Names - 1997 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 17

ULTRA Worldwide enjoyed a historic year across Asia in 2015, by wrapping up a record-breaking EIGHT-stop tour of the continent that saw hundreds of thousands of people attend ULTRA events in the space of a mere four months.

Chekhov's THE SEAGULL is a classic of the theater, but I had never seen it. That's not exactly true, it was actually the first play I ever saw at the Guthrie, but being almost 25 years ago, I have no recollection of it. So it was as if I'd never seen it when I sat down to yesterday's matinee production of THE SEAGULL by Theatre Novi Most, a company that specializes in Eastern European theater, as part of the Southern Theater's ARTShare program. It took me a few minutes to get into this story of many inter-related characters with strange sounding names, but by intermission I was completely under its spell. This is one of those shows that is so completely captivating that it's hard to shake when you leave the theater. Funny, tragic, odd, and completely enchanting.

Flashback Friday! The Board of the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, which is comprised of over 140 film and TV journalists and/or critics nationwide, had fun last February picking its choices for the very best (or at least dishiest) movies through the years that have somehow included the Academy Awards ® in their storylines (note: GALECA is not affiliated with the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences). Let's revisit GALECA's Top 10 Movies That Costar Oscar ®, ranked from 1 to 10 below, shall we? 

-This summer marks another historic milestone for the annual Bard SummerScape festival. For the first time since its founding, this season's focus is on the music and culture of Italy, with seven weeks of music, opera, theater, dance, film, and cabaret keyed to the theme of the 27th Bard Music Festival, "Puccini and His World." This intensive examination of the life and times of Giacomo Puccini opens a window onto Italy's rich musical heritage from Palestrina to Menotti, by way of the most popular and successful - yet, paradoxically, frequently critically underrated - opera composer of all time. Complementing the music festival, some of the Tuscan master's most compelling compatriots provide other key SummerScape highlights.

This summer marks another historic milestone for the annual Bard SummerScape festival. For the first time since its founding, this season's focus is on the music and culture of Italy, with seven weeks of music, opera,theater, dance, film, and cabaret keyed to the theme of the 27th Bard Music Festival, "Puccini and His World." This intensive examination of the life and times of Giacomo Puccini opens a window onto Italy's rich musical heritage from Palestrina to Menotti, by way of the most popular and successful - yet, paradoxically, frequently critically underrated - opera composer of all time. Complementing the music festival, some of the Tuscan master's most compelling compatriots provide other key SummerScape highlights. These include a rare, fully staged production of Iris, a forerunner of Madama Butterfly by Puccini's close contemporary Pietro Mascagni; the world premiere of Demolishing Everything with Amazing Speed, four newly unearthed puppet plays from leading Italian Futurist Fortunato Depero, as reimagined by Dan Hurlin;the world premiere of Fantasque, a new ballet set to the music of Respighi and Rossini by John Heginbotham and Amy Trompetter; a film series on "Puccini and the Operatic Impulse in Cinema"; and the return of Bard's authentic and sensationally popularSpiegeltent,hosted by the inimitable Mx. Justin Vivian Bond. Taking place between July 1 and August 14 in the Frank Gehry-designed Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and other venues on Bard College's stunning Hudson River campus, SummerScape's 2016 offerings provide new opportunities to discover that, as Time Out New York puts it, "the experience of entering the Fisher Center and encountering something totally new is unforgettable and enriching." Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 15; click here for more information.

Williamstown Theatre Festival hosted its starry 2016 gala this evening at City Winery in New York City, where Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield announced the initial lineup for this summer's season -- the 62nd for the Tony Award-winning theatre company. Among the big names slated for the 2016 Summer Season are Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei, Jane Kaczmarek and Michael Stuhlbarg.

Let's get this out of the way first, the 'hardbody' in the title is a truck, a Nissan pickup truck to be exact; and while the name of the musical, HANDS ON A HARDBODY, might sound a teensy bit risque, it is filled with encouraging messages and life-affirming themes set to a high energy modern score. Presented by TheatreWorks Florida, the musical runs through February 21st at the Garden Theatre, and features an extremely game and talented cast, who unfortunately is not used in a way that comes close to maximizing their immense collective talent. The musical by Doug Wright (book), Amanda Green (music and lyrics), and Trey Anastasio of the band Phish (music) is based on a 1997 documentary of the same name about a Texas contest in which the person who keeps his or her hand on a truck the longest, wins it. While the show's ensemble construction gives nearly every cast-member multiple moments to vocally shine, it seems like a substantial amount of them have been shoehorned into roles that don't exactly match up with their particular vocal ranges, resulting in fairly regular pitch issues. That not-so minor issue aside, the show is a joyous, toe-tapping celebration of all the things, good and bad, that make people special.

