Monique News

Barbara Eden hosts Ballroom with a Twist in a brilliant new dance production that rings in the New Year at the DuPont Theatre January 19-24, 2010.

The Golden Satellite Nominations were announced today and the film version of Maury Yeston's 'Nine' received 11 nominations, inclduing Best Motion Picture and Best Director for Rob Marshall. In addition, television favorite 'Glee' received 5 nominations including Best Television Series, Best Actor in a Series for Matthew Morrison and Best Actress in a Series Lea Michele.

'The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old broken-down toolhouse.'

Fela!, the new musical based on the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will open on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street) tonight. Performances began on Monday, October 19.

Alton Fitzgerald White, who currently plays the starring role of Mufasa in Disney's 'Lion King' at Mandalay Bay, will present an evening of holiday music with two charity benefit concerts on Friday, Dec. 4 at the intimate Cabaret Showroom at the Liberace Museum, 1775 E. Tropicana Ave. at Spencer. White is donating all proceeds from ticket sales to benefit the Cabaret Fund for the non-profit Liberace Foundation & Museum

Critically-acclaimed Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company will present Storyteller/Performance Artist/Def Poetry Jam Performer Robert Farid Karimi in his hip hop play self (the remix) as its next full production, running from February 25 - March 21, 2010, at The 10th Avenue Theatre in Downtown San Diego. Press opening will take place on Friday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m.

'The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker's old broken-down toolhouse.'

The Geffen Playhouse's Backstage at the Geffen annual fundraiser, which recognizes leadership in the theater community while raising funds for the Geffen Playhouse's education programs, will honor Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth and Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Barry Meyer.

BroadwayWorld.com presents its newest column, Twitter Watch, which will bring you only the best and most interesting reports straight from the mouths of Broadway stars, shows and more on the hot social networking service - Twitter!

Toronto's The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has revealed revealed additional casting for its 2010 season. The stars include Christopher Plummer, Chilina Kennedy, Juan Chioran, Michael Therriault and Geraint Wyn Davies for the Festival's productions of The Tempest, Evita, Kiss Me Kate, Peter Pan and Do Not Go Gentle. Nikki M. James, who was previously set to star alongside Plummer has withdrawn from the festival due to 'personal reasons.'

Cygnet Theatre presents the San Diego premiere of Man from Nebraska by Pulitzer Prize winning author Tracy Letts.

History Theatre partners with McNally Smith College of Music to produce Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story a show that is part biography, part rock 'n' roll concert which follows the bespectacled musician on this meteoric rise from a rebellious country singer to a rock 'n' roll icon and pioneer in the 1950s, ending with the unforgettable concert with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper in Clear Lake, Iowa - the day the music died.

Cygnet Theatre is proud to present the San Diego premiere staged-reading of acclaimed writer Stephen Metcalfe's Tragedy of the Commons. The cast will include Jim Winker, Manny Fernandes, Monique Gaffney, Francis Gercke, Veronica Murphy and Tim West and will be directed by Stephen Metcalfe. Tragedy of the Commons will be presented ONE NIGHT ONLY at Cygnet's Old Town Theatre on Monday, December 7th, 2009 at 7:30pm. A wine and appetizer meet-and-greet will precede the reading, and a talk-back with the cast and playwright, Stephen Metcalfe, will immediately follow the reading.

History Theatre partners with McNally Smith College of Music to produce Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story a show that is part biography, part rock 'n' roll concert which follows the bespectacled musician on this meteoric rise from a rebellious country singer to a rock 'n' roll icon and pioneer in the 1950s, ending with the unforgettable concert with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper in Clear Lake, Iowa - the day the music died.

As previously announced, Fela!, the new musical based on the life and music of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will arrive on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street). Performances commence tonight, Monday, October 19 with an official opening set for Monday, November 23.

Due to popular demand, the following shows have added additional performances: F#@KING UP EVERYTHING - Sat, Oct 17 at 11pm SING, BUT DON'T TELL - Sun, Oct 18 at 3pm

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Mass Street Productions/Ryan J. Davis are proud to present the World Premiere of Street Lights, a contemporary musical drama by Joe Drymala. From the creators of the Broadway-bound White Noise, which was a hit at NYMF in 2006, Street Lights features a groundbreaking score that uses modern hip hop, R&B and pop to tell a timeless story in the musical language of today's youth, while creating a bridge to earlier generations by incorporating samples of old civil rights anthems within the modern songs and beats. Ryan J. Davis directs a cast of 14 including Carla Duren* (Bway: 110 in the Shade, Hairspray),Chad Carstarphen (Off-Bway: The Conscientious Objector), Miguel Jarquin-Moreland*, Kevin Curtis* (NYMF: Twilight in Manchego, Maccabeat), Gayle Turner* (Bway: The Wiz), Jim Stanek* (Bway: Story of My Life, Lestat, Little Women), Virginia Cavaliere (Regional: High School Musical), Joy Lynn Matthews* (Bway: The Music Man; Marie Christine), Roberto Araujo, Claudeen Benoit, Geri Brown, Jay Garcia*(Off-Bway: Altar Boyz), Ejyp Johnson, and Melissa Joyner all of whom are dedicated to supporting new musicals and whose credits encompass every major regional theater in the country, along with significant achievements in film, television and cabaret. Performances will be held at American Theatre for Actors (Chernuchin), 314 West 54th Street, (bet. 8th & 9th Avenues) in New York City from October 13th-18th.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Mass Street Productions/Ryan J. Davis are proud to present the World Premiere of Street Lights, a contemporary musical drama by Joe Drymala. From the creators of the Broadway-bound White Noise, which was a hit at NYMF in 2006, Street Lights features a groundbreaking score that uses modern hip hop, R&B and pop to tell a timeless story in the musical language of today's youth, while creating a bridge to earlier generations by incorporating samples of old civil rights anthems within the modern songs and beats.

Due to popular demand, the following shows have added additional performances: F#@KING UP EVERYTHING - Sat, Oct 17 at 11pm SING, BUT DON'T TELL - Sun, Oct 18 at 3pm

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Mass Street Productions/Ryan J. Davis are proud to present the World Premiere of Street Lights, a contemporary musical drama by Joe Drymala. From the creators of the Broadway-bound White Noise, which was a hit at NYMF in 2006, Street Lights features a groundbreaking score that uses modern hip hop, R&B and pop to tell a timeless story in the musical language of today's youth, while creating a bridge to earlier generations by incorporating samples of old civil rights anthems within the modern songs and beats.