Because I Say So - 2019 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 4

Now playing, BEAU THE MUSICAL makes its long-awaited New York City premiere in a heartwarming and entertaining production. The actor-musician musical brings a deeply personal and resonant story to life just blocks from the historic Stonewall Inn.

BroadwayWorld sat down with ballet dancer Andrei Chagas about how his foray into musical theater changed him as a dancer, and what audiences can expect of the latest production of Swan Lake, which will run at the Segerstrom June 20-22 before moving to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion June 26-29.

I grew up the son of a preacher. I spent pretty much every single day at church and that’s kind of how I found my way to music, theatre arts and dance. My parents had me in voice lessons, dance lessons, and acting classes at a really young age.

“I have had a most rare vision. I had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was…” Like Nick Bottom (and the lovers), stepping out of the Bridge Theatre auditorium after a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream does feel like you are waking up from some kind of reverie. Even if you’ve been sat down instead of promenading, the performance space is designed so well that everyone feels immersed in the world of the play. Nicholas Hytner’s production of the Shakespeare classic was something of a revelation in 2019, and it feels just as bold six years on.

I thought there must be a way to create really beautiful, high-level productions that people understand and walk away with meaning.

Kathy St. George – who will receive the Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence from the Boston Theater Critics Association at the 42nd annual Elliot Norton Awards on June 2 at the Huntington Theatre – is that rare breed, a show business quadruple threat.

What did our critic think of BEETLEJUICE at National Arts Centre?

Step through the revolving door of 1928 Berlin and into a world of glamour, longing, and quiet desperation as Alchemy Theatre brings the rarely staged musical GRAND HOTEL to life at ZACH Theatre’s Whisenhunt Stage.

Everyone and his mother has seen JOSEPH – it’s an Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. I myself, have seen the show live five times – including school, community theatre, and professional productions (Never mind the Donny Osmond version that we hired on VHS when I was a little girl and which the show’s composer graciously made available to stream for free in 2020, when we were all bored out of our minds while COVID raged outside). Why then, after so much JOSEPH do you need to see this production?

Classic American theater composers like Leonard Bernstein, John Kander, and Stephen Sondheim have been good to Aimee Doherty – giving her a wide range of characters to play and songs to sing. She has returned the favor by giving standout performances in their musicals that have made her one of the leading lights on greater Boston’s stages.

Boiling Point Players are joining forces to recreate this reimagining of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar—set not in ancient Rome, but behind the bars of Rome Correctional Facility, a women’s maximum-security prison where power is currency and betrayal is a daily threat.

“The great thing about this character is she's so positive. She really has such a great outlook on life, much, much better than I have in real life. I can learn a lot from the way she's written.” Carolee Carmello on her character Kimberly Akimbo

BWW Austin recently got a chance to learn about Jeff Sullivan, a dynamic New York-based actor, singer, and dancer whose heart and talent have taken him across stages worldwide. Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, Jeff’s deep musical roots and storytelling spirit shine in every role—from playing J.M. Barrie in the Finding Neverland national tour to his recent turn as Joe in 9 to 5.

With about a month left of its Hollywood run, BroadwayWorld sat down with John Skelley, who plays the adult Harry Potter in the show, to try and get the scoop on the show's secrets.

Recently, we had the chance to speak with Matthew Seadon-Young, who is playing Gordy in Shucked. We discussed how he first found the muscial through working with Alex Newell, what it’s like to be part of an original cast for the show in London and even his favourite line - though you may need to see the show to fully understand it!

44: The Obama Musical is returning for second terms at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City from May 2 – June 22, 2025, and then at The Studebaker Theater in the historic Fine Arts Building in Chicago from August 23 – September 21, 2025.

Jenny Connell Davis is a playwright, screenwriter, and performer whose work explores identity, justice, and human connection. Her plays, including DRAGON PLAY, SCIENTIFIC METHOD, and END OF SHIFT, have been developed by theaters across the country, from the O’Neill National Playwrights Conference to ACT in Seattle. Also an accomplished screenwriter, her work has been featured at SXSW and the Toronto International Film Festival. Originally from Maine, Jenny now lives and writes in Austin, Texas.

Upon completing my miniseries with the current five MFA playwrights at UC San Diego, I thought it would be super valuable to hear the perspective of an alum whose work is currently up and running. So without further ado, it is my immense honor to introduce you all to nationwide superstar playwright and 2022 UCSD alum Keiko Green!!

BroadwayWorld chats with actor Brendan Looney about starring role in San Francisco Playhouse's production of Simon Stephens 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' running May 1 to June 21.

Today’s subject S. Katy Tucker is currently living her theatre life as the projection designer for Washington National Opera’s (WNO) production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. The production runs May 2nd through 10th in the Opera House at Kennedy Center.

Kristine Nielsen has made her name on Broadway playing roles in all kinds of comedies and dramas, but only a very few musicals. She’s changing that up this season, however, portraying Susan Proctor, an Actors’ Studio teacher and confidante to Ivy Lynn, a Broadway star preparing to play Marilyn Monroe, in the new musical comedy “Smash,” at New York’s Imperial Theatre.

Today’s subject Elizabeth Bruce is currently living her theatre life as the co-host and co-creator of the Creativists in Dialogue podcast. A series that covers a variety of topics as they relate to creativity. The series can be heard on Substack and Spotify.

Josefina López, the celebrated Mexican-American award-winning playwright and screenwriter best known for creating and authoring the play and co-authoring the film Real Women Have Curves, was an undocumented five-year-old immigrant when she migrated with her family from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to the United States in 1974 to settle in Boyle Heights. And on April 27, she will be making her Broadway debut when Real Women Have Curves: The Musical opens on Broadway!

Creators Ethan Crystal & Garrett Poladian are mounting the show, a musical imagining Golem's legal battle to keep a Tropical Smoothie franchise, on 4/17, 4/19 and 4/20 as part of SoHo Playhouse's 2025 Lighthouse series

BroadwayWorld spoke with Gabrielle Nevaeh about starring in Stranger Things: The First Shadow! Read Broadwayworld's Debut of the Month feature for April and learn more about the Nevaeh and the Broadway production!