Based on the film It’s a Wonderful Life
The Fall theatre season in the DC area is in full bloom. As the leaves are turning, there is a colorful group of shows opening this month. There are so many, so where do I begin? Here are shows that I am looking forward to seeing, and remember I am a musical theatre lover who likes to sprinkle in a play or two - here and there - so don't get mad if I don't choose one of the plays you are looking forward to seeing. You have your chance at the end of this article to share your 'must sees' also with our readers. Hopefully, you'll make the trip down to the DC area to see some of these wonderful productions.
The Tony Award® nominated hit musical IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the stage reinvention of the beloved classic film, directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Randy Skinner, with music supervision by Rob Berman, is pleased to announce Broadway principal casting.
James Clow, Melissa Errico, Tony Yazbeck and Mara Davi will star in the Broadway return production also starring Ruth Williamson, Peter Reardon, Remy Auberjonois, Cliff Bemis, Madeleine Yen and David Ogden Stiers, who will lead a cast of 33 in the limited holiday engagement at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway).
Jimmy Stewart...the greatest actor, ever! Rich Little...the greatest impressionist, ever! Now the two luminaries come together in a brand new show starring Rich Little as Jimmy Stewart. The one-man tour-de-force premiers at the Spencer Theater on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 at 8 p.m., a definite laugh-riot that kicks-off the Spencer's 13th winter season of shows
After a 48 year absence, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents the first new Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie as the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) beginning Thursday, September 10th, 2009 with an official opening on Thursday, October 15th, 2009. This will be a limited engagement through January 10th, 2010.
The hit rock musical comedy that entertained sold-out houses in L.A. for over four months arrives in San Diego this September. Get ready for the Divas of Domesticity! Corinne Dekker, Jamey Hood and Jayme Lake ('Megawatt performances' - Coast to Coast Newspapers) reprise their roles as The Housewives, three young homemakers who form a band for their PTA talent show - then go on to become bigger than Brillo with their hilarious brand of 'domestic' rock 'n roll. The limited 4-week engagement opens September 4 at the Tenth Avenue Theatre in San Diego.
A new musical about a runaway slave who becomes one of America's first Black Cowboys will debut this fall when CROSS THAT RIVER is presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Patricia Harris, starting October 12, 2009 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street - 3rd Floor) in New York City.
Jimmy Stewart...the greatest actor, ever! Rich Little...the greatest impressionist, ever! Now the two luminaries come together in a brand new show starring Rich Little as Jimmy Stewart. The one-man tour-de-force premiers at the Spencer Theater on Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26 at 8 p.m., a definite laugh-riot that kicks-off the Spencer's 13th winter season of shows
Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents the first new Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie, after a 48 year absence, as the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) beginning Thursday, September 10th, 2009 with an official opening on Thursday, October 15th, 2009. This will be a limited engagement through January 10th, 2010.
The hit rock musical comedy that entertained sold-out houses in L.A. for over four months arrives in San Diego this September. Get ready for the Divas of Domesticity! Corinne Dekker, Jamey Hood and Jayme Lake ('Megawatt performances' - Coast to Coast Newspapers) reprise their roles as The Housewives, three young homemakers who form a band for their PTA talent show - then go on to become bigger than Brillo with their hilarious brand of 'domestic' rock 'n roll. The limited 4-week engagement opens September 4 at the Tenth Avenue Theatre in San Diego.
Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director of the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, today announced that Signature Theatre is expanding its American Musical Voices Project (AMVP) for a fourth year with the commission and production of a new musical by Adam Guettel for its 2011-2012 season. Also announced as part of The Next Generation segment of the AMVP were two additional musical commissions awarded to Peter Foley and Marisa Michelson as well as honoree grants given to Chris Miller and Scott Davenport Richards for the development of future musical ideas. Signature, with the support of The Shen Family Foundation, has awarded $595,000 to artists in honors and commissions in the past three years. The American Musical Voices Project is the largest single musical theater commissioning and producing initiative at any non-profit theater in America.
After a 48 year absence, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents the first new Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie as the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) beginning Thursday, September 10th, 2009 with an official opening on Thursday, October 15th, 2009. This will be a limited engagement through January 10th, 2010.
Since beginning a new tradition of non-musical presentations in 2004, WVPT audiences have been treated to the classics of the American stage from Thornton Wilder, Arthur Miller, Tennesee Williams, and Neil Simon.
Join Porchlight Music Theatre for A PLACE FOR US: Chicago Sings Bernstein, a very special one-night-only benefit performance supporting Porchlight's upcoming 15th anniversary season. Chicago Sings Bernstein will be presented Monday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at The Greenhouse Theatre, 2257 N. Lincoln.
