Look Back in Anger - - West End Articles Page 19

Ahead of its 60th Birthday, Hampstead Theatre announces Roxana Silbert's inaugural season as Artistic Director.

Currently docked at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through July 28 is Musical Theater West's wonderfully vibrant new regional production of THE LITTLE MERMAID, Disney's Broadway stage adaptation of their hit 1989 animated classic, which itself was adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. The resulting show achieves a cheerful, pleasant, and often charming hybrid that honors the original Disney-esque qualities of the film, but also shows what one may call a 'director's cut'---wherein the new 'extras' expand the musical even further in size, elements, and thematic mood. MTW's production is a visual treat.

The Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh along with partners Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Northern Stage, Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Oxford Playhouse, and new partners Leeds Playhouse, are delighted to announce the cast for the remount of the critically-acclaimed Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of), presented in close collaboration with partners of the original production, Tron Theatre and Blood of the Young.

Today Hippo Campus share Demos II, a collection of new songs written and recorded over the summer of 2017 and the winter of 2018. The new material came to life during the sessions around the band's most recent album Bambi, and includes such fan favorites and live staples as 'No Poms,' 'Chapstick,' and 'Joy.' The release follows that of Demos I -- eight early versions of Bambi songs -- which took fans into the world of Hippo Campus' creative process and demonstrated how the band crafted their latest album, a release which has already amassed almost 50 millions streams. 

Queens-based Rude Grooms announced today initial details for the company's second annual free summer production touring parks and art spaces in Astoria and Long Island City: William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, led by actor-manager Montgomery Sutton (Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's Globe) and produced in partnership with Long Island City Artists at the Plaxall Gallery and the Astoria Park Alliance and is made possible (in part) by the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

David Mamet's new play Bitter Wheat is playing at the Garrick Theatre in London, with a press night tonight, Wednesday 19 June. John Malkovich returns to the West End stage for the first time in nearly 30 years for this world premiere, taking on the role of Barney Fein, a top dog Hollywood producer reminiscent of Harvey Weinstein. Let's see what the critics had to say!

Known to many television viewers as Numb3rs' Don Eppes or Northern Exposure's Dr. Joel Fleischman, Rob Morrow will be making his Los Angeles Theatre debut as Willy Loman in Ruskin Group Theatre's DEATH OF A SALESMAN opening June 21, 2019. Rob found some time to answer a few of my curious inquiries.

Today Hippo Campus share Demos I, a collection of original versions of songs from their sophomore album Bambi. The 8 songs take fans into the world of Hippo Campus' creative process and show how the band crafted their latest album, a release which has already amassed almost 50 millions streams. It was revealed last week Jake Luppen of the band also plays guitar on Bon Iver's latest track “Hey Ma.”

The World Premiere of Lucas Hnath's DANA H. at the Kirk Douglas Theatre recounts the real-life story of the playwright's own mother, adapted from interviews with Dana Higginbotham which were conducted by Steve Cosson. Directed by Les Waters, the entire play is told in voiceovers from the real-life interviews, perfectly mimicked and emotionally heartfelt by Deirdre O'Connell in the title role. But be forewarned: this insider's look at a kidnapping and its repercussions is not for the faint of heart.

Today Hippo Campus share the new video for their track “Honestly,” off of their latest album Bambi and announce a Fall tour. Described by the band as “A snapshot into the shenanigans we get into on the road' the video goes behind the scenes to give a glimpse of what touring life is like on the road. The band have just announced more dates with The Head And The Heart later this summer and will play several major festivals including The Governors Ball this weekend followed Bonnaroo, Firefly and more. All dates are listed below.

We're flashing back through the photo archives of BroadwayWorld's very own Walter McBride to bring you some shots of 2019 Tony nominee Adam Driver a decade ago, before the final performance of SLIPPING, at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre.

The drama series EUPHORIA begins its eight-episode season SUNDAY, JUNE 16 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO. Multimedia superstar Zendaya ('Spider-Man: Homecoming') heads the ensemble cast of the show, which follows a group of high-school students as they navigate a minefield of drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love and friendship. The series is created and written by Sam Levinson (HBO's 'The Wizard of Lies'), who also directs five episodes.

