A Song for the First of May - 1971 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 7

The most important figure in musical theatre history is gone; let's celebrate his life by listening to his incredible works. Reviewer Peter Nason gets you started by listing his choices for the 91 greatest Sondheim songs.

Symphony Space today made livestreaming tickets available for its robust, wide-ranging 2021-22 season, realizing its ambition to emerge from the COVID-19 shutdown as an institution committed to a hybrid model, with live events streamed in real time to audiences straight from Symphony Space’s stages in Manhattan.

Far more concerned with style over (narrative) substance, this brand new '50th Anniversary' re-staging of the 1971 musical that recounts the final days leading up to the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ is undeniably entertaining. The palpable, intentional vibe of this new US National Tour---directly imported from the well-received 2016 Regent's Park Theatre London production helmed by director Timothy Sheader that won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival---is to emphasize the show as a series of high-decibel, highly-stylized Big Musical Production Numbers where the 'story' acts as merely a way to organize the songs in a linear order. Overall, it's a fascinating hybrid of a rock opera arena concert, a Sunday morning modern-hipster MegaChurch service, and some, I suppose, after-thought musical theater-izing that mesmerizes the audience not with its central story but with high-budget music video production values, beautiful modern choreography, and bombastic vocal stylings from an extremely talented cast.

Read reviews for the new 2022 tour of JESUS CHRIS SUPERSTAR and see what critics thought as Aaron LaVigne returns to his role as Jesus, joined by the return of James T. Justis as Judas and Jenna Rubaii as Mary. The tour also welcomes back Alvin Crawford as Caiphas, Tommy Sherlock as Pilate, and Tyce Green as Annas. Christian A. Guerrero joins the cast as standby for Jesus and Judas.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is a beloved and well-known story, from the book, two hit films, and now a musical which opens this week at Crown Theatre. Stepping into this world of pure imagination are Lucy Maunder and Stephen Anderson. I caught up with them to talk the musical and their experience with one of the world’s favourite stories.

Symphony Space will welcome audiences back into its New York City home this season for a wide range of memorable events that take place for one night only, and only at Symphony Space.

Excited for FUNNY GIRL's return to Broadway? We've got casting news today about Ramin Karimloo, Jane Lynch and Jared Grimes joining the cast for the first Broadway revival of FUNNY GIRL.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced its return to live performance with its 27th season that includes the 2021 – 2022 Mainstage, Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway seasons. 

​​​​​​​The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust will present a diverse array of in-person and online programming this August to include film screenings, live concerts, virtual lectures, and family-friendly entertainment.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1970 concept double album, Jesus Christ Superstar, it has today been announced that a variety of special anniversary edition albums will be released on September 17th.

Sarah Dash, the award-winning vocalist, songwriter, motivational speaker, educator, entrepreneur, humanitarian and co-founder of Patti Labelle & the Bluebelles has been nominated for induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

The weeklong celebration will include tribute concerts at The Ryman Auditorium (October 6 & 7), CMA Theater at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (October 8) and the Basement East (October 9) and will culminate on October 10—what would have been John’s 75th birthday. 

A brand new production of The Cher Show will open next year, with book by Tony and Olivier Award-winning Rick Elice, direction by Arlene Phillips, choreography by Oti Mabuse, and costume design by Gabriella Slade.

 Indian Ranch announced four new shows as part of the Mike’s Hard Lemonade Summer Concert Series in Webster, MA. Completely Unchained, The Ultimate Van Halen Tribute, will play on Saturday, June 19th.

Musicals at Richter, celebrating its 37th season as the longest-running outdoor theater in Connecticut, has announced auditions for its 2021 season under the stars, featuring a main stage run of Stephen Schwartz's iconic musical 'Godspell,' playing July 23 through August 7.

Today (April 30) in live streaming: Broadway Rocks the Who!, Stars in the House reunites The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and more!

Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts announces plans to  welcome audiences back with its first set of concerts for summer. Re-emerging from a one-year pandemic closure of the Filene Center and Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods, Wolf Trap will celebrate the 50th anniversary season at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts with its first live music performances since December 2019.

Filling those water-walkin' sandals is Orlando native Eddie Ortega. His is the Jesus of the Bible - cool, chill, funny, sharp, smart, wise, surprising, radical, and full of love. He occasionally sings in Spanish, while his disciples add that and sign language too - your friendly reminder that nobody in the Bible spoke English...

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of its ground-breaking Outreach and Education programme department, Scottish Opera has announced further projects to bring music and performance into the lives of people across the country.

Inspired by the success from their safe drive-in performances of La bohème in the Fall, which heralded the return of live, in-person, opera to San Diego County since the start of the pandemic, San Diego Opera has announced a Spring season of safe, socially-distanced, drive-in performances.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced plans for its 50th Anniversary season, slated to begin in September 2021 with a grand reopening of its stages and campus and culminate in September 2022 with a fresh interpretation of the seminal work that opened the Center in 1971, Leonard Bernstein’s MASS.

The iconic song has been officially certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), representing 10 million or more in sales and stream equivalents in the United States.

Six of the most lauded and influential performing artists across the worlds of pop, hip-hop, jazz, musical theater, and classical music will receive honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee in virtual commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 8.

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 91 greatest Sondheim songs from stage, screen and beyond. See if your favorites made the cut! What's at #1?

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will continue to inspire audiences virtually with a spring series of free programs through Ailey All Access from March 17 – June 24.