Nathaniel Stampley News

The gala 48th Annual Equity Jeff Awards held at Drury Lane Oakbrook on Monday, October 17, celebrated a season of outstanding productions.

Everyone eventually wishes for an impossible dream to be fulfilled-In a musical where that song, 'The Impossible Dream,' continues to inspire an audience, Milwaukee Repertory stellar Man of La Mancha opened the final weeks of September and proved why the musical won five 1966 Tony Awards. The first production in the Quadracci Powerhouse season, the iconic musical written by Dale Wasserman combined with brilliant music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion transforms Cervantes groundbreaking novel into a two hour, no intermission musical set in the dungeons of the 16th century Spanish Inquisition. Cervantes and his servant Sancho Panza must prove their worth to their prison mates. To do so, the pair performs the poet's 'Man of La Mancha' in the Spanish dungeon, where all the prisoners participate as actors, which eventually awakens the impossible dream inside those attending in the audience

Six world premiere plays and four new adaptations seen first by Chicago audiences were among those receiving nominations by The Jeff Awards Committee. 178 nominations in 32 categories honor Chicago Equity theatrical productions that opened between August 1, 2015 and July 31, 2016.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announces the launch of the Professional Training Institute (PTI), an advanced actor training program for students in 8th-12th grade who may have an interest in pursuing a career as a professional theater artist. Participants will receive free training from some of the top theater professionals in the world culminating in a capstone summer performance where they will be employed as paid, professional actors. Support for this program is provided by funders of The Rep's new community engagement initiative Mpact, which is designed to further the theater's mission of creating positive change in the cultural, social and economic vitality of Milwaukee.

From the haunting opening notes to the robust finale, there's not a wrong note in Marriott Theatre's latest musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA.

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, running through August 14 with a press opening last night, June 29. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening festivities below!

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, running through August 14 with a press opening tomorrow, June 29 at 8 p.m. Click below to watch highlights from the show!

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, running through August 14 with a press opening tonight, June 29 at 8 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, running through August 14 with a press opening on Wednesday, June 29 at 8 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Deemed one of the greatest musicals of all time and winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, MAN OF LA MANCHA rides into The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, previewing June 22, running through August 14 with a press opening on Wednesday, June 29 at 8 p.m. With book by Dale Wasserman, lyrics by Joe Darion, and an exuberant score by Mitch Leigh, the breathtaking musical tells the rich story of chivalry, romance, idealism and dreaming "The Impossible Dream." Complemented by Musical Director Ryan T. Nelson, six-time Jeff Award Winner Nick Bowling (The King and I at The Marriott Theatre, The History Boys and Fiorello! at TimeLine Theatre) presents a unique production of the classic tale, bringing to life the parallels between the struggles of 16th Century Spain with the challenges of modern day society. 

The Grammy Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra begins the month of May with a performance featuring Schumann's Piano Concerto played by Javier Perianes, and led by guest conductor Lothar Zagrosek on May 5 and 7. The performances will also include Mendelssohn's Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage Overture and Brahms' Symphony No. 1

Broadway Pops International (BPI) presents A RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN CELEBRATION at the Batte Center at Wingate University in Wingate, NC on April 1st at 8:00pm.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens: A Benefit Concert with Bill Russell & Friends; 54 Sings The Scarlet Pimpernel; Anneliese van der Pol and Tyce Green In Concert; Pride and Prejudice: the Musical in Concert; Christine Andreas: Cafe Society.

On Monday, February 29, 2016, the Broadway at Birdland concert series will be presenting Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens as a benefit concert. With music by Janet Hood, lyrics and additional text by bill Russell, the piece is comprised of songs and monologues inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology. To get the inside scoop on the upcoming star studded concert, I chatted with Russell and director Jill Sapenoff.

Tonight, Artistic Director Mark Clements and Managing Director Chad Bauman announced Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2016/17 Season to a group of The Rep's subscribers, donors, community leaders, and members of the press.

Broadway Pops International (BPI) presents BROADWAY BY REQUEST with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra. The concert will take place at the Avalon Theater in Grand Junction, CO tonight, January 9 at 7:30pm.

Broadway Pops International (BPI) presents BROADWAY BY REQUEST with the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra. The concert will take place at the Avalon Theater in Grand Junction, CO on Saturday, January 9 at 7:30pm.

The NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch's Theatre Viewing Committee announces nominations for the 25th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards. The awards include 32 categories, which encompass local and equity nominations. Winners will be announced in the first quarter of 2016.

This holiday season, The Classical Theatre of Harlem, in collaboration with the Apollo Theater, presents the world premiere of The First Noel. This Harlem- based holiday musical features music that crosses genres-from pop to jazz to gospel - to tell a universal story of love and belonging. Book, lyrics and music by Jason Michael Webb (Motown: The Musical, Violetand The Color Purple) and Lelund Durond Thompson (founder, YellaFella Entertainment and CTH Artistic Associate). Steve H. Broadnax III (Dominique Morisseau's Blood at the Root) serves as director and Brian Harlan Brooks (Motown: The Musical) as choreographer for this holiday presentation, which will take place in the Apollo's soundstage. The First Noel, commissioned by The Classical Theatre of Harlem and in association with Penn State Centre Stage, has been in development for three years and is intended to become a Harlem holiday classic. 

An all-new episode of THEATER TALK features interviews about and performances from two Off-Broadway productions - one of them celebrating the upcoming Christmas holiday.