John Riddle News

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) presents an All-American classic as it continues its Mainstage Series with the production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!.

When initially transforming Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale THE LITTLE MERMAID into an animated film, Disney provided an instant classic that was a smash hit with children and adults (and was a key player in their animation revival). But the transition to the stage proved more troublesome and cumbersome, reworking many plot elements, inserting about a dozen or so songs, and adding about an hour to the film's 80 minutes or so (depending on the version is being viewed) running time. While there's no denying that the audience who braved the heat and humidity in vast numbers at The Muny to see this colorful spectacle had a good time, there's also no denying that a good deal of the original's charm was somehow lost in the process.

The College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Musical Theatre department kicks off its Mainstage Season with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Evita.

The College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Musical Theatre department kicks off its Mainstage Season with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Evita.

The College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Musical Theatre department kicks off its Mainstage Season with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Evita.

The Muny's Sound Of Music will close August 1. THE SOUND OF MUSIC was directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Liza Gennaro, musical direction by Ben Whiteley, set design by Michael Anania, and lighting design by F. Mitchell Dana.

The St. Louis Muny's upcoming production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC will feature some Broadway talent. Ashley Brown (MARY POPPINS, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) will play Maria von Trapp opposite Tom Hewitt (CHICAGO, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, THE LION KING) as Baron von Trapp, Playbill reports. The production opens July 26 and runs through August 1.