Mary Ellen News

On Thursday, November 19 (8 pm) pianist Anthony de Mare brings the third and final installment of his inspired LIAISONS project to Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharp Theatre.

Next up for Daron Bruce's students at Hume-Fogg Academic High School (one of the nation's highest rated secondary schools) is a much-anticipated production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, running November 5-7 at the iconic and historic high school - located on Broadway, naturally - in downtown Nashville. Taking on the challenge of portraying Sweeney Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street, is Andrew Forbes, who is in today's High School Drama spotlight.

Next up for Daron Bruce's students involved in theater at Hume-Fogg Academic High Schools (one of the nation's highest rated secondary schools) is a much-anticipated production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, running November 5-7 at the iconic and historic high school, located on Broadway naturally - in downtown Nashville. Taking on the challenging role of Mrs. Lovett in the school edition of Sondheim's musical is Darby Kolwyck, a talented student with an already enviable resume: She's played Rusty in Act Too's Footloose and was part of HFA's acclaimed production of Cabaret.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, whose full official title is The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, is a musical with a book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan and music and lyrics by Brooks. Based on the 1974 film of the same name by Brooks and Gene Wilder, it is a parody of the horror film genre, specifically the 1931 Universal Pictures adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and its 1939 sequel, Son of Frankenstein.

fandango 4 Art House has announced that it will present the world premiere of THE DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE OF PRIVATE PITTS, a new play based loosely on actual events surrounding a young Texas girl's unfathomable journey from 'miracle child' to aimless rebel, into the throes of the Iraq war and beyond, November 5 - November 22 at the IATI Theater at 64 East 4th Street in NYC.

A meditation on America's relationship to our land, our resources, and ourselves, BabsonARTS will present ETHEL's Documerica, a multimedia concert that melds multiple screen video projections with original music by some of today's top composers and performed with electrifying virtuosity by the indie-classical quartet ETHEL,  tonight, October 23, 8 p.m. at Carling-Sorenson Theater 213 Forest Street at Babson College. Tickets are $25 general admission, Babson Faculty/Staff: $10, and college students: $5. For more information visit babsonarts.org or call OvationTix at 866-811-4111. 

En Garde Arts presents BOSSS, its new site-specific outdoor performance festival featuring new works by some of the New York City's most promising emerging theatre artists, this weekend, October 23-25 throughout Hudson River Park. The opening night party at The Frying Pan will now take place on October 23 at 7pm. (Tickets for the opening night party, on board the Frying Pan at Pier 66, are $250 or $75 for artists.)

A meditation on America's relationship to our land, our resources, and ourselves, BabsonARTS will present ETHEL's Documerica, a multimedia concert that melds multiple screen video projections with original music by some of today's top composers and performed with electrifying virtuosity by the indie-classical quartet ETHEL,  Friday, October 23, 8 p.m. at Carling-Sorenson Theater 213 Forest Street at Babson College. Tickets are $25 general admission, Babson Faculty/Staff: $10, and college students: $5. For more information visit babsonarts.org or call OvationTix at 866-811-4111. 

Due to tropical storm Joachim, En Garde Arts has postponed BOSSS, its new site-specific outdoor performance festival featuring new works by some of the New York City's most promising emerging theatre artists, to October 23-25 throughout Hudson River Park. The opening night party at The Frying Pan will now take place on October 23 at 7pm.

With almost 400 people in the audience, the leading lights of Tennessee theater were heralded with the presentation of the 2015 First Night Honors Gala, Sunday night at the iconic and historic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre in Nashville. Hosted by Geoff Davin, Stephanie Jones-Benton and Erica Patterson, the event featured musical numbers by more than 100 performers in tribute to the Class of 2015 Honorees.

With almost 400 people in the audience, the leading lights of Tennessee theater were heralded with the presentation of the 2015 First Night Honors Gala, Sunday night at the iconic and historic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre in Nashville. Hosted by Geoff Davin, Stephanie Jones-Benton and Erica Patterson, the event featured musical numbers by more than 100 performers in tribute to the Class of 2015 Honorees.

