Just Say No - 1988 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 17

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

PBS' Great Performances will air a spectacular London concert version of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' 1986 cult musical CHESS as CHESS IN CONCERT on tomorrow night, Wednesday, June 17th at 9 p.m. ET (check local listings).

It's the time of year where the Theatre World celebrates the best of the best and special recognition is bestowed upon certain individuals for their work. No...I am not talking about the Tony Awards...although I know where I will be that evening. I talking about the 19th Annual Kleban Awards, which will be presented in a private ceremony on June 1st, 2009.

South Coast Repertory has announced the lineup of actors and directors who will participate in the 12th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF). Since its creation in 1998, PPF has grown into one of the most important festivals of new scripts in the United States. This year?s Festival will take place during the May 1 through May 3 weekend and will feature five staged readings and two fully-produced World Premieres on South Coast Repertory?s Segerstrom and Julianne Argryos Stages. Tickets to PPF may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Friday, April 17, 2009.

South Coast Repertory has announced the lineup of actors and directors who will participate in the 12th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF). Since its creation in 1998, PPF has grown into one of the most important festivals of new scripts in the United States. This year?s Festival will take place during the May 1 through May 3 weekend and will feature five staged readings and two fully-produced World Premieres on South Coast Repertory?s Segerstrom and Julianne Argryos Stages. Tickets to PPF may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

The 2009 Festival of New American Musicals, a four-month musical theatre festival, will be held in April through July, 2009, throughout Southern California. Marcia Seligson, Bob Klein, and Linda Shusett are the Executive Producers of the second annual Festival.

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis will begin its 2008-2009 season with political plays featuring ripped-from-the-headlines content, and will continue the season with the first Indianapolis production of a work by popular Irish playwright Conor McPherson, a world premiere 'mock operetta' by Jack O'Hara, and a Spanish-language production as well as the regional premieres of a number of plays.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2008-09 season with John Guare's Rich & Famous, directed by John Rando (Urinetown, The Musical and Wedding Singer on Broadway) in its first major revival since its 1976 New York debut. From the ingenious mind of John Guare, who brought Six Degrees of Separation and The House of Blue Leaves to the American stage, this delicious dark comedy springs to life with twisted humor, rapid-fire dialogue, and outrageous plot twists. The revival script includes significant rewrites to the original text, as well as hilarious songs freshly scribed by Guare himself. In Rich and Famous, playwright Bing Ringling yearns to savor the sweet taste of celebrity, and he's hoping play number 844 will be his lucky break. But on opening night, he slips into a nightmarish phantasmagoria that shows him just how wrong things can go.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2008-09 season with John Guare's Rich & Famous, directed by John Rando (Urinetown, The Musical and Wedding Singer on Broadway) in its first major revival since its 1976 New York debut. From the ingenious mind of John Guare, who brought Six Degrees of Separation and The House of Blue Leaves to the American stage, this delicious dark comedy springs to life with twisted humor, rapid-fire dialogue, and outrageous plot twists. The revival script includes significant rewrites to the original text, as well as hilarious songs freshly scribed by Guare himself. In Rich and Famous, playwright Bing Ringling yearns to savor the sweet taste of celebrity, and he's hoping play number 844 will be his lucky break. But on opening night, he slips into a nightmarish phantasmagoria that shows him just how wrong things can go.

One lucky Wicked fan will get to experience an extraordinary night on Broadway, supporting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and scoring a WICKED Walk-On Appearance! This amazing package is available through Ebay.com.