Just Say No - 1988 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 16

The Neo-Futurarium - where awesomely awful films live to see another day. Superheroes, Canadian pop stars, racist Arizonans, parasites, Vikings, sea serpents, and ponies make appearances in Film Fest IX: The Perils of the Neo-Futurarium runs July 1 through August 5, Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. at 5153 N. Ashland.

The METROPOLITAN ROOM announces show and performer changes for the month of May.

Today we are taking a listen to Stephen Sondheim's musicals of the 1980s, each a striking artistic achievement attempting to do something never done before in Broadway history and improving the very genre of musical theatre itself with his work on these three very different shows. MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and INTO THE WOODS...

It seems like only yesterday I saw the original Broadway cast of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, but it was 22 years ago when it garnered seven 1988 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The first viewing of this phenomenon will almost always never be forgotten. This is such a classic, the Playbill front cover doesn't have the name of the show, just the show's logo, a mask.

UPCOMING SHOWS ON SALE THIS WEEK.

Glorious! is based on the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the legendary New York heiress and socialite who wanted to be a great operatic diva despite having one of the worst singing voices in history.

Glorious! is based on the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the legendary New York heiress and socialite who wanted to be a great operatic diva despite having one of the worst singing voices in history.

Northrop Dance at the University of Minnesota and the Walker Art Center present the Midwest debut of British sensation Akram Khan Company performing bahok at 8 pm Wednesday, March 3, at Northrop. The contemporary work embodies the many different styles of Khan's multinational company, fusing traditional South Asian dance with modern movement.

For old-world cabaret, performers still swoon over the stately, romantic elegance of the Oak Room at the Algonquin, but this sleek, two-year-old spot is threatening to encroach on the turf of such established institutions.

Glorious! is based on the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the legendary New York heiress and socialite who wanted to be a great operatic diva despite having one of the worst singing voices in history.

Northrop Dance at the University of Minnesota and the Walker Art Center present the Midwest debut of British sensation Akram Khan Company performing bahok at 8 pm Wednesday, March 3, at Northrop. The contemporary work embodies the many different styles of Khan's multinational company, fusing traditional South Asian dance with modern movement.

The March-April public programming schedule at the Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust will feature controversial films, engaging performances, family-friendly fare, and compelling discussions.

TWO ROOMS is a love story set in two rooms--one, a cell in Beirut where a man is held prisoner, another, in the home of his wife who waits for his return home.

The Rrazz Room has announced its lineup of Concerts and Events for February.

Theatre Southwest will present their production of David Lindsey-Abaire's play, WONDER OF THE WORLD, beginning December 31st with a special New Years Gala. The show will run through January 23rd. The cast for the production will include James Reed, Stacy A. Spaeth, Ananka Kohnitz, Cheryl Tanner, Brian Heaton, Jeanette Sebesta, and John Kaiser. The show is directed by David Holloway.

Theatre Southwest will present their production of David Lindsey-Abaire's play, WONDER OF THE WORLD, beginning December 31st with a special New Years Gala. The show will run through January 23rd. The cast for the production will include James Reed, Stacy A. Spaeth, Ananka Kohnitz, Cheryl Tanner, Brian Heaton, Jeanette Sebesta, and John Kaiser. The show is directed by David Holloway.

Theatre Southwest will present their production of David Lindsey-Abaire's play, WONDER OF THE WORLD, beginning December 31st with a special New Years Gala. The show will run through January 23rd. The cast for the production will include James Reed, Stacy A. Spaeth, Ananka Kohnitz, Cheryl Tanner, Brian Heaton, Jeanette Sebesta, and John Kaiser. The show is directed by David Holloway.

Portland Center Stage invites you meet one of America's unlikeliest Ben Franklin scholars, monologist and fringe theater performer Josh Kornbluth, as he loses some hair and gains a fresh perspective on the costs of independence, the meaning of revolution and the vagaries of Founding Fatherhood in Ben Franklin: Unplugged.

Ladies and gentlemen. In the course of this evening's performance, the following physical objects will appear onstage: a boxing bag, four golf clubs, a newspaper, two small targets, an oversized golf ball plus snake, a bloody towel, a duck mask, a white spider with spots, a watering can, three boulders wrapped in twine, a yellow suit, two imitation row boats, one tray of fruit, one rolling table, six highball glasses, two white pillows, one large roll of plastic tape, a jeweled wristwatch, one package, gift-wrapped, one jeweled container, plus one blank container, three mirrors with numbers painted on the reverse side, two bows and arrows, one duck in a small cage, one stuffed small mouth plug.

From Show Boat to Finian's Rainbow to Ragtime to Hairspray the racial divide between white America and Americans of African decent has been one of the richest resources for both Broadway musical dramas and musical comedies. And a popular theme of such musicals has been the assimilation of African-American music into the white mainstream. The latest to tackle this topic, Memphis, certainly wouldn't look like the best of the lot on paper, but on stage the gritty sincerity of Joe DiPietro's book coupled with David Bryan's infectiously melodic compositions (they collaborated on the lyrics), under Christopher Ashley's dynamic staging, frequently threaten to tear the roof off of the Shubert Theatre.

AEG Live & Fox Concerts present An Evening with LEONARD COHEN LIVE at the Fox Theatre.

Though last Sunday night was my first exposure to anything associated with the Disney triptych of made for television movies carrying the banner, High School Musical, it's my guess, judging from the enthusiastic reception the production received from an opening night audience loaded with young theatergoers, that fans of the series will not be disappointed. Paper Mill does their usual highly professional job, with a talented, energetic cast delivering Mark S. Hoebee's buoyant, quick-paced direction with gusto and singing attractively under music director Bruce W. Coyle. Denis Jones' choreography nicely fits the athletic and cheery requirements of the show's atmosphere and the design elements are sharply delivered via Kenneth Foy's kinetic set, Wade Laboissonniere's colorful, clique defining costumes and Tom Sturge's celebratory lights.

Northeastern University Center for the Arts presents forum with producer/director, featuring song selections by Judy Kaye and Tom Wopat

Portland Center Stage invites you meet one of America's unlikeliest Ben Franklin scholars, monologist and fringe theater performer Josh Kornbluth, as he loses some hair and gains a fresh perspective on the costs of independence, the meaning of revolution and the vagaries of Founding Fatherhood in Ben Franklin: Unplugged. Ben Franklin: Unplugged previews on Tuesday September 29th, opens on Friday, October 2nd and runs through November 22, 2009. Tickets start at $24, with student and under 30 discounts available. Rush tickets for Ben Franklin: Unplugged are $20. Show times are 7:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday, with a 2:00 pm Sunday matinee and alternating Saturday 2:00 pm and Sunday 7:30 pm performances. See the show calendar http://tickets.pcs.org/buytickets/calendar.asp for the complete performance schedule.

SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE kicks off the 2009-2010 Season with the whirlwind musical LONG STORY SHORT. Written by BRENDAN MILBURN and VALERIE VIGODA of the band GROOVELILY, this audacious musical takes audiences on a beautiful journey through one couple's 50 year relationship.