What do the 1950s have in common with 1912? Ages of innocence, both. When Meredith Willson wrote his story with Franklin Lacey about a con artist bamboozling an Iowa town in 1912, which formed the substance of his musical The Music Man (1957), the effect became like that of N. Richard Nash's The Rainmaker. People were jubilant, ecstatic and welcomed Professor Harold Hill, as they craved a good old-fashioned love story coated with ironic excitement. He was a charmer, and they saw way past his bad side. Now in a colorful new production at Musical Theatre West (MTW) in Long Beach, this company pulls out all the stops and presents a delightfully bigger-than-life show that would do Willson proud. With super direction from Jeff Maynard and a divine cast led by Davis Gaines, The Music Man offers a refreshing take on the way life should be, whether 1912, 1955 or 2014.
Musical Theatre West presents the second production of their 61st season, Davis Gaines (Los Angeles' longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera) starring as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) starring as Marian Paroo in Meredith Willson's timeless and joyous, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and directed by Jeff Maynard.
Brette Goldstein will facilitate a lecture and extensive Q & A on Audition Acting Traps and Solutions at Ionica Theater, 300 West 43rd Street, NYC, tonight, February 6th from 6:30-7:30 PM.
Musical Theatre West presents the second production of their 61st season, Davis Gaines (Los Angeles' longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera) starring as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) starring as Marian Paroo in Meredith Willson's timeless and joyous, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and directed by Jeff Maynard.
After receiving critical acclaim and overwhelming demand by South Florida audiences, James Goldman's classic comic-drama, The Lion in Winter will extend performances thru January 12th at Palm Beach Dramaworks (201 Clematis Street). The production will play the following additional performances: Friday 1/10 at 8pm, Saturday 1/11 at 8pm and Sunday 1/12 at 2pm.
Brette Goldstein will facilitate a lecture and extensive Q & A on Audition Acting Traps and Solutions at Ionica Theater, 300 West 43rd Street, NYC, on Thursday, February 6th from 6:30-7:30 PM.
The romantic comedy Parfumerie, adapted by E.P. Dowdall from the Hungarian play Illatszertar by Miklos Laszlo, will have a rare revival as the first theater production of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (Lou Moore, Executive Director), for a limited, 29 performance engagement November 26 to December 22. The production, directed by Mark Brokaw, who is currently represented on Broadway with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, centers on a romance that unfolds through love letters, a perfect homage to the historic Beverly Hills Post Office. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Johnny Vegas, Al Murray and Count Arthur Strong are among the comics taking part in the first Chortle Comedy Book Festival which will take place in Ealing next month.
Before the clones attacked, before the Na'vi Hometree was destroyed, before Buzz Lightyear went to infinity and beyond, avant-garde film and video pioneers were expanding the bounds of the moving image by harnessing computer technology to create radical new ways of seeing. Museum of the Moving Image will present a weekend program devoted to exploring early works of computer animation, organized by guest curators Leo Goldsmith and Gregory Zinman. This series of screenings and conversations, Computer Age: Early Computer Movies, 1952-1987, will take place today, November 15 through 17, 2013. Screenings include avant-garde works ranging from oscilloscope experiments to computer-assisted psychedelia; formative digital advertising and music videos; as well as feature films that incorporated these techniques into the mainstream.
Continuing its tradition of bringing Broadway's favorites back to life, SMTC has announced their next production, the beloved classic musical The Music Man, for a special engagement. Performances will take place at the intimate 300-seat Dorrance Auditorium on the beautiful campus at Phoenix Country Day School in Paradise Valley. All SMTC shows feature the best local talent in the valley and a live 20+ piece orchestra.
Before the clones attacked, before the Na'vi Hometree was destroyed, before Buzz Lightyear went to infinity and beyond, avant-garde film and video pioneers were expanding the bounds of the moving image by harnessing computer technology to create radical new ways of seeing. Museum of the Moving Image will present a weekend program devoted to exploring early works of computer animation, organized by guest curators Leo Goldsmith and Gregory Zinman. This series of screenings and conversations, Computer Age: Early Computer Movies, 1952-1987, will take place November 15 through 17, 2013. Screenings include avant-garde works ranging from oscilloscope experiments to computer-assisted psychedelia; formative digital advertising and music videos; as well as feature films that incorporated these techniques into the mainstream.
Most actors attending a read-thru of a play by a well-known playwright do not expect it to turn into a criminal investigation. However, in Rehearsal for Murder, opening on November 8 at the Apollo Civic Theater in Martinsburg, WV, a routine read-thru turns into a determined inquest to find a killer and this murder mystery thriller does not contain most of the usual cliches one would expect.
King Henry II and his estranged wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, are celebrating Christmas with their three sons, and you're invited to join them. But be prepared to experience duplicity, backstabbing and caustic barbs when Palm Beach Dramaworks presents James Goldman's classic comic-drama,The Lion in Winter opening on Friday, December 6 (8pm) at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis Street). Performances are scheduled through January 5, with specially priced previews on December 4 and 5.
Most actors attending a read-thru of a play by a well-known playwright do not expect it to turn into a criminal investigation. However, in Rehearsal for Murder, opening on November 8 at the Apollo Civic Theater in Martinsburg, WV, a routine read-thru turns into a determined inquest to find a killer and this murder mystery thriller does not contain most of the usual cliches one would expect.
The romantic comedy Parfumerie, adapted by E.P. Dowdall from the Hungarian playIllatszertar by Miklos Laszlo, will have a rare revival as the first theater production of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (Lou Moore, Executive Director), for a limited, 29 performance engagement November 26 to December 22. The production, directed by Mark Brokaw, who is currently represented on Broadway with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, centers on a romance that unfolds through love letters, a perfect homage to the historic Beverly Hills Post Office.
Popular actor/playwright Jim Brochu returns to Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, with a lively and affectionate tribute to Broadway musical stars past and present.
Continuing its tradition of bringing Broadway's favorites back to life, SMTC has announced their next production, the beloved classic musical The Music Man, for a special engagement. Performances will take place at the intimate 300-seat Dorrance Auditorium on the beautiful campus at Phoenix Country Day School in Paradise Valley. All SMTC shows feature the best local talent in the valley and a live 20+ piece orchestra.
In a break from playing Eric Beale on the CBS television series "NCIS: Los Angeles," Barrett Foa is spending part of his summer charming audiences and a certain librarian as The Music Man, which wraps up CT Repertory Theatre's Nutmeg Series on the UConn campus.
Drama Desk and Helen Hayes Award winner Jim Brochu ('Zero Hour,' 'The Big Voice: God or Merman?') just debuted his new solo show 'Character Man' at the Metropolitan Room. Check out photos from the concert below!
Happy Birthday, Robert Preston! best remembered for his performance as 'Professor' Harold Hill in Meredith Willson's musical The Music Man (1962). He had already won a Tony Award for his performance in the original Broadway production, in 1957. In 1965 he was the male part of a duo-lead musical, I Do! I Do! with Mary Martin, for which he won his second Tony Award. He played the title role in the musical Ben Franklin in Paris and originated the role of Henry II in the original production of The Lion in Winter. In 1974 he starred alongside Bernadette Peters in Jerry Herman's Broadway musical Mack & Mabel as Mack Sennett, the famous silent film director. That same year (1974) the film version of Mame, another famed Jerry Herman musical, was released with Preston starring, alongside Lucille Ball, in the role of Beauregard Burnside.
