West Side Story 1958 - Articles Page 4

Cameron Mackintosh today announces he is delighted that in honour of Stephen Sondheim's 90th birthday next March, the Queen's Theatre will be renamed the Sondheim Theatre, making him the only living artist to have a theatre named in his honour both in the West End and on Broadway. Following the renovation of wartime bomb damage and a major restoration of the auditorium and the complete backstage, the newly named Sondheim Theatre will continue as the home of world's longest running musical Les Miserables as it enters its 35th year.

On Sunday June 16th, The Marvelous Wonderettes, currently playing Off-Broadway at Theatre Row, will take its final bow.  The show had initially ended its three year run in January, but returned for Sunday performances shortly thereafter.  Returning for the final performances as Missy Miller is Kristy Cates (Wicked, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Finding Neverland); who starred in the show in 2016. 

Perhaps Leonard Bernstein's most uplifting composition is paired with one of the most significant compositions by musical master Ludwig van Beethoven's in "Bernstein and Beethoven: Part II" on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore.

Add together a foggy night, dead body, clues that point in different directions, twists and turns, and what do you get? Agatha Christie's The Unexpected Guest. The Unexpected Guest opened in 1958 in the West End and was turned into a novel by Charles Osborne in 1999. Test out your detective skills at Little Theatre Mechanicsburg where The Unexpected Guest will take the stage April 26-May 12. I had the opportunity to take a sneak peak of the first act and to speak with two of the actors-Kaitlyn Booth, portraying Laura Warwick, and Nova Lorraine, playing Inspector Thomas.

Hailed as a dream team of performers, longtime musical collaborators and friends, violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Steven Isserlis and pianist Jeremy Denk, will unite this spring 2019 for their first-ever trio tour stoping at The Soraya on May 8. The three artists will perform hallmarks of the trio repertoire in acclaimed venues across the East and West coasts. Though Bell, Isserlis and Denk have previously released the landmark 2016 recording For the Love of Brahms together on Sony Classical, these performances mark the first occasions in which they will tour live as an ensemble. The Brahms album has been praised as Absolutely essential listening for the classical fan well-crafted, flawless killer stuff.

One of Leonard Bernstein's most iconic compositions will be paired with the legendary Ludwig van Beethoven's most celebrated work in "Bernstein and Beethoven: Part I" on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore. As a continued celebration of the Leonard Bernstein Centennial, world-renowned pianist Michael Brown will join Philharmonic Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski and the National Philharmonic in performing Bernstein's Symphony No. 2 ("The Age of Anxiety"), a genre-defying work that combines elements of symphony, concerto, and program music and is inspired by the dramatic poem The Age of Anxiety by W.H. Auden. After an intermission, Gajewski will lead the Philharmonic in Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67. This timeless work is one of the most performed, recorded, adapted, and abused of all the works in Beethoven's canonical repertoire. A pre-concert lecture will take place between 6:45-7:15 p.m. From 7-7:30 p.m., families can explore orchestral instruments with Philharmonic musicians. The concert will feature a members-only encore question-and-answer. Ticket prices are $42-$78, and young people 7-17 are free. Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit nationalphilharmonic.org or call 301.581.5100.

It's become second-nature for many in the dance world to refer to Jerome Robbins as a second rate choreographer these days. Or should I say even 40 years ago?

The classic musical WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Estonia from May 24th to 28th, 2019.

In continued celebration of the Leonard Bernstein Centennial, join the National Philharmonic for "The Debut," a recreation of the musical program that catapulted the legendary composer into the spotlight on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore's Concert Hall.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature MY VERY OWN BRITISH INVASION, THE MUSIC MAN, and More!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Time to catch up on the latest Broadway news!

There are certain performances from Broadway history that can never be replicated, one of which is Robert Preston's star turn as the flimflamming boys band sales man Harold Hill in the 1958 Tony Award winning musical The Music Man. It was a bit of a shock when it won best musical that year because it beat out the revolutionary West Side Story. Ah well, commercialism nearly always wins.

At 86, Chita Rivera could easily justify putting her feet up a little. She first performed in London back in 1958 in the iconic role of Anita in West Side Story and has never stopped since. She returned to the capital this weekend for two one-off concerts, chronicling her life and amazing career. The word legend is overused these days, but Rivera can truly justify the title. She has been nominated 10 times for a Tony Award, which is the joint record for number of nominations. In 1984 she starred in The Rink with Liza Minnelli and won her first (of two) Tony Award for her role as Anna and in 2018 she received the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

Fans of farce have plenty to look forward to at the Belgrade Theatre this Spring, with Mischief Theatre's phenomenally successful The Comedy About A Bank Robbery following hot on the heels of the Belgrade's own home-produced show Octopus Soup!

In continued celebration of the Leonard Bernstein Centennial, join the National Philharmonic for "The Debut," a recreation of the musical program that catapulted the legendary composer into the spotlight on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore's Concert Hall. Three-time Grammy award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey and Grammy award-nominated violist Roberto Diaz will join Philharmonic Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski in performing Robert Schumann's Manfred Overture; Miklos Rozsa's Theme, Variations and Finale, Op. 13; Richard Strauss' Don Quixote; and Richard Wagner's Prelude to Die Meistersinger. Almost 50 years later, in what was to be one of his last interviews, Bernstein recalled the event: "I strode out and I don't remember a thing from that moment-I don't even remember intermission-until the sound of people standing and cheering and clapping." Internationally renowned soloist Bailey is considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, and Classical Net describes him as "One of the finest cellists alive today." South Florida Classical Review wrote that Diaz gives "a stunning performance, and one that deserved the enthusiastic ovations." The concert will feature a members-only encore question-and-answer. Ticket prices are $32-$84 and are free for young people age 7-17. Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.nationalphilharmonic.org or call 301.581.5100.

