The 5th Avenue Theatre is a vibrant hive of musical theater activity as the projects of NextFest: A Festival of New Musicals have started rehearsals this week. A three-week musical theater intensive development cycle, NextFest has played a role in the creation of musicals ranging from Persuasion by Harold Taw and Chris Jeffries (Taproot Theatre, 2017) to Come From Away by Irene Carl Sankoff and David Hein (Broadway). Nationally recognized for its contribution to the contemporary musical theater cannon, The 5th Avenue Theatre is a celebrated incubator for new musicals. Each year, the nationally renowned theater company connects writers at all stages of development with some of the region's most brilliant performers, giving life to the words on the page and allowing book writers, composers and lyricists to see their work in action. This year's various works are brought to life by Alexandria Henderson, Justin Huertas, Matthew Kacergis, Shaunyce Omar, Brandon O'Neill, Timothy Piggee, Hannah Schuerman, Billie Wildrick and many more.
SISTER ACT is a feel-good musical comedy smash hit based on the 1992 film that has audiences ready to rejoice! Featuring original music by Tony® and 8-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Disney's Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Enchanted), dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, SISTER ACT qualifies as the funniest and funkiest musical around. Lately this popular musical has been performed at many theaters in the greater Los Angeles area, each one brilliant in its own right. But I have to say I have never seen one more perfectly cast than the current production at the Simi Valley Cultural Center with the amazingly talented Elizabeth Adabale as Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder and then goes into hiding in a convent!
SISTER ACT is a feel-good musical comedy smash hit based on the 1992 film that has audiences ready to rejoice! Featuring original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar winner ALAN MENKEN (Disney's Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Enchanted), dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, SISTER ACT is the funniest and funkiest musical around. SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won't be found - a Convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music. Come and see why this fabulous show has been seen by more than 6 million people worldwide. Performances are January 19 - February 18 at 8 pm Friday & Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday, plus 8 pm on Thursday, February 15 and 2 pm on Saturday, February 17.
Seattle's critics announce the Nominees of Excellence in Seattle theatrical productions. Spanning dozens of theater companies and productions, from large and prominent to small and humble, the Gypsy Rose Lee Awards honor the excellence found in as much professional theater as we reviewers can attend in a year. Named in honor of the famed theater entrepreneur and Seattle native, Gypsy Rose Lee, and in a nod to the vast numbers or theater practitioners forced to travel the country to earn their living, the Gypsys seek to acknowledge the excellence of the Seattle theater community.
SISTER ACT is a feel-good musical comedy smash hit based on the 1992 film that has audiences ready to rejoice! Featuring original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar winner ALAN MENKEN (Disney's Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Enchanted), dazzling dance routines and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, SISTER ACT is the funniest and funkiest musical around. SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won't be found - a Convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. A sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music. Come and see why this fabulous show has been seen by more than 6 million people worldwide. Performances are January 19 - February 18 at 8 pm Friday & Saturday and 2 pm on Sunday, plus 8 pm on Thursday, February 15 and 2 pm on Saturday, February 17.
Dear Readers, it's been quite a year and, hopefully, we've come through it unscathed. God knows we've needed some shows to help us escape and others to make us think. But through it all we've had several shows that have proven to shine as some of the best of the year. Out of all the shows I was fortunate enough to see this year, I've selected a few that stood out. Here are those stand outs, a few honorable mentions and a few special mentions about which I just couldn't help myself but to mention in their own special way.
The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn is running now through December 31st. Watch Sarah Rose Davis (Linda Mason), Matt Owen (Ted Hanover), Eric Ankrim (Jim Hardy) and company perform 'Easter Parade' from the show below!
The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn is running now through December 31st. Watch Sarah Rose Davis (Linda Mason), Matt Owen (Ted Hanover), Eric Ankrim (Jim Hardy) and company perform 'Easter Parade' from the show below!
The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn is running now through December 31st! This holiday season, Lorna Luft, the beloved performer and daughter of film and television icon Judy Garland, will star as Louise in 5th Avenue's Holiday Inn. Luft joins a phenomenal cast of local and national talent, including Eric Ankrim, Sarah Rose A. Davis, Matt Owen and Taryn Darr for a dazzling winter treat that is perfect for the whole family. 5th Avenue favorite Richard Gray will play Danny Reed. Caden Brauch and Kristoffer Holtan, will alternate the role of Charlie Winslow.
I should start, Dear Readers, by saying that I've been spoiled where the stage musical of Holiday Inn is concerned. Spoiled by the filmed version of the recent Broadway incarnation which captured every single ounce of Broadway magic you'd want. So, while the current production of this wonderful Irving Berlin classic at the 5th Avenue is a lot of fun and looks quite like the Broadway (not surprising since the sets and costumes were based on the Broadway designs) it just didn't quite live up to that spark of the Broadway for a few key reasons that we'll get to in a bit.
The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn is running now through December 31st, and BroadwayWorld has highlights from the show below!
The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn kicked off rehearsals last week, and BroadwayWorld has footage of the talented cast performing in the recent read/sing rehearsal below!
This holiday season Lorna Luft, the beloved performer and daughter of film and television icon Judy Garland, will star as Louise in The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn, which began rehearsals this week. Go behind the scenes with the cast and creative team in the video below!
Did you know, Dear Readers, that as recently as the 1930's, gay men could be arrested for meeting in public? Maybe? But did you also know that in New York it became just as unthinkable to portray a gay character on stage? Just one of those shameful points in our history that's beautifully illuminated by Douglas Carter Beane's moving play, The Nance , currently playing at ArtsWest. And as stunning as the show itself is, this cast makes it shine even more.
This holiday season Lorna Luft, the beloved performer and daughter of film and television icon Judy Garland, will star as Louise in The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn, which began rehearsals this week.
ArtsWest's second production of its 2017-18 I AM Season, Douglas Carter Beane's THE NANCE, will be directed by ArtsWest Artistic Director Mathew Wright and feature renowned Seattle actors Richard Gray and Jeff Steitzer. THE NANCE, a musical play set in the raucous world of 1930s burlesque, plays at ArtsWest from October 26 through November 19, 2017.
ArtsWest's second production of its 2017-18 I AM Season, Douglas Carter Beane's THE NANCE, will be directed by ArtsWest Artistic Director Mathew Wright and feature renowned Seattle actors Richard Gray and Jeff Steitzer. THE NANCE, a musical play set in the raucous world of 1930s burlesque, plays at ArtsWest from October 26 through November 19, 2017.
ArtsWest's second production of its 2017-18 I AM Season, Douglas Carter Beane's THE NANCE, will feature renowned Seattle actors Richard Gray and Jeff Steitzer. THE NANCE, a musical play set in the raucous world of 1930s burlesque, plays at ArtsWest from October 26 through November 19, 2017.
