Ragtime Revival - Articles Page 9

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma opens a brand new season with the inspiring comedy, XANADU, showing at Lyric's Plaza Theatre from January 25 through February 11, 2012.

Broadway couple Will Swenson and Audra McDonald, who shared the stage in 2007's 110 in the Shade, officially got engaged over the holiday weekend, according to McDonald's Facebook page. There is no word yet on a wedding date.

The Old Globe will open its 2012-13 Winter Season with the World Premiere of Allegiance - A New American Musical. Created by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Kuo, the original musical tells the story of a Japanese American family forced into an internment camp during World War II. Directed by Stafford Arima (Carrie, Altar Boyz, West End premiere of Ragtime), the production features musical direction and arrangements by Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Company) and choreography by Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, Godspell, South Pacific). Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), television and film icon George Takei ("Star Trek," "Heroes") and Telly Leung (Godspell, Rent) will star.

MCC Theater has announced the complete cast for the newly reworked and fully re-imagined production of Carrie, the musical. Carrie features music by Michael Gore, lyrics by Dean Pitchford (Academy Award winning composer and lyricist for the original film Fame) and a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (who also adapted the 1974 novel by Stephen King for the 1976 Brian DePalma film). Directed by Stafford Arima, performances for Carrie begin January 31, 2012, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The official opening night is set for March 1, 2012.

Producers Ben Sprecher, Louise Forlenza, The Shubert Organization, Peter Bezemes, Tony Fusco, Larry Feinman, Nanda Anand and Peter Bogyo by special arrangement with/and based on the Vereinigte Buhnen Wien GmbH production, announced that the new musical REBECCA, based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, will open on Broadway Sunday, April 22 at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Previews will begin Tuesday, March 27. Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid, Love Never Dies, Master Class and as Christine in last month's 25th Anniversary Concert of The Phantom of the Opera in London) will play the lead role of 'I'. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.

Long Wharf Theatre, under the director of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Interim Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, presents the Tony Award-winning musical Ain't Misbehavin' on the Mainstage from Oct. 26 through Nov. 20.

With four Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards, the Juilliard-trained Audra McDonald returns to performing live full-time this month following four seasons playing Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC's hit television series Private Practice. Currently starring alongside Norm Lewis in A.R.T.'s PORGY AND BESS, the Broadway-bound singer will make a stop at Carnegie Hall as a part of her 20-city concert tour across North America. McDonald will present her trademark mix of show tunes, classic songs from movies, and pieces written expressly for her by leading contemporary composers.

J.D.'s varied career has encompassed Broadway, opera, concert work and 17 Encores! shows.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly will lead the New York Pops and a stellar cast of performers with many Broadway credits in Irving Berlin: From Ragtime to Ritzes at New York's famed Carnegie Hall on Friday, October 14, at 8 p.m.

Long Wharf Theatre, under the director of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Interim Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, presents the Tony Award-winning musical Ain't Misbehavin' on the Mainstage from Oct. 26 through Nov. 20.

With four Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards, the Juilliard-trained Audra McDonald returns to performing live full-time this month following four seasons playing Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC's hit television series Private Practice. Currently starring alongside Norm Lewis in A.R.T.'s PORGY AND BESS, the Broadway-bound singer will make a stop at Carnegie Hall as a part of her 20-city concert tour across North America. McDonald will present her trademark mix of show tunes, classic songs from movies, and pieces written expressly for her by leading contemporary composers.

The new DC area theatre season begins in September. Over 50 shows are opening in our professional and community theatres. But before we move on to the new season and what's opening in September, let's look back at my personal favorite musicals, plays, and performances in both musicals and plays in the DC area - from August 2010 to August 2011.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning masterpiece SWEENEY TODD, which opened August 17 and runs through October 9. This razor-sharp tale of murder and corruption is Directed and Choreographed by multi-Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Ragtime and Miss Saigon at Drury Lane Theatre), who was named 'Best Director' by Chicago Magazine in 2010. SWEENEY TODD stars four-time Tony Award nominee Gregg Edelman as 'Sweeney Todd' (nominated as Best Actor in a Musical for City of Angels, Anna Karenina, 1776, and Into the Woods; other Broadway credits include Evita, Cabaret, and Les Miserables and the films Little Children and Spider-Man 2). Bistro Award winner and NYMF Award recipient Liz McCartney stars as 'Mrs. Lovett' (The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Les Miserables on Broadway). In the video below, theater critic Chris Jonesreviews the show. Click below to here what he has to say!

