Will Ray News

A heightened comic sensibility makes this old classic feel fresh to even the most cynical viewer (namely, me).

As the curtain is about to rise on Pittsburgh CLO's 2023 Summer of Musicals at the Benedum Center between June 13 - August 27, 2023, now is your chance to meet the cast and creative teams!

After three seemingly endless years, Maine's theatrical landscape has truly begun to come to life again after the pandemic. I am thrilled to be able to pen this article, having experienced a 2022 that saw the remarkable 'comebacks' of Maine's theatres. While the year was not without continued challenges, these brave, resilient companies managed to produce first-class live theatre for grateful audiences. These are my personal choices of the best in Maine for 2022, grouped by theatre company and show.

Fulton Theatre’s current production of the tepid White Christmas is an excellent example of the old adage “there are no small parts, only small actors”. Fulton Theatre?

The Fulton Theatre has announced complete casting of their holiday production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Will Ray (Bob Wallace) and Hanley Smith (Betty Haynes) join forces once again.

For two weeks now Brunswick’s Pickard Theater has been “alive with the sound of music,’ but on June 15 Hanley Smith and Will Ray, the stars of MSMT’s brilliant new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC, joined MSMT Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark and BWW Maine Regional Editor Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold to celebrate the joy, inspiration, and continued resonance of this timeless musical at the first Peek Behind the Curtain program in three years. The popular panel discussion series held at Curtis Memorial Library returned to an enthusiastic, capacity audience for an hour of conversation about what Clark called “the quintessential American musical and the perfect show to launch post-pandemic MSMT’s Revival Season.”

“Marc Robin ‘s vision for this production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC is that of a joyful, hopeful child,” says Hanley Smith, the actress who makes her debut as Maria von Trapp this week as Maine State Music Theatre kicks off its “Revival Season.” Describing the lens through which director/choreographer Robin views the piece, she continues, “This production comes from a very joyful, youthful place at the same time that there is an awareness of the weight and import of the story. In the face of deep darkness in the world, the light becomes all the brighter. Marc knows how to create both those worlds and the battle between them and make you really want the light to win. And you believe it CAN win. And that is not naïveté; that is an act of courage.”

The Fulton's The Sound of Music is easily the best production in Lancaster County since live theatre opened back up. The show's dazzling sets, impressive singing, and memorable characters come together to provide the audience with a spectacular night of entertainment. Director and choreographer, Marc Robin, must be congratulated for overseeing this gift.

Fulton Theatre opens Rodgers and Hammerstein's last collaboration, The Sound of Music. A story about finding a place in the world and connecting with family; its themes are just as universal as its music is memorable. This production holds special significance for the Fulton as many cast members, designers, and crew were part of previous Fulton productions of The Sound of Music.

Transcendence Theatre Company, the award-winning, Sonoma County based theatre company, will celebrate the holiday season with Broadway Holiday Experiences, festive nights of seasonal song and dance - at the Drive-in and online. 

Members of New York City's theatrical community created a musical commercial in the form of the world's first socially-distanced flash mob in response to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's 'Wear a Mask' PSA campaign. The commercial received Cuomo's first honorable mention and was picked up by additional New York State departments such as the Department of Health, Department of Mental Health, Division of Homeland Security, and Office for New Americans.

I would be remiss if I neglected to recognize the real stars of this show...the sets! Set design by William James Mohney was top notch.  Each train setting was elaborate and very detailed

From the reigning queen of Mystery, comes the regional premiere of Agatha Christie's Murder On The Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig. Due to popular demand, four performances have been added to the production, including Sunday, February 9 at 7:30 pm, Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, February 12 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 pm. This thrilling ride on the Orient Express, with surprising twists, will keep audiences on the edge of their seats with an All-Star cast of Fulton Favorites.

From the reigning queen of Mystery, comes the regional premiere of Agatha Christie's Murder On The Orient Express, adapted by Ken Ludwig. The Fulton Theatre is proud to have secured the rights to this new adaptation, running January 16 through February 9, 2020, with previews January 14 & 15. This thrilling ride on the Orient Express, with surprising twists, will keep audiences on the edge of their seats with an All-Star cast of Fulton Favorites.

The award-winning Titan Theatre Company will celebrate their 11th Season tonight, with their 2019 a?oeLove and Lust' Gala Event!

The award-winning Transcendence Theatre Company, lauded by audiences and critics for its high caliber series of Broadway inspired productions, presents 'Those Dancin' Feet,' the third of its 2019 'Broadway Under the Stars' summer series of main stage musical productions.

Fans of Peter Pan will be thrilled to know that Finding Neverland, the Drama Desk Award-nominated Broadway musical, has arrived in Sacramento! Based upon the play, The Man Who Was Peter Pan, and the Academy Award-winning movie, Finding Neverland, the story follows the perennial young-at-heart J.M. Barrie on his journey to write one of the most beloved stories of all time.

Queens-based Titan Theatre Company opened the final production of its 2017/18 season with its highly anticipated MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. The show will run through April 22nd at the Queens Theatre, the borough's premier performing arts venue, located in beautiful Flushing Meadows Park. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Broadway Across America's "Finding Neverland" opens as a wonderful possibility, yet refuses to soar as we dare to hope it might.   "Neverland" is a pretty darn good show imbued with magical moments, yet somehow falls short of the special experience it might have been.

For the child in all of us, feet are (mostly) off the ground for this Peter Pan-inspired musical.