Because I Say So - 2019 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 7

In a new interview, actress Anya Taylor-Joy expressed an interest in tackling musical theatre- specifically Frozen. 'I would love to do a musical because I’m a bit addicted to hard work,' the Furiosa star said.

I think I was a kid who really wanted to do theater, and I didn't have the theatrical opportunities in front of me to do that. I went to college for theater. I have a degree in theater. I didn't move to New York City like I wanted to because of 9/11. I had to create my own opportunity. And that's kind of my life story. I was kind of carving out and creating my own space, and drag was always the method with which I did that.

When it comes to creating exciting new environments for the stage, Adam Koch and Steven Royal know what they're doing. With over 200 shows under the belts as collaborators, these scenic and video designers will soon transport audiences through the vibrant life of Louis Armstrong in A Wonderful World.

The Colony Theatre in association with producers Christine Russell (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Head Over Heels), Robert Ulrich and Jay Paul Deratany are presenting the Reel Red Entertainment production of The Civility of Albert Cashier, a new musical about notable queer history figure Albert Cashier, born Jennie Hodgers, who served alongside the men of the 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry with distinction throughout some of the fiercest fighting of the Civil War. While not alone as a woman serving on the battlefield during the war, Cashier never revealed himself as anyone other than a man dedicated to serving his country on the battlefields during its greatest time of need. He was recognized as such by his comrades in arms and those surrounding him and retained his identity as a man throughout his later life. Transgender musician and actor Cidny Bullens (Pictured) portrays the older Cashier in the play with Dani Shay taking on the role of the younger Cashier. I decided to speak with Cid about his own road to self-discovery and what led him to the role of a transgender man.

“As a choreographer, I understand the fragility and power of physical gatherings,” says Kyle Marshall, founder and artistic director of Kyle Marshall Choreography (KMC). “It is how our medium exists.” Marshall is a choreographer, performer, and teacher who sees the dancing body as a container of history, an igniter of social reform and a site of celebration. Kyle is a former member of the Trisha Brown Dance Company, Doug Elkins Choreography etc., and Tiffany Mills Company. Kyle received a 2018 NY Dance and Performance Juried Bessie Award, a 2020 Dance Magazine Harkness Promise Award and a 2020 Bessie Honoree for his revival of Colored (2017). He has also received choreographic fellowships from Princeton University, Center for Ballet and the Arts, and residencies from Monira Foundation, 92nd st Y, CPR, and Bethany Arts Community.

You know, I think what really worked for me is that I didn't have much knowledge of FUNNY GIRL. I saw the movie once when I was a teenager, and funny enough, my boyfriend and I were on vacation with his family when his mom told me that I would play Fanny Brice!

Ousmane Wiles is an African American West African and Vogue dancer. Wiles is best know as, legendary Omari NiNa Oricci, founder of The House of Nina Oricci [est. OCT. 2019] and Creative Director of LES BALLET AFRIK dance company.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer has just revealed he has just secured a $1.5 million boost in federal funding in pending legislation to complete the expansion of the long sought new open-air Shakespeare style amphitheater for Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival.

BroadwayWord chats with perennially popular solo performer Don Reed about his show 'The DMV' playing at The Marsh Berkeley on Saturdays through September 14th

When I heard about the West Coast premiere of Abby Rosebrock’s Dido of Idaho by The Echo Theater Company at Atwater Village Theatre starring Alana Dietze (pictured), I knew I had to speak with her about the “wonderfully off-beat, darkly hilarious (in a truly cringeworthy way) comedy about female identity and the lengths to which some women will go for the love of a man.”  

Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated actress, singer and activist Michaela Jaé is set to release her highly anticipated debut album 33 on September 26. Over the course of ten genre-hopping songs, Michaela Jaé explores themes of self-discovery and resilience through the eyes of a cloned humanoid woman navigating an alien planet. Listen to a new single now!

