Hair - 1968 - Broadway Articles Page 17

When Russ Katz heard the story a hair stylist in his building was telling about her life in Vietnam and how she came to the United States, it stuck with him. Eventually he decided the world needed to hear her story, and the result is 'The Principal's Daughter,' based on Tran Lê Kim Tuyen's life. Katz's book has earned the Dog Ear Publishing Award of Literary Excellence - and has led to at least one unexpected reunion. Katz couldn't be more thrilled. 'I was excited to hear about the award of excellence,' he said. 'I immediately told everyone around me at the time. To think that something I wrote could even be considered - it made my day.' Dog Ear Publishing's editorial team determines award winners, with the managing editor, editorial services manager and the publisher reviewing its recommendations. Winning books include the award logo on their covers. Although Katz is happy about the award, it's a reunion that took place as a result of his research that makes him most proud. 'While telling me the story, Kim had remembered the soldier's name her family was friendly with (in Vietnam). It wasn't a common name, so later that day I did a little research and found him living just two hours away.' Nearly a year later, Kim and her sister Joanna met for dinner with that soldier, Robert Toporek. 'I learned the soldier had spent considerable time looking for Kim's sister (who had moved to America before the war ended) and she for him as well,' Katz said. 'The looks on their faces when they saw each other after 40 years was priceless.' 'The Principal's Daughter: Based on the True Story of Tran Lê Kim Tuyen' describes Kim's life starting as a happy 10-year-old playing among trees. When the Viet Cong marched just 100 meters from her home near Saigon and began attacking the nearby U.S. Army base, her life changed forever. She and her family spent that night in 1968 huddled in a makeshift cellar, fearing for their lives when their home was caught in the crossfire. 'While Kim was cutting my hair, she started telling me about where she was from and how she came to the United States. Her daring boat escape, being fired upon and thrown in jail. This story rang through my head in so many different scenarios I couldn't stop thinking about it,' Katz said. 'Although the Vietnam War has been a source of controversy for many decades, I don't think people really understand why the war began in the first place. Although I didn't go into this in much detail, I hope people could see the beautiful place Vietnam was before the war and the impact it had on them after it ended. Hollywood only tells the stories of the soldiers, but what about the people the soldiers went to try to protect, what happened to all of them?' Dog Ear editor Leslie Wilhelm Hatch writes that the book gives a view of Vietnam that probably few people have thought about. 'Russ Katz's story telling style is very approachable - it's very emotional, but not overly so - he lets the facts and the people tell their story without bias or political overtones. The fact that the story is true makes it even stronger. Katz is able to share a lot about Vietnamese culture, growing up in Vietnam, the war itself (how it affected the characters), the country's customs, and the workings of Communism. He shares all this in the context of the story - so not only was I entertained and enthralled, but I learned a lot as well.' 'This manuscript tells an extraordinary story, a story that deserves to be told to as many people as want to know about it,' writes Terry Hummer, editor and publishing consultant with Kevin Anderson & Associates. 'The material is rich, the characters are vivid, and the narrative itself is riveting and moving. I don't think I've ever read a piece of prose that so galvanized my attention. Whatever you do with this, keep Kim's spirit alive. She is a Personage. You are lucky to know her. I am lucky to know something about her now.' Kirkus Reviews describe the book as 'an absorbing taste of the everyday in a place that that was the victim of superpower geopolitics. ... An important contribution to primary-source oral histories of Vietnamese people.' The author finds it funny he would choose to write a book, much less a second book. (His first was 'Evolution,' a science fiction novel published in 2012.) 'I was never good at reading or writing in school; it was my weakest subject,' he said. 'I never found joy in reading until just recently, really just the past year or two. It is somewhat a love-hate relationship. I love the finished product and just how the accomplishment makes me feel.' Katz has set up monthly promotions for 'The Principal's Daughter' through BookDaily.com and plans to do more marketing. Katz, who grew up in East Brunswick, N.J., lives in Fairfax, Va. For additional information, please visit www.RussKatz.com The Principal's Daughter: Based on the True Story of Tran Lê Kim Tuyen Russ Katz Dog Ear Publishing ISBN: 978-1-4575-4892-5 304 pages $15.95 US Available at Ingram, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and fine bookstores everywhere.

New shows on sale at bergenPAC: Frontiers: The Ultimate Tribute to Journey-Friday, February 25, 2017 at 8PM. The Beach Boys-Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 7:30PM. Happy Together Tour 2017-Tuesday, June 20, 2017-8PM. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 2, 2016 at 11AM at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling bergenPAC's Box Office at 201.227.1030. 

In response to the recent events in the United States and all the anger, hostility, and fear that has accompanied them, over 40 performers from the New York Theatre and Cabaret communities came together this weekend and created a video of 'Let the Sunshine In' from the 1968 musical HAIR as a message of hope and love for all peoples everywhere. Click below to watch the performance!

