Godspell - 2000 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 14

The national touring production of MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, will kick off on October 16, 2011 at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN (203 South Main Street) where it will play through October 23.

SBCC Theatre Arts Department will present a student showcase production of the 2007 Jane Chambers' Award-winning TROJAN BARBIE by Christine Evans, directed by R. Michael Gros, as the fall production in the Interim Theatre .

Today, in an extension of the FLASH FRIDAY column, we are sharpening our focus on the six upcoming revivals of musicals that are soon to hit the boards in the next few months (post-FOLLIES) and battle it out for the Best Revival as the Broadway season heats up just when the weather begins to cool: the classic Jule Styne/Bob Merrill musical that originally starred that star-of-stars, Barbra Streisand - FUNNY GIRL; the groundbreaking rock opera that rewrote the theatrical rulebook thanks to young creators Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; the hippie, flower child take on the Christ story covering some similar Biblical ground to that of SUPERSTAR, with this one being the composing debut of WICKED songwriter Stephen Schwartz - GODSPELL; another Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice collaboration that won seven Tony Awards and acted as the vehicle for Patti LuPone's blazing Broadway debut in a starring role - EVITA; the significantly reworked, revised and rewritten new version of the beautifully scored time-travel musical by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner, this time starring a male movie star crooner - ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER; and, the landmark American opera composed by the Gershwins with DuBose Haywerd - PORGY & BESS. While each and every one of these entities has a huge hit song or two that nearly everyone on the planet knows by heart - "Don't Rain On My Parade", "I Don't Know How To Love Him", "Day By Day", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "On A Clear Day…" and 'Summertime' included - each of these revivals also comes after a film version (or two) that, in more than a few of these cases, will be relatively difficult to top as far as expectations of many audience members undoubtedly will go. So, by taking a listen to the smash hit crossover songs from these musicals as well as looking at their respective film version's trailers - as well as a couple of surprises, too - perhaps we can glean some insight into what makes these generally pretty terrific properties so well worth reviving on Broadway, here, now, today, in 2011. Furthermore, all of this crystal ball commentary is not even taking into account the starry assortment of performers that have already been announced for these productions so far - especially with FUNNY GIRL's Lauren Ambrose and Bobby Cannavale, GODSPELL's Hunter Parrish, SUPERSTAR's lauded Josh Young, EVITA's Ricky Martin and Michael Cerveris, PORGY's Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, as well as the leading man in what was once a leading lady's role (that of Barbara Harris) in ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, Harry Connick, Jr.! What a tight race it is turning out to be for these new productions, particularly come Tony time in June! With rock to rhumba and borscht belt comedy to messianic hosannas and even full-out opera, seemingly every conceivable customer base is more than covered by this packed, potentially, well, awesome, season of shows - and many Broadway babies around BroadwayWorld are undoubtedly looking most forward to these six forthcoming revivals - with particularly good reason given the relative dearth of new musicals announced so far. So, let these revivals revive your flagging spirits as we leap into the 2011-2012 season with this comprehensive prospective and retrospective all about what makes them work so well in the first place and so worthy of another look!

The company of the first North American tour of WICKED welcomes Mamie Parris as Elphaba tonight in Atlanta, GA.

SBCC Theatre Arts Department will present a student showcase production of the 2007 Jane Chambers' Award-winning TROJAN BARBIE by Christine Evans, directed by R. Michael Gros, as the fall production in the Interim Theatre .

The Children's Acting Academy, widely regarded as one of the best children's acting schools in the nation, is offering two FREE workshops for youngsters, aged 4 to 18, on Sunday, September 25, 2011, an acting workshop and one in musical theater, ala 'Glee,' as part of 'New Rochelle ArtsFest 2011,' it was announced by Mimi Stuart, Artistic Director and owner of the renowned New York-based children's theater school and acting company.

The company of the first North American tour of WICKED welcomes Mamie Parris as Elphaba on Tuesday, October 4 in Atlanta, GA.

