The Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced today the appointment of Cynthia Rider as its next executive director, succeeding current executive director Paul Nicholson, who retires in December after a 33-year tenure with OSF.
Founded in 1991, the Salt Lake City-based Plan-B Theatre Company develops and produces unique and socially conscious theater, with a particular emphasis on new plays by Utah playwrights. Broadway World caught up with the company's producing director, Jerry Rapier.
As presented in its current iteration, the current national tour of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, for the most part, remains a genuinely entertaining enterprise--a cheeky farce filled with super silly situations, wildly outrageous characters, a witty book by Harvey Fierstein, and a memorable Jerry Herman score. But fairly enjoyable as it is, it lacks a bit of the glitz and glamour one has come to expect. Luckily, it's got a powerhouse star in Christopher Sieber that makes the show absolutely worth seeing. The Tony-winning revival continues at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through August 5.
According to an Equity casting notice, MOTOWN The Musical, which is set to open on Broadway in the Spring of 2013, will hold a workshop September 10-30. The show is set to begin Broadway rehearsals in January, with previews set for March 11.
Producers Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy have announced that MOTOWN The Musical, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open in the Spring of 2013 on Broadway at a Nederlander Theatre to be announced.
Founded in 1991, the Salt Lake City-based Plan-B Theatre Company develops and produces unique and socially conscious theater, with a particular emphasis on new plays by Utah playwrights. Broadway World caught up with the company's producing director, Jerry Rapier.
On Thursday, June 14, NCM Fathom and BY Experience present a one-time only movie theater showing of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's critically acclaimed production of THE TEMPEST, starring Academy Award® Winner Christopher Plummer. BroadwayWord brings you an exclusive conversation with Plummer, producer Barry Avrich and director Des McAnuff below!
In a recent chat with BWW, Dickinson explained how this poignant play manages to invoke a serious discussion about race relations in America while delivering a big dose of laughter at the same time
Michelle DeJean, starring as Miss Mona in the upcoming and anticipated production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas took time out of her busy rehearsal schedule to chat with me about life, theatre, touring, New York, Roxie and Miss Mona. As sincere and charming as she is, there is no doubt that the stars about to shine big and bright deep in the heart of Texas!
Acting Up Stage enjoyed a tremendously successful season last year, and they're aiming to top it with their latest offering which was announced a few weeks ago. Featuring a new Canadian musical and a much loved classic, Acting Up Stage's new season has something for everyone. BWW spoke to Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus about how he went about programming the season, how his company hopes to appeal to the next generation and what the secret to their success is.
Christopher Sieber is currently playing the role of Albin/Zaza in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on tour. Christopher's career has been unique and diverse. He has been on TV and Broadway and brings his own life's experiences to the role of Albin/Zaza. Christopher was also priviledged to play the role of Georges on Broadway. He is the only actor who has ever played both lead roles in LA CAGE. He shared his experiences and lessons he has learned over the years as a performer and details of his current role as Albin/Zaza.
Christopher Sieber is currently playing the role of Albin/Zaza in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on tour. Christopher's career has been unique and diverse. He has been on TV and Broadway and brings his own life's experiences to the role of Albin/Zaza. Christopher was also priviledged to play the role of Georges on Broadway. He is the only actor who has ever played both lead roles in LA CAGE. He shared his experiences and lessons he has learned over the years as a performer and details of his current role as Albin/Zaza.
Craig Hepworth is not impressed with this new jukebox show
Today we are talking to the composing half of one of the most talented and consistently exciting songwriting teams in musical theatre, Dempsey/Rowe - the force behind ZOMBIE PROM, THE FIX, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, and, now, the brand new rock musical at Washington, D.C.'s lauded and progressive Signature Theatre, BROTHER RUSSIA - Dana Rowe. Discussing the finer details of his previous collaborations with John Dempsey on the West End iterations of THE FIX and THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, as well as their subsequent American premieres at the Signature, Rowe and I dissect his career thus far, with a particular focus on his edgy new hard rock theatre piece, BROTHER RUSSIA, directed by frequent Dempsey/Rowe director, previous InDepth InterView participant Eric Schaeffer. In addition to all about the boundary-breaking and genre-spanning BROTHER RUSSIA and his other notable musicals, Rowe and I also outline his influences and his own personal favorite scores, as well as shine a light on his enthusiasm for the musical genre at large and what makes his exceedingly complimentary partnership with Dempsey so elemental to the success of their risky and rewarding shows, ZOMBIE PROM until now. All of that and much, much more!
