Plenty News

The Randy Andys Holiday Fête brought sass and spirit in equal measure to Pangea last night. The 'girl group gone retro' is a singing trio of actresses (à la The Andrews Sisters) in rotating formations based on who is in town. They were in full swing last night with 9 of the Andys lending their voices, beauty, and charisma to the show, in addition to a couple of delightful holiday guests.

a?oeIf, after the events of recent weeks you need any reason at all to embrace life again, the musical you've been waiting for has arrived.a??

What happens when a modern-day Little Red Riding Hood gets pulled back in time, dropped in a forest, and comes face-to-face with Maid Marion, Robin Hood, and an evil sheriff? A lot. And it all happens hilariously, with full musical numbers, in Ross Petty's LIL RED ROBIN HOOD.

After a sold out run last season, the a?oeShowbiz Spitfirea?? Paige Turner is back in her all new holiday special a?oeJINGLE ALL THE WAY!a?? this oversized Barbie wants a lot this Christmas and isn't taking NO for an answer! Tis the season to be greedy, be a mistfit and get your stocking stuffed, while celebrate the true meaning of Christmas Paige Turner style.

In a working partnership approaching three decades, composer Stewart Copeland and librettist Jonathan Moore bring their latest opera 'Electric Saint' to Kunstfest Weimar in September of 2020. The project is a co-commission of the innovative Kunstfest alongside Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar (DNT). The world premiere performance will take place at Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar on September 6, 2020, with seven subsequent performances in Weimar.

Red Mountain Theatre Company is mounting an unforgettable production of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess at the RMTC Cabaret Theatre, February 7-23.

Kristin Chenoweth celebrates the reason for the season in the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert premiering December 16 on PBS.

The Second City's 'She the People' is back at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. The jokes and social commentary have been updated to address current events, as well as keep some evergreen topics fresh and remind us how upsetting it is that some things are considered evergreen. But, above all, 'She the People' is a call to action. It's a reminder that women's experiences matter, and women's voices matter.

Some may doubt that a stage adaptation of the terrifically inventive, romantic, and witty 1998 film, 'Shakespeare in Love,' could possibly succeed. However, Connecticut Repertory Theatre's current production, expertly directed by Vincent Tycer and acted by a vibrant, masterful cast, proves that setting this story--which is about theater, after all--in an actual theater, creates a magic all its own. This production is, without a doubt, 'a hit! a palpable hit!'

...but it's the humanity underpinning the comedy that really surprised me. The a?oestudentsa?? are so earnest in their efforts. It's their Muppet-ish instinct to make the best of a bad mistake under a spotlight that makes the show so relatable. Aren't we all just trying to do our best as the set pieces of our lives malfunction all around us?

Prepare yourself for more good things to be said about the Anderson Brothers. The twins took on Cole Porter this time for a fun show combining historic facts with numbers written by the 'millionaire, Episcopalian, born in Peru, Indiana' The Anderson Brothers created a unique atmosphere for their show by deviating between instrumental-only music and songs performed alongside singer, Yaala Ballin.

A talented trumpeter, Wayne Tucker brought a series of favorites from his earlier CDs along with new numbers from upcoming recordings to Birdland Theater. In his element, Tucker, alongside his solid band, the Bad Motha's, had the crowd settling in for a serene evening of delectable jazz numbers.

In staging a refreshed version of Pride and Prejudice, the Rep has confidently made its case that well produced drama of classic works can continue to remain relevant in the context of contemporary times.

British indie-rock outfit Beat Hotel has announced that they will be releasing their new eponymous mini-album via Occulation Recordings in the new year. Ahead of that, they are previewing their first single 'Feel It', an upbeat and notably positive song and their first composition in a long time. This is the first taste of the new 6-track offering. Both the single and album will be offered for download, but the full album is also being pressed on 12” vinyl.

Fueled by melodic interludes and trunk-thumping bass kicks, Tisoki drops a reassuring ode to hedonism in “IT'S OK,” featuring sung-rap vocals from Kozze. “IT'S OK” is the first single from Tisoki's forthcoming sophomore EP for Dim Mak, set to arrive in early 2020.

Dark, deep, mysterious and moving, Near to the Wild Heart echoes the voice and valor of the award-winning 1943 novel by Jewish-Brazilian author Clarice Lispector. Like the digital aquatic imagery that often spans the upstage perimeter, the play ebbs and flows through one woman's interior and exterior selves as she reflects on the reality of her relationships.

Ryan Brahms celebrates the holiday cheer with his new single 'Christmas Morning'. A heartfelt, passionate track celebrates the magic of the season - and the joy of sharing that moment with a loved one. Intimate and sweeping, it invigorates and inspires for the perfect holiday mood.

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse-remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power. The female cast is backed by an all-female band, the 'Ladies in Waiting.' Songs from the studio album are streamed on average 400,000 times per day, making it the second highest streaming cast recording in the world.

If you're in need of a brief sojourn away from London this Christmas period, then I've little hesitation in recommending the Mill at Sonning's Singin' in the Rain. With a fine cast, you'll be hard pressed to find a more impressive show in London than this production.

Ravens: Spassky vs Fischer takes us to Iceland in 1974 for the World Chess Championship, a clash between two very different men and two very different systems but with much that is not so different to the politics of today.