Happiness - 2009 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 12

If it is the secret of happiness you seek, you might look no further than The Kennedy Theatre in Downtown Raleigh where Theatre Raleigh's production of 'Daddy Long Legs' opened last night. Based on the 1912 novel by Jean Webster, the two-actor musical 'Daddy Long Legs' is the coming-of-age story of Jerusha Abbott, the oldest orphan in The John Grier Home. Jerusha's life is forever changed when a mysterious unknown benefactor, who calls himself Mr. Smith, decides to send her to college. His nine-point plan 'for the further education of Jerusha Abbott' includes she write him one letter every month, which he will not read nor respond to. Over the next four years, Jerusha finds her spirit, voice, happiness, and love in the arms of Jervis Pendleton, who may have a secret of his own. 'Daddy Long Legs' is a sweet, heartfelt love story in the spirit of Miklos Laszlo's 1937 play 'Parfumerie,' which inspired the movies 'The Shop Around the Corner' and 'You've Got Mail.' And who knows, perhaps Theatre Raleigh's production may even inspire you to pen a love letter of your own.

With the original run and four-week extension completely sold out, Steep Theatre Company is adding three more performances of Simon Stephens' Birdland on June 10, 14, and 15. With the ensemble's next production (Penelope Skinner's Linda directed by Robin Witt) right around the corner, June 15 will be the last chance to catch this runaway hit at Steep.

From May 16 to 27, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. will present the world premiere production of 'Hercules Didn't Wade in the Water' by Michael A Jones.  The play is winner of the troupe's 2017 Emerging Playwrights Competition.  Called a 'drama with comedy,' it is a story of displacement of Black families and the forces that lead to it in modern America.  Performances are at Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

The Riant Theatre (Van Dirk Fisher, Artistic Director) -- the Audelco Award-winning nonprofit providing a nurturing developmental environment for playwrights and theatre creators of diverse cultural backgrounds -- proudly presents THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL. A celebration of cultural diversity, THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL will be presented at the Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, NYC) Today, May 16th through Sunday, May 27th, 2018.

The Keegan Theatre is proud to announce its 2018-2019 season, a ten-show lineup that includes three musicals, two regional premieres, two DC-area premieres, and two Keegan PLAY-RAH-KA productions for families.  "Heading into our 22nd season, Keegan is as vibrant and busy as we've ever been," says Producing Artistic Director Mark A. Rhea. "We are more passionate than ever about engaging with our community as far as the stories we tell and the programming we offer - through our main stage season, our Boiler Room series, and our ever-growing educational branch, Keegan PLAY-RAH-KA."

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) announces its exciting 2018/19 season: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, the Tony Award-winning play adapted by Simon Stephens based on the book by Mark Haddon, directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Producer Jonathan Berry; and the world premiere of Radical by acclaimed playwright Matthew-Lee Erlbach, inspired by the book White American Youth by Christian Picciolini, directed by SYA Artistic Director Hallie Gordon. SYA's 2018/19 Season explores the question, "When You Feel Lost, How Do You Find Your Way?"

Cirque du Soleil is delighted to announce that Alegria, one of its most iconic shows, will return to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Staying true to the essence of the original creation, Alegria will retain its unique spirit of joy and optimism for which it was renowned around the globe. Cirque du Soleil will revisit the show through today's lens to ensure it is as inspiring as it was 25 years ago.

From May 16 to 27, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. will present the world premiere production of 'Hercules Didn't Wade in the Water' by Michael A Jones. The play is winner of the troupe's 2017 Emerging Playwrights Competition. Called a 'drama with comedy,' it is a story of displacement of Black families and the forces that lead to it in modern America. Performances are at Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

From May 16 to 27, The Negro Ensemble Company, Inc. will present the world premiere production of 'Hercules Didn't Wade in the Water' by Michael A Jones.  The play is winner of the troupe's 2017 Emerging Playwrights Competition.  Called a 'drama with comedy,' it is a story of displacement of Black families and the forces that lead to it in modern America.  Performances are at Theatre 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

The Riant Theatre (Van Dirk Fisher, Artistic Director) -- the Audelco Award-winning nonprofit providing a nurturing developmental environment for playwrights and theatre creators of diverse cultural backgrounds -- proudly presents THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL. A celebration of cultural diversity, THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL will be presented at the Theatre 54 @ Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, NYC) Wednesday, May 16th through Sunday, May 27th, 2018.

With the original run completely sold out, Steep Theatre Company is adding sixteen more performances of Simon Stephens' Birdland. Tickets for the extension will go on sale at 3:00pm on Monday, April 16, and they're expected to sell very quickly. Tickets will be available at steeptheatre.com/birdland.

Dreams and destinies derail in Lachlan Philpott's SILENT DISCO as growing up in a society of broken marriages, drugs and delinquency play out.

