Closer 1999 - Articles Page 3.4

Fifteen years after its first production of the musical, Musical Theatre West revisits the Tony Award-winning musical RAGTIME for only its second time---smartly reviving the musical in a similarly lavish production that beautifully converges the show's classic staging and vibe with wonderfully integrated 21st Century tech upgrades that help elevate the material rather than hinder its storytelling. Under the enlightened direction of Paul David Bryant (who also provides the production's high-energy choreography), this brand new, spectacularly engrossing production bellows with an emotional fervor and is one of my favorite iterations of this musical I have seen in recent years. This local revival---which continues performances at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through February 23, 2020---is a feast for the senses.

Set against the backdrop of an evolving Britain of the 70s, this fresh production shows the classic Mike Leigh satire in a new light. Performed in traverse with intimate on-stage seating offering audience the chance to join Beverly and Laurence's soireé, bringing them closer to the experience.

Inspired by Tudor-era English history, Roberto Devereux finds Queen Elizabeth I clinging onto her power, influence and heart in the final year of her reign. Her younger lover Devereux-fighting charges of treason-is discovered to have a secret affection for another woman. As Elizabeth searches for her rival, she soon realizes the 'other woman' is much closer to her than she ever could have imagined, while Devereux is left to fight for his freedom-and his head-all on his own.

The following acts are performing at City Winery Chicago (1200 W. Randolph St) throughout the month. All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8:00 p.m., unless noted.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 312-733-WINE (9463) or by visiting www.citywinery.com/chicago.

For her 4th CD release, vocalist/violinist Calabria Foti wanted to do an album like her vocal heroes did back in the day; that is, with a big orchestra and legendary arrangers on the podium in an iconic Hollywood recording studio. Ms. Foti says, “This is the most expansive project I have ever done, and at the same time, it's the most intimate and personal. I recorded at Capitol Records with a full orchestra, singing some of the most endearing, sentimental songs ever written, all for my loved ones. This album is a full-production tear-jerker!”

The Goethe-Institut Toronto proudly presents its powerful and thrilling October film series, STRONGER THAN BLOOD, featuring three outstanding and complex German gangster films over the last two decades. DEALER (1999) by Thomas Arslan, CHIKO (2008) by Ozgur Yildirim, and STRONGER THAN BLOOD (2009) by Oliver Kienle. The films will screen at TIFF Bell Lightbox, October 3, 8, and 10, 2019 at 6:30pm.

New York's leading LGBTQ film festival, NewFest, has announced the full lineup of their 31st annual celebration of the year's best LGBTQ films from around the world. As announced earlier this week, the festival will kick off the festival's 31st edition with the New York premiere of Mike Doyle's Manhattan-set ensemble rom-com SELL BY, featuring an eclectic cast including Scott Evans (Netflix's “Grace and Frankie”), Kate Walsh (ABC's “Grey's Anatomy”), Academy Award-nominee and Emmy Award-winner Patricia Clarkson, Michelle Buteau (Netflix's “Tales of the City”) and Augustus Prew (HIGH-RISE), and will close the festival with the New York premiere of Rodrigo Bellott's award-winning film TU ME MANQUES, which was recently announced as Bolivia's submission for Best International Feature Film selection for the 2019 Academy Awards. 

As general director, president & CEO Anthony Freud announced today, big changes are underway at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Acclaimed and beloved music director Sir Andrew Davis plans to conclude his two-decade-long tenure at the end of the 2020|21 season. Eminent Italian conductor Enrique Mazzola has been named as Lyric's music director designate, effective immediately, and will become Lyric's music director beginning with the 2021|22 season. As Davis continues his substantial responsibilities while overseeing the transition, Mazzola looks forward to his role in leading Lyric through the next, dynamic chapter of the iconic company's journey.

For her 4th CD release, vocalist/violinist Calabria Foti wanted to do an album like her vocal heroes Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, and Nat “King” Cole did back in the day; that is, with a big orchestra and legendary arrangers on the podium in an iconic Hollywood recording studio. Ms. Foti says, “This is the most expansive project I have ever done, and at the same time, it's the most intimate and personal. I recorded at Capitol Records with a full orchestra, singing some of the most endearing, sentimental songs ever written, all for my loved ones. This album is a full-production tear-jerker!”

Musical Theatre West's entertaining, high-energy new production of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN---which continues performances at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through April 14, 2019---is, for the most part, a sleek, stylish, and abundantly entertaining piece of theater, filled with nostalgic fun and features a plucky anti-hero at its center whose bad behavior can both be seen as terrible and worth cheering for in his sheer audacity and skill. Despite its flaws, the show is a worthy trip back in time, especially with the presence of its two terrific lead actors Jacob Haren and Jeff Skowron as the teenage con artist and the FBI agent chasing him.

