A Life in the Theatre - 1977 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 17

What did our critic think of ANNIE at Cadillac Palace? The new national tour of Annie is the current offering at Chicago's Cadillac Palace. Hard to believe Annie has been entertaining audiences since it opened on Broadway in 1977. The book was written by Thomas Meehan with lyrics by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin Charnin. Director Jenn Thompson's recreation is very similar to the original production and why not? She was the original Pepper in the Broadway run starring Andrea McArdle. Ms. Thompson's history with Annie is very apparent in this production. I had forgotten the emotional aspect of this story. The talented ensemble of young actors portraying the orphans is an absolute joy to watch. Their energy is infectious. This production is the national tour debut for each of these young actors. This is also Ellie Rose Pulsifer's (Annie) national tour debut. She fits the role perfectly. Especially touching was her interaction with Daddy Warbucks (Christopher Swan giving a very in depth portrayal) and his assistant Grace Farrell (Julia Nicole Hunter breathtaking). Then there is Miss Hannigan (Stefanie Londino's commanding portrayal spot on), her conman brother Rooster and his girlfriend Lily St. Regis (wonderful singing, dancing and comedy by Nick Bernardi and Krista Curry) round out the villains in Annie's life. The story is about Annie trying to find her parents who left her at the orphanage as a baby. Daddy Warbucks enlists the help of President Franklin Roosevelt (Mark Woodward in his national tour debut) to find her parents. Annie runs away where she immediately befriends a dog named Sandy. She also has soup with inhabitants of a Hooverville under the 59th Street Bridge. This wonderful ensemble of adults also portray Oliver Warbucks' employees, other citizens of NYC and the cabinet of FDR. Quick costume changes are also involved!

The Sauk, Hillsdale County's community theatre, has announced plans for their ninth annual 'Plays-in-Development.'

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The renowned London Classic Theatre have announced the full cast for their UK and Ireland tour of Mike Leigh’s classic comedy, Abigail’s Party. 

Ensemble Studio Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation have announced that Mary Elizabeth Hamilton, an EST Youngblood Graduate, will make her Off-Broadway debut with her new play SMART.

Terence Blanchard’s opera Champion, based on the true story of the troubled former middleweight boxing champion Emile Griffith, will have its highly anticipated Metropolitan Opera premiere on April 10, with nine performances running through May 13.

The V&A has announced it will secure the archive of David Bowie for the nation – revealing the creative processes of one of the most pioneering and influential figures in the history of live and recorded music, film, fashion and beyond. From 2025, the archive will be made available to the public, from fans to school children and researchers, through the creation of The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts at V&A East Storehouse, in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

What did our critic think of ANNIE at Kentucky Performing Arts? When most people think of Annie, I'm sure the first thing that comes to mind is the 80s film, starring the iconic likes of Carol Burnett, Ann Reinking, Tim Curry, and Bernadette Peters. However, before that now-classic film, Annie started as a musical stage adaptation of the Little Orphan Annie comic strips. The show opened on Broadway in 1977, where it was a smash success in its own right, even before the film adaptation that would come later. The show and story have undoubtedly stood the test of time, what with numerous stage revivals, three film adaptations, and a live TV version broadcast on NBC. Not to mention every family-based community theatre in the country has had it as part of their seasons for the past 40 years.

Following the success of previous album-in-concerts Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life,' Queen's 'A Night at the Opera,' David Bowie's 'Ziggy Stardust...', and Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon,' musicians from local community theatre group Fairfield Center Stage will recreate Fleetwood Mac's classic album 'Rumours', featuring a rotating cast of singers and a 5-piece band performing the classic album in its entirety.

Camden Repertory Theater celebrates Black History Month with an immersive production of Aishah Rahman’s rarely produced underground classic Unfinished Women Cry In No Man's Land While A Bird Dies In A Gilded Cage, directed by Chyna Michele and featuring music direction by JoJo Streater. See photos from the production.

An absorbing portrait of one of the most influential women photographers in the history of photography, UNVEILED: JOYCE TENNESON AND THE HEROINE’S JOURNEY is one of the featured films at this year's Sedona International Film Festival.

Belgian dance company Peeping Tom verily put the 'trip' into Triptych, a brilliantly bizarre neo-noir dance trilogy full of deliciously dark delights.

Melinda Dillion, known for countless screen and stage roles, including her Tony Award nominated performance as Honey in the original production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? passed away on Monday, January 9, at the age of 83. 

Bernard Pomerance’s The Elephant Man, premiered at the Hampstead Theatre in London in November of 1977. Pomerance’s play also transferred to the National Theatre in London for an “In Rep” residency. From January to March of 1979 it played off-Broadway, and made a transfer to the Booth Theatre on Broadway later in 1979, but the production closed in 1981 after 916 regular performances. The Elephant Man received revivals in 2002 and 2014.

What did our critic think of ALMOST, MAINE at The Lyric Theatre?

See photos from 54 BELOW first-time ever concert event featuring the songs from the new musical Platinum Dreams.

Ensemble Studio Theatre has appointed Estefanía Fadul and Graeme Gillis the new Co-Artistic Directors of the 55-year-old award-winning off-Broadway theater company.

Leapin’ Lizards! Broadway In Detroit has announced that an all-new tour of the iconic Tony Award®-winning musical ANNIE will play at the Fisher Theatre from April 25-30.

BAT OUT OF HELL, the stadium, arena, rock concert, stage musical.

Next week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. A recipient of the 2022 Tony Awards Honor for Excellence in the Theatre, 54 Below celebrates Broadway musicals and writers of the past and present, promoting an ongoing engagement with their work.

Pan Asian Repertory and Poetic Theater Productions will host a conversation with Armed Service Veteran poets following the matinee performance of Memorial, by Livian Yeh, on Sunday, January 29th, 2023 at 2:30 p.m.

Childsplay Theatre, a pioneer in theatre for youth since 1977, brings Tomás and the Library to the theater in its 46th season.

American Stage's Lift Every Voice: New Play Festival is a three-day celebration of theatre, new plays, and aspiring writers hosted at downtown St. Pete's James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art.  The play festival [March 3-5, 2023] will be kicked off with a keynote speaker and multidisciplinary theatre artist: Regina Victor. 

What did our critic Linda Hodgesthink of ANNIE at Broadway San Jose? It's a hard knock life for sure, but Broadway San Jose's ANNIE infuses even today's troubled times with unrestrained optimism. And even though the sun isn't really shining in rain ravaged Northern California, it didn't stop the carloads of boys and girls and their adults from streaming into San Jose for the show.

Exploring the nature of change and what it means to evolve over time, DanceWorks kicks-off the new year with the world premiere of Liminal, a 60-minute dance performance created and performed by Throwdown Collective.