Sparky News

I got the vaccine in memory of those who did not make it to this day, people like Nick Cordero. I took the vaccine in honour of families who have lost their world, like Amanda Kloots and Elvis. I was happy to be jabbed in thanks of all of our health care workers, who have had a much longer eighteen months than anyone can ever claim to have.

Celebrate the return of live theater at Drury Lane with audience favorite Forever Plaid.

It’s a beautiful thing for the theatre community to be able to be together and connect again. And connecting, in a human sense, is the key theme of Emma Rice’s production of Bagdad Cafe.

Centenary Stage Company’s NEXTStage Repertory’s production of Stuart Ross’ Forever Plaid will finish its run this week with remaining performances held on Thursday, July 15 at 7:30 pm, Friday, July 16 at 8:00 pm, Saturday, July 17 at 8:00 pm, and Sunday, July 18 at 2:00 pm.

Centenary Stage Company's NextStage Repertory's annual summer musical theatre series returns with Stuart Ross' Forever Plaid. Performances run July 8through 18 in the Sitnik Theatre of the Lackland Performing Arts Center at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ.  Ticket prices range from $18.00 to $29.50 with discounts available on select performances.  For more information or to purchase tickets visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 – 0900.

As Lifeline Theatre concludes its 38th season, long-time Managing Director Allison Cain has announced she will transition out of her leadership role in Fall 2021.  “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the artistic mission and vision of Lifeline Theatre,” Cain said. “The pride I have in this organization and its people is immense.”

The Dunes Summer Theatre is taking the 2021 Season outdoors, starting with 'Forever Plaid,' running June 4-20 (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays), 6-7:30 p.m. CDT. Performances at the theatre, 288 Shady Oak Drive in Michigan City, are free and audiences are limited to 50 persons. Advance reservations are required and donations are welcome.

It feels like it was just last week that I was at Diamond Head Theatre (DHT), experiencing the joyous all-female cast of Shout! and now, I got to experience more joy from DHT, except through an all-male cast in its energetic production of Forever Plaid. As remained the case with Shout!, Forever Plaid was certainly a welcome and impressive addition to the repertoire of amidst-Covid-mounted productions at the Broadway of the Pacific.

Tony nominee and Broadway star, Melissa Errico, will bring her “Sondheim by the Shore” concert to Holmdel Theatre Company on July 17. This show is part of the theatre’s “Broadway Outside the Barn” concert series.

Original Lynyrd Skynyrd member Gary Rossington, lead singer Johnny Van Zant and lead guitarist Rickey Medlocke delivered a personal message to their fans about the band’s touring plans.

The Public Theater of San Antonio has announced the productions it will be producing in their upcoming 2021-2022 Season! Ticket prices can be found online now, and season tickets will go on sale in late summer of 2021.

Cumberland County Playhouse has recently announced the remainder of its 2021 Season, featuring the currently running revival of Duck Hunter Shoots Angel and the upcoming opening of Driving Miss Daisy.

The Dunes Summer Theatre is taking the 2021 Season outdoors, starting with 'Forever Plaid,' running June 4-20 (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays), 6-7:30 p.m. CDT. Performances at the theatre, 288 Shady Oak Drive in Michigan City, are free and audiences are limited to 50 persons. Advance reservations are required and donations are welcome.

Osceola Arts has announced an amazing list of plays and musicals for the 2021-22 Theatre Season. This 61st season of theatre begins in September 2021 and runs through July 2022. Programming features Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida: September 24 - October 10; Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings: December 3 - December 19 and more.

A socially distanced production of Forever Plaid will be back once more at the Gatehouse. This delicious fun revue is chock-full of classic quartet harmonies and pitch-perfect melodies. When most of us think of the 1950s, we think of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Hot Rods, Elvis, D.A. haircuts and teenage rebellion. But there was a ‘flipside’ to this era.

Centenary Stage Company has announced 2021 Summer season featuring a full line up of Musical Theatre productions, concerts, and the return of the popular Front Porch Series hosting a selection of outdoor cabarets and family friendly Young Audience Series offerings.

Earlier this month, we marked the 91st birthday of the living legend that is Stephen Sondheim with a look back at five London productions of his work that are embedded in my memory. This week, we honour a quintet of performances that has achieved the same result, even if this has meant choosing from an astonishing array of riches that could populate a column like this ten times over. In any case, here are just a few of the Sondheim star turns that linger in the mind.

During a recent “family meeting” of BDT Stage  employees over Zoom, Artistic Producer Michael J. Duran raised a glass and exuberantly  declared the theatre would reopen April 2, 2021, “Intermission is over! It is time for everyone  to please return to your seats.”

Comedic acting is not for everyone. It needs a distinct, different type of view of life as well. One has to see the amusement in oneself and in life situations. You have to be able to set yourself to be laughed at, to see yourself as a comedic character so to speak.

This year, more than usual, it feels like the world could use a serious dose of Holiday spirit—and the Athens Theatre is ready to deliver Central Florida a jolly remedy for your blues!  Plaid Tidings is a splendiferous show for every age, filled to the brim with songs of the season, tap-danced tunes, and gobs of giggles!