Four months from now, America will mark the 20th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado in a state of contradiction. Though we condemned as a society the April 1999 massacre that left 15 dead and 21 wounded, school shootings across the United States have increased dramatically since then. The latest government figures show the dilemma has significantly worsened over the last two years: both the number of school shootings and the fatalities incurred in them more than doubled between 2017 and 2018. That total includes the 17 students and staff killed last February at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Spring activities for the Centennial, which continues through all of 2019, include a wide range of performances, film screenings, discussions, education initiatives, community programming, and new works by other artists in conversation with Merce Cunningham's work.

Four months from now, America will mark the 20th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado in a state of contradiction. Though we condemned as a society the April 1999 massacre that left 15 dead and 21 wounded, school shootings across the United States have increased dramatically since then. The latest government figures show the dilemma has significantly worsened over the last two years: both the number of school shootings and the fatalities incurred in them more than doubled between 2017 and 2018. That total includes the 17 students and staff killed last February at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

As BroadwayWorld recently reported, with the 25th anniversary of Beauty and the Beast rapidly approaching, Theatre Under The Stars just announced its cast for the Disney classic. Twenty-five years ago, the Houston venue helped usher in a new musical era by hosting the show's out-of-town tryout. The show became an international sensation that played a remarkable 13-year run on Broadway and has been produced in 37 countries worldwide. 

Irish Repertory Theatre announces full casting for the return of The Dead, 1904 - an immersive adaptation of James Joyce's classic story, "The Dead," adapted by the Pulitzer Prize winning Irish poet Paul Muldoon (Moy Sand and Gravel) and novelist Jean Hanff Korelitz (Admission, You Should Have Known).

Hulu shares all of the titles coming and going for the month of October. See the full list below!

Fall activities for the Centennial, which begins this month and extends through all of 2019, include a wide range of performances, film screenings, discussions, education initiatives, and new works by other artists in conversation with Cunningham's work.

New Titles Coming to Amazon Prime Video and Prime Video Channels July 2018

July brings three Prime Original series exclusively available for Prime members to stream or download at no additional cost to their membership.

July brings three Prime Original series exclusively available for Prime members to stream or download at no additional cost to their membership.

Take a walk on the wild side! Dressed to impress, Todd Almond steps back into the title role of Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati's season closer Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Written by John Cameron Mitchell with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, this award-winning rock musical is an innovative, heartbreaking, and wickedly funny story of a gender-crossed glam rocker determined to become a superstar. The regional revival of ETC's 2001 and 2003 hit production is a rocking ride, entertaining, touching, and ultimately inspiring to anyone who has felt life gave them an inch when they deserved a mile. Playing June 5-July 1, 2018. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. Presented by The Rosenthal Family Foundation and sponsored by LPK.

Take a walk on the wild side! Dressed to impress, Todd Almond steps back into the title role of Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati's season closer Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Written by John Cameron Mitchell with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, this award-winning rock musical is an innovative, heartbreaking, and wickedly funny story of a gender-crossed glam rocker determined to become a superstar. The regional revival of ETC's 2001 and 2003 hit production is a rocking ride, entertaining, touching, and ultimately inspiring to anyone who has felt life gave them an inch when they deserved a mile. Playing June 5-July 1, 2018. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. Presented by The Rosenthal Family Foundation and sponsored by LPK.

Take a walk on the wild side! Dressed to impress, Todd Almond steps back into the title role of Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati's season closer Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Written by John Cameron Mitchell with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, this award-winning rock musical is an innovative, heartbreaking, and wickedly funny story of a gender-crossed glam rocker determined to become a superstar. The regional revival of ETC's 2001 and 2003 hit production is a rocking ride, entertaining, touching, and ultimately inspiring to anyone who has felt life gave them an inch when they deserved a mile. Playing June 5-July 1, 2018. Directed by D. Lynn Meyers. Presented by The Rosenthal Family Foundation and sponsored by LPK.

On April 21, 2018, Patrick Marber spoke about Travesties with Education Dramaturg Ted Sod as part of Roundabout Theatre Company's lecture series.

This summer, JAW: A Playwrights Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary by doing what it does best: selecting some of the most exciting new plays of our time and providing complete support to the playwrights to develop those scripts in whatever area is most beneficial to them. Two weeks of script workshopping will culminate in the JAW Big Weekend, July 27-29, where public staged readings of the scripts will be presented along with performances from local artists and classes. Plenty of champagne and birthday cake will also be enjoyed, to celebrate all that JAW has accomplished since its brave and ambitious beginnings in 1999.