Let Me Down Easy - 2009 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 8

The new Broadway revival of On The Town, directed by John Rando (Tony Award for Urinetown) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy Award winner for 'Smash') officially opens tonight, October 16, 2014 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre. Let's see what the critics had to say...

In the coming months, Broadway will welcome a fresh crop of productions- many of which will mark the Broadway debuts for a slew of talented actors. Whether they are fresh faces or established stars, these Broadway babies will soon take their very first bows on the grandest stages in the world. Meet all of the Great White Way's newest stars below, and be sure to let us know who you're most looking forward to seeing onstage!

Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) present a series of public Town Halls featuring MacArthur Award-winning actress, playwright, and educator Anna Deavere Smith, who will present a staged reading of her work-in-progress, Field Notes: Doing Time In Education: The California Chapter.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) just announced the U.S. premiere of the new musical, AMERICAN PSYCHO, featuring a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (2ST's Good Boys and True, 'Glee,' Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark), music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony-Award Winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening), directed by Rupert Goold (Broadway's Macbeth with Patrick Stewart, ENRON). AMERICAN PSYCHO is based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) present a series of public Town Halls featuring MacArthur Award-winning actress, playwright, and educator Anna Deavere Smith, who will present a staged reading of her work-in-progress, Field Notes: Doing Time In Education: The California Chapter.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced two productions for its upcoming 36th season: the first New York production in 23 years of Terrence McNally's acclaimed play, LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART, directed by Peter DuBois, and the world premiere of Neil LaBute's dark comedy, THE WAY WE GET BY.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the West Coast premiere of A Coffin in Egypt, a new chamber opera in one act, based on the play, A Coffin in Egypt by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Horton Foote, for three performances only tonight, April 23 and April 25 and 27 in the Bram Goldsmith Theater.

Today we are talking to a multi-talented creative force who has had a hand in crafting a wide range of memorable and vivid characters over the course of his career as both a screenwriter and a director - the earnest and energetic Richard LaGravenese. Detailing the finer points of his forthcoming stage-to-screen iteration of Jason Robert Brown's beloved cult musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, LaGravenese traces the development of the project from his earliest inspiration through to the final finished film, now awaiting distribution. Additionally, LaGravenese opens up about the casting process and reformatting of the piece for the cinematic medium, as well as previews some of the standout moments we can anticipate when the film is finally released - musical, dramatic, stylistic and otherwise. Besides all about THE LAST FIVE YEARS, LaGravenese also discusses his screenplay for the recent rapturously-received HBO Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra and reacts to its international success, as well as shares thoughts on the cast and the script as it was realized on film by director Steven Soderbergh. Plus, LaGravenese offers us the exclusive 411 on his upcoming currently untitled CW TV series, directed by Taylor Hackford, and sheds some light on his contributions to Angelina Jole's new film UNBROKEN, as well as previews his forthcoming WE TV project coming up later this year, too. All of that, a look back at P.S. I LOVE YOU and more in this expansive conversation with a noted modern entertainment master.

Award-winning rhythm and blues singer Bettye LaVette performs songs from her 50 year career, including selections from her latest album, Thankful N' Thoughtful, tonight, March 21 at 10:00 p.m. in Zankel Hall.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the West Coast premiere of A Coffin in Egypt, a new chamber opera in one act, based on the play, A Coffin in Egypt by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Horton Foote, for three performances only April 23, 25 and 27 in the Bram Goldsmith Theater. A Coffin in Egypt stars mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, one of opera's most beloved figures, whose formidable bravura has won her wide acclaim. Ricky Ian Gordon, the composer, has also composed The Grapes of Wrath, Rappahannock County, and Orpheus and Euridice. Leonard Foglia, librettist and director, directed Master Class on Broadway and Jake Heggie's Opera Last Acts.

Second Stage Theatre's production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, begins performances tonight, February 11.

