American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2010-11 season with a revival of Nobel Laureate Harold Pinter's most provocative play, The Homecoming, directed by A.C.T. Artistic Director and longtime Pinter collaborator Carey Perloff.
Rochelle Slovin, Director of Museum of the Moving Image, today announced the complete schedule for the screenings and programs that will celebrate the grand re-opening of America's only museum dedicated to film, television, and digital media.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
Rochelle Slovin, Director of Museum of the Moving Image, today announced the complete schedule for the screenings and programs that will celebrate the grand re-opening of America's only museum dedicated to film, television, and digital media.
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) announces 2010 Next Wave Festival, featuring 16 music, dance, theater, and opera engagements from Sep 21-Dec 19. BAM 2010 Next Wave Festival is part of Diverse Voices at BAM sponsored by Time Warner Inc.
Just in time for holiday vacation, 'CATS' the 'now and forever' show as it came to be known, the show that revolutionized musical theatre, is coming to Broward Center for the Performing Arts for 5 performances December 17 to 19, 2010. Tickets are available at the Broward Center Box Office Monday to Friday 10AM - 5 PM, Saturday and Sunday 12 Noon - 5pm and 1 ½ hours prior to show times; or online at www.broadwayacrossamerica.com; www.browardcenter.org; via phones 954-462-0222 or 800-982-2787. Groups of 15 or more are invited to call 954-626-7814 or 954-462-0222.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting a brand new addition to holiday theater offerings with the new adaptation of the classic 1983 film, "A Christmas Story: The Musical". And while half the show harkened fond memories of the film and left me with a wonderful sense of hope for this new piece of musical theater, the other half fell into old familiar musical traps and left me wanting as it shot its eye out.
In case you haven't seen the movie that is shown incessantly over the holiday season (sometimes for 24 hour periods nonstop) here's a brief rundown. We follow the quest of young Ralphie Parker as he plots and schemes to convince his parents (and Santa) to get him the best Christmas present in the world, a Red Ryder 200 Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle. The problem is he keeps running into obstacles of his Mother, his teacher and even Santa as they warn him away from the gift with the familiar, "You'll shoot your eye out." But Ralphie is tenacious and will have his prize. Meanwhile we also get to know the rest of the Parkers and their neighbors as we dive into the world of story originator Jean Shepherd. Complete with bullies, major awards and triple dog dares, the story harkens back to a simpler time when the biggest thing kids had to worry about was what Santa was bringing them.
The show itself is a charmer with book by Joseph Robinette who manages to keep the feel of the original material intact and still hits all the points and jokes that have become so familiar. The problem I ran into was with the songs. As I said, half of the show worked great. Act One was filled with wonderful tuners that captured the tone perfectly. And composers/lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul seemed to show that someone understands the structure of musical theater. The songs were either perfect for moving the story along or emphasizing through song what a character couldn't do any other way. And the songs "Ralphie to the Rescue" and "A Major Award" were both complete show stoppers and crucial to the story. Then we hit Act Two and suddenly it was like a completely different writing team as the songs ceased being essential as every single moment in the play got one right up to the end. So many superfluous numbers that could have been forsaken for just telling the story weighed down the second half until it finally ended with a whimper of exhaustion.
The cast however is superb and has the perfect style for the period. Clarke Hallum plays the scheming Ralphie and even though he was a bit presentational at times, his voice is right up there with any of the adults on stage. Anne Allgood is endearingly lovely as Ralphie's Mother and her moment in Act Two where she covers for Ralphie had me in tears. Frank Corrado is spot on as the narrator Jean Shepherd as he weaves this wonderful tale for us in the guise of a radio drama. And special kudos to John Bolton as Ralphie's "Old Man" who practically steals the show with is antics and especially with his overly zealous "Major Award" number.
With a gorgeous set from Walt Spangler and costumes that look like they were transported right from the movie by Elizabeth Hope Clancy, this show could have been the new theatrical holiday standard by which all of the "Elf"s, and "Grinch"s would be judged. I only wish the writers had realized what they were doing so right in the first half and could have kept it up in the second.
"A Christmas Story: The Musical" plays at the 5th Avenue Theatre through December 30th. For tickets or information contact the 5th Avenue Box Office at 206-625-1900 or toll free at 888-5TH-4TIX (584-4849) or visit them online at www.5thavenue.org.
Photo Credit: Chris Bennion
Just in time for holiday vacation, 'CATS' the 'now and forever' show as it came to be known, the show that revolutionized musical theatre, is coming to Broward Center for the Performing Arts for 5 performances December 17 to 19, 2010. Tickets are available at the Broward Center Box Office Monday to Friday 10AM - 5 PM, Saturday and Sunday 12 Noon - 5pm and 1 ½ hours prior to show times; or online at www.broadwayacrossamerica.com; www.browardcenter.org; via phones 954-462-0222 or 800-982-2787. Groups of 15 or more are invited to call 954-626-7814 or 954-462-0222.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
As promised last week, today's From The Archives features promotional materials from the early 1980s.
Just in time for holiday vacation, 'CATS' the 'now and forever' show as it came to be known, the show that revolutionized musical theatre, is coming to Broward Center for the Performing Arts for 5 performances December 17 to 19, 2010. Tickets are available at the Broward Center Box Office Monday to Friday 10AM - 5 PM, Saturday and Sunday 12 Noon - 5pm and 1 ½ hours prior to show times; or online at www.broadwayacrossamerica.com; www.browardcenter.org; via phones 954-462-0222 or 800-982-2787. Groups of 15 or more are invited to call 954-626-7814 or 954-462-0222.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
Arlo Guthrie with The Burns Sisters: Journey On will be coming to the Colonial on November 20 at 8PM. Tickets are $55 and $25 and can be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street Monday-Friday 10AM-5PM, performance Saturdays 10AM-2PM, by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.thecolonialtheatre.org.
Joe's Pub Releases Schedule for December 23rd through January 1st including AMBER MARTIN: AMBER ALERT!, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY: A VERY NICO CHRISTMAS, JACKIE FIVE-0H!: A CELEBRATION OF JACKIE HOFFMAN'S FIRST 50TH BIRTHDAY, OUR LADY J: THE GOSPEL OF DOLLY, and SANDRA BERNHARD.
Arlo Guthrie with The Burns Sisters: Journey On will be coming to the Colonial on November 20 at 8PM. Tickets are $55 and $25 and can be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street Monday-Friday 10AM-5PM, performance Saturdays 10AM-2PM, by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.thecolonialtheatre.org.
Neon lights and taxis. Tourists and hot dog carts. And now, NERDS® and LAFFY TAFFY®.
Today Executive Director Mark Murphy and Gallery Director Clara Kim announced REDCAT's Fall 2010 Season. Kicking off on September 16, 2010 with projects in both the theater and gallery, REDCAT gathers artists of diverse backgrounds and disciplines from around the world, encouraging exploration and discovery among its artists as well as its patrons. The season opening features a world premiere by legendary Indonesian choreographer Sardono W. Kusumo in collaboration with renowned lighting designer Jennifer Tipton; and the Los Angeles debut presentation of two pioneers of video art in China, Zhang Peili and Zhu Jia.
Outrageous situations lead to hilarious complications in the legendary musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum opening on the Main Stage at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Friday, June 25. With previews June 23 and 24, Forum continues through July 11. Ticket prices range from $25 to $53.
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