton Theatre has announced complete casting of their holiday production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Will Ray (Bob Wallace) and Hanley Smith (Betty Haynes) join forces once again.

For two weeks now Brunswick’s Pickard Theater has been “alive with the sound of music,’ but on June 15 Hanley Smith and Will Ray, the stars of MSMT’s brilliant new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, joined MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark and BWW Maine Regional Editor Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold to celebrate the joy, inspiration, and continued resonance of this timeless musical at the first Peek Behind the Curtain program in three years. The popular panel discussion series held at Curtis Memorial Library returned to an enthusiastic, capacity audience for an hour of conversation about what Clark called “the quintessential American musical and the perfect show to launch post-pandemic MSMT’s Revival Season.”

What did our critic think of MSMT's Sound of Music? What happens when one of the most beloved musicals in the canon comes to the stage at the very point in time when history and a harsh pandemic seem to intersect with an iconic story?

“Marc Robin ‘s vision for this production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC is that of a joyful, hopeful child,” says Hanley Smith, the actress who makes her debut as Maria von Trapp this week as Maine State Music Theatre kicks off its “Revival Season.” Describing the lens through which director/choreographer Robin views the piece, she continues, “This production comes from a very joyful, youthful place at the same time that there is an awareness of the weight and import of the story. In the face of deep darkness in the world, the light becomes all the brighter. Marc knows how to create both those worlds and the battle between them and make you really want the light to win. And you believe it CAN win. And that is not naïveté; that is an act of courage.”

The Fulton's The Sound of Music is easily the best production in Lancaster County since live theatre opened back up. The show's dazzling sets, impressive singing, and memorable characters come together to provide the audience with a spectacular night of entertainment. Director and choreographer, Marc Robin, must be congratulated for overseeing this gift.

Fulton Theatre opens Rodgers and Hammerstein's last collaboration, The Sound of Music. A story about finding a place in the world and connecting with family; its themes are just as universal as its music is memorable. This production holds special significance for the Fulton as many cast members, designers, and crew were part of previous Fulton productions of The Sound of Music.

From the reigning queen of Mystery, comes the regional premiere of Agatha Christie's Murder On The Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig. Due to popular demand, four performances have been added to the production, including Sunday, February 9 at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, February 12 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 pm. This thrilling ride on the Orient Express, with surprising twists, will keep audiences on the edge of their seats with an All-Star cast of Fulton Favorites.

From the reigning queen of Mystery, comes the regional premiere of Agatha Christie's Murder On The Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig. The Fulton Theatre is proud to have secured the rights to this new adaptation, running January 16 through February 9, 2020, with previews January 14 & 15. This thrilling ride on the Orient Express, with surprising twists, will keep audiences on the edge of their seats with an All-Star cast of Fulton Favorites.

FST's The Cottage Offers A Fun Night of Mayhem

Due to audience demand, Florida Studio Theatre (FST) announces the extension of its Summer Mainstage production, The Cottage by Sandy Rustin, a fast-paced comedy of manners inspired by Noël Coward and Oscar Wilde.