Michael Brun News

Snap! The world is on its last nerve, but in one small room, one anger management counselor is hoping to make a difference. In these days of rampant road rage, heated political rallies and protests in the street, Snap! is a hilarious look at five ordinary people in a world on the brink of a global temper tantrum.

New York's burgeoning dance music collective Fiction will host the sequel to their label showcase event series with Berlin'sLossless founders Mathias Schober and Thomas Herb together known as (SBTH) and special guest, the rising star of Innervisions, Aera. Taking place at Analog BKNY, an underground Brooklyn nightclub known for its top of the line SBS Slammer sound system, coupled with an impressive lineup of upcoming European deep house talent, the night will be sure to please New York nightlife aficionados and fans of quality dance music.

 Theatre francais de Toronto presents Dom Juan; the original version of the Moliere classic directed by Joel Beddows and presented at the Berkeley Street Theatre with English surtitles Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The May 25 performance is part of the Fundraising Gala which will conclude with a reception at the Thompson Landry Gallery.

Theatre francais de Toronto will present the fifth installment of its wildly popular theatre for young audience series Les Zinspires. Directed by Chanda Legroux Gibson, Les Zinspires cinq sur cinq will be presented in French with English surtitles at the Berkeley Street Theatre, November 18, 23 & 26.

Theatre francais de Toronto will present the fifth installment of its wildly popular theatre for young audience series Les Zinspires. Directed by Chanda Legroux Gibson, Les Zinspires cinq sur cinq will be presented in French with English surtitles at the Berkeley Street Theatre, November 18, 23 & 26.

Henrik Ibsen's lesser-known drama 'Ghosts' should be just as prolific as 'A Doll's House.' This 19th-century societal criticism is one to check off your classical theater bucket list, and Richard Eyre's masterful adaptation at ArtsWest is impressively close to the original. On top of casting two theatrical powerhouses--Suzanna Bouchard and Noah Racey--ArtsWest's current production is one that would make Ibsen himself stand and applaud.

New York Theatre Barn, a nonprofit theatre company that incubates, develops, and produces new musicals that tell untold stories, today announced the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors: Michael Bruno, Jonathan Freeman, Dylan James and Susan Thomas.

Internationally acclaimed hip-hop artist Talib Kweli will perform with a full live band at a free concert at Showbox SoDo in Seattle on August 19th from 6pm - 11:30pm, as part of the nationwide Rock Against the TPP tour, a series of large-scale concerts, teach-ins, and protests mobilizing to raise awareness about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the unpopular, anti-democratic "trade" deal that has been a hot topic in the presidential election

Have you ever seen a production where you thought that the actors where too good for the show? That's how it felt watching Studio 18 Production's inaugural show 'Bonnie & Clyde' at 12th Avenue Arts. I am very impressed that this brand new company threw together such a talented cast for this musical, and at such an esteemed venue. Unfortunately, with its pandering plot line and repetitive score, this musical felt beneath the caliber of those involved.

There's nothing like a well done David Mamet play with its verbal sparring, clever dialog and constant exchange of power. But in order to be great the performances need to be so laser focused and on point you could cut glass with them. And while the current production from Theatre9/12 of "Speed the Plow" is on its way to that level, they still need a bit more settling into the roles in order to be fully committed.

One of the major problems with the Loman family in Arthur Miller's masterpiece "Death of a Salesman", currently closing out the season at ArtsWest, is that the family doesn't communicate with each other. They bluster and puff up about things that may or may not have happened but they never really talk to each other about what's important. And while that lack of communication may serve the story well it does not serve the performance as the same could be said for the production at ArtsWest itself. During it's over 3 hour runtime there were a lot of emotion and stirring speeches being made but for the most part the actors were not connecting with each other and if they aren't connecting with each other then the audience cannot connect with them.

Romantic comedies for the straight community abound. But as they say in the current production from Gay City Arts and The Bitter Single Guy Productions, "The Hat", gay stories aren't told much unless they involve AIDS or civil rights. This is what makes "The Hat" so refreshing. It's a simple, cute romantic comedy about a newly single guy in his thirties suddenly trying to date in this modern world of hookup apps and he just happens to be gay. And while the story wandered a bit the dialog is crisp and fresh and the characters could not be more likable and relatable.

There's no doubt that Jeanine Tesori's music in the musical "Violet", currently playing at ArtsWest, is stirring and powerful but it's the lyrics and book by Brian Crawley that truly pack the punch in the show. But of course they would as the show is rife with hot button topics of that era as well as our own. And while the ensemble manages some of the tightest and most technically proficient performances I've seen I didn't always get from them the importance or danger associated with the stakes of those issues and so didn't always feel the emotional connection to the story.

Party into the start of spring with some of the hottest headliners throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Ruby Skye is the Bay Area's hottest club and concert venue. For all kinds of electrifying music, night-long parties, bottle service, VIP booths and more, spend the weekend at Ruby Skye.

Psycho Beach Party is a lot like United States of Tara - if Tara included beach babes, surfing, and nods to Joan Crawford. In StageQ's latest production, written by Charles Busch, reality is turned on its head for a group of fun-loving beach bums in a happy-go-lucky 1960's throwback.

Clifford Odets built a career off of writing dramas that dealt with class inequality and social injustice in the depression era. His first ever produced play, "Waiting for Lefty", certainly falls into that category. And while the current production from Theatre9/12 does manage some stirring performances, they can't escape the bleak nature of the play itself as Odets drives home over and over the inescapable nature of the era.

Behold: the enemy of the theatre, the millennial. They leech, they binge-drink, and despite having no idea what it is they want, they will do anything to find out. Brace yourself for a no-hope critique of millennial culture in 'Really Really' at ArtsWest.

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 70 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2015 Madison winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

Dear Readers, I hope you've all fared well over the holidays and had a good time with your families. It's been a tumultuous year with lots of great theater for us to take in. And so I'm pleased to share with you some of the best things I saw this past year and the ones that I felt worthy of getting my Critic's Choice Awards for 2015. So settle in and allow me to expound on all the amazing I saw over the year. The envelope please.

Highland Concerts and MCP Presents, organizers of the sixth annual LIGHTS ALL NIGHT electronic music festival recently announced the complete line-up for Texas' biggest New Years Eve bash taking place at the Dallas Convention Center tonight, December 31, and tomorrow, January 1.