It is difficult to fully appreciate the volume and quality of songs written by Irving Berlin in your head at one moment. Most of us over a certain age know several, but we might not always connect each one to Berlin. We always know he was responsible for 'White Christmas', of course, and 'God Bless America', but you might only know that 'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm' was written by one of those names...Cole Porter perhaps, or Jerome Kern.
When one thinks of Stephen Schwartz, the lyricist and composer of theater titles 'Godspell,' 'Pippin,' and 'Wicked,' or the films 'Pocahontas,' 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' and 'Enchanted' come to mind. How about 'Children of Eden'? Probably not.
The Broad Stage presents Billy Childs and his Jazz Chamber Ensemble on Sunday, November 11 at 7:30pm. One of the foremost American composers of his era, pianist Billy Childs embodies a unique blend of jazz and classical music. The multi-GRAMMY Award winner's groundbreaking project merges improvisation and jazz rhythms with the orchestration and instrumentation of a traditional chamber ensemble.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ravinia's Steans Music Institute (RSMI) last summer, Ravinia launched a competition for composers who could fuse the worlds of jazz and classical music. Due to its success, Ravinia, with the support of DownBeat magazine, is now calling for submissions to the second annual "Bridges" international jazz and classical fusion composition competition, overseen by legendary pianist Billy Childs and double-bassist Rufus Reid, who co-direct the RSMI Jazz Program. Up to three winners will receive the David Baker Prize, named in recognition of the first RSMI Jazz director. The prize includes $2,500 in cash plus the world-premiere performance of the winning piece during Ravinia's 2019 season.
Son of Semele announces the nine exciting artists and solo works that will make up the 2018 edition of its popular Solo Creation Festival, performed at the Son of Semele Theater at 3301 Beverly Boulevard, from July 12 to July 29, 2018. This curated showcase for the diversity and creative potential of solo performance, founded in 2014, is a proven incubator for works that go on to be performed elsewhere in LA - including multiple festival alumni in the Hollywood Fringe - as well as in other U.S. cities and abroad.
Cast and production team were announced today for Promethean Theatre Ensemble's Joint World Premiere production BLISS (OR EMILY POST IS DEAD!) by Jami Brandli. Promethean's staging, to be directed by Anna Bahow, is part of a rolling world premiere for the play, along with San Diego's Moxie Theatre and Los Angeles's Moving Arts at Atwater Village Theatre. BLISS (OR EMILY POST IS DEAD!) is a dramedy in which four women of Greek tragedy - Clytemnestra, Medea, Antigone, and Cassandra - become New Jersey neighbors in the year 1960. The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE called it "a hilarious, sharply written and fast-paced comedy-drama."
The world premiere performance of SANCTUARY ROAD (subtitled “An Oratorio Based on the Writings of William Still, a Conductor for the Underground Railroad”), by composer Paul Moravec and librettist Mark Campbell, performed by the Oratorio Society of New York under Kent Tritle, burst forth from the stage of Carnegie Hall the other night, with energy, humanity and, of course, great musicality from all involved.
One of the most widely acclaimed shows to address the issue of gun violence and mass school shootings in America is returning to the stage. And the reason for its return, according to producers, is simple: There is still so much more to say.
One of the most widely acclaimed shows to address the issue of gun violence and mass school shootings in America is returning to the stage. And the reason for its return, according to producers, is simple: There is still so much more to say.
Russian film maker Denis Kulikov's dream has come true with his latest feature film So You Want to be a Gangster? gaining international distribution across video on demand platforms around the world. Kulikov knew from a young age where he was heading, and since moving to Los Angeles in 2012 where he was already standing out as an extraordinary producer amongst his peers. “Since early childhood I loved watching movies but even more, I enjoyed footage from behind the scenes and all sorts of documentaries about film production.” He says.
Russian film maker Denis Kulikov's dream has come true with his latest feature film "So You Want to be a Gangster?" gaining international distribution across video on demand platforms around the world. Kulikov knew from a young age where he was heading, and since moving to Los Angeles in 2012 where he was already standing out as an extraordinary producer amongst his peers. 'Since early childhood I loved watching movies but even more, I enjoyed footage from behind the scenes and all sorts of documentaries about film production.' He says.
As directed by Alex Levy, THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION is theatrically inventive and mostly compelling recounting of of Farnsworth and Sarnoff's parallel stories. The production is also performed by a skillful company of actors who take the audience on this little known historical journey.
DELAWARE SHORE is about Agnes, a holocaust survivor who finds refuge on a Delaware beach and raises her abandoned grandchildren there. It brings a modern angle to the Holocaust survivor's stories, showing everyone the effects that such atrocity can have on multiple generations of people.
Ingrid Bergman is the most successful Swedish actress ever and during her lifetime she won 3 Academy awards. Which is a very rare achievement for any actor or actress. She was a very strong woman and took control over her career in a way which was not common at that time. The story of her life has inspired Staffan Aspegren and Jan-Erik Saaf to write a musical about a part of her life. The world premier of the musical was the 9th of February at Östgotateatern in Linkoping, Sweden.
The word magic comes up time and again when speaking of The Unknowable. Both Dave Liebman and Adam Rudolph use the term when describing their 'beautiful alchemy' that also included Tatsuya Nakatani, all three acclaimed artists working as one for this project. Nakatani may not have been using the word 'magic' when he refers to this trio's unique chemistry; but when he speaks of 'living life with sound spirit world,' I infer that he's pointing to the same 'voodoo of spontaneous high level musical communication' Liebman so aptly describes
Jeremy Kushnier (Nurse Jackie, Broadway's Footloose , RENT ), Jessica Phillips (Law & Order SVU, Broadway's Next to Normal ) & Denny Dillon (SNL, Saturday Night Fever, United 93) will star in Absent Mind , a film written and directed by Emilie Khair.
The Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival held at the historic Raleigh Studio Hollywood at 5300 Melrose Ave, Hollywood will screen two short animation films YOU GOT A PROBLEM & WE ARE FRIENDS. The short films are Directed by Broadway Actor (GRAND HOTEL) turned film Director Charles Mandracchia.
A new production of Playwright Neil Simon's beloved comedy BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, produced by Adrienne Visnic and directed by Brandon Baer strolls into LA's Lyric Hyperion Theatre with an all-star ensemble cast of five set for a limited run November 30 December 3.
A new production of Playwright Neil Simon's beloved comedy BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, produced by Adrienne Visnic and directed by Brandon Baer strolls into LA's Lyric Hyperion Theatre with an all-star ensemble cast of five set for a limited run November 30 December 3.
