Monique News

The Cherry Lane Theatre will present the 11th season of its Obie Award-winning Cherry Lane Mentor Project with the new play HOUSEBREAKING - written by Jakob Holder, mentored by playwright Charles Mee - with performances set to run March 24-April 4 at The Cherry Lane Studio (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan. Daniella Topol directs.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the final Family Series production of its 2008/2009 season, 'THE FROG AND THE WITCH' book and lyrics by SAMMY BUCK, music by DANIEL S. ACQUISTO (LIKE YOU LIKE IT), directed by ELIZABETH LUCAS (THE LAST STARFIGHTER), choreographed by SHEA SULLIVAN and featuring JEFF BARBA, MONIQUE BEASLEY, ANGELA DIRKSEN, CAITLIN MESIANO, GEORGE SALAZAR and REBECCA STAVIS. The production runs March 14th through April 26th, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm. Special weekday Spring Break performances run Friday, April 10th at 12 pm and 2 pm and Thursday April 16th at 11 am.

The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance Department of Musical Theatre presents a special 25 th Anniversary Concert on Saturday, March 21 at 8 PM in Hill Auditorium. Featuring current students of the department and alumni in collaboration with members of the UM Symphony Band, the 25 th Anniversary Concert celebrates the silver anniversary of this program with a wide variety of musical numbers, dances and musical theatre overtures. Faculty members Brent Wagner, Linda Goodrich, Mark Madama direct and choreograph, with Cynthia Kortman Westphal conducting members of the University Symphony Band.

The Broadhurst Theatre box office (235 West 44th Street) opens on Monday, March 9 for MARY STUART, the critically acclaimed Donmar Warehouse production, starring Janet McTeer as Mary Queen of Scots and Harriet Walter as Elizabeth I. Performances begin Tuesday, March 30 at the Broadhurst, prior to an opening night on Sunday, April 19

The Broadhurst Theatre box office (235 West 44th Street) opens on Monday, March 9 for MARY STUART, the critically acclaimed Donmar Warehouse production, starring Janet McTeer as Mary Queen of Scots and Harriet Walter as Elizabeth I. Performances begin Tuesday, March 30 at the Broadhurst, prior to an opening night on Sunday, April 19

Call your gal pals and get your drink on! The smash hit Girls Night: The Musical is coming to The Moore Theatre May 1 - 2, 2009 for two shows only; Friday, May 1 at 8:00pm and Saturday, May 2 at 9:00pm. Entertainment Events presents the U.S. premiere tour of this U.K. sensation. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 6 and are available for $25.00 - $37.50 at www.stgpresents.org, (877) STG-4TIX, in person at The Moore Theatre box office or venue kiosk.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the final Family Series production of its 2008/2009 season, 'THE FROG AND THE WITCH' book and lyrics by SAMMY BUCK, music by DANIEL S. ACQUISTO (LIKE YOU LIKE IT), directed by ELIZABETH LUCAS (THE LAST STARFIGHTER), choreographed by SHEA SULLIVAN and featuring JEFF BARBA, MONIQUE BEASLEY, ANGELA DIRKSEN, CAITLIN MESIANO, GEORGE SALAZAR and REBECCA STAVIS. The production runs March 14th through April 26th, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm. Special weekday Spring Break performances run Friday, April 10th at 12 pm and 2 pm and Thursday April 16th at 11 am.

The Cherry Lane Theatre will present the 11th season of its Obie Award-winning Cherry Lane Mentor Project with the new play HOUSEBREAKING - written by Jakob Holder, mentored by playwright Charles Mee - with performances set to run March 24-April 4 at The Cherry Lane Studio (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan. Daniella Topol directs.

The Cherry Lane Theatre will present the 11th season of its Obie Award-winning Cherry Lane Mentor Project with the new play HOUSEBREAKING - written by Jakob Holder, mentored by playwright Charles Mee - with performances set to run March 24-April 4 at The Cherry Lane Studio (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan. Daniella Topol directs.

RED BULL THEATER presents on Monday February 23rd, 7pm A STAGED READING OF THE ROYAL HUNT OF THE SUN by PETER SHAFFER with David Anzuelo, David Arca, Raul Castillo, Geraint Wyn Davies, Monique Fowler, Rhett Henckel, Matthew Rauch, Trini Sandovald, Patrick Vaill, Marc Vietor, David Villalobos, Matthew Wilkis & More.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Friday, February 20, 2009.

RED BULL THEATER presents on Monday February 23rd, 7pm A STAGED READING OF THE ROYAL HUNT OF THE SUN by PETER SHAFFER with David Anzuelo, David Arca, Raul Castillo, Geraint Wyn Davies, Monique Fowler, Rhett Henckel, Matthew Rauch, Trini Sandovald, Patrick Vaill, Marc Vietor, David Villalobos, Matthew Wilkis & More.

The New Group proudly presents Eugene O'Neill's epic drama Mourning Becomes Electra as the second production in its 2008-2009 season. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production is playing a limited Off-Broadway run January 27 - April 18, with Official Opening Night on Thursday, February 19 at 6:00 PM.

'A Change Is Coming' A National Gospel Stage Play took home the top honor of the evening at the 2008 Velocity Magazine Awards on November 15, 2008 for 'Best Film/Stage Play'.