Pioneer Theatre Company presents Oliver!, the award-winning musical by Lionel Bart inspired by the orphan's tale, Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens. Oliver! runs December 2 to December 17, 2016.

It's a complicated time in a confusing culture for members of the New York City Hair tribe; the Vietnam War has brought a counterculture revolution that vexes many of these youthful Americans. Still, as an audience member watching the conflicted free spirits, I felt more confused about the overall production than any individual characters felt about their choices.

The authors of HAIR, The American Tribal-Love Rock Musical - James Rado, the estate of Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot - want the Trump Campaign to cease and desist using any music from the show.

This November, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. Scroll down for details!

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the world premiere production of The Last Tiger in Haiti by playwright Jeff Augustin and directed by Joshua Kahan Brody. A co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, where the play had its world premiere in June, The Last Tiger in Haiti begins previews Today, October 14 and the show runs through Sunday, November 27. Individual tickets start at $29 and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone, 510 647-2949. Press night will be on Today, October 21.

The British Museum has acquired sixteen important lithograph prints and three aquatint prints by Pablo Picasso covering the post-war period from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. This acquisition closes the last major gap in the British Museum's representation of Picasso's achievements as a printmaker. Highlighting key themes in his work from this period, including his relationship with the youthful and independent-minded Francoise Gilot, the lithographs were produced in Paris when he was working in close collaboration with the printer Fernand Mourlot. The large aquatints from the early 1950s show Picasso's experimentation with the painterly possibilities of the technique working with young printers at the Paris workshop of Roger Lacouriere  with whom he had first worked in the 1930s on the Vollard Suite.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment presents the first show of its 2016-2017 season, the Los Angeles premiere production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell, musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Glenn Casale.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the world premiere production of The Last Tiger in Haiti by playwright Jeff Augustin and directed by Joshua Kahan Brody. A co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, where the play had its world premiere in June, The Last Tiger in Haiti begins previews Friday, October 14 and the show runs through Sunday, November 27. Individual tickets start at $29 and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone, 510 647-2949. Press night will be on Friday, October 21.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

August in August' is a brand new annual live performance series teaming Joseph Grant Jr., ambassador of arts and culture for the councilman and theatrical producer Andrea J. Fulton of the Anderson & Bert Cade Fulton Foundation. Joint efforts result in the mounting of August Wilson's Tony nominated Two Trains Running directed by Sabura Rashid as its upcoming offering starting August 26th 2016. The production of 'Two Trains Running' will be featured at Fulton Park in Brooklyn on Aug. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., and Aug. 27 at Herbert Von King Park from 4 to 7p.m. Both performances are FREE. August in August actually began Aug. 13 with the first installation of the series 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom performed at Fulton Park in Brooklyn, produced by the Bed-Stuy Theatre Group.

In 2015, Stephen Petronio Company culminated its 30th anniversary 2014-15 season with a transformation: the launch of Bloodlines. This five-year autobiographical project not only honors the lineage of American postmodern dance, but also traces the influences and impulses that have shaped choreographer Stephen Petronio, an artist uniquely positioned to preserve this postmodern tradition. Premiere dates for the third season of Bloodlines, along with additional touring, will be announced soon.

Amas Musical Theatre and The Amas Song Salon will offer a special presentation with four rising Broadway talents - Sam Davis (An American in Paris), Daniel May (Flower Drum Song), Rashidra Scott (Sister Act), and A.J. Shively (Bright Star) - who will explore the art of musical orchestrating and arranging.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment will present the first show of its 2016-2017 season, the Los Angeles premiere production of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell, musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Glenn Casale.

A 20th century comedy masterpiece gets rebooted for the new millennium with OSCAR AND FELIX: A NEW LOOK AT THE ODD COUPLE, a modern take on Neil Simon's 1965 classic, opening at Adelaide's Arts Theatre on September 1.

Selection of 20th Century songs recalls fun of 60s and 70s

?New shows on sale this week at bergenPAC: Kix-Friday, August 26, 2016 at 8PM; Tommy James and The Shondells and Felix Cavaliere's Rascals-September 16, 2016 at 8PM; and Mutts Gone Nuts: Canine Cabaret-Sunday November 6, 2016 at 1PM. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 3, 2016 at 11AM at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling bergenPAC's Box Office at 201.227.1030.

PLENTY OF TIME is a sweet romantic comedy, simultaneously looking back with nostalgia and looking forward with hope. It's not to be missed.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

This May, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. Scroll down for the full lineup!

TUTS Underground presents the cast of the Heathers: The Musical, which makes its Houston debut on April 28, 2016. Based on the 1989 cult classic film, this musical is a dark, delicious story of the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High - Heather, Heather and Heather. Veronica Sawyer, the only non-Heather of the clique, rejects their ruthless regime when she falls for bad boy J.D. who wants to see all the Heathers six feet under.

As BroadwayWorld reported last week, after winning big at this year's GRAMMYs, the cast recording for Broadway's HAMILTON has reached a another huge milestone -- going gold.