Comedy in Music - 1953 - Broadway Articles Page 17

Berkeley Playhouse opens its fifth season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved final collaboration, THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this endearing family classic, featuring a cast of 40, with musical direction by Greg Mason and choreography by Staci Arriaga. THE SOUND OF MUSIC plays tonight, October 27 through December 2 (Press opening: October 27) at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

April 30th Entertainment has announced that seven-time Emmy nominee and "America's Dad" (Growing Pain's) Alan Thicke will be starring as iconic TV personality Jack Bailey in the world premiere of Queen for a Day: the Musical. The 12-performance run begins tonight, September 26, 2012 at the brand new state-of-the-Art Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Thicke is scheduled to perform in 10 shows only.

Former BBC 'Egghead' CJ de Mooi headlines an electrifying, high-energy production of Gilbert & Sullivan's classic comedy, The Pirates of Penzance at an exciting new studio theatre in Romford, Essex.

Berkeley Playhouse opens its fifth season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved final collaboration, THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this endearing family classic, featuring a cast of 40, with musical direction by Greg Mason and choreography by Staci Arriaga. THE SOUND OF MUSIC plays October 27 through December 2 (Press opening: October 27) at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

Former BBC 'Egghead' CJ de Mooi headlines an electrifying, high-energy production of Gilbert & Sullivan's classic comedy, The Pirates of Penzance at an exciting new studio theatre in Romford, Essex.

Avenue Q is edgy, sassy and an exciting change in the Barn's typical lineup. If you think it's sizzling outside these days, wait until you see the cast burning up the stage in one of the hottest musicals to hit Broadway. Opening night is Friday August 10th and the show runs through Saturday August 25th. Reserved seats for this comedy sponsored by the Farmington Rotary Club, are available now at farmingtonplayers.org or at the box office (248) 553-2955.

April 30th Entertainment has announced that seven-time Emmy nominee and "America's Dad" (Growing Pain's) Alan Thicke will be starring as iconic TV personality Jack Bailey in the world premiere of Queen for a Day: the Musical. The 12-performance run begins September 26, 2012 at the brand new state-of-the-art Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Thicke is scheduled to perform in 10 shows only.

Fairly exploding onto the stage, The Nutty Professor-the new musical based on the classic 1963 film comedy-opened at Nashville's James K. Polk Theatre last night in a vibrantly told and visually stunning production helmed by Jerry Lewis, the man who co-wrote the movie and, at this moment, is probably booking a ticket to Broadway . The story of nerdy Professor Julius Kelp and his transformation into the suave and sophisticated (if boorish) Buddy Love offers plenty of laughs to be certain, but perhaps surprisingly, there's a whole lot of heart to be found in Rupert Holmes' book, set tunefully to a classic Marvin Hamlisch score.

Avenue Q is edgy, sassy and an exciting change in the Barn's typical lineup. If you think it's sizzling outside these days, wait until you see the cast burning up the stage in one of the hottest musicals to hit Broadway. Opening night is Friday August 10th and the show runs through Saturday August 25th. Reserved seats for this comedy sponsored by the Farmington Rotary Club, are available now at farmingtonplayers.org or at the box office (248) 553-2955.

Point Park University's Conservatory Theatre Company will produce five works in the 2012 - 2013 season, which opens Oct. 19, 2012 and runs through April 21, 2013 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

This morning Olney Theatre Center Artistic Director Martin Platt announced the Theatre's 75th Anniversary Season. The award-winning Theatre's season will emphasize 20th-century American classics, new works, reinterpretations of classics and musical theater.

Lyric Stage presents Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, with music by Richard Rodgers, book by Oscar Hammerstein II, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and original Dances by Agnes De Mille, based on the play GREEN GROW THE LILACS by Lynn Riggs. The show runs June 15-24, 2012 in the Irving Arts Center's Carpenter Performance Hall, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, Texas. Performances are tonight, June 15 and June 16, 21, 22 & 23 @ 8:00 PM and June 17 & 24 @ 2:30 PM. Tickets are available online @ www.lyricstage.org or by calling the box office @ 972-252-2787.

HBO and Comcast are proud to announce the return of a favorite Washington summertime tradition, Screen on the Green. Marking its 14th year, the festival will kick-off July 16th with the 1969 classic 'BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID.

Lyric Stage presents Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA!, with music by Richard Rodgers, book by Oscar Hammerstein II, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and original Dances by Agnes de Mille, based on the play GREEN GROW THE LILACS by Lynn Riggs. The show runs June 15-24, 2012 in the Irving Arts Center's Carpenter Performance Hall, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, Texas. Performances are June 15, 16, 21, 22 & 23 @ 8:00 PM and June 17 & 24 @ 2:30 PM. Tickets are available online @ www.lyricstage.org or by calling the box office @ 972-252-2787.

