My Daughter-in-law - 1900 - Broadway Articles Page 14

WILLA OF THE WOOD is amazing. Stunning. Beautiful. It is one of the best books I've read in 2018. I wasn't expecting it. I am so, so enamored.

Take a fun-filled journey down the yellow brick road with the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's production of The Wizard of Oz, Young Performers' Edition!

Back in 2005 Broadway was abuzz with the arrival of a musical version of the much beloved book and movie "The Color Purple". The problem was, when it arrived it landed with a thud and not a splash. It had a decent showing running for three years and touring but never really catching fire (at least not for me). I saw the original on Broadway and in the tour and it just felt like they missed the mark not really focusing on the heart of the story and with music that felt out of place. Then in 2013 the folks at The Menier Chocolate Factory in London revived the show, scaling it down to a more intimate and streamlined piece and low and behold, it now works! And that, Dear Readers, is the gloriousness that's currently playing at the Paramount.

Shakespeare & Company presents August Strindberg's dark comedy Creditors, adapted by critically acclaimed playwright David Greig and directed by Nicole Ricciardi of last season's hit show 4000 Miles. In this production of what Strindberg calls his 'most mature work,' three characters must face their past, confronting love, debt, and deception. Performances run from July 19 - August 12 in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre.

Kelrik Productions presents a stunning new production of THE WIZARD OF OZ Follow the yellow brick road to Kelrik Productions' latest offering, THE WIZARD OF OZ, to be staged at the Performing Arts Center's Spanos Theater for one weekend only July 14th and 15th, 2018.  You will be swept away by our celebration of the iconic 1939 MGM film. The entire family will be captivated as they travel down the yellow brick road and beyond with Dorothy, Toto and their friends, the Cowardly Lion, Tinman and Scarecrow in this lavish production, featuring magical special effects, dazzling choreography and the classic songs you love, including  'Over the Rainbow,' 'If I Only Had a Brain,' 'We're Off to See the Wizard,' and more.  

Julianne Boyd, artistic director of Barrington Stage Co. said it best in her introduction of Charles Busch to the audience in Mr. Finn's Cabaret last night. ' I had never spoken to Charles before, but I instantly became his friend after our 30 minute phone conversation arranging his engagement at Barrington. He is brilliant and so interesting.'

In 2018 on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the birth of legendary choreographer Marius Petipa, American Ballet Theatre presented the premiere of Alexei Ratmansky's meticulous historical reconstruction of the full-length Harlequinade. His wife, Tatiana Ratmansky, assisted him and appeared as the Good Fairy in some performances.

Let me start, Dear Readers, by saying this is NOT the frothy Disney cartoon you may recall from your youth. Yes, it does contain many of the Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz songs from the 1996 Disney animated film but this show is more akin to the Victor Hugo novel than the cartoon. Gone are the silly, wise-cracking gargoyles whom you might find recreated in a Happy Meal, and amped up is the story of religious persecution, intolerance, sex, and betrayal. Leading me to wonder, what audience are they aiming for? Disney songs, filled out with heady albeit soaringly beautiful choral pieces, and a dark and gritty story that (spoiler alert) does not end well for everyone. And this is my biggest problem with the show, it can't make up its mind as to what it wants to be.

One year after its acclaimed launch in Las Vegas, Channing Tatum is bringing a brand new production of Magic Mike Liveto the Hippodrome Casino in London's Leicester Square. Conceived and co-directed by Tatum, Magic Mike Live is a large-scale, live production show based on the hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL, which will open in The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino on Wednesday 28 November 2018, following previews from 10 November.

One year after its acclaimed launch in Las Vegas, Channing Tatum will bring a brand new production of Magic Mike Live to the Hippodrome Casino in London's Leicester Square. Conceived and co-directed by Tatum, Magic Mike Live is a large-scale, live production show based on the hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL, which will open in The Theatre at the Hippodrome Casino on Wednesday 28 November 2018, following previews from 10 November.

Legendary Broadway and Hollywood songwriter Stephen Schwartz was announced today as special guest of the annual 'OZ-Stravaganza!'/WIZARD OF OZ festival, June 1-3, in Chittenango, NY. The Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer/lyricist will take part in two separate events today and Sunday that weekend, celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of WICKED, which opened on Broadway in 2003. The musical is among Schwartz's greatest international successes, recounting the saga of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good Witch in the Land of Oz. Chittenango, just east of Syracuse, is the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, who introduced those characters in his iconic children's book, THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ (1900).

