The national tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON makes its latest missionary stop at the Ahmanson Theatre, opening February 18, 2020. Birthed from the comically fertile minds of South Park creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, THE BOOK OF MORMON follows the misadventures of newbie missionaries travelling globally to convert the world. I managed to persuade Alyah Chanelle Scott (who plays possible convertee Nabulungi) to convert my surveying queries into her most informative answers.
Montreal-based indie art rock band Braids have announced US tour dates this spring in support of their forthcoming new album. The dates kick off on June 3rd and will include stops in Los Angeles, NYC, Austin, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, and more. Tickets go on sale Thursday at 12pm EST. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.braidsmusic.com/tour.
Stepinac High School's acclaimed Stepinac Theatre announced today that it will stage Something Rotten!, the hilarious hit Broadway show as its spring musical.
With the arc of an arm, the point of a toe or the twist of a torso, America's Got Talent finalists CATAPULT Entertainment stretch their bodies and audiences' imaginations in Magic Shadows. Animated by the dancers' shadows, this choreographic work uses a kaleidoscope of colorful storytelling to create beautiful, cinematic scenes. Watch Magic Shadows take shape at New Victory Theater from April 3 - 19, 2020.
LEYA have shared a music video for their new single 'INTP' from their forthcoming sophomore album Flood Dream (releasing March 6th via NNA Tapes), which premiered today via i-D Magazine.
The much-beloved musical Newsies follows the tale of Jack Kelly, a newsboy and leader of a ragtag group 'newsies' in turn of the century New York City, who dreams a life better than the streets of New York can offer. When publishing titans Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst raise distribution prices at the newsboys' expense, Jack and the newsies find a cause to fight for and strike for what's right.
Australian metal band Parkway Drive will set stages afire on their largest headlining tour to date in North America this summer. The tour will kick-off on August 21 in Sacramento, CA and wrap September 17 in Irving, TX. Tickets will go on sale Friday, February 21 at 10am local time. For more information, visit http://tour.parkwaydriverock.com/.
Matilda opened with a bang at the Fort Wayne Civic Theatre this weekend, with plenty of chances left to see this whimsical musical. Christopher J. Murphy directs the production in collaboration with the Fort Wayne Youtheatre (with music direction by Eunice Wadewitz and choreography by the Fort Wayne Dance Collective's Mandie Kolkman).
Full casting has been announced for the 10th anniversary revival of Bruce Norris' seminal play Clybourne Park. Oliver Kaderbhai directs Alisha Bailey (Francine/Lena), Maddy Hill (Betsy/Lindsey), Andrew Langtree (Karl/Steve), and Richard Lintern (Russ/Dan), who join the previously announced Michael Fox (Jim/Tom), Imogen Stubbs (Bev/Kathy) and Eric Underwood (Albert/Kevin). The production opens on 30 March, with previews from 25 March, and runs until 2 May.
It's time to escape Toronto's urban jungle for a real one, and this journey is one for the entire family to take together.
Rudyard Kipling's classic works are adapted and directed by Craig Francis and Rick Miller in this modern, multimedia take on a beloved story of the connection between humanity and nature. Produced by Kidoons, WYRD Productions and The 20K Collective and presented by Young People's Theatre, JUNGLE BOOK takes the story of Mowgli and his animal friends and refreshes it for kids today; in this version, Mowgli (Levin Valayil) is a 25-year old architect living in the urban jungle of New York City and struggling to reconcile the harsh nature of urban architecture with his roots in nature. His crisis halts when his sister sends him the 'Jungle Book' that he used to document his childhood adventures with the wolves who raised him, Baloo the bear (Matt Lacas), Bagheera the panther (Mina James), and more.
NBC has announced the 2019-20 class of its Alternative Directors Program, the industry's first directing pipeline program for unscripted shows that strives to create equal representation behind the scenes on alternative series.
Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today unveiled the 2020/21 season which builds on the company's commitment to create new works, attract the best artists in the world and showcase the company on the international stage. The season features the world premiere of MADDADDAM, a new full-length ballet by the multi-award-winning choreographer Wayne McGregor in collaboration with internationally renowned writer Margaret Atwood. Additional highlights include the North American premiere of Victoria, created by acclaimed choreographer Cathy Marston, and a guest appearance by San Francisco Ballet in its Toronto debut. The National Ballet will tour to London and Ottawa. #2021SeasonNBC
Chester Theatre Company (CTC) has announced its upcoming season which includes its first-ever World Premiere commission, and a New England Premiere that will kick off the season which begins on June 18.
I had a conversation with the cast and director of a local production of Cabaret a few days ago, about how theatre changed with the advent of the Internet. The visual presentation and iconic look of shows became much more relevant, much more permanently associated with shows, once photographs and video were as easy to find as cast recordings. You'll rarely if ever see a Cabaret that doesn't exist in the shadow of the Sam Mendes production, or someday a Hamilton without some of the iconic visual and performance signifiers. I'm not even calling it design laziness or plagiarism: the shows of today simply exist in a more tangible, permanent form than they did before the late 1990s. With that said, there's something to be said for productions that take some of those iconic elements and ignore them, crafting something different instead. Split Stage's production of Next to Normal reinvents one of the central characters, and it changes the entire piece.
The Blinders have announced their new album, Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath, out on May 8th via Modern Sky UK. The band have also shared 'Circle Song', the first single to be taken from the album, as well as a run of live dates throughout May.
Chester Theatre Company (CTC) has announced a season that includes its first-ever World Premiere commission, and a New England Premiere that will kick off the season on June 18.
Their third dive into August Wilson's ten-play Pittsburgh Cycle, Brand New Sheriff's FENCES may be their best yet, with an outstanding cast, led by Jonavan Adams - and an outstanding director, Corlis Hayes, who has been here before.
The New York Youth Symphony (NYYS) continues its 2019-2020 season with a performance by the 17-member NYYS Jazz ensemble on Monday, March 9, 2020 in two sets at 7:30pm and 9:30pm, at Dizzy's Club, Jazz at Lincoln Center, led by Director Andy Clausen. Titled Celebrating Charlie Parker @ 100, and featuring saxophonist Steve Wilson, the performances pay homage to Charlie Parker's centennial, musical legacy, and bebop innovations with selections by Parker, Wilson, Bennie Moten, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, and more. NYYS Jazz will also give the world premiere of the NYYS First Music commission In the Shadow of Tall Giants by Devin Reilly.
A season filled with thrilling music, captivating stories, world-class singers, and exciting productions goes on sale by subscription Thursday, February 13. Eight new-to-Chicago productions, including three Lyric premieres plus two original Lyric productions, will entertain and thrill audiences from September 2020 through June 2021.
