I'll Say She Is - 2016 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 9

The first-ever Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical, CATS, returns to Broadway tonight at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 W 52nd Street).

Anger, Anxiety, & Strangeness

Following his stint as a semi-finalist on American Idol, Todrick has not only become a YouTube sensation, but he's redefined the genre. He's currently touring the country with a concert version of his new visual album, Straight Outta Oz, which will be at DC's Howard Theatre on Monday, August 1st.

The Smith Center is ushering in a dazzling fall-winter lineup featuring the world's favorite Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals, seasonal concerts and world-renowned shows.

Lewis Griffiths' numerous credits include tours of Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde and Ghost - The Musical and Priscilla Queen of the Desert in the West End. He's now taking on the iconic role of Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing, which begins a UK tour from this month.

Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Festival today announced the full lineup for its third annual festivities on August 18-21, in conjunction with Wizard World Chicago.

After over 300 performances on Broadway, a sold-out run at the Public Theater, eleven Tony Awards, a Grammy Award, a Pulitzer Prize and countless other honors, HAMILTON creator Lin-Manuel Miranda has said goodbye to the role for which he'll be forever remembered. What comes next? The age of Javilton. Javier Muñoz has been the Hamilton alternate dating back to the musical's early development and debut at the Public Theatre in January 2015, as well as throughout the Broadway engagement. Now he has officially taken over the title role- something he has past experience with. He previously took over the role of Usnavi - again, replacing Miranda - in the latter's Tony-winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.

If you've seen the Maysles brother's documentaries GREY GARDENS and THE BEALES OF GREY GARDENS (which are actually collaborative efforts between David & Albert Maysles,Ellen Hovde, Muffie Mayer & Susan Froemke) then you have to see Max and Louie Productions' brilliant staging of the musical based upon these larger than life figures. If you haven't see either, then you desperately need to. Seriously, they're on HULU, watch them! Eavesdropping on Edith Bouvier Beale (big Edie) and Edie Beale (little Edie) in these films is an immersive experience, filled with snippets of songs, stories of missed opportunities and lost loves, a dilapidated estate, lot of cats, and more than one raccoon. Their love for one another is, somehow, crystalline clear, but lying beneath layers of scars that a life unfulfilled can produce. The musical tells it all, with a one act flashback to 1941 that fills in the blanks (book by Doug Wright) that led years later to their seclusion in squalor. This is masterfully achieved by the combined efforts of an exceptional cast and expert direction. I'll say it more than you once; you must see GREY GARDENS.

Well, yeah. I guess I am self-made. Because - thinking in terms of what my goals have been all my life - I've had very specific ideas around what I've wanted to do since I was about three. I can remember back to the day, the time of day, what I was doing, when the light bulb went off and I said to myself, "That's what I want to do." I pretty much focused on that. I said it on that day and I've gotten to the point where I'm in the middle of it happening. It's hinting towards what I see, what my goals have been. But it's not out of reach. It could happen. It's just a matter of putting the time into that and making it happen. It has happened already and now it's about allowing it to happen again and maybe getting more exposure to let it expand. My earliest inspiration is pretty much what helped shape myself into what I am. I can pinpoint who those people are and at some point I allowed it to… I let those landmarks inspire, I held onto them, and continued to step forward as the man. But it pretty much started with the Sonny and Cher show.

?Culture Clash - the two-woman theatre company that received rave reviews for their production of immigration drama Hannah and Hanna at the Edinburgh Festival last summer - have been awarded funding from Arts Council England for their second project, Under My Thumb, a new play by screenwriter Cassiah Joski-Jethi.

How many different ways are there to say how much Angelenos love the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival? Thousands. Ask anyone who's ever parked themselves on a blanket or lawn chair with their family and friends and you'll get as many different answers as there are people in the audience.

B Street Theatre presents the regional premiere of CONSTELLATIONS by Nick Payne.

Playwright Jason Odell Williams' latest theatrical project CHURCH & STATE opens July 2 at the Skylight Theatre as the first part of its National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Later to also open at JCC CenterStage (Rochester, NY) and New Jersey Rep (Long Branch, NJ) in their 2016-17 seasons.

BWW speaks to Phil Ellis about his 2016 Edinburgh Fringe show Phil Ellis Is Alone Together (But Mostly Alone).

B Street Theatre presents the regional premiere of CONSTELLATIONS by Nick Payne.

Below, check out quotables from NBC's 'THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON' June 14 – June 17

STAGES St. Louis celebrates their 30th year with a very funny musical that deserved a much better fate that the short run it had on Broadway, IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU. A play of sorts on the old song 'It Had to be You', this work is difficult to describe simply because there are so many farcical twists and turns that revealing any would spoil the experience. What I can tell you is how terrific this production is. It features a top notch cast that all seem to be having a great time, and why not? It's filled with clever lines and a fine score (music by Barbara Anselmi, book by Brian Hargrove and lyrics by Hargrove, Jill Abramovitz, Michael Cooper, Carla Rose Fisher, Ernie Lijoi, and Will Randall) that's catchy and really fits the show well. I will provide a brief synopsis, but suffice to say, this might be considered the Murphy's Law of shows that feature a wedding. But, you can't go wrong by taking in this superbly rendered presentation, and I heartily recommend that you see it!

BBW Interviews: Singer & Songwriter Robb Nesbitt

Everybody has their 'thing' in high school. Maybe you were the star of the football team, or you dedicated your time to the robotics team. Maybe you were on the school newspaper staff or you attended all the science fairs. For a lot of kids, they throw themselves into the abyss of theatre.

The wildly popular show about the witches from Oz is returning to New Orleans for the third time in recent years to share the magic!  WICKED, a musical adaptation of the book by Gregory Maguire, tells the story of two young girls who meet at Shiz University, and go on an adventure that will lead them to become Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.  If you grew up with THE WIZARD OF OZ, you're going to love WICKED.  Think of it as a behind the scenes look at everything that took place before Dorothy and her little dog too were dropped into the Emerald City.

It's only a few moments before choreographer Jennifer Paulson- Lee will watch her cast give the press a 'sneak peek' of their rehearsals. They're preparing to perform three musical numbers from 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown' which will be presented at The York Theatre beginning this week for a limited engagement. What's unique about this revival is the fact that a pint-sized cast of 9 to 13 year olds is performing all the roles. But don't let their ages fool you. This young bunch of talented thespians has a list of professional credits that any seasoned 35-year-old performer would envy. As the press files into the theatre, Paulson-Lee is busy making last minute corrections on her young charges. She is gentle and soft-spoken yet gets her point across to these eager children who take her notes and make the adjustments on the spot. The mutual love and admiration between this gang of peanuts and their dance master is all too evident.

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.

Over 300 performances of more than 50 different programs of theater, dance and music featuring local and world-renowned talent are on tap for the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts' 2016/17 season, among them a production of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, helmed by SPRING AWAKENING director Michael Arden.

THE BOOK OF MORMON's third tour of Minneapolis is a charm for theatre goers who love a good laugh. Ensemble member Jake Emmerling has been with the tour since the beginning and shares a little of his story with BWW readers in this 6 Questions & a Plug.

She is a legend of Australian stage, earning a global reputation for her epic vocal performances. He won the nation's hearts at fifteen as the winner of Australia's Got Talent. Now these charismatic classical singers are coming 'Together'. It was an honour to share a chat, a chuckle, and even some heartfelt memories with Marina Prior and Mark Vincent to discuss their new release!