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie has set the 2012-2013 season at the CTG/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In a season of contrasts - of surprising comedy and startling drama, the 2012-2013 season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre will include the magical and mystical hi-jinks of the CTG-commissioned "Elephant Room" by Trey Lyford, Geoff Sobelle and Steve Cuiffo; the acclaimed Gate Theatre Dublin production of the Beckett classic "Krapp's Last Tape" with one of Britain's greatest actors, John Hurt; the comic genius of The Second City with their unique, satirical twist on a Dickens's favorite - "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!" written by Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort; the world premiere of the otherworldly drama "The Nether" by the 2012 Susan Blackburn Smith prize-winning playwright Jennifer Haley; and the world premiere of the powerful boxing drama "The Royale" by Los Angeles playwright Marco Ramirez.

Today we are shining a light on one of the most respected and revered stage and screen stars of the last several decades who is known the world over for not only his stirring and commanding dramatic performances and touching and rib-tickling comedies on film, but also for his iconic roles on the stage playing Shakespeare, and, perhaps most of all, for his essaying of Captain Von Trapp in the celebrated Robert Wise film adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning THE SOUND OF MUSIC - the elegant, graceful and eminently gifted Christopher Plummer. Looking back at a career spanning nearly seven decades, today we will focus on Plummer's most important and most fondly remembered roles to date - ranging from Sidney Lumet's STAGE STRUCK in 1958 to his Shakespeare stage work, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER, TV's THE THORN BIRDS, and, of course, his Academy Award-winning turn in last year's BEGINNERS - with a look ahead to the exceptionally enticing new Fathom in-cinema presentation of Des McAnuff's Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of THE TEMPEST starring Plummer as Prospero, in movie theaters nationwide on June 14 - what the 83-year-old actor has promised will be his final Shakespeare performance onstage. So, if there were ever a time to take a look back at one of the most remarkable Broadway/Hollywood crossover stars of the last century or the current one as he reaches yet another peek in a career populated with many highs, now is certainly the time! After all, as the oldest Oscar-winner to date, a midsummer night's dream has evidently quite quickly turned to a winter's tale - but with sound and fury signifying much, as we will see.

April 30th Entertainment has announced the world premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY: THE MUSICAL at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. The 12-performance run begins September 26, 2012.

Wonderful Town is the Tony Award winning musical with a big heart. With music by the wonderful Leonard Bernstein, this production ticks almost every box for a sure fire hit even before entering the theatre. Having taken a variety of different forms over the last decade, Wonderful Town started out as a group of short stories, followed by a book, then a play and afterwards probably its most recognised form in the 1953 film starring Edith Adams and Rosalind Russell - all before it became a successful musical production.

Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV announce that the two nonprofit theaters will formally merge effective July 1, 2012 under a new name - Virginia Repertory Theatre (Virginia Rep). With a budget exceeding $5 million, four distinct venues, and an annual audience over 550,000, Virginia Rep will become the largest professional theater and one of the largest performing arts organizations in Central Virginia along with the Richmond Ballet, Richmond Symphony, and the Virginia Opera. Barksdale and Theatre IV celebrated the announcement and the unveiling of the new Virginia Rep sign today, May 20, at the November Theatre (formerly the Empire Theatre) at 114 West Broad Street at 4:00 p.m. after the closing of Seussical, thelast mainstage children's production under the Theatre IV name. Virginia Rep will transition into the new organization between now and July 1.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the York Theatre (James Morgan, Artistic Director) presents an invitation-only showcase presentation entitled Trunk and Disorderly: Songs from the Deep Dark Trunk of Jeff Blumenkrantz, who received the 2011 Fred Ebb Award. The presentation will feature Drew Gehling, Dee Hoty, Dee Roscioli, and Sarah Stiles.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the York Theatre (James Morgan, Artistic Director) is pleased to present an invitation-only showcase presentation entitled Trunk and Disorderly: Songs from the Deep Dark Trunk of Jeff Blumenkrantz, who received the 2011 Fred Ebb Award. The presentation will feature Drew Gehling, Dee Hoty, Dee Roscioli, and Sarah Stiles.

Megan Hilty and Rachel York star in the Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, whick openedon May 9 at New York City Center. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is directed by John Rando with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Randy Skinner and will play for seven performances, May 9 - 13, at New York City Center, 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts presents the world premiere of Life Of The Party, a light opera for dark times. Following the huge success of last year's production of Kismet, director Paul Lincoln and the LaGuardia High School Opera Workshop tackle this completely original work, written and composed by Tony Award nominees Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Pirates!). The show plays a strictly limited run, with its last performance today, May 6th at 2:00pm.

Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts presents the world premiere of Life Of The Party, a light opera for dark times. Following the huge success of last year's production of Kismet, director Paul Lincoln and the LaGuardia High School Opera Workshop tackle this completely original work, written and composed by Tony Award nominees Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Pirates!). The show plays a strictly limited run, with performances tonight, May 3rd, May 4th and 5th at 7:30pm and May 6th at 2:00pm.

Legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein's (West Side Story) award-winning musical comedy WONDERFUL TOWN comes to the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield, from today 1 - Saturday 5 May, as part of a major national tour.