Award-winning rhythm and blues singer Bettye LaVette performs songs from her 50 year career, including selections from her latest album, Thankful N' Thoughtful, on Friday, March 21 at 10:00 p.m. in Zankel Hall.

Grammy Award-nominated musician Nelson Gonzalez has joined the creative team of the upcoming Second Stage Theatre production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Mr. Gonzalez, who is widely considered the master of the Cuban Tres guitar, will oversee the production's musical elements and will lead a live band during performances.

FoodNetwork.com is the ultimate holiday destination including top-rated recipes and party tips Food Network gets in the holiday spirit with on-air specials and themed episodes throughout December.

Kyle Froman has made the extraordinary transformation from dancer for America's premier dance company to one of the country's best -known dance and theater photographers.

After the success of THE PRODUCERS, Mel Brooks gave YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN the Broadway treatment. The ribald musical comedy had it's pre-Broadway try out at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington. It began previews on Broadway on October 11, 2007 and opened at the Foxwoods Theatre (then named the Hilton Theatre) on November 8. The show closed after 485 performances on January 4, 2009. The production launched two national tours, with the Second National Tour closing on May 31, 2012. Rights to the musical became available to regional theaters shortly thereafter, and many ballsy theatre companies are gladly taking on the ambitious project.

Stephen Pier has achieved a uniquely rich and varied career as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. His credits as a performer include many years with the Jose Limon Dance Company where the New York press hailed him as '...one of the most gifted dancers on the modern dance scene today.' He went on to become a leading soloist with the Hamburg Ballet in Germany, performing the title roles in John Neumeier's Othello and Saint Matthew's Passion, and creating numerous other major roles during his nine years with the company. As a member of the Royal Danish Ballet for six years, Mr. Pier had the privilege of dancing leading roles in works of Bournonville, Balanchine, MacMillan, Bejart, and collaborating with many of Europe's finest contemporary choreographers.

MAD CAT THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to present its second annual Nine Lives Scholarship Awards to Christian Frost (Outstanding High School Senior) and Vanessa Elise (Outstanding College Senior). Each recipient will be awarded a $500 scholarship and presented a commemorative plaque which will be presented on opening night of Mad Cat's next play Blow Me by Jessica Farr at the SandBox at the Miami Theater Center on August 16, 2013.

Food Network heats up summer with new series Food Court Wars on Sunday, July 7th at 10pm as Tyler Florence searches for aspiring restaurateurs to compete for a food court restaurant in a local mall.

'Motown' is Jesse's 2nd Bway show this season after a five-year hiatus he spent focused on his Broadway Boys concert group.

In August, 2009 I was greeted by incredibly enthusiastic students on 65th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. The Juilliard School: this was my new home and although my mom and sisters were overwhelmed by the welcoming committee, they knew I'd fit right in. Orientation lasted one week in which I met students from all over the world, set up my dorm room, and got use to downsizing from my two-bedroom apartment in Las Vegas. The school held several seminars to orient us, and organized outings to help us get our bearings in the city while having some fun before the Juilliard schedule took over our lives!

Long Wharf Theatre concludes its 2012-13 season with Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting. The play will take place on The Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Mainstage from tonight, May 8, 2013 through June 2, 2013.

Philadelphia Theatre Company will host a residency for Anna Deavere Smith leading to the creation of her new work, The Pipeline Project thanks to a generous gift from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of its Knight Arts Challenge. The Knight Arts Challenge funds innovative projects that engage and enrich Philadelphia's communities.

Long Wharf Theatre concludes its 2012-13 season with Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting. The play will take place on The Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Mainstage from May 8, 2013 through June 2, 2013.

The 2013 national tour company of 'HAIR' is filled with a talent cast and an exceptional ensemble. It is a non-stop succession of vignettes and monologues, combined with an extraordinary amount of dance, exquisitely choreographed by Karole Armitage, with innovative scene direction by Diane Paulus.