Michael Horsley News

IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS tells the story of two showbiz buddies putting on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and finding their perfect mates in the bargain. Full of dancing, romance, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, including 'Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,' 'Happy Holiday,' 'Sisters,' 'Blue Skies,' and the unforgettable title song,IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS promises to be a merry and bright experience for the entire family! Check out a first look at the tour photos below!

IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the stage adaptation of the beloved classic film, has announced casting for its National Tour visiting the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts on November 26-December 1. Tickets for the BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee series are on sale now at the Marcus Center Box Office at 929 North Water Street, Downtown, Milwaukee, by phone at 414-273-7206 or online at MarcusCenter.org or Ticketmaster.com. Groups 10+ SAVE! Call 414-273-7121 ext. 210.

IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the stage adaptation of the beloved classic film, has announced casting for its National Tour visiting Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Fayetteville, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Des Moines, and Dallas during the 2013 holiday season.

Theatre Du Jour Presents Sandra and Salvador Rosa, two short Absurd plays by painter Joseph White, although he prefers to call them 'oxy-moronic.' A renowned painter since the 1960's (his first inclusion in the Whiney Biennial was 1964), White also danced and wrote poetry while living on the lower East Side in New York in the 1970's and 80's. He participated in readings at St. Mark's Place and his book, Oriental Palace, was published during that time by Adventures in poetry. These two bizarre plays were written between 1970 and 1980 in the absurdist tradition and highlight his image-rich poetry; fantastic vision and practically Dadaist take on society. InSandra, two bus benches observe the behavior of the proletariat who wait for and ride the bus, hiding angst and displeasure under a mantel of civility. Says White, 'Bus benches don't usually get to talk, and when they do it's pretty important.' Salvador Rosa is a series of short vignettes that range from movement poems to a tirade by the rebellious and influential but mostly obscure 17thcentury painter and poet. The themes may be far reaching and at times critical of society, but the plays themselves are funny, entertaining and sometimes downright silly. As one of the actors quipped to White during rehearsal, 'What on earth was going through your mind in 1980?'

The current production of MARY POPPINS that's playing at The Muny is 'practically perfect', featuring some nice special effects, a wonderful set, and terrific performances that manage to capture the spirit of the 1964 Disney film, as well as the P.L. Travers books that inspired it. The original and familiar tunes of Richard and Robert Sherman mesh seamlessly with the new material created by composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and it's all lushly orchestrated and performed. Additionally, Julian Fellowes has crafted a book that incorporates bits plucked from the movie as well as from Travers' original stories. This intermingling of the old with the new is surprisingly refreshing. This is a spectacular show that appeals to both children and adults.

Broadway star Rob McClure (Chaplin) returns to The Muny for the second time this summer as Bert in The Muny's production of Disney's MARY POPPINS. McClure appeared earlier this season as Farquaad in the theatre's production of SHREK: THE MUSICAL. Below, in conversation with Muny Executive Producer Mike Isaacson, McClure discusses his love for embracing the imagined world as a performer and how this approach has helped make his Muny performances so successful. Click to watch!

The Muny is presenting the sixth show of its fantastic 95th Season, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins the Musical, directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. Jenny Powers stars in the title role, with Rob McClure co-starring as Bert. Joining them are Erin Dilly as Winifred Banks andStephen Buntrock as George Banks. Rounding out the cast will be Elizabeth Teeter as Jane Banks, Aidan Gemme as Michael Banks, James Anthony as Admiral Boom, Zoe Vonder Haar as Mrs. Brill, Anthony ChristIan Daniel as Robertson Ay, Laura Ackermann as the Bird Woman, and Rebecca Finnegan as Queen Victoria. Click below to check out interviews with the cast!

The Muny is presenting the sixth show of its fantastic 95th Season, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins the Musical, directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. Jenny Powers stars in the title role, with Rob McClure co-starring as Bert. Joining them are Erin Dilly as Winifred Banks and Stephen Buntrock as George Banks. Rounding out the cast will be Elizabeth Teeter as Jane Banks, Aidan Gemme as Michael Banks, James Anthony as Admiral Boom, Zoe Vonder Haar as Mrs. Brill, Anthony Christian Daniel as Robertson Ay, Laura Ackermann as the Bird Woman, and Rebecca Finnegan as Queen Victoria. BroadwayWorld brings you photos and highlights below!

Knowing full well it's popular reputation, but having seen only one production, I had moderately high expectations for The Muny's take on Dan Goggin's musical comedy, NUNSENSE. I'm not Catholic, so I assumed that some of the humor might be lost on me. Through osmosis alone, I've probably absorbed enough knowledge of the religion's rites, rituals and dogma to get the gist. There are some amusing bits to be found here and there, and this version makes sure to throw in some local humor as well, but the songs aren't especially memorable, and the jokes often fail to hit the mark. Maybe the real problem is the fact that this is a small, and sometimes even intimate, show that gets lost on The Muny's vast stage. However, there are some fine performances from a terrific cast deserving of your time and attention.

The Muny's third show of its 95th Season, Nunsense Muny Style!, directed by Matt Lenz, choreographed by Teri Gibson, and supervised by Dan Goggin, will feature an all-star cast. The show runs through July 7 and in the videos below, you can meet cast members Ken Page and Phyllis Smith!

The Muny's third show of its 95th Season, Nunsense Muny Style!, directed by Matt Lenz, choreographed by Teri Gibson, and supervised by Dan Goggin, will feature an all-star cast. The show runs through July 7 and BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the cast in action below!

In the video below, meet the creator of NUNSENSE, Dan Goggin! In this conversation with Muny Executive Producer, Mike Isaacson, Dan describes how the NUNSENSE sensation came to be and what makes these nuns so funny. Click below to watch!

The Muny announced principal casting for the sixth show of its fantastic 95th Season, Disney and Cameron Mackinstosh's Mary Poppins the Musical, directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. Mary Poppins the Musical is sponsored by Ameren.

The Muny announced principal casting for the third show of its fantastic 95th Season, Nunsense Muny Style!, directed by Matt Lenz, choreographed by Teri Gibson, and supervised by Dan Goggin.

Mark Danni continues to tackle ambitious projects at TheatreZone. With critical and commercial hits 'Forum' and 'Grand Hotel' behind him, success augured well for edgy small-cast, sung-through musical 'Next to Normal.' The pieces just don't fall into place.

BroadwayWorld.com noticed something today as we scoured Facebook and it's something that we really liked, so we wanted to share it with you because it's not so often that you find such generosity for actors. This weekend, all roads lead to St. Louis as actors are headed there from all over the country to audition for the Muny's summer production of LES MISERABLES directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and with music direction by Kevin Stites.

Executive Producer Mike Isaacson announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for its 2013 Season, which opens on June 17 with Monty Python's Spamalot. 'This is a phenomenally talented group of artists, and I'm thrilled to be working with all of them. Last season our audience inspired us to take many risks and push ourselves far. These directors and choreographers are already working on ways to top last season's level of excitement and excellence.'

Overall, 'Irving Berlin's White Christmas' is a step above your average holiday fare. Even if it left me wanting more, one does have to appreciate the music and dancing talent involved and any show which features Berlin's classic tunes is worthy of attention.

It's the most wonderful time of the year at the Ohio Theatre as IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS opened to a packed house on Tuesday night. Based on the classic 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, this stage adaptation remains a universal traditional audience favorite.

You would have to be some sort of modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge-mean and spiteful, unfeeling and cold-not to be totally captivated by Irving Berlin's White Christmas, the exuberant stage musical based on the classic holiday film that many hold dear and now onstage at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall through Sunday, November 18.