I was just a little more than a year into my new side career as a cabaret show reviewer when I first saw a Karen Oberlin show. It was Valentine's Day night 2012 and Oberlin—with guitarist Sean Harkness and guest violinist Aaron Weinstein—would be performing her romance-laced set, Stringing Along With Love, at the Metropolitan Room. At the time, all I knew about Oberlin was that she was considered among New York's best female cabaret singers, and I hadn't researched her performing history pre-show. About a third of the way into her set I leaned over to my wife (it was Valentine's Day after all) and whispered, “You know, she has a real Doris Day quality in her voice and in the way she delivers some lyrics.” This immediately ratcheted up my appreciation for Oberlin since there are four passions I inherited from my Dad—baseball, reading the morning papers, sports writing and Doris Day (well, also Sophia Loren, but that's for another column). Since Dad had grown up during the prime of the Big Band Era of the 1940s, I heard the sultry sounds of a young Doris Day singing songs like “Sentimental Journey” on the family stereo more than a few times. Once I saw Day's strikingly adorable blondness on a record cover and her rocking body in one of her films, I knew what Dad was talking about. As popular, famous, and near iconic as Doris Day became, in my book, as a singer and screen beauty she's always been vastly underrated. Little did I know that Karen Oberlin had been doing a Doris Day tribute show so since 2001 at places like Firebird, Iridium, and the late Danny's Skylight Room, and produced a CD, Secret Love: The Music of Doris Day, in 2002. Karen Oberlin had instantly become my secret love.
The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight, Midnight, and Special Screenings sections, as well as the selections for the Storyscapes program.
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has added an exciting roster of screen legends and beloved titles to the 2014 TCM Classic Film Festival,
At a press conference held at Barrington Stage Company's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, Artistic Director Julianne Boyd announced the theater's 20th Anniversary 2014 season of musicals and plays that will take place in downtown Pittsfield in the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, St. Germain Stage and Youth Theatre venues in 2014.
Singer Karyn Levitt, with pianist Eric Ostling, will perform Eric Bentley's Brecht-Eisler Song Book, a unique evening that features the songs of Austrian composer Hanns Eisler (1898-1962), set to poetry by Bertolt Brecht and other noted writers, in English versions by Eric Bentley, Monday February 3 at 7:30 PM at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia/Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (entrance on 95th Street). Eric Bentley, now 97 years old, is the first translator into English of Brecht's plays and poems, introducing Brecht's work to American stages in the 1940's and 50's. Bentley has now unlocked Hanns Eisler's starkly beautiful songs, many set to poems by Brecht, to be performed by soprano Karyn Levitt, with whom he has worked closely since 2011.
The romantic comedy Parfumerie, adapted by E.P. Dowdall from the Hungarian play Illatszertar by Miklos Laszlo, will have a rare revival as the first theater production of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (Lou Moore, Executive Director), for a limited, 29 performance engagement November 26 to December 22. The production, directed by Mark Brokaw, who is currently represented on Broadway with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, centers on a romance that unfolds through love letters, a perfect homage to the historic Beverly Hills Post Office. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Walnut Street Theatre's President and Producing Artistic Director Bernard Havard has announced the 2013-2014 Independence Studio on 3 season, noting 'the plays I've selected are a dramatic blend of new work and American classics. It's the most ambitious season yet for our intimate theatre. Several of the shows have larger casts and more challenging scenic elements, which will be exciting to see our creative designers bring to life. I'm thrilled to share our upcoming season with Philadelphia audiences.'
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Sony Masterworks team up to celebrate one of Hollywood's most beloved stars: Fred Astaire. The new 2-CD set from Sony Masterworks, Fred Astaire: The Early Years at RKO, is available November 19 and TCM names Astaire their “Star of the Month” for December.
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Sony Masterworks team up to celebrate one of Hollywood's most beloved stars: Fred Astaire.
The romantic comedy Parfumerie, adapted by E.P. Dowdall from the Hungarian playIllatszertar by Miklos Laszlo, will have a rare revival as the first theater production of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (Lou Moore, Executive Director), for a limited, 29 performance engagement November 26 to December 22. The production, directed by Mark Brokaw, who is currently represented on Broadway with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, centers on a romance that unfolds through love letters, a perfect homage to the historic Beverly Hills Post Office.
