Good Thing - 2001 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 16

Vietgone by Qui Nguyen is the Vietnamese-American playwright's own creation story-a telling of his parents' 1975 refugee camp romance in a "geek theater" spectacle that's at turns affecting, sage, raucous, and fantastical. A screenwriter for Marvel Studios and founder of Obie Award-winning company Vampire Cowboys, Nguyen's work champions representation and diversity on stage while dripping with pop culture nods, contemporary music, and action-adventure narrative. The production pairs this Studio-commissioned playwright with director and Studio Cabinet member Natsu Onoda Power. Drawing on Vietgone's comic book aesthetics, Studio's Stage 4 is transformed into a garage concert with a live band and original funk-rock-punk-n-roll score, giving audiences a front row seat to this anything-but-typical story of boy meets girl.

Today, the legendary, multi-award-winning, multi-platinum and million-selling artist Lisa Stansfield returns with the release of her new album, 'Deeper.' The album is available via digital download, CD, limited edition boxset and 12' vinyl in North America from today. Written by Lisa and her long-time song-writing partner Ian Devaney, produced by Ian & Mark “Snowboy” Cotgrove, and with Lisa taking the role of executive producer, 'Deeper' is the legendary soul singer's eighth studio album.  In other news, her latest single 'Never Ever' is the #1 most added song in the Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart, reaffirming yet again that the British songstress remains the reigning Queen of the dance-floor.  

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is excited to announce the second show in its 20th Season ... Good People. Written by David Lindsay-Abaire, and directed by Jocelyn A. Brown, Good People will preview from April 20 through April 27; regular performances will begin April 28 and continue through May 20 at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center on the Cripe Stage.

Award-winning and critically-acclaimed Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC - Jesse Marchese, Executive Director; Dev Bondarin, Artistic Director) concludes its 17th mainstage season with a production of the legendary musical Follies by James Goldman (Book) and Stephen Sondheim (Music & Lyrics), directed by APAC artistic director, Dev Bondarin (New York Innovative Theatre Awards nominee for Best Director for APAC's 2017 production of Raisin) and choreographed by Sara Brians (Resident Choreographer, Matilda, Broadway). Follies runs from May 3 - 26, 2018 at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St. (at 30th Road), Astoria, NY 11102.

American Blues Theater concludes its 2017-2018 Season with BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story, written by Alan Janes, directed by Lily-Anne Brown, with musical direction by Ensemble Member Michael Mahler. BUDDY - The Buddy Holly Story runs April 27 - May 26, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. 

TDF, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing the power of the performing arts to everyone, which is celebrating 50 years of service to audiences and the performing arts community in 2018, has announced it will be honoring Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright TONY KUSHNER at its 50th Anniversary Gala on Monday, June 18 at Manhattan's historic Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway @ 36th Street, NYC). Mr. Kushner's masterwork, Angels in America, is currently receiving its first Broadway revival with the National Theatre production at the Neil Simon Theatre.

Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater Announces its 2018 Summer Theater Season featuring 4 outstanding plays and the return of WHAT for Kids.

The best news coming out of 44th Street these days is that the refurbishing of the Helen Hayes Theater has been completed and that Second Stage, while retaining its longtime Off-Broadway home one block down, has set up residency, making the intimate playhouse Broadway's only venue exclusively dedicated to works by living American authors.

Kenneth Lonergan's Lobby Hero, directed by Trip Cullman and starring Michael Cera, Chris Evans, Brian Tyree Henry, and Bel Powley, officially opens tonight, Monday, March 26, at the newly renovated Hayes Theater. 

Walnut Street Theatre's 2017-18 Independence Studio on 3 Season concludes with Andrew Lloyd Webber's romantic musical TELL ME ON A SUNDAY. Directed by Debi Marcucci and starring The Phantom of the Opera's Julia Udine, the production begins with previews on April 10th, opens on April 12th, and continues through June 10th in the Walnut's Independence Studio on 3.

