Do It Again! - 1971 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 19

With Godspell enjoying a renaissance in popularity following its recent revival on Broadway, it seems everyone wants in on the fun. And that's the beauty of Godspell-it's an occasion to rejoice, to delight in the irreverent retelling of the parables in the Gospel according to Matthew, to feel good about faith-whether you share this particular set of tenets or not-and, well, to jump around in your seat and rock out along with Jesus.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Russell Crowe's Chicago vocal coach, a hot new Broadway star, three productions at the North Shore Center, 'Show Boat,' Jessie and Darren's dreams come true and more....

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to New York. Check out the Mosh Pit 'Top Ten Hot Topics' for the last half of 2011!

In celebration of the artist's 85th birthday, Columbia Records/RPM Records/Legacy Recordings will release Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection, an extraordinary compilation chronicling the entire career of the great American pop vocalist as documented in the albums and singles he's made for Columbia Records (beginning in 1952 through the present), as well as his recordings for Roulette (an historic encounter with Count Basie and Orchestra in 1959), MGM (1972-73), Improv (Bennett's own label from 1973-76) and Fantasy (a pair of sublime titles with pianist Bill Evans, released in 1975-76).

In celebration of the artist's 85th birthday, Columbia Records/RPM Records/Legacy Recordings will release Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection, an extraordinary compilation chronicling the entire career of the great American pop vocalist as documented in the albums and singles he's made for Columbia Records (beginning in 1952 through the present), as well as his recordings for Roulette (an historic encounter with Count Basie and Orchestra in 1959), MGM (1972-73), Improv (Bennett's own label from 1973-76) and Fantasy (a pair of sublime titles with pianist Bill Evans, released in 1975-76).

Queen, one of the most dynamic and influential rock bands of all time, will be honoured with the Global Icon Award at the '2011 MTV EMA', MTV announced today. The legendary rock band will also take the stage for a special performance.

For the 40th year, Peter Schumann's Bread and Puppet Theater (www.breadandpuppet.org) will return to Theater for the New City with two new works, one for adults and one for family audiences.

The West Bank Café has announced upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Queen, one of the most dynamic and influential rock bands of all time, will be honoured with the Global Icon Award at the '2011 MTV EMA', MTV announced today. The legendary rock band will also take the stage for a special performance.

Here's to the girls upstairs! Director Gary Griffin chats briefly on his vision for 'Follies.'

Since the 1986 opening of the The Edgerton Center, Sacred Heart University has generously shared this outstanding resource with the surrounding community, making professional-quality theatrical, musical and dance performances both affordable and accessible. James Earl Jones, Julie Harris and Dizzie Gillespie are just some of the outstanding artists to perform at the Edgerton Center over the years.

Since the 1986 opening of the The Edgerton Center, Sacred Heart University has generously shared this outstanding resource with the surrounding community, making professional-quality theatrical, musical and dance performances both affordable and accessible. James Earl Jones, Julie Harris and Dizzie Gillespie are just some of the outstanding artists to perform at the Edgerton Center over the years.

In celebration of the artist's 85th birthday, Columbia Records/RPM Records/Legacy Recordings will release Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection, an extraordinary compilation chronicling the entire career of the great American pop vocalist as documented in the albums and singles he's made for Columbia Records (beginning in 1952 through the present), as well as his recordings for Roulette (an historic encounter with Count Basie and Orchestra in 1959), MGM (1972-73), Improv (Bennett's own label from 1973-76) and Fantasy (a pair of sublime titles with pianist Bill Evans, released in 1975-76).

In celebration of the artist's 85th birthday, Columbia Records/RPM Records/Legacy Recordings will release Tony Bennett - The Complete Collection, an extraordinary compilation chronicling the entire career of the great American pop vocalist as documented in the albums and singles he's made for Columbia Records (beginning in 1952 through the present), as well as his recordings for Roulette (an historic encounter with Count Basie and Orchestra in 1959), MGM (1972-73), Improv (Bennett's own label from 1973-76) and Fantasy (a pair of sublime titles with pianist Bill Evans, released in 1975-76).

The classic Columbia Records catalog recordings (1973-1987) of Aerosmith, America's all-time top-selling rock and roll band, will be available for the first time digitally on the iTunes Store beginning Tuesday, September 6.

The venerable entertainer shows no signs of slowing down as he embarks on a concert tour with fellow Monkees band mates Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz.