When you can have whatever you want, whenever you want it, what do you ask for next? When you've pushed every boundary until there's nothing left to hold you in, how do you find your way back home? Birdland is a sexy, searing exploration of empathy and the impact of unchecked privilege by Olivier and Tony Award winner Simon Stephens.

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.

When you can have whatever you want, whenever you want it, what do you ask for next? When you've pushed every boundary until there's nothing left to hold you in, how do you find your way back home? Birdland is a sexy, searing exploration of empathy and the impact of unchecked privilege by Olivier and Tony Award winner Simon Stephens.

The Old Globe, together with Children's Theatre Company (CTC), and in partnership with The Old Vic, today announced details for the Minneapolis and San Diego productions of Dr. Seuss's The Lorax in its U.S. premiere. The production, based on the book The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, is adapted for the stage by David Greig (Artistic Director of the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company; recent work: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Cover My Tracks) with music and lyrics written by Charlie Fink (Frontman/songwriter for the hit musical group, Noah and the Whale (2007-2015). H. Adam Harris, along with Meghan Kreidler and Rick Miller puppeteering, will play The Lorax. Joining them is Steven Epp as The Once-ler. Playing multiple roles in the ensemble are Ansa Akyea, Christopher Becknell, Stephanie Bertumen, Brian Bose, Ryan Colbert, Lynnea Doublette, Johannah "Joh" Easley, Rajane Katurah, Ryan Lear, Ryan Dean Maltz, Emily Michaels King, and Autumn Ness.

The Iceman Cometh begins previews tonight at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!

Suzie Mathers reunites with Wicked co-star Oliver Savile, along with Rocky Horror's Liam Tamne and Diana Vickers, in this sparkling new comedic musical revue, created by Alexander S. Bermange and directed by Paul Foster I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical sets out to present everything that you could possibly want to know about being a musical theatre performer… if only there were any who would dare to admit it.

Brass Funkeys, Jocee, Ollie Howell and the National Youth Orchestra have all announced they will be supporting this year's Give a Gig Week with exclusive shows across London. In addition, YolanDa Brown, Chair of Youth Music, will be supporting Give a Gig Week via a show in Sydney. Give a Gig Week is Youth Music's flagship fundraising initiative, Youth Music supports 350 music-making projects across the country for children and young people experiencing challenging circumstances.

The 2018/19 Mirvish season will feature six Canadian premieres, one North American premiere, one pre-Broadway engagement and five new productions. A total of 16 shows will play at Mirvish theatres from June 2018 to July 2019. The main subscription season will feature seven shows and the Off-Mirvish season three shows. There will be six bonus shows that will not be on subscription.

Artistic Director Ray Jivoff unveiled Skylight Music Theatre's 2018-19 Season line-up of "firsts" -- five shows that have never been produced at Skylight.  "We are thrilled to announce this exciting season of well-known and well-loved shows that have not been produced by Skylight before," said Jivoff. "These are blockbuster titles that perfectly capture Skylight's mission of presenting the full spectrum of music theatre, from musicals to revues to classical repertoire. Each show is joyful and exuberant in its own way and highlights our dedication to producing inventive and theatrical musical storytelling."

Jonathan Berry returns this spring to Steep to direct the U.S. premiere of Simon Stephens' Birdland. Stephens, who won the Tony and Olivier Awards for his The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is Steep's Associate Playwright, and Birdland will be the fifth of his plays to be produced by the Edgewater ensemble. Steep Ensemble Member and Jeff Award-winning director Jonathan Berry recently directed Steppenwolf Theatre's You Got Older and The Crucible. Over the years, he has consistently produced some of Steep's most notable shows, including last year's sweeping epic Earthquakes in London and Laura Wade's Posh, which won the Non-Equity Jeff Award for Best Ensemble, and was nominated for Best Director and Best Production.

Rorschach's dark wit and visionary approach to design have met their match in Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's sharp, fantastical adventure through the Chinese Land of the Dead - coming to Atlas Performing Arts Center March 23 - April 15.

Bill Kenwright's 'Brilliant' (The Mail) and 'Stunning' (The Echo) production of one of the greatest family musicals of all time, The Sound of Music, arrives in Manchester 13 - 17 March.

As announced, Criminal Girlfriends, a new Toronto-based theatre collective, presents a new play by the award-winning George F. Walker, one of Canada's most frequently produced and internationally acclaimed playwrights. Fierce is an intense and intensely funny razor-sharp work centred on two women, both troubled by their pasts: a psychiatrist and her drug-addicted patient (or at least, that's how it starts out). The world premiere of Fierce OPENS THIS WEEK and runs February 15-March 3 (with Media Night on Saturday, February 17) at Red Sandcastle Theatre in Toronto's Leslieville neighbourhood.