Herb Gardner News

The great Groundhog Jam has a long history of prying jazz fans out of their warm burrows and into the chill of February weather in order to welcome the advent of spring.  The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum continues a tradition of hosting this event on Monday, February 4, 2019 at 7:30 PM. Herb Gardner, who plays both trombone and piano, is assembling a stellar group of musicians from the New York, New Jersey, and New England areas including: Fred Vigorito on cornet, Joe Licari on clarinet, James Chirilloon guitar, Mike Weatherly on bass and Robbie Scott on drums.  Daughters Abbie and Sarah Gardner will be handling the vocals and guitar.

Meet Midge and Nat, two old codgers who meet in the park daily. Midge is an African- American janitor, hiding from his tenants who want him to retire; Nat is a Jewish old time radical, hiding from irrelevance by spinning fantasies and fighting injustice both real and imagined. Their cantankerous relationship is the stuff of pure comic genius. Performances are November 2nd thru November 17th at The Alcove Restaurant, 116 South Main Street, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. For tickets or more information, visit: https://www.alcoverestaurant.com/index.php/en/tickets

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the independent, not-for-profit affiliate of SDC, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, today announced unique plans for its 2019 award evening, which will feature original choreographic pieces resulting from a special commissioning program, with the application period now open. SDCF also announced that Victoria Traube would receive a special 'Mr. Abbott' Award at the event, to be held March 25 at the French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF).

The Morris Museum has announced the 2018-19 season in its Bickford Theatre, adventuring into new programming directions, while continuing to support live theatre and jazz. Notable, new additions this season include an expanded program of documentary and classic film, storytelling workshops, a public lecture series, and a new relationship with National Theatre London. Seats for most of this season's events are reserved. Tickets are available online at www.morrismuseum.org or by phone at 973-971-3706. The Bickford Theatre continues to provide a diverse set of offerings, while taking advantage of a unique strength as a theatre within a museum 'ecosystem'.

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) currently presents their new distinct take on Shakespeare's classic HENRY IV. Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan, SCLA has combined PART I and PART II into a single sitting of theatre, featuring the Los Angeles stage debut of Tom Hanks as Falstaff. We had the opportunity to chat with one of HENRY IV's most talented co-conspirators, actor Harry Groener who plays Northumberland and Justice Shallow.

Dorset Theatre Festival, under the leadership of Artistic Director Dina Janis, Producing Director Will Rucker, and Executive Director Marissa Hutton, announced today that the 41st Season will begin with CRY IT OUT, by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by Marc Masterson. CRY IT OUT will begin performances June 21, 2018 at the Dorset Playhouse (104 Cheney Rd, Dorset, VT 05251), and will run through July 14, 2018. CRY IT OUT will occupy the slot for the previously announced production of Herb Gardner's I'm Not Rappaport starring Judd Hirsch, which has been postponed to Summer 2019 to allow Mr. Hirsch to recuperate from back surgery.

Redhouse Arts Center is pleased to announce its 2018-19 Main Stage Season packed with heart, humanity, and humor, and sure to delight audiences of all ages. The line up of music, dance, comedy and drama will feature several on-stage special guests including some who are brand new to Syracuse along with an abundance of longtime Redhouse favorites. The season celebrates friendship and its role in the resiliency of the human heart. This will be the first full season taking place in the new Redhouse located at 400 S. Salina Street.

Dorset Theatre Festival, under the leadership of Artistic Director Dina Janis, Producing Director Will Rucker, and Executive Director Marissa Hutton, is proud to announce its 41st Season, featuring Herb Gardner's I'm Not Rappaport starring Judd Hirsch (June 21 - July 14); Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau (July 19 - August 4); Pride and Prejudice from the novel by Jane Austen adapted by Kate Hamill (August 9 - 25); Holland Taylor's Ann starring Jayne Atkinson (August 29 - September 1); and Pipeline Series: Four New Works in Process (June 26, July 10, July 31, and August 12). All performances will take place at the Dorset Playhouse (104 Cheney Rd, Dorset, VT 05251).  

Dorset Theatre Festival, under the leadership of Artistic Director Dina Janis, Producing Director Will Rucker, and Executive Director Marissa Hutton, is proud to announce its 41st Season, featuring Herb Gardner's I'm Not Rappaport starring Judd Hirsch (June 21 - July 14); Skeleton Crew by Dominique Morisseau (July 19 - August 4); Pride and Prejudice from the novel by Jane Austen adapted by Kate Hamill (August 9 - 25); Holland Taylor's Ann starring Jayne Atkinson (August 29 - September 1); and Pipeline Series: Four New Works in Process (June 26, July 10, July 31, and August 12). All performances will take place at the Dorset Playhouse (104 Cheney Rd, Dorset, VT 05251).

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! It's Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - and we know what you're thinking: Where the hell was my favorite early morning theater news and gossip yesterday? Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we were unable to raise ourselves up from the bed and make our way to our desk in order to start writing. After a particularly challenging weekend, we were a bit under the weather and, truth be told, exhausted. We offer our abject apologies and request your indulgences, although we were just as disappointed as we hope you were because we were unable to live life dramatically with any sense of style on Monday.

Nat and Midge shine on their park bench

RAPPAPORT is a story of family, friendship and frailty, say the producers Ann-Carol Pence and Anthony P. Rodriguez in a program note. A 1986 Tony Award winner, Herb Gardner's I'M NOT RAPPAPORT is the final show in the Aurora Theatre's 20th anniversary season. Through its endearing dialogue, wit and thought-provoking moments, the matinee showing on Sunday, May 8-Mother's Day-kept the audience of primarily senior citizens laughing at the relatability while reflecting on the universal truths conveyed.

Kansas City Actors Theatre will kick off Season Twelve with Herb Gardner's Tony Award winning play, I'm Not Rappaport, directed by Dennis Hennessy from The New Theatre Restaurant.

Kansas City Actors Theatre will kick off Season Twelve with Herb Gardner's Tony Award winning play, I'm Not Rappaport, directed by Dennis Hennessy from The New Theatre Restaurant.

BIG BANG THEORY showrunner Steven Molaro revealed at last night's PaleyFest in L.A. that fans will finally get to meet Leornard Hofstadter's dad on the long running CBS comedy series.

Roots rockers Brad Cole and Abbie Gardner share a double-bill of Americana music on March 4 at 8 p.m. in The Fazioli Room at Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage.

The Kansas City Actors Theatre has announced its lineup of plays for 2016-2017 at City Stage in Union Station. This is the company's 12th season of productions showcasing Kansas City's own top theatre professionals.

Academy Award nominated film star Brenda Vaccaro will step into the role of Millicent Winter in the production of Nice Work If You Can Get It now playing on the Ogunquit Playhouse stage through August 15.

A playwright, a novelist, a baseball simulator, and Internet executive, all rolled up into one

It's become a trend, both locally and nationally, for theater companies to reprise a production several years later with the same cast. Of course, if a show gets an encore, it better be deserving of it. In the case of Austin Playhouse's I'm Not Rappaport, the encore is more than well deserved, and its two stars put on a veritable master class in acting.