Today we are kicking off Broadway World's multi-part series of interviews with the stars of the 2011 Kennedy Center produced and Eric Schaeffer directed production of Stephen Sondheim & James Goldman's seminal showbiz musical, FOLLIES, currently in previews on Broadway at the Marquis Theater. Suave leading man Ron Raines sheds light on the central, pivotal role of Benjamin Stone and how he sees the character - in his youth, in his marriage, in the present and, also, in the future, post-Loveland and, even post-FOLLIES - as well as illuminates his interactions with the colorful array of stars he shares the stage with eight nights a week - chief among them: Bernadette Peters, Elaine Paige and Jan Maxwell! Additionally, we discuss what has changed in the transfer from Washington, D.C. to NYC, as well as examine the underlying message and story told in Ben's stunning musical triptych of 'The Road You Didn't Take', 'Too Many Mornings' and 'Live, Laugh, Love'. As if all that were not enough, Raines and I cast a glance back at his previous stage and screen work and discuss his solo albums, upcoming concert appearances and much, much more! Plus, first news of his essaying of the title role in SWEENEY TODD with Karen Ziemba in St. Louis next summer, directed by the helmer of the original Christopher Bond play that inspired Sondheim to compose the musical adaptation in the first place back in 1969.

Few names in the modern lexicon can and do raise such vitriolic and vociferous reactions from film fans, Broadway babies and pop culture mavens alike - let alone everybody else - and not only for his classic spate of films, but, even more so because of his tumultuous personal life and the fact it has been painted on pages in the press for decades; yet, no question, the name Roman Polanski does just that. Given what has come to pass in his oft-vaunted career, the perils of his private life have always informed his art in one way or another - from his war-torn orphan upbringing in Europe in a concentration camp to his wife and son's brutal slaying by the Manson Family to the infamous rape case that made him a fugitive to the US; up to the new millennium and the recent HBO documentary examining the court case and, of course, the upcoming feature film, CARNAGE, itself. From the suffocating claustrophobia and bizarre social and sexual proclivity examinations in KNIFE IN THE WATER, REPULSION and CUL-DE-SAC, to his more mainstream US films like the horror classic ROSEMARY'S BABY and, in my critics' opinion one of the finest films ever made, CHINATOWN. Taking into account his seamless stage-to-screen transfer of DEATH AND THE MAIDEN in 1994, Polanski's CARNAGE could very well stand alongside that tremendous achievement as a solid film all its own - even divorced from its theatrical roots - especially judging from the looks of today's just-released trailer for the feature film version, coming out in December as one of the year's most highly-anticipated Oscar-bait entries being released at the end of the year (as always). For those not familiar with the hit source play, GOD OF CARNAGE concerns itself with one evening and the meeting of two couples in Manhattan to discuss their sons' situation in school and over the course of the colorful extended conversation the tables are turned and the parents reveal themselves to be children at heart - in more ways than one.

The RiverPark Center event will feature a retrospective on Peter Falk, who played Columbo on television and died June 23. William Link, co-creator of the television series 'Columbo,' has written several Columbo short stories. Four will be selected and presented as Live Broadcast Theatre productions (formerly called Live Radio Theatre and presented in the style of old-fashioned radio shows).

The Manhattan Theatre Club's new Broadway production of MASTER CLASS by Terrence McNally, directed by Stephen Wadsworth, opened July 7 to trumedous praise at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. On the celebratory night, Richard Ridge caught up with the stars and creative forces of what many are calling a masterpiece, all of whom spoke candidly about the process of remounting the production and recreating the fascinating figures of the opera world of old.

The RiverPark Center event will feature a retrospective on Peter Falk, who played Columbo on television and died June 23. William Link, co-creator of the television series 'Columbo,' has written several Columbo short stories. Four will be selected and presented as Live Broadcast Theatre productions (formerly called Live Radio Theatre and presented in the style of old-fashioned radio shows).

The RiverPark Center event will feature a retrospective on Peter Falk, who played Columbo on television and died June 23. William Link, co-creator of the television series 'Columbo,' has written several Columbo short stories. Four will be selected and presented as Live Broadcast Theatre productions (formerly called Live Radio Theatre and presented in the style of old-fashioned radio shows).

Timely, relevant, bittersweet, and scathingly funny, The Prisoner of Second Avenue by the prolific Neil Simon gets the all-star treatment at ACT Theatre, April 29-May 29, with director Warner Shook at the helm and a cast that reads like a Who's Who in Seattle Theatre.

Morris Park Players Community Theatre (MPP) presents Grease, April 29 & 30, May 6, 13, & 14 at 7:30 pm, and May 1 & 7 at 2:00 pm, the second production at their new home of Thomas Edison High School Auditorium in Northeast Minneapolis.

Timely, relevant, bittersweet, and scathingly funny, The Prisoner of Second Avenue by the prolific Neil Simon gets the all-star treatment at ACT Theatre, April 29-May 29, with director Warner Shook at the helm and a cast that reads like a Who's Who in Seattle Theatre.