A Tale of Two Cities - Chicago Articles Page 8

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire are excited to announce the 2016 winter and spring schedule of events at The Colonial Theatre, The Garage and The Unicorn Theatre. Tickets are available for purchase now.

'People are complex,' muses Aimee K. Grant, who plays Akeelah's mom, Gail, in AKEELAH AND THE BEE, the new musical at Arena Stage when I sat down with her and her on-stage daughter, 17-year old Johannah Easley (Akeelah) to talk about their experiences with the show. Increasing understanding within and among people is the power of theater, we agree, and Akeelah definitely offers up a story of complex people, young and old. Based on the wildly popular 2006 film of the same name, it's the story of a determined young girl from a difficult situation, competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Akeelah's life is filled with challenges, as are many people's, and that's where this story resonates. Although a tale of triumph over adversity may not seem a new one, each person's story is different, and Akeelah's has layers that will be relatable to many in the audience.

CHARLES BUSCH, author and star of such plays as Psycho Beach Party, Times Square Angel, The Lady in Question, Red Scare on Sunset, You Should Be So Lucky, Shanghai Moon and The Divine Sister brings his iconic Cabaret stylings to The COPA Palm Springs for two 'sure to be sell-out' performances, October 16 and 17 at 8:00 pm.   Born in New York City, he began his theatrical career shortly after graduating from Northwestern University in 1976.  After spending two years in Chicago working with different local theatre companies, he returned to his home town of New York City with a solo play called Hollywood Confidential, which he performed as a weekend late show at Charles Ludlam's Ridiculous Theatrical Company's theatre at One Sheridan Square. 

CHARLES BUSCH, author and star of such plays as Psycho Beach Party, Times Square Angel, The Lady in Question, Red Scare on Sunset, You Should Be So Lucky, Shanghai Moon and The Divine Sister brings his iconic Cabaret stylings to The COPA Palm Springs for two 'sure to be sell-out' performances, October 16 and 17 at 8:00 pm.   Born in New York City, he began his theatrical career shortly after graduating from Northwestern University in 1976.  After spending two years in Chicago working with different local theatre companies, he returned to his home town of New York City with a solo play called Hollywood Confidential, which he performed as a weekend late show at Charles Ludlam's Ridiculous Theatrical Company's theatre at One Sheridan Square. 

Tonight, September 28, 2015, Broadway stars Stephanie J. Block and Aaron Lazar will perform in 'A Cabaret Evening' at 54 Below, located at 254 West 54th Street. The evening is a joint benefit in support of The New York Pops PopsEd Programs and Ronald McDonald House New York.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Tony winner Warren Carlyle, who worked with Jackman on Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway, will direct and choreograph the special concert event. He writes on Twitter: 'So excited to direct and choreograph @therealhughjackman #liveinconcert #broadwaytooz #lucky'

 On Monday, September 28, 2015, Broadway stars Stephanie J. Block and Aaron Lazar will perform in "A Cabaret Evening" at 54 Below, located at 254 West 54th Street. The evening is a joint benefit in support of The New York Pops PopsEd Programs and Ronald McDonald House® New York. The two organizations partner to provide music education programs that serve as creative outlets for the children and families in residence. Hosted by Steven Reineke, Music Director of The New York Pops, the benefit will start with a champagne reception at 5:30PM followed by dinner and performance at 6:30PM.

Welcome to the first of a series of reports from the outskirts of the big cities! For the next couple of weeks, I will be visiting some of the smaller cities and towns around that all share one thing in common: cultural gems that dot the landscape. Today, I present to you Culpeper's State Theatre and the recent performance by Lynchburg's Endstation Theatre Company. Endstation presented TWO GENTLEMEN OF VIRGINIA recently to the delight of an appreciative audience. I think the Bard would have been thoroughly entertained by a skillfully paved intersection of historical references from the 1780s and rock and roll memories of the 1980s.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Papal Productions/ Michael Chase Gosselin are pleased to announce the return to New York City of POPE! An Epic Musical as an Official Selection of the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival's Next Link Project.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Papal Productions/ Michael Chase Gosselin are pleased to announce the return to New York City of POPE! An Epic Musical as an Official Selection of the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival's Next Link Project.

