Magic And Zone - - Articles Page 9

A small piece of the national tour of "West Side Story" remains in Sacramento these next two months, but it's not what you might think. And while many anticipate the arrival of the hit musical "Wicked," they can get their Wicked kicks at California Musical Theater's Cosmopolitan Cabaret, but with more humor than magic. Songs from these and many more shows are part of a Broadway revue in downtown Sacramento playing through March 18. But this isn't your typical revue. This revue has four fantastic actors constantly changing from excessive costume to excessive costume as they take on some of the most well know Broadway tunes with a revised, "forbidden" twist. The tunes are there, but the cleverly reinvented lyrics of "Forbidden Broadway" make fun of everything musical theater.

Bursting with inspiration and innovative stage magic, Harold and the Purple Crayon, a new theatrical production developed at Seattle Children's Theatre (SCT) arrives at Minneapolis' Children's Theatre Company (CTC), this month.

ACT -A Contemporary Theatre rings in 2012 with new and continuing efforts that recognize achievements in outstanding playwriting and create the atmosphere for the development of new work. Playwright Angus MacLachlan (author of the highly acclaimed film Junebug) is named the 2012 ACT New Play Award winner for Abundant Acreage Available. Two FREE staged readings will be presented in ACT's Bullitt Cabaret February 25-26, 2012. Immediately following each reading are post-play discussions with the playwright and the director, Anita Montgomery.

Following another year of successes, including double-digit growth among Adults 18-34 and the premiere of its first-ever original movie, Steve Niles' Remains, Chiller has unveiled an all-new slate of original programming, it was announced today by Thomas P. Vitale, Executive Vice President, Programming & Original Movies, Syfy and Chiller. These projects join the previously-announced original movie Brian Keene's Ghoul, currently slated to premiere in early 2012.

Sara Gettelfinger may have a resume that other actresses covet-now starring as the mysterious, intriguing, maybe even a little bit frightening Morticia Addams in the national tour of The Addams Family, she's been on Broadway in A Free Man of Color, Seussical the Musical, The Boys from Syracuse, Nine and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and she's toured in Fosse and 101 Dalmatians-but, truth be told, the highlight of her resume for me, at least, is a stint on the storied, now lamented and defunct, CBS soap opera Guiding Light.

Deck the castles with boughs of holly, and tune in as Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida present the 28th annual 'Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade' TV special, airing Sunday, December 25 (check local listings) on the ABC Television Network.

According to published reports, stage veteran Susan Gordon died on December 11, from thyroid cancer. She was 62 years old. She is survived by her parents, husband, six children and five grandchildren.

Situation Interactive, a leading digital marketing agency working with brands that offer see-it-believe-it experiences, has been named one of the 'Best Places to Work in New York City' in 2011 by Crain's New York Magazine for the second year in a row.

'Ghost in the Machine' is the first play by Mike Leon. Originally produced at Williams College in October, 2010, the play will close on October 23, presented by Theater for the New City in association with The Dead Copycats. Director is Nathaniel Basch-Gould.

ANBERLIN with Atomic Tom, Abandon Kansas, and Dear Departed will perform at The Cotillion on FRI, OCTOBER 21, 2011 at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $15.00 - $17.00 and available at http://www.thecotillion.com/event/59061?utm_source=MEL&utm_medium=2473. All seating is general admission. Table & chair seating is around an open floor. Table reservations for groups of 4 or more are available for an additional charge by calling 316-722-4201.

ANBERLIN with Atomic Tom, Abandon Kansas, and Dear Departed will perform at The Cotillion on FRI, OCTOBER 21, 2011 at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $15.00 - $17.00 and available at http://www.thecotillion.com/event/59061?utm_source=MEL&utm_medium=2473. All seating is general admission. Table & chair seating is around an open floor. Table reservations for groups of 4 or more are available for an additional charge by calling 316-722-4201.

'Ghost in the Machine' is the first play by Mike Leon. Originally produced at Williams College in October, 2010, the play will have its New York premiere October 13 to 23, presented by Theater for the New City in association with The Dead Copycats.

