A New Musical
Last March, the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, caused a big stir among its nearly 20,000 subscribers by revealing a blockbuster line-up for its 2013-14 Broadway Subscription Series: IN THE HEIGHTS (September 11-October 6, 2013); MISS SAIGON (October 30-November 24, 2013); 42ND STREET (January 15-February 9, 2014); and RENT (March 12-April 6, 2014).
The Buck Creek Players will wrap up their 39th season 'In the Spotlight' with their fifth biennial Play-A-Part Fundraiser of the hit musical, Oklahoma!, sponsored in part by The Friends of Sue Leavell. Quickly becoming a BCP audience favorite, the Play-A-Part Fundraisers separate themselves from the playhouse's traditional community theater productions in that all roles are 'won' through an online silent auction with no required auditions! Veteran musical theater performers join first-timers to give this classic musical a comedic twist much like The Carol Burnett Show. Oklahoma features music by Richard Rodgers, and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including 'Oh What a Beautiful Mornin',' 'The Surrey With the Fringe on Top,' 'I Cain't Say No,' and the title tune, you can bet that this comedic take on the traditional classic musical will definitely bring a smile to your face.
The Buck Creek Players will wrap up their 39th season 'In the Spotlight' with their fifth biennial Play-A-Part Fundraiser of the hit musical, Oklahoma!, sponsored in part by The Friends of Sue Leavell. Quickly becoming a BCP audience favorite, the Play-A-Part Fundraisers separate themselves from the playhouse's traditional community theater productions in that all roles are 'won' through an online silent auction with no required auditions! Veteran musical theater performers join first-timers to give this classic musical a comedic twist much like The Carol Burnett Show. Oklahoma features music by Richard Rodgers, and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including 'Oh What a Beautiful Mornin',' 'The Surrey With the Fringe on Top,' 'I Cain't Say No,' and the title tune, you can bet that this comedic take on the traditional classic musical will definitely bring a smile to your face.
Today we are concluding BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on Broadway's favorite leading lady, who continues to provide inspiration for divas new and old nearly fifty years after her Broadway debut, the one and only Liza Minnelli.
PBS announced today a fall primetime line-up featuring a strong roster of wide-ranging programs.
Among the exciting highlights will be "Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn" in which the legendary Barbra Streisand makes a historic homecoming back to Brooklyn at the new Barclays Center arena
TimeLine Theatre Company, dedicated to presenting plays inspired by history that connect to today's social and political issues, announces that The How and the Why by Sarah Treem (Netflix's House of Cards, HBO's In Treatment), directed by Keira Fromm and starring Janet Ulrich Brooks and Elizabeth Ledo, will be the third production of its 2013-14 season.
For Hines Ward and REFUEL | got chocolate milk?, the road to the 2013 IRONMAN World Championship triathlon has officially begun.
Last week, The Southern California Motion Picture Council presented their Annual Golden Halo Award Presentation. Among those being honored were Ja'net DuBois, Bridget MacDonald and John Pierre, but the evenings highlight was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to actress, comedienne and humanitarian, Geri Jewell. Among those in attendance to honor Ms. Jewell, were Alison Arngrim, Ed Asner, Kelsey Collins, June Faray, Ford Austin, Rose Marie, Margaret O'Brien and a special letter sent by Norman Lear. Scroll below for photos from the event!
Russia will enjoy pride of place in February at the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, with six of the eight concerts during the month constructed around at least one work composed by a Russian composer.
