Beast 2008 - Articles Page 4

As parents, we try to instill in our children the idea that it is what's inside a person that counts. Shrek the Musical is certainly an apropos vessel in which to deliver this message when its green, bulbous-nosed, full-of-gas star is a sensitive and clever romantic wrapped up in a gloriously hideous package. Shrek is one of the musicals that have made the successful transition from film to stage. Its Broadway opening in 2008 garnered both Tony and Drama Desk Awards. Its themes of inclusivity, pride, and resilience resonate across all ages and backgrounds, making it a story that withstands the test of time.

Well, the next step in my decluttering/digitizing journey is throwing out my Chess CDs, not that they take up much space. I only have the Original Concept Recording and the Broadway cast. I'm going to download the freaking 2008 Royal Albert Hall concert version (with Idina Menzel, Josh Groban and Adam Pascal) to try to keep this column hip. But let's all just remember two things: 1.) I am not hip; and, 2.) I'm just downloading the concert for this column, so it doesn't really count as part of my digitizing.

 The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced an incredible six-show lineup for its 201920 season. First, The 5th will stage a lavish production of Austen's Pride, A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice. For the holidays, The 5th will create a brand new staging of Shrek The Musical, which premiered at The 5th in 2008. The New Year kicks off with Stu for Silverton, which continues its developmental journey as a part of The 5th's New Musical Development Program. Next comes a joyful 5th Avenue Theatre original production of Sister Act, followed by an exclusive, limited two-week engagement of Once On This Island. The season will close with an original staging of the epic masterpiece, Evita. Additionally, The 5th will host a one-week run of the national tour of Jersey Boys.

Syracuse Stage announced the shows that will make up the 2019/2020 season: six plays and musicals on subscription plus a special world premiere directed by TV, stage and film actor Taye Diggs. 

City Springs Theatre, Atlanta's newest professional theatre company, presents Broadway'sWilliam Michals and Kristine Reese in Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'South Pacific,'the glorious classic that poetically parallels two love stories threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. The original 1949 Broadway production, based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, 'Tales of the South Pacific,' by James A. Michener, garnered 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The acclaimed 2008 Lincoln Center Theater production received seven Tony Awards, the most of any musical revival. Directed by Tony Award recipient and Broadway legend Baayork Lee, 'South Pacific'plays the Byers Theatre at TheSandy Springs Performing Arts Center (1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs) March 8 - 17, 2019. Tickets are $30 - $62, with discounts for seniors, students, groups, and active and retired military personnel. Visit www.CitySpringsTheatre.comor call 404-477-4365 for more information.

The legendary songwriter Alan Menken comes to Chicago for a one-night-only performance at the historic Auditorium Theatre on Saturday, March 30, 2019. In his one-man show A Whole New World of Alan Menken, the man behind songs like "Under the Sea" (The Little Mermaid), "Somewhere That's Green" (Little Shop of Horrors), "A Whole New World" (Aladdin), and "Be Our Guest" (Beauty and the Beast) performs some of these beloved songs and tells stories from throughout his expansive career.

Last night (Friday, January 11, 2019) Disney Theatrical Productions hosted 'Disney Theatrical at 25: The Stars Align' at BroadwayCon in Manhattan. The lively panel was made up of some of the stars who created these indelible shows and characters in their original productions. Moderated by Disney Theatrical Productions head Thomas Schumacher, the panel was a fascinating and hilarious discussion filled with behind-the-scenes stories. Panelists included Christian Borle (Tony®-winning Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher), Ashley Brown(title role in Mary Poppins), Merle Dandridge (Kala in Tarzan), Susan Egan (Belle in Beauty and the Beast), James Monroe Iglehart(Tony-winning Genie in Aladdin), and Patti Murin (Anna in Frozen).

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) rings in 2019 with Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Seascape. In her A.C.T. directorial debut, Artistic Director and Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon-hailed as "the most prolific of directors of Edward Albee's plays" (The Daily Beast)-continues her career-long exploration of American theater's legendary playwright. MacKinnon won the 2013 Tony Award for the Broadway revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, starring Tracy Letts and Amy Morton.

A rowdy and rustic retelling of the familiar French fable, Beauty and the Beast features an ensemble of six actor-musicians who all play instruments whilst on stage. Devised by English/Norwegian group New International Encounter (NIE), along with Cambridge Junction and Tobacco Factory Theatres, and directed by NIE founder and artistic director Alex Byrne, this play with music weaves spellbinding narration, clever dialogue and a Jazz Age score into a ferociously fun show about love, family and the notion that beauty-and beastliness-are only skin-deep. Brimming with surprises and broad comic delights, this charming production from England features a feisty heroine, a preposterous pair of loudmouthed, spoiled sisters and an enchanted prince with some monstrously bad pick-up lines. See it for yourself on the New Victory stage from October 26 - November 11, 2018!

