Annie - 2004 - US Tour Articles Page 19

Ms. McEntire, the third in a family of four children, grew up on a cattle ranch in the small, rural town of Chockie, Oklahoma. Her father expected all the children to work on the ranch and Ms. McEntire began riding horses at the age of three. By the time she was seven, she was gathering cattle from before daylight until after dark. In what little spare time she had, McEntire also competed in rodeos as a barrel racera sport she continued until she was 21. As a child, Ms. McEntire's mother taught her and her three siblings how to sing and harmonize as they traveled to and from their father's rodeo performances. While in high school, Ms. McEntire and her siblings formed their own group, The Singing McEntires, and performed frequently at rodeos, clubs, and dance halls. Ms. McEntire attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University, graduating with a major in elementary education and a minor in music. She continued to work on her father's ranch to help pay her tuition. While the more predictable career paths for Ms. McEntire would have been to become a teacher or barrel racer, she was determined to pursue her dream of becoming a country music artist. Ms. McEntire got her first break singing the national anthem at a rodeo in 1974, which resulted in an invitation to move to Nashville and ultimately a deal with Polygram Mercury Records. Although her first recordings were not an immediate success, Ms. McEntire worked diligently, releasing a series of increasingly popular albums and winning the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award four years in a row, from 1984 to 1987. As the only country female solo act to have a No. 1 hit in four straight decades, Reba has achieved a rare pinnacle with 35 No. 1 singles and over 56 million albums sold worldwide often prompting her to be called the 'queen of country music.' The Country Music Hall of Fame and Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame member has won 15 American Music Awards, 13 ACM Awards, nine People's Choice Awards, seven CMA Awards, two GRAMMY Awards, an ACM Career Achievement Honor and the National Artistic Achievement Award from the U.S. Congress, in addition to other leadership and philanthropic accolades. With SING IT NOW: SONGS OF FAITH AND HOPE(Nash Icon Records / Capitol Christian Music Group), which topped both theBillboard Country and Christian/Gospel charts for multiple weeks and marked her thirteenth summit, Ms. McEntire won her first GMA Dove Awards forBluegrass/Country/Roots Album of the Year as well as a GRAMMY Awards nomination for Best Roots Gospel Album to be broadcast live on January 28, 2018 on CBS. Her creative and entrepreneurial endeavors have established her as a household name across music, television, film, theater and retail. Proving her business acumen, Ms. McEntire has expanded her brand to include lines with Dillard's and Justin Boots. She wrote her autobiography, Reba: My Story, in 1994, and a second book, Comfort from a Country Quilt, in 1999. Ms. McEntire is also an acclaimed actress with 11 movie credits, a lead role on Broadway and starred in her own six-season television sitcom 'Reba,' for which she received a Golden Globe nomination in 2004. 'The Horatio Alger Association stands for integrity, honesty and resilience qualities that Reba certainly exemplifies,' said Matthew Rose, president, Horatio Alger Association and 2013 Horatio Alger Award recipient. 'She has faced numerous challenges in both her early career and personal tragedies, with admirable strength and grace. Reba inspires us all with her tenacity and always upbeat attitude. Her positive outlook is contagious and she will serve as an excellent role model for our Scholars. For these reasons and more, we are proud to recognize her as a 2018 Horatio Alger Member.'< Ms. McEntire is also well-known for her charitable efforts, working with organizations such as The Salvation Army, Texoma Medical Center, Children's Medical Research, Habitat for Humanity, Outnumber Hunger and more. The Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas, is home to the Reba McEntire Rehabilitation Center, Reba's Ranch House, and the TMC Reba Mobile Mammography Unit. In recognition of her philanthropic efforts, Ms. McEntire has received the Salvation Army Award, the Home Depot Humanitarian Award and Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award.

The first U.S. National tour of the hit musical THE BODYGUARD, will play the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts from April 10 - 15. Tickets are on sale now.

2018 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will acknowledge thissignificant anniversary by participating in the global celebrations to honour Bernstein's legacy, with two planned performances of the choral masterpiece, Candide (1956) on Saturday 29th September and Sunday 30th September 2018 at the Sydney Opera House.

Last night at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, the acoustically perfect Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. Concert Hall was host to one of the most beautiful voices on the planet...that of five time Tony-Award winner Audra McDonald.

Rubicon Theatre presents a timely and trenchant production of Shakespeare's tragedy KING LEAR as the centerpiece of the company's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by Co-Founder James O'Neil, the production features a 20-member cast led by acclaimed actor and company memberGeorge Ball, who has starred in previous Rubicon productions of All My Sons, Man of La Mancha, and Jacques Brel… (New York, L.A., and international companies of the latter).

Previews begin this Friday, March 16 for the Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) world premiere production of THIS FLAT EARTH, a new play by Lindsey Ferrentino (Ugly Lies the Bone, the current Amy and the Orphans).  Directed by Tony Award winner Rebecca Taichman (Familiar, Stage Kiss, Milk Like Sugar at Playwrights; Indecent), the play is the fourth production of the theater company's 2017/2018 Season.  

The Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; James Houghton, Founder) Annual Gala will take place on Monday, March 12, 2018 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (located at 480 West 42nd Street between 9th & 10th Avenues). The event will celebrate the late Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee and honor the passionate and visionary leadership of former President of the Signature Board of Trustees, Michael Rauch. The Gala is taking place on what would have been Edward Albee's 90th Birthday.

MATA celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its brilliantly curated international Festival of New Music with 'ear-opening, satisfying music for every contemporary taste and philosophy' (Brooklyn Rail), on April 2 (Church of the Epiphany, Upper East Side) 10-14 (The Kitchen, Chelsea), and 21 (Imagine Swimming, Tribeca). Tickets, all $25, may be purchased via the MATA website. 

MATA celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its brilliantly curated international Festival of New Music with 'ear-opening, satisfying music for every contemporary taste and philosophy' (Brooklyn Rail), on April 2 (Church of the Epiphany, Upper East Side) 10-14 (The Kitchen, Chelsea), and 21 (Imagine Swimming, Tribeca). Tickets, all $25, may be purchased via the MATA website. 

Canned Rice Productions will present Candice van Litsenborgh new dark comedy, SASOLBURG COMMON 'BIRDS' OF SOUTH AFRICA, at the Alexander Bar this March. Directed by Richard Wright-Firth, the play will be performed by Van Litsenborgh herself and popular local actor Daneel van der Walt.

The UC San Diego Department Of Theatre And Dance Presents REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN., written by Alice Birch and directed by Sean Graney.

First Look images from the rehearsal rooms of Sting's The Last Ship have been released. Rehearsals for the production, which has a TONY-nominated original score and lyrics composed by Sting, are underway. It will play a 4-week season in Newcastle before embarking on a major UK & Ireland Tour.

The McCallum Theatre presents Cabaret for seven performances, Wednesday, March 28, through Sunday, April 1. The Saturday March 31 performance at 2:00pm is presented through the generosity of Robert and Sharlene Britz. Based on Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony Award-winning production, Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) and Rob Marshall's (Into the Woods and Chicago, the films) Cabaret has been hailed by all the critics as a divine, dangerous and decadent entertainment.

Tony-winning superstar Audra McDonald has announced five dates for an upcoming Florida concert tour. See full details below!

Audra McDonald is one of Broadway's most treasured leading ladies, but she hasn't been seen on the Great White Way since SHUFFLE ALONG in 2016. She recently spoke with The Atlanta Journal Constitution about her busy career and life at home and when the question of her returning to Broadway was raised, she had an exciting answer. 

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre [NBT] announces today the cast of the final workshop production for the 49th Season to conclude the I Am Soul Playwriting Residency for playwright Derek Lee McPhatter. McPhatter's workshop production will be Serious Adverse Effects which will be directed by Mary E. Hodges.

Due to demand, The New Group has announced a three-week extension for Jerry Springer - The Opera, with Matt McGrath appearing as Jerry Springer beginning March 13.  Terrence Mann, currently appearing in the role of Jerry Springer, plays his final performance March 11 due to an existing commitment beyond that date.

Producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd today announced additional presenters for the 90th Oscars® telecast. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, “The Oscars” will air live Sunday, March 4, on The ABC Television Network.

Record-breaking 6-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald has thrilled audiences in starring roles on Broadway in 'The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess,' Carousel' and 'Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill,' on television in 'The Good Wife' and NBC's live telecast of 'The Sound of Music,' and on concert stages around the world. On Sunday, March 11, 2018, this bonafide living legend will perform one night only for the acclaimed Broadway concert series at the Broward Center's Au-Rene Theater.

February 19, 2018 - Based on Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony Award-winning production, Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) and Rob Marshall's (Into the Woods and Chicago, the films) CABARET will play The Playhouse on Rodney Square in Wilmington for eight performances, March 13-19. This is the first time the Broadway revival has toured the historic Wilmington theater.

Following two sold-out, off-Broadway runs in New York, Out of My Comfort Zone, a new rock musical about self-identity, gender, love, stereotypes, cyber-bullying, and friendship, will premier in London at The Redbridge Drama Centre. Written by husband-and-wife team Ivy Vale (book, lyrics and music) and Rick Reil (music), Out of My Comfort Zone will be presented and staged by The Redbridge Musical Theatre Company for three performances at Redbridge Drama Centre, Churchfields, South Woodford, London, E18 2RB, from March 1-3, 2018.

It's been 13 years. Needless to say, INCREDIBLES 2 is one film everyone has been waiting for. Disney/Pixar released a new teaser for the upcoming animated film. The film is set for theatrical release on June 15th, 2018. Check out the teaser below!

Porchlight Music Theatre announces Merrily We Roll Along, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, with direction by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber, associate direction and musical staging by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik and music direction by Aaron Benham has been extended through March 17 at Porchlght's home, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Merrily We Roll Along is based on the play by the same name written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. 

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, is proud to announce the six productions of its 2018/2019 Season.  The six new works will be presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street. 

The rest of the world may have its eye on South Korea, but 64 Bay Area students are thrilled that their team took home the "gold" this weekend in the Tech Olympics at the Junior Theatre Festival WEST (JTF WEST) in Sacramento.