Today we are focusing a super-special spotlight on one of the Fall's most intriguing musical entries trying out in New York, the York Theatre Company's lab mounting of the new Paul Jabara jukebox musical LAST DANCE, by talking to the show's lead, recognizable TV and film star Rob Morrow, and the show's lead producer, noted comedic shepherd and filmmaker Robert D. Wachs, whom filled me in on all aspects of the show in a comprehensive chat late last week just prior to this week's start of rehearsals. In this all-encompassing conversation, Morrow, Wachs and I discuss the genesis of the new disco-themed musical celebrating the life and career of Jabara, the accomplished Emmy, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer of Broadway shows (RACHAEL LILY ROSENBLOOM… AND DON'T YOU EVER FORGET IT), movie songs ("Last Dance" from THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY; the titular "The Main Event") and numerous pop/rock/disco hits, such as "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's epic disco duet "Enough Is Enough (No More Tears)" and his many solo hits, as well as the finer points of the story, concept, casting and the ultimate goals of the new Philip William McKinley-directed production, which features a book by Shaun McKenna. Additionally, Morrow and Wachs each generously share showbiz tales from their storied careers involving such big names as Eddie Murphy, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Larson, Tony Scott and many more and both copiously convey their infectious enthusiasm for the forthcoming fully-produced lab presentation of the new musical that will play for five performances beginning September 20 as they prepare for its first viewing before a paying audience. All of that and much, much more awaits!
All aboard for mystery and murder!
Yee-haw! It's time to start two-steppin' and boot-scootin' in the aisles, as Signature Theatre kicks off its 2012/13 season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, beginning performances tonight, August 14.
Yee-haw! It's time to start two-steppin' and boot-scootin' in the aisles, as Signature Theatre kicks off its 2012/13 season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, beginning performances on Tuesday, August 14.
Pittsburgh CLO will present Fiddler on the Roof, July 13-22 at the Benedum Center. This classic tale is filled with 'memorable music, rousing dances and a touch of human wisdom.'
GSN (Game Show Network) has announced that the network will pay tribute to iconic television host and actor Richard Dawson with a special tribute and a marathon of Dawson's most iconic episodes as host of FAMILY FEUD and as a panelist on MATCH GAME. Dawson passed away in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 2, 2012. The Richard Dawson marathon will air tonight, June 7, from 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. (ET).
GSN (Game Show Network) announced today that the network will pay tribute to iconic television host and actor Richard Dawson with a special tribute and a marathon of Dawson's most iconic episodes as host of FAMILY FEUD and as a panelist on MATCH GAME.
Buck Creek Players (BCP), the award-winning all-volunteer community theater on the southeast side of Indianapolis, is today announced the 39th season of quality theater, In the Spotlight, as they present six entertaining productions for 2012-2013.
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) just announced the cast of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, running June 5 - 17 at the Hobby Center for The Performing Arts. It's all big songs and big hair in this sassy, spirited musical about a real-life brothel in Texas. Based on the "Chicken Ranch", the infamous, long-running house of ill repute, this tongue-in-cheek story chronicles Miss Mona Stangley, a classy yet brassy madam with a heart of gold, as her "business" becomes the center of a media controversy. Thrusting the Chicken Ranch into the spotlight is Melvin P. Thorpe, a loud-mouthed reporter based on Houston's own late Marvin Zindler. Spicing up the story line is a hot-headed, trigger-happy town sheriff, the Texas A&M football team, and Miss Mona's risque girls. The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas will be a feisty, fun-filled treat that includes favorites such as "A Lil' Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place" and "Hard Candy Christmas".
Just as the 2012 presidential race heats up,International City Theatre (ICT) presents the West Coast premiere of a hard-boiled, darkly comic, Olivier Award-nominated rock musical about the American political machine. With book and lyrics by John Dempsey and music by Dana P. Rowe, The Fix begins a four-week run on April 27 at International City Theatre in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Randy Brenner is at the helm, with musical direction by Darryl Archibald, choreography by Heather Castillo, and Sal Mistretta reprising his Helen Hayes Award-winning role as Uncle Grahame. Low-priced previews take place on April 24, 25 and 26.
Opening night for "Ghost Light" at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre saw luminaries from the world of politics converging for the production - a play that examines the struggle of a son coming to grips with the death of his father, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, who was assassinated in 1978.
