Back Country - 1978 - Broadway Articles Page 11

Pasadena Playhouse, State Theatre of California, continues their exciting partnerships with Caltech Theatre and the USC School of Dramatic Arts this Spring, with MACH 33: The Caltech|Pasadena Playhouse Festival of New Science Driven Plays, presented by Caltech Theater and Pasadena Playhouse May 9 -11 and the New Works Festival Year 3 May 17-18, presented by USC School of Dramatic Arts and hosted by Pasadena Playhouse. These plays are part of Playhouse community programming. Danny Feldman is the Producing Artistic Director of Pasadena Playhouse.

John Godber talks about his life in theatre and about his Brexit flavoured play, Scary Bikers, running at Trafalgar Studios in April.

Pigeon keepers are an interesting and unique, albeit diminishing, subset of humans, and within that group is a subset, presumably small, of people who identify with the birds. Taking it one step further, Birdy, the protagonist in Naomi Wallace's adaptation of William Wharton's novel BIRDY, identifies, not with, but as a bird. Strange as it sounds, it may be the most sane response to an insane world in this drama that toggles back and forth between a pre-World War II Philadelphia suburb and an Army hospital in post-war Kentucky. It is a war story that plays out on the battlefield of an intense, intimate friendship, where the psychological wounds are more damaging and enduring than the physical ones. Steve Maler's skillful direction unleashes a dazzling palette of colorful performances, each actor contributing a broad brush stroke to the communal masterpiece.

Palm Canyon Theatre's current production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas breathes plenty of energy - and a fair bit of sexuality - into the 1978 musical. Although it is not the first musical to be based on a factual event, it has certainly chosen one of the stranger events to revisit: the closing of a Texas brothel called The Chicken Ranch.

What happens when the son of a middle-aged gay couple brings home the daughter of an arch-conservative politician -- and her parents -- for dinner?

Pacific Symphony has once again put together an entertaining SummerFest program for 2019 at Pacific Amphitheatre (located in the heart of Orange County). Pop open a bottle of wine, kick back, relax and enjoy the perfect soundtrack for summer evenings under the stars. This season features the classic rock'n'roll energy of "Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles" (July 4); John Williams' thrilling soundtrack of "Star Wars: A New Hope In Concert" performed live to film (Aug. 17); and everyone's favorite summer finale: Tchaikovsky Spectacular (Sept. 7), with guest violinist Benjamin Beilman, first prize winner in the 2010 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the 2010 Montreal International Musical Competition.

Ms. Sarah Dash will premiere her new show, 'Full Circle', at The Loft at City Winery, NYC on Saturday, March 23 at 9:30pm.

This week's decluttering is only freeing up a tiny bit of space in my collection, but it represents an enormous place in my heart. The only version of The Wiz I have on CD is the AMAZING/IF YOU DON'T KNOW IT, YOU'RE NOT A REAL BROADWAY FAN original cast album starring Stephanie Mills. I do have the movie soundtrack in my iTunes and the soundtrack of 'The Wiz Live!' is on Apple Music, so let's dive in.

St. Ann's Warehouse continues a banner 2018-19 season of major theatrical productions confronting issues as urgent as the core of America's identity (in Daniel Fish's now Broadway-bound reimagining of Oklahoma!) and immigration, borders, and the lived experiences of refugees (in The Jungle).

Edward R. Matthews, CEO of ADAPT Community Network, announced its 2019 ADAPT Leadership Awards Gala to take place on Thursday, March 14th, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The event will be hosted by Cara Buono, co‐star of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, and Emmy‐ nominee for her role on Mad Men. The awards honor the accomplishments of extraordinary individuals and corporations who have made an impact on people with disabilities and have inspired others through their professional and charitable endeavors. The gala benefits the important ongoing programs and services of ADAPT Community Network. This year's honorees will be announced next month.

Rainy Day Productions will present industry readings of the new play Chasing the River by Jean Dobie Giebel. Directed by Illana Stein, the six-member cast will feature Tony Carlin, Aaron Costa Ganis, Annie Golden, Deborah Rayne, Chet Siegel, and Wendy Rich Stetson. The readings will be held on Monday, January 28 at 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m., and Tuesday, January 29 at 4:00 p.m. For more information, please email victoria@PSTheatricals.com.

The Boston Pops and conductor Keith Lockhart will showcase the extraordinary range of “America's Orchestra” on tours to Florida (February 9-14) and Texas (March 20-24) this winter with “Lights, Camera…Music! Six Decades of John Williams.” Based on the Pops' 2017 recording of the same name, the program focuses on music from the beloved film scores of composer and Boston Pops Conductor Laureate John Williams. Audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy excerpts from such classic films scores as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harry Potter, and the Star Wars series, as well as less familiar music by Mr. Williams, including themes from such classic scores as The Witches of Eastwick, The Towering Inferno,andHeidi.

