Today in 1959, The Most Happy Fella opened at City Center where it ran for 16 performances. With a book, music, and lyrics by Frank Loesser, the story isabout a romance between an older man and younger woman, is based on the play They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard. The original Broadway production opened in 1956 and ran for 14 months. A 1992 revival, directed by Gerald Guttierrez, featured Spiro Malas as Tony, Sophie Hayden as Rosabella, Charles Pistone as Joe, Claudia Catania as Marie, Liz Larsen as Cleo, and Scott Waara as Herman.
There has always been something threatening to kill the theatre. Long before 49 producers were needed to mount a show, reality stars hit the boards, or 42nd Street became Disney-fied... And even long before Andrew Lloyd Webber, the same constant revivals, or premium ticket prices... It was a countless list of other events daring to put the theatre six feet under. The theatre community's constant fear of these other diabolical dilemmas: from the caustic critic, the invention of the automobile, burlesque, union strikes, the 'talkies' and more are cleverly skewered as only Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman could in The Fabulous Invalid. Their 1938 'valentine' to the theatre's resilience is the first reading in ReGroup Theatre's new monthly series 'ReGroup Reads: The Greatest American Playwrights.'
According to published reports, film producer Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. passed away yesterday, January 9, from congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He was 88 years old.
TACT/The Actors Company Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Abundance, the 1990 play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart). An epic tale of friendship set against the backdrop of the sweeping American West, Abundance will be directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, who directed last season's production of William Inge's Natural Affection. Performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. Opening night is set forSunday, March 1 at 6:00pm. Performances will continue through March 28, 2015.
TACT/The Actors Company Theatre will hold its Winter Benefit on Monday, December 1st at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street). The festive evening entitled 'Catch A Rising Star' will be emceed by legendary Broadway song and dance man Lee Roy Reams and will feature musical performances by eight young up-and-coming Broadway talents. The evening will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by the show at 7:00 p.m.
TACT/The Actors Company Theatre, the critically-acclaimed company that 'reveals, reclaims and reimagines great plays of literary merit,' and named '2012 Company of the Year' by Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal, has announced a series of post performance discussions to follow select performances of its production of The Killing of Sister George by Frank Marcus.
TACT/The Actors Company Theatre, the critically-acclaimed company that 'reveals, reclaims and reimagines great plays of literary merit,' and named '2012 Company of the Year' by Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal, has announced a series of post performance discussions to follow select performances of its production of The Killing of Sister George by Frank Marcus.
TACT/The Actors Company Theatre, the critically-acclaimed and Drama Desk nominated Off-Broadway company 'dedicated to presenting neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit,' presents the first New York revival in 30 years of The Killing of Sister George, the controversial 1964 play by Frank Marcus. The first production of the company's 22nd Season will be directed by TACT Company Member Drew Barr, who directed the company's Fall 2012 production of Brian Friel's Lovers. Performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) tonight, September 23, 2014. Opening night is set for Tuesday, October 7 at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through November 1, 2014.
TACT/The Actors Company Theatre, the critically-acclaimed and Drama Desk nominated Off-Broadway company 'dedicated to presenting neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit,' is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for the first New York revival in 30 years of The Killing of Sister George, the controversial 1964 play by Frank Marcus.
TACT/The Actors Company Theatre has announced its 2014/2015 Season, the company's 22nd. The critically-acclaimed and Drama Desk nominated Off-Broadway company "dedicated to presenting neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit," will offer two works featuring strong, powerful female characters. The Killing of Sister George, the ground-breaking play by Frank Marcus and Abundance, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley's (Crimes of the Heart) tall tale set in the Great American West, will be presented at The Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Theatre Row.
On the heels of overwhelming critical acclaim and passionate audience response, Palm Beach Dramaworks has scheduled additional performances of Frank Loesser's achingly romantic musical The Most Happy Fella, starring William Michals. Originally slated to close on Sunday, July 27, the concert production will now continue at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis) through Sunday, August 3.
Love blooms in Napa Valley for an aging, unprepossessing grape farmer and a young, world-weary waitress in Frank Loesser's achingly romantic The Most Happy Fella, opening tonight, July 18 (8pm) at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre. William Michals, who triumphed in the title role of last season's Man of La Mancha, returns to Palm Beach Dramaworks to play the Italian immigrant farmer Tony Esposito in this concert production.
Love blooms in Napa Valley for an aging, unprepossessing grape farmer and a young, world-weary waitress in Frank Loesser's achingly romantic The Most Happy Fella, opening Friday, July 18 (8pm) at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre. William Michals, who triumphed in the title role of last season's Man of La Mancha, returns to Palm Beach Dramaworks to play the Italian immigrant farmer Tony Esposito in this concert production. The show, which runs through July 27, is directed by Clive Cholerton, with musical direction by Howard Breitbart.
The New York City Center Encores! production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella concluded its limited run last night, April 6. Starring Laura Benanti, Shuler Hensley, Cheyenne Jackson,Heidi Blickenstaff, Brian Cali, Bradley Dean, Zachary James, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jessica Molaskey and Kevin Vortmann, The Most Happy Fella was directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, with music direction by Rob Berman.
BroadwayWorld was there for the closing night party and you can check out photo coverage below!
The New York City Center Encores! production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella opened earlier this week on April 2. The production stars Laura Benanti, Shuler Hensley, Cheyenne Jackson,Heidi Blickenstaff, Brian Cali, Bradley Dean, Zachary James, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jessica Molaskey and Kevin Vortmann. The Most Happy Fella is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, with music direction by Rob Berman. The production will run until April 6th.
The New York City Center Encores! production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella opened last night. The production stars Laura Benanti, Shuler Hensley, Cheyenne Jackson,Heidi Blickenstaff, Brian Cali, Bradley Dean, Zachary James, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jessica Molaskey andKevin Vortmann. The Most Happy Fella is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, with music direction byRob Berman. The Most Happy Fella will run until April 6th.
The New York City Center Encores! production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella, running for seven performances beginning tonight, April 2 - 6, 2014, is set to star Laura Benanti, Shuler Hensley, Cheyenne Jackson,Heidi Blickenstaff, Brian Cali, Bradley Dean, Zachary James, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Jessica Molaskey and Kevin Vortmann. The Most Happy Fella is directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, with music direction by Rob Berman.
BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you a first look at the cast in action below!
