T Loving News

A New Jersey couple opens a café in the middle of the desert in this rollicking comedy.

If your only previous exposure to the story of Cyrano de Bergerac was through the Steve Martin vehicle Roxanne, then you've really only seen a watered down (and considerably lightened) telling of the tale. The movie is a lot of fun, but Edmond Rostand's play, which imparts a great deal of fictional ornamentation to the actual person, is much darker in nature. And while there is a generous amount of humor to be found, most of the action is played with an undercurrent of deadly seriousness, and with the countenance of the true tragedy that it is. St. Louis Shakespeare has mounted a swashbuckling staging that's neatly appointed and well performed by a game and talented cast.

Since debuting a little more than a year ago (Sept.5 '09), Streep Tease: An Evening of Meryl Streep Monologues performed by an All-Male Cast has won critical praise from the LA Times, the LA Weekly and Daily Variety. The cult classic show in the making, reopens Sat., March 12 at the Bang Improv Theater in Los Angeles, it was announced today by the show's Creator & Co-Executive Producer Roy Cruz. A celebratory, wicked, yet loving satire of scenes from the most unforgettable movies from one of our greatest contemporary actresses, Streep Tease resumes an open ended run featuring new material and new cast members. Co-Executive Produced by Kenneth Hartung and directed by Ezra Weisz, the show is performed by an ensemble cast of seven actors and special guests.

On March 11th, 2011 the New York Pops pays tribute to the late Judy Garland in a special concert at Carnegie Hall. The show will play homage to her famous 1961 concert at the same location, and features Broadway stars Ashley Brown, Heather Headley and Karen Olivo (as well as special guest Lorna Luft) All week we are speaking with the people involved in this special night, and today we are talking with Ashley Brown about Judy Garland, returning to Broadway in Mary Poppins and what comes next.

International City Theatre kicks off its 2011 'Season of Romantic Adventures' with the West Coast premiere of a musical abouT Loving life, loving thinking, loving making art, and loving love. Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein, adapted from Stein's writings by Tony Award winners Stephen Flaherty and Frank Galati, explores the writer's capricious love affair with language, self expression, and her lifelong companion, Alice B. Toklas. caryn desai [sic] directs and Darryl Archibald is musical director. The limited, four-week engagement closes Februay 13.

The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse will be holding auditions for BIG RIVER on Monday, March 7, 2011 from 12pm to 7pm at the Playhouse. Auditions are by appointment only and can be made by calling the Box Office at 970-744-3747 during box office hours beginning February 22, 2011.

Making Books Sing (MBS), the New York-based non-profit dedicated to advancing children's literacy and social development through professional theatre productions and arts-in-education programs, marks its 15th season with the world premiere of the family musical SKY BOYS: The Building of the Empire State Building.

Making Books Sing (MBS), the New York-based non-profit dedicated to advancing children's literacy and social development through professional theatre productions and arts-in-education programs, marks its 15th season with the world premiere of the family musical SKY BOYS: The Building of the Empire State Building.

Since debuting a little more than a year ago (Sept.5 '09), Streep Tease: An Evening of Meryl Streep Monologues performed by an All-Male Cast has won critical praise from the LA Times, the LA Weekly and Daily Variety. The cult classic show in the making, reopens Sat., March 12 at the Bang Improv Theater in Los Angeles, it was announced today by the show's Creator & Co-Executive Producer Roy Cruz. A celebratory, wicked, yet loving satire of scenes from the most unforgettable movies from one of our greatest contemporary actresses, Streep Tease resumes an open ended run featuring new material and new cast members. Co-Executive Produced by Kenneth Hartung and directed by Ezra Weisz, the show is performed by an ensemble cast of seven actors and special guests.

Coming to Plays & Players (P&P) mainstage Jan. 13-29 is William Finn's A New Brain: a semi-autobiographical musical journey through his diagnosis and treatment of a seemingly terminal defect in his brain. Protagonist Gordon Schwinn's greatest fear is dying with his best songs still inside him, so he works day and night from his hospital bed to get them all out. Premiering off-Broadway to rave reviews over a decade ago, P&P is proud to introduce Philadelphia theater-goers and musical-lovers to a harrowing yet heartwarming tale about the healing power of art.