Opening night for "Ghost Light" at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre saw luminaries from the world of politics converging for the production - a play that examines the struggle of a son coming to grips with the death of his father, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, who was assassinated in 1978.
A television staple since the very beginnings of the format, the Christmas episode is a tried and true trope of TV this time of year and no show promises more hatfuls of holiday cheer and buckets of glee more than, well, GLEE does - and, last night, on the seasonally-themed "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" (titled after one of the two new original songs penned for the episode), GLEE was a cool, neon blue star in the oft-midnight black galaxy - one far, far away, evidently; especially given the Chewbacca cameo and STAR WARS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL nods - of network TV today (or ever, for that matter). Capturing the copious charm of the cast and commonalities of the holidays among us all, the Matthew Morrison-directed Christmas special was a jolly Santa, his decked-out sleigh and all the merry reindeer to go along with them. Positively overflowing with song selections from the simply spectacular GLEE: CHRISTMAS VOLUME 2 - available now - last night's GLEE was not only a holiday music lover's and gleek's dream, but it also came with a maraschino cherry on top for the Broadway babies among us - THE SOUND OF Music's "My Favorite Things"; sung in Summer in the famous Rodgers & Hammerstein show and Robert Wise film version, the song has nevertheless become widely associated with the season due in no small part to Barbra Streisand's unforgettable inclusion of it on her peerless 1967 classic, A CHRISTMAS ALBUM. "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" also gave Sue Sylvester some room to exact her ongoing revenge - and redemption - while the rest of the episode contained a multitude of New Directions-centric plot developments, surprises and, of course, seriously Santa-friendly musical numbers - all, fascinatingly enough, with an all-inclusive (and, even, religion-friendly; in Rory's nativity story scene) style. Not that Judy Garland's Christmas classic special wasn't paid as much homage as Santa and the baby Jesus were - as we should always expect from GLEE - because it was. More on that in a moment. So much to discuss!
The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY), presented the special exhibition Joel Grey / A New York Life, examining the enduring impact that legendary actor Joel Grey and his adopted city have made on each other from April 12 - August 7, 2011. Through rare artifacts from his stage and screen career, objects from his personal collection, and his own photography, MCNY offered a unique look at New York through Grey's eyes as well as a visual retrospective of his career. Miss the show? Now you can catch the display in its entirely in the just released virtual tour below!
Tanglewood, one of the world's most beloved music festivals and the famed summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra located in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, celebrates its 75th anniversary season, June 22-September 2, with a spectacular lineup of musical guests and programs that spotlight Tanglewood's rich tradition of presenting summertime concerts at their best since 1937.
Today we continue our special series consisting of five entries total, each of which highlight a different facet of the rich and wonderful world of William Shakespeare and all with a particular emphasis on the controversial new feature film that explores the time, place, politics and goings-on of the Elizabethan era and focuses on the possibility that the true author of the esteemed plays we now know may very well have been someone else entirely - Edward de Vere - and how the question of the canon's true creation then comes into play - ANONYMOUS. "All the world's a stage," after all, so it should come as no surprise that acts of lust, bloodshed and betrayal would exist in the actual life - or even the supposed one - of the man who created the most bloody and thought-provoking tragedies in the history of literature - whoever he may have actually been. Perhaps some brief analysis of the finest leading players, most memorable lines and moments, as well as an exploration of other notable acts of grand betrayal in Shakespeare's plays will aid us on the journey to understanding the thesis of ANONYMOUS and bring us into a closer relationship with the individual who penned the greatest plays in the English language. Now that we have already analyzed the top ten male and female Shakespearean performers of the last few decades, as well as the most memorable lines and moments, today, in our final installment of the 5 Top 5 countdown, we are focusing on the most surprising and dramatic moments of deception in Shakespeare - including moments from HAMLET, JULIUS CAESER, THE WINTER'S TALE, AS YOU LIKE IT and more!
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