Jordan Nichols News

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Memphis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Memphis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Memphis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Having witnessed the stultifying, bloated NBC production of PETER PAN LIVE (what were the 'powers that be' thinking would hold a child's attention span for three hours, however padded with yet more Peter Pan plugs from Walmart?), I was reluctant to attend Playhouse on the Square's annual production of the James Barrie children's classic. I am probably one of the handful of reviewers to recall the 1955 NBC production (and later one as well) with the legendary pairing of Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard (whose fruity, overly ripe 'Captain Hook' would make Johnny Depp's 'Jack Sparrow' seem more like a white collar executive). As an IPad-free child inured to black and white fare, it hardly mattered that Mary Martin was, to put it politely, mature; that the production values were clunky; that the wires and 'Tinker' herself were glaringly apparent. In short, I was captivated. Yet, Martin possessed the kind of spunk and spontaneity that made us children believe (not to mention that she had the kind of singing voice that made her a legendary Broadway performer, as evidenced by SOUTH PACIFIC and SOUND OF MUSIC). She could make a child want to fly. Allison Williams, last evening's 'Peter,' lacked that optimistic boyishness (though she had the tomboyish Hilary Swank look 'nailed') and, despite having a pleasant enough voice, often seemed out of breath; but Chrisopher Walken, whom I like and who I initially thought would be inspired casting, seemed to have wandered in from a cocktail party hosted by zombies. His dancing made that of the Monster in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN seem as nimble as that of Fred Astaire. Despite the wonderful lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and despite the 'ear candy' musical score by Mark Charlalp and Jule Stein, those long, middle stretches in Neverland made me wonder if it would Neverend.

Playhouse on the Square, now in its 45th Season, is accepting scripts for the 3rd Annual 'NewWorks@TheWorks' Competition. A panel of local directors, actors, and designers will review all submitted scripts and select six to receive staged readings during the 2015 - 16 season. After the six readings have been presented, Playhouse on the Square will select two that will receive full productions during the 2016 - 17 Season. These two new works will receive world premieres at Playhouse's third performance space, TheatreWorks.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Memphis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Memphis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th.

The boy who won't grow up is flying back to the Memphis stage! Wendy, John, and Michael Darling's world is turned upside down when Peter Pan swoops into their nursery. He leads them to Neverland where they encounter the cunning and evil Captain Hook, villainous pirates, a crafty crocodile, and the sprightly fairy Tinker Bell. Featuring classic songs such as 'I Gotta Crow,' 'Neverland,' and 'I'm Flying,' Peter Pan promises to touch, inspire, dazzle, and charm all generations.

The boy who won't grow up is flying back to the Memphis stage! Wendy, John, and Michael Darling's world is turned upside down when Peter Pan swoops into their nursery. He leads them to Neverland where they encounter the cunning and evil Captain Hook, villainous pirates, a crafty crocodile, and the sprightly fairy Tinker Bell. Featuring classic songs such as 'I Gotta Crow,' 'Neverland,' and 'I'm Flying,' Peter Pan promises to touch, inspire, dazzle, and charm all generations.

Just a few weeks ago I was dodging a falling chandelier at the Orpheum's staging of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; at the 'Phantom Event' held prior to the play, I was reminded of all the physical (as well as fiscal) requirements for properly staging this production. I kept thinking, 'How many small, financially strapped towns would breathe a sigh of relief if the proceeds from such a production were to come their way?' Well, that's one extreme of theatre. Tonight I was exposed to the opposite; Circuit Playhouse's production of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones' allegorical THE FANTASTICKS reminded me of Thornton Wilder's minimalism in the staging of OUR TOWN. If musicals like PHANTOM and LES MISERABLES are the 'central air' of theatre, THE FANTASTICKS is rather like a quaint little oscillating fan. Yet, its breeze can be refreshing.

Follow us into a world of moonlight and magic as we celebrate our 45th anniversary with the musical that started it all for Circuit Playhouse, Inc. The Fantasticks tells the story of Matt and Luisa who fall in love at the hands of their meddling fathers, grow apart, and find their way back to each other. With a timeless score that includes the songs 'Try To Remember' and 'They Were You,' The Fantsticks is a musical gem that will delight all ages.

Follow us into a world of moonlight and magic as we celebrate our 45th anniversary with the musical that started it all for Circuit Playhouse, Inc. The Fantasticks tells the story of Matt and Luisa who fall in love at the hands of their meddling fathers, grow apart, and find their way back to each other. With a timeless score that includes the songs "Try To Remember" and "They Were You," The Fantsticks is a musical gem that will delight all ages.

The lessons of MARY POPPINS are made more palatable by those spoonfuls of sugar.

When Playhouse on the Square first showcased the musical version of the giddy John Waters' romp HAIRSPRAY a few seasons back, terpsichorean dynamo Courtney Oliver (as 'Tracy Turnblad') and theatre veteran Ken Zimmerman ('Miss Edna') left the stage each night with clamorous standing ovations for them and their colorful cohorts. I saw it more than once; it was the kind of theatrical experience that not only made you want to see it repeatedly, but one to which you longed to introduce others. I was thrilled to learn not only that HAIRSPRAY would return to end the current season at Playhouse, but that it would also reunite most of the original cast - and would be directed by the ever reliable Dave Landis.

It's 1962, the '50s are out, and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion - to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, 'The Corny Collins Show' and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do? Only in Hairspray!

The Court Theatre presents a compelling and heart wrenching International Smash Hit Musical- Blood Brothers.

It's 1962, the '50s are out, and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, has only one passion - to dance. She wins a spot on the local TV dance program, 'The Corny Collins Show' and, overnight, is transformed from outsider to irrepressible teen celebrity. But can a trendsetter in dance and fashion vanquish the program's reigning princess, win the heart of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a television show without denting her 'do? Only in Hairspray!

The collaboration of Jules Stein and Stephen Sondheim on GYPSY provided the late Ethel Merman with a career boost into immortality. What isn't familiar about this material? Everyone knows the general outline of the play itself - 'Mama' Rose is 'Mommie Dearest' without the wire hangers; at the beginning of the play, she practically declares war on a quiet home life and, taking with her daughters June (the precocious and 'pretty' one) and Louise (the shy and recessive one), she practically declares war on domesticity and seeks to channel her dreams through their success.

The entertainment continues at Playhouse on the Square with the Tony award-winning musical Gypsy! Based on burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee's memoirs of life with the ultimate stage mother, Gypsy follows the dreams and efforts of Mama Rose as she pushes her two daughters into show business during the last days of Vaudeville. With famous Sondheim songs such as, "Everything's Coming up Roses," 'You'll Never Get Away From Me,' and 'Let Me Entertain You,' Gypsy is a shining American musical theatre classic.

Yesterday evening at five, Playhouse on the Square hosted a lively reception. Amid refreshments and trivia questions with prizes, Jackie Nichols unveiled the 2014-2015 Season. It's going to be grand!