There are the warhorse musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin; there are the lavish productions befitting Phantoms in opera houses and French revolutionaries and revisionist fairy tales (and you know the ones I mean); there are the Disney powerhouses; and . . . there are musicals of a quaint, mind-nudging nature that don't quite fit into any category. Certainly THE FANTASTICKS comes to mind, and -- at least in the previous productions I have seen -- Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN. Somewhere in my video collection is a filmed version of the musical with William Katt, and just a few years ago PIPPIN was the first musical staged at the shiny, new Playhouse on the Square (with Alvaro Francisco stepping in for a sidelined Jordan Nichols). I sometimes think that small-scale musicals are better suited to venues less grand than the Orpheum; I needn't have worried, however, as PIPPIN has acquired the kind of theatrical, Cirque du Soleil-style atmosphere that perfectly suits the show's opening number, 'Magic to Do.'
Now everyone can enjoy Christmas at Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Los Angeles Master Chorale's release of 'Festival of Carols,' a CD and digital download album recorded live at Disney Hall featuring favorite Christmas carols performed by the Grammy nominated-chorus and conducted by Artistic Director Grant Gershon.
The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director) announces a special presentation for the 2015-2016 Season. Los Angeles Times Critics' Choice HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN will play July 19 - August 7, 2016.
The battle of the sexes is on! Some of the most memorable Broadway characters will square off in GUYS VS. DOLLS: A MUSICAL SURVEY OF SEX AND SEXISM, featuring the songs of Cole Porter, Frank Loesser, Rodgers & Hammerstein and many more, tonight, November 16, as part of the Broadway Close Up series.
The Los Angeles Master Chorale fills Walt Disney Concert Hall with yuletide cheer offering two matinee performances of its popular 'Festival of Carols,' on consecutive Saturdays, December 5 and 12, 2015, 2 pm, at the iconic venue.
The Old Globe's 18th annual production of DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, starring J. Bernard Calloway in the title role, opens tonight, November 12, 2015 and will run through December 26th.
Verity Rushworth will play the role of Holly Golightly on the UK Tour of Breakfast at Tiffany's from 2 May to 11 June 2016, appearing at His Majesty's Aberdeen, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Theatre Royal Bath, Glasgow Theatre Royal, King's Theatre Edinburgh and Wycombe Swan. She will be sharing the role with Pixie Lott, whose dates have been previously announced. Truman Capote's classic novella has been adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize-winning Finalist and Tony and Olivier Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain), and contains memorable songs from the era as well as original music by Grant Olding (One Man, Two Guvnors).
Antonia Productions and Tony Montiglio will present an invite-only industry presentation of the Disco Era musical, THE ART OF THE HUSTLE written by Annette Alicanti, directed by Jonathan Cerullo, with choreography by Kristine Bendul & Ralph Ramirez and musical direction by Oliver Marsh on Monday, November 16, 2015 at 7PM
It's back by popular demand! Derby Dinner Playhouse will present the classic holiday musical IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, opening tongiht, November 10 and running through December 31, 2015.
The quintessential backstage musical comedy classic 42nd STREET will celebrate a two-week engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts with a sparkling new production, tonight, November 10 - 22. 42nd STREET will be directed by co-author Mark Bramble and choreographed by Randy Skinner, the team that staged the 2001 Tony Award® winning Best Revival.
Continuing to bring original musical stories and new productions to beloved Chicago audiences, 'Hershey Felder Presents' (George Gershwin Alone, Maestro Bernstein, The Pianist of Willesden Lane, Louis and Keely 'Live' at the Sahara) now brings BARITONES UNBOUND, a new play with music and baritone superstars to the Royal George Theatre as part of a continuing season of new productions. Performances begin at the Royal George, 1641 N. Halsted Street, on Friday, December 11th, 2015 and continue through Sunday, January 3rd, 2016 with a press opening on Sunday, December 13th at 3:00 p.m. A special New Year's Eve performance includes a champagne and dessert reception with the artists.
For generations, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA existed only as a beloved television movie. First with a live broadcast in 1957 starring Julie Andrews; then in 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren, a version which was regularly re-broadcast into the 90s (which I grew up watching); and finally in 1997 with Brandy in the title role and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. However, in 2013, over 55 years after its first broadcast, led by Broadway's favorite princess Laura Osnes and crowned prince Santino Fontana, R&H 's CINDERELLA took its first Broadway bow. The show earned nine Tony nominations, running for nearly two years. Now, CINDERELLA's First National Tour sets up shop in its own little corner at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, with performances beginning on Tuesday night.
The full cast for the London premiere of the smash hit musical ELF has been announced. The company is led by Ben Forster as Buddy, Kimberley Walsh as Jovie, Joe McGann as Walter Hobbs and Jessica Martin as Emily Hobbs, with Jennie Dale as Deb, Mark McKerracher as Santa and Graham Lappin as Store Manager. Also in the cast are Katie Bradley, Charlie Bull, Nicola Coates, Alex Fobbester, Anton Fosh, Charlotte Gale, Francis Haugen, Matt Holland, Tash Holway, Paul Hutton, Mark Iles, Ceili O'Connor, Debbie Paul, Joanna Rennie, Barnaby Thompson and Ed White. Harry Collett, Ilan Galkoff, Noah Key and Ewan Rutherford will alternate the role of Michael. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the opening night below!
Sisters Brigid Harrington (Jane Banks, Mary Poppins - Broadway) and Shannon Harrington (Susan Waverly, Irving Berlin's White Christmas - Broadway National Tour and Scout in the upcoming Queens Theatre production of To Kill a Mockingbird) along with Cheryl Ann McCullagh (Jenny, Three Penny Opera - Kupferberg Arts Center) recorded Once 'Round the Circle-a musical in one act by Shanan Estreicher this past summer at Avatar Studios.
A show about the two guys that started AA? That sounds like fun - right? Actually it is a lot more fun than one might expect. Shades Repertory Theater has a winner on its hands.
THE 3B'sA Musical Tribute to the Beatles, Burt Bacharach & Irving Berlin Written, directed, and narrated by Martin Charnin Fri & Sat, Nov 13 & 14, 2015 @ 8 pm | $42