Tales of transformation often involve discomfort, but they are the beloved comfort zone both for famous children's author and New Yorker illustrator William Steig and for Enchantment Theatre Company of Philadelphia. Enchantment, whose stage adaptation employs masks, mime, music and magic, will present Steig's Caldecott-winning story of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts in 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. shows on Sunday, October 9.

Tales of transformation often involve discomfort, but they are the beloved comfort zone both for famous children's author and New Yorker illustrator William Steig and for Enchantment Theatre Company of Philadelphia. Enchantment, whose stage adaptation employs masks, mime, music and magic, will present Steig's Caldecott-winning story of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts in 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. shows on Sunday, October 9.

'Ghost in the Machine' is the first play by Mike Leon. Originally produced at Williams College in October, 2010, the play will have its New York premiere October 13 to 23, presented by Theater for the New City in association with The Dead Copycats.

Buddy Thomas takes the typical trappings of a romantic triangle and places them in a rundown New York apartment somewhere in Staten Island, with the twist here being that all the participants (in the triangle) are gay. THE CRUMPLE ZONE certainly has some entertaining moments and a few memorable lines, but unfortunately, it fails to spark. Part of this is the play itself, which recycles the situation with little verve or panache, and part of it is due to a lackluster presentation that's just a little too loose in execution, despite a fairly sharp cast, to succeed. Citilities Theatre is currently producing this fairly recent work as part of a double night of theatre, with SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED taking the stage about a half hour after the initial show ends. I didn't see it in that manner, but those who do will find the latter far more engaging.

Pleasance Islington is in preparation for the 2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and to celebrate the vibrant festival atmosphere are presenting a six week Edinburgh preview season, featuring established actors and comedians performing alongside young up-and-coming talent, for only £5 per show.

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, now in its 10th year on Broadway, will welcome new principals John Hemphill, David Beach, Jordan Dean and Jacob Pinion to the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway) on Monday, June 6, 2011.

Nashville's Blackbird Theater, fresh off its successful, critically lauded premiere season, is offering two rarely produced shows for audiences in the company's eagerly anticipated second season - G.K. Chesterton's Magic (running August 12-27) and Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning Pacific Overtures (February 9-19, 2012) - creating a buzz that other theater companies can only envy and hope to create for their own season announcments.

Joe's Pub Announces Final Month of Performances Before Renovation.

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, now in its 10th year on Broadway, will welcome new principals John Hemphill, David Beach, Jordan Dean and Jacob Pinion to the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway) on Monday, June 6, 2011.

An Evening with The Manhattan Transfer held at MORRISON CENTER February 5, 2012 - 7 PM

Now celebrating its 33rd year, the annual Museum Mile Festival (www.museummilefestival.org) takes place rain or shine on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Today we are talking to the composer of the new Broadway musical WONDERLAND, who is the only American composer to have had three of his shows running concurrently on Broadway - JEKYLL & HYDE, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL and THE CIVIL WAR - and has since solidified himself as one of the most successful international musical theatre composers of the 21st century, with his globe-spanning productions of everything from THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO in Switzerland to CYRANO in Tokyo to TEARS OF HEAVEN in Korea to the forthcoming Broadway production of BONNIE & CLYDE - the warm and gracious Frank Wildhorn. Over the span of our considerable discussion last week we touched on everything from his pop music roots writing hits for Whitney Houston and Kenny Rogers, to his tenure at Atlantic Records and his series of recordings, shows and concerts with muse Linda Eder, as well as a thorough discussion of his compositional process, what inspires him in a story, his own favorite musicals, what the future holds - EXCALIBUR with Jim Steinman, perhaps? The world premiere of the long-awaited HAVANA? JEKYLL & HYDE: THE MOVIE MUSICAL? - and much, much more!

Flux Theatre Ensemble will present the New York premiere of Liz Duffy Adams' (Or, at The Women's Project) post-apocalyptic comedy, DOG ACT, February 4-20 at the Flamboyan Theater at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Educational Center (107 Suffolk Street at Rivington).