Announcing the program for Year TENN, Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival (TW Fest), Co-founder and Curator David Kaplan said, "This year's festival celebrates what happened to Tennessee Williams in Provincetown during the last ten years: his plays got performed here. We've rethought his classics, and rethought the plays he wrote that had been ignored or dismissed. The mantra that Williams had lost his mojo was replaced with cheers at the world premieres in P'town of The Remarkable Rooming-House of Madame LeMonde (TW Fest 2009) and The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore (TW Fest 2013). So we're bringing those two productions back for our audiences to cheer in 2015, along with eight other hits and variations."

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of an exciting new American play, Rich Girl, by acclaimed playwright Victoria Stewart, continuing the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration. Rich Girl will be directed by James Vasquez (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show), and will play May 23 - June 21, 2015, in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of an exciting new American play, Rich Girl, by acclaimed playwright Victoria Stewart, continuing the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration. Rich Girl will be directed by James Vasquez (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show), and will play May 23 - June 21, 2015, in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Music Director Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announce the Orchestra's celebratory Centennial 2015-2016 season, its ninth season under the direction of Maestra Alsop. Through appearances by the world's most renowned artists, premieres of several new works, Baltimore homecomings from local artists or artists who got their start on the BSO stage, exciting signature projects and strengthening of longstanding community partnerships, the BSO marks this important milestone in grand fashion.

Music Director Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announce the Orchestra's celebratory Centennial 2015-2016 season, its ninth season under the direction of Maestra Alsop. Through appearances by the world's most renowned artists, premieres of several new works, Baltimore homecomings from local artists or artists who got their start on the BSO stage, exciting signature projects and strengthening of longstanding community partnerships, the BSO marks this important milestone in grand fashion.

From today. March 12 - 22, 2015 Houston Ballet offers up Modern Masters, a spring mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers.

In the 2015-16 season, David Mirvish will present 14 shows in Toronto, consisting of seven shows in the Mainstage Subscription Series, three in the Off-Mirvish Subscription Series and four shows off-subscription.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre presents Abundance, the 1990 play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart). An epic tale of friendship set against the backdrop of the sweeping American West, Abundance will be directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, who directed last season's production of William Inge's Natural Affection. Performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) tonight, February 17, 2015.

From March 12 - 22, 2015 Houston Ballet offers up Modern Masters, a spring mixed repertory program showcasing works by three of the twentieth century's greatest choreographers.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA releases a statement regarding the controversial casting of the newest Phantom!

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the New York Philharmonic today announced plans for the two organizations to collaborate on a new, multi-year opera initiative to present fully-staged productions of significant modern operas not yet seen in New York.

The Jewish Museum and the Film Society of Lincoln Center are presenting the 24th annual New York Jewish Film Festival at the Film Society's Walter Reade Theater and Elinor Bunin Munroe Film Center, January 14-29, 2015.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Abundance, the 1990 play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart). An epic tale of friendship set against the backdrop of the sweeping American West, Abundance will be directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, who directed last season's production of William Inge's Natural Affection. Performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. Opening night is set forSunday, March 1 at 6:00pm. Performances will continue through March 28, 2015.

Paper Mill Playhouse is proud to announce a special autism-friendly performance for its critically-acclaimed, holiday musical, Elf. Paper Mill Playhouse will offer this special autism-friendly performance of Elf today, December 23, at 1:30pm. This performance is designed specifically for children on the autism spectrum or with other developmental disabilities.

Paper Mill Playhouse released a block of great seats today for its holiday musical, Elf, for the week following Christmas. Expanded availability includes performances from December 27, 2014 through January 4, 2015. Based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, Elf has a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Elf is directed by Eric Ankrim and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. Elf runs eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater through January 4, 2015. Elf has been playing to many sold-out houses since November 26. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org.