Today we are talking to one half of the supremely talented composing team responsible for ZOMBIE PROM, THE FIX, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, and, now, BROTHER RUSSIA, the lyricist of the formidable Dempsey/Rowe himself, John Dempsey. In this career-spanning conversation, Dempsey and I discuss major and minor details of his handful of skillfully written and entertaining shows written with the collaboration of composer Dana Rowe (who will also be highlighted in this column next week), in particular their affiliation with legendary producer Cameron Mackintosh and Signature Theater founder and director Eric Schaeffer, director of the US premieres of three of their musicals, including the most current one opening later this month - as well as touch on his work with Boublil & Shonberg on THE PIRATE QUEEN and his musical adaptation of the religious-themed film SAVED! As if all of that were not enough, Dempsey and I also dissect the finer points of the new Dempsey/Rowe show in previews in Washington, D.C., BROTHER RUSSIA, as he outlines its inspiration, purpose, style and the intriguing story of the new heavy metal fairy tale meta rock opera - all of that and much, much more.
One of the top-tier performers of a promising new generation of young stars on Broadway, Matt Doyle has appeared in both dramatic musicals and plays in establishing a versatile stage and screen career ranging from a multi-episode arc on GOSSIP GIRL to starring in SPRING AWAKENING on Broadway, as well as the recent revival of BYE BYE BIRDIE, in addition to his most recent New York credit, the highly acclaimed WAR HORSE at Lincoln Center. Equally at home in musicals and straight drama, Doyle's most recently released film venture is an intriguing and compelling independent feature showcasing his WAR HORSE co-star and fellow InDepth InterView participant Seth Numrich with a stylish and intense military school-set adaptation of ROMEO & JULIET titled PRIVATE ROMEO that, fortunately for all of us, also allows Doyle the chance to sing. Having studied at the Royal Academy in London, Doyle was perfectly prepared for his Shakespearean role in PRIVATE ROMEO and that training was also was influential to his success in the aforementioned musicals and plays he has starred in, as he generously fills us in on many memorable moments in his career to date and even shares his most recent experiences doing Michael John LaChiusa's GIANT. Exciting projects coming up next include a sequel to his 2011 EP, DAYLIGHT, titled - appropriately enough - SUNSET, as well as roles in theatre pieces currently in development. Plus, Doyle and I discuss sharing the stage with the starry original cast of SPRING AWAKENING such as GLEE stars Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff and much, much more!
Today we are kicking off our trio of InDepth InterViews with the leading ladies of the new BAM production of RICHARD III by talking to stage and screen star Gemma Jones all about her role in the politically-themed Shakespeare historical drama, which continues performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music through March 4.
In a recent chat with BWW, Boykin shared his thoughts on what it was like to finally appear on the Broadway stage in a play that has literally been a part of his life since the time he was a little boy growing up in West Greenville, South Carolina.
Song stylist and performance artist Kim Smith is a truly unique performer who brings together the worlds of cabaret and theatre in a wholly idiosyncratic and arrestingly amusing manner. Part Marlene Dietrich, part Eartha Kitt and all Kim Smith, Kim and I recently had the chance to discuss his solo show, MISFIT - what inspired it; what he will be singing; what we can expect from the show - as well as a host of other topics, such as his Australian upbringing, the music and performers who inspire him most, performing in Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG and other musicals, as well as other collaborations with director Christian Coulson. Plus, Smith and I take an overview of his favorite current pop artists - many of whom he pays tribute to in his shows, such as Bjork and Robyn - and what elements draw him most in creating his series of surreal solo shows, the most recent being the highly regarded MISFIT, which returns to New York this Sunday. Also, we have first news on his forthcoming solo album and much, much more!
The songbook of Jerry Leiber (1933-2011) and Mike Stoller (1933- ) is a natural for jukebox musical treatment, because it encompasses such variety that it requires little by way of setting to stay interesting. You don't need a plot, you don't need performers to talk or act, all you need is a band, some choreography and costumes, and some great singer/dancers, and you're there.
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