On Saturday, April 26, TUTS is inviting Houstonians to enter a Prohibition-era speakeasy for their annual fundraising gala. This year's theme is "Broadway Empire.' Headlining the evening's entertainment is Broadway phenomenon and Tony Award winning musical theatre actress Laura Benanti. Recently, I chatted with Laura Benanti about her impressive career and the much-anticipated gala.
John C. Breckenridge, President and CEO of Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), announced today the nominations and presenters for TUTS' 12th annual Tommy Tune Awards which will be held on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Developed by TUTS, the Tommy Tune Awards honor musical theatre excellence at the high school level. Co-hosts for the award ceremony include Jim Bernhard and Sarah Pepper. Bernhard has written several original productions that have debuted at TUTS and authored the theatrical history Stars in Your Eyes. Pepper is the morning host of The Hot Show on HOT 95.7 FM.
TUTS Underground unveils the cast for the sizzling and explosive musical Murder Ballad. The steamy quartet of actors includes Steel Burkhardt, Patrick McRoberts, Lauren Molina and Kristin Warren. Fresh off its New York City run, Murder Ballad makes its national regional premiere at Hobby Center's Zilkha Hall April 17 - 27.
For DIRECTOR'S CHOICE, the fourth program of Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2013-2014 season, Artistic Director Peter Boal selects from his roster of acquisitions and increases them by one: The captivating mixed-bill program will feature a much-anticipated world premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo, resident choreographer of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The program also reprises audience favorites TAKE FIVE...More or Less, Broadway-darling Susan Stroman's sunny slice of jazz-infused Dave Brubeck fun; and Susan Marshall's distinctive aerial duet, Kiss. Rounding out the lineup is Molissa Fenley's State of Darkness, a tour-de-force solo performance set to Stravinsky's riot-inducing The Rite of Spring. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE runs for seven performances only, today, March 14 through 23 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall.
Broadway Artists, Recording Artists, Fashion Models and more come together for Puppy Love: An ASPCA Benefit Concert at 54 Below on April 2nd at 11:00PM. All proceeds are being donated to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, after all, we are their voice. Nightlife's Dougie Meyer will be the emcee for the evening.
In early January, Constantine Maroulis rocked Houston audiences as part of Tyce Green's Straight From New York Concert Series. His energetic and mesmerizing performance inspired me to seek out his debut solo album CONSTANTINE. Like the cabaret concert, the 2007 album expertly showcases Constantine Maroulis' rock zeal and indefatigable charisma.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (President and CEO John Schreiber) and Two River Theater (Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst) announced today the full cast of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, a concert version of the classic Tony Award-winning musical, directed by Obie Award-winner Robert O'Hara, with music direction by Kenny J. Seymour. America's favorite musical about big brass bands and small-town spirit will be performed by an African-American cast. The River City, Iowa setting will be based on historical accounts of black communities established during the Great Migration as former slaves moved across the U.S. following the Civil War.
Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Alan Ayckbourn's science fiction comedy Communicating Doors. Eleven plays penned by Alan Ayckbourn have been produced by the Alley, including the American premiere of Henceforward, directed by Ayckbourn, in 1987 and House & Garden in 2002. Alan Ayckbourn has been inducted into the American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.
Students from the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) will perform in four nationally distributed choreography DVDs for the Music Theatre International (MTI) Broadway Junior collection of musicals. The news was announced today by Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) and educational musical theatre consultancy firm iTheatrics. iTheatrics, which is based in New York City, is producing the DVDs, which will feature original choreography by its chief choreographer, Steven G. Kennedy.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's beloved classic film THE WIZARD OF OZ has been re-adapted for the stage by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams. The splashy show features Harold Arlen's original music and E.Y. Harburg's original lyrics, with additional lyrics by Tim Rice and additional music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Flying audiences over the rainbow, this musical is sentimental, family-friendly schmaltz that entertains with ease.
TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents ONCE ON THIS ISLAND from the Tony Award-winning creators of Ragtime. A timeless legend filled with joy, heartache, and adventure, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, winner of the Oliver Award for Best New Musical, boasts a score pulsing with irresistible Caribbean beats by Tony Award-winner Stephen Flaherty, with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. TheatreWorks Artistic Director Robert Kelley will direct this uplifting musical, which takes its story from a book by Rosa Guy, in turn inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Mermaid.' Choreographed by award-winning director, choreographer, and actor Gerry McIntyre, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND plays today, March 5-30, 2014 (press opening March 8) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) has announced that the first North American tour of the new stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz will play today, March 4 - 16 at Hobby Center's Sarofim Hall.
Benefit Concert for The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been set for Wednesday, March 5th, 2014 at 11:00PM at The West End on The Upper West Side of New York City.
Urban Stages Founding Artistic Director Frances Hill and producer Peter Napolitano present the World Premiere of Character Man as part of its 30th Anniversary season. Jim Brochu's new musical memoir begins an Off-Broadway run at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street) tonight, February 28th, with opening night set for Wednesday March 5th. This limited run will continue through March 30th only. Robert Bartley directs, with musical direction by Carl Haan. Character Man will have scenic & video design by Patrick Brennan, lighting design by Meghan Santelli and sound design by Sean Hagerty.
Straight from Skid Row, Audrey II is taking a bite out of Seattle in Little Shop of Horrors, the delightfully demented musical comedy about a man and his plant. Based on the 1960 black comedy film, this hysterical musical devours audiences in the fourth of an incredibly successful string of collaborations between The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT - A Contemporary Theatre. After his recent Broadway debut at the helm of First Date, The 5th Avenue's own Bill Berry will direct this camp horror hit that ran for five years Off-Broadway. Little Shop of Horrors features an incredible cast that includes Seattle stars Joshua Carter, Jessica Skerritt, Jeff Steitzer, David Anthony Lewis, Eric Esteb, Ekello J. Harrid, Jr., Alexandria Henderson, Naomi Morgan, and Nicole Rashida Prothro.
For DIRECTOR'S CHOICE, the fourth program of Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2013-2014 season, Artistic Director Peter Boal selects from his roster of acquisitions and increases them by one: The captivating mixed-bill program will feature a much-anticipated world premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo, resident choreographer of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The program also reprises audience favorites TAKE FIVE…More or Less, Broadway-darling Susan Stroman's sunny slice of jazz-infused Dave Brubeck fun; and Susan Marshall's distinctive aerial duet, Kiss. Rounding out the lineup is Molissa Fenley's State of Darkness, a tour-de-force solo performance set to Stravinsky's riot-inducing The Rite of Spring. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE runs for seven performances only, March 14 through 23 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets start at just $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office, 301 Mercer Street.
In no time at all, Houstonians will be able to click their heels and follow the yellow brick road to The Hobby Center to see TUTS' presentation of the National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE WIZARD OZ. In anticipation of the musical landing in Houston, I spoke with Jacquelyn Piro Donovan who plays Miss Gulch and The Wicked Witch of the West about the show and her career.
Alley Theatre presents the world premiere of a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck, Fool. In Rebeck's new comedy, two kings get together and place a wager on their fools - a jester competition, and the funniest one gets to keep his head. Two evil minions have a lot to say about this, but not as much as the kitchen wench. And what's the queen been up to all night? A dramatical comical farcical tragical play about power, love and laughter, set in a medieval kitchen. Adult Language, Adult Situations, Beheadings.
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) and The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) are cheering loud and proud as they announce Bring It On: The Musical as the 2014 Summer Conservatory production. Set against the world of competitive cheerleading, this powerhouse musical hilariously proves that winning isn't everything when it means losing something - or someone - you really care about. Bring It On: The Musical flies high on the Zilkha Hall stage at The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, September 12 - 13, 2014.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (President and CEO John Schreiber) and Two River Theater (Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst) announced today the full cast of Meredith Willson's The Music Man, a concert version of the classic Tony Award-winning musical, directed by Obie Award-winner Robert O'Hara, with music direction by Kenny J. Seymour. America's favorite musical about big brass bands and small-town spirit will be performed by an African-American cast. The River City, Iowa setting will be based on historical accounts of black communities established during the Great Migration as former slaves moved across the U.S. following the Civil War.
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