Michael Anania News

The Muny announced today principal casting for the third show of its 94th season, Disney's Aladdin (July 5-13), directed by Gary Griffin, and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. Tony® Nominees Robin de Jesus and John Tartaglia star as Aladdin and the Genie, respectively. Joining them will be Jason Graae as Omar, Curtis Holbrook as Iago, Francis Jue as Kassim, Eddie Korbich as Babkak, Samantha Massell as Jasmine, Ken Page as the Sultan, and Thom Sesma as Jafar.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) presents a revival of Neil Simon's 1965 comedy classic THE ODD COUPLE starring Wheel of Fortune's Pat Sajak and veteran TV news anchorman Joe Moore - real life friends since their tour of duty in Vietnam. Performances begin June 21 at The Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre at Connecticut Repertory Theatre.

The Ogunquit Playhouse announced that it has received ten Independent Reviewers of New England Award (IRNE) Nominations for its 2011 production of Miss Saigon, including Best Musical in the "Large Theatre" category.

The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards recognize the extraordinary wealth of talent in the Boston theatre community, and this year's nominations have just been announced. IRNE Reviewers include among others David Brooks Andrews, Sheila Barth, Jules Becker, Kay Bourne, Beverly Creasey, Shirley Esthimer, Richard Fahey, Guy Giampapa, Norm Gross, Nancy Grossman, Bryce Lambert, Beatrice Lee, Kilian Melloy and Larry Stark.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present the world premiere of Mike Reiss' comedy I'm Connecticut, December 1 - 10 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present the world premiere of Mike Reiss' comedy I'm Connecticut, December 1 - 10 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present the world premiere of Mike Reiss' comedy I'm Connecticut, December 1 - 10 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs.

Riveting revival of 1990s pop opera 'Miss Saigon' feels fresh and new in a breathtaking production at Maine's Ogunquit Playhouse

The roads connecting the Upper West Side to the Berkshires have been well traveled by Julianne Boyd. As the artistic director & founder of the Barrington Stage Co. she has always presented 'Broadway caliber' works as well as new and experimental productions to her ever growing Berkshire audiences. It has also been a 'two way road' with Barrington sending back to Broadway some pretty impressive BSC productions. ‘THE GAME starring Drama Desk winner Rachel York & Graham Rowat may be the next one to travel that road (along with the just completed sold out run of Mark St. Germain;s 'The Best of Enemies).

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, is proud to present Broadway's Rachel York and Graham Rowat in a new production of the musical The Game. Production dates are through August 28 with a press opening on Wednesday, August 17 at 7pm at BSC Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. Check out photos from the production below!

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, is proud to present Broadway's Rachel York and Graham Rowat in a new production of the musical The Game. Production dates are August 11 through 28 with a press opening on Wednesday, August 17 at 7pm at BSC Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield.

Audiences will probably be more familiar with the 1963 film version of BYE BYE BIRDIE from its innumerable screenings on television, with Dick Van Dyke, Ann Margaret, Janet Leigh, Maureen Stapleton and Paul Lynde all making vivid impressions under George Sidney's direction. But, seeing it live really is a special treat, especially on the expansive Muny stage. Opening night even provided the most gloriously mild weather one could have hoped for to enjoy this oft-played, but rarely perfected delight. Charles Strouse and Lee Adams wrote a number of memorable songs for this musical, and Michael Stewart's lightweight, but entertaining script which mixes romance and a satire on the cult of personality is a fairly sturdy framework to hang them upon. Happily, the production currently playing at the Muny is well worth your time and attention, and certainly beats seeing the film again for the umpteenth time.

The Muny has just released a preview for the upcoming production LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. A true classic of camp comedy, this is the musical that's sure to grow on you! For information call (314) 361-1900 , or visit our website at www.muny.org. To charge tickets by phone, call (314) 534-1111. Check out production shots below!

The Muny has just released a preview for the upcoming production LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. A true classic of camp comedy, this is the musical that's sure to grow on you! For information call (314) 361-1900 , or visit our website at www.muny.org. To charge tickets by phone, call (314) 534-1111. Click below o check it out!

I'm a big fan of lowbrow horror and science fiction films, especially those made between the 1930's and late 1970's, and I've always enjoyed the work of cult director/producer Roger Corman. The original 1960 film version of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, was supposedly shot in four days, and it downright bristles with a sense of energy and cheap thrills, even though the budget was a mere pittance compared to what's spent on the blockbusters we witness today. Howard Ashman (book and lyrics) and Alan Menken (music) took the basic premise put forward by writer Charles Griffith and crafted a very clever and funny off-Broadway musical which, in turn, spawned a rather lackluster and overblown movie version. So, it was with some trepidation that I looked forward to The Muny's current production. It's simply not a big splashy affair, and it would seem to benefit most from a smaller venue. Happily, they do the show justice, and the expansive stage that allows for larger production numbers doesn't get in the way of the simpleness of the story.

The Muny has just annunced the full cast of upcoming production LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. A true classic of camp comedy, this is the musical that's sure to grow on you! For information call (314) 361-1900 , or visit our website at www.muny.org. To charge tickets by phone, call (314) 534-1111.

When initially transforming Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale THE LITTLE MERMAID into an animated film, Disney provided an instant classic that was a smash hit with children and adults (and was a key player in their animation revival). But the transition to the stage proved more troublesome and cumbersome, reworking many plot elements, inserting about a dozen or so songs, and adding about an hour to the film's 80 minutes or so (depending on the version is being viewed) running time. While there's no denying that the audience who braved the heat and humidity in vast numbers at The Muny to see this colorful spectacle had a good time, there's also no denying that a good deal of the original's charm was somehow lost in the process.

Terrence Mann is a fairly ideal Henry Higgins in Connecticut Repertory Theatre's more than fair MY FAIR LADY.