The National Philharmonic rings in the new year-and continues its celebration of the great Leonard Bernstein's Centennial-with two of Bernstein's favorite composers in "Infamous Brahms" Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 at 3 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore's Concert Hall. International pianist Haochen Zhang, who won the gold medal for the 2009 Van Cliburn Competition at the age of 19, will join Philharmonic Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski in performing Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor. Both Zhang and Gajewski are former child prodigies. Zhang has captivated audiences in the United States, Europe, and Asia with a unique combination of deep musical sensitivity, fearless imagination, and spectacular virtuosity. During the weekend's concerts, the National Philharmonic will also celebrate Maestro Gajewski's 60th birthday. There will be a pre-concert lecture on Saturday, from 6:45-7:15 p.m., and Sunday, from 1:45-2:15 p.m. Ticket prices are $34-$88 and are free for young people age 7-17. Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, visitwww.nationalphilharmonic.org or call 301.581.5100.

The National Philharmonic rings in the new year-and continues its celebration of the great Leonard Bernstein's Centennial-with two of Bernstein's favorite composers in "Infamous Brahms" Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 at 3 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore's Concert Hall. International pianist Haochen Zhang, who won the gold medal for the 2009 Van Cliburn Competition at the age of 19, will join Philharmonic Music Director and Conductor Piotr Gajewski in performing Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E minor.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today top stories: The Public kicks off its Under The Radar Festival, and more!

Don McKay, the original Tony in the 1958 London premiere of West Side Story, has died, according to Deadline. The actor was 93.

Curator and producer Peter Musante (Andrew Schneider's YOUARENOWHERE; Blue Man Group; Trusty Sidekick's Up and Away, a groundbreaking show for kids with autism, called 'immersive theater at its most thoughtful' by the New York Times) joins West Coast physical comedienne Summer Shapiro ('raises the craft of clowning to new levels'- NYTheatre.org) to conceive of a new immersive theater festival for the entire family, inspired by the community organizing principles of Jane Jacobs. With seven new works based on true events from Greenwich Village history, the festival brings together leading NYC experimental theatre artists, musicians, physical comedians and clowns for two programs, each consisting of an interactive pre-show and four short stories that bring the surrounding neighborhood to life. The event, recommended for ages 5 and up, is presented by New Ohio Theatre as part of its Theatre for Young Minds holiday series. The performances run from December 20 thru 31 at 154 Christopher Street, NYC. Tickets are $25 ($18 for groups of three or more with the code 'family') and can be purchased through OvationTix (https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1001863) or by calling 866-811-4111.

On Sunday January 6th, The Marvelous Wonderettes, currently playing Off-Broadway at Theatre Row, will take its final bow after 567 performances. The final cast includes Kristen Alderson (Emmy Winner, One Life to Live) as Cindy Lou, Michelle Dowdy (Broadway's Hairspray) as Betty Jean, Amy Hillner Larsen (First National and RCCL Hairspray) as Suzy , Maggie McDowell (Broadway's Disaster and Kinky Boots) as Missy, and Amy Toporek in her Off-Bway debut as the 'Wonderstudy'.

The play will be shown from March 21, 2019 until March 24, 2019. 

Center Stage Jackson is opening its 2018-19 Season with The Music Man, Book, Music & Lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey.

Putting on a brand-new, original musical can be a daunting and challenging task for any theatre company. If you're doing a golden oldie such as, say, Camelot, you have a familiar score, and just about everyone knows the songs. Then again, Camelot was new once and someone had to give it a go, so I applaud the Alliance Theatre for kicking off their 50th anniversary season with Nick's Flamingo Grill, a new jazz musical written by Atlanta playwright Phillip DePoy. The show fits very nicely into the Hertz Stage, a beautiful black box space with the stage in the center and audience members on either side, making the story an intimate experience and getting all of us to feel as though we are the jazz club audience during the musical numbers. And what numbers they are! But more on that later.

The National Philharmonic 2018-2019 season continues celebrating Leonard Bernstein's Centennial with 'Lenny's Playlist,' a specially curated 'soundtrack' of some of Bernstein's favorite compositions on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 14, at 3 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore's Concert Hall. The concert, performed by the National Philharmonic and conducted by Maestro Piotr Gajewski, features internationally acclaimed Bulgarian violinist Bella Hristova, winner of the Avery Fisher Career Grant. 'Lenny's Playlist' will feature Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's timeless Overture to the Magic Flute, Samuel Barber's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, and Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 in D minor. Bernstein debuted each of these masterpieces, but it may be Shostakovich's Symphony that is one of his most memorable: Early in 1959, Bernstein conducted Symphony No. 5 in Moscow in the presence of Shostakovich himself, who was reportedly very happy with Bernstein's fiercely energetic finale. This performance led to Bernstein's iconic recording of the symphony with the New York Philharmonic in October 1959. There will be a members-only encore question-and-answer after the concerts on Saturday and Sunday, and a musician meet-and-greet, during which young people and their families can explore orchestral instruments, on Sunday from 2-2:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $34-$84 and are free for young people age 7-17. Strathmore is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. For more information or to purchase tickets, visitwww.nationalphilharmonic.org or call 301.581.5100.