From November 18th-21st, Judson Theatre Company will be presenting a new holiday comedy by Stan Zimmerman & Christian McLaughlin titled YES, VIRGINIA at Owens Auditorium inside the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center. Actress Arnetia Walker stars in the production opposite Mindy Sterling. She has appeared on Broadway in THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN'S WINDOW, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, RAISIN, THE WIZ, and DREAMGIRLS. Her TV credits include: QUANTUM LEAP, NURSES, THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR, MAD ABOUT YOU, NYPD BLUE, MALCOLM & EDDIE, JUST SHOOT ME!, THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW, TOUCHED BY AN ANGLE, CITY OF ANGELS, JUDGING AMY, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, and DYNASTY. Her film credits include: THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, THE WIZARD OF SPEED AND TIME, SCENES FROM THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN BEVERLY HILLS, LOVE CRIMES, FOR LOVE OF THE GAME, and COLLEGE ROAD TRIP. I had the great pleasure of interviewing her about all of this and more.
The Creating Change Network, a program hosted by New Jersey Theatre Alliance and ArtPride New Jersey that aims to build a more equitable, just, and anti-racist arts community in New Jersey, will faciliate participation by the state's arts community in the National Day of Racial Healing, on January 18, 2022.
The only problem with staging as big a hit as Desert Rose Playhouse had with their recent production of The Rocky Horror Show is that you have to follow it up with something. Wisely, Artistic Director Robbie Wayne lined up a killer artistic triumvirate in actors Nicholas Sloan and Jamie Leigh Walker, and the seasoned Chuck Yates as director. The show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, is a beloved title not only in the gay community, but for eccentrics and misfits of all shapes and sizes. It recently had a successful run on Broadway, and I certainly enjoyed the Desert Rose production much more than I did the touring company of the Broadway production, helmed by Darren Criss, which I walked out on about halfway through.
Returning to lead the cast are Shereen Ahmed as Eliza Doolittle, Laird Mackintosh as Professor Henry Higgins, Leslie Alexander as Mrs. Higgins, Adam Grupper as Alfred P. Doolittle, Kevin Pariseau as Colonel Pickering, Gayton Scott as Mrs. Pearce, and Sam Simahk as Freddy Eynsford-Hill.
As previously announced, Noel Sullivan (School of Rock, Years and Years and Gavin and Stacey) will star as ‘Grey’ alongside Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos making her professional debut playing ‘Silva’.
When Johnnie & Friends can't find a last-minute replacement to play Santa Claus in their annual holiday show, it seems like their brand-new production is sunk. So, when the kindly doorman at The Triad agrees to step in and play St. Nick, Johnnie hires him on the spot. There's only one problem: this new friend seems to think he actually is Father Christmas and Johnnie stopped believing in Santa decades ago.
Opening Thursday night, November 11 and continuing for five performances through Sunday, November 14, Ragtime – the musical by Stephen Flaherty (music), Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) and Terrance McNally (book) which, in turn, is based upon E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel of the same name – promises to be a grand undertaking, which hopefully will blow away the cobwebs and the dust that’s collected in the past year-and-a-half during which the theater was dark and the company strived to remain relevant and productive amidst all the challenges that ensued.
With a face and head of glorious hair you may recognize at first glance, Sasha Hutchings (Laurey) opens OKLAHOMA!'s national tour in Minneapolis at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum in the first Equity tour of the show in 40 years. The actor gives some insight into the reimagined production and more in 6 Questions.
Kylie Selig has been announced to join the cast of Nickelodeon's upcoming live-action movie musical adaption of their hit series, Monster High. Selig will also be joined by Miia Harris, Ceci Balagot, Nayah Damasen, Case Walker, Marci T. House, Scotch Ellis Loring, Steve Valentine, Jy Prishkulnik, Lina Lecompte, and Lilah Fitzgerald.
Reprising their roles from the 2019-2020 season are Danielle Wade as Cady Heron, Megan Masako Haley as Gretchen Wieners, Jonalyn Saxer as Karen Smith, Mary Kate Morrissey as Janis Sarkisian, Eric Huffman as Damian Hubbard, Adante Carter as Aaron Samuels, Kabir Bery as Kevin G. and Lawrence E. Street as Mr. Duvall.
Claire joins the cast which includes Vivian Panka making her professional UK stage debut as ‘Judy Bernly’, Stephanie Chandos (9 to 5 The Musical – previously covering the role of ‘Doralee’, Hairspray and We Will Rock You,) as ‘Doralee Rhodes’, Sean Needham (Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia!, Wicked and Buddy) as ‘Franklin Hart Jr.’ - a role he played on many occasions in both the West End and on tour, Julia J. Nagle (American in Paris, Aspects of Love, Dirty Dancing) as ‘Roz Keith’ and Russell Dickson (Evita) as ‘Joe’.
Cindy Williams will take the national stage starring in Me, Myself & Shirley, a one-woman show, for a limited US tour across nineteen cities beginning in January 2022.
The Creating Change Network, a program hosted by New Jersey Theatre Alliance and ArtPride New Jersey that aims to build a more equitable, just, and anti-racist arts community in New Jersey, announces a a series of learning opportunities for artists and arts administrators in the state.
Tammany Hall is an immersive theatrical time machine that transports the audience to New York Election Night in 1929. The setting is Club Huron, the actual Tammany Hall clubhouse that is now SoHo Playhouse, where performers portraying real historical characters guide attendees through 15 rooms as scandal, corruption, and intrigue are revealed.
Based on the hit songs by ABBA, Mamma Mia is a story of a young woman's search for her birth father. This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.
The world premiere of CULLUD WATTAH by Erika Dickerson-Despenza and directed by Candis C. Jones began previews on Tuesday, November 2 and will run through Sunday, December 5, with an official opening on Wednesday, November 17.
Second Stage Theater’s 2021 Fall Gala will honor Producer DEBRA MARTIN CHASE and Playwright LYNN NOTTAGE at a one-night-only celebration on Monday, November 15, 2021 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers. Ms. Chase and Ms. Nottage are both members of Second Stage Theater’s Board of Directors.
Based on the beloved classic movie, Meredith Willson’s Miracle on 34th Street is a timeless tale for audiences of all ages. Join the cast and crew at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre for the story of six-year-old Susan Walker and Kris Kringle November 11-December 23.