Join Porchlight Music Theatre for A PLACE FOR US: Chicago Sings Bernstein, a very special one-night-only benefit performance supporting Porchlight's upcoming 15th anniversary season. Chicago Sings Bernstein will be presented Monday, June 15 at 7:30 p.m. at The Greenhouse Theatre, 2257 N. Lincoln.
American Theater Company (ATC) closes its highly successful Season 24 with a new production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, text by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli with musical direction by Malcolm Ruhl. The production will run April 9 - May 17, 2009 at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago. Press opening is Monday, April 13, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Diversionary Theatre's fifth production of the 2008-2009 season is the parable Facing East by noted LDS (Latter Day Saints) author Carol Lynn Pearson. A Mormon couple confronts the limits of their spiritual teachings upon the suicide of their gay son. The Salt Lake Tribune wrote of the play, which premiered at Plan-B Theatre Company in Salt Lake City in November 2006, 'A tightly-wound domestic tragedy...freshly relevant...dares to ask important questions about faith, death and survival.' In 2007, Variety said of Plan-B's tour (Off-Off Broadway and San Francisco), 'A vivid rumination on grief.'
Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of American Lyric Theater, has announced that Kyrian Friedenberg, the ten-year old singer, violinist and actor most recently seen in Gypsy with Patty LuPone on Broadway, has been cast as Charlie Bucket in ALT's upcoming workshop and reading of The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Speaking of the young performer, Edelson said that 'Kyrian has a wonderful voice, is incredibly musical, and has charisma that is truly contagious. After hearing him sing Charlie's first act Aria from The Golden Ticket, I had no doubt that he was the right boy to bring Roald Dahl's classic character to life in our upcoming workshop.'
American Theater Company (ATC) closes its highly successful Season 24 with a new production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, text by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli with musical direction by Malcolm Ruhl. The production will run April 9 - May 17, 2009 at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago. Press opening is Monday, April 13, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of American Lyric Theater, has announced that Kyrian Friedenberg, the ten-year old singer, violinist and actor most recently seen in Gypsy with Patty LuPone on Broadway, has been cast as Charlie Bucket in ALT's upcoming workshop and reading of The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Speaking of the young performer, Edelson said that 'Kyrian has a wonderful voice, is incredibly musical, and has charisma that is truly contagious. After hearing him sing Charlie's first act Aria from The Golden Ticket, I had no doubt that he was the right boy to bring Roald Dahl's classic character to life in our upcoming workshop.'
Diversionary Theatre's fifth production of the 2008-2009 season is the parable Facing East by noted LDS (Latter Day Saints) author Carol Lynn Pearson. A Mormon couple confronts the limits of their spiritual teachings upon the suicide of their gay son. The Salt Lake Tribune wrote of the play, which premiered at Plan-B Theatre Company in Salt Lake City in November 2006, 'A tightly-wound domestic tragedy...freshly relevant...dares to ask important questions about faith, death and survival.' In 2007, Variety said of Plan-B's tour (Off-Off Broadway and San Francisco), 'A vivid rumination on grief.'
1812 Productions is pleased to present its third world premiere comedy of the 2008-2009 season, The Karma Cookie. The Karma Cookie will run from March 5th to March 29th at The Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom Street. Press Opening is Wednesday March 11th. Tickets range from $17-$35 and are available by contacting 1812 Productions directly at (215) 592-9560 or at www.1812productions.org.
1812 Productions is pleased to present its third world premiere comedy of the 2008-2009 season, The Karma Cookie. The Karma Cookie will run from March 5th to March 29th at The Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom Street. Press Opening is Wednesday March 11th. Tickets range from $17-$35 and are available by contacting 1812 Productions directly at (215) 592-9560 or at www.1812productions.org.
Following their sell-out debut in the autumn, this acclaimed revue of new musical theatre writing, featuring music from over twenty new musicals from around the world, is preparing to embark upon a UK Regional Tour. The A STAGE KINDLY new musical theatre initiative offers composers a chance to have their new musicals introduced to the London stage, and gives theatre enthusiasts a chance to experience future hit shows before anyone else.
Minsky's is a big, racy, new musical comedy set in a time when entertainment was about legs and laughs, and you had to push the limits to keep the customers buying tickets. A rollicking backstage story, set in Prohibition Era New York City. Tony Award winning costume designer Gregg Barnes talked about his creations for MINSKY'S on the show's official site in a wonderful audio/video essay that we are excited to bring you here on BWW TV!
Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Northwater Entertainment, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced the complete cast and design team for the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS. The first joint Broadway project by two-time Tony Award winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo since their collaboration on the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys, GUYS AND DOLLS will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's newly refurbished Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Opening Night is March 1, 2009.
Videos
