Willy News

Today, the Austin, TX-based country rock band Reckless Kelly released “Thinkin' Bout You All Night” from their upcoming album American Jackpot (out May 22 alongside their album American Girls). The song will be available everywhere tomorrow but you can hear it now on The Boot. The band will also be sharing a weekly acoustic show with Willy Braun starting this Sunday at 7pm CDT on the band's Facebook.

The Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP) has announced the titles to be produced during their 96th season, which will run from August 2020 through June 2021. Subscriptions for OCP's 2020/21 season are now available for purchase through the OCP Box Office at 6915 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132, by phone at (402) 553-0800 or online at OmahaPlayhouse.com.

Traveling Players Ensemble will present four public performances of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and A Midsummer Night's Dream at Tysons Corner Center on Saturday and Sunday, March 14, 15, 21 and 22.

Shirley is a bored, middle-aged housewife, trapped in a stale, loveless marriage. Her children are all grown up and she frequently talks to the wall in her kitchen while preparing her husband's regular evening meal of egg and chips. Shirley feels stuck in a rut and finds solace in her daily glass of wine as she muses over the lack of excitement in her life. When her best friend asks her to go to Greece with her for 2 weeks, Shirley jumps at the chance with a mix of exhilaration and jittery nerves. Leaving a note for her husband that simply reads a?oeGone to Greece - Back in two weeksa??, Shirley leaves for her holiday.

So what is the show, you may ask - the show is Mark. He is the show, the show is him and SONGS AND SCANDALS OF THE 1920S is merely the vehicle to deliver Mark to his adoring audience - an audience that goes with him wherever he plays. Mark is an unparalleled musician and singer whose piano playing is a true phenom and his vocals are some of the finest, smoothest, and richest you will here in our Cabaret's these (or any other) days.

Celebrated and Academy Award-winning writer, director, and actor Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) is set to write, direct, and executive produce two original animated series for Netflix. The first is a series based on the world and characters of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The second is a wholly original take on the Oompa-Loompas, who will star in their own event series. The shows will retain the quintessential spirit and tone of the original story while building out the world and characters far beyond the pages of the Dahl book for the very first time.

Hampstead Theatre, has released rehearsal images for Nobel Prize-winning writer Harold Pinter's timeless black comedy The Dumb Waiter which will run from 19 March until 18 April 2020.

Milwaukee Rep is pleased to welcome back Lee E. Ernst as Ebenezer Scrooge in the 45th Anniversary production of A Christmas Carol at the historic Pabst Theater November 24 a?" December 24, 2020.  

Ogunquit Playhouse has expanded its offerings for aspiring thespians ages 5 to 18 for the 2020 season. In addition to the traditional summer camps, performing arts workshops have been added and extended into the fall. Register your young star today for either the Rising Stars Camp for children ages 5 to 7, Center Stage Camp for children ages 8 to 10, the Junior Players Camps and Workshops for ages 10 to 18 or the Fall Performing Arts Workshops for ages 5 to 18.

Inspired by a true friendship, Deborah Brevoort's My Lord, What a Night produced by Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF - Central Florida's largest professional theater company, runs from March 18 - April 26, 2020. This production of My Lord, What a Night is part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Tickets (starting at $30) are available now by phone (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online at orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street).

Kansas City's Shiner are excited to announce the May 8 release of Schadenfreude, their first bit of music since the 2001 release of their critically acclaimed LP The Egg. Today they share the album's first single “Life As A Mannequin” and of the track they note, “This song came together very quickly; we had the arrangement laid out literally the 2nd time through the tune. The simple kind of Willy Wonka vocal melody on the verse belies the heaviness of the lyric and the urge and pure elation of giving in to your worst tendencies, like scratching under a cast you know you really shouldn't but it feels so good. Or the recovering alcoholic having a hard day and just deciding to really turn on and say f**k it, I'm getting drunk tonight.”

Today, the Austin, TX-based country rock band Reckless Kelly released “North American Jackpot,” the first single and title track from their upcoming album American Jackpot (out May 22 alongside their album American Girls). The song will be available everywhere tomorrow but you can hear it now on Taste of Country.

The Book Thief is being adapted for the stage as part of the Octagon Theatre's autumn season!

It's been a big year for soprano Lisette Oropesa, with starring roles at major European houses. But in this country, it's something else entirely: She won the Richard Tucker Award and the Met's Beverly Sills Award. That was followed by a pair of name-above-the-title roles, her first at the Met: her role debut in Massenet's MANON and, this week, her house role debut as Verdi's Violetta in LA TRAVIATA.

Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is currently playing until March 1st at the Detroit Opera House. The hit Broadway musical features songs from the original film including, 'Pure Imagination,' The Candy Man,' and 'I've Got the Golden Ticket,' alongside a toe-tapping and ear-tickling new score from the songwriters from Hairspray. The beloved tale of Charlie Bucket searching for the last golden ticket to enter the factory of the elusive Willy Wonka has been turned into a musical that is fun for all-ages.

Johnson Financial Group Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee have announced the 2020-2021 season.

Texas Performing Arts announces Broadway in Austin 2020-21 Season; the ONLY national touring Broadway series in Austin. a?oeWe're thrilled to have six Austin premieres next season,a?? said Bob Bursey, Texas Performing Arts new Executive Director.  a?oeIt's been an incredible year on Broadway and we're bringing that excitement directly to Austin with these new productions.a??

Things are not going well for the Banks family. Children Michael and Jane are out of control and have run off yet another nanny. In the most peculiar way, a mysterious, but practically perfect, woman appears at the doorstep - none other than Mary Poppins herself! Though she has a seemingly daunting task, with a little magic and some help from Bert, an adorable chimney sweep, the Banks' children have their world turned upside down.