At 10:32 pm last Friday night, the news began to leak. Cell phones began buzzing backstage across the Great White Way and during the curtain calls of some shows like Priscilla Queen of the Desert and The Normal Heart, cast members shared the historic news with exuberant audiences: the New York State Senate had voted 33 to 29 in favor of marriage equality. New York had just become the sixth state in the nation to legalize gay marriage.
Perched above the stage in their private bleacher section, just beyond an outfield fence graffitied with the musical's title, conductor Rob Berman and his 25 piece Encores! Summer Stars orchestra might be mistaken for the conservatory cousins of Brooklyn's legendary Dodger Sym-Phony. But instead of serenading umpires from the Ebbet's Field grandstands with double forte arrangements of 'Three Blind Mice,' the musicians of director John Rando's cracker-jack production of Damn Yankees - a 1955 musical that opened in the early weeks of the baseball season that saw Brooklyn beat the Yankees for the borough's only World Series championship - treats 21st Century audiences to that thrilling sound of a Broadway Golden Age orchestra. The detailed movements and textures contained within Don Walker's orchestrations, whether giving comic accents to the pepper-upper 'Heart,' setting a satirical mood for the pseudo-vamp 'Whatever Lola Wants' or lifting a slow ballad like 'A Man Doesn't Know' with phrases that search the mind of the singing character, help bring majestic touches of artistry to this rousing vaudeville disguised as a book musical.
Students at The Palace Professional Theatre Camp this summer will have the opportunity to study with a star coming directly from Broadway's Little Mermaid, Jimmy Smagula. The Palace Theatre is partnering with Chester College of New England to present an intensive seven-day, overnight theater camp that focuses on the three components of musical theatre - acting, singing and dancing.
Online sources are reporting that The Little Mermaid ensemble member Chelsea Morgan Stock has won the leading role of Ariel and will be replacing current star Sierra Boggess when Boggess leaves the production to create the role of Christine Daae in the upcoming sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, 'LOVE NEVER DIES'. Stock has some experience playing the lovelorn Ariel as she has understudied the role since the hit show opened on Broadway. Reports indicate that Chelsea Morgan Stock will take over in June 2009.
Disney Theatrical Productions welcomed Tony Award winner Faith Prince to the Broadway company of THE LITTLE MERMAID last night, Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th Street, NYC). Prince stars as 'Ursula,' the evil sea witch. BroadwayWorld's cameras joined in the cheers as the Broadway favorite made her debut in the show and took her first curtain call 'under the sea'!
Disney Theatrical Productions proudly welcomes Tony Award winner FAITH PRINCE to the Broadway company of THE LITTLE MERMAID tonight, Tuesday, April 7, 2009 (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th Street, NYC). Prince stars as 'Ursula,' the evil sea witch.
THE SUICIDE and THE THING ABOUT JOE set for Tuneful Tuesdays Series
Two new Musicals from the BMI Workshop at the Snapple Theater Center
Musical Mondays Theatre Lab has pushed the calendar one day ahead with their Tuneful Tuesdays series at the Jerry Orbach Theater in the Snapple Theater Center. The Musical Mondays' 2008-9 season is devoted to new work from the Tony Honored BMI -Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.
THE SUICIDE and THE THING ABOUT JOE set for Tuneful Tuesdays Series
Two new Musicals from the BMI Workshop at the Snapple Theater Center
Musical Mondays Theatre Lab has pushed the calendar one day ahead with their Tuneful Tuesdays series at the Jerry Orbach Theater in the Snapple Theater Center. The Musical Mondays' 2008-9 season is devoted to new work from the Tony Honored BMI -Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.
It has been announced that MTC's production of TO BE OR NOT TO BE will play its final performance on November 16th, 2008. November 16th, 2008 is the end of Manhattan Theater Club's subscription run. They had previously been offering tickets through November 23rd, 2008, but will now be canceling that week of performances. Patrons who have purchased tickets for performances through November 23rd, 2008 should return to their point of purchase for a refund.
It has been announced that MTC's production of TO BE OR NOT TO BE will play its final performance on November 16th, 2008. November 16th, 2008 is the end of Manhattan Theater Club's subscription run. They had previously been offering tickets through November 23rd, 2008, but will now be canceling that week of performances. Patrons who have purchased tickets for performances through November 23rd, 2008 should return to their point of purchase for a refund.
The Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director;Barry Grove, Executive Producer) world premiere production of Nick Whitby's 'To Be or Not To Be' officially opened on Broadway on Tuesday October 14th. BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to capture the cast as they arrived at Planet Hollywood to celebrate after the curtain came down!
The Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) world premiere production of Nick Whitby's 'To Be or Not To Be' officially opened on Broadway last night, Tuesday October 14th. BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to capture the star-studded red carpet arrivals.
The Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer)world premiere production of Nick Whitby's 'To Be or Not To Be' opens on Broadway tonight, Tuesday October 14th.
Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) will celebrate opening night for their upcoming world premiere production of Nick Whitby's TO BE OR NOT TO BE. The play, based on the 1942 motion picture To Be or Not To Be, is directed by three-time Tony Awardâ nominee Casey Nicholaw (The Drowsy Chaperone, Monty Python's Spamalot).
Manhattan Theatre Club is pleased to announce guests and dates for After Words, the popular discussion series at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). The series begins its third season on Saturday, September 20 following the matinee performance of TO BE OR NOT TO BE with J. Hoberman, film critic for The Village Voice, and Foster Hirsch, professor of film at Brooklyn College. The discussion will be moderated by Lisa McNulty, MTC's Associate Director of Artistic Operations.
Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer)postponed the first preview of Nick Whitby's TO BE OR NOT TO BE. First preview now tonight, 9/13
Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) has postponed the first preview and opening night of Nick Whitby's TO BE OR NOT TO BE.
Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) is pleased to announce full casting for their upcoming world premiere production of Nick Whitby's 'To Be or Not To Be.' The play, based on the 1942 motion picture of the same name will be directed by three-time Tony Award nominee Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone,' 'Monty Python's Spamalot').
Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) has postponed the first preview of Nick Whitby's TO BE OR NOT TO BE.