The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois, north of Chicago, has an enormous subscription base, deep pockets, a talented and experienced in-house design team and a film property to adapt that touches on a number of important, stage-worthy themes (military patriotism, family, nostalgia, a timely re-visit to accusations of communism in America, parenthood, mid-century entertainment history and censorship, both military and network). And the show's lawyers have acquired the rights to a Hit Parade of jukebox-musical-worthy tunes. But is that enough to make a new stage musical out of the 1991 film 'For The Boys'?
There's really nothing like the first time you see one of your favorite shows. The first time I saw "Hairspray" I leapt to my feet on the final note. The first time I saw "West Side Story" I was on the edge of my seat for these tragic lovers. And the first time I saw "Les Miserables" I wept through the entire thing. There really is nothing like the first time. And the 5th Avenue's current touring production of "Les Miserables" is really nothing like my first time. With its complete lack of subtlety and heart, the only thing it has going for it is the amazing voices singing these wonderful songs.
Producers Jeffrey Finn, Jill Furman and Smuggler Films announced today that Tony Award nominee and two-time Drama Desk Award nominee Lily Rabe (The Merchant of Venice, Steel Magnolias, this summer's lauded A Doll's House at Williamstown) and Obie Award winner and Drama Desk nominee Hamish Linklater (The School for Lies, Twelfth Night, 'The New Adventures of Old Christine') have joined two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman (Private Lives, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the Harry Potter franchise) in the World Premiere of SEMINAR, a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, The Understudy, Omnium Gatherum, The Family of Mann, Spike Heels, NBC's upcoming 'Smash').
There's really nothing like the first time you see one of your favorite shows. The first time I saw "Hairspray" I leapt to my feet on the final note. The first time I saw "West Side Story" I was on the edge of my seat for these tragic lovers. And the first time I saw "Les Miserables" I wept through the entire thing. There really is nothing like the first time. And the 5th Avenue's current touring production of "Les Miserables" is really nothing like my first time. With its complete lack of subtlety and heart, the only thing it has going for it is the amazing voices singing these wonderful songs.
Broadway luminaries Carolee Carmello, Judy Kaye, and Roz Ryan will grace The 5th Avenue Theatre stage under the direction of David Armstrong in the West Coast premiere of Saving Aimee, a soul-stirring new musical with book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford, and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman.
Take a much beloved Disney hit animated musical written by the incomparable Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and turn it into a big flashy Broadway musical directed by recent Tony award winner Casey Nicholaw fresh off 'The Book of Mormon'. Sounds like a no brainer, right? What can go wrong? Well, plenty as is evidenced by the 5th Avenue Theatre's most recent pre-Broadway tryout, 'Aladdin' which more resembles a Disney park show than a legit stage musical.
There are some shows that are done to death, nevertheless we love them anyway. This is probably why they are done to death. Frank Loesser's "Guys and Dolls" is definitely one of those shows. I've seen it several times (including one production I consider the quintessential one, but we'll get to that in a minute) but I always find something to love. Well, the 5th Avenue has dusted off the old girl and while it was one of the most technically proficient productions I've seen, it seemed to lack some of the heart and sass it demands.
Gamblers and gangsters, shysters and low-lifes alike will take over The 5th Avenue Theatre when Guys and Dolls swaggers on to the stage in a swinging reimagining of Frank Loesser's iconic hit (book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows.)
The 5th Avenue Theatre has just announced the full cast for its upcoming production of Guys and Dolls. The show will run May 12 - June 15, and will be directed by Peter Rothstein.
Gamblers and gangsters, shysters and low-lifes alike will take over The 5th Avenue Theatre when Guys and Dolls swaggers on to the stage in a swinging reimagining of Frank Loesser's iconic hit (book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows.)
The 5th Avenue Theatre has just announced the full cast for its upcoming production of Guys and Dolls. The show will run May 12 - June 15, and will be directed by Peter Rothstein.
Broadway star Jonathan Freeman who originated one of Disney's most notorious villains, will have the rare opportunity to bring that character to life on-stage when he plays the evil royal vizier Jafar in the premiere of the new stage musical of Aladdin at The 5th Avenue Theatre this July.
Families visiting The Museum of Flight can expect to get up close and personal with our nation's most powerful women when the story of Rosie the Riveter comes to life in a new children's musical from The 5th Avenue Theatre's Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company (AMT).
Gamblers and gangsters, shysters and low-lifes alike will take over The 5th Avenue Theatre when Guys and Dolls swaggers on to the stage in a swinging reimagining of Frank Loesser's iconic hit (book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows.)
The 5th Avenue Theatre has just announced the full cast for its upcoming production of Guys and Dolls. The show will run May 12 - June 15, and will be directed by Peter Rothstein.
Families visiting The Museum of Flight can expect to get up close and personal with our nation's most powerful women when the story of Rosie the Riveter comes to life in a new children's musical from The 5th Avenue Theatre's Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company (AMT).
It is with great excitement that Village Theatre announces the return of Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner Brian Yorkey (Next To Normal) to the director's seat for the upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Set to open in Issaquah on May 12, 2011, this incredibly dynamic production features some bold choices by Yorkey including non-traditional casting and shared roles between two of the most legendary musical theatre characters-Jesus of Nazareth and Judas Iscariot.
ACT-A Contemporary Theatre-skips into springtime with a fabulous musical, more new work from emerging artists, and some returning favorites. This month, ACT's Mainstage play series continues with ACT and The 5th Avenue Theatre's production of VANITIES: A NEW MUSICAL, the life-affirming journey of three women, three decades, and one friendship. The Central Heating Lab at ACT keeps things simmering with returning favorites, including the Young Playwrights Festival, the 2011 ACT New Play Award, and TheFilmSchool's popular Caught in the ACT. The Central Heating Lab at ACT also welcomes new theatre partners ReAct Theatre and Pratidhwani presenting Mother in Another Language by Taniya Hossain. Additionally, The Moisture Festival, Seattle's infamous springtime celebration of comedy, varietè and burlesque, returns to ACT for a fifth year!
The Broadway League announced today the recipients of its fifteenth annual National Education Grants. These grants support innovative programs that enable students from coast to coast to experience touring Broadway as a form of artistic expression and as an educational tool.