Baltimore's newest gang of artists, Nine Imaginary Cows Theater Collective, presents a brand-spanking-new work for the stage: There Have Been Other Men in My Wife's Bed (A Marital Arrangement for 3 Actors), running February 26 through March 7 at Theatre Project (45 West Preston Street, Baltimore). Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8pm for both weeks, with a special 7pm performance on Sunday, March 1. Ticket prices are $20 for General Admission, $15 for Seniors and Artists, and $10 for Students. Tickets can be purchased over the phone by calling Theatre Project at 410-752-8558, or online by visiting missiontix.com. For more information, visit www.theatreproject.org.

Michel Tremblay's dark portrait of a dysfunctional family is geven an excellent student production at Erindale. * * * * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre presents the hilarious Off-Broadway musical comedy hit, BAT BOY, THE MUSICAL. This campy, off-the-wall parody inspired by a supermarket tabloid story of a half-boy, half-bat keeps both tongue and fang firmly in cheek. The exuberant score mixes rock, Broadway, gospel, and country music in a smart, witty, self-aware comical confection. Award-winning director Jay Manley helms this fabulous cult hit with musical direction by Spencer Williams, and choreography by Andrew Ceglio (also the production's star). The talented cast of BAT BOY, THE MUSICAL includes Andrew Ceglio as both Bat Boy and the production choreographer (credits include Pippin at Foothill Music Theatre, Marquee Productions at Childrens Musical Theater San Jose, Theater on San Pedro, and Forever Plaid at Cabrillo Stage as director and choreographer); Kateri McRae returns to the Foothill stage as Bat Boy's young love, Shelley (previously seen as Mae in Foothill Music Theatre's The Pajama Game, other credits include Broadway By the Bay and the Palo Alto Players); Ariel Buck as Shelley's mother and Bat Boy's tutor (credits include North Shore Music Theatre, MA, Marquee Productions at CMSTSJ, and an international tour with Tokyo Disney Sea); Tim Reynolds as the veterinarian, Dr. Parker (credits include Bobby in Company at Foothill Music Theatre, and roles at TheatreWorks and Broadway By the Bay); Todd Wright returns to Foothill as the Sherriff (previous roles include Alfie Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Mr. Hasler in The Pajama Game and numerous roles with the Los Gatos Shakespeare Festival). Also featured in the cast of BAT BOY, THE MUSICAL are David Cates, RaMond Thomas, Michael Rhone, Sarah B. Griner, and Monique Hafen in rotating roles as the various citizens of Hope Falls, West Virigina.

Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre presents the hilarious Off-Broadway musical comedy hit, BAT BOY, THE MUSICAL. This campy, off-the-wall parody inspired by a supermarket tabloid story of a half-boy, half-bat keeps both tongue and fang firmly in cheek. The exuberant score mixes rock, Broadway, gospel, and country music in a smart, witty, self-aware comical confection. Award-winning director Jay Manley helms this fabulous cult hit with musical direction by Spencer Williams, and choreography by Andrew Ceglio (also the production's star). BAT BOY, THE MUSICAL plays February 27 (press opening February 28, 8pm & March 1, 2pm) through March 22, 2009 at the Lohman Theatre at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. For tickets ($18-26) and information, the public may visit www.foothillmusicals.com, or phone the box office at 650 949-7360. Called 'exuberant, campy fun' by the San Francisco Chronicle, BAT BOY, THE MUSICAL, ripped from the headlines of The Weekly World News tabloid, is a dark but whimsical parable on the secret desires and depravities of a small West Virginia town. While visiting the caves outside of Hope Falls, West Virginia, three young explorers find a bat-boy hiding among the caverns. The local sheriff, unsure of what to do with the dangerous captive, who could be connected to the strange illness killing off the local cows, takes the bat-boy to the veterinarian. While the townspeople clamor for his destruction, Bat Boy, who is taken in by the veterinarian and his family, learns to read, speak, and even fall in love. A wickedly slick satire that spoofs convention, BAT BOY chronicles the struggles of a boy with fangs who just wants to be loved. The show premiered at Tim Robbins' Actors Gang Theatre on October 31, 1997, and has since been produced Off-Broadway, in London's West End, at the Edinburgh Festival and in scores of productions throughout the world. The New York Times declared, 'It's remarkable what intelligent wit can accomplish, even within an outlandish frame,' of this Outer Critics Circle Award-winner for Best Off-Broadway Musical.

BAT BOY, THE MUSICAL plays February 27 (press opening February 28, 8pm & March 1, 2pm) through March 22, 2009 at the Lohman Theatre at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills. For tickets ($18-26) and information, the public may visit www.foothillmusicals.com, or phone the box office at 650 949-7360.

Page 73 and Soho Rep team up to present the world premiere of Dan LeFranc's new play SIXTY MILES TO SILVER LAKE directed by Anne Kauffman (Obie Award-winning director of Adam Bock's THE THUGS at Soho Rep). Previews begin January 15th prior to an official press opening of January 22nd at Soho Rep (46 Walker Street). Following Page 73's critically acclaimed productions of Jason Grote's 1001 and Quiara Alegr?a Hudes' ELLIOT, A SOLIDER'S FUGUE (Pulitzer Prize Finalist) and fresh from Soho Rep's extended and acclaimed production of Sarah Kane's BLASTED comes this co-produced world premiere. Scheduled January 15 through February 8, performances of SIXTY MILES TO SILVER LAKE run Tuesdays - Sundays at 7:30pm, with Saturday matinees at 3:00pm (no matinee performance on Saturday, January 17) at Soho Rep (46 Walker Street - between Broadway &Church, 2 blocks south of Canal Street). Tickets are 99 cents through $35 and can be reserved by calling TheaterMania at 212-352-3101 or online at www.sixtymilestheplay.com, www.p73.org & www.sohorep.org.