Joan Marcus News

As an older Millennial, songs by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons have always been part of the landscape during my lifetime, on the radio, in stores, etc. But who were the men behind the music? Enter JERSEY BOYS, subtitled 'The Story of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons' which is exactly that, portraying the rise, success, and eventual decline of the popular 1960s group.

This week, New York City Center presents the final Encores! production of the City Center 75th Anniversary Season, High Button Shoes. The production features Aidan Alberto (Stevie), Jennifer Allen (Shirley Simpkins), Kevin Chamberlin (Mr. Pontdue), Carla Duren (Fran), Chester Gregory (Papa Longstreet), Mylinda Hull (Nancy), Marc Koeck (Oggle), Matt Loehr (Uncle Willy), Wayne Pretlow (Elmer Simpkins), Michael Urie (Harrison Floy), and Betsy Wolfe (Sara Longstreet).

That crazy cacophony of choreographic chaos that careens across the City Center stage shortly after the commencement of Act II is the main reason for Encores! to bring back the smash hit 1947 musical comedy High Button Shoes.

Now in performances, Proof of Love opens on Tuesday, May 14 at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane. Get a first look at the production below!

Nostalgia. The dictionary defines it as a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with a happy personal association. For me, nothing defines it better than the words 'The Lion King'. I still remember how I felt the first time I saw Mufasa hanging on to the cliff for dear life or hearing the words 'Hakuna Matata'. The iconic movie is clearly a part of my childhood memories. I watched over and over again my favorite Disney film on my family's VCR player. I also clearly remember the madness and sheer joy it brought to Broadway when I was just a little girl. That same little girl within me that still loves everything Disney (as a true Floridian does) can't wait to see Disney's The Lion King at The Adrienne Arsht Center, May 8 through the 26. Disney's The Lion King is making its triumphant return to the Arsht Center! With all the magic found in the film, the musical out does itself. Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist.

Though Shakespeare's The Tempest commences with a spectacular act of revenge, director Laurie Woolery stresses in her program notes for Mobile Unit's thoroughly enrapturing new production her intention to highlight the play's moments of forgiveness, leaving audiences to ponder 'what it means to use one's power to heal rather than to destroy and what it means to break the a cycle of retribution and violence.'

If you're like this male theatre critic, you'll spend the first twenty minutes or so of Halley Feiffer's The Pain of My Belligerence wondering why the woman at the center of the story is putting up with the atrocious immature behavior of the guy who's her arrogant and disrespectful dinner date. If you're like the woman who was my theatre companion for the evening, you'll know exactly what's going on.

Morrissey hit Broadway for the first time in his career playing a retrospective show at New York City's hallowed Lunt-Fontanne Theater. The affair will run for seven days through May 11th and promises an intimate yet exciting exploration of Morrissey's expansive career from his early days to his upcoming new record 'California Son': a collection of 1960/70s classic covers out on May 24th via Etienne Records/BMG.

Jamie Dornan and Holliday Grainger (Animals) are set to star in the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's hit Broadway stage play Outside Mullingar, according to Deadline.

Dallas Summer Musicals presents the Dallas engagement of the Tony Award-nominated Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof at the historic Music Hall at Fair Park from Aug. 7 to Aug. 18.  The tour will launch October 17, 2018 in Syracuse, New York at Landmark Theatre.

Morrissey hit Broadway for the first time in his career playing a retrospective show at New York City's hallowed Lunt-Fontanne Theater. The affair will run for seven days through May 11th and promises an intimate yet exciting exploration of Morrissey's expansive career from his early days to his upcoming new record 'California Son': a collection of 1960/70s classic covers out on May 24th via Etienne Records/BMG.

Get a first look below at the Signature Theatre world premiere production of Octet by Dave Malloy, directed by Annie Tippe.

Get a first look below at the Signature Theatre production of Curse of the Starving Class by Sam Shepard and directed by Tony Award nominee Terry Kinney. 

Due to popular demand, Manhattan Theatre Club's Tony Award nominated American premiere of INK, written by Tony nominee James Graham (Labour of Love, Privacy, Finding Neverland) and directed by Tony nominee and Almeida Theatre Artistic Director Rupert Goold (King Charles III) will extend for two more weeks of performances

It's that time of year when arts institutions hold their annual galas. This year the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD has a double bill wallop of an evening planned.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced that Sonny Tilders and Creature Technology Company the creators of the character/puppet 'Kong' for King Kong; musical director and arranger Jason Michael Webb and the late actress and advocate Marin Mazzie; will be each be presented with a Special Tony Award for their outstanding contributions to the theatre and community.

In honor of MTC's Ink, we're looking at recent transfers from the West End that found a new home on Broadway plus shows we think will soon be flying in direct from London to entertain American audiences.

The cast of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING will include Jamar Brathwaite (Ensemble), Danielle Brooks (Beatrice), Grantham Coleman(Benedick), Chuck Cooper (Leonato), Javen Crosby (Ensemble), Denzel Fields (Ensemble), Jeremie Harris (Claudio), Tayler Harris (Ensemble), Erik Laray Harvey (Antonio/Verges), Kai Heath (Messenger), Daniel Croix Henderson (Balthasar), Tyrone Mitchell Henderson (Friar Francis/Sexton), Tiffany Denise Hobbs (Ursula), Lateefah Holder (Dogberry), LaWanda Hopkins (Dancer), Billy Eugene Jones (Don Pedro), Margaret Odette (Hero), Hubert Point-Du Jour (Don John), William Roberson (Ensemble), Jaime Lincoln Smith (Borachio), Jazmine Stewart(Ensemble), Khiry Walker (Conrade/Ensemble), Olivia Washington (Margaret), and Latra A. Wilson (Dancer).

Rockwell Group, the architecture and design firm founded by David Rockwell, Tony Award-winning set designer and architect, today announced the anticipated May 2020 opening of Olio, a 27-story, 116-room hotel located on West 48th Street near 8th Avenue in the heart of New York's theater district. Olio will feature a first-of-its-kind curated art program with permanent and rotating works of art by emerging and established theater creatives.

As Broadway week launches across New York, Broadway shows are lining up performances on the ever-popular Today Show. Next up are Kiss Me, Kate and Beetlejuice.