Mass Appeal 1981

Pacific Chorale, celebrated for its artistic innovation and compelling performances, announces a range of bold and dynamic programming for the 2023-24 season, showcasing the sublime power of the human voice raised in song.

Former Orlando theater and opera mainstay Frank McClain, who left Orlando in 2012 to assume the role of Managing Director of Opera Tampa and who then relocated to Dubuque, Iowa (2015) to become the Executive and Artistic Director of the Grand Opera House, will return to Orlando this summer to direct Stephen Lewis and Michael Wanzie in the Wanzie Presents production of Mass Appeal – opening on Friday, July 14th, 2023 for a limited 3-performance run.

The cast has been announced for the world premiere of BERLUSCONI at Southwark Playhouse. Rehearsals begin on 13 February with first preview on 25 March and press night on 29 March.

ELIZABETH IRELAND McCANN, the iconoclastic Broadway producer who won nine Tony Awards during a 60-year career in theater, died after a bout with cancer on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, according to her longtime associate and friend, Kristen Luciani.  She was 90 years old. 

Bill C. Davis passed away on February 26, 2021 after a brief illness. Bill was a playwright, author, actor, director and political activist, and was best known for his play Mass Appeal, which premiered at Manhattan Theatre Club and subsequently moved to Broadway in 1981.

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is officially in previews on Broadway! Two-time Tony Award and three-time Emmy Award winner Laurie Metcalf and Rupert Everett star on Broadway in Edward Albee's seminal drama Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello, this production also stars Russell Tovey and 2019 Olivier Award winner Patsy Ferran.

Academy Award-nominee, Angela Bassett will join Kathleen Battle as a guest narrator in Battle's program Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey accompanied by pianist Joel Martin and the LA-based choir, The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) on Thursday, March 29 at 8:00pm.

American soprano Kathleen Battle's luminous voice has been called by The Washington Post "...without qualification, one of the very few most beautiful in the world."  Yet beyond the glory of her singing, in a career filled with countless accolades, honors and major milestones, what has perhaps distinguished her most is her almost magical ability to create an unwavering emotional bond between herself, her music and her audience.  On Thursday, March 29 at 8pm, that special bond will be on full display when Ms. Battle makes her debut at The Soraya with Kathleen Battle: Underground Railroad-A Spiritual Journey accompanied by pianist Joel Martin and the LA-based choir, The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers.

The producers of INDECENT - Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel's newest work, one of the most acclaimed plays of 2016 when it debuted in New York Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre following productions at Yale Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse - have announced that the production will begin performances on Broadway at the Cort Theatre (138 W 48th St New York, NY), on April 4, prior to its official opening night on April 18.  

The producers of Indecent - Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel's newest work, one of the most acclaimed plays of 2016 when it debuted in New York Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre following productions at Yale Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse - have announced that the production will begin performances on Broadway at the Cort Theatre (138 W 48th St New York, NY), on April 4, prior to its official opening night on April 18.

INDECENT - Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel's newest work, one of the most acclaimed plays of 2016 when it debuted in New York Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre - will premiere on Broadway at the Cort Theatre (138 W 48th St New York, NY), this spring.

INDECENT - Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel's newest work, one of the most acclaimed plays of 2016 when it debuted in New York Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre - will premiere on Broadway this spring.

2nd Story Theatre in Warren is on a pretty good run in 2016: HYSTERIA, LOVE DEATH AND WHAT I WORE, and now MASS APPEAL by Bill C. Davis, playing Upstage until April 3, have each provided entertaining and interesting evening or afternoons for their audiences. This play premiered in 1981-about halfway between Going My Way and Spotlight. That seems right: the show does not portray priests as saints, and only hints at the existence of problems, that will be revealed later on. In ninety minutes, MASS APPEAL tells the story of Father Tim Farley (Bob Colonna), a Catholic parish priest whose comfortable existence is upset by the arrival of an idealistic young seminarian, Mark Dolson (David Sackal), who becomes Fr. Farley's charge and challenge. Father Tim Farley is highly popular with his parishioners due to his charm, wit, easy-going manner, and entertaining (but unchallenging) sermons. One Sunday Dolson interrupts Farley's 'dialogue' sermon to challenge his stance on the ordination of women. In fairness to the young man, Fr. Farley had invited questions but got more than he asked for from Dolson. The pastor is outraged yet intrigued by Dolson, and asks to have him assigned to work with him. And that, as Rick tells Captain Renaud in Casablanca, is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced casting for its spring musical, Pump Boys and Dinettes. This Tony Award nominee features James Barry (Jim), Gabe Bowling (Jackson), Julie Foldesi (Prudie), Jason Ostrowski (L.M.), Alysha Umphress (Rhetta) and Sam Weber (Eddie).  Pump Boys and Dinettes is conceived and written by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann. Pump Boys and Dinettes will be directed by John Foley with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Pump Boys and Dinettes will run eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from April 6 through May 1, 2016. The official press opening night is Sunday, April 10, at 7:00pm. Paper Mill Playhouse's 2015-2016 Season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank.

Phoenix -- Arizona Musicfest, the premier Winter Music Festival, kicks off today, January 29 and will run throughout the month of February, concluding March 5th.

Phoenix -- Arizona Musicfest, the premier Winter Music Festival, kicks off January 29 and will run throughout the month of February, concluding March 5th.

From September 4-14, 2014, Houston Ballet launches its 45th season with the company premiere of John Neumeier's three-act ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream. The ballet is based on Shakespeare's lighthearted play of the same name and follows the hijinks and hilarity that ensues when a well-intentioned plan with a love potion goes awry. Created in 1977, A Midsummer Night's Dream has served as Mr. Neumeier's calling card, being seen as one of his most joyous and popular creations. Houston Ballet is the first American ballet company to perform the famous work and it is the first piece by Mr. Neumeier to enter the Houston Ballet repertoire.

Today, we remember those within the entertainment industry that we lost in 2013.

Stage and screen stasr Milo O'Shea passed away yesterday, April after a short ilness, according to published reports. He was 86 years old.

Elisa Contemporary Art and transFORM Gallery present Re-Imagining Past Possessions, Works of Recycled Materials. The exhibit will run through June 1, 2013. This Earth Day tribute focuses on how discarded materials are transformed into Artwork. The international roster of artists use recycled and discarded materials including newspaper and magazines, screws, nuts, door knobs and corrugated metal siding, tools, mail and fabrics including ties and worn-out clothing.

Mad Cow Theatre has announced the cast for Mass Appeal by Bill C. Davis in The Black Box at Mad Cow's new home at 54 West Church Street.

For the Columbus Symphony's inaugural concert in the Southern Theatre, CSO Music Director Jean-Marie has selected three 20th-century masterpieces showcasing orchestral strings.

For the Columbus Symphony's inaugural concert in the Southern Theatre, CSO Music Director Jean-Marie has selected three 20th-century masterpieces showcasing orchestral strings.

Tickets are now on sale for the World Premiere production of DARK SISTERS, composed by Nico Muhly with libretto by Stephen Karam, conducted by Neal Goren, directed by Rebecca Taichman, and co-commissioned and co-produced by Gotham Chamber Opera, Music-Theatre Group and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. DARK SISTERS will premiere from November 9-19,2011 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 899 Tenth Avenue, NYC. Tickets are $30-125 and are available at www.ticketcentral.com or by phone at 212-279-4200.

Returning next month for a week-long season, the highly acclaimed Aspen Santa Fe Ballet will present a program of three works, including two NYC premieres, at The Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue at 19th street) from February 22 - 27.