John Simon News

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced three world premiere productions for Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming 2014-2015 theatrical season.

In conjunction with its upcoming production of Anton Chekhov's passionate classic The Seagull, Huntington Theatre Company will host a number of special post-show conversations. Admission to onsite post-show events is free with a ticket to The Seagull, available at huntingtontheatre.org/seagull, by phone at 617 266 0800, or in person at the BU Theatre (264 Huntington Avenue) and Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA (527 Tremont Street) box offices. Tickets start at $25. Performances begin Today, March 7, 2014 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre.

In conjunction with its upcoming production of Anton Chekhov's passionate classic The Seagull, Huntington Theatre Company will host a number of special post-show conversations. Admission to onsite post-show events is free with a ticket to The Seagull, available at huntingtontheatre.org/seagull, by phone at 617 266 0800, or in person at the BU Theatre (264 Huntington Avenue) and Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA (527 Tremont Street) box offices. Tickets start at $25. Performances begin Friday, March 7, 2014 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts completes the 2013-14 Jazz series with the Miguel Zenón Quartet featuing, Miguel Zenón on alto saxophone, Henry Cole on drums, Hans Glawisching on bass, and Luis Perdomo on piano. The show is tonight, March 1, 2014 at 8:00 p.m at Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway at 116th Street). Tickets are $20-$30 • Students with valid ID: $12-$18.

The 2013/2014 National Tour of the musical The Addams Family, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its McCallum Theatre premiere, as part of the Rabobank Broadway Blockbuster Series, for five performances, Friday, March 14, through Sunday, March 16. The Addams Family, which began performances on Broadway in March 2010 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ran through December 2011, immediately became one of Broadway's biggest hits. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune described the production as 'classic, full-tilt, fast paced, old-fashioned musical comedy!' and John Simon of Bloomberg News called it 'Uproarious! A glitzy-gloomy musical entirely worthy of the macabre drawings by Charles Addams.'

Today we are talking to a legendary leading lady famous for a few of the most iconic roles in some of the most memorable musicals of the 1980s and 1990s as well as a versatile vocalist and concert performer set to make her cabaret debut later this month - the ingratiating and amusing Randy Graff. Looking back at originating the role of Fantine in the original Broadway production of mega-hit mega musical LES MISERABLES and singing the unforgettable 'I Dreamed A Dream' eight times a week (and on the best-selling cast recording) as well as recounting her Tony Award-winning work in the endlessly entertaining Cy Coleman/David Zippel musical comedy CITY OF ANGELS, Graff share stories from behind the scenes and gives us a rare look at theatrical history in the making and her elemental role in both productions. Additionally, Graff opens up about some of her other most fondly remembered work, including her fantastic turn in Ed Kleban's A CLASS ACT, William Finn's FALSETTOS, Cole Porter's HIGH SOCIETY, the stage play and documentary MOON OVER BUFFALO co-starring Carol Burnett, the most recent revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and much more. Most importantly, Graff generously outlines what we can expect from her upcoming solo shows at NYC hotspot 54 Below titled MADE IN BROOKLYN, in what will actually be the stalwart star's solo show premiere. In addition to all of that, Graff also touches upon some of her big screen and small screen work, ranging from LAW & ORDER to RENT, as well as recounts some theatrical tales involving theatre greats such as Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, John Simon and more. All of that and much, much more awaits in this rich resume recounting retrospective with one of Broadway's best!

Salon Sanctuary will present 'Perpetual Motion: Galileo and His Revolutions' tonight, February 7th at 8pm, featuring Galileo's Daughters, with guests lutenist Ronn McFarlane, author Dava Sobel, and video artist Marc Wagnon. The concert is set for The Renaissance Library of the House of the Redeemer, 7 East 95th Street, NY, NY 10128.

Lehmann Maupin has announced New York-based artist Nari Ward's exhibition Rooted Communities at the Louisiana State University Museum of Art, opening February 7, 2014.

