My Favorite Year 1992 - Articles Page 15

So many cabaret shows, so little time . . . to write reviews that is. During his almost two years as a cabaret reviewer, BroadwayWorld.com critic Stephen Hanks managed to do a pretty good job of writing critiques during a show's run or soon after the run ended. But this summer he just couldn't keep up. Finally, here are observations on 10 performances over the past two months.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning legend famous for his performances starring in the original Broadway productions of PIPPIN and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, as well as his celebrated turns in stage and screen projects as diverse as ALL THAT JAZZ, SWEET CHARITY, CHICAGO, FOSSE, WICKED, GRIND, ROOTS, I'M NOT RAPPAPORT, GOLDEN BOY, IDLEWILD, FUNNY LADY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and many more - the simply incredible Ben Vereen. Discussing many of his most fondly remembered roles and recounting his experiences working with many legendary directors and collaborators - Bob Fosse, Hal Prince, Tom O'Horgan, Herbert Ross, Ann Reinking, Dan Sullivan, Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli and many more among them - Vereen paints a vivid picture of a bygone Broadway and reminisces about many of the most significant theatrical creators of the past fifty years and his roles in their stage and film projects. Additionally, Vereen fills us in on what we can expect from his upcoming solo spotlight show - a career retrospective - that will be kicking off at 54 Below on July 10 for a two-week engagement before an even larger, Broadway-bound mounting later this year at Princeton. Also, Vereen elaborates on the causes closest to his heart, shares thoughts on GLEE and SMASH, future plans and much, much more!

It's the Coterie Theatre's favorite time of the year: world premiere readings from some of Kansas City's most talented teen playwrights will be showcased during the Annual Young Playwrights' Festival at 7 p.m. tonight, May 9 and tomorrow May 10 at the Coterie Theatre, level 1, Crown Center Shops. Professional actors, directors and designers work to present a collection of seven staged readings, plays and monologues from teen members of the Coterie's Young Playwrights' Roundtable.

It's the Coterie Theatre's favorite time of the year: world premiere readings from some of Kansas City's most talented teen playwrights will be showcased during the Annual Young Playwrights' Festival at 7 p.m. May 9 and 10 at the Coterie Theatre, level 1, Crown Center Shops. Professional actors, directors and designers work to present a collection of seven staged readings, plays and monologues from teen members of the Coterie's Young Playwrights' Roundtable.

A few days shy of the holiest week of the year for Christians - aptly named Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter (with Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the most sacred events on the calendar coming between) - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR was resurrected on Broadway by TOMMY and JERSEY BOYS director Des McAnuff - modeled after the hit Stratford Shakespeare Festival production last year and comprised of many of the same cast members, including all three leads - to hails of praise and hosannas, mostly. While JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR itself will always divide audiences and critics alike - and not merely because of its controversial content and its button-pushing treatment of the hallowed tale it tells - the magnetism and sheer power that Lloyd Webber's propulsive, throbbing rock score imbues gives the show an energy, vitality and life rare to find in even the most earnestly effervescent and energetic of comparable entities - the recently revived and similarly-themed GODSPELL in a revival a few blocks away included. Then, there are Tim Rice's lyrics - oh-so-spot-on in 1970, but still biting and edgy today in McAnuff's hi-tech and elaborately presented new Broadway production. Using the book of John as the jumping off point, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ (Paul Nolan) and his subsequent betrayal by Judas (Josh Young) and sentencing to death at the hands of King Herod and Pontius Pilate (Tom Hewitt). The twelve apostles, Mary Magdalene and her female companions, lepers, Pharisees, priests and others populate the grand story told almost entirely through song - the show is 90% music - and Webber and Rice's score never, ever lets up. While this may not be the most faithful rendering as far as the Bible is concerned, nor the most historically accurate, SUPERSTAR is now available to experience for a whole new generation thanks to this new revival and the timing could not be more ideal. The time is ripe for a revival of SUPERSTAR, and, as Andrew Lloyd Webber himself has recently related, this new production of the show is the best ever as far as he is concerned. High praise indeed - coming from no less than the Lord.

The COLUMN AWARDS Board of Directors and the Executive Director/Producer announced today that Tony Award winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Chita Rivera will be the Co-host for the 13th Annual COLUMN AWARDS Gala.

Today we are talking to a stand-up comedienne celebrated for her caustic wit, erudite political humor and illuminating social observations who has also made a name for herself over the last two decades as an actress by appearing in over 100 feature films and television shows, including recurring roles on the TV series SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE BEN STILLER SHOW, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW and 24, as well as her film resume, ranging from roles in ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION to WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER to REALITY BITES, COP LAND, THE CABLE GUY, NOW AND THEN and many more - the one and only Janeane Garofalo. In addition to a twenty-year career retrospective, touching upon many of her most notable big screen and small screen appearances - sharing comments on many of her favorite colleagues and co-stars along the way - Garofalo also opens up about the theatrically attuned work she has previously done - such as HBO's THE LARAMIE PROJECT - and, most importantly, fills us in on the new play she is starring in for The New Group, RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, directed by Scott Elliott. Besides all about RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, her character in it and the political and social issues the new original play bravely tackles, Garofalo shares her enthusiasm for her newfound experiences in the theatre world and her intention of pursuing a theatre career further. Also, she clues us in on her upcoming film projects, BAD PARENTS and GENERAL EDUCATION, and offers her classic views on current politics as only she can, in her own delightfully droll and ingratiatingly idiosyncratic fashion - plus, much, much more!

