In Love With Love - 1928 - Broadway Articles Page 15

A sold-out house of theater patrons and supporters shared in the excitement when Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts' Artistic Directors, Kelly Fouchi and Gary Rucker revealed the popular and diverse line-up of productions for the 2019-2020 season Sunday evening, January 27 at the theater in Kenner's historic Rivertown. 

The Shakespeare Theatre Association (STA) annual conference came to Prague this year. It has an extensive performance program, crafted by host Guy Roberts and Prague Shakespeare Company, that was open to the public as well as conference attendees. The conference was all about bringing the focus back to the artistic sides of things, as theatre tries to compete in a world filled with on-demand entertainment.

n the midst of a polar vortex this winter, MN Opera sends an early valentine filled with warmth to the Twin Cities in their production The Italian Straw Hat at the Ordway Center's Orchestra Hall. This comic Italian opera set in 1950's Paris plays similar to a French farce while sung in Italian and accompanied with English subtitles. Composed and written by Nino Rota and his wife Ernesta, the composer earned accolades for his film scores written for Federico Fellini, and "The Godfather," both the first and second versions. In this opera, Rota's mid-century comedy, a groom's horse eats an expensive straw hat on the morning of his wedding day while his father in law's patent leather shoes fit too tight. Sound extraordinary? Yes, all is wondrous mayhem as this Parisian wedding spins out of control and delightful events happen on stage throughout this enchanting opera.

In Arizona Broadway Theatre's production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, Director Kurtis Overby has assembled all the pieces of this American classic into a charming and engaging interpretation that is, to be clear, en pointe! The result is a jaunty, rhapsodic, and sentimental journey across avenues, cafes, and a dance studio where eros (romantic love) and pragma (practical love) intersect.

Every January I look forward to attending THE MANOR by Katherine Bates, presented by Theatre 40 inside the historic Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills where the story upon which it is based actually took place. Now celebrating its 17th year, the annual production has become a Los Angeles/Beverly Hills institution with several performances selling out even before tickets go on sale to the public. Its popularity, no doubt, is due to the scandalous true story as told by the talented actors, costumed to time-period perfection, as well as the chance to be inside the grand and glorious architectural landmark in which the events of 90 years ago actually took place, performed in two acts taking place 10 years apart. The names of all characters in the Doheny saga have been changed, of course, "to protect the guilty" as we are told before the play begins by the mansion's loyal butler, James (Daniel Lench who has masterfully played the part for 6 years).

Two theatre greats died in December 2018, both with history at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.  Dancer and teacher Blanche Lund died on December 1, 2018, and composer Galt MacDermot died on December 17, 2018. Because of the holidays the theatre did not have a chance to properly mark the passing of these remarkable people. We will do so now.

After a sold out run last fall, the recent revival of The Diary of Anne Frank, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman ('97 Broadway version) will return for a limited engagement previewing January 11, 2019.

The subject matter varies, but a common theme among the works found in the new exhibition "Harrison Hurwitz: Photographer, Working" is a theme of photos made under stressful conditions. The exhibition opens Jan. 8 at the Appaloosa Library, 7377 E. Silverstone Drive, Scottsdale, and runs through Feb. 28.

The Swamp tells the dramatic story of humanity's attempts to conquer the Florida Everglades, one of nature's most mysterious and unique ecosystems. Told through the lives of a handful of colorful and resolute characters, from hucksters to politicians to unlikely activists, The Swamp explores the repeated efforts to transform what was seen as a vast and useless wasteland into an agricultural and urban paradise, ultimately leading to a passionate campaign to preserve America's greatest wetland. As the world copes with increasingly deadly weather events, The Swamp is a timely tale of the perils of mankind's abuse of nature. Based in part on the book The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise by Michael Grunwald, The Swamp is produced and directed by Randall MacLowry and executive produced by Mark Samels. The film premieres on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE Tuesday,  January 15, 2019, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS.

Quintessence Theatre Group's production of Lionel Bart's beloved musical Oliver! is extending its Philadelphia run. Adapted from Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, the production will play at Mt. Airy's Sedgwick Theatre now through December 30, 2018. The tale about finding hope and a chosen family in the bleakest of situations started performances on November 14, 2018.

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.