The Muny announced today that Tony and Grammy Award- winning artist Heather Headley and Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe Award-nominated artist Matthew Morrison will serve as co-hosts for The Muny's historic Centennial Gala show, An Evening with the Stars, May 18, 2018 at 9:15 p.m. at The Muny.

Epic reunions and not-to-be-missed intimate conversations will take center stage during the 17th annual Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, running April 18-29. Tribeca will celebrate the anniversaries of Schindler's List, Scarface, and In the Soup, bringing three classics back to the big screen.

Chris While and Julie Matthews are British folk music royalty.

CNBC Transcript: National Trade Council Director Peter Navarro Speaks with CNBC's Rick Santelli Today

Today, multi-platinum award-winning singer, songwriter and global superstar Josh Groban announces his Fall 2018, Arena tour. This is Josh's first tour since his sold-out Stages Tour 2015/2016 and joining him throughout the tour is Tony-Award winning, multi-platinum recording artist and actress, Idina Menzel. Josh Groban: Bridges Tour kicks off in Duluth, Georgia on October 18th and will hit over 17 cities around the country before wrapping up in New York, New York at the famed Madison Square Garden on November 18th. See below for a full list of dates.

Pan Asian Repertory Theatre (Tisa Chang, Founding Artistic Producing Director), continuing its 41st milestone season on themes of social justice and historic amnesia, presents the world premiere of the new play Daybreak by Joyce van Dyke (A Girl's War).

Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts announced today the cast and creative team for the world premiere of The Age of Innocence, which will feature four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines and more.

Due to demand, The New Group has announced a three-week extension for Jerry Springer - The Opera, with Matt McGrath appearing as Jerry Springer beginning March 13.  Terrence Mann, currently appearing in the role of Jerry Springer, plays his final performance March 11 due to an existing commitment beyond that date.

Those who have made significant contributions to the arts in a variety of categories will be recognized for their achievements in enriching the communities and citizens of Utah at the 13th Annual Star Awards held Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem. 

Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA; Jeffrey Horowitz, Founding Artistic Director) announces the full cast and creative team for William Shakespeare's tragicomedy The Winter's Tale, directed by OBIE Award-winner Arin Arbus. The production plays March 13-April 15, 2018, at Polonsky Shakespeare Center (262 Ashland Place), TFANA's home in the Brooklyn Cultural District.

What's Streaming on Prime Video in March

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director), recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, has announced today the cast and creative team of the world premiere production of the new musical The Sting, based on the 1973 film, and with book by Bob Martin, music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann & Greg Kotis with Harry Connick, Jr.

Dixon Place (Ellie Covan, Founder and Artistic Director) is pleased to present the world premiere of SPEED QUEEN, written and performed by Pulitzer Prize-nominee Phoebe Legere, and directed by Lissa Moira at Dixon Place (161A Chrystie Street). The production will preview on March 7, 2018 with press opening on March 9, and performances on March 15, 16, 17, 23 and 24. All performances are at 7:30 PM.

The thrilling and heartbreaking play Vincent River, by award-winning playwright and author Philip Ridley, has been relocated to Manchester - the city where it is to receive its regional premiere next month.

I, like millions of children in America and across the world, grew up watching MISTER ROGERS NEIGHBORHOOD, which aired on PBS from 1968 through 2001. But I don't think I realized at the time what an exceptionally good and kind human Fred Rogers was, a strong advocate for children's education and development, and for kindness towards all. All I knew as a kid is that MISTER ROGERS' NEIGHBORHOOD was a comforting place to spend a half hour, and I especially loved the Neighborhood of Make Believe (where I first experienced opera). In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, located in the Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis, is premiering an original multi-media play called MAKE BELIEVE NEIGHBORHOOD that pays homage to the work of Fred Rogers, as well as to the good work being done in their own neighborhood. I spent much of the two hours with tears behind my eyes, so moved by the kindness of my childhood favorite, and by the inspirational people working to create and strengthen community in Phillips. In a world of increasing violence, negativity, and divisiveness, spending a little time in this MAKE BELIEVE NEIGHBORHOOD, and learning how one neighborhood is making Mister Rogers' vision a reality, is a balm to the soul.