Carousel - 2008 - West End Articles Page 20

We're reaching for the moon, putting all our eggs in one basket, dancing cheek to cheek and pouring our hearts into a song, because it's time to face the music and dance! All Dancing! All Singing! is the first Lyrics & Lyricists dance revue, celebrating Irving Berlin's contributions to Hollywood musicals. Artistic director/choreographer Randy Skinner directs a cast of hand-picked young vocalists/dancers -- Darien Crago, Danny Gardner, Drew Humphrey, Kristie Kerwin, Con O'Shea-Creal and Kristen Beth Williams -- who are joined by veterans Sandy Duncan and Don Correia as special guests. Performances are May 2, 3 and 4.

In a recent interview with Center on the Aisle, Tony winner Jessie Mueller discussed her appearance at Carnegie Hall this weekend, her role in the new WAITRESS musical, and, of course, the upcoming BEAUTIFUL film adaptation.

The Tony winning musical Memphis the Musical comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Friday and Saturday, May 8-9. Tickets are $39-69. This event is sponsored by Crum & Forster.

Later this week, the Tony Award-winning musical comedy Gigi will open at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street), marking the Broadway debut of Vanessa Hudgens, who plays the title role. Though this is the first time that the actress has tread the boards of the Great White Way, she has been captivating audiences with her musical talents for years, having made her big break as 'Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical franchise. In celebration of her big debut, BroadwayWorld is flashing back to the many roles that have brought her to this point. Check out clips of Hudgens in action below!

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 50th anniversary season with Sticky Traps, a powerful new play by KC Rep's Playwright in Residence, Nathan Louis Jackson, Directed by Resident Director, Kyle Hatley. Sticky Traps focuses on a small town not far from Kansas City, where a mother protects her gay son's honor when his funeral is protested by a local church. Her actions have unintended consequences that will test her whole family - and the power of their love -- in the face of hate. The production begins Friday, April 24th and runs through Sunday, May 24th at Copaken Stage in downtown Kansas City.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Sound Of Music,' 'Empire' and 'Glee' stir up this week's TVs, 'First Wives Club,' 'Beauty And The Beast,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'First Date' claim their respective audiences,' Kokandy has more than 'The Full Monty,' Columbia's 'Oklahoma!,' lots at the Skokie Theatre and my upcoming busy weekend!

On Saturday, April 18 at 3:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) joins musical director and co-host Leslie Stifelman and director and choreographer Melissa Rae Mahon from Chicago: The Musical, co-host Thomas Cabaniss, and The Broadway All-Star Chorus-comprising top performers from the Great White Way-for a fun, interactive Carnegie Hall Family Concert that gives parents and their children the opportunity to sing and dance along with their favorite Broadway numbers.

In the coming months, Broadway will welcome a fresh crop of productions- many of which will mark the Broadway debuts for a slew of talented actors. Whether they are fresh faces or established stars, these Broadway babies will soon take their very first bows on some of the grandest stages in the world.

ired by actual events, Memphis, the Musical is set in the places where rock and roll was born in the 1950s: the seedy nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically- rich Tennessee city of Memphis. With an original score, it tells the fictional story of DJ Huey Calhoun, a good ole' local boy with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey's close-minded mama and Felicia's cautious brother, the club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. As their careers rise, the relationship is challenged by personal ambition and the pressures of an outside world that is just unable to accept their love. Will their love be able to withstand the trials of separation, greed and fame? This hot and bothered Broadway musical is filled with heart, soul and energy to burn! Don't miss this Tony-award winning show when it comes to Concord's Capitol Center for the Arts for one night only tonight, March 12 at 7:30pm.

After a worldwide search, Houston Grand Opera has chosen seven new members for the 2015–16 HGO Studioprogram. One of the most respected and highly competitive young artist programs in the world, the HGO Studio provides comprehensivecareer development to young singers, pianist/coaches, and conductors who have demonstrated potential to make major contributions to thefield of opera. The HGO Studio received applications from 500 artists; of those, about 275 were heard in Houston, New York, Philadelphia,Cincinnati, and San Francisco. For singers, the audition process culminates in HGO's annual Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias, held this year on February 5.

For the delight of audiences aged five to 105, Chechoslovak-American Marionette Theater will perform its newest work, 'The Magic Garden, or, The Princess Who Grew Antlers,' an ensemble creation that is cheerfully concocted from Czech fairy tales in which antlers appear. Featuring four performers, marionettes of various sizes and assorted antique moose and deer antlers, the piece will be presented by Theater for the New City tonight, March 5 to 22. The piece is written and directed by Vit Horejs and co-created by Horejs and the cast.

