Lauren Kennedy News

Based on the book by North Carolina's own Daniel Wallace and the hit movie - Big Fish tells the story of a father with incredible, larger-than-life stories and his son who is determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales.

Theatre Raleigh's BIG FISH transports audiences to a simpler time, before the age of social media and the insatiable need to curate personal stories on small screens. This is the stuff of pure imagination. Based on Daniel Wallace's 1998 novel, BIG FISH centers around the character of Edward Bloom (Timothy Gulan), a traveling salesman who spins some tall tales about mermaids, giants, witches, and werewolves to his son Will (Chris Dwan). But Will, who is getting ready to start a family of his own, isn't buying the stories his dad is telling and is running out of time to reconcile the metaphorical river between them. Gulan's charismatic Bloom exudes a boyish charm and energy that makes it easy to buy the bill of goods he is selling. Lauren Kennedy's winsome performance as Bloom's wife Sandra is enchanting and heartfelt and reminds us that beyond her role as Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Raleigh, she is a Broadway star in her own right. Dwan, as Will, holds his own against the veteran leads and sings with a clarity that resonates throughout The Kennedy Theatre. And the strong supporting ensemble cast sing and stomp their way through Andrew Lippa's perky score and Abbey O'Brien's choreography with an eagerness that is infectious.

The 24th season of the Adirondack Theatre Festival will feature the concert reading of the hilarious romantic comedy Calling All Kates. The show will open at the Charles R. Wood Theater, located at 207 Glen Street in downtown Glens Falls, and run July 22nd and 23rd. Performances will start at 7:30pm. Tickets are $28 and can be purchased at the Wood Theater Box Office, online at ATFestival.org, or by calling (518) 480-4878.

North Carolina Theatre Conservatory, North Carolina Theatre's flagship training program offering professional instruction in acting, voice and dance for ages three to adult, is excited to bring to the stage its production of Pippin, July 6-8 at the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.

Director Eric Woodall is no stranger to the musical, BIG FISH. In fact, he was the casting director for the Broadway musical version which opened in 2013. Now he is bringing his experience with the production to Theatre Raleigh. The show, which opens next week, features Theatre Raleigh's Artistic Director, Lauren Kennedy as Sandra. Woodall and Kennedy sat down with me to discuss BIG FISH, their Southern roots, and family. BIG FISH runs July 11 - 22nd at The Kennedy Theatre at The Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, with a special post-show talk-back with Daniel Wallace, author of BIG FISH, July 19th and July 22nd (sold out). For more information visit, www.theatreraleigh.com.

Based on the book by North Carolina's own Daniel Wallace and the hit movie - Big Fish tells the story of a father with incredible, larger-than-life stories and his son who is determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales.

Eagle Theatre's production of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years has received its share of critical acclaim and standing ovations, with audiences hailing from all over the Delaware Valley and beyond.

North Carolina Theatre Conservatory, North Carolina Theatre's flagship training program offering professional instruction in acting, voice and dance for ages three to adult, is excited to bring to the stage its production of Pippin, July 6-8 at the A.J. Fletcher Opera Theater at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.

Always a bridesmaid, never the bride… or so the old saying goes. But what happens when all the bridesmaids become brides and the gay best friend is left quite literally standing alone? That's the premise of Joshua Harmon's smart, funny and poignant play SIGNIFICANT OTHER. Harmon's play premiered off-Broadway in 2015 and was billed as one of the top ten productions that year by The New York Times. It opened for a limited run on Broadway in 2017, marking Harmon's Broadway debut. This week SIGNIFICANT OTHER marks the second production in Theatre Raleigh's Summer Series at The Kennedy Theatre. Harmon, as a millennial himself, truly has his finger on the pulse of the 20-something generation, which makes this play completely engaging for the under 30 crowd. But the questions posed by Harmon's script and the fear of being alone are ageless and will appeal to all audiences. The bottom line is SIGNIFICANT OTHER is one invitation worth RSVPing to.

Gorgeous melodies and a tender love story take center stage in Eagle Theatre's upcoming production of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, opening June 1st, 2018.

Theatre Raleigh ushers in the 2018 Summer Series with the classic 'rags-to-riches' tale of newfound love Daddy Long Legs at the Kennedy Theatre May 16th  through the 27th. This heartwarming Cinderella story about a witty and winsome young woman and her mysterious benefactor is based on the classic novel by Jean Webster.  The two-person musical is a beloved tale in the spirit of Jane Austen, The Bronte Sisters and "Downton Abbey'.

On May 3 and 4, 2018, the Music Center at Strathmore just outside of Washington, DC will play host to the world premiere of IRON & COAL. In the lead up to the concert, composer and performer Jeremy Schonfeld took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions via email about the concert, his approach to music, and more.

Strathmore and Beth Morrison Projects will present the world premiere of Iron & Coal, a multi-media rock opera by composer/lyricist Jeremy Schonfeld and director Kevin Newbury, in the Music Center at Strathmore on Thursday and Friday, May 3 and 4, 2018 at 8 p.m.

PRiMA Theatre, a boutique theatre organization in Lancaster, is presenting a rock musical concert about seeking healing once love moves on.

Theatre Raleigh's Family Series is back and better than ever! Last year they welcomed more than 2,000 young people and their families into their audience, and they are expected to exceed that this season. They will be bringing back last year's breakout hit, A Midsummer Night's Dream (March 2- 18) and follow that with the premiere of a brand new show Adventure Road: A Story of Huck & Tom (April 13-29). To top it all off this summer they will be introducing a Summer Camp (July 16-27) and will be expanding their beloved Family Series into the fall.

The votes have been counted... Check out the fill list of winners for the 2017 BWW Regional Awards!

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.