Marty - 2002 - Boston Articles Page 9

Shortly after many children all over Houston had hunted lawns for eggs and other treats that the mythical Easter Bunny delivered this past Sunday, I had a delightful conversation with composer Marty Regan and librettist Kenny Fries for Houston Grand Opera (HGO)'s 50th World Premiere, THE MEMORY STONE. We discussed the new opera, looking into its creation, meaning, and cultural significance. As we talked about THE MEMORY STONE, it became abundantly clear that this particular opera is most deserving of being HGO's magical 50th World Premiere and that it will be one that audiences should not miss.

At 6:30pm, on Monday, April 8th producer Marty Richards' feast of friends and loved ones will gather in celebration of his extremely accomplished life at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) where they will be served a magnificent four-course dinner and be entertained by a star-studded retrospective of show-stopping numbers from Mr. Richards' acclaimed Broadway musicals including Chicago, On The Twentieth Century, The Life, Grand Hotel, Sweeney Todd, La Cage Aux Folles, Sweet Smell Of Success, The Will Rogers Follies and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life.

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by American Express, announced today that the 30th Anniversary of Martin Scorsese's The King of Comedy, restored in association with The Film Foundation, Regency Enterprises and Twentieth Century Fox, will close its 12th edition on Saturday, April 27.

Bravo Media's MILLIONAIRE MATCHMAKER will premiere new episodes tonight, March 26 and Thursday, March 28 at 10pm ET/PT.

Bravo Media's MILLIONAIRE MATCHMAKER will premiere new episodes on Tuesday, March 26 and Thursday, March 28 at 10pm ET/PT.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, announces the Ensemble's 28th season. The season begins with the Chicago professional premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway by award-winning playwrights Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, September 5 - October 6; the 12th smash year of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! , now at the 199-seat Greenhouse Theater Center, directed by Ensemble member Marty Higginbotham, November 22 - December 29; world premiere of 2012 Blue Ink Playwriting Award-winning script American Myth by Christina Gorman, directed by Steve Scott, February - March 2014; Chicago premiere of 2012 Smith Prize winner Grounded by George Brant, June 2014. American Blues also announces year-long development and public reading of Ensemble member's Nambi E. Kelley's adaptation of Richard Wright's Native Son which will receive a production in fall of 2014.

FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will perform at the Majestic Theatre for eight performances June 18-23. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, March 1.

Polarity Ensemble Theatre presents the world premiere of Never the Bridesmaid, a sweet, funny, life-affirming comedy by Chicago playwright Bill Jepsen. Directed by award-winning director Richard Shavzin, Never the Bridesmaid runs at the Polarity space at the Josephinum Academy, 1500 N. Bell St. in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, tonight, February 26 through April 7, 2013. Press night is Thursday, February 28 at 8:00 p.m.

It was announced today that tickets for The Broadway Beauty Pageant go on-sale. The seventh annual beauty contest is set for Monday evening, May 20th, 8p.m., at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (60 Washington Square South). The popular event is the annual benefit of New York's Ali Forney Center.

Following its acclaimed 16-week run at the Lookingglass Theatre Company this fall, Metamorphoses brings the mythical tales of Ovid to life at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 10 years after the Broadway premiere. Written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, Metamorphoses is based on David Slavitt's translation and marks the first time Zimmerman will direct the production since its Broadway run. This is also the first time Zimmerman will stage Metamorphoses in the round, and a custom set will be designed with the largest pool of water ever created for this production. Metamorphoses dives onto the Fichandler Stage tonight, February 8-March 17, 2013.

Polarity Ensemble Theatre presents the world premiere of Never the Bridesmaid, a sweet, funny, life-affirming comedy by Chicago playwright Bill Jepsen. Directed by award-winning director Richard Shavzin, Never the Bridesmaid runs at the Polarity space at the Josephinum Academy, 1500 N. Bell St. in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, February 26 through April 7, 2013.

Following its acclaimed 16-week run at the Lookingglass Theatre Company this fall, Metamorphoses brings the mythical tales of Ovid to life at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 10 years after the Broadway premiere. Written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, Metamorphoses is based on David Slavitt's translation and marks the first time Zimmerman will direct the production since its Broadway run. This is also the first time Zimmerman will stage Metamorphoses in the round, and a custom set will be designed with the largest pool of water ever created for this production. Metamorphoses dives onto the Fichandler Stage February 8-March 17, 2013.

Rehearsals for RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella will begin Thursday, December 6 with preview performances starting January 25 prior to Opening Night on Sunday, March 3. (The previously announced opening date of February 24 turned out to be Oscar Night.) The box office at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St.) will open Monday, December 17 at 10 a.m.

Today we are talking to a breakout Broadway star who has made a name for himself with memorable turns in this century's revivals of Rodgers & Hammerstein's FLOWER DRUM SONG, Stephen Sondheim's PACIFIC OVERTURES and Stephen Schwartz's GODSPELL on Broadway as well as turns in Schwartz's WICKED and Jonathan Larson's RENT in addition to his lauded work on the brand new Broadway-bound tuner ALLEGIANCE, co-starring Lea Salonga and George Takei - and, of course, his easily identifiable uniform-outfitted Warbler on Fox's hit musical dramedy series GLEE - the passionate and gifted Telly Leung! Besides taking a look back at many of his best-loved and most well-remembered roles to date, in this career-spanning conversation Leung and I also dissect the finer points of his new solo album, I'LL COVER YOU, as we look ahead to the splashy release party on December 2 at 54 Below, and he outlines his initial inspiration for the creation of it and recounts the recording process for the unique genre-crossing release. Plus, Leung generously shares some truly thrilling backstage stories involving luminaries such as Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Neil Patrick Harris and more as well as shares his infectious enthusiasm for future endeavors, near and far - after a well-earned vacation in January, that is. All of that and much, much more awaits!

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, producer Marty Richards passed away today after a long battle with cancer. He was 80 years old. We celebrate the life and career of the legend below

BroadwayWorld.com has confirmed the sad news that producer Marty Richards passed away today after a long battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, continues its 2012-2013 season with a return engagement of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., November. 23 - December 30.

Complete casting has just been announced for the new production of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, which begins performances in January on Broadway. RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA will perform at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St).

Country star Keith Urban will receive the 2012 Harmony Award at the 28th annual Symphony Ball, event co-chairs Mrs. Ansel Lewis Davis (Jana) and Mrs. Orrin Henry Ingram II (Lee Ann) announced this evening. The award will be presented at the Ball on Saturday, December 8, 2012, at Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Dixon Place has announced its October 2012 events lineup. See full details below!

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, continues its 2012-2013 season with a return engagement of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., November. 23 - December 30. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, continues its 2012-2013 season with a return engagement of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., November. 23 - December 30.

POV (Point of View) , launched on PBS in 1988, is celebrating its 25th anniversary on-air, online and on the ground in communities across the United States. American television's longest-running independent documentary series, POV is spearheading a wide array of activities featuring the brightest names in nonfiction film to complement its 2012-2013 season.

As previously announced, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA will arrive on Broadway this season with previews set for January 21, 2013 prior to Opening Night on February 21 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street).