Fiorello! - 2013 - New York Articles Page 17

And this Monday, May 20th, John Bantay will do his farewell SPIN as he leaves to continue pursuing his career and becomes a stage manager at the long-running musical, Avenue Q. Speaking to John Bantay, I, of course, was curious as to what his favorite video clips have been over the years. He was reticent to put them in 'Top 10' format because, to him, he considers them all number 1's. So here's his hit list, in no particular order:

One of the world's best loved musicals, based on the memoir of Maria Von Trapp; The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Maria is a young, aspiring but quirky, nun whose love of freedom makes it obvious to her superiors that she is not suited for religious life. Thus, she is sent off to be the governess to Captain von Trapp's seven troublesome children. Unlike previous governess', Maria becomes friends with the children due to their mutual love of music. She fills the lives of the Von Trapp children with "The Sound of Music" and captures the heart of their stern and lonely father. But, will their harmonious lives be torn apart when their beautiful homeland is ravaged by war? Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning musical delights audiences with the uplifting story and an irresistible score: "Climb Every Mountain," "Do-Re-Mi," "Edelweiss" and "My Favorite Things."

The Muny announced principal casting for the sixth show of its fantastic 95th Season, Disney and Cameron Mackinstosh's Mary Poppins the Musical, directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. Mary Poppins the Musical is sponsored by Ameren.

Female-based performing arts company Two Muses Theatre has announced the production of the Broadway hit Next to Normalpremiering June 7 through June 30, 2013 at the Two Muses Theatre located within Barnes and Noble in West Bloomfield. Next to Normal, with music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, is directed by Royal Oak resident, Frannie Shepherd-Bates.

Christine Baranski, Kelli Barrett, Walter Bobbie, Jeremy Cohen, Dalton Harrod, Randy Skinner, Shonn Wiley, Karen Ziemba,New York City Ballet Principaldancer Joaquin De Luz and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Irina Dvorovenko will star in Rodgers and Hart's On Your Toes, the final Encores! presentation of the 2012-13 New York City Center season.

Tony Award winners Billy Crudup and Shuler Hensley will join Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart in the limited season repertoire of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, directed by Sean Mathias, on Broadway at the Cort Theatre, 138 West 48th Street, this fall. Performances will begin Saturday, October 26 at 8pm. The official opening is Sunday, November 24, 2013. This limited season will run for 14 weeks only.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the epic musical LES MISERABLES. Due to popular demand, the production's run has been extended by two weeks. Performances take place tonight, May 3 through June 1, 2013.

TimeLine Theatre Company, dedicated to presenting plays inspired by history that connect to today's social and political issues, announces that The How and the Why by Sarah Treem (Netflix's House of Cards, HBO's In Treatment), directed by Keira Fromm and starring Janet Ulrich Brooks and Elizabeth Ledo, will be the third production of its 2013-14 season.

BoHo Theatre will present the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Terrence McNally, based on the novel by Manuel Puig, as the final production in its 2012/2013 season. The production will run May 31st through June 30th at Theater Wit in Lakeview. Kiss of the Spider Woman is directed by BoHo Artistic Director Peter Marston Sullivan, director of such previous BoHo hits as Floyd Collins and Big River. The production features Nathan Carroll as Molina, Evan Tyrone Martin as Valentin, and Jennifer Grubb as Aurora the Spider Woman. Kiss of the Spider Woman represents the Bohemian Pillar of Love.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, tonight, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguliar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.'

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, PRINCE OF BROADWAY, the new musical celebrating legendary Broadway director and producer Harold 'Hal' Prince has been postponed indefinitely due to scheduling conflicts. Now in an interview with the Washington Post, Prince revealed that the show will soon premiere at Tokyo's Umeda Arts Theater and will hopefully move on the Broadway after.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the epic musical Les Miserables. Due to popular demand, the production's run has been extended by two weeks. Performances take place May 3 through June 1, 2013.

4@15: Four New Fifteen-Minute Musicals, performed in conjunction with University of California, Irvine, will commence performances Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, for three performances only at the Playroom Theater. Tammy Holder serves as Music Director; Brian Blythe directs.

Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis will collaborate on A BED AND A CHAIR: A New York Love Story, a new musical event featuring Sondheim's music arranged and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, announced Arlene Shuler, President & CEO of New York City Center. This Encores! Special Event, directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator John Doyle, and conceived by Peter Gethers, Jack Viertel and John Doyle, will run for seven performances, November 13 - 17 at City Center. City Center's annual Gala Benefit will take place on Thursday, November 14 and will include a post-performance dinner at the Plaza Hotel.

The Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) presents Douglas Carter Beane's new play The Nance directed by Jack O'Brien, opening tonight, April 15. This production features Jenni Barber, Andrea Burns, Cady Huffman, Mylinda Hull, Nathan Lane, Geoffrey Allen Murphy, Jonny Orsini and Lewis J. Stadlen.

Christine Baranski, Kelli Barrett, Walter Bobbie, Jeremy Cohen, Dalton Harrod, Randy Skinner, Shonn Wiley, Karen Ziemba,New York City Ballet Principaldancer Joaquin De Luz and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Irina Dvorovenkowill star in Rodgers and Hart's On Your Toes, the final Encores! presentation of the 2012-13 New York City Center season. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, On Your Toes will have guest music direction by Encores! founding music director Rob Fisher and will play seven performances, from May 8 - 12 at New York City Center, W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). The "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" ballet, originally choreographed by George Balanchine, will be staged by Susan Pilarre, who served as a Ballet Mistress of the show's 1983 Broadway Revival.

BroadwayWorld has just confirmed that PRINCE OF BROADWAY, the new musical celebrating legendary Broadway director and producer Harold 'Hal' Prince has now been postponed indefinitely due to scheduling conflicts.

Huntington Theatre Company's 2013 Spotlight Spectacular will feature entertainment from Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana, stars of Broadway's Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella, and a sneak peek of the Huntington's upcoming new musical The Jungle Book with Music Director Doug Peck and acclaimed Indian musician Shivalik Ghoshal.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced Finn Wittrock as The Actor, Sarah Wayne Callies as The Actress, and Shuler Hensley as The Critic in the Kennedy Center production of The Guardsman in the Eisenhower Theater May 25 to June 23, 2013. Based on the 1910 comedy by Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnar, The Guardsman features a new literal translation by Richard Nelson and is directed by Gregory Mosher. The press opening will take place on Thursday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguliar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.'

New York City Opera Announces 2013-14 Season.

The Fulton Theatre continues its 2012/2013 season with a newly refreshed production of A Chorus Line, directed and choreographed by the Fulton's Artistic Director, Marc Robin. The production is a departure from what audiences may already be familiar with-the original staging and choreography by the show's creator, Michael Bennett. Featuring brand new choreography, Robin envisions a fresh take on the production. BroadwayWorld has a first look below.

This April, the company dubbed "the People's Opera" will return to the venue known as "the People's Theater" for the first time since 1965, when New York City Opera returns to New York City Center, its original home. The residency includes new productions of Gioachino Rossini's Moses in Egypt, conducted by Jayce Ogren and directed by Michael Counts (April 14-20); and Jacques Offenbach's La Perichole, conducted by Emmanuel Plasson and directed by Christopher Alden (April 21-27).

The Fulton Theatre continues its 2012/2013 season with a newly refreshed production of A Chorus Line, directed and choreographed by the Fulton's Artistic Director, Marc Robin. The production is a departure from what audiences may already be familiar with-the original staging and choreography by the show's creator, Michael Bennett. Featuring brand new choreography, Robin envisions a fresh take on the production.

The Fulton Theatre continues its 2012/2013 season with a newly refreshed production of A Chorus Line, directed and choreographed by the Fulton's Artistic Director, Marc Robin. The production is a departure from what audiences may already be familiar with-the original staging and choreography by the show's creator, Michael Bennett. Featuring brand new choreography, Robin envisions a fresh take on the production.