The Children's Acting Academy, widely regarded as one of the best children's acting schools in the nation, is offering two FREE workshops for youngsters, aged 4 to 18, on Sunday, September 25, 2011, an acting workshop and one in musical theater, ala 'Glee,' as part of 'New Rochelle ArtsFest 2011,' it was announced by Mimi Stuart, Artistic Director and owner of the renowned New York-based children's theater school and acting company.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2006 and 2008, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to Atlanta's Fabulous Fox Theatre from September 14-October 9, as a special to the Broadway Across America - Atlanta 2011-12 season.

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for WICKED, which will be performing from September 14-October 9 at The Fox Theatre as a special to the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2011-12 season. Each day, 2½ hours prior to show time people who present themselves at the Fox Theatre box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person.

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) has scheduled two American Sign Language (ASL) interpreted performances and two audio described performances of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess during the month of September.

Audience favorite, Lennie Watts, who last appeared on stage at Theatre By The Sea as Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls (2000) returns in the lead role of Man in Chair in Ocean State Theatre Company's upcoming production of The Drowsy Chaperone, which opens on August 19.

A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) will present The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, opening the A.R.T.'s 2011-2 season on August 117 at the Loeb Drama Center. The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin, is adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray, and directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus.

Audiences will be captivated by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Jesus Christ Superstar, August 2-14 at the Benedum Center! This powerful rock opera takes viewers on an emotional journey through the final days of Jesus of Nazareth.

The 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced casting today for the U.S. national tour of the critically acclaimed production. The national tour of MEMPHIS will star Bryan Fenkart (Huey) and Felicia Boswell (Felicia) with Quentin Earl Darrington (Delray), Rhett George (Gator), Julie Johnson (Mama), Will Mann (Bobby), and William Parry (Mr. Simmons).

Audience favorite, Lennie Watts, who last appeared on stage at Theatre By The Sea as Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls (2000) returns in the lead role of Man in Chair in Ocean State Theatre Company's upcoming production of The Drowsy Chaperone, which opens on August 19.

Audiences will be captivated by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Jesus Christ Superstar, August 2-14 at the Benedum Center! This powerful rock opera takes viewers on an emotional journey through the final days of Jesus of Nazareth.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces casting for the Chicago premiere of Snapshots, by Stephen Schwartz and David Stern, and Alan Ayckbourn's Season's Greetings. The Snapshots cast includes Gene Weygandt in his third production with Stephen Schwartz, following Wicked and Working; and Susie McMonagle, direct from the Billy Elliott National Tour.

Audiences will be captivated by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Jesus Christ Superstar, August 2-14 at the Benedum Center! This powerful rock opera takes viewers on an emotional journey through the final days of Jesus of Nazareth.

The Magdalene, a musical play about Mary Magdalene, closed July 13 after 15 previews and 17 performances. The production, opened off-Broadway at St. Clement's Theatre on Tuesday, June 28.

The joyful 40th anniversary production of 'Godspell,' presented this summer at Northwestern University, is a Tony Award-winning show that holds a special place in musical theatre history.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Million Dollar Quartet,' Midwest New Musicals, 'The Homosexuals,' 'Godspell' at 40, 'The Rose Of Stambul,' a BroadwayWorld Chicago party and more!

A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) opens its 2011-12 season with The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin. The adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and Obie Award-winning composer Diedre L. Murray, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Ronald K. Brown, begins previews on August 17 and opens for the reviewing press on August 31 at 7pm. Performances are at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge. Tickets for preview performances are currently on sale, remaining tickets for the run go on sale on July 12.

The joyful 40th anniversary production of 'Godspell,' presented this summer at Northwestern University, is a Tony Award-winning show that holds a special place in musical theatre history.

Theodore Mann and Paul Libin, on behalf of Circle in the Square Theatre, paid tribute to playwright Eugene O'Neill on Saturday with a special plaque placed on the former site of the Golden Swan (also known as the Hell Hole), one of O'Neill's inspirations for Harry Hope's saloon in 'The Iceman Cometh.'