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will present Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning masterpiece SWEENEY TODD, opening August 17 at 7 p.m. and running through October 9. This razor-sharp tale of murder and corruption is Directed and Choreographed by multi-Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Ragtime and Miss Saigon at Drury Lane Theatre), who was named 'Best Director' by Chicago Magazine in 2010. SWEENEY TODD stars four-time Tony Award nominee Gregg Edelman as 'Sweeney Todd' (nominated as Best Actor in a Musical for City of Angels, Anna Karenina, 1776, and Into the Woods; other Broadway credits include Evita, Cabaret, and Les Miserables and the films Little Children and Spider-Man 2). Bistro Award winner and NYMF Award recipient Liz McCartney stars as 'Mrs. Lovett' (The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Les Miserables on Broadway).

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will present Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning masterpiece SWEENEY TODD, opening August 17 at 7 p.m. and running through October 9. This razor-sharp tale of murder and corruption is Directed and Choreographed by multi-Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Ragtime and Miss Saigon at Drury Lane Theatre), who was named 'Best Director' by Chicago Magazine in 2010. SWEENEY TODD stars four-time Tony Award nominee Gregg Edelman as 'Sweeney Todd' (nominated as Best Actor in a Musical for City of Angels, Anna Karenina, 1776, and Into the Woods; other Broadway credits include Evita, Cabaret, and Les Miserables and the films Little Children and Spider-Man 2). Bistro Award winner and NYMF Award recipient Liz McCartney stars as 'Mrs. Lovett' (The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Les Miserables on Broadway).

With four Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards, the Juilliard-trained Audra McDonald returns to performing live full-time this month following four seasons playing Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC's hit television series Private Practice.

Drury Lane Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning masterpiece SWEENEY TODD, opening August 17 and running through October 9 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane.

A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) will present The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, opening the A.R.T.'s 2011-2 season on August 117 at the Loeb Drama Center. The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin, is adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray, and directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus.

Reprise Theatre Company's production of the classic American musical 'Cabaret,' which opens the 2011-2012 Reprise season and plays September 13 to 25 (press opening September 14, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, includes a cast of new talents as well as Broadway and West End veterans - Zach Bandler as Ernst Ludwig, Lisa O'Hare as Sally Bowles, Jeff McLean as Cliff Bradshaw, Katrina Lenk as Fräulein Kost, Mary Gordon Murray as Fräulein Schneider, Robert Picardo as Herr Schultz and Bryce Ryness as the Master of Ceremonies.

Drury Lane Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning masterpiece SWEENEY TODD, previewing August 11, opening August 17 and running through October 9 at Drury Lane Theatre.

Drury Lane Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning masterpiece SWEENEY TODD, previewing August 11, opening August 17 at 7 p.m. and running through October 9 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane.

New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, is thrilled to begin its 2011-2012 Season with Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical RENT.

Drury Lane Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning masterpiece SWEENEY TODD, previewing August 11, opening August 17 and running through October 9 at Drury Lane Theatre.

Producers Ben Sprecher and Louise Forlenza, in association with Tony Fusco and Larry Feinman, and by special arrangement with/and based on the Vereinigte Buhnen Wien GmbH production, announced that the new musical REBECCA, based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, will open on Broadway Sunday, April 22 at a Shubert theater to be announced. Previews will begin Tuesday, March 27. Sierra Boggess (currently starring in Master Class, The Little Mermaid, Love Never Dies) is in negotiations to play the role of 'I.'

Porchlight Music Theatre, American Musicals. Chicago Style., is proud to announce the first recipient of The Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago is former Porchlight Music Theatre (Porchlight) Artistic Director L. Walter Stearns. The award presentation will be one of the events featured at Journey On - A Brunch Benefit for Porchlight Music Theatre, Sunday, July 17 from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at The University Club of Chicago, Cathedral Hall, 76 East Monroe Street.