Stephanie Craven News

Grammy winner Jenn Colella and Tony nominee L Morgan Lee join the cast of Xena: Warrior Musical on its original cast album.

Peanuts' timeless holiday television special comes to life on stage with the national tour of A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage, skating into more than 25 cities this fall with a brand new cast. The tour launches today in Gulfport, MS.

The Onomatopoeia Theatre Company is presenting the New York City premiere of “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” this July at the Gene Frankel Theatre.

Syracuse Stage and the Syracuse University Department of Drama is now enchanting audiences with their production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. The musical is under the always superb direction of Donna Drake and musical director Brian Cimmet, the creative team that brought the last two holiday favorites to Syracuse Stage. Like their past productions, Wizard of Oz and Elf their production of Beauty and the Beast kicks off the Holiday season with magical sets, costumes, and dazzling talent.

Syracuse Stage rings in the holiday season with the family musical a?oeDisney's Beauty and the Beast,a?? directed by Donna Drake and choreographed by Anthony Salatino with musical direction by Brian Cimmet. Preview performances begin Nov. 22. Opening night is Nov. 29, with performances scheduled through Jan. 5. Excellent seats remain for many performances and are available through the Box Office (315-443-3275) and at www.SyracuseStage.org.

Over the weekend I had the absolute pleasure of seeing Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods reimagined at the Storch Theatre in the Syracuse Stage Complex. Director David Lowenstein brilliantly brings those fairy tale stories and characters to life as if they were written and created for present times. Lowenstein and his cast of Syracuse University Drama students offer up a refreshing and captivating production that relates back to modern day sociopolitical issues, the celebrities in the news etc. The numerous pop culture references add to the experience, not detract from it.

Syracuse University's Department of Drama tackles a seminal work of modern Russian theater as it presents "The Seagull" by Anton Chekhov. First performed In St. Petersburg in 1896, "The Seagull" famously flopped on its opening night and nearly drove Chekhov to abandon playwriting. In 1898, the famous director Konstantin Stanislavsky staged the play at The Moscow Art Theatre where it proved a resounding success and helped establish the company's and the playwright's reputations.

Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) continues its 53rd season with the classic musical ANNIE, playing June 29 - July 16 at the Pickard Theater in Brunswick. ANNIE stars the young Lauren Weintraub as well as MSMT alumni Charis Leos, Chuck Ragsdale, Lara Seibert, and newcomers Morgan Smith and David Girolmo.

Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) continues its 53rd season with the classic musical ANNIE, playing June 29 - July 16 at the Pickard Theater in Brunswick. ANNIE stars the young Lauren Weintraub as well as MSMT alumni Charis Leos, Chuck Ragsdale, Lara Seibert, and newcomers Morgan Smith and David Girolmo.