Phelps News

Dare Lab presents the new verse play 'May Violets Spring' in which James Parenti cleverly rewrites Hamlet to make Ophelia a central and active character.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 128 nominations in 24 categories of Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2013, and March 31, 2014. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 147 productions offered by 65 Non-Equity producing organizations. The judges recommended 66 of those shows, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Thirty theatre companies received nominations.

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' roundup! Today's photos come from the casts of ROCKY, MAMMA MIA!, WICKED, 50 SHADES, KINKY BOOTS, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, and more!

Pride Films and Plays has announced that an extra performance of the hit musical Songs From An Unmade Bed has been added for Sunday, April 27 at 3:00. The final performance is still scheduled for that same day at 7:30.

The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) has announced over 25 nominations of actors, directors, designers and ensembles to be presented at 32nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards on Monday May 19 at The Wheelock Family Theatre.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Cats,' 'Les Miserables' and 'Songs From An Unmade Bed,' rake in the reviews, 'Road Show' and 'Passion' will be followed by 'Assassins,' Theo readies 'The Andrews Sisters,' Kokandy brings back 'The Full Monty' and 'Loving Repeating,' plus two kids shows and more!

On the heels of its best quarter in network history, Investigation Discovery unveils a late-April slate that showers viewers with new premieres every night of the week, featuring seven new series, and seven ongoing hits.

New York City actor and musician James Parenti has nurtured a love of verse all his life, and May Violets Spring is his first outing as an adapter and playwright. In 2011, while preparing to play the title role in Shakespeare's Hamlet, Parenti became frustrated by Ophelia's limited place in the story. Dreaming of a production of Hamlet that gave Ophelia a voice, over the next three years Parenti adapted the material himself. The result is a love letter to classical heroines slighted by the narratives of our past and too often in productions of the present.

It has been great to watch actors Jordan Phelps and Kevin Webb, along with musical director Robert Ollis, work their magic with the excellent material in this musical. With lyrics by Mark Campbell, and music by 18 different writers, each song is a journey... full of humor, sorrow, joy, and love. We could not be prouder of the work of director and choreographer Derek Van Barham, our pre-show entertainers Jonas Davidow and Tommy Thurston, and the entire production team.

Pacific Northwest Ballet continues its 2013-2014 season with George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream. A complete delight for all ages, this full-length ballet is based on William Shakespeare's comedy about the romantic adventures, quarrels and reunions of two pairs of mortal lovers and the king and queen of the fairies. Balanchine's Midsummer, which New York City Ballet premiered in 1962, was the first original evening-length ballet he choreographed in America. Staged by PNB Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell, PNB's production is an enchanted landscape where misunderstandings and mayhem weave tangled paths through the opulent layers of Martin Pakledinaz's designs and Balanchine's marvelously crafted partnerings. All ends well in Act II's wedding festivities with the recognition of ideal love, tenderly portrayed in an exquisite pas de deux. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays for eight performances only, tonight, April 11-19 at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center Tickets start at $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206. 441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer Street.

DARK MINDS returns to Investigation Discovery this April with a two-hour investigation into Alaskan serial killer Israel Keyes.

A Romantic era masterpiece, Giselle tells the story of a young woman seduced and betrayed by a nobleman. Dying of a broken heart, she joins the ranks of the supernatural Wilis-a sisterhood of female spirits scorned before their wedding day and doomed to rise from the grave, taking their revenge for eternity. Peter Boal's radiant reconstruction of Giselle drew international accolades when it premiered at Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2011. PNB's production marked the first time an American ballet company had based a production on Stepanov notation as well as the first use in modern times of the rare French sources for Giselle. Now, to close PNB's 2013-2014 season, Giselle reappears newly adorned in luxurious 19th century costumes and scenery, conceived and designed by Jerome Kaplan (Don Quixote, Romeo et Juliette). Giselle runs for eight performances only, May 30 through June 8 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets start at $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, in person at 301 Mercer Street, or online at online at PNB.org.

The New York Philharmonic and the Music Academy of the West have entered into a four-year partnership that will create unique and intensive opportunities for selected Music Academy Fellows to train with New York Philharmonic musicians and Music Director Alan Gilbert in Santa Barbara and New York. Alan Gilbert, the New York Philharmonic, its Assistant Conductors, and musicians will have a presence at the Music Academy Summer Festival for training and performances each summer for four years beginning in 2014, culminating in a joint concert with the New York Philharmonic and Academy Festival Orchestra celebrating the Music Academy's 70th anniversary in 2017.

Pride Films & Plays' next mainstage show is the Chicago premiere of Mark Campbell's musical revue Songs from an Unmade Bed, a love letter to gay men living in the city. Songs From An Unmade Bed is performed by Kevin Webb* and Jordan Phelps*, joined by understudies Jonas Davidow and Tommy Thurston on percussion, and is directed by Derek Van Barham*, under the music direction of Robert Ollis*. Scroll down for a look at the cast!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Cats' and 'Les Miserables' open in major suburban productions, a world premiere from Hershey Felder, a Chicago premiere from Pride Films And Plays, 'Carnival' spins, Harms and Scrofano feted, season announcements from Porchlight, Williams Street and Milwaukee Skylight, and more!

Southwestern University is proud to present Gypsy, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, today, March 26-30, 2014. Gypsy is directed by Rick Roemer. Performances will run at 7:30pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:00pm on Saturday and Sunday at the Alma Thomas Theater. Tickets are $10-20.

A few days after counter-protesters display compassion for grieving members of the Westboro Baptist Church, Terrence McNally asks us to feel compassion for a grieving anti-gay mother.

Dark & Stormy Productions today announces the six actors and director for its upcoming regional premiere of the Outer Critics Award-nominated play The Drunken City by Adam Bock. Previously, Dark & Stormy presented Outside Providence by Edward Allan Baker, Speed-the-Plow by David Mamet, and The Receptionist by Adam Bock.

The chamber music concert co-presented with 92nd Street Y featuring The Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Yefim Bronfman, originally scheduled for March 30, has been postponed to Friday, May 23, 2014, at 8:00 p.m. at 92nd Street Y at Mr. Bronfman's request, due to an unforeseen scheduling issue. Tickets originally issued for March 30 will be honored on May 23.

Pacific Northwest Ballet continues its 2013-2014 season with George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream. A complete delight for all ages, this full-length ballet is based on William Shakespeare's comedy about the romantic adventures, quarrels and reunions of two pairs of mortal lovers and the king and queen of the fairies. Balanchine's Midsummer, which New York City Ballet premiered in 1962, was the first original evening-length ballet he choreographed in America. Staged by PNB Founding Artistic Director Francia Russell, PNB's production is an enchanted landscape where misunderstandings and mayhem weave tangled paths through the opulent layers of Martin Pakledinaz's designs and Balanchine's marvelously crafted partnerings. All ends well in Act II's wedding festivities with the recognition of ideal love, tenderly portrayed in an exquisite pas de deux. A Midsummer Night's Dream plays for eight performances only, April 11-19 at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center Tickets start at $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206. 441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office at 301 Mercer Street.