Matthew Brown News

The New England Philharmonic (NEP), under the direction of Richard Pittman, has announced their 2014-15program, the 38th season of the volunteer orchestra. This season will include world premieres of two NEP commissions,David Rakowski's Dance Episodes Symphony no. 5 and Andy Vores' Violin Concerto No. 2; the world premiereof Bernard Hoffer's Ligeti Split; Boston premieres from John Harbison's Darkbloom: Overture for an ImaginedOpera and Michael Gandolfi's Night Train to Perugia and a performance of Benjamin Britten's rarely performedSpring Symphony featuring Chorus pro Musica and the Boston Children's Chorus.

The Mama Foundation for the Arts announces their musical production, ALIVE!, a musical celebration of a generation featuring a full company of performers who are age 55 and over; at The Dempsey Theater in Harlem (127 W. 127 St.). ALIVE! Is playing in repertoire with the Harlem Musical Theatre Series. Conceived and written by Vy Higginsen and Ken Wydro, and directed by Mr. Wydro. 'Real people, telling real stories!' The cast of ALIVE! is comprised of everyday, 'ordinary' citizens from all walks of life; people with amazing talent, who never realized their desire to perform live. Each cast member now taking center stage, proves that it's never too late to live a dream. ALIVE! features a unique blend of gospel, jazz, R&B and pop music - songs that served as a soundtrack for this generation. Through the music, and through authentic stories and testimonies, the ALIVE! cast tell how it used to be, and how life could be going forward . . . at any age. They are ALIVE! . . . and kickin.'

Variety reports that Tony Award winner Jeremy Irons has signed on to co-star in THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY, the biopic of renown Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.

In the spirit of "High School Musical," "Glee" and "Mean Girls," Alpha/Omega Players presents 13, a musical about growing up. This show is a musical that tweens and teens will love, it is about the emotional roller coaster full of the highs and lows that all of us experienced while growing up. Alpha/Omega Players has put together a highly energetic group of teens who successfully depict the trials and tribulations that come with becoming a teenager.

The Alpha/Omega Players will present Jason Robert Brown's Hit Broadway Musical "13" November 29, 30 December 1, 6, 7, 8, 2013 in the Alpha/Omega Performing Arts Center, 301 E. First Street, Birdsboro, PA.

The Mama Foundation for the Arts presents ALIVE!, a celebration of a generation in song, featuring a full company of performers who are age 55 and over . . . 'Real people, telling real stories!' Conceived and written by Vy Higginsen and Ken Wydro (the creators of MAMA, I WANT TO SING), and directed by Mr. Wydro, ALIVE! is currently performing in repertory on Saturday afternoons at The Dempsey Theater in Harlem (127 W. 127 St.). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Lee Street theatre presents I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, running September 26-28 & October 3-5, 7:30pm.I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change explores contemporary heterosexual courtship by using two time-tested coping mechanisms for the traumas and elations of love-humor and music.

I salute any theater that tries to push itself into new creative directions. However, if you're going to do those risky shows, especially those with challenging roles, you need to have the right people to lead the way.

triangle productions! kicks off its 24th season with the Oregon premiere of the seven-time Tony Award winning musical based on Manuel Puig's novel of the same name, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, with Book by Terrance McNally, Music by John Kander and Fred Ebb (Cabaret and Chicago).

triangle productions! kicks off its 24th season with the Oregon premiere of the seven-time Tony Award winning musical based on Manuel Puig's novel of the same name, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. The show runs September 5-29.

triangle productions! kicks off its 24th season with the Oregon premiere of the seven-time Tony Award winning musical based on Manuel Puig's novel of the same name, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, with Book by Terrance McNally, Music by John Kander and Fred Ebb (Cabaret and Chicago).

I attended Avenue Q at a sold-out Saturday night performance on Pride weekend in Portland, and the house was filled with people who clearly knew the show and were ready to have fun. The couple seated next to me, however, came with a group of friends and seemed confused about what they were going to see. 'It's Sesame Street for twentysomethings,' I explained. 'It's a great comedy.' And so it is. But what hit me this time (my third) was how sweet and likable the show is. At the end of Act One, when the various plots hit their snags and the characters are heartbroken, I heard an audible 'Awwww' throughout the house. This is the triumph of Triangle Productions' 2013 take on Avenue Q: They've found the heart underneath the goofiness. And this is by far the best rendition of the show I've seen.

The Theatre School at DePaul University presents IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER, by alumnus and award-winning playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, and directed by Marc David Pinate, as the first production of the 2012-2013 New Directors Series. IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER opens Today, November 2, and runs through Sunday, November 11, 2012, at the Greenhouse Theater Center. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on October 31 and November 1 at 7:30 PM.

The Theatre School at DePaul University presents IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER, by alumnus and award-winning playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, and directed by Marc David Pinate, as the first production of the 2012-2013 New Directors Series. IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER opens Friday, November 2, and runs through Sunday, November 11, 2012, at the Greenhouse Theater Center. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on October 31 and November 1 at 7:30 PM.

Were you like Seth Rudetsky in the ‘70's? Not just overweight with a Jewfro, but also obsessed with POSEIDON ADVENTURE, AIRPORT '75, EARTHQUAKE, THE SWARM etc...AND obsessed with Casey Kasem's top 40 countdown? Didn't you wish there were some way they could combine? Well, now they have... in DISASTER! DISASTER! is a 1970's disaster movie musical, written by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick, featuring your favorite songs and disasters from the '70s.

It is with great pleasure that The West Bank Café announces upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Cher/Christina Aguilera Movie Burlesque Gets Live Stage Parody -- Before It Even Opens! BOYLESQUE Limited Engagement Begins November 19

Cher/Christina Aguilera Movie Burlesque Gets Live Stage Parody -- Before It Even Opens! BOYLESQUE Limited Engagement Begins November 19

Cher/Christina Aguilera Movie Burlesque Gets Live Stage Parody -- Before It Even Opens! BOYLESQUE Limited Engagement Begins November 19

The critically acclaimed Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) - a leading artistic force, staunch advocate of civil and human rights, and the first gay men's choir to perform for a sitting president (Bill Clinton) - has harnessed the power of music to create a moving anti-bullying music video message featuring Cyndi Lauper's inspiring anthem 'True Colors' for the Internet's 'It Gets Better' project aimed at LGBT youth. More than 200 people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds from across the Southland - gay and straight - participated in the ambitious five-minute video, which was filmed in the gymnasium of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles and further establishes GMCLA as a leading force promoting equality and acceptance. The video can be viewed at both the It Gets Better and GMCLA websites: