Intermission! the Musical - 2018 - Regional (US) Articles Page 12

As the familiar adage goes, “there’s no place like home for the holidays.” And this holiday season, this joyous saying rings especially true as London’s Grand Theatre debuts its original holiday spectacular, Home for the Holidays.

The North American tour of Rogers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! began performances at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, MN on November 9, 2021 and will continue to play over 25 cities during the 2021-2022 season including stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago and Nashville, and more. Read the reviews!

Originally scheduled back in September, the wait was worth it to hear Laura Benanti sing selections from her roles on Broadway and a few tracks from her 2020 self-titled studio album in her debut Cabaret at the Center which was part uproarious stand-up comedy act, and part beguiling Broadway/Jazz concert. Continues through November 13, 2021.

Far more concerned with style over (narrative) substance, this brand new '50th Anniversary' re-staging of the 1971 musical that recounts the final days leading up to the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ is undeniably entertaining. The palpable, intentional vibe of this new US National Tour---directly imported from the well-received 2016 Regent's Park Theatre London production helmed by director Timothy Sheader that won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival---is to emphasize the show as a series of high-decibel, highly-stylized Big Musical Production Numbers where the 'story' acts as merely a way to organize the songs in a linear order. Overall, it's a fascinating hybrid of a rock opera arena concert, a Sunday morning modern-hipster MegaChurch service, and some, I suppose, after-thought musical theater-izing that mesmerizes the audience not with its central story but with high-budget music video production values, beautiful modern choreography, and bombastic vocal stylings from an extremely talented cast.

San Francisco's Landmark Musical Theatre (Jon Rosen, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce its production and full cast of Music Theatre International's ALL TOGETHER NOW! A GLOBAL EVENT CELEBRATING LOCAL THEATRE, which will be presented for eight performances as their inaugural show at Landmark's new permanent home, Theater 33.

Air guitar is a form of dance and movement in which performers pretend to play an imaginary electric guitar. Performances include exaggerated strumming motions and recorded rock music often coupled with loud singing or lip-synching.

The show still has a winning recipe, but this touring production doesn't measure up to its 2018 D.C. predecessor.

The National Tour of Come From Away has returned to the stage! The production returned at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN earlier this month.

The Coterie Theatre returns to indoor performances on its mainstage with the world premiere of a new version of The SpongeBob Musical never before seen. Adapted from the beloved animated series, The SpongeBob Musical for Young Audiences is a brand new, high-energy version of the Broadway hit featuring a fun, pop-infused musical score written by some of the biggest names in Top 40 music. Performed live on The Coterie's mainstage located in Crown Center, The SpongeBob Musical will run November 4, 2021-January 2, 2022.

Broadway is back in D.C.! Single tickets are now on sale for TOOTSIE and PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL at D.C.’s National Theatre, located on Pennsylvania Avenue just steps from the White House.

TFANA will reopen its doors for the 2021-2022 season with the New York premiere of Will Eno’s Gnit, his modern version of Henrik Ibsen’s sprawling, satirical, 19th century five-act play in verse, Peer Gynt, as a quick-paced contemporary tragicomedy. 

Pasadena Playhouse has announced initial casting for its production of HEAD OVER HEELS. Leading the cast will be Alaska 5000 (RuPaul's Drag Race), Lea DeLaria (Orange is the New Black), Yurel Echezarreta (Steven Spielberg's West Side Story), Tiffany Mann (Be More Chill), George Salazar (Little Shop of Horrors), Emily Skeggs (Fun Home), and Shanice Williams ('Dorothy' in NBC's The Wiz Live!).

The acclaimed show returns to the live stage this Friday, September 17 at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street), and will receive a Special Tony Award at the upcoming Tony Awards ceremony on September 26.

Fairfield Center Stage will present an outdoor production of the hit musical MAMMA MIA! in Fairfield this October.

San Francisco Opera presents a one-night-only celebration, Live and In Concert: The Homecoming, on Friday, September 10 at 7 pm. Caroline H. Hume Music Director Eun Sun Kim, now in her first season as leader of San Francisco Opera's artistic forces, leads the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and soloists Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Jamie Barton in this festive overture to the Company's 99th Season.

In October, New Conservatory Theatre Center will celebrate 40 years of serving the Bay Area LGBTQ+ community and its long-awaited return to live performances with the inaugural production of their benchmark 21-22 Season, Interlude by Harrison David Rivers.

As a theatre person, I can confidently say if my life were suddenly a musical, I'd be thrilled. Isn't the what many of us crave, anyway? The combo of having the world not only revolve around our story, but supplemented with harmonies and well-rehearsed choreography?

For the past two months, audiences have been flocking to the high-energy global phenomenon THE CHOIR OF MAN. Playhouse Square has extended the run of this can't-miss show through September 18.

This week (August 9-15) in live streaming: Liz Callaway in concert, Laura Michelle Kelly teaches a master class, Next on Stage: Dance Edition Season 2 continues with the Top 3, and so much more!

Kimmel Cultural Campus has announced the much-anticipated return of in-person performing arts across their venues: the Kimmel Center, the Academy of Music, and the Merriam Theater. On September 18, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Kimmel Cultural Campus will host a grand reopening event in Commonwealth Plaza to celebrate the start of the 2021-22 season.

Hunter Theater Project will present an Independent Theater Production of WHAT HAPPENED?: THE MICHAELS ABROAD, a world premiere play and the final in the Rhinebeck Panorama, written and directed by Tony Award winner Richard Nelson.

Urban Stages is bringing back Lori Brown Mirabal's play with music, CHARMED LIFE , From Soul Singing to Opera Star beginning performances on July 9, in advance of its Wednesday, July 14 opening night. The play will enjoy a limited run through August 1, 2021 at Urban Stages Theatre (258 W 30 Street).

Urban Stages will bring back Lori Brown Mirabal's play with music, CHARMED LIFE, From Soul Singing to Opera Star beginning performances on July 9, in advance of its Wednesday, July 14 opening night.

Westport Country Playhouse, closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic, will kick-off its 90th anniversary year by bringing patrons back into its Jason Robards Theatre for a one-night-only virtual production of the new comedy, “Tiny House,” projected on a big screen mounted above the stage.

San Francisco Opera announced today repertory, casting and reopening plans for its 99th season. Commencing with a performance of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca on Saturday, August 21, the 2021–22 Season marks the inauguration of Eun Sun Kim’s tenure as Caroline H. Hume Music Director and a reemergence of opera at the War Memorial Opera House.