I Was Dancing - 1964 - Broadway Articles Page 2

OFC Creations Theatre has announced the 2025-2026 Broadway in Brighton Series, back for a third year, after last season's lineup featured Tony and Emmy nominated actors from Hollywood and Broadway.

It seems an impossible feat to follow in the shadow of the legendary Barbara Streisand who originated the iconic role of Fanny Brice in the 1964 Broadway production of FUNNY GIRL, which received eight Tony Award nominations.  But Hannah Shankman marched herself onto the stage at the Ohio Theatre and commanded every beat of the drum.  She’s quirky, clever, adorable, ambitious, lovable, and has impeccable comedic timing – but her show stopping voice is what sets her apart and generates thunderous, mouth-dropping applause.  And she does it with such natural ease.

What did our critic think of FUNNY GIRL at Walton Arts Center? The power that came from the vocals of the cast of FUNNY GIRL at Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, which is running through Sunday, March 23, will blow you away!

Founded in 1968, Honey Cone is like drinking sunshine. The debut of iconic girl group Honey Cone at the famed Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood on Oscars Night was unforgettable magic. Next up on their live tour is Oscar's in Palm Springs on April 11.

The road to success for Hannah Shankman has had plenty of roundabouts. Many a time she thought she was headed one way, and then she seemed to be veering in another, only to return to her original path.

On February 14 and 15, 2025, the private school Global Jaya staged a production of Mary Poppins Jr. at their theater. This show was directed by teacher Mutiara Fallahdani and featured a cast of the school’s students from elementary through high school. The Broadwayworld Indonesia team was invited to watch show 3, which took place on Saturday afternoon.

Asolo Repertory Theatre has announced complete casting for the Olivier and Tony Award-winning memory play Dancing at Lughnasa, which begins previews on March 19, 2025.  

All Roads Theatre Company has announced its inaugural season at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, beginning with the World Premiere Musical ONE FOR MY BABY, with a score by the incomparable Harold Arlen and headlined by Broadway stars LANA GORDON and LUBA MASON.

What holiday season can be claimed as complete without a Disney musical, right?  While one can tick that box with the opening of “Moana 2” at the local movie house, there is nothing like a live performance to energize those merry-making juices.  Palm Canyon Theatre provides that much needed “spoon full of sugar” into their magically musical punch bowl of fun, “Mary Poppins”.

FUNNY GIRL is one of the crown gems of the American Musical Theater. Kansas City audiences will be treated to a first-class production of a show that many theater buffs know about but have never seen. Tuesday night’s performance starred Leah Platt in the lead role of Fanny Brice. Leah has a gangbuster voice fully displayed as she plows through an excellent score with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill.

From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theater history; check out our collection of 19 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's winter reading list.

One of the fun parts of reviewing shows in Kansas City is the occasional opportunity to meet and interview some of the talented touring performers who come through with road productions of Broadway shows.

An English-language version of the classic Broadway musical playing in Paris at the Lido 2.

What did our critic think of FUNNY GIRL at Aronoff Center?

Grover Dale’s life story reads like the ultimate show bio. After all, there are few performers who can count the original Broadway production of West Side Story among their credits. Or say that Sir Noel Coward hand picked them to appear in one of his musicals. Dale goes through his career and shares memories and more.

For six decades, Bill Medley – who will bring the Righteous Brothers Lovin’ Feelin’ Farewell Tour to the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis on August 23 and the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset on August 24 – has reached generations of fans with his singular bass-baritone voice and “blue-eyed soul” style.

The latest Righteous Brothers farewell tour pulled into the Strathmore in Bethesda Thursday, entertaining an elderly crowd who enjoyed hearing their hits from the 1960s.

Dancer Bobby Banas has passed away. Learn more about Banas' life and work.

What did the critics think of Dominic Cooke's long-delayed production?

The Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse will present the area debut of a fantastic tune-filled treat in THE BIKINIS: A NEW MUSICAL BEACH PARTY!

Generations of fans were dancing and singing together to the music that changed the landscape of an era, embracing the artists that ushered in Rock-n-Roll. It was a fun night had by all, and we didn’t want it to end.

Encore! Performing Arts’ production of HELLO, DOLLY! leans heavily into the relentless optimism and good time that’s made the musical a classic. They’ve crafted together a show which takes advantage of every aspect of its production, from the costumes to the orchestrations to the simple power of a Look from the lead.

VJM: Thank you both for giving of your time to answer my questions.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard of two Choreographers being hired for the same Broadway show, not even a revival, that I can think of.  How did that come about for both of you? Ellenore Scott:  Funny Girl was my Broadway debut as a choreographer. I was so happy when I got a call from Michael Mayer (the director) asking me to work on this revival with him. He knew I was NOT a tap dancer and was aware of the multiple tap routines in the show and asked if I would be down to share the billing with Ayodele Casel. Ayo is an extraordinary artist so I was thrilled to be by her side as she made her Broadway debut as well. Michael first met me initially at Head Over Heels on Broadway where I was an associate choreographer to Spencer Liff. In 2019, he asked if I would choreograph the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors and we opened the show October 17th, 2019. I have loved working with Michael and feel as though he keeps his people close and I’m grateful he thought of me for this historic revival. Ayodele Casel:  I met Michael Mayer in 2016 when he directed a New York City Center Encores! show I performed in.  Later that fall he invited me to perform that piece in a Broadway for Hillary fundraiser he was also directing. We'd kept in touch over the years and in 2019, after seeing a show I’d premiered at The Joyce Theater, he asked if I would be interested in providing the Tap choreography for a revival he was working on. Like Ellenore shared, Michael wanted to work with us both to deliver the full choreographic vision of the show. I believe it was a very progressive vision on his part and I’m really thankful that I was able to make my Broadway debut with this team.

David Ward is joining Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB) for their much anticipated production of David Nixon’s jazzy ballet called I Got Rhythm that opens next week at Artscape in Cape Town.

Jason Alexander and more will be starring in Fiddler on the Roof at La Mirada Theatre. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.