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts completes the 2013-14 Jazz series with the Miguel Zenón Quartet featuing, Miguel Zenón on alto saxophone, Henry Cole on drums, Hans Glawisching on bass, and Luis Perdomo on piano. The show is Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 8:00 p.m at Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway at 116th Street). Tickets are $20-$30 • Students with valid ID: $12-$18.

Salon Sanctuary will present 'Perpetual Motion: Galileo and His Revolutions' on Friday, February 7th at 8pm, featuring Galileo's Daughters, with guests lutenist Ronn McFarlane, author Dava Sobel, and video artist Marc Wagnon. The concert is set for The Renaissance Library of the House of the Redeemer, 7 East 95th Street, NY, NY 10128.

Traditionally regarded as an abstract minimalist, 71 year old choreographer Douglas Dunn treads into unexpected territory with the world premiere of “Aubade,” at the Alexander Kasser Theater, today, January 24-February 1. The dance was commissioned by Peak Performances.

A moving and compelling account of a remarkable moment in the history of science, human thought and music, Perpetual Motion ties together the groundbreaking music of Galileo's day, narration by acclaimed best-selling science writer Dava Sobel, (author of Galileo's Daughter) and high-definition images of Earth and the cosmos.

Traditionally regarded as an abstract minimalist, 71 year old choreographer Douglas Dunn treads into unexpected territory with the world premiere of “Aubade,” at the Alexander Kasser Theater, January 24-February 1. The dance was commissioned by Peak Performances.

David Vestal passed away this week at home in Bethlehem, Connecticut. Born in Menlo Park, California in 1924, Vestal studied painting at the Art Institute of Chicago before becoming involved in photography in the late 1940s through the Photo League in New York.

Shepard Fairey's Subliminal Projects will be transported back to 1977 Britain beginning 8pm Friday December 13 when Fairey and Sex Pistols tour photographer Dennis Morris host the opening of SID: Superman Is Dead, a collaborative installation of paintings, photographs and prints of and inspired by Sid Vicious' tenure as the Sex Pistols' bassist.

This week's THEATER TALK focuses on British dramatist Sir Terence Rattigan (1911-1977) and his popular drama, The Winslow Boy, currently being revived on Broadway by The Roundabout Theatre Company. First the show welcomes actors Roger Rees, Charlotte Parry and Alessandro Nivola, now starring in this acclaimed production, followed by a conversation about its playwright with critics John Simon, John Heilpern and actor Edward Hibbert.

This week's THEATER TALK focuses on British dramatist Sir Terence Rattigan (1911-1977) and his popular drama, The Winslow Boy, currently being revived on Broadway by The Roundabout Theatre Company. First the show welcomes actors Roger Rees, Charlotte Parry and Alessandro Nivola, now starring in this acclaimed production, followed by a conversation about its playwright with critics John Simon, John Heilpern and actor Edward Hibbert.

It is not difficult to see why The New York Times classifies James Rebhorn as a 'New York theatre stalwart.' His remarkably prolific career spans over thirty years across stage and screen. He can currently be seen on the Emmy Award-winning televisions series 'Homeland' portraying Frank Mathison. Recently, Rebhorn returned to the Roundabout stage for his fifth production, Too Much, Too Much, Too Many, marking more than a decade-long relationship with Roundabout Theatre Company.

The Hunter College Department of Art and Art History is pleased to announce a public lecture by Charles Gaines, the Fall 2013 Judith Zabar Visiting Artist,Today, November 4, 2013, at 7:00 pm in the Lang Recital Hall, located in the Hunter North Building, entrance on East 69th Street between Lexington and Park Avenues in Manhattan.

The Hunter College Department of Art and Art History is pleased to announce a public lecture by Charles Gaines, the Fall 2013 Judith Zabar Visiting Artist,Monday, November 4, 2013, at 7:00 pm in the Lang Recital Hall, located in the Hunter North Building, entrance on East 69th Street between Lexington and Park Avenues in Manhattan.