How I Got to Broadway - Off-Broadway Articles Page 17

I am personally excited to see the spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA coming to Omaha this week! Hailed by critics as "bigger and better than ever," Laurence Connor's re-imagination of the longest-running production on Broadway is drawing superlatives: "stunning!" "spectacular!" "brilliant!" "majestic!" and "beautiful!" Because of all the references to beauty, I called Jacquelynne Fontaine, who plays Carlotta, and happens to be a former beauty title holder.

San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) presents "Rapture, Blister, Burn," the 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist hit comedy from "House of Cards" writer Gina Gionfriddo, for its sixth and final show of the 40th anniversary season. REP Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse directs this play that the New York Times calls "intensely smart and immensely funny," and has been called "a smart, funny, and lightning-paced look at feminism" by New York Daily News. The show's run begins on Thursday, April 21, 2016 and plays through Sunday, May 15, 2016 with an opening night on Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7 p.m. in the Lyceum Space Theatre at San Diego REP in Horton Plaza.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced complete casting for Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's classic musical West Side Story, directed by Paper Mill Playhouse's Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee and Jerome Robbins' original choreography recreated by Alex Sanchez. West Side Story is based on a conception by Jerome Robbins and features a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

The Irish Repertory Theatre has announced that Conor McPherson's acclaimed play SHINING CITY, starring two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick, will inaugurate its newly renovated theater, located at 132 West 22nd Street.

The Colony Hotel - which The Palm Beach Post has hailed as "probably the best place for cabaret on the planet" - is doing something completely different this year. For the first time in the 15-year history of the Royal Room, the world famous cabaret will not close at the end of "season" but will continue offering extraordinary entertainers straight-through the summer months with dinner shows every Friday and Saturday night.

Should you ask Bryce McDonald to point out the year of his life in which it was changed - irrevocably, but most certainly, for the better - chances are he would have difficulty in pinning down the most significant time in his life. He might select 1984, the year he first attended a show at Cumberland County Playhouse (it was Annie), or 1996 when he first stepped onto the CCP stage as a young man (in Oliver!) or it might be 1999, when he first began to train as a stage manager at the iconic Crossville theater (again, it was Annie) that has become 'home' for countless theater artists over the years.

 Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the 3rd ANNUAL NEW WORKS FESTIVAL, April 29 - May 1. THE READINGS ARE FREE. Reserve seats online at www.baystreet.org or by calling the Bay Street Theater Box Office at 631-725-9500, open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 5 pm.

In 1941, the Jones-Haywood Dance School in Washington D.C. was one of the country's few places where minority students could learn classical ballet.

After making his rounds in NY's Broadway Scene, Daniel J. Watts has stormed onto VINYL as the incomparable funk singer, Hannibal. I had the chance to speak to him last week. Pardon me, while I swoon.

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 11th Annual Star Awards held Friday, March 11, 2016 at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its nightly performances from March 2-13, 2016. Scroll down for details, or visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows!

From August 16 - September 4 this summer, two of greater Portland's leading theatre companies will combine forces in an exciting and news-making endeavor that is sure to enrich Maine's arts landscape. Both prestigious Equity companies, Maine State Music Theatre and Portland Stage Company, have announced a co-production of Frank McCourt's runaway hit, The Irish and How They Got That Way, at Portland Stage in the weeks following MSMT's regular summer season in Brunswick and before the opening of Portland Stage's 2016-2017 season in late September. The 1997 play with music chronicles the emotional and spiritual journey of the Irish on both sides of the Atlantic and features melodies, originally arranged by Rusty Magee, that range from traditional Celtic folk tunes to Thomas Moore ballads, George M. Cohen favorites, and the more contemporary sounds of U-2.

The 1975 smash hit Broadway musical A CHORUS LINE truly is a singular sensation. After winning nine Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize (one of only eight musicals to do so), it ran for 15 years, making it the longest running musical on Broadway at the time (it still ranks as number six). I've been waiting almost seven years for a local production of A CHORUS LINE, since seeing the Broadway revival tour in 2009. The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts has finally fulfilled my wish, and it's well worth the wait. Featuring a fabulously talented cast of over two dozen legit triple threats, about half of whom are local, co-directed and co-choreographed by A CHORUS LINE expert Kerry Casserly and Artistic Director James Rocco, this show hews very close to the original. There's no re-imagining here, this is a beautifully faithful production of the singular sensation that is A CHORUS LINE. If you call yourself a musical theater fan, it's a must-see.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, just announced the six productions of its 2016/2017 Season. The six new works will be presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street.

Owen-Jones arrived in New York City earlier this week to begin the rehearsal process, and he checked in with BroadwayWorld to chat about his Broadway return. Check out the full interview below! 

Broadwayworld.com interviewed playwright Deborah Rennard about her career and her new play, 'For Worse' at New Jersey Repertory Company. Directed by Evan Bergman, the show will be on the Long Branch Stage from March 10th to April 10th.

Doubtless, there's a lot of hustling, bustling and what-not going on at Murfreesboro's Center For The Arts today as the company prepares for tonight's premiere of the musical extravaganza Dreamgirls. Directed by 2013 First Night Most Promising Actor Matthew Hayes Hunter (who may or may not answer to the name of "Matt" these days), the grand-scale production features four of the loveliest, most talented and mesmerizing leading ladies to be found on any stage, anywhere: Ra'Shaun Simon (playing Deena Jones), Brianna Booker (Lorell Robinson), Brittany Easley (Michelle Morris) and Robbyn "Vyrgo" Daniel, who plays the clarion-voiced Effie Melody White, the part made famous on Broadway by Jennifer Holliday.

Nicci Canada pays tribute to Lady Ella Fitzgerald on Valentine's weekend in Charlotte, NC. It's all about Love!

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Phil Geoffrey Bond, Producer of 'Simply Streisand' at NJPAC on 2/6.

The 2016 Apprentice/Intern Company evening of new ten-minute plays, THE TENS runs today, January 12, through January 16 in the Victor Jory Theatre at Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Harvey Mason Jr. has worked with some of the biggest and brightest stars in the music industry. His work transcends generations and this year he became a household name as the music producer for NBC's THE WIZ LIVE!

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire are excited to announce the 2016 winter and spring schedule of events at The Colonial Theatre, The Garage and The Unicorn Theatre. Tickets are available for purchase now.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein are proud to announce the 2016 lineup for the Apprentice/Intern Company evening of new ten-minute plays. The Tens runs January 12-16 in the Victor Jory Theatre at Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Parody Twitter accounts can be a lot of things. They can be sarcastic (Condescending Wonka), they can make you think (Bored Elon Musk), they can be utterly ridiculous (not the real Bill Murray). The theatre community's favorite parody account, Annoying Actor Friend, has been all of those things at different times during its nearly three and a half year existence. The one constant for the character, whether it was brazenly flirting with the official SMASH account, championing causes important to theatre actors and fans, or shamelessly plugging its concerts and books, has been its anonymity. That is of course until yesterday when the account, followed by over 20,000 people, innocuously retweeted a link from a seemingly random blog by Andrew Briedis.

The legendary song and dance man, Tony Award-winning triple-threat Ben Vereen will be performing his solo cabaret act Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen at Catalina Jazz Club on December 18 and 19. In our talk, he comments about the show and shares memories from many of the shows he's done during his illustrious career.