Plenty News

Going into a show titled Emojiland, you're probably not expecting allegories about immigration, politics, mental illness, and the ups and downs of the human condition. Surprise! Keith Harrison and Laura Schein have created a musical that's remarkably straightforward and thoughtful underneath its gimmicky, colorful exterior. The score is alternately silly and insightful, making it a genuinely delightful listening experience.

Hot on the heels of the release of their latest album, 20/20 Vision, political punk icons Anti-Flag are set to return to the road in North America beginning March 11 in Ottawa, ON. The tour runs through May 30 in Seattle and includes the band's ANTIfest on March 28 in their hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. ANTIfest is the band's very own festival they have hosted in various locations — mainly in Europe and UK — since 2012. 

Remember the movie that shamed you for liking merlot? Well, Sideways is back but now you can get shamed from the stage. The Off-Broadway performance, Sideways The Experience, recently opened in New York City at Theatre at St. Clement's.

Backed by the DC area's own incredible pianist Howard Breitbart on piano, Perry Cavari on drums, and Dylan Shamat on bass, Norm impressed from beginning to end, making the trip to the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater well worth the trip.

Interestingly adapted by Robert Icke, from Arthur Schnitzler's 1912 play, Professor Bernhardi.

Providence theatre-goers have the opportunity to spend considerable time in 18th century France this spring--both at Trinity Rep's A Tale of Two Cities, and now at Brown/Trinity's MFA production of MARIE ANTOINETTE.  Seeing both productions back-to-back makes for an interesting juxtaposition as Tale of Two Cities takes us into the lives of the over-taxed working class, and MARIE ANTOINETTE takes us into the opulent palace that those taxes built.  While Marie Antoinette is not exactly an empathetic figure, it's easy to see why movies and plays are produced about her life. Excess -- in fashion, wealth, and consumption of all kinds -- makes for a visually spectacular extravaganza, and this production leans into that in the most delightful way.

Playwright Christina R Chan has been developing a new work, The Fortune Teller, which will have a premiere staged reading through one of TC Squared Theatre Company's Playwright Salons on March 1. This follows after her 2017 finalist entry for the Eugene O'Neill Play Conference, which also started as a reading in TC Squared's salon. I got to chat with Chan as well as TC Squared artistic director Rosalind Thomas-Clark about how The Fortune Teller has grown and developed through the Playwrights' Lab.

MAC Award-winning duo Ray DeForest and Doris Dear are nominees again this year and Stephen Mosher just had to talk with them about their life together, how they came into being, and what it is that makes the perfect American housewife.

16th Street Theater will present the limited run of Steven Strafford's METHTACULAR! directed by Adam Fitzgerald performing March 19 - April 4, 2020 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn. Press opening is Thursday, March 19 at 7:30 PM.

J. Mark McVey's reference point was Broadway (mostly) with some bombast, with a band and guests, while Alexis Cole showed that less can be more with relaxed, classy jazz stylings.

Trustus Theatre will continue their 35th Anniversary Season and their 'In the Round' series with the production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.

Today, the Austin, TX-based country rock band Reckless Kelly released “North American Jackpot,” the first single and title track from their upcoming album American Jackpot (out May 22 alongside their album American Girls). The song will be available everywhere tomorrow but you can hear it now on Taste of Country.

Hot off the Captain's table! There's just over a month until Sasha Regan's award-winning All-Male company docks at Wilton's Music Hall for another nautical adventure! The much-loved crew of All-Male H.M.S. PINAFORE downs anchor at Wilton's from 15th April - 9th May before setting sail to Bath, Winchester, Cambridge and Exeter.

The Museum of Pop Culture today announced the October opening of Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume in partnership with the Walt Disney Archives. Through more than 70 original items including ball gowns, sorcerers' capes, military uniforms, tiaras, and of course glass slippers, the exhibition immerses visitors into the world of Disney and shows how our understanding of its iconic characters is shaped through the artistry and creativity of its costumes. Watch for more information on their website.

On Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 8 pm and Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 4 pm, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) welcomes virtuoso violinist Stefan Jackiw to the Richardson Auditorium stage on the campus of Princeton University. Mr. Jackiw performs Felix Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E Minor on a program with the US premiere of Princeton-based composer Julian Grant's work a?'a??a??a?? (Five Generations - One House) and a performance of Ludwig Van Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36 in honor of the composer's 250th birthday. Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov conducts.

Grand Rapids Pops has announced the shows coming to its stage in its 2020-21 season.

WE'RE GONNA DIE officially opened tonight at Second Stage Theater Read the reviews!

Get ready for another hair-raising adventure when Poppy, Branch and all their Trolls friends come to life on stage in Trolls LIVE!, their first ever live tour! Jam-packed with epic music, glitter, humor and happiness, Trolls LIVE! will visit First Interstate Center for the Arts, September 15 & 16 for three Trolls-tastic performances. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 6 and can be purchased at www.TrollsLIVE.com.

Writers' platform Untitled, which was founded last year, is pleased to announce the return of the salon for 2020 with their fourth event in their Writers' Salon series. Scheduled to take place on Thursday, 2 April 2020 at The Curtain Hotel in Old Street, Untitled will be welcoming ten underrepresented writers to share their work in front of a live audience.