Free and Easy - 1960 - Paris Articles Page 6

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU), The Players Theatre and Back Stage present the industry panel From Table Reading to Tony Award: A Long Way to Memphis on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre, 3rd Floor Loft Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

The revolutions of the 1960's were fueled by the movies. The counter-culture was a film culture, looking to movies to explore the social and political questions of the time.

It's safe to say that Roger Bean-the mind behind The Andrews Brothers, The Marvelous Wonderettes and its yuletide sequel Winter Wonderettes-has certainly become the most consistently successful purveyor of full-scale theatrical musicals that weave a simple story around a string of early to mid-20th Century pop hits. His latest of such offerings is LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, the crowd-pleasing jukebox musical that debuted last year at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood and is now performing an eight-week engagement at the Laguna Playhouse through August 29. The original production garnered the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award and Backstage's 2010 Garland Award for Best Production.

The revolutions of the 1960's were fueled by the movies. The counter-culture was a film culture, looking to movies to explore the social and political questions of the time.

During what was called 'Andrew Lloyd Webber week' of the seventh season of the hit TV talent competition American Idol, Webber predicted to an audience of millions that Syesha Mercado will 'bring the house down' with a sexy, splashy take on one of his many musical hits. And that, she did. Then 21, she eventually lasted on the show to become the second runner-up. Fast forward two years later, and she is now in the midst of a multi-city national tour of the rebooted DREAMGIRLS stage musical, where she nightly plays Deena Jones, the beautiful and eventual front-woman of the semi-fictional musical group The Dreams. Before she takes the stage of The Orange County Performing Arts Center (April 21-May 2), Mercado spoke with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos about life on the road, her American Idol roots, and what it takes to become Deena Jones night after night.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation has received a major grant of $1.23 million from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to commence work on the Panza Collection Conservation Initiative, it was announced today by Richard Armstrong, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Museum.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County announced its 5th Anniversary Broadway in Miami 2010-2011/Broadway Across America season with a line-up of five Tony® Award-winning Miami premiere engagements. The 5th Anniversary season kicks off October 2010 at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House with an all-new production of DREAMGIRLS direct from New York's Apollo Theater; followed by a December limited holiday engagement: NETworks presents Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST- the enchanting, romantic musical for all generations; March brings in two of Broadway's biggest blockbusters and Best Musical Tony® winners: JERSEY BOYS, the story of rock 'n roll Hall of Famers, The Four Seasons, followed by the Latino hit musical IN THE HEIGHTS. June closes the season with HAIR, the 2009 Tony® Award winner for Best Musical Revival.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County announced its 5th Anniversary Broadway in Miami 2010-2011/Broadway Across America season with a line-up of five Tony® Award-winning Miami premiere engagements. The 5th Anniversary season kicks off October 2010 at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House with an all-new production of DREAMGIRLS direct from New York's Apollo Theater; followed by a December limited holiday engagement: NETworks presents Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST- the enchanting, romantic musical for all generations; March brings in two of Broadway's biggest blockbusters and Best Musical Tony® winners: JERSEY BOYS, the story of rock 'n roll Hall of Famers, The Four Seasons, followed by the Latino hit musical IN THE HEIGHTS. June closes the season with HAIR, the 2009 Tony® Award winner for Best Musical Revival.

Broadway in Riverside/A Nederlander Presentation, recently announced its inaugural season of great theatre for the entire family at the Fox Performing Arts Center in the City of Riverside. The Nederlander Organization, the national producer and presenter of touring Broadway shows and events, has entered into a multi-year agreement with the Fox Performing Arts Center and its Operator/Manager, William P. Malone; under the aegis of Broadway in Riverside/A Nederlander Presentation - Carl Thompson, General Manager. The Fox Performing Arts Center is scheduled to open in January of 2010.

Get ready to celebrate Motown's 50th! The Temptations, one of the most successful groups in the music history, is coming to the Union County Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 23rd, presented by WCBS-FM and Rrazz Entertainment. Opening for the Temptations are The Honey Cone featuring Edna Wright and Goumba Johnny Sialian, WTKU personality.

It's not your imagination, The Temptations, one of the most successful groups in music history, will perform at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway on Thursday, April 23rd, presenting by WCBS-FM and Rrazz Entertainment. Just added to open for the Temptations are The Honey Cone featuring Edna Wright and Goumba Johnny Sialiano, WTKU personality.

A fine cast, brisk direction and some spectacular production values overcome the deficiencies in the original 1959 script to make this a moving and enjoyable production. * * * * 1/2 (out of 5)

Nick Spangler chats about a performing career that has led him to the current Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks, in which he plays the Mute