As a teen in Tulsa, Oklahoma who aspired to be a dramatic actor, Chicago-born Jason Graae was advised to 'Be a Clown' and to 'Make 'em Laugh'. Not everyone can fill the shoes of a clown; those shoes are pretty damn big. But for Graae, whose mind never stops clicking with its razor-sharp wit, fierce timing and shotgun-speed spontaneity, clowning seemed the natural choice, and thank heaven for us, he not only followed through but has turned into one of the most endearing comic performers the world has ever known. On Monday March 10, Graae premiered his brand new cabaret show 49 1/2 Shades of Graae at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal to an ecstatic packed house. Introducing his material, he said it was based on the porn novel 50 Shades of Grey, but...'This is gonna be dirtier.' 'Dirty' in Graae terminology means... yes, indeed, some smut thrown in, but with a whole lot of charm, pizazz and miles and miles of genuine humor. There are a few serious scenarios included in the mostly autobiographical show, but every one with heart and banners waving high. And when I mean autobiographical, there are not only career stories but personal anecdotes as well. Expertly staged by Heather Lee and with fab musical direction from John Boswell, the evening was, to quote Graae, in an improv-takeoff of my supposed BWW review, 'the best show I saw in NoHo all day...' and for those lucky enough to get reservations, it will repeat next Sunday March 16.
Pittsburgh International Children's Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents the Pittsburgh premiere of Theatreworks USA's The Teacher from the Black Lagoon & Other Story Books ('Dogzilla,' 'I Want My Hat Back,' 'Grumpy Bird,' 'Lily's Purple Plastic Purse,' 'Love Splat (Splat the Cat),' and 'The Grasshopper and the Ant') from February 16-23, 2014, at six performance locations throughout the area.
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre's (NAMT) 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals takes place tomorrow, Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Below, meet the writers of the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals shows!
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced final casting for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced additional casting and creatives for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced initial casting for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).
9 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick will be rockin' every night beginning September 24 with music and laughter. George Street Playhouse and Artistic Director David Saint have announced casting for the opening production for the venerable theatre's fortieth season. Gettin' The Band Back Together (formerly titled Garage Band) is a rockin' valentine to the Garden State, and will be directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando - who also helmed The Toxic Avenger in New Brunswick (and New York) a few seasons back. Gettin' The Band Back Together will rock the house beginning Tuesday, September 24 and continue through Sunday, October 27. Opening night is set for Friday, October 4. Gettin' The Band Back Together is performed by special arrangement with Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, Inc. and Roy Putrino.
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced on June 28 the nine musicals selected to be part of the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announces 11 awards granted from their National Fund for New Musicals, a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaborations with writers to create, develop and produce new musicals. Now in its fifth year, the Fund will provide grants totaling $37,000 to 11 organizations across the country.
The American Theater Group presents a new musical series hosted by Stephen Schwartz. Bubble Boy: The Musical will be presented on Saturday, November 10.
American Theater Group, New Jersey's newest professional theater, in association with The ASCAP Foundation, announces the CY COLEMAN NEW AMERICAN MUSICAL READING SERIES taking place today, November 3 and November 10 at 8 pm at Hamilton Stage, the brand new, state-of-the-art theater located at 360 Hamilton St., Rahway, NJ. All readings will be FREE to the public.
American Theater Group, New Jersey's newest professional theater, in association with The ASCAP Foundation, announces the CY COLEMAN NEW AMERICAN MUSICAL READING SERIES taking place on November 3 and November 10 at 8 pm at Hamilton Stage, the brand new, state-of-the-art theater located at 360 Hamilton St., Rahway, NJ. All readings will be FREE to the public.
Bobby Cronin, who's shows Daybreak and Concrete Jungle are currently being premiered in London, performed songs from both shows with current cast members, James Darch, Tash Holloway and Kayleigh Lousie Smith, as well as performing a song himself, at WAITING FOR MORE, an evening of new American Musical Theatre writing presented by #1 Entertainment Sunday May 20th at Freedom Bar, Soho. Check out the photos of West End Performers, Stevie Tate-Bauer ('Wicked', 'Lord of the Rings'), Andy Bryant ('Wicked', 'Fresher'), Andrew Waldron ('A Chorus Line', 'The Sound of Music'), Chantal Amber-Rose ('La Bohème', 'Cinderella'), David Malcolm ('Kiss Me Kate', 'An Ideal Husband'), Sian Walker ('Cinderella', 'The Little Big Club'), Phoebe Fildes ('A Little Bit of Rogers and Hammerstein', 'An Evening with Max Reinhardt'), Michelle LaFortune ('Joseph', 'Oklahoma!'), Gareth Andrews ('Patience', 'Dick Whittington'), James Darch ('Fresher'), Colin Burnicle, Tash Holloway and Angharad Sanders below.
On May 20, 2012, #1 Entertainment presented Waiting For More, an evening of new American Musical Theatre writing with a special guest performance by Bobby Cronin, whose shows 'Daybreak' and 'Concrete Jungle' are currently being premiered here in London. Bobby performed songs from both Concrete Jungle and Daybreak with current cast members, James Darch, Tash Holloway and Kayleigh Lousie Smith, as well as performing a song himself. Check out photos from the production below!
#1 Entertainment presents Waiting For More, an evening of new American Musical Theatre writing with a special guest performance by Bobby Cronin, whose shows 'Daybreak' and 'Concrete Jungle' are currently being premiered here in London. Bobby will be performing songs from both Concrete Jungle and Daybreak with current cast members, James Darch, Tash Holloway and Kayleigh Lousie Smith, as well as performing a song himself.
Victoria Theatre Association presents the final Mid-Day Arts Cafe of the 2011-2012 season, tonight, May 15, 2012 in the Mathile Theatre at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. May's Mid-Day Arts Cafe highlights The Human Race Theatre Company, the Dayton region's resident professional company, and their upcoming performance of Band Geeks!
The Human Race Theatre Company wraps up its 2011-2012 25th Anniversary Season with the Midwest premiere of Band Geeks!, described as 'a gleefully entertaining musical about the trials and tribulations of a down-on-its-luck Ohio high school marching band.'
Victoria Theatre Association presents the final Mid-Day Arts Cafe of the 2011-2012 season, Tuesday, May 15, 2012 in the Mathile Theatre at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. May's Mid-Day Arts Cafe highlights The Human Race Theatre Company, the Dayton region's resident professional company, and their upcoming performance of Band Geeks!
Nashville productions of Aida and The Color Purple highlight the 63rd season announced today by Circle Players, the community theatre that's been treating audiences to award-winning shows since 1949. In addition, the company will mount a production of The Piano Lesson, the August Wilson classic that was first produced by Circle Players in its 1993-94 season, the acclaimed musical Next to Normal (which is currently running in Memphis in its Tennessee premiere starring Belmont University graduate Ben Laxton and will be produced later this season by Boiler Room Theatre), and the regional premiere of Band Geeks, an all-youth production directed by Catherine McTamaney.
BroadwayWorld has learned that Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot, Side Show, Sunset Blvd., Vanities) will lead readings of the new musical, The Emma Woodhouse Single Girls Guide, a stage re-imagination of Jane Austen's 1815 novel, Emma.