REDCAT, CalArts' downtown center for contemporary arts, presents The Wooster Group production The B-Side: "Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons," A Record Album Interpretation, Wednesday, January 30 to Sunday February 3, 2019 for 5 performances only.

Queensbury Theatre is proud to announce the cast for the world premiere of Breaking Out of Sunset Place, playing January 24 - February 10, 2019.

REDCAT, CalArts' downtown center for contemporary arts, presents The Wooster Group production The B-Side: 'Negro Folklore from Texas State Prisons,' A Record Album Interpretation, Wednesday, January 30 to Sunday February 3,2019 for 5 performances only.

Current Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee Todd Rundgren will be embarking on the world's first hybrid concert/book tour this spring, highlighting both his hits as well as "deep tracks" spanning his 50-year career.

Legendary Platinum rockers STYX and comedy legend Larry the Cable Guy are joining forces for the first time ever to rock and GIT-R-DONE. They're coming together for seven unforgettable nights of hits and jokes billed as “Laugh. Rock. Seriously.” starting March 21 in Fargo, ND at the Scheels Arena. The short trek will bring them to Minot, ND on March 22, Billings, MT on March 23, Lincoln, NE on March 27, Sioux City, IA on March 28, Cedar Rapids, IA on March 29, and Champaign, IL on March 30. Tickets for the shows go on sale Friday, November 30 at 10am local time at Styxworld.com.

This Veterans Day, BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ:BJRI) invites all current and retired military to enjoy a free entree as a thank you for their service. Plus, for the entire month, our military heroes can enjoy a free Pizookie donated by BJ's, Dr Pepper and our guests (while supplies last).

Music journalist Robert K. Oermann was honored Monday, October 29 at the third annual Music Row Storytellers event, benefiting Music Health Alliance.

Irish Arts Center (IAC), the multidisciplinary center dedicated to bringing people of all backgrounds together through the excellence and dynamism of Irish arts and culture, this year creates a thrilling intersection of musical traditions from Ireland and the Gulf of Mexico for its annual Winter Solstice Celebration (December 14 at Symphony Space). The beloved holiday gathering is hosted by NEA award winner and "one of the most important Irish musicians to emerge from the folk revival of the 1970s" (Time Out) Mick Moloney (banjo, mandolin, vocals) and acclaimed fiddler Athena Tergis.

A new county song, inspired by wounded warriors, has been adopted as the official theme song of the Los Angeles-based National Veterans Foundation (NVF). Written and performed by Nashville recording artist Grant Maloy Smith, “Man of Steel” is about a soldier's abiding loyalty to his fellow troops, even after being severely wounded and pieced back together with “pins and wires.” Smith, who is known for his top 10 Billboard-charting album “Dust Bowl – American Stories,” got the idea for “Man of Steel” after meeting a wounded warrior during a layover at an airport.

Continuing its mission to bring the best of the world's symphonic orchestras to Los Angeles, the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts will present the Mariinsky Orchestra under the baton of Grammy Award-winning Music Director Valery Gergiev today, October 25, 2018 at 8pm. Hailed as "Russia's musical crown Jewel" by The New York Times, the Orchestra will perform a complete Stravinsky program that includes the composer's most iconic works, including his scintillating prodigy piece, Fireworks, his strikingly original Symphony in C, and the rapturous ballet score that launched the young composer to international fame, The Firebird Suite. Young violinist Kristof Barati will join the orchestra for Violin Concerto in D Major.

Stages' holiday season offers comic alternatives to traditional seasonal shows with three productions including the regional premiere of the irreverent yet heartwarming The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged), the world premiere of Panto Star Force, the latest in Stages' series of original Pantos for audiences of all ages, and the regional premiere of Who's Holiday!, an adult-themed How the Grinch Stole Christmas parody told entirely in Seussian rhyme. The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) and Who's Holiday! will be offered in true repertory style, playing in the same theatre at different performance times. Who's Holiday! will also include late-night performances at 9:30pm on select dates.

Ms. Sarah Dash will premiere her new show, A Tribute To Aretha Franklin: The Queen Of Soul, in three cities this November. This special concert celebration will feature Sarah Dash singing All The Great Aretha Franklin Classics (including Respect, Chain Of Fools, Freeway Of Love, Ain't No Way, Jump To It), and telling inside stories of her friendship with The Queen. Bernard Purdy, who played in Ms. Franklin's band through the years, will be the musical director for Ms. Dash for these performances.