Jerri Shafer News

Television and theater star Kristin Chenoweth was joined onstage by eight ?Otterbein University students to sing back-up on a few songs, during Chenoweth's performance at the Palace Theatre in Columbus.

Based on the classic 1989 film, Westerberg High is ruled by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place - six feet under.

The Last Five Years is one of the most creative concepts for a musical I have ever seen. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to see this amazing show presented by the Short North Stage celebrating their fifth year since the start of this production company.

To help celebrate the start of Short North Stage's fifth year, we present the contemporary hit musical The Last Five Years. A cult favorite, especially among young audiences, this musical by Robert Jason Brown tells the story of a twenty-something novelist Jamie Wellerstein and Cathy Hiatt, a struggling actress. The musical explores their five-year relationship through a novel device: Cathy's story is told in the reverse chronological order-beginning at the end of their marriage-while Jamie's begins just after they've met. The characters never directly interact except for a wedding song in the middle, when their timelines intersect.

In the third song, 'See I'm Smiling,' of the musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS, Catherine Hiatt (played by Melissa Hall) sings to her husband, 'I think you're really gonna like this show. I'm pretty sure it doesn't suck.'

For those of you not familiar with the musical Fiddler on the Roof, it is a show about a Jewish family that lives in a small village called Anatevka in 1905. Tevye, the father of the household, struggles to maintain the family's traditions while three of his five daughters wish to marry for love. During this time, the tension between the Jews living in Anatevka and the Russian Tsar continues to rise.

New Vision Dance Co. presented 'Up Close and Personal', a contemporary program of intimate solo choreography both created and performed by the company. Artistic director, Melissa Gould will also revealed works in progress inspired by the challenges of confined space. Audience members will experienced inventive movement in the immersive Green Room at the Garden Theater in six hour-long performances. Proceeds will support the company's upcoming 2016-2017 season.

WHAT: Twain's timeless classic sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Their adventures along the way are hilarious, suspenseful and heartwarming, bringing to life your favorite characters from the novel-the Widow Douglas and her stern sister, Miss Watson; the uproarious King and Duke, who may or may not be as harmless as they seem; Huck's partner in crime, Tom Sawyer, and their rowdy gang of pals; Huck's drunken father, the sinister Pap Finn; the lovely Mary Jane Wilkes and her trusting family. Propelled by an award winning score from Roger Miller, the king of country music, this jaunty journey provides a brilliantly theatrical celebration of pure Americana.

Nina West celebrated 15 years performing by featuring some of the favorite performances over the last 15 years from shows produced by Nina during 10 performances of SUPERcalidragaliciousNINAWESTadocious!

A musical, non-stop laugh-fest with plot twists and turns, cases of mistaken identity, slamming doors, and a showgirl or two in which Pseudolus, a crafty slave, struggles to win the hand of a beautiful but slow-witted courtesan named Philia, for his young master, Hero, in exchange for his freedom.

King Ave Players is proud to present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at King Ave Church! Joseph is a musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The story is based on the 'coat of many colors' story of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis.

Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters (or Tevye the Dairyman) and other tales by Sholem Aleichem. The story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon the family's lives. He must cope both with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters, who wish to marry for love - each one's choice of a husband moves further away from the customs of his faith - and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their village.

Featuring a lively cast of characters thrust into comedic situations, Christopher Durang's "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" is a lighthearted exploration of familial bonds and hometown roots.

Hilarity runs wild in this 2013 Tony® Award winner for Best Play as movie star Masha supports her middle-aged, single siblings whose academician parents were Chekov enthusiasts.

THE FULL MONTY: THE MUSICAL has some pretty unlikely ingredients for musical comedy: divorce, unemployment, degradation, custody battles, suicide, alienation and Buffalo, New York in the economically depressed 2000. Yet somehow, Short North Stage director Edward Carignan makes all those ingredients work while bringing Terrence McNally's script and David Yazbeck's lyrics to life.

Nominated for ten Tony awards, this hit Broadway musical is based on the cult movie about laid-off factory workers who find surprising dignity by staging a male strip act. Called 'one of the most touching musicals in Broadway history,' it will make you laugh, cry and rejoice in its lively rock score. 'The Full Monty is that rare aggressive crowd-pleaser that you don't have to apologize for liking,' wrote the New York Times.

Widely acknowledged as Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece, Sweeney Todd is set amongst London's seedy side streets and laced with Sondheim's characteristically brilliant wit and dark humor. This landmark musical depicts the barber Sweeney Todd's savage quest for justice and retribution after years of false imprisonment. Aided by harridan pie shop owner Mrs. Lovett, who is secretly in love with him, he sets out to avenge the wrongs done to him and his family. Combining comic turns, chilling drama, and hauntingly beautiful romantic songs, Sweeney Todd offers a fascinating portrait of a man driven to madness by injustice.

Party goers celebrated the past year in local theater (as well as some national awards sprinkled in). Red carpet started the event along with performances, home baked cookies, and awards as local actor and theatre lover Jeb Bigelow brought to Central Ohio an awesome (locally grown) awards show at the Bluestone on March 18, 2016.

One of Disney's most beloved movies of all time is capturing hearts as a musical that is practically perfect in every way! Based on the books by P.L. Travers and the classic Walt Disney film, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins delighted Broadway audiences for over 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Olivier and seven TONY Awards, including Best Musical.

Lovers Queenie and Burrs decide to throw the party to end all parties in their Manhattan apartment. After the colorful arrival of a slew of guests living life on the edge, Queenie's wandering eyes land on a striking man named Black. As the decadence is reaching a climax, so is Burrs' jealousy which erupts and sends him into a violent rage. Gun in hand and inhibitions abandoned Burrs turns on Queenie and Black. The gun gets fired, but who's been shot?Lovers Queenie and Burrs decide to throw the party to end all parties in their Manhattan apartment. After the colorful arrival of a slew of guests living life on the edge, Queenie's wandering eyes land on a striking man named Black. As the decadence is reaching a climax, so is Burrs' jealousy which erupts and sends him into a violent rage. Gun in hand and inhibitions abandoned Burrs turns on Queenie and Black. The gun gets fired, but who's been shot?