After seeing Andrea Martin's brand new, laugh-filled, autobiographical one-woman-and-a-pianist show ANDREA MARTIN: FINAL DAYS! EVERYTHING MUST GO!, it's quite clear to see why the ever-so-funny Tony- and Emmy-winning actress has had such a rich and storied career in entertainment. A born chameleon with an endless arsenal of quirky characters and on-point impersonations, Martin provides her audience with a live, gut-busting 90-minute sampling of her impressive genius. Accompanied by Broadway musician and YouTube star Seth Rudetsky behind the keys, her show continues nightly performances at the Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa through Sunday, February 19.

The COLUMN AWARDS Board of Directors and the Executive Director/Producer announced today that Tony Award winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Chita Rivera will be the Co-host for the 13th Annual COLUMN AWARDS Gala.

Former Miss America and Jacksonville native, Leanza Cornett helps kick off the Alhambra's 45th season when Nunsense opens on December 30. Ms. Cornett will be in residence for the show's entire run.

At the Grand Opening Gala tonight of the holiday classic, Christmas Carole, Managing Partner Craig Smith announced a special homecoming performance for one of the Alhambra's - and Jacksonville's - own. Former Miss America and Jacksonville native, Leanza Cornett, will play the lead role in Nunsense. Nunsense will kick off the Alhambra's 45th season when it opens on December 30. Ms. Cornett will be in residence for the show's entire run.

At the Grand Opening Gala tonight of the holiday classic, Christmas Carole, Managing Partner Craig Smith announced a special homecoming performance for one of the Alhambra's - and Jacksonville's - own. Former Miss America and Jacksonville native, Leanza Cornett, will play the lead role in Nunsense. Nunsense will kick off the Alhambra's 45th season when it opens on December 30. Ms. Cornett will be in residence for the show's entire run.

Stage and screen legend Julie Andrews returns for the third time to host the merry annual New Year's celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic, under the direction of Mariss Jansons from Vienna's Musikverein. This is Jansons' second time at the podium of this much cherished event. The famed Vienna Boys' Choir will add their celestial voices to the gala.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Broadway favorites Nathan Lane and Cheyenne Jackson are set to star in a comedy pilot on USA from Douglas McGrath. Lane will also executive produce the still untitled project.

The first Broadway Show my parents ever took me to see was Peter Pan. I remember this fluttery feeling in my stomach as the orchestra started to play the overture, and a few years later I was surprised to experience that same feeling as I waited off stage to make my entrance during a summer camp production of 'Charlotte's Web' (I played the Narrator). Of course I soon grew up, got training and also got critical and even though I still love performing in and attending shows, it's rare that I feel the butterflies. But last week, at Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Newsie's the Musical, I could feel them....and they were fluttering around inside my seven-year-old daughter's tummy as she sat beside me!

Highline Ballroom Announces is schedule of upcoming events:

Hot on the heels of My Fair Lady, the critically acclaimed, smash hit musical which launched the Paramount Theatre's new Broadway series just last month, the Aurora-based theater is ready to GO, GO, GO, GO to it again.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) will partner with the San Francisco Silent Film Festival (SFSFF) to present screenings of short silent films before select Friday night performances of its season opener, Once in a Lifetime, the madcap Kaufman and Hart comedy about how the movies learned to talk.

The hills will be alive in Thousand Oaks as Cabrillo Music Theatre proudly announces its brand-new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC. THE SOUND OF MUSIC clsoes Sunday, July 31st, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

The hills will be alive in Thousand Oaks as Cabrillo Music Theatre proudly announces its brand-new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

The 5th Avenue Theatre began previews for Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film on July 7, 2011, in anticipation of a July 21, 2011 opening. Aladdin, featuring the Academy Award®-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, will run through July 31, 2011. The first official production photos have been released and appear below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre just opened the premiere of Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film. Aladdin, featuring the Academy Award®-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, began previews on July 7 and runs until July 31, 2011. Click below for a first look at Aladdin onstage at the 5th Avenue Theatre!

The 5th Avenue Theatre just began previews of Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film. Aladdin, featuring the Academy Award®-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, began performances on July 7 and runs until July 31, 2011. Official opening is July, 21. Check out photos of the cast with writers/directors of the movie, Ron Clements and John Musker below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre just opened the premiere of Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film. Aladdin, featuring the Academy Award®-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, previews on July 7 and runs until July 31, 2011. In the latest installment of Andrew's Blog-created by cast member Andrew Keenan-Bolger, the cast of Aladdin celebrates July 4th at Seattle's Cal Anderson Park. Click below to check it out!

The 5th Avenue Theatre is proud to announce that it will produce the premiere of Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film.