The Audience (i) News

The six-time Tony winner's consistent presence on Broadway has made her a symbol of its increasing diversity.

Today, three of the folks most closely associated with the production - director Moore is joined by cast members Sarah Shepherd and Maggie Pitt - fall under our Friday 5 spotlight, allowing us to get to know more about what makes them tick and why each of them believe audiences should flock to Darkhorse Theatre to see their racy rendition of Aristophanes' Lysistrata.

INTIMATE APPAREL, a play described by Nottage as a 'quiet play' in which 'every scene takes place in some sort of boudoir,' is in it's heart about the private relationships between those close to us and those we wish were closer.

From August 16 - September 4 this summer, two of greater Portland's leading theatre companies will combine forces in an exciting and news-making endeavor that is sure to enrich Maine's arts landscape. Both prestigious Equity companies, Maine State Music Theatre and Portland Stage Company, have announced a co-production of Frank McCourt's runaway hit, The Irish and How They Got That Way, at Portland Stage in the weeks following MSMT's regular summer season in Brunswick and before the opening of Portland Stage's 2016-2017 season in late September. The 1997 play with music chronicles the emotional and spiritual journey of the Irish on both sides of the Atlantic and features melodies, originally arranged by Rusty Magee, that range from traditional Celtic folk tunes to Thomas Moore ballads, George M. Cohen favorites, and the more contemporary sounds of U-2.

Owen-Jones arrived in New York City earlier this week to begin the rehearsal process, and he checked in with BroadwayWorld to chat about his Broadway return. Check out the full interview below! 

Merrimack Repertory Theatre hosts the regional premiere of Mat Smart's TINKER TO EVERS TO CHANCE, a play for die-hard baseball fans. Focused on a mother and daughter who bond over their shared love of the Chicago Cubs, it resonates with members of Red Sox Nation who understand the roller coaster emotions of hope and disappointment associated with loving a star-crossed team, but may be less engaging for non-aficionados of the sport.

'Opera God' opens San Diego Opera season with one of his signature roles

When considering musical theatre, one often immediately thinks of the classics - those shows that tell an age old story with soaring and lyrical songs peppered with engaging dance numbers and beautiful costumes. Those plays certainly have their place in the world, but in the past decade or so, a new genre of musical has come into the mix - the jukebox musical, a genre that takes pre-existing music, usually from popular bands, and creates a theatrical plot around them. While some theater purists might look down on this style of show, all one has to do is look around the audience at the Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT to know that jukebox musicals are alive and well.

The Annual FLICfest, founded and curated by Jeramy Zimmerman and now in its sixth year, gave six choreographers an opportunity to present feature-length independent works at the Irondale Center, located in the heart of Brooklyn's Downtown Arts District. The work featured the world premiere of the piece Song and Dance You with choreography by Joya Powell and the members of the Movement of the People Dance Company -- Jenny Efremova, Brittany Grier, Jhia Jackson, Megan Minturn, Rachel Moore, Leah Moriarty, James Murray, Belinda Saenz, and Candace Tabbs -- along with live music by violinist Zoe Aqua and text by Amina Henry. Through the dissection of the sociocultural and sociopolitical constraints of our nation's racial divide, this piece seeks to answer the question "What does it take for Black Lives to actually matter in the eyes of all Americans?"

Comedian Tim FitzHigham will no doubt turn up for his one-man show The Gambler at Greenwich Theatre in conventional style...but don't bet on it. Tim successfully rowed the English Channel in a bathtub for a bet and once walked backwards for 30 miles, so the Docklands Light Railway doesn't exactly present a challenge.

Singer/Actress Frenchie Davis brings her brash wit and iconic vocal style to The Copa in Palm Springs for two intimate performances, January 16 and 17 at 8:00 pm. Davis auditioned for the second season of the groundbreaking FOX show "American Idol" and her tremendous success on the show launched a career that has taken her to Broadway (Rent, Dreamgirls and eventually becoming a Grammy-nominated artist for the revival of Ain't Misbehavin') and, perhaps, her highest profile gig as one of the top four finalists in the first season of The Voice. Her cover of 'When Love Takes Over' landed at #3 on the iTunes Dance Chart. I had the chance to chat with French as she was preparing for her Palm Springs engagement. Here are a few excerpts from the conversation:

Alley Company Artist Melissa Pritchett ( Mary Pidgeon and Christmas Past) talks performing the Alley tradition, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, in the newly renovated Alley theatre.

What could be more exciting than a stage full of musical theatre students performing the roles they dream to play in the decade that lies ahead? Answer: Absolutely nothing.  I was one of the fortunate audience members to share in the experience of night two of the Dream Roles Concert, performed by the UCF BFA Musical Theatre Senior Class (with half the class performing on December 12 and the other half on December 13). From the opening medley to the finale, all of the students had stars in their eyes and a fire in their hearts.  UCF is known for attracting impressive talent and I can only imagine the pride felt by the staff, family and friends in the audience. I only wish I'd witnessed night one to have captured the complete essence of the pseudo recital.

Migenes' performance was like taking a step back to the 1930s, watching the remarkable Lotte Lenya performing her husband's songs during the time he collaborated with Bertolt Brecht to create atonal melodies meant to shock audiences into realizing the masses were, like today, being controlled by the wealthy, upper 1% of society. "Lotte Lenya herself came backstage after I performed Mahagonny and gave me a rose," Migenes says. "That is one of my most precious memories." No doubt the two women were connected to their souls, given how Migenes interpreted her songs.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Boston, South Bend, Milwaukee, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include LA CAGE in Boston, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS in South Bend, and MOUSETRAP in Milwaukee, just to name a few.

After thinking a while about what funny pun with plant terminology I could use to describe exactly how I felt about the musical Little Shop of Horrors, now playing at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center at Notre Dame for the weekend, I realized the only appropriate words are found in the title above.

In December 1867, Charles Dickens arrived in New York City for a month of sold-out performances of his beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Join Mr. Dickens, portrayed by actor John Kevin Jones, as he tells his timeless Christmas tale in the elegant intact Greek Revival parlor of the landmark 1832 Merchant's House Museum (29 East 4th Street, Manhattan).

In a new interview with Billboard.com, ROCK OF AGES star Frankie Grande reveals that he will soon bring his one-man show to L.A.

Laura Bell Bundy has had three distinct careers, each of which most performers would die to have on its own. Depending on your particular fandom, you either know her as the Tony-nominated star of hit musicals HAIRSPRAY and LEGALLY BLONDE, or as the country music artist behind the singles 'Giddy On Up' and 'Two Step,' or as a cast member of TV shows like HART OF DIXIE and ANGER MANAGEMENT. While her career could already be described as eclectic, Bundy recently added another unconventional line to her resume with last month's launch of Skits-O-Frenic, a YouTube channel dedicated to original comedy, music, drama, and dance, from Bundy and her collaborators Tiffany Engen and Brooke Engen.

Charlie Rose goes behind the curtain to report on “Hamilton,” an unorthodox treatment of the story of America's first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton.