THE SPITFIRE GRILL - Next for Musical Theatre Guild
by Rebecca Russo - Oct 24, 2016
Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will continue their 21st Anniversary Season with award-winning Off-Broadway musical THE SPITFIRE GRILL. The one-night-only concert will take place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 7:00 PM.
BWW Review: Cabaret Celebrates Stephen Sondheim in Night Two of the Mabel Mercer Foundation Cabaret Convention (10/19)
by Ashley Steves - Oct 21, 2016
Hold your hats and hallelujah.
After an electrifying opening night, the Mabel Mercer Foundation's 27th Annual Cabaret Convention continued Wednesday night in a packed Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Hosted by Jeff Harnar and Andrea Marcovicci, the cabaret community gathered to salute the music of Stephen Sondheim, the EGOT-winning composer/lyricist whose oeuvre has been simultaneously catapulting and tripping up artists for decades.
Despite 30 performances on the evening, you'd be hard-pressed to find a weak spot in Wednesday night's lineup, hosting what is arguably the best rotation of the four nights, featuring cabaret giants, up-and-comers, expert arrangers (plus the talents of Jered Egan on bass and Dan Gross on drums), and Sondheim role originators.
BWW Review: HOW TO SUCCEED in Modern-day Theater
by Teresa Budasi - Sep 2, 2016
'How often does it happen that a secretary's boss wants to marry her? Hallelujah!' These lyrics get to the heart of why shows like HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING can't possibly maintain relevance in modern theater.
Musical Theatre Guild to Open 21st Season with PROMISES, PROMISES
by BWW News Desk - Aug 31, 2016
?Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will launch their 21st Anniversary Season with the rollicking pop Broadway musical PROMISES, PROMISES.
Exclusive Podcast: 'Behind the Curtain' Chats RIO, HALLELUJAH BABY
by Behind the Curtain - Jul 20, 2016
Every week director Robert W Schneider and actor Kevin David Thomas pull back the curtain on neglected, forgotten, and underappreciated musicals, as well as bizarre performances, endearing television appearances, and all things show business. This Week: June is bustin' out all over and the birds are flying down to Rio!
BWW Review: Six Performers ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE in A Salute to Iconic Lyricist Johnny Mercer
by Alix Cohen - Mar 29, 2016
Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) wrote the lyrics to more than 1500 songs, including dozens upon dozens for movies and Broadway shows. He received 19 Academy Award nominations, and won four Best Original Song Oscars. Mercer was also a composer, a vocalist and the foresighted founder of Capitol Records. To appreciate The American Songbook, one must be familiar with this multifaceted artist. In a revue presented last Thursday to Sunday at the Studio Theater on West 42nd Street, Accentuate The Positive staged its title song as an evangelical meeting. You've got to ac-cen-tu-ate the positive/E-li-mi-nate the negative/Latch on to the affirmative/Don't mess with Mister In-Between…(Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer) Stephen Belida played a preacher while around him Lynne Halliday, Tom Hafner, Madison Stratton, Lou Steele, and Carey Van Driest chanted, sung, snapped, clapped, circled, and raised their arms in Hallelujah fashion. An auspicious beginning.
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT Finalist Alice Tan Ridley to Perform at The Ware Center
by Tyler Peterson - Nov 30, 2015
Alice Tan Ridley, who boldly made herself known to the world during her phenomenal rendition of the Etta James classic, "At Last," on the 5th season of America's Got Talent, will present "Soulful Christmas" in the Ware Center's Atrium on Friday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. Ridley will set the holiday mood with a selection of holiday favorites such as "Silent Night," "Santa Baby," "hallelujah," and "Away in a Manger," along with songs from her latest album and other favorites such as "Respect" and "I'll Take You There." All tickets include complimentary beverage service which begins at 7 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Small plates are available with this show for an additional $15. The Ware Center is located at 42 N. Prince Street, Lancaster.
Phylicia Rashad to Honor Dance Legend Louis Johnson in UP IN THE AIR Tribute This Fall
by BWW News Desk - Sep 10, 2015
UP IN THE AIR, a tribute to dance legend Louis Johnson, will take place Monday, October 5, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Peter Norton Theater at Symphony Space located at 2537 Broadway in New York City. The event has two purposes: to honor the life and work of Johnson and to raise funds to complete a feature length documentary about the renowned dancer entitled UP IN THE AIR.
Rubicon Theatre's COPENHAGEN Begins Previews Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Sep 2, 2015
Rubicon Theatre Company welcomes stage and screen veterans Linda Purl, Brett Rickaby and Peter Van Norden to star in the company's mainstage production of the Tony-Award winning play COPENHAGEN, directed by international artist Judy Hegarty Lovett.
BWW Review: Swinging Catherine Russell is Sultry and Sublime at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola
by Alix Cohen - Aug 15, 2015
Catherine Russell levels the playing field. With a connoisseur's passion for primarily 1930s-40s music, preternatural comprehension, and protean musical talent, this artist personifies the enduring relevance of vintage numbers with a freshness that makes the material feel immediate. Russell is never less than fully committed and infectiously entertaining. Thursday night at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola (Jazz at Lincoln Center), with city lights twinkling as a backdrop, she and her blue-chip band (Music Director Matt Munisteri on guitar; Mark Shane on piano, Mark McLean on percussion, and Tal Ronan on bass) played Russell's show Sultry Summer Swing to two sold-out houses of faithful and burgeoning fans.
WAKE UP with BWW 6/4/2015 - Silverstone is 'GOOD STOCK' and More!
by Jessica Showers - Jun 4, 2015
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Alicia Silverstone returns to the stage, Steve Guttenberg stars in the 'other' Shakespeare in the Park and more!
BWW Interview: Aaron Lazar Talks Working With Broadway Legends, Giving Back to Seniors, and More!
by Sally Henry - May 22, 2015
Though no one in Aaron Lazar's family had professionally pursued show business before he came along, he sees his entire career as being heavily influenced by his musically talented grandparents and great-grandparents. So in order to give back to the special seniors in his personal and professional life, Lazar has become involved with JASA (Jewish Association Serving the Aging), a non-profit organization. Lazar opened up to me about the impact the seniors in his life have had on him, his favorite memories from working with legends like Angela Lansbury and Elaine Stritch, why he wanted to join JASA, and more. Check out the interview below!
Photo Coverage: New Dramatists Honor Brian Stokes Mitchell at Spring Gala!
by Walter McBride - May 15, 2015
New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premier playwright development laboratory, just honored Tony Award winning actor and Chairman of the Board of The Actors Fund, Brian Stokes Mitchell with their 2015 Distinguished Achievement Award at its 66th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute. The event featured musical performances from some of Mitchell's most memorable shows by Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams (King Hedley II, Hallelujah Baby), Nicolette Robinson (Brooklynite, TV's 'The Affair,' 'Hart of Dixie') and Leslie Odom, Jr. (Hamilton, NBC's 'Smash'), and Tony nominated Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Avenue Q, Carnival at City Center Encores!). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the event below!