Happiness - 2009 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 9

Fans of St. Louis now have one more reason to celebrate the Gateway City. Today, the Arts and Education Council will unveil a 35-foot by 50-foot mural on the East side of their incubator, the Centene Center for the Arts, located in the heart of the Grand Center Arts District. The mural, titled "St. Louis Honey Bears", is an original artwork commissioned by the Gateway Foundation.

Alisan Porter won over fans and beat out the competition to win Season 10 of "The Voice" - the first victory for Team Christina Aguilera!

It is no surprise that Scott Bradlee's inspired and wonderfully genre-crossing creation, Postmodern Jukebox---which recently just finished up its third wildly-received appearance at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa---still garners near sold-out concerts attended by rabid, frenzied fans whose screams of delight are more akin to stadium acts like Shawn Mendes or Taylor Swift. The group's latest concert tour entitled 'Welcome to the Twenties 2.0' is their take on a Jazz-Age revival timed, appropriately enough, as another 20's decade enters into our lives. The concert, thanks to the group's talent and their enthusiastic audience, turned their Costa Mesa stop at the otherwise fancy-pants Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall into a genuine party atmosphere that welcomed everyone of various backgrounds and ages. And hearing Mario Jose's live cover of Radiohead's 'Creep' is worth the price of admission alone.

Mark Morris Dance Group & Music Ensemble returns to Jacob's Pillow's Ted Shawn Theatre, July 17-21, restaging both new and beloved repertory. 'A tour de force of artistic storytelling' (The Los Angeles Times), this audience favorite is renowned for deeply witty and poetic dance and has amassed one of the most extensive Pillow performance records of any artist. Mark Morris Dance Group & Music Ensemble performs Prelude and Prelude-a work that has not been performed anywhere since 1992-the new work Sport, excerpts from Words, and the company classic Grand Duo.

Discover rising talent Alisan Porter at The Ridgefield Playhouse Saturday, July 27th at 8pm with Bandsintown Emerging Artist Series and Pepsi Rock Series powered by Xfinity. A powerhouse siren with impressive writing chops to match her towering vocals, Porter (who attended high school in CT) won Season 10 of NBC's "The Voice"-the first winner for Team Christina Aguilera! 

Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum powerhouse trio Joe Jonas, Kevin Jonas, and Nick Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers have signed a book deal with Macmillan imprint Feiwel and Friends.  The book, BLOOD, is a memoir that will detail the incredible true story of the Jonas Brothers, from the band's creation, phenomenal rise to superstardom, break up at the height of their fame, and now reunification. Written with Neil Strauss, author of The Dirt, BLOOD will publish November 12, 2019.

It is announced today that from Monday 17 June Ashley Roberts (Strictly Come Dancing 2018 finalist, The Pussycat Dolls) will be making her West End debut as Dawn in Sara Bareilles' hit musical Waitress for a strictly limited summer season. It is also confirmed that Lucie Jones (Rent, Les Miserables, Legally Blonde) will take over the role of Jenna from this date.

In the latest North American touring production of what continues to be one of Broadway's laudable theatrical staples, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF's amiable patriarch Tevye is now being played by Israeli-born actor Yehezkel Lazarov, who gives the iconic role a fresh, less geriatric delivery that still shines with old-world charm, nuanced depth, and a down-to-earth, relatable persona. Lazarov--who leads this touring non-Equity iteration of the Bartlett Sher-directed 2015 Broadway revival--provides just one of the many reasons to reacquaint yourself with this enduring stage classic, now finishing up its limited engagement at Segerstrom Center for the Arts through May 19, 2019. Sill lively and emotionally poignant--and quite relevant and timely to see through the lens of the uneasy times we live in--the stage musical offers a safe, if slightly sanitized view into the lives of poor Jewish families in turn-of-the-century Russia where the looming assault of pogroms are about to threaten their very lives and existence.

Cleveland, Ohio indie rock band The Sidekicks return with a brand new song “People's Court” which is accompanied by a video. Steve Ciolek (vocals, guitar) explains, “'Peoples Court' takes place at a combination laundromat/bar in a quiet moment shared between a couple.  Sometimes it's unnerving how well two people can know each other.” You can listen to “People's Court” at Spotify now or watch Steve Ciolek perform the song on Live from The Rainbow Couch.

According to Variety, the previously announced Jonas Brothers documentary has found its Amazon Prime Video release date. CHASING HAPPINESS is set to drop on Tuesday, June 4.

The Stratford Festival has announced that Chilina Kennedy will headline a musical Forum Showcase on November 4 at Stratford's Avon Theatre. Tickets are now on sale for Chilina Kennedy in The House of Martin Guerre in Concert.

Tickets are now on sale for Playhouse on Park's Comedy Series continuing on June 1, at 8pm. Leighann Lord is scheduled to headline, with support from comedian Irwin Loring.

The Tank (Meghan Finn and Rosalind Grush, Artistic Directors) in association with Kairos Italy Theater will present the United States Premiere of Butterflies by Emanuele Aldrovandi in a translation by Carlotta Brentan

Fado Festival NY&NJ enters its third year with a dazzling new venue partner, Brookfield Place New York, its most expansive lineup of artists and, with four free events, an incomparable opportunity for fans to hear some of the most revered singers on the Portuguese fado scene today. As in previous editions of the festival, the 2019 edition offers an unparalleled portrait of fado's past, present and future. The festival will feature four of fado's biggest names-- Camané, Hélder Moutinho, Ana Sofia Varela, and Maria Emília -- as well as the fado-inspired U.S.- based Portuguese jazz singer Sofia Ribeiro.

KYLE ABRAHAM is a 2017-18 Joyce Creative Residency Artist, 2016 Doris Duke Recipient, 2015 City Center Choreographer in Residence, a 2013 MacArthur Fellow, and a New York Live Arts Resident Commissioned Artist for 2012-2014.

The Playwrights Realm announces the 10th Anniversary INK'D Festival of New Plays (April 2019), the annual showcase of new works by The Realm's Writing Fellows. Over the past decade, the festival has introduced audiences to a diversity of fresh perspectives on theater's ability to address the world around it-and has proven to be an indispensible launching pad for the voices driving the future of playwriting.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of The Children written by acclaimed British playwright Lucy Kirkwood and helmed by celebrated Chicago director Jonathan Berry. Filled with dark humor, this thought-provoking and haunting play features three of Chicago's top actors tackling complex roles: ensemble members Ora Jones (Rose) and Yasen Peyankov (Robin) with Janet Ulrich Brooks (Hazel). Following sold-out runs in London and New York, Steppenwolf proudly presents this brave and profound work that confronts the responsibility each generation must face for the way it leaves the world.

We are a small community. The happiness of our children is everything. Our hopes and dreams rest in these tiny souls.

One of Japan's most celebrated playwrights, Hashida Sugako, has moved countless audiences with such popular works as Oshin, Wataru Seken wa oni Bakari and Akai Giwaku. Her play Marriage, originally a 1982 television drama and adapted for the stage the following year, traces the path of women's self-determination and how they overcome fate. Marriage, which has appeared on the Chinese-language stage many times and touched theatregoers' hearts far and wide, concerns five women living under one roof, connected by familial bonds and mutual promises in facing adversity. Yet everything changes when love enters into the picture. How do they free themselves from their shackles, pursuing happiness without any regret? The play's 2015 HKRep premiere production received 11 nominations at the Hong Kong Drama Awards, winning Best Actress (Tragedy/Drama), Best Set Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design and Top Ten Popular Productions. Translated by Yu Daiqin and directed by Fong Chun Kit, this production features Mercy Wong, Man Shui Hing, Kiki Cheung, ManMan Kwok, Ip Ka Yan, Chris Sun, Leung Tin Chak, Yuen Wai Sun, Chow Chi Fai and Eddy Au Yeung. Marriage runs from March 7th to 10th at the Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium. Tickets are available now from URBTIX outlets.

One of Japan's most celebrated playwrights, Hashida Sugako, has moved countless audiences with such popular works as Oshin, Wataru Seken wa oni Bakari and Akai Giwaku. Her play Marriage, originally a 1982 television drama and adapted for the stage the following year, traces the path of women's self-determination and how they overcome fate. Marriage, which has appeared on the Chinese-language stage many times and touched theatregoers' hearts far and wide, concerns five women living under one roof, connected by familial bonds and mutual promises in facing adversity. Yet everything changes when love enters into the picture. How do they free themselves from their shackles, pursuing happiness without any regret? The play's 2015 HKRep premiere production received 11 nominations at the Hong Kong Drama Awards, winning Best Actress (Tragedy/Drama), Best Set Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design and Top Ten Popular Productions. Translated by Yu Daiqin and directed by Fong Chun Kit, this production features Mercy Wong, Man Shui Hing, Kiki Cheung, ManMan Kwok, Ip Ka Yan, Chris Sun, Leung Tin Chak, Yuen Wai Sun, Chow Chi Fai and Eddy Au Yeung. Marriage runs from March 7th to 10th at the Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium. Tickets are available now from URBTIX outlets.

Plaza Theatre Company is pleased to announce auditions for its upcoming production of Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA. The production will be directed by JaceSon P. Barrus with assistant direction by Kimberly Billins-Oliver and Jay Cornils, stage management by Lindsay Batt, choreography by Tabitha Ibarra and assistant choreography by Eden Barrus and Alina Jennings.

David Walliams' best-selling children's book Billionaire Boy comes to life on stage in an original Australian adaptation by playwright Maryam Master from 6 - 14 April at Arts Centre Melbourne's Playhouse.

FIERCELY INDEPENDENT - a new play by Tony winner Kathleen K. Johnson - will be given its world premiere Off-Broadway at the Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam St. in Manhattan), with preview performances beginning March 1 prior to an official press opening March 6.   FIERCELY INDEPENDENT will play a five-week limited engagement through April 7, it has been announced by producer Michael Guccione. 

FIERCELY INDEPENDENT - a new play by Tony winner Kathleen K. Johnson - will be given its world premiere Off-Broadway at the SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam St. in Manhattan), with preview performances beginning March 1 prior to an official press opening March 6.   FIERCELY INDEPENDENT will play a five-week limited engagement through April 7, it has been announced by producer Michael Guccione. 

BroadwayWorld has just learned that UK star Lucie Jones will soon join the cast of Waitress on Broadway as Jenna. Sara Bareilles and Tony Award winner Gavin Creel just played their final show as Jenna and Dr. Pomatter, yesterday, February 3.