Seeing Things 1920 - Articles Page 2

Broadway and TV actor Frances Jue is currently starring in TheatreWorks' production of Julia Cho's 'The Language Archive.' Mr. Jue recently talked to BroadwayWorld about his lengthy and surprising career path, from his formative experiences with Stephen Sondheim and TheatreWorks to working with Tony winners David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori, and of course his continuing role on the CBS television series 'Madam Secretary.' His fascinating story serves as an inspiring example for anyone who doesn't see a clear path to success or struggles to find a place to fit in.

This musical revue is a unique ensemble piece with Cole Porter himself at the center of the group of society friends and counterparts from literature and musical theatre of the 1920-40s. Director Mary Cutler and cast take on this revue, and Cutler's insights are shared here.

'19: The Musical' is the brainchild of Through the 4th Wall co-founders, Jennifer Schwed and Doug Bradshaw. Both DC natives, Schwed and Bradshaw conceived the idea of a musical about the passage of the 19th Amendment back in 2016, and have been overseeing workshops and concert performances for a little over a year, with an eye toward a full production in time for the Amendment's centennial in 2020.

As we welcome in 2019 in Southwest Florida, we also welcome in a very full theatre season! From many classic, much-loved Broadway shows to some newer, unique breakout productions, this season has something for everyone. Though there are many, many productions happening this season, check out 9 of the shows (listed by date so you can easily fill your calendar) I know I'm looking forward to in 2019 below.

There are some plays in the history of Broadway that you just scratch your head as to why they didn't have a longer run. Paula Vogel's Indecent is definitely one of those plays. It opened to rave reviews on Broadway, won the Tony Award for best direction and only ran 128 performances. The award win gave the show a considerable box office bump, but not enough to convince the show's producers to make a run of it in the summer heat. Thankfully, PBS preserved the Broadway production for posterity and the play is now getting a much deserved second life in regional theaters across the country.

JIM BORAX'S CALIFORNIA CABARET is a hidden gem. It consists mostly of standards from the Great American Songbook, sung by Broadway-quality performers. There are also dancing and audience participation sing-alongs.

Kate Mulvany's adaptation for stage of Ruth Park's much loved The Harp In The South trilogy directed by Kip Williams is a unequivocal success. 

Alex Groth, Riley Walker and Chris Loving are three names to watch in this marvelous production.

What happens when you take a holiday classic like Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL, set it in Connecticut and include Connecticut historical figures such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, P.T. Barnum, and Mark Twain as the Christmas ghosts? You get A CONNECTICUT CHRISTMAS CAROL, an all-new musical take on the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, with a book by LJ Fecho and a score by Michael O'Flaherty that begins performances at Goodspeed's Terris Theatre on November 17. Directing this premiere musical production is Broadway actor and director, Hunter Foster, who returns to the Goodspeed to bring to life this exciting new take on the classic tale. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Hunter to talk about the show, what it's like working on a new production like this, and his directing style.

Amanda Glenn's turn as Louise is lovely and heartbreaking. Glenn has a beautiful voice and exquisite is her painstaking, delicate interpretation of the awkward, plain Jane who becomes the iconic burlesque queen.

Artistic Director Tim Carroll and the Shaw Festival reveal the complete playbill for the 2018 season. Having introduced Festival patrons to Two-Way Theatre in 2017, the Shaw Festival will continue to invite the audience into the creative process, giving them a real voice in the theatre experience.

If the word Fragile (pronounced Frah-GEE-lay) or the phrase "You'll shoot your eye out, kid" bring a smile to your face, then you are likely one of the many people who love A CHRISTMAS STORY, the classic 1983 movie that has become required viewing for many families each Christmas season. And, while you may know the story by heart, you have likely never seen it told the way you will if you check out A CHRISTMAS STORY the musical on stage at the Palace Theatre in Waterbury, CT for just two performances on November 18th and 19th. Told with the flair only a musical can bring, A CHRISTMAS STORY puts an unfamiliar twist on the familiar classic. I caught up with Susannah Jones who plays the role of Ralphie's mother, and discussed her experience with the show, life on tour, and even her childhood equivalent to Ralphie's Red Ryder BB Gun.