With almost 400 people in the audience, the leading lights of Tennessee theater were heralded with the presentation of the 2015 First Night Honors Gala, Sunday night at the iconic and historic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre in Nashville. Hosted by Geoff Davin, Stephanie Jones-Benton and Erica Patterson, the event featured musical numbers by more than 100 performers in tribute to the Class of 2015 Honorees.

With almost 400 people in the audience, the leading lights of Tennessee theater were heralded with the presentation of the 2015 First Night Honors Gala, Sunday night at the iconic and historic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre in Nashville. Hosted by Geoff Davin, Stephanie Jones-Benton and Erica Patterson, the event featured musical numbers by more than 100 performers in tribute to the Class of 2015 Honorees.

With almost 400 people in the audience, the leading lights of Tennessee theater were heralded with the presentation of the 2015 First Night Honors Gala, Sunday night at the iconic and historic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre in Nashville. Hosted by Geoff Davin, Stephanie Jones-Benton and Erica Patterson, the event featured musical numbers by more than 100 performers in tribute to the Class of 2015 Honorees.

This fall, En Garde Arts, the company founded and recently resurrected by pioneering theater producer Anne Hamburger, launches BOSSS (Big Outdoor Site-Specific Stuff), a new site-specific performance festival featuring new works by some of New York City's most promising emerging theatre artists. Hamburger has established BOSSS to give a rising generation of spirited artists a chance to 'think big' when creating new work, and to help them cultivate an audience spanning frequent theatergoers and people who rarely seek out live arts deliberately. Under her mentorship and guidance, teams of playwrights, directors, devisers, choreographers and designers are creating nine innovative works that En Garde will present throughout Hudson River Park, October 2 - 4. All performances are free of charge. (Tickets for the opening night gala, on board the Frying Pan at Pier 66, are $250 - $500.) Please see below for the lineup of artists and works.

Actress/singer/director Judy Norton began her cabaret act at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in January of 2010 and in my review, I called it 'a stellar show with a true night club star. Norton, best known for her 9 years as daughter Mary Ellen and sister of John Boy on TV's The Waltons, is a versatile singer with a terrific range...and a warm and engaging performer. Gifted and experienced, she is not nervous or phrenetic, making excuses for herself or forgetting her words...no, none of that; Norton is a consummate artist whose selection of songs were guaranteed to entertain her appreciative theatrical audience, which they did in spades. No big ego here; Norton makes you feel right at home.'

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that MetroStage will open the 2015-16 season with the Rolling World Premiere of UPRISING by Atlanta playwright Gabrielle Fulton as part of the Women's Voices Theater Festival, Sept 17- Oct 25. Thomas W. Jones II will direct and choreograph, and William Knowles will music direct.  

Geoff Davin, Stephanie Jones-Benton and Erica Patterson will serve as co-hosts as the leading lights of Tennessee theater are heralded with the presentation of the 2015 First Night Honors Gala, to be held Sunday, September 20, at Nashville's iconic and historic Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. The event will feature musical numbers by more than 150 performers in tribute to the Class of 2015 Honorees.

Check out the first official promotional photo of Jordan B. Stocksdale as Gomez, Mary Ellen Cameron as Wednesday, and Jessica Billones as Morticia in Way Off Broadway's production of the musical comedy THE ADDAMS FAMILY, opening September 11th.

Primrose Productions presents a new adaptation of the Medusa myth by Brooke M. Haney, from the poetry of Sheryl St. Germain, and directed by Tracy Bersley (choreographer for On the Levee at Lincoln Center, LCT3). Theatre intersects with visual art and poetry in this haunting and galvanizing perspective of the Medusa myth. Kiss Me or Cut Off My Head will play a three week limited engagement at the Soho Photo Gallery (15 White Street, New York, NY 10013). Performances begin Thursday, August 20th and continue through Today, September 5th, 2015 . Opening Night is Thursday, August 20th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $30.00 with 35% of ticket sales going to Margaret's Safe Place. Tickets are available at  www.kissmetheplay.com