Admittedly, I am not in the target demographic for Disney's musical NEWSIES, running through February 1st at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. This musical, which concluded its two-and-a-half year Broadway run last fall, has inspired a legion of young, female fans who have dubbed themselves 'Fansies.' So while I might not be who the show is normally marketed towards, I left the Walt Disney Theatre on Opening Night completely infected by the optimism, athleticism, and heart of this movie-musical adaptation. Though far from being without fault, the score (which won a Tony for composer Alan Menken and lyricist Jack Feldman), the script (by Tony-winner Harvey Fierstein), and the immense talent of the young ensemble made this a exceptionally enjoyable evening of entertainment.
With vigorous dancing and impressive sets, Newsies is currently entertaining audiences in Atlanta. Disney once again provides an excellent spectacle in theatrical mastery.
Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 60 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2014 Los Angeles winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!
It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!
The North American tour of Disney's NEWSIES opened earlier this year in Philadelphia. The Tony Award-winning smash hit musical will play 25 cities over 43 weeks, with more to be announced. The musical just landed in Chicago, and BWW's rounded up the reviews so far...
Nominees for the 2014 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced on the evening of Monday, September 22 at Native Voices at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. The nominations were revealed by past Ovation Award recipients Gigi Bermingham, Brighid Fleming, Parmer Fuller, Jennifer Haley, Brian Kite, Glynn Turman, and John Zalewski, along with LA STAGE Alliance Chief Executive Officer Terence McFarland.
Nominees for the 2014 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced on the evening of Monday, September 22 at Native Voices at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. The nominations were revealed by past Ovation Award recipients Gigi Bermingham, Brighid Fleming, Parmer Fuller, Jennifer Haley, Brian Kite, Glynn Turman, and John Zalewski, along with LA STAGE Alliance Chief Executive Officer Terence McFarland.
The Suzi Bass Awards, Inc. revealed nominations for the 2013-2014 Atlanta professional theatrical season this evening to theatre patrons and industry artists. The Suzi Nomination Party, which rotates venues, was hosted this year by Actor's Express in the King Plow Arts Center of Atlanta. Guest announcers included performers Christy Baggett, Laura Cole, Danielle Deadwyler, and Tess Malis Kincaid.
Williamstown Theatre Festival launches its 2014 Main Stage Season, the 60th Anniversary Season for the Tony Award-winning theatre company. The Main Stage Season kicks off today, July 2, 2014 with a revival of Ring Lardner and George S. Kaufman's June Moon, directed by WTF favorite Jessica Stone.
Cleveland Play House enthusiastically welcomes dance legend Maurice Hines to Cleveland in the toe-tapping extravaganza, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Co-produced with Alliance Theatre and Arena Stage, CPH audiences will be dazzled by this infectious production, which brings the history of American tap to life. Directed by Tony-nominee Jeff Calhoun (Newsies) and featuring contemporary tap icons The Manzari Brothers and music from the all-female big band The Diva Orchestra, Tappin' Thru Life will dance its way onto PlayhouseSquare's Allen Theatre stage for an extended run from today, May 30 - June 29. Special gratitude is given to CPH's generous sponsor, Zinner & Co.
Cleveland Play House enthusiastically welcomes dance legend Maurice Hines to Cleveland in the toe-tapping extravaganza, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Co-produced with Alliance Theatre and Arena Stage, CPH audiences will be dazzled by this infectious production, which brings the history of American tap to life. Directed by Tony-nominee Jeff Calhoun (Newsies) and featuring contemporary tap icons The Manzari Brothers and music from the all-female big band The Diva Orchestra, Tappin' Thru Life will dance its way onto PlayhouseSquare's Allen Theatre stage for an extended run from May 30 - June 29. Special gratitude is given to CPH's generous sponsor, Zinner & Co.
The big question surrounding the fate of Harmony: Is Broadway ready for another musical about the turbulent 30s and Nazi occupation of Germany? With The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof (although set in Russia and at an earlier time, it's still about the plight of the Jews) and Cabaret firmly planted in our minds as three of the greatest musicals ever written about the Nazis, do we need one more? Barry Manilow has been trying desperately for over 10 years to get his Harmony, the true story about the Comedian Harmonists, onstage. Now at the Ahmanson through April 13, Harmony is beautifully produced and mounted, exceedingly well-performed and a thoroughly moving story about 6 singers/performers whose careers and lives were interrupted and controlled by Naziism. The answer to the big question is a shaky maybe.
Rehearsals begin tomorrow, February 11, 2014, for Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's 'Harmony,' A New Musical, which opens March 12, 2014, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and plays through April 13. (Previews begin March 4.)
