Mary Ellen News

Orange County, California, 1975. For Walter Wells, it's the happiest place on earth. He has a beautiful wife. Two great kids. A house with a pool. Contentment. Until fate strikes a devastating blow, leaving Walter with no reason to put the pieces of his life back together. He resists attempts to help, especially the unexpected - and unwanted - offer from a Vietnamese refugee named Bao Ngo, who bears his own sadness. Then, across a cultural divide, Walter and Bao find a game to share, a song, a meal and then a way back in this uplifting - and surprisingly funny - new play by a rising star in American theatre.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish's lavish, Dora Award-winning production of the timeless classic THE SOUND OF MUSIC will enjoy its 1st Anniversary - a full year on stage at the Princess of Wales Theatre - this Friday, October 2.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish's lavish, Dora Award-winning production of the timeless classic THE SOUND OF MUSIC will enjoy its 1st Anniversary - a full year on stage at the Princess of Wales Theatre - this Friday, October 2.

Due to popular demand, the following shows have added additional performances: F#@KING UP EVERYTHING - Sat, Oct 17 at 11pm SING, BUT DON'T TELL - Sun, Oct 18 at 3pm

Orange County, California, 1975. For Walter Wells, it's the happiest place on earth. He has a beautiful wife. Two great kids. A house with a pool. Contentment. Until fate strikes a devastating blow, leaving Walter with no reason to put the pieces of his life back together. He resists attempts to help, especially the unexpected - and unwanted - offer from a Vietnamese refugee named Bao Ngo, who bears his own sadness. Then, across a cultural divide, Walter and Bao find a game to share, a song, a meal and then a way back in this uplifting - and surprisingly funny - new play by a rising star in American theatre.

Full casting has been announced for OPEN THE DARK DOOR, an indie rock musical by David Lefort Nugent that confronts the modern American justice system. Starring in the production at the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival are Broadway's Mary Ellen Ashley (Annie Get Your Gun), Paul Kandel (Tommy, Titanic, Jesus Christ Superstar), Laura Jordan (Cry Baby), and Andrew McGinn (Coast of Utopia). The production will feature direction from Susanna Gellert (Fugue States at PS 122) and runs from October 8th to October 17th at the American Theatre of Actors.

Banned in Russia, David Lefort Nugent brings his next show, Open the Dark Door, to The New York Musical Theatre Festival beginning October 8th at 8pm.

Due to popular demand, the following shows have added additional performances: Encore: Friday, October 2nd at 5pm Fat Camp: Friday, October 2nd at 4pm

The New York Musical Theatre Festival presented the World Premiere of Clear Blue Tuesday, a musical movie by Elizabeth Lucas on Thursday, on September 10 at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) Theatre (333 West 23rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

In the glory days of the movie musical, folks joked that MGM stood for 'Makes Great Musicals' and it boasted more stars than in the heavens.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival will proudly present the World Premiere of Clear Blue Tuesday, a musical movie by Elizabeth Lucas on Thursday, September 10 at both 7pm and 9:15pm. The screenings will take place at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) Theatre (333 West 23rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

South Coast Repertory will present the world premiere of The Happy Ones, the story of an Orange County man who must rediscover his optimism in the wake of tragedy, on the Julianne Argyros Stage Sept. 27 - Oct. 18.

All through this blistering summer the evil geniuses of Brat Productions have been communing with the 200-year-old spirit of Edgar Allan Poe to create the biggest, baddest, bloodcurdling-est exploration of the author's life and work that Philly has ever seen.

All through this blistering summer the evil geniuses of Brat Productions have been communing with the 200-year-old spirit of Edgar Allan Poe to create the biggest, baddest, bloodcurdling-est exploration of the author's life and work that Philly has ever seen.

Eleven New Yorkers change course after catastrophic events force them to examine why they moved to New York and to decide whether they'll stay. Clear Blue Tuesday follows their lives over the course of six years, each year on a Tuesday in September, as they pursue the dreams that drew them to the city.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival will proudly present the World Premiere of Clear Blue Tuesday, a musical movie by Elizabeth Lucas on Thursday, September 10 at both 7pm and 9:15pm. The screenings will take place at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) Theatre (333 West 23rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

WaterTower Theatre (WTT) continues its 2008-2009 Discover Series with the regional premiere of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's comedy, Based on a Totally True Story. It will run April 16 - May 3, 2009. Ethan Keene, playwright and comic book writer, is on the verge of having it all - success, money, and a Hollywood movie credit. But getting to that Hollywood Premiere may be more dramatic than the movie. His father is having a marital crisis, his boyfriend is begging for more attention, and his producer is demanding a re-write. Based on a Totally True Story is the story of one wanna-be screenwriter's attempt to find his own happy ending before the final credits roll.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre recognized donors and students of the Theatre's Conservatory of Performing Arts at a fundraising luncheon on Friday, March 27, 2009 at Frenchman's Reserve. The outstanding achievements of six students were highlighted with performances by each and six donors presented awards to the deserving students who also received merit scholarships underwritten by Dr. Bernard and Phyllis Eisenstein.

As one of the nation's senior regional arts awards, the Carbonell Awards has seen a lot of changes since its debut in 1976 with ceremonies that featured stars such as Carol Channing, Chita Rivera, Burt Reynolds, Robert Goulet and Florence Henderson, presented in hotel ballrooms, night clubs, regional theaters and performing arts centers.