Art has needed it for a long time and of all things, it comes from the political realm. The tipping point has dropped with Donald Trumpeting a New Order unlike Joy Division. The new Don's deal will play out in the arts like a match to gunpowder.

Philadelphia chanteuse Julie Charnet brings her blend of jazz and swing to the Ethical Society of Philadelphia and other venues.

This is the wonder of Kander and Ebb's masterpiece that is Cabaret, now brought to the Cape Playhouse in what can only be described, in the words of Fraulein Bowles, as 'perfectly marvelous,' although even that would be an understatement for such a show as this beautiful theater in the heart of Dennis Village now presents to a Cape Cod audience.

One of the most eagerly awaited new shows of this year's New York Musical Festival (NYMF) is the special event 'Midnight at the Never Get' which will be presented at 42WEST (514 West 42nd Street) for three (3) performances: Thursday, July 28 @ 9pm; Sunday, July 31 @ 9pm; Monday, August 1 @ 8pm. Produced by Michael Chase Gosselin, the musical is conceived by and starring Sam Bolen and Mark Sonnenblick, with musical direction and arrangements by Adam Podd, choreography by Andrew Palermo and directed by Max Friedman. Audiences will be transformed back to 1965 when they enter the venue to the back room of The Never Get.  Featuring a sultry score fashioned after the American Songbook, 'Midnight at The Never Get' imagines two men who never existed at a time that very much did.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film have announced a few of the projects tapped for the upcoming 32nd Powerhouse Season, the annual summer season which stages full productions of new plays, workshop presentations of new plays and musicals, and readings of other works in progress, among other developmental programming.

With Theater at the Center's premiere of the award-winning Broadway musical, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, only a few short week's away, things are in full swing (quite literally) for Chicago actress Erica Stephan. This zesty, swingin' show, set in the roaring 20's and chalked full of Gershwin classics, debuts at Indiana's highly acclaimed performing arts center. Before stepping into the shoes of tomboy Billie Bendix, Stephan took time for a quick Q&A.

Shows are opening, shows are closing and the newly reimagined national tour of The Phantom of the Opera continues its run at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center this weekend. Theater in Tennessee continues its fast-paced run through 2016 with a number of new openings this week, thanks to Bongo After Hours Theatre, Nashville Rep, Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre, Circle Players and more - and Cumberland County Playhouse, Arts Center of Cannon County, Street Theatre Company, Lakewood Theatre Company and ACT 1 continue runs of their latest shows - to give you even more opportunities to celebrate the magic of live theater in the Volunteer State! And on Monday night, The Chicago Talking Machine Company premieres its first Nashville show at the Centennial Black Box Theatre.

A St. Patrick's Day toast to the Father of the American Musical Comedy and The Father of the American Drama.

Turkeys are on-sale at your local supermarket, so there's no better way to know Thanksgiving is just around the corner - yep, less than two weeks away! - which means that local theater companies will be unleashing their holiday season productions with enough productions of A Christmas Story (both the musical and the play), It's A Wonderful Life and Ebenezer Scrooge-led shows that you could shake a stick at!

With over 200 shows presented at FringeNYC Festival and 900 at Edinburgh Fringe, it's hard to be in the know about what's worth seeing. Even worse is having missed the show everyone is talking about post festival. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, the Fringe Encore Series will present some of the most critically-acclaimed and crowd-pleasing shows from both festivals. But more importantly, pinpoints and cultivates the theater talent of tomorrow.

Mary's Mosaic. It's an odd name for a Kennedy assassination tome so it bears explanation.

This is an eye-popping, slam dunk production, with a star turn by Giles Davies as Malvolio that leaves the audience in hysterics.

"The Vaudevillians" is not an act that you'd expect to see at the Seattle Rep but then they've never really played it safe. But catching an act that I remember seeing at Balagan's "Smorgasbord" nights back when they were in the basement of the noodle house now strutting around the stage at the Rep is a bit odd but just shows how far this duo has come. From late night cabaret to the toast of Off-Broadway, "The Vaudevillians" have matured into a solidly hilarious evening that spotlights two very gifted performers.