Algos Music has announced the release of the new album by vintage vocalist extraordinaire ALLYSON BRIGGS – Promises, Prayers, and Raindrops: Allyson Briggs Sings Burt Bacharach – on CD and in digital and streaming platforms.

ALLYSON BRIGGS and special guest JULIE BENKO will perform at BIRDLAND THEATER to celebrate a new BURT BACHARACH album, with a livestream available for those unable to attend in person. Learn how to purchase tickets.

He was known as 'the man who owned Broadway': Born the first week in July, he wrote/produced/starred in dozens of Broadway shows and a statue of him stands in a key spot in the theatre district. His legacy still shines every 4th of July. We salute this writer, dancer, singer, actor, and producer, George M. Cohan.

At the height of its fame, the musical Les Misérables was the Dorsia of Broadway, a hot-ticket event that reached Hamilton levels of excessive prices, elite A-list attendees, and legions of fans who’d revisit the show through repeat viewings, memorization of the cast recording, and fierce debates of West End vs. Broadway performers.

Google Earth has detailed their debut album and shared “something complicated,” the album's meditative and restless lead single. Google Earth is the union of pioneering songwriter and producer John Vanderslice and his longtime collaborator James Riotto. Listen to the single now!

San Diego-based alternative rockers Los Saints have shared a music video for their latest single'Doctor,' from their highly anticipated debut album 'Certified', set for release on July 26. Watch the video!

Read the reviews for “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” at PAC NYC. As previously announced the limited run has extended now through Sunday, July 28, 2024. Performances began on June 13, 2024. 

Tony Award-winning Broadway legend Betty Buckley will headline the opening night of this year’s John McDaniel’s Broadway Series, at Provincetown Town Hall on June 23, and McDaniel, the Emmy- and Grammy Award-winning music director, composer, arranger, and producer wouldn’t have it any other way.

Redd Kross has shared “I’ll Take Your Word For It,” the third single made available from the highly anticipated 18-track eponymous double-album, due for release June 28, 2024. A perfect blast of ‘60s-shaded harmony and guitar tangle, “I’ll Take Your Word For It” is accompanied by a glorious outdoor video filmed in Los Angeles in view of the iconic Hollywood sign. Watch the video now!

Head Over Heels is a jukebox musical with music and lyrics from the catalog of 1980s girl band The Go-Go’s. With a book by Jeff Whitty, adapted by James Magruder, the plot is derived from the 16th century play The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney. Head Over Heels opened on Broadway in 2018 and ran for six months. It is currently running through June 16 at Albuquerque Little Theatre in Albuquerque, NM.

In May 2014, I heard about the new solo show Coming Out Kinky written and performed by Jean Franzblau in which she related her personal journey to sexual self-acceptance. In it, she portrayed 20 characters in her sexual memoir adventure story for curious and open-minded adults to enjoy. So when I heard Jean was bringing her updated play My Mother Doesn’t Know I’m Kinky to the Hollywood Fringe Festival this month, I decided to speak with her about how it’s has been updated, how much her mother really does know, and her plans for taking it around the world as a way to spread the word about how important it is to “know thyself.”

Every so often, a new play or musical being done in Los Angeles catches my eye with a big dose of curiosity. Such is the case with the musical The Translucent Frogs of Quuup with Book by Chris Larner and Music by Mark Stevens, produced by Alchemy Theatre Company and directed by Brian Pirnat with music direction by Brigitte Bellavoine at the Westchester Playhouse from June 14-22. Since I had never heard of it, I decided to speak with the director about the musical and his interest in directing it.

Katerina McCrimmon talks to BroadwayWorld about the rigorous demands of playing Fanny, what it’s like to work with the iconic Melissa Manchester, and how her high school boyfriend’s mom predicted she would land the role someday. 

As we all know, the 23/24 Broadway theatre season has been one of the busiest in a very long time with many new plays and musicals opening within a short period. One of those shows was The Notebook. It features a score by pop writer Ingrid Michaelson and a book by Bekah Brunsetter. The show had a pre-Broadway tryout in Chicago where it was met with unanimous rave reviews.