Join the A2SO on November 21th at 1:30 pm at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Ann Arbor for the next in our continuing chamber recital series. This hour-long chamber concert features works by Mozart and Schumann played by Arie Lipsky our Music Director and Conductor, Aaron Berofsky, Concert Master, Kathryn Votapek, A2SO Associate Concert Master and Kathryn's father Ralph Votapek, Piano Professor of Piano at Michigan State University. With such talented musicians this will a concert you won't want to miss.
Arguably, director Diane Paulus' greatest triumph to date is the spectacular new production of PIPPIN, the 2013 Tony-winning revival of Stephen Schwartz's trippy but winsome musical about the angst-riddled but hyper-aspirational young son of King Charlemagne, and his erratic, sometimes frustrating journey of self-discovery. In her marvelously inventive, re-imagined update---now playing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through November 9---Paulus brilliantly orients the topsy-turvy machinations of the entire story within the canvas-lined confines of a big-top circus. Here, the over-the-top performance troupe that 'guides' our hero's search for self-fulfillment aren't merely just actors (or 'players') but are also all agile, athletic circus performers that tumble, leap, and balance themselves for our (and Pippin's) entertainment pleasure. As expected, both Pippin and the audience are equally lulled into submission.
The 2013 Tony Award winning Best Revival of a Musical Pippin made its premiere earlier this week at L.A. Premiere at the Hollywood Pantages, where it will play through November 9th. Tickets are now on sale to the general public online at www.HollywoodPantages.com orwww.Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-982-2787 or at the Hollywood Pantages Box Office located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard (Opens daily at 10am.) Check out a look back at the opening night's red carpet below!
In 1972 Pippin opened on Broadway and became one of the longest running musicals in Broadway history, closing in 1977. Stephen Schwartz's bubbling optimistic tunes made the surreal and sensual mood of the piece an ultra-pleasant experience for theatre goers. One actually left the theatre humming the score. Throughout the dreamlike texture of Pippin's quest for his 'Corner of the Sky', however, there blooms a simplistic, timeless message that reverberates to this day. So, even though this brand new revival set in a circus big top is visually more opulent with high swinging artists and feats of magic, the pieces of the puzzle do fit into place - original director Bob Fosse would approve - and the play's substance is untarnished. Director Diane Paulus may take a bow for her simply stunning ambition of embellishment. I prefer the simplicity of the original, which allows your imagination to take flight, but must own up to enjoying most of the new version. How can you not, as the Fosse-esque style with acrobatics added on make for a visually splendid evening of dance and action.
Today in 1972, Pippin opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1944 performances. Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious acting troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The original cast included: Eric Berry, Jill Clayburgh, Leland Palmer, Irene Ryan, Ben Vereen, and John Rubinstein.
The entire national touring production of PIPPIN, which launched in Denver last month, has been dedicated to Denver Center for the Performing Arts President Randy Weeks, who died suddenly on Oct. 9 in London.
Deaf West Theatre hosts a memorial to celebrate the life and career of Tony Award-winning actress and deaf activist Phyllis Frelich tonight, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Mark Taper Forum. Ms. Frelich, who was deaf, passed away from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in April. She was 70.
The pyrotechnics will be strictly musical when Canadian pianist Angela Cheng joins the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) for the first concerts of the 2014-15 season entitled 'Opening Night Fireworks.' This weekend, October 17 and 18, Music Director José-Luis Novo will lead the orchestra's first performances in the newly renovated auditorium at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.
Polish pianist Rafa? Blechacz will make his Houston debut tonight, Oct. 17, 2014, at8 p.m. in the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater, presented by Society for the Performing Arts.
Producers of the new political comedy Tail! Spin!, which opened to rave reviews on October 1 at the Lynn Redgrave Theater at Culture Project have announced a 9-week extension of the run, now scheduled through February 1. (The previous closing date was set for November 30.)
Deaf West Theatre will host a memorial to celebrate the life and career of Tony Award-winning actress and deaf activist Phyllis Frelich on Monday, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m. at the Mark Taper Forum. Ms. Frelich, who was deaf, passed away from progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in April. She was 70.
Bang on a Can: From the Margins, a concert featuring recent MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship recipient Steve Coleman & Friends, will take place at the Jewish Museum on Thursday, November 6 at 7:30pm. Tied to the Museum exhibition From the Margins: Lee Krasner I Norman Lewis, 1945-1952, which features innovative works by two powerful abstract painters, the performance will highlight the relationship between Abstract Expressionism and jazz in mid-century New York City. This program is the second concert of the Jewish Museum and Bang on a Can's partnership to produce a series of dynamic musical performances at the Museum from June 2014 to May 2015, inspired by the Jewish Museum's diverse slate of exhibitions.
Jazz at Lincoln Center's WeBop! Family Jazz Party: Painted Beats, presented by the Jewish Museum, will take place at the Museum on Sunday, November 23 at 2:30 pm. Parents can spark creativity and musicality with Jazz at Lincoln Center's sellout WeBop! program for families with children ages 3 to 8 years. Attendees will join the WeBop! Family Band for this interactive jazz party exploring the connections between jazz and the art works of Lee Krasner and Norman Lewis. Families will help add color and shape to the music while learning how jazz and art share many similar qualities.
The pyrotechnics will be strictly musical when Canadian pianist Angela Cheng joins the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra (ASO) for the first concerts of the 2014-15 season entitled “Opening Night Fireworks.” On October 17 and 18, Music Director José-Luis Novo will lead the orchestra's first performances in the newly renovated auditorium at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.
Rachel Dratch stopped by the fourth hour of TODAY to talk about her new political comedy 'Tail! Spin!' which follows the public scandals of four political figures.
SHN previously announced that Andrea Martin, who won the 2013 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for creating the role of 'Berthe' in the Broadway production, would reprise the role in the final two weeks (beginning today, October 7 and running through October 19) of the San Francisco engagement at the SHN Golden Gate Theatre.
Long-time friends, associates and family gathered last night (October 6) to celebrate the 70th birthday of one of the theatre community's most treasured members - award-winning sound designer Abe Jacob.
Beginning October 31, 2014, the Jewish Museum will present Helena Rubinstein: Beauty Is Power, the first museum ?exhibition to explore the ideas, innovations, and influence of the legendary cosmetics entrepreneur Helena Rubinstein (1872-1965). By the time of her death, Rubinstein had risen from humble origins in small-town Jewish Poland to become a global icon of female entrepreneurship and a leader in art, fashion, design, and philanthropy. As the head of a cosmetics empire that extended across four continents, she was, arguably, the first modern self-made woman magnate. Rubinstein was ahead of her time in her embrace of cultural and artistic diversity. She was not only an early patron of European and Latin American modern art, but also one of the earliest, leading collectors of African and Oceanic sculpture.