Bravo gives viewers an inside look into the minds and motivation of men as successful megia mogul, turned love guru, Donny Deutsch hosts 'Love Calling,' on Thursday, January 27th at 11pm (Live ET/Tape delayed PT).

Encore Entertainment is opening their production of Leonard Gershe's Butterflies Are Free this week. Reviewed at a dress rehearsal performance, I am happy to report the show is so good there's no need to wait until opening night to spread the word. You won't want to miss it! * * * * * (out of 5)

Making Books Sing (MBS), the New York-based non-profit dedicated to advancing children's literacy and social development through professional theatre productions and arts-in-education programs, marks its 15th season with the world premiere of the family musical SKY BOYS: The Building of the Empire State Building.

Bravo gives viewers an inside look into the minds and motivation of men as successful megia mogul, turned love guru, Donny Deutsch hosts 'Love Calling,' on Thursday, January 27th at 11pm (Live ET/Tape delayed PT).

International City Theatre kicks off its 2011 'Season of Romantic Adventures' with the West Coast premiere of a musical about loving life, loving thinking, loving making art, and loving love. Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein, adapted from Stein's writings by Tony Award winners Stephen Flaherty and Frank Galati, explores the writer's capricious love affair with language, self expression, and her lifelong companion, Alice B. Toklas. caryn desai [sic] directs and Darryl Archibald is musical director. The limited, four-week engagement runs January 21-Februay 13, with low-priced previews on January 18, 19 and 20.

The 50th anniversary of the Philles Records label (1961-2011) has arrived. The long-range campaign promise announced in 2009 by Legacy Recordings and EMI Music Publishing, to dig deep into the rich catalog of Phil Spector's 'Wall Of Sound' on Philles, moves ahead with four newly-compiled albums. The quartet of titles will be available at all physical and digital retail outlets starting February 22nd through Phil Spector Records/ Legacy, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Loving Repeating: A Musical of Gertrude Stein - The West Coast premiere of the chamber musical by Tony Award winners Stephen Flaherty and Frank Galati, adapted from the writings of Gertrude Stein. A musical about loving life, loving thinking, loving making art, and loving love, Loving Repeating explores Stein's capricious love affair with language, self expression, and her lifelong companion, Alice B. Toklas. Following Stein from her student days in the late 19th century to the height of her artistic era in Paris as one of the 'lost generation,' the distinctive score illuminates Stein's world, bringing fresh perspective to her poetic texts and illuminating her deep love of the way American language perpetually changes to reflect the voices of the people. A perplexing, exhilarating, hilarious, and emotionally giddy musical as unique as Stein herself.

Coming to Plays & Players (P&P) mainstage Jan. 13-29 is William Finn's A New Brain: a semi-autobiographical musical journey through his diagnosis and treatment of a seemingly terminal defect in his brain. Protagonist Gordon Schwinn's greatest fear is dying with his best songs still inside him, so he works day and night from his hospital bed to get them all out. Premiering off-Broadway to rave reviews over a decade ago, P&P is proud to introduce Philadelphia theater-goers and musical-lovers to a harrowing yet heartwarming tale about the healing power of art.

Making Books Sing (MBS), the New York-based non-profit dedicated to advancing children's literacy and social development through professional theatre productions and arts-in-education programs, marks its 15th season with the world premiere of the family musical SKY BOYS: The Building of the Empire State Building.

This February, COMEDY CENTRAL is celebrating Black History Month with specials such as Patrice O'Neal's first COMEDY CENTRAL Original World Premiere Stand-Up Special, 'Patrice O'Neal: Elephant In The Room,' the Network Television Premiere of 'Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me,' programming from Eddie Griffin, Katt Williams, Kevin Hart and Sinbad and stack of favorite movies. Also debuting in February is the one hour World Premiere Special from 'Mike and Molly's' breakout star, 'Billy Gardell: Half Time.' Spend this Valentine's Day with TV's most loving bar owners with a stack of episodes of 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' and tune in for all new episodes of the 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,' 'The Colbert Report,' 'Tosh.0,' 'Onion SportsDome' and 'COMEDY CENTRAL Presents' all February long.