Stanislav Ioudenitch, Artistic Director of Park International Center for Music (Park ICM), announced today that their 2018-2019 season would kick off in September with a new performance home, the 1900 Building in Mission Woods, Kansas. "For the first time, we will perform our entire season at the 1900 Building as we adore performing in their wonderful spaces," said Ioudenitch. "Now between their two fabulous concert halls and their delicious restaurant, classical music lovers can have a full evening of fine wines and food, and cap it off with our world-class musicians! We are two hidden jewels just now being discovered in the Kansas City arts public."

WICKED, quite possibly 'The Best Musical of the Decade' returns to Omaha's Orpheum Theatre May 16. Jon Robert Hall, who plays Fiyero in the national tour, is a man of many talents. Take a look.

The Muny announced today its complete cast and design team for the theatre's centennial season production of Gypsy, July 27 - August 2. Gypsy is proudly sponsored by Missouri Lottery.

As part of the global Make Music Day happening Thursday, June 21, NAMM's Museum of Making Music will offer a full day of music-making opportunities while hosting the Earth Harp, the world's longest playable stringed instrument, that will reach from the balcony of the Museum to its parking lot. The harp will be played live by an ensemble of musicians led by William Close, the LA-based inventor who tours the globe with his instrument, which has been seen in Singapore, at Burning Man, and even strung across a canyon near Chicago.

The Muny announced today its full cast and design teams for the world regional premiere of Jersey Boys, July 9 - 16. This will be the first licensed production of Jersey Boys in the world. Jersey Boys is proudly sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.

The full cast for The 5th Avenue Theatre's spectacular new production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which stars Deaf actorJoshua Castille as Quasimodo, has been announced. Castille will use American Sign Language (ASL) throughout his performance, bringing new life and perspective to Quasimodo, who is deaf in the novel by Victor Hugo.

The Muny announced today that single tickets for The Muny's 2018 centennial summer season are now available. Tickets can be purchased online at www.muny.org, by phone (314) 534-1111, or in person at The Muny Box Office, open 9am - 5pm, Monday through Friday. The Muny proudly celebrates its 100th season in Forest Park this summer.

Following the international success of I Am Harvey Milk, the acclaimed and celebrated composer and lyricist Andrew Lippa returns to San Francisco's Nourse Theater with another world premiere of an entirely new work: Unbreakable.

Legendary Broadway and Hollywood songwriter Stephen Schwartz was announced today as special guest of the annual 'OZ-Stravaganza!'/WIZARD OF OZ festival, June 1-3, in Chittenango, NY. The Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer/lyricist will take part in two separate events on Saturday and Sunday that weekend, celebrating the fifteenth anniversary of WICKED, which opened on Broadway in 2003. The musical is among Schwartz's greatest international successes, recounting the saga of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good Witch in the Land of Oz. Chittenango, just east of Syracuse, is the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, who introduced those characters in his iconic children's book, THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ (1900).

Da Camera of Houston celebrates 31 years of presenting chamber music and jazz concerts with the announcement of its 2018/2019 season, themed "Time Future Time Past." The title is taken from Four Quartets, a poem by T.S. Eliot: "Time present and time past / Are both perhaps present in time future / And time future contained in time past…" With a lineup spanning styles and genres, Da Camera's 2018/2019 season explores the progression of time. The season also marks visionary artist director Sarah Rothenberg's 25th anniversary season with Da Camera.

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus(SFGMC)-under the leadership of Dr. Tim Seelig, Artistic Director andChristopher Verdugo, Executive Director-concludes Season 40: Unstoppablewith UNBREAKABLE, a groundbreaking world premiere work by Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa (I Am Harvey Milk, The Addams Family, Big Fish, The Wild Party), on Friday, June 22 (8 p.m.) and Saturday, June 23 (2:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.) at San Francisco's Nourse Theater (275 Hayes Street).

5-STAR THEATRICALS (formerly Cabrillo Music Theatre) continues its 2017-2018 season with the Thousand Oaks premiere of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell (based on the Victor Hugo Novel and songs from the Disney film), musical direction by Dan Redfeld, choreography by Michelle Elkin and directed by Misti B. Wills. THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME opens on Friday, April 20, 2017 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2018 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.  

After its acclaimed Broadway, touring and international productions, The Muny will be the first theatre in the world to create its own production of Jersey Boys. The Muny announced today the iconic leading quartet will star Emmy-nominated Mark Ballas as Frankie Valli, Bobby Conte Thornton as Bob Gaudio, Nicolas Dromard as Tommy DeVito and Keith Hines as Nick Massi. The fourth production in the theatre's centennial season, Jersey Boysruns July 9 - 16. Jersey Boys is directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes with music direction by Rick Bertone. Jersey Boys is proudly sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.