Scott Baker News

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

If you need something to prod you toward making reservations to see Lipscomb University's staging of the near-legendary Into the Woods - although we find it hard to believe anyone could not want to hear that wondrous score once more - we are happy to give you that prompt: Sarah Zanotti's performance as The Baker's Wife is extraordinarily evocative and deeply moving, to be certain. But it is her lovely, expressive voice that sets her performance apart from others we've seen - and which proves that no matter how well you know a character or how impressive you have found other portrayals to be, there is still much drama and theatricality to be mined from The Baker's Wife.

It's Halloween weekend and every dramatic personage and theatrical type we've ever encountered is caught up in the annual rush to find just the right costume for their holiday revelries (we confess we've never had the knack for coming up with Halloween get-ups - not since we went in drag to a party at the First Baptist Church as the age of 12…tongues were wagging, we are certain, but we lived to tell about it, so it couldn't have been that bad). In the meantime, there are all sorts of onstage happenings this weekend to keep you otherwise engaged should the difficulty of selecting your costume prove to be too much.

What better way to herald Into the Woods' first night than by focusing today's Friday Five (sure, we know it's Thursday, but The Thursday Five doesn't have the same ring to it and The Thursday Thirty just sounds like too much - plus we have other things to do besides talk to actors) on three of the company members, director Scott Baker (who, apparently, can do anything - and actually does it all), actress Kari Smith (who first we reviewed in Annie at Nashville Playhouse in 1989), who is a 2015 First Night Star Award winner, and the very tall (and ridiculously talented) Scott Patrick Wilson, who plays one of the princes and is a 2015 First Night Most Promising Actor!

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

The Zurich Players will present Zurich Plays, a Dada play about the 1916 Dada art movement as part of the 16-day San Francisco Fringe Festival, September 11 through 26, 2015. Zurich Plays plays September 12th, 19th, 23rd, and 25th at the EXIT Theatre. http://www.sffringe.org/zurich/ http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1659040

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cincinnati Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cincinnati Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cincinnati Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cincinnati Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cincinnati Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of November 25th.

Coney Island USA, the organization that brings you the Mermaid Parade, Sideshows by the Seashore and Burlesque at the Beach, is proud to announce the next phase of its 30 year mission to defend the honor of American Popular Culture: Dead End Dummy, a Funhouse Philosophers Production.

Dead End Dummy, a new work by Dick D. Zigun, will premiere at Sideshows By The Seashore in Coney Island today, October 10 and run through November 2, 2014. The show then opens at La Mama in Manhattan on November 7, running through November 16.

Dead End Dummy, a new work by Dick D. Zigun, will premiere at Sideshows By The Seashore in Coney Island on October 10 and run through November 2, 2014. The show then opens at La Mama in Manhattan on November 7, running through November 16.

La MaMa - the world-renowned theatre complex located on East 4th Street in New York City's East Village - will begin its 53rd year this fall with a timely-themed season entitled "LA MAMA EARTH," featuring works that raise awareness of world ecology and social justice both locally and globally.

Last night New York's elite came together with music legends for Caron New York's 20th Annual Gala Fundraiser at the elegant Cipriani on 42nd in New York City, NY. The event raised over a million dollars, all of which will be used towards charity recovery services. Caron's own Harris Stratyner Ph.D , Honoree's Frankie Valli and Denise LeFrak Calicchio were joined by Paul Williams, James Lipton, David Johansen and comedianStewie Stone. The Goo Goo Dolls Johnny Rzeznik was also honored but at the last minute was unable to attend.

Is network news appointment television for you? I didn't think so. Are you constantly angered that ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT only talks about theatre when a Hollywood star joins a cast or someone falls 30 feet to the stage floor? Me too. Well, I have an alternative that just might satisfy your news and theatre cravings; podcasting. Isn't that just what hipsters do between their shift at Starbucks and another trip to the thrift shop? Well, yes and no. I'm sure there is a barista in Portland who is currently recording a missive bemoaning mass media's attempt to co-opt the indie subculture, but most people who do podcasts well are incredibly informed and passionate about their specific topics.

Tonight, February 14 at 10PM, New York's sexiest show GOTHAM BURLESQUE will offer a special Valentine's Day Show at STAGE 72 (158 West 72nd Street), providing a romantic and thrilling way to celebrate Valentine's Day with the one you love (and some of burlesque's sexiest stars!).

On Friday, February 14 at 10PM, New York's sexiest show GOTHAM BURLESQUE will offer a special Valentine's Day Show at STAGE 72 (158 West 72nd Street), providing a romantic and thrilling way to celebrate Valentine's Day with the one you love (and some of burlesque's sexiest stars!).