Catch Me If You Can Tour 2013 - Articles Page 8

If you are even a semi-regular reader of this column of reviews, you know that about every three or four months, I post a compilation of observations of shows from the previous quarter of the year. This cabaret critiquing mash up happens for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that I admittedly see too many cabaret shows for the amount of time I have to promptly review them (and then, of course, the usual writer's procrastination sets in). So I have to prioritize the timeliness of the reviews based on the prestige of the performer, the length of a show run, the strength (or lack thereof) of the performance, etc. The quality of the shows in these compilations—which can range from a half dozen to a dozen reviews in one shot—are usually a mixed bag of outright raves, qualified positives, and constructive pans (I'm not a fan of the word “negative” in the reviewer lexicon). With that in mind here are a collection of cabaret show reviews going back to the start of a very harsh winter.

After the tremendous success of Hatched: Fresh Work. Freshmen (2013), Hatched: New Work in New York (2012) and Rated RSO: College Edition (2011), Ryan Scott Oliver and Pace University's Musical Theater Class of 2017 will present the annual freshmen cabaret HATCHED. The show Hatched is a presentation of brand new work performed by brand new singers on May 14th at 9:30pm and 11:30pm at 54 Below. Scroll down to meet the performers!

After the tremendous success of Hatched: Fresh Work. Freshmen (2013), Hatched: New Work in New York (2012) and Rated RSO: College Edition (2011), Ryan Scott Oliver and Pace University's Musical Theater Class of 2017 will present the annual freshmen cabaret HATCHED. The show Hatched is a presentation of brand new work performed by brand new singers on May 14th at 9:30pm and 11:30pm at 54 Below.

Charity Hope Valentine is a dancehall girl who dreams of love and believes the man of her dreams is just around the corner. A great score, including the songs 'Hey Big Spender!' and 'If My Friends Could See Me Now,' incredible dancing - originally choreographed by Broadway legend Bob Fosse - and one of the most memorable heroines of the past sixty years combine to make Sweet Charity a must-see show. Never before produced at PTC, Sweet Charity is a razzle-dazzle closer for the 2013-14 season.

Stai pianificando un viaggio a Londra? Non sai che musical vedere e/o vuoi sapere quali sono i migliori su piazza? Ecco un resoconto della mia esperienza londinese, nella speranza che il mio personalissimo punto di vista possa esserti d'aiuto nell'orientarti nel West End della Capitale inglese. Nello stilare questa 'graduatoria' ho fatto delle scelte un po' impopolari e aspetto di essere contraddetto. Ad ogni modo, enjoy it! Stai pianificando un viaggio a Londra? Non sai che musical vedere e/o vuoi sapere quali sono i migliori su piazza? Ecco un resoconto della mia esperienza londinese, nella speranza che il mio personalissimo punto di vista possa esservi d'aiuto nell'orientarvi nel West End della Capitale inglese. Nello stilare questa 'graduatoria' ho fatto delle scelte un po' impopolari e aspetto di essere contraddetto. Ad ogni modo, enjoy it!

Competitive cheerleading and team rivalries come to the stage of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, MO. with Bring It On: The Musical. Inspired by the 2000 film, Bring It On, The Musical opened on Broadway August 1, 2012 at the St. James Theatre, playing through December 30, 2012. The show premiered in Atlanta, Georgia in January 2011 and utilized competitive cheerleaders from across the country.

Manhattan Theatre Club will present its annual Winter Benefit, an evening of cocktails and dinner followed by a special one-night-only cabaret-style show featuring Broadway's brightest stars on Monday, February 3, 2014 at The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Fredrick P. Rose Hall (Broadway & 60th Street).

Ah, yes. 2013 was indeed an outstanding year for theater in Southern California. Even better: Orange County---my home base---boasted some of the best shows, period---marking an exciting theater renaissance in brilliance and artistry that I hope continues to grow here inside L.A.'s next door neighbor. With that said, here is my Top 10 Stage Shows of 2013 from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby, followed by my picks for the year's best performances.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Cabaret and Broadway favorites Jeff Harnar, Linda Hart, Nicolas King and Jennifer Sheehan in 'COME FLY WITH ME' tonight, November 21, 2013.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Cabaret and Broadway favorites Jeff Harnar, Linda Hart, Nicolas King and Jennifer Sheehan in 'COME FLY WITH ME' on November 21, 2013. The evening is a centenary celebration of the lyrics of Sammy Cahn and the music of Jimmy Van Heusen and was conceived and directed by Grammy and Emmy Award winner, John McDaniel, during his first season as artistic director of the O'Neill Theater Center's Cabaret and Performance conference. Mr. McDaniel makes his New York directorial debut with this show.

Just last week, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. Meet the cast below!

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY another special event this month. Green will host the concert Amanda Green and Friends at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) tonight, September 29 at 6:00 PM to celebrate the album's release. Her special guests will include Keith Carradine, Allison Case, Jenn Colella, Van Hughes, Janet Krupin, Kathleen Monteleone, Jim Newman, Jacob Ming-Trent, Jon Rua and William Youmans. The singers will be backed by members of the original Broadway 'Pit Crew' for Hardbody, including Musical Director Matt Gallagher on piano, Skip Krevens on pedal steel, Shannon Ford on drums and Skip Ward on bass.

Whenever people begin thinking of the young Broadway stars that show promise for career longevity, Aaron Tveit's magnanimous talent and indomitable energy come to mind. While a musical theatre major at Ithaca College, he left school to be an understudy for Mark and Roger in the national tour for RENT. From there, he went on to be in such acclaimed stage musicals as HAIRSPRAY, WICKED, NEXT TO NORMAL, and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. He also played Enjolras in the 2012 film musical Les Miserables. Television audiences would recognize him from his 10-episode stint in the CW's Gossip Girl as William "Tripp" van der Bilt III and as Mike Warren from USA Network's police drama Graceland. Now, his ravenous fan base has a solo album, THE RADIO IN MY HEAD - Live at 54 BELOW, to clamor for. Sadly, the release is surprisingly underwhelming on several levels.

Aaron Tveit's sold out concerts in May at New York's 54 BELOW will be recorded and released by Broadway Records. 'The Radio In My Head: Live At 54 BELOW' will be released digitally today, September 6th and on CD on September 10, 2013.

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODYwith two special events in September. Amanda Green, the show's co-composer and lyricist and book writer Doug Wright, as well as several stars of the show, will appear at an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side (150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues). The event will feature original Broadway cast members Keith Carradine, Keala Settle, Janet Krupin, Corey March, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Jim Newman, Connie Ray, Jon Rua and Dale Soules. The exclusive event will take place tonight, September 4 at 7:00 PM. Call (212) 369-2180 for details.

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODYwith two special events in September. Amanda Green, the show's co-composer and lyricist and book writer Doug Wright, as well as several stars of the show, will appear at an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side (150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues). The event will feature original Broadway cast members Keith Carradine, Keala Settle, Janet Krupin, Corey March, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Jim Newman, Connie Ray, Jon Rua and Dale Soules.

Back on April 1, when he posted his third compilation of delayed cabaret reviews from shows staged during the winter, BroadwayWorld.com's lead New York cabaret reviewer promised Number 4 would come with arrival of summer. Okay, so he missed his self-imposed deadline by a couple of weeks. but here's yet another catch-up column with critiques of a half dozen spring shows performed by Bryan Batt, Dawn Derow, Lynly Forrest, Dennis McNeil, Anastasia Barzee, and Nina Hennessey.

If you're one of the many people who have already caught a glimpse of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: THE MUSICAL, the Broadway stage adaptation of Frank Abagnale, Jr.'s real-life adventures that has been touring the country since October of last year, then you would have no doubt sat up and took notice of the charming young man at the center of the show. That would be fresh-faced Stephen Anthony, whose impressive performance in the show was one of its most entertaining assets, introducing audiences to a brand new rising musical theater star we should all look out for in bigger and better things in the near future. But before the national tour plays its final-ever shows in Costa Mesa this week, Anthony agreed to answer a few silly questions from BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos.

It was a storybook night of your favorite fairy tales as more than 200 of New York's sexiest dancers brought BROADWAY BARES XXII: HAPPY ENDINGS to life for two performances (9:30 PM and midnight) on Sunday, June 17. BROADWAY BARES XXII: HAPPY ENDINGS, which is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS was held at Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd Street, NYC). BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture all the excitement, fun and sexiness backstage!

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten has announced further casting and additions to the 2013 summer season, which officially kicks off tomorrow, June 4, when the box office opens its doors. Brooks Ashmanskas, De'Adre Aziza, Reed Birney,Joey Slotnick, and Omar Metwally are among the actors who will take part in this summer's productions. Gersten has

Snap-Two Productions, Inc. and LimanAde Productions in association with Issembert Productions, Inc. will present a staged reading of the new drama with music, Signs of Life, at American University in the Katzen Arts Center Studio Theatre tonight, June 1 at 7:00 P.M. and June 2 at 1:00 P.M. The performances will feature American University alumni, current students and a student from BRAVO@KAT, the children's wing of Kensington Arts Theatre. This is the first academic production of Signs of Life.

Though the coming of summer usually signals local theaters' final shows for the 2012-2013 season, there are still plenty of things to see, hear and experience in the O.C. to keep avid theatergoers entertained. Below is a listing of our five top Summer Must-See Picks, plus a few other noteworthy shows to check out, too!

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tonys Meet & Greet on May 1, 2013, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you producers Hal Luftig and Daryl Roth, nominees for Best Musical for Kinky Boots. Check out what they had to say below!

Snap-Two Productions, Inc. and LimanAde Productions in association with Issembert Productions, Inc. will present a staged reading of the new drama with music, Signs of Life, at American University in the Katzen Arts Center Studio Theatre on June 1 at 7:00 P.M. and June 2 at 1:00 P.M. The performances will feature American University alumni, current students and a student from BRAVO@KAT, the children's wing of Kensington Arts Theatre. This is the first academic production of Signs of Life.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher is the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more: