Out of the Blue 1994 - Articles Page 4

The incredible full programme has been announced for Back to Live, a unique children’s festival from four Sussex seaside venues - Komedia, Ropetackle, Brighton Open Air Theatre (BOAT) and The Old Market (TOM). 

Emmy Award winning screen writer and director Todd Robinson is known for his work on White Squall, Lonely Hearts, The Last Full Measure and more. But a little known fact about Robinson is that he was the college roommate and best friend of Jonathan Larson.

Michael Leoni, a writer, bi-coastal director, and founder of the production company An 11:11 Experience, has created productions both on stage and in film which have brilliantly focused attention on the pitfalls of modern society, especially in the entertainment industry and on homeless street kids. Since it's been over a year since I have spoken to him, I decided to reach out about the recent opening of his film Famous as well as what has been going on in his artistic world this past year.

In 1944, MGM debuted a new family classic for the ages, the beloved movie musical, Meet Me In St. Louis. Starring Judy Garland, the film plays host to numerous classic songs including its title ditty, 'The Trolley Song,' and 'The Boy Next Door,' but out of all the gems that make up its score, no song has had more impact than, 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.' 

The most important figure in musical theatre history is gone; let's celebrate his life by listening to his incredible works. Reviewer Peter Nason gets you started by listing his choices for the 91 greatest Sondheim songs.

The cast includes Spencer Plachy as 'Scar,' Gerald Ramsey as 'Mufasa,' Gugwana Dlamini as 'Rafiki,' Nick Cordileone as 'Timon,' Jürgen Hooper as 'Zazu,' Ben Lipitz as 'Pumbaa,' Darian Sanders as 'Simba,' Kayla Cyphers as 'Nala,' Keith Bennett as 'Banzai,' Martina Sykes as 'Shenzi' and Robbie Swift as 'Ed.' Jaylen Lyndon Hunter alternates the role of 'Young Simba', along with Charlie Kahler.

Following the success of the 2020 Emmy nominated TV special, “A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt at The Soraya,” Aida Cuevas and La Marisoul team up once again for another night celebrating the iconic musical legend -- this time joined by esteemed jazz vocalist Luciana Souza. 

Hollywood Museum founder Donelle Dadigan headed a re-opening ceremony of her Hollywood Museum August 4, 2021; commemorating the donated additional props from Bill and Patrick Shea to the Back to the Future Part I, II, III exhibit. On behalf of the Museum and the Shea father and son, Donelle presented a $5,000 check to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which Michael accepted via video.

You can skip the commute and check out the acclaimed series Jazz at Lincoln Center at the Morris Museum instead for two great shows. First up is saxophonist, Sherman Irby on Thursday, August 12 at 8:00 pm.

The State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton, PA, has announced its 2021-2022 Season, the 95th season at the historic venue.  Tickets for the new season will go on sale to State Theatre Members on Monday, August 2nd, and to the general public on Monday, August 9th.

The prolific playwright and regular denizen of the Los Angeles theatre community Justin Tanner will world premiere his latest piece MINNESOTA for Rogue Machine online June 26, 2021, with a virtual reception to follow. Justin was most quick to respond to my questions on MINNESOTA and the L.A. theatre community.  

Find out what's coming to HBO Max in July! It’s time to get your squad together to watch the Tunes play the Goons in “Space Jam: A New Legacy.” In the film, basketball champion and global icon LeBron James goes on an epic adventure alongside the timeless Tune Bugs Bunny and the Tune Squad in this animated/live-action event.

San Francisco Ballet's revisiting of Helgi Tomasson's 'Romeo & Juliet' is, in a word, gorgeous. The dancing, the design and especially the music – all gorgeous. The penultimate program of its 2021 Digital Season is available for streaming through May 26th in a top-notch 2015 video capture featuring a nigh on perfect cast. Not all narrative ballets transfer effectively to a video format, but happily this one does, due to its focus on interactions between pairs and small groups, and its relative lack of the kind of mathy, geometric corps de ballet set pieces that can look somewhat diminished and underwhelming on a TV or computer screen.

The West Harlem Art Fund will present their new exhibition WE ARE IN REACH on Governors Island in the historic district of Nolan Park. The show is open now through June 25, 2021 for the public. '...as we look at human existence, it all began in Africa. WE ARE IN REACH looks at how those of African descent honor memory, philosophy and tradition.'

“I Need Some Of That” follows the release of last year’s “Hero” and “Beginning Of The End,” as well as 2019’s “End Of The Game,” all of which appear on Van Weezer.

The criteria are that these shows have been nominated for Best Musical from the 3rd Tony Awards (the ceremony that started the Best Musical category) in 1949 to the nominations of what will now be the 74th Tony Awards in 2021. I will be determining their signs based upon their Broadway premiere date. With those rules in mind, here we go!

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 91 greatest Sondheim songs from stage, screen and beyond. See if your favorites made the cut! What's at #1?

RED BULL THEATER today announced the complete cast for the upcoming benefit reading of The African Company Presents Richard III by Carlyle Brown, directed by Carl Cofield, featuring Clifton Duncan, Edward Gero, Dion Johnstone, Paul Niebanck, Antoinette Robinson, Craig Wallace, and Jessika D. Williams. PLEASE NOTE UPDATED CAST INFORMATION.

RED BULL THEATER today announced that its 2020-21 offerings will continue next month with a benefit reading of The African Company Presents Richard III by Carlyle Brown, directed by Carl Cofield, featuring Clifton Duncan, Edward Gero, Dion Johnstone, Paul Niebanck, Antoinette Robinson, Charlayne Woodard, and more to be announced.

For twenty-six years, The Robey Theatre Company has made its mission the telling of the stories of the Black global experience on stage. It is now also doing so in print. The Robey Theatre Company Playwright Series currently has nine play scripts in publication, available in paperback edition and also in Kindle format.

On 10/30 - 11/1, Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre's Octoberfest virtual revival play reading series will present 'Stories About the Old Days,' the acclaimed 1986 drama about hidden secrets, featuring co-stars Pauletta Washington and Michael Potts, associate producer Linda Herring and its original director LaTanya Richardson Jackson at the helm.

For twenty-six years, The Robey Theatre Company has made its mission the telling of the stories of the Black global diaspora on stage. It is now also doing so in print. The Robey Theatre Company Playwriting Series currently has nine play scripts in publication, available in paperback edition and also in Kindle format. These plays, all by Black playwrights, are available through Amazon (See links below).

Alan Williams released his debut single “Anniston” on August 14 - listen HERE. The video made its national broadcast debut on DittyTV, Monday, August 17 premiering on their “Rhythm Roots” channel at 7:00pm CT, with a rebroadcast on August 18 at 7:00am CT.

Happy Gay Pride! BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest LGBTQ songs and anthems from 1920-2020. See if your favorite songs or artists made the grade!

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest Motown songs from 1960-1994. See if your favorite songs or artists made the list!