Come Out to Play - 1940 - West End Articles Page 11

Hard to believe, but it's been four years since we sat down with Jeremy Benton, whom we've since referred to as Broadway's Best Tap Dancer every chance we've had, and now it seems as that title has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just yesterday, Benton - a native of Springfield, Tennessee - was honored with a nomination for a Fred and Adele Astaire Award in the category for best off-Broadway male dancer, heralding his critically acclaimed role in Cagney, the Musical.

The Philadelphia Story opens the year for the Therry Dramatic Society.

Dear Readers, I'm back from the Mothership (New York of course) to let you all in on some of the wonderful and not so wonderful things I saw with a few brief notes on each. And yes that includes my catching the juggernaut of all shows on Broadway right now, 'Hamilton'. Now there are some shows that I saw that are still in previews so I can't really review them but wanted to let you know about them anyway. So let's start at the top.

What do the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and NASCAR have in common? Up until last night, I would have said, 'Absolutely nothing!' But last night changed all of that when the Talladega Superspeedway sponsored the world premiere of WHITE LIGHTNING, a 'romantic action adventure' about the roots of stock car racing.

Sugar Ray Robinson was, pound for pound, the greatest boxer of all time. In his 25-year professional career, from 1940 to 1965, he was boxing history's first winner of five divisional championships (in the middle weight and welterweight divisions).

Vital Theatre Company's production of FASHION ACADEMY, THE MUSICAL will play its final performance next Sunday, February 21st.

The 1940 musical will most likely never be fully revived, but the Encores! concert mounting features a wonderful cast and sweet Vernon Duke music.

Music Director Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony today unveil the 2016-17 Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical and Sunday Casual Connections series and special events. This season celebrates the orchestra's 38th season and its 10th year in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Inaugurated by the Symphony in September 2006, this magnificent venue—with its exceptional acoustics and beautiful architecture—changed the world of symphonic music forever in Orange County. Both the orchestra and its audiences suddenly felt the ceiling to their musical opportunities open up to limitless possibilities. The trajectory of the orchestra sped up, allowing for broader choices in repertoire, greater ensemble excellence and immersive audience experiences—culminating, 10 years later, in this momentous season. 

Known to Broadway audiences as 'Archie,' (one of the teens from Jason Robert Brown's 2008 musical, 13) Gross is all grown up and broadening his theatrical horizons as a student, director, and performer. Below, check out what he had to say about GYPSY, Broadway, and beyond!

We're just three days into the New Year, and we can't wait for all the new shows set to open around the corner from Broadway! Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a look at some of the upcoming plays and musicals from The Public, Classic Stage, Atlantic Theater, Second Stage, Manhattan Theatre Club, Signature Theatre, Roundabout, the Encores! series and more, currently slated to open off-Broadway in 2016!

The 16th edition of Malibu International Film Festival presented by Yelp proudly unveils the full lineup of films and special events that kicks off December 3 at Regal Cinemas Malibu with Chip Croft's powerful documentary Lost Compassion followed by the Opening Night Party at Cafe Habana.

Phenomenal tech work and fine performances combine in this hilarious take of the Hitchcock classic.

Following its hit productions of "The Lion," and "I and You," Merrimack Repertory Theatre prepares to mount "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play." The charming adaptation by Joe Landry presents the story of the classic film as a 1940's radio drama. George Bailey's timeless tale of renewal comes to life with five actors gathered around microphones to voice more than 40 characters and create sound effects live onstage, with live "studio" audience response an integral part of the broadcast.

Playwright Katori Hall's lively play about seven African-American women awaiting the end of World War II in a Memphis beauty parlor/boarding house shows a slice of life with authenticity, empathy, and humor. Dawn M. Simmons directs an ensemble of wonderful actors, and the design team brings out the flavor of 1945 Memphis.

You don't have to make a deal with the devil to find laughs, love, baseball and heart. Just come out to the theatre, as Cabrillo Music Theatre kicks off the 2015-2016 season with a brand-new production of the American Classic DAMN YANKEES! Winner of eleven Tony Awards including Best Musical, DAMN YANKEES is sure to be a home run hit. With a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, this ever-popular baseball musical will have fans on the edge of their seats. DAMN YANKEES includes favorite songs such as 'Heart,' 'Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets,' 'A Little Brains, A Little Talent,' and 'A Man Doesn't Know,' among many others.DAMN YANKEES opens today, October 16th, 2015, playing until Sunday, October 25th, 2015 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. 

Buffalo musicians of all types will unite on the Kleinhans stage for one night in September.

'Seven Guitars' written by August Wilson and directed by Brandon Dirden is now onstage at Two River Theater through October 4th. This exceptional production is entertaining and poignant.

Vertigo Theatre Artistic Director Craig Hall, and Nathan Pronyshyn, Y Stage Theatre Series Producer, announced this afternoon via the release of an online season launch video, the company's 2015/2016 BD&P Mystery Theatre Series, and Y Stage Theatre Series for young audiences.

Frank Ferrante brings his one-man show to the Coachella Valley Repertory (CVRep), in the last of CVRep's summer 2015 cabaret series. 'Groucho,' as played by Mr. Ferrante, will entertain audiences for three performances on the weekend of August 28th through the 30th.

You don't have to make a deal with the devil to find laughs, love, baseball and heart. Just come out to the theatre, as Cabrillo Music Theatre kicks off the 2015-2016 season with a brand-new production of the American Classic DAMN YANKEES! Winner of eleven Tony Awards including Best Musical, DAMN YANKEES is sure to be a home run hit. With a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, and music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, this ever-popular baseball musical will have fans on the edge of their seats. DAMN YANKEES includes favorite songs such as "Heart," "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets," "A Little Brains, A Little Talent," and "A Man Doesn't Know," among many others.DAMN YANKEES opens on Friday, October 16th, 2015, playing until Sunday, October 25th, 2015 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. 

Lilli Vanessi's life is moving up. She is engaged to the rich politician, Harrison Howell, and she is making her comeback to the stage in a production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew as its leading leading lady, Kate. Just as Lilli thought she would be able to move forward, she is confronted by her past as her ex-husband, Fred Graham, is starring as the leading man, Petruchio, in The Taming of the Shrew.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming nightly performances, running August 19-30. Visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows or scroll down for details!

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming nightly performances, running August 12-23, 2015. Scroll down or visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows!

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming nightly performances, running August 12-23, 2015. Scroll down or visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows!

The Shaw Festival is known for dusting off old chestnuts and breathing new life into them. Unfortunately, its new production of Moss Hart's LIGHT UP THE SKY is  a chestnut better left in the attic to continue gathering dust.  Compared to his successful plays, like THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER  (with 739 Broadway performances) and YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (838 performances), LIGHT UP THE SKY is a second string comedy that seems stale and dated. It's initial run on Broadway was only a modest success, running 200 performances, and revivals have not fared much better.