Lisa Helmi Johanson News

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents Everybody by Pulitzer Prize finalist Branden Jacobs-Jenkins performed by the 2018/19 Professional Training Institute (PTI) ensemble  July 18 -21, 2019 in the Stiemke Studio.  PTI is an advanced actor-training program for students in 9th-12th grade who may have an interest in pursuing a career as a professional theater artist.   The 2018/19 PTI ensemble features sixteen students hailing from ten different high schools who received free training from some of the top theater professionals in the world, culminating in this capstone performance of Everybody, where they will be employed as paid, professional actors.

The Sisters opens May 16th and runs until June 2nd at The LATEA Theater @ The Clemente, 107 Suffolk Street, New York, N.Y. Performances are every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $18. Purchase at www.sohoshakes.com.

On Thursday, May 16, 2019 there will be two staged readings in New York City of the Broadway-bound new musical, DANCERS AT A WATERFALL, with book by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Karen Hartman, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire, based on the novel, 'Behind the Painting' by Siburapha.

Today The Cape Playhouse announced principal casting for the theatre's historic 93rd season, which includes an impressive list of Broadway and television stars.

Curiosity is part of our humanity. It is also 'human nature to forget,' writes playwright Lloyd Suh. Thanks to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater's New Play Development Program, the World Premiere of Suh's 'The Chinese Lady' imparts an utterly unforgettable piece of theater, while also embedding the fascinating and extraordinarily troubling story of Afong Moy into hearts and minds.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents The Chinese Lady, a new play by Lloyd Suh, a leading voice in American drama, in the Stiemke Studio February 13 - March 24.  Directed by Rep Associate Artistic Director May Adrales (In the Heights, Milwaukee Rep), the cast featuring two Rep new comers Lisa Helmi Johanson (Avenue Q tour) as Afong Moy and Jon Norman Schneider (House Rules, Ma-Yi Theater Company) as Atung.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents The Chinese Lady, a new play by Lloyd Suh, a leading voice in American drama, in the Stiemke Studio January 13 - March 24.  Directed by Rep Associate Artistic Director May Adrales (In the Heights, Milwaukee Rep), the cast featuring two Rep new comers Lisa Helmi Johanson (Avenue Q tour) as Afong Moy and Jon Norman Schneider (House Rules, Ma-Yi Theater Company) as Atung.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith's gift to Baltimore/Washington theater patrons this season is just plain delightful.

Arena Stage presents  Cole Porter's madcap seafaring musical, Anything Goes, with music and lyrics by Porter; original book by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton, with co-authors Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse; and new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman.

Arena Stage's Anything Goes is pitch perfect for a world-weary DC audience.

Arena Stage presents Corbin Bleu (Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical; In the Heights; Disney Channel's High School Musical) as Billy Crocker and Soara-Joye Ross (Les Miserables, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess National Tour) as Reno Sweeney in Cole Porter's madcap seafaring musical, Anything Goes. Check out Corbin in photos from the shoe below!

With the holiday season fast approaching Arena Stage is readying their annual Gold Standard Musical. This year it's the classic ship shape Cole Porter musical from 1934, Anything Goes. The production begins performances on November 2nd and plays through December 23rd in the Fichandler space.

This week, Molly Smith and the cast of Anything Goes at Arena Stage chose to honor and support Indigenous Peoples' Day (Oct 8). Just as those at sea use Morse code to send SOS alerts, the cast of Anything Goes -- joined by Molly's partner, Suzanne Blue Star Boy -- taps out a call to action in the video below to bring awareness to the epidemic of murdered, kidnapped, and missing Native women in the United States and Canada:

Arena Stage is now hard at work in rehearsal for Cole Porter's madcap seafaring musical, Anything Goes, with music and lyrics by Porter; original book by P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton, with co-authors Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse; and new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman.

MT Shorts just released its first original musical short film, "Hey, Beautiful!" by award-winning composing team Nat Zegree and Eric Holmes, starring Ashley Loren and directed by Kenneth Ferrone.

MT Shorts is proud to present its first original musical short film, 'Hey, Beautiful!'by award-winning composing team Nat Zegree and Eric Holmes, starring Ashley Loren and directed by Kenneth Ferrone.

MT Shorts will celebrate its official launch, with a premiere screening of its first musical short film, Hey, Beautiful!, by award-winning composing team Nat Zegree and Eric Holmes at a one night only star-studded concert featuring selections from the duo's songbook at The Cutting Room on September 24th at 8PM.

In some ways, history is all we have in terms of building a brighter future. At times, we either forget that history, or we never learn about such events that would lead us to make more informed decisions. Remembering historical events clearly isn't the most sought after activity to spend your time. Thus enters the world of theater, where people come to delve into stories and as an added bonus walk out after the show a little more educated than they were walking in. Such was the case for myself in taking in DCPA's production of Vietgone.

Arena Stage announces casting for Cole Porter's madcap seafaring musical, Anything Goes

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) presents the Theater Company's production of the 'raucous, immensely moving comedy' (The New York Times) Vietgone by Qui Nguyen.