Words on Dance in association with Symphony Space, is proud to present an evening with CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON, featuring the internationally acclaimed choreographer and director in rarely seen television and film clips and a live conversation conducted by the Academy, Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award-winning actress/singer/dancer RITA MORENO, April 27, 7:00 PM at Symphony Space, 95th Street and Broadway.

Portland Ovations heats up this winter with its' presentation of the Tony Award-winning musical Memphis at Merrill Auditorium on Saturday, March 14 for two performances 4pm and 8pm.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: PLACEBO begins off-Broadway, HOME STREET HOME starts in LA, Claybourne Elder stars in ANGELS IN AMERICA in KC, IOWA meets the press and three Broadway shows end this weekend!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Carousel,' 'The King And I' and 'The Merry Widow' at Lyric Opera, and the upcoming season at Porchlight. Plus 'Merman' transfers, 'Mormon' arrives, 'First Wives Club' and 'Gotta Dance' try out, the 'Pride And Prejudice' reading moves, Quest Theatre mounts two, Pasek and Paul's 'Peach,' Bailiwick's 'Wonderful Town,' the Mosh Pit in the Tribune and more honors for Jessie Mueller! Whew!

ired by actual events, Memphis, the Musical is set in the places where rock and roll was born in the 1950s: the seedy nightclubs, radio stations and recording studios of the musically- rich Tennessee city of Memphis. With an original score, it tells the fictional story of DJ Huey Calhoun, a good ole' local boy with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an up-and-coming black singer that he meets one fateful night on Beale Street. Despite the objections of their loved ones (Huey's close-minded mama and Felicia's cautious brother, the club owner), they embark on a dangerous affair. As their careers rise, the relationship is challenged by personal ambition and the pressures of an outside world that is just unable to accept their love. Will their love be able to withstand the trials of separation, greed and fame? This hot and bothered Broadway musical is filled with heart, soul and energy to burn! Don't miss this Tony-award winning show when it comes to Concord's Capitol Center for the Arts for one night only Thursday, March 121 at 7:30pm.

Pittsburgh CLO is pleased to announce the creative team for the ?2015 Summer Season at the Benedum Center. These Pittsburgh CLO veterans will bring Broadway's best to life at the Benedum Center all summer long. The 2015 Season includes MARY POPPINS (June 9 - 21), MAN OF LA MANCHA (June 23 - 28), GYPSY (July 10 - 19), THE WEDDING SINGER (July 24 - August 2) and the National Tours of KINKY BOOTS (August 4 - 9) and Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA (August 11 - 16).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) today announced that Jen Bender has been named as the new Director of Programming and Artist Services for the organization. Jen returns to NYMF after having served as a founding producer of the Festival in 2004.

Houston, January 29, 2015-Houston Grand Opera's (HGO) 2015-16 season showcases the vibrant and diverse artistic mix that marks HGO as a leading 21st-century American opera company: Wagner's Siegfried, the third installment of La Fura dels Baus's imaginative Ring cycle featuring a new generation of Wagnerians; the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd's Prince of Players; Dvo?ak's fairy tale rarity Rusalka; a holiday revival of family favorite The Little Prince from the award-winning composer Rachel Portman and librettist Nicholas Wright; a new production of The Marriage of Figaro and a new-to-Houston Eugene Onegin; a beloved core production, Tosca; and the Houston debut of Broadway sensation Rob Ashford's take on the classic musical Carousel. Through its community collaboration program HGOco, the company will present two additional world premieres: O Columbia, a chamber opera by composer Gregory Spears and librettist Royce Vavrek that examines the past, present, and future of the American spirit of exploration; and another chamber opera, by composer David Hanlon and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann, about the impact of hurricanes on the Texas Gulf coast.

For the delight of audiences aged five to 105, Chechoslovak-American Marionette Theater will perform its newest work, 'The Magic Garden, or, The Princess Who Grew Antlers,' an ensemble creation that is cheerfully concocted from Czech fairy tales in which antlers appear. Featuring four performers, marionettes of various sizes and assorted antique moose and deer antlers, the piece will be presented by Theater for the New City March 5 to 22. The piece is written and directed by Vit Horejs and co-created by Horejs and the cast.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 50th anniversary celebration with An Iliad, directed by Kansas City Repertory Theatre's Producing Director Jerry Genochio and starring the return of former Kansas City Repertory Theatre's Resident Director Kyle Hatley.