The 8th Summerhall Festival Programme is announced today by the year round Edinburgh arts venue. The programme is full of exciting, invigorating and fresh theatre, music and visual arts. Whilst the venue grows into its reputation for hosting new, avant-garde and personal work, it also begins to create partnerships with artists. The Eclipse Award, Fringe of Colour, Autopsy Award and a series of annual artist in residence positions see Summerhall actively supporting artists making new work and responding to our world.

In case you don't already know, it's Eurovision time! This year, the annual song contest that brings together acts from across Europe (and beyond) is taking place in Tel Aviv in Israel. Here, we bring you a sneak preview of some of the songs to look out for when the contest hits screens around the world on 14, 16 and 18 May.

The musical The Spitfire Grill was first produced Off-Broadway at the Duke Theatre in 2001. Written by James Valcq and Fred Alley, the musical is based on the 1996 film. The show presents us with a moment in the life of Percy Talbot, a young woman recently released from prison, and the residents of Gilead, where the Spitfire Grill is up for sale. The Spitfire Grill is a beautiful show that requires a strong cast and creative direction to truly come alive. Under the direction of Laurie Riffe, the cast and crew at DreamWrights Center for Community Arts deliver an authentic, heartwarming production of The Spitfire Grill.

Ute Lemper talks to BroadwayWorld UK about her role in Rendezvous with Marlene, her 'personal homage to that great lady', at the Arcola Theatre

There's a burgeoning sense of paranoia throughout The Burn, the first show of The Hub Theatre's 2019 season. Written by Philip Dawkins as something of an analogue to Arthur Miller's The Crucible - itself an acknowledged allegory for McCarthyism - The Burn is a sharp and deeply felt look at how fear grows and manifests itself in the pain of others. Its contemporary high school setting handily provides both a relatable set of characters and a convenient grapevine through which said fear makes its journey: social media. This is not a new trend, but The Burn has more on its mind than our over-use of social media; it's accepting of the reality social media has given us, and explores what sort of choices it leads us to.

Attention to detail is a hallmark of Independent Theatre productions.

This season, Academy Award-nominee Adam Driver is making his return to the Broadway stage alongside Keri Russell in Lanford Wilson's play Burn This.

Peppered with infectious Abba songs, it's like bubblegum for the soul.

Pasadena Playhouse, State Theatre of California, continues their exciting partnerships with Caltech Theatre and the USC School of Dramatic Arts this Spring, with MACH 33: The Caltech|Pasadena Playhouse Festival of New Science Driven Plays, presented by Caltech Theater and Pasadena Playhouse May 9 -11 and the New Works Festival Year 3 May 17-18, presented by USC School of Dramatic Arts and hosted by Pasadena Playhouse. These plays are part of Playhouse community programming. Danny Feldman is the Producing Artistic Director of Pasadena Playhouse.

BroadwayWorld has learned the Studio Theatre's2019-2020 Main Series Season, featuring five productions marked by their expansive curiosity and theatrical dexterity. The plays in Studio's 41st season range from an indictment of a failing education system to a complex consideration of authority and abuse in the Catholic Church, a raucous comedy about the ugliness of the beauty industry to a humane but unflinching look at young Black men caught in a cycle of violence beyond their control, and an excavation of a childhood shaped by a parent's secret life. Characteristically Studio, these productions span the globe, or head back in time, to powerfully illuminate our present moment.

In February of 2018, the members of Cave In gathered at their rehearsal space in Boston to work on material for their next record. It had been nearly seven years since their previous album, White Silence, had been released. But they'd been writing and rehearsing methodically, off and on, to craft a worthy follow-up. In that time, guitarist/vocalist Steve Brodsky had started prog-metal power trio Mutoid Man, drummer J.R. Conners and guitarist Adam McGrath started psych-punk outfit Nomad Stones, and bassist Caleb Scofield was busy with simian rock supergroup Old Man Gloom and his own band, Zozobra. After jamming all weekend with Cave In, Caleb got in his truck and drove home to New Hampshire. It was the last time his bandmates would ever see him. 

A story about a murdered dog turns into a character study of a teenager with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), brilliantly portrayed by 19-year-old Benjamin Colby Wilson. This play will warm your heart as it shows Wilson's honest and sympathetic portrayal of a boy in search for comfort and acceptance by his separated mother and father.