The Moment When 1999 - Articles Page 4.2

When trumpet great Lester Bowie died in 1999, followers of the Art Ensemble of Chicago couldn't help but wonder whether the legendary quintet, which owed so much to his special and outlandish gifts, would – or should – go on. That it did, in his memory, with no loss of spirit. But the subsequent passing of two other founding members Malachi Favors Maghostut in 2004 and Joseph Jarman in 2019, made it even more difficult to envision a future for the band. 

Influential Los Angeles-based electronic artist The Album Leaf starts the new year by honoring those he has recently lost with his deeply personal new single, “Breathe.” Now based in LA, Jimmy LaValle started out in the San Diego music scene creating vivid, rhythmic, soaring instrumentals centered around the Rhodes piano.

While many of the well-meaning narrative tweaks and modernized additions do seem slightly forced and somewhat at odds with the story's original innocence, for the most part, this revised CINDERELLA is a genuinely entertaining, effectively escapist musical filled with joy and magic. MTW's production continues through December 18 in Long Beach.

The Met gave birth to a fascinating new opera on Tuesday and it wasn’t a moment too soon to unleash composer Kevin Puts’s THE HOURS on an audience that sometimes seems doomed to die inundated by too many AIDAs, BOHEMEs and CARMENs. The world premiere production of THE HOURS by Puts and Greg Pierce was directed by Phelim McDermott. The cast was a starry one, led by soprano Renee Fleming, soprano Kelli O’Hara and mezzo Joyce DiDonato.

What did our critic think of DESCRIBE THE NIGHT at Ensemble?

You not only have to have the talent to do the technical side of costume drama well, and have actors who can emote convincingly and then (in this case) reverse gears convincingly, and then reverse gears again as many times as the script calls for. You need a script that doesn’t make them do it so often it makes the audience stop following and stop caring. That is a bar this script doesn't clear.

Jeff Goldblum is in talks to join the Wicked movie as the Wizard of Oz. He could be joining Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero in the two-part film adaption of the hit Broadway musical. The films will be produced by Jon M. Chu, who also directed the film adaption of In the Heights.

The National Tour of Aladdin recently launched at Proctor's in Schenectady, NY. Read the reviews for Aladdin here!

The Chimera Project Dance Theatre is launching inaugural Haunted Dances. Inspired by a local legacy of outdoor community-activated dance in Toronto, an eerie tour guide departing from Jean Sibelius Park will lead followers to an evening of Halloween-inspired dance by choreographers Sze-Yang Ade-Lam, Jose Carret, Sophie Dow, and more.

Rehearsals have begun for a major new production of Conor McPherson’s acclaimed 1997 play, The Weir. Directed by Abbey Theatre Artistic Director, Caitríona McLaughlin, this production will be staged at the Abbey theatre this winter.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has announced a brand new season of shows, including a an exclusive new production of THE SECRET LIVES OF HENRY & ALICE, a comedy by Black Country playwright, David Tristram which will be produced in its entirety by the Grand Theatre.

Teri Hatcher returns to the theatrical spotlight as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family opening October 14, 2022, at the Kavli Theatre at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. Kirsten Chandler directs this creepy, spooky, mysterious and kooky regional premiere. I had the opportunity to ask Teri about her Morticia, as well as a few highlights of her prolific career.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director Johanna Pfaelzer and Director of the Ground Floor Madeleine Oldham announced the Residency Lab participants and the return to full capacity of the Residency Lab portion of The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep’s Center for the Creation and Development of New Work.

Taylor is to release a live album recorded during his hugely successful October 2021 Outsider UK tour which saw the Queen founding member perform a series of shows: “my modesty tour, I just want it to be lots of fun, very good musically”, said Taylor at the time of announcing his first live performances outside of Queen in over twenty years.

the american vicarious will present a Five-Borough NYC Tour (5BT) of their critically acclaimed production of Debate: Baldwin vs Buckley, a staging of the historic clash between James Baldwin and William F. Buckley Jr.

The first Broadway revival of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson begins previews tonight, September 19, at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for its 17-week engagement.  Meet the cast bringing this play back to Broadway!

Alaska Thunderf**k 5000's DRAG: The Musical returns to Los Angeles at The Bourbon Room beginning September 23, 2022. Spencer Liff choreographs and directs the cast of Alaska with JuJubee, Jackie Cox, Jan Sport, Joey McIntrye, Nick Adams, Lagoona Bloo, Aria B. Cassadine and Alysha Deslorieux. Alaska managed to find some time for my queries in between promoting her book My Name’s Yours, What’s Alaska? just released last year, and getting ready for her promotional tour for her latest album Red 4 Filth.

Overture Center for the Arts and FPC Live will present Ani DiFranco with The Righteous Babes Revue: Gracie and Rachel, Pieta Brown, Jocelyn Mackenzie on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. in Capitol Theater.

Ronin Theatre Company's production of Richard Warren's HOW I CAME TO BE BUFFALO BILL is an illuminating profile of the legend in the making, featuring Keath Hall's compelling performance under the direction of Lee Cooley. The show runs through August 28th at Stage Left Productions in Surprise, AZ, with follow-up presentations at the Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix.

Berkshire Theatre Group has announced the 2022 fall season at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. Joining the already scheduled production of Edward Albee’s Seascape at The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, there is something for everyone now in the fall line up including a national performing act, as well as local and regional bands.

Bill Kenwright's legendary, award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, BLOOD BROTHERS returns to Wolverhampton Grand Theatre this autumn. The much-loved musical, performed to sell-out houses on its recent UK tour and returns with gusto from 13 – 17 September 2022.

Queensland Theatre's The Sunshine Club radiates love, the beauty of hope and the power of community whilst not shying away from the inequality and continuous harsh and oppressive reality of racial segregation, violence, and the loss of culture that Indigenous Australians still face today.

Festival of Cinema NYC will return for its 6th year, as a live in-person 10-day event, August 5 - August 14. Taking place at the Regal UA Midway theater in Forest Hills, Queens, FOC NYC will showcase 124 independent films from more than 25 countries, with over 90 anticipated filmmakers to be in attendance.

In August, film distributor Hope Runs High will release its latest feature film across VOD platforms — bringing the much-lauded “Killian & the Comeback Kids” to a national audience outside of its 30 city theatrical release.

The Tank has announced initial programming for its annual PrideFest. Every year in June, The Tank opens the floor to a wide variety of performances and discussions surrounding the topics of sexuality, gender, and equality, old battles, and new ways of fighting them.