GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! It's Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - and we know what you're thinking: Where the hell was my favorite early morning theater news and gossip yesterday? Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we were unable to raise ourselves up from the bed and make our way to our desk in order to start writing. After a particularly challenging weekend, we were a bit under the weather and, truth be told, exhausted. We offer our abject apologies and request your indulgences, although we were just as disappointed as we hope you were because we were unable to live life dramatically with any sense of style on Monday.
This summer there will be cheers and applause when it rains for three consecutive weeks on the North Shore. The excitement will be coming from audiences enjoying the splashy new production of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN at Bill Hanney's award-winning North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT).
Cortland Repertory Theatre's third production in their 45th anniversary summer season is the CRT debut of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical 'A Chorus Line'. Conceived, originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, this nine-time Tony Award winning Broadway musical boasts a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. Performances of CRT's production will be held at the Little York Pavilion in Preble, and run from July 13 - 30 with evening performances at 7:30. Matinees are available on July 15, 17, 20, 24, and 27 at 2:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or by visiting the CRT Box Office at 24 Port Watson Street in downtown Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org.
Cortland Repertory Theatre's third production in their 45th anniversary summer season is the CRT debut of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical 'A Chorus Line'. Conceived, originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, this nine-time Tony Award winning Broadway musical boasts a book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Edward Kleban. Performances of CRT's production will be held at the Little York Pavilion in Preble, and run from July 13 - 30 with evening performances at 7:30. Matinees are available on July 15, 17, 20, 24, and 27 at 2:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or by visiting the CRT Box Office at 24 Port Watson Street in downtown Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org.
For the second production in their 45th anniversary season of professional summer theatre, Cortland Repertory Theatre presents the world renowned American musical West Side Story, with a book by Arthur Laurents, based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and music byLeonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
For the second production in their 45th anniversary season of professional summer theatre, Cortland Repertory Theatre presents the world renowned American musical West Side Story, with a book by Arthur Laurents, based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Performances of this stirring and exciting show will run from June 22 - July 9 with evening performances at 7:30.
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.
Each year some two dozen young theatre professionals make their way to Brunswick, Maine, to take part in a dynamic summer program that is both educational and experiential. They come to fill performance, production, and administrative internships at one of New England's leading regional theatres. Maine State Music Theatre is an Equity summer company with more than a half century of storied history of bringing first-class Broadway shows to midcoast Maine and beyond. And at the heart of this ensemble are the talented, aspiring, and inspiring young actors and technicians who come to learn, to absorb, and to contribute to the magic of their chosen profession.
As its mainstage season draws to a close, Maine State Music Theatre presented the second of its offerings for young audiences, Shrek Jr.,The Musical in an ambitiously staged interpretation of the 2008 David Lindsay-Abaire-Jeanine Tesori musical version of the Disneyworks film that packed Brunswick's Pickard Theatre for four performances on August 17th.
Though MSMT has always offered children's theatre as part of its summer season, this Shrek distinguishes itself in its exuberant and deliciously talented young cast, its impressive production values, and its decision to address the show to a broader family audience. To see toddlers and grandparents, the literally-young and young-at-heart all relishing the energetic performance was an absolute delight!
Maine State Music Theatre marshaled all its resources for the finale of its 2015 season with a stunning production of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, filled with rollicking humor, brilliant dancing, and dazzling design effects that had the opening night audience on their feet cheering not only at curtain calls, but also during the course of the show. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, the cast of starry principals and equally gifted ensemble gave Brooks' signature off-beat humor a vibrancy and wit that had the intimate Pickard Theatre pulsating with joyous energy.
Coming to a village near you (Brunswick, Maine) to close out Maine State Music Theatre's 2015 season is Mel Brooks' hilarious musical comedy YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. This show runs August 5 through August 22 with show times at 2 and 7:30 PM.
Maine State Music Theatre presents SHREK THE MUSICAL, JR., appearing on the MSMT stage August 17, 2015 at 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM, and a special showing at 7:30 PM.
Who doesn't love Meredith Willson's classic musical, Music Man, with its thrilling score, its witty humor, its irresistible combination of bravura and unabashed romanticism?. Generations have grown up on movie versions and memories of the big Broadway productions. So when a company undertakes a revival of such a classic, they risk the inevitable comparisons. Undaunted, Maine State Music Theatre has mounted a grand, original, and compelling look at this cornerstone of American musical theatre. The new production, directed by Marc Robin, starring Curt Dale Clark and Lauren Blackman, which opened at Brunswick's Pickard Theatre on July 16, skillfully fuses the familiar and the fresh into an evening of absolute delight.
Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) is proud to be one of the first regional theatres to present the feel-amazing musical comedy smash SISTER ACT, running June 24 - July 11, 2015.
In the first act of the Menken/Slater/Steinkellner musical comedy, Sister Act, the heroine, Sister Mary Clarence (aka Deloris Van Cartier) tells Mother Superior that song should come from the soul to raise the rafters. Maine State Music Theatre's second season offering does just that with a dazzling production and a cast whose talent is, indeed, cause for celebration!
'Fame/I'm gonna live forever/I'm gonna learn how to fly. . . .'So sings the company of young aspiring actors in the Steve Margoshes/Jacques Levy 1984 musical, FAME, and, indeed, one finds the description appropriate for the talented cast which Maine State Music Theatre has assembled for its annual intern production, presented at Brunswick's Pickard Theatre on Monday, June 15th. Each year some two dozen young artists, who also perform in the main stage shows and work behind the scenes come together to present their own show, and in this year's FAME they outdo themselves!
The 1988 musical based on the earlier movie is an excellent choice for the company, offering age-appropriate characters with which the actors can identify and challenging them to turn out colorful, individual performances while creating an esprit de corps. Moreover, it is a theatre story, filled with laughter, pathos, and heart.
One of Nashville's favorite young actors is quickly growing up. As a teenager, he was onstage for countless area theater companies, but now he's known as James Spencer Dean and he's pursuing his bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theater at The Boston Conservatory. Who'd have thought that Spencer Dean, who delighted audiences in numerous Act Too productions and was a 2012 First Night Most Promising Actor, would now be known as "James Spencer Dean" and wowing audiences in the northeast just as did back home?
Theater people from throughout Tennessee gathered at Belmont University's Bill and Carole Troutt Theatre on Sunday night for the 2013 First Night Honors to pay tribute to a group of eight remarkable people who have made indelible marks on the theater scene throughout their storied careers. Hosted by Holly Shepherd and Joel Diggs, the gala evening honored the eight leading lights of Tennessee theater as they were recognized as members of the First Night Class of 2013 Honorees.
Dressed to the nines-despite forecasts of thunderstorms and a tornado watch that hung over the region-theater people from throughout Tennessee gathered at Belmont University's Bill and Carole Troutt Theatre on Sunday night for the 2013 First Night Honors. Hosted by Holly Shepherd and Joel Diggs, the gala evening honored eight leading lights of Tennessee theater as they were recognized as members of the First Night Class of 2013 Honorees.