Michael J. LaChiusa (music, lyrics and book) and George C. Wolfe's (book) musical interpretation of Joseph Moncure March's once scandalous 1928 poem THE WILD PARTY is an escapist night of deliciously dark debauchery.  The latest production from Little Triangle Theatre is a feast for the senses with fabulous music combining with brilliant choreography and creative costuming.

The Stratford Festival lost one of its pioneers today. Douglas Rain died of natural causes early this morning at the age of 90 at St. Marys Memorial Hospital, just outside of Stratford, Ontario, the city in which he established his career, becoming one of the world's great classical actors.

Rubicon Theatre Producing Artistic Director KARYL LYNN BURNS today announced programming for the company's JANET AND MARK L. GOLDENSON 2018-2019 Broadway Concert Series. According to Burns, the series offers an opportunity for audiences to enjoy the talents and personal stories and insights of some of the best and brightest concert and cabaret stars of the West End, Broadway and the West Coast.

Last night, Disney welcomed guests including Sarah Jessica Parker to the opening reception of “Mickey: The True Original Exhibition,” a 16,000 square-foot immersive pop-up celebrating the 90th anniversary of Mickey Mouse in New York City. 

Rubicon Theatre Producing Artistic Director KARYL LYNN BURNS today announced programming for the company's JANET AND MARK L. GOLDENSON 2018-2019 Broadway Concert Series. According to Burns, the series offers an opportunity for audiences to enjoy the talents and personal stories and insights of some of the best and brightest concert and cabaret stars of the West End, Broadway and the West Coast.

What do 'Avenue Q,' 'Spamalot,' 'Something Rotten' and 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum?' have in common? They are all American Musical Theater comedies, meant to entertain and evoke laughter.

Rarely produced in full, Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre (MET) presents the entirety of Horton Foote's nine-act  Magnus Opus “The Orphans' Home Cycle” running in repertory through November 18, 2018. This massive production utilizes over 30 veteran performers from across the Metro KC area in 64 roles throughout the expansive production.  

The play will be shown from March 21, 2019 until March 24, 2019. 

The Resident Acting Company (www.racnyc.org), a new troupe drawn from the performing ensemble of The Pearl Theatre Company, will present a staged reading of 'It Is So (If You Think So)' by Luigi Pirandello on Monday, November 19 at 7:00 PM at The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South. The reading is the final installment of the troupe's 'The Language Series,' which is devoted to plays that delve into the use of words to lie, deceive, manipulate, conquer, tell the truth, work out the meaning of life and even to find love.

The Resident Acting Company (www.racnyc.org), a new troupe drawn from the performing ensemble of The Pearl Theatre Company, will present a staged reading of 'It Is So (If You Think So)' by Luigi Pirandello on Monday, November 19 at 7:00 PM at The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South.  The reading is the final installment of the troupe's 'The Language Series,' which is devoted to plays that delve into the use of words to lie, deceive, manipulate, conquer, tell the truth, work out the meaning of life and even to find love. 

The Resident Acting Company (www.racnyc.org), a new troupe drawn from the performing ensemble of The Pearl Theatre Company, will present a staged reading of 'It Is So (If You Think So)' by Luigi Pirandello on Monday, November 19 at 7:00 PM at The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South.  The reading is the final installment of the troupe's 'The Language Series,' which is devoted to plays that delve into the use of words to lie, deceive, manipulate, conquer, tell the truth, work out the meaning of life and even to find love. 

Juno Films has licensed the exclusive North American rights to the British Film Institute (BFI)'s 2K restoration of director Franz Osten's epic black and white drama, Shiraz: A Romance of India. Based on the romance between 17th-century Mughal ruler Shah Jahan and his queen, this epic silent film is the ravishing, romantic tale behind the creation of one of the world's most iconic structures: the Taj Mahal.

Great Performances on PBS will present more of the Great White Way's brightest stars with a new "Broadway's Best" lineup premiering Fridays, November 2-23 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

Quintessence Theatre Group presents Lionel Bart's beloved musical Oliver! Adapted from Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, this tale about finding hope and a chosen family in the bleakest of situations will provide an adventurous escape and moving holiday parable for many Philadelphians starting November 14, 2018. OPENING NIGHT is Saturday, November 17 at 7:30pm, and performances run through December 23, 2018.