Howard Hawks, the quintessential Hollywood director known for his mastery of many genres, will be the subject of a complete retrospective at Museum of the Moving Image from today, September 7 through November 10, 2013. The Museum will present 39 features. All of the films will be shown in 35mm-many in stunning restorations-except for Red Line 7000, which will be shown in 16mm.
Over the course of his long life, Bob Hope gave the gift of laughter to millions and millions of people. From vaudeville to Broadway, radio, films and television, he cracked the whole world up and we loved him for it. But no group loved him more than America's servicemen and women. For more than five decades, Hope took his USO show on the road over 700 times, jumping country to country - even continent to continent - to entertain the troops, make them laugh and give them a touch of home. Hope once said, “I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.” That's exactly what he did for the troops during terrible times.
Howard Hawks, the quintessential Hollywood director known for his mastery of many genres, will be the subject of a complete retrospective at Museum of the Moving Image from September 7 through November 10, 2013. The Museum will present 39 features. All of the films will be shown in 35mm-many in stunning restorations-except for Red Line 7000, which will be shown in 16mm.
Bay Street Theatre presents the final production of the 2013 Mainstage Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, beginning August 6 and running through September 1. The show stars Peter Scolari with Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman. The book is by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim; music direction by Ethyl Will; and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.
Doris & Me/conceived, written & performed by Scott Dreier/directed by Richard Israel/with musical accompaniment by Johnny May and Trevor Mulvey/Welk Resorts, Escondido/Thursday matinees at 1 pm through August 22
Bay Street Theatre presents the final production of the 2013 Mainstage Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, beginning tonight, August 6 and running through September 1. The show stars Peter Scolari with Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman. The book is by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim; music direction by Ethyl Will; and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.
Bay Street Theatre presents the final production of the 2013 Mainstage Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, beginning August 6 and running through September 1. The show stars Peter Scolari with Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman. The book is by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim; music direction by Ethyl Will; and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.
The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the Globe's revival of N. Richard Nash's classic romantic comedyThe Rainmaker. Directed by Maria Mileaf, The Rainmaker will run July 13 - August 11, 2013 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run July 13 - July 17. Opening night is Thursday, July 18 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the July and August lineup for Family Films with screenings of several of the most beloved Hollywood musical's of 40s and 50s starring classic silver screen icons, led by Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland!
Chicago's Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport, hosts a variety of special screenings and appearances throughout the summer, including Curb Your Enthusiasm's Jeff Garlin in person for opening weekend of his new IFC Films comedy Dealing With Idiots, Hitchcock muse Tippi Hedren (The Birds) in attendance for a special matinee of Marnie and Alex Winter, aka Bill in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, presenting his new documentary feature Downloaded as part of the fifth annual Summer Music Film Festival.
Walnut Street Theatre's President and Producing Artistic Director Bernard Havard has announced the 2013-2014 Independence Studio on 3 season, noting 'the plays I've selected are a dramatic blend of new work and American classics. It's the most ambitious season yet for our intimate theatre. Several of the shows have larger casts and more challenging scenic elements, which will be exciting to see our creative designers bring to life. I'm thrilled to share our upcoming season with Philadelphia audiences.'
Set on a tropical island during World War II, South Pacific tells the sweeping romantic story of two parallel couples who are threatened by the dangers of racial prejudice and war. This enchanting musical comes to life on the Hale Theatre stage in Gilbert tonight, February 14th through March 30th.
Set on a tropical island during World War II, South Pacific tells the sweeping romantic story of two parallel couples who are threatened by the dangers of racial prejudice and war. This enchanting musical comes to life on the Hale Theatre stage in Gilbert on February 14th through March 30th.
The Picture Show at Bay Street Theatre, sponsored by Peconic Landing continues with classic films this winter and spring. All films start at 8 pm. Tickets are $7 at the door and include a small box of popcorn. For the $28 prix-fixe 'Dinner and a Movie' package, call Page at 63 Main (631-725-1810), IL Capuccino (631-725-2747) or Sen (631-725-1774). Beginning February 15, the dinner package will be available at Dockside (631-725-7100). Cost does not include sales tax, beverage or gratuities.
Irish Repertory Theatre continues its 25th Anniversary Season with DONNYBROOK! -a musical based on the movie 'The Quiet Man,' with music and lyrics by Johnny Burke and book by Robert E. McEnroe-with previews set to begin February 7, prior to its official Off-Broadway opening on Sunday, February 17 on the company's Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Charlotte Moore (2012 Callaway Award finalist for DANCING AT LUGHNASA) directs.
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