Good Thing - 2001 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 14

This year, a living legend of musical theatre turns 90: Lyricist-bookwriter Tom Jones (who also, under a stage name) appeared in the original company of his most famous and wildly successful record-breaking musical, The Fantasticks. His collaborator, composer Harvey Schmidt, just recently passed away. The production's record-breaking run closed, on January 13, 2002, after 17,162 performances. Their shows also include 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Philemon, Celebration and many more. And celebration is what it's about when Broadway veterans Carole Demas, who originated the role of Sandy in Grease, and Sarah Rice, who originated the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd, return to celebrate Jones & Schmidt. Demas and Rice have based the show on their 50 years of work and personal relationships with Tom and Harvey. With very special guest Broadway's Hal Robinson who is also a Fantasticks alumni.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces casting for the world premiere of The Steadfast Tin Soldier: A Christmas Pantomime, from the story by Hans Christian Andersen, conceived and directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman. This family-friendly, holiday show runs November 7, 2018 - January 13, 2019 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. 

Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with magic and wonder fit for all ages with Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, July 27 - August 5. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran for a staggering 13 years and over 5,000 performances on Broadway. Now, Pittsburgh CLO brings this treasured story to life for a new generation, continuing the organization's commitment to providing young patrons the opportunity to enjoy live musical theater at home in Pittsburgh. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Select half-price tickets for children 3-14 are sponsored by Giant Eagle, offering an affordable option for families to enjoy this timeless tale together.

More artists have been announced to perform at the Chillin' on the Lucie music festival in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Oct. 3 - 7. Uncle Kracker has joined the roster, as well as Cassadee Pope, Parmalee, Josh Gracin, Clare Dunn, Kalie Shorr, Hudson Moore and Lewis Brice. Twang and Round, Radio Romance, Julia Cole, Honey County, County Wide and Libby Switzer are also set to perform. Festival packages can be purchased here.

The 2018 Toronto Fringe Festival boasts the highest ever ticket revenue, smashing the new records set during the 2017 festival. 66,301 tickets were issued to theatre-loving patrons over the 12-day festival. As Fringe returns 100% of net box office revenue, this means that $531,293.50 is going straight into the pockets of the artists. Ticket prices were raised this year from $10 + services fees to $11 + service fees, which contributed to the increase in revenue.

Danyah Miller guest blogs for BroadwayWorld ahead of taking Kika's Birthday to the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Just over a month ago, Orin Wolf was celebrating a whooping ten Tony wins for his little musical that could- The Band's Visit. As the big winner at the 72nd Annual Tony Awards on June 10, the new show not only swept the ceremony, but it found a place in history with some of Broadway's most awarded musicals- a producer's dream.

Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with magic and wonder fit for all ages with Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, July 27 - August 5. Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST ran for a staggering 13 years and over 5,000 performances on Broadway. Now, Pittsburgh CLO brings this treasured story to life for a new generation, continuing the organization's commitment to providing young patrons the opportunity to enjoy live musical theater at home in Pittsburgh. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Select half-price tickets for children 3-14 are sponsored by Giant Eagle, offering an affordable option for families to enjoy this timeless tale together.

I have never been to the Pinewood Bowl in Lincoln, Nebraska. Lincoln, our neighbor to the west, is a short 40 minute drive from Omaha on a good day. When the Huskers are playing, that is another story.

Featuring shows from around the world and shows from around the corner, the 2018-19 Season of Performing Arts at the Harris Center for the Arts are now on sale.

Interrobang Theatre Project is pleased to announce its ninth season, featuring three knockout dramas presented at its new resident home, Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave. in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. This season, Interrobang explores "identity/crisis," with three plays featuring characters on the edge of something new, battling old demons and making room for fresh starts.

Time is Los Angeles-based singer songwriter, producer and multi instrumentalist Louis Cole's third album - a casual but addictive blend of quickfire, hook-laden electrofunk bullets and wistful, soft-focus balladry - and it's compelling. 'A lot of it is little thoughts, that I made into big songs... blasts of inspiration that I was lucky enough to receive,' Cole explains. 'But it all comes back to my mission to create deep feelings through music,' he says of his debut Brainfeeder outing, set for release August 10th, 2018.

North Texas Performing Arts Repertory Theatre is thrilled to announce its cast for the iconic Mel Brooks musical The Producers. Performances are slated for June 22-24 and June 29-30.

How We React and How We Recover, the new album from three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, will be released by Ghostlight Records this month. His first solo recording in over a decade is a politically-charged, far-reaching rumination on love, family and music. The album will be available in digital and streaming formats on Friday, June 29, with a physical CD planned for later this year. The release will coincide with New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center production of Brown's landmark New York debut show Songs for a New World, which runs from June 27-30.

American Blues Theater announces encore performance run of BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story, written by Alan Janes, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, with musical direction by Ensemble Member Michael Mahler. BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story will reopen June 29 - September 15, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are on sale now.

Toronto's Festival of Beer, presented by the Beer Store will kick-off their legendary summer festival on Thursday, July 26 with Broken Social Scene and The Rural Alberta Advantage. Both Toronto based bands will perform to a crowd of music fans and beer lovers on the OLG Bandshell Stage. The festival runs from July 26 to 29 in the heart of downtown Toronto at Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place. INDIE88 is the official media partner of TFOB 2018 opening night. 

Free For All, one of the capital's cherished annual traditions, will return this summer to Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC), offering two weeks of free performances of the Company's 2016 production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul, whose hit production of Camelot has extended through July 8 due to popular demand, the production will run at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St NW) from August 21-September 2, providing more than 12,000 people the chance to see the play free of charge.

Dog Days Theatre begins its second season with Joe Orton's farce What the Butler Saw, playing July 12 through 29 in the Cook Theatre at FSU Center for Performing Arts in Sarasota. Single tickets are $30, or a season ticket package-paired with Dog Days Theatre's August production of The Turn of the Screw-is available for $55. What the Butler Saw is made possible with support from The Observer, Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax Services, The Exchange, and WUSF Public Media, and is presented by FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training.

Pittsburgh CLO has amassed an impressive lineup of Broadway stars and Pittsburgh CLO veterans to bring the 2018 Summer Season to life June-August. The organization's core mission to produce shows locally helps to employ artists each year from Pittsburgh and across the country.

North Texas Performing Arts Repertory Theatre is thrilled to announce its cast for the iconic Mel Brooks musical The Producers. Performances are slated for June 22-24 and June 29-30.

Today, multi-platinum award-winning singer, songwriter and global superstar Josh Groban announces his 2018 UK and Ireland Arena tour. Josh Groban will stop off at The O2 London on 12 December, Manchester Arena on 14 December and the 3Arena in Dublin on 16 December.

Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) conducts Mahler's Symphony No. 4, Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate, and American Maverick Carl Ruggles's Evocations at Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, in his first performance with The MET Orchestra, Tuesday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m. This will be the first time that The MET Orchestra performs a work by Ruggles. The program's featured soloist is soprano Pretty Yende, who sings in Exsultate, jubilate and the finale of the Mahler symphony.

Freeform announces its programming schedule for June 2018, which includes two series premieres, two season premieres, an epic three-night finale, the broadcast debut of “iHeartRadio's Wango Tango” and offerings of fan-favorite movies.

In the end, you may leave Urinetown wondering, as Little Sally does, what kind of a musical is this? Officer Lockstock would have me remind me you that it isn't supposed to be a happy one. It's one full of mixed signals: comedic tropes, untimely death, catchy music, rich vs. poor, hope for tomorrow, and an ultimately uncertain future. It makes you think not only about the baddies who want to regulate our metaphorical toilets, but also the do-gooders who act on righteous principle alone without regard to reality.