Madeleine Potter and Donald Sage Mackay complete the cast for the forthcoming West End Premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winner Sam Shepard's ferociously funny, modern classic, True West. They will join the previously announced Kit Harington - renowned for his leading role in the internationally acclaimed series Game of Thrones - and Johnny Flynn - star of the widely celebrated film Beast and US TV series Genius, and who received rave reviews for his performance in the New York transfer of Hangmen, in the first UK production of Shepard's work since his death last summer. True West will play a limited season at the Vaudeville Theatre from Friday 23 November - Saturday 16 February (Press Night: Tuesday 4 December at 7:00pm).

Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with magic and wonder fit for all ages with Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, July 27 - August 5. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran for a staggering 13 years and over 5,000 performances on Broadway. Now, Pittsburgh CLO brings this treasured story to life for a new generation, continuing the organization's commitment to providing young patrons the opportunity to enjoy live musical theater at home in Pittsburgh. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Select half-price tickets for children 3-14 are sponsored by Giant Eagle, offering an affordable option for families to enjoy this timeless tale together.

Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with magic and wonder fit for all ages with Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, July 27 - August 5. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran for a staggering 13 years and over 5,000 performances on Broadway. Now, Pittsburgh CLO brings this treasured story to life for a new generation, continuing the organization's commitment to providing young patrons the opportunity to enjoy live musical theater at home in Pittsburgh. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Select half-price tickets for children 3-14 are sponsored by Giant Eagle, offering an affordable option for families to enjoy this timeless tale together.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin previews for a limited eight-week run of the Abbey Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre's acclaimed production of CYPRUS AVENUE on Saturday, June 2. The new play, written by David Ireland and directed by Royal Court Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone, features Stephen Rea, who last performed at The Public in 2008 in Sam Shepard's Kicking a Dead Horse. The run at The Public follows encore engagements at Dublin's Peacock Stage at the Abbey Theatre (April 30-May 19) and the MAC in Belfast (May 23-26). CYPRUS AVENUE will run through Sunday, July 29 in The Public's LuEsther Hall, with an official press opening on Monday, June 25.

On Sunday, February 18, Cinderella the Musical marked the creators' 40th Off-Broadway production with a sold-out performance at the Players Theatre in Greenwich Village. Michael Sgouros (music) and Brenda Bell (book/lyrics), who have been collaborating since 2008, have written 12 original Off-Broadway musicals together. This latest production of Cinderella marks the shows fourth revival.

The El Capitan Theatre presents "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" celebrating the film's 80th Anniversary from February 2 to 7, 2018.  Snow White herself will make a live appearance on stage before every show.  Legendary Disney Producer Don Hahn ("Beauty and the Beast," "The Lion King") will be in person at The El Capitan Theatre on Saturday, February 3 to introduce the film at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

Wheelock Family Theatre has announced its 2017-2018 season. Join them for three dazzling productions that celebrate the love and warmth of family: In the Heights, Disney's Beauty & The Beast and Stuart Little!

On last night's LATE SHOW, music guest and indie rock band The National Perform 'Day I Die' off their album 'Sleep Well Beast.' Check out the appearance below!

Victoria Theatre Association's Premier Health Broadway Series will present Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, the under-the-sea spectacle swimming into the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center Aug. 8-13, 2017. Tickets for the timeless fairytale go on sale Wednesday, June 21.

Freefall Theatre Company, one of Tampa Bay's most celebrated professional theaters, continues to grow with the addition of two new staff members. These new team members join freeFall's current staff led by Artistic Director Eric Davis and Executive Director Cheryl Forchilli. freeFall Theatre was founded in 2008 and established its permanent home at 6099 Central Avenue in 2011.

Moonlit Wings Productions has presented over fifty free world-premieres of new theater-for-youth productions every summer since 2008.  This Friday three new shows play across the National Capital Area and admission is FREE for the public!

Feeling the urge to let your imagination run wild, your spirit to soar or to just leave the world in which you live and go on an adventure? Sounds like a trip to the theater is in order! Luckily, companies all over the Volunteer State have been hard at work, creating new productions to transform and to transport, shows that will entertain you this summer.

Victoria Theatre Association's Premier Health Broadway Series will present Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, the under-the-sea spectacle swimming into the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center Aug. 8-13, 2017. Tickets for the timeless fairytale go on sale Wednesday, June 21.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced today complete casting for the three exciting new productions that will comprise the company's 2017 Summer Festival, which will build on the company's commitment to producing masterpieces from the operatic cannon, important American works, and works in which dance plays an integral role. In addition, a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events will be presented from May 28th through July 16th at venues throughout the region.

Pittsburgh CLO has joined forces with Kansas City Starlight to produce a 21-week tour of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, coming to the Benedum Center June 14-25.

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced today complete casting for the three exciting new productions that will comprise the company's 2017 Summer Festival, which will build on the company's commitment to producing masterpieces from the operatic cannon, important American works, and works in which dance plays an integral role. In addition, a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events will be presented from May 28th through July 16th at venues throughout the region.