Traci Elaine Lee News

I felt the earth move under my feet when the audience of over 1000 people jumped to their feet to give the cast of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL a standing ovation, accompanied by thunderous applause. The Wharton Center showing was absolutely fabulous! Sunday night is the final performance of this amazing show.

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 75 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2016 Dallas winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

The major problem I have seen with jukebox musicals is they may have the music to entertain with a nostalgic value but not the book. Then there's the pitfall of the music itself being so focused on one artist that, unless you're a die-hard fan, you can get bored ('Jersey Boys' falls into both traps for me). But sometimes there are shows like 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' currently performing at the Paramount Theatre that manage to hurtle both obstacles with seeming ease. Yes, the songs are all there but as we're looking at the career of a songwriter as well as performer we get a very diverse sound. Plus the book goes well beyond 'and then I did this song, and then I did that song' with a thoroughly engaging story making this one of those rare jukebox musicals that works on every level.

Even without eye-popping special effects, a gimmicky storyline, or those oft-used literary or cinematic source materials, some stage musicals just manage to entertain by sheer likability alone. A big warm hug of a show that's brimming with lots of surprisingly snappy wit and, arguably, some of the previous century's most melodious pop hits, BEAUTIFUL---the Broadway stage musical based on the life of treasured Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Carole King---is a show that certainly lives up to its title. This charming, swiftly-paced bio-musical's first national tour continues performances at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through October 16.

The National Tour of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning hit musical BEAUTIFUL - THE Carole King MUSICAL welcomes Julia Knitel (Carole King) and Erika Olson (Cynthia Weil) beginning tonight, September 13 in San Francisco, CA.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing are pleased to announce that the National Tour of this Broadway sensation will star Julia Knitel (Carole King) and Erika Olson (Cynthia Weil), who will be joining a company featuring Liam Tobin (Gerry Goffin) and Ben Fankhauser (Barry Mann), with Curt Bouril (Don Kirshner) and Suzanne Grodner (Genie Klein). For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit TheSmithCenter.com.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing have announced the National Tour of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning hit musical BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL will welcome Julia Knitel (Carole King) and Erika Olson (Cynthia Weil) beginning September 13 in San Francisco, CA.

Prior to my attendance at Dallas Theater Center's DREAMGIRLS this weekend, my familiarity with the show was based on the 2006 motion picture and the 2001 Actors Fund concert recording (not to mention the Tony Awards clip featuring Jennifer Holliday). Basically knowing only the film, I had often considered how smoothly the stage show could handle the onstage to backstage transitions, given the fast-paced musical score it followed. And, although the DTC production offers a slick, seamless interpretation of the piece, I'm afraid I left the theatre with the impression that the (gasp) movie adaptation was superior to the stage version. That being said, there are still many reasons to head to the Wyly to see this production.

Dallas Theater Center announced today complete details for the award-winning hit musical Dreamgirls. This modern-day classic is led by director and DTC Associate Artistic Director Joel Ferrell. Dreamgirls will begin with a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Friday, June 10 and will run through Sunday, July 24. Press Night will be Friday, June 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets to Dreamgirls are on sale now at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org and by phone at (214) 880-0202.

Dallas Theater Center's hit production of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol returns to the Wyly Theatre. DTC's Brierley Resident Acting Company member Christie Vela will be the first female director of DTC's adaption of the tale that follows a miserly old man on a magical journey of hope and redemption.

This month, Dallas Theater Center will produce the world premiere of the brand new musical Stagger Lee, book and lyrics by Meadows Prize recipient Will Power. Stagger Lee, which takes its title from the century-old folk song, is directed by Patricia McGregor with music by Will Power and Justin Ellington. Stagger Lee was partially developed in workshops in collaboration with the Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as a part of Will Powers' Meadows Prize residency. Stagger Lee begins previews tonight, January 21 with a Pay-What-You-Can performance and runs through Sunday, February 15.

This January, Dallas Theater Center will produce the world premiere of the brand new musical Stagger Lee, book and lyrics by Meadows Prize recipient Will Power. Stagger Lee, which takes its title from the century-old folk song, is directed by Patricia McGregor with music by Will Power and Justin Ellington. Stagger Lee was partially developed in workshops in collaboration with the Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas as a part of Will Powers' Meadows Prize residency. Stagger Lee begins previews on Wednesday, January 21 with a Pay-What-You-Can performance and runs through Sunday, February 15. Tickets to Stagger Lee are on sale now at www.DallasTheatercenter.org.