? Lookingglass Theatre Company announces the election of its newest Artistic Director, Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. Stillman has served as Artistic Director of New Work since 2004 and replaces current Artistic Director, Ensemble Member Andrew White. White, who has held the post since 2010, will serve as the company's first Connectivity and Engagement Director. Ensemble Member Philip R. Smith remains on the artistic leadership team in his role as Producing Director. In this spirit of ensemble and collaboration, Lookingglass Ensemble members routinely vote on the position of artistic director every three years. Elections are then ratified by the Lookingglass Board of Directors, and this artistic transition is effective immediately.

IFC announced today that the iconic musical satirist 'Weird Al' Yankovic will make his historic return to television as bandleader and co-host on Scott Aukerman's Comedy Bang! Bang!

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Rittinger to the role of Vice-President, Development. Mr. Rittinger will join the TSO's Senior Management group on March 1, 2016.

Ronnie McDowell, known for decades of hit songs and genuine warmth that fills seats again and again, opens up about his illustrious music career in his new autobiography, “'Bringing It To You Personally,” available for preordernow.

New Repertory Theatre's 3rd Annual Next Rep Black Box Festival presents British playwright David Hare's VIA DOLOROSA as the first of its three shows. Minimal design elements sharpen the focus on David Bryan Jackson's virtuoso performance as the author. Serving as an animated and amiable tour guide, Jackson is fully committed to connecting with the audience, ensuring that the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are understood and keenly felt.

Following an extensive national and international recruitment process, Circus Oz is delighted to announce the appointment of their new Artistic Director, Rob Tannion. 

After nearly two decades, Sacred Fools Theater Company announces a departure from their East Hollywood birthplace of 660 N. Heliotrope Drive, and immediate relocation to Theater Row in Hollywood as the resident theater company for the space formerly known as the Elephant / Asylum Complex at 1076 North Lillian Way at Santa Monica Boulevard. Sacred Fools will be occupying and managing the entire establishment, including all five theater stages, beginning January 1, 2016.

Comedy Central announces the digital release of BRIAN REGAN: LIVE FROM RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL the first live stand-up special in Comedy Central history, today, November 27.

Comedy Central announces the digital release of 'Brian Regan: Live From Radio City Music Hall,' the first live stand-up special in Comedy Centralhistory, on Friday, November 27.

Showtime Networks announced that Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning executive Vinnie Malhotra will be joining the network in the newly created role of Senior Vice President, Documentaries, Unscripted and Sports Programming.

This year's annual Feast Festival is going bigger and better than ever before with a variety of talented local, national and international artists and explosive special events.

From today, November 10, 2015, to April 3, 2016, the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) presents DEAD TREEZ, the first monographic New York museum exhibition by artist Ebony G. Patterson, who splits her time between Kingston, Jamaica, and Lexington, Kentucky.

From November 10, 2015, to April 3, 2016, the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) presents DEAD TREEZ, the first monographic New York museum exhibition by artist Ebony G. Patterson, who splits her time between Kingston, Jamaica, and Lexington, Kentucky.

Today, October 16, The Chernuchin Theatre, one of the theatres housed at The American Theatre for Actors (ATA, 314 West 54th Street, New York City) will be named for beloved Broadway legend and two-time Tony Award winner John Cullum. He is best known as Holling, the bartender in 'Northern Exposure.'

In an excerpt from his new book 'Razzle Dazzle The Battle for Broadway', writer Michael Riedel discusses the origins of the iconic Broadway musical A CHORUS LINE.

In an interview with Fox 5 NY, Broadway star Judith Light, who portrayed Pintauro's mother Angela on the 1980's sitcom WHO'S THE BOSS, spoke about the revelation and shared that she has been advising him since he first publicly announced he was gay in 1997.

In a production commissioned by the Finborough Theatre, a unique opportunity to see a classic of Yiddish theatre for the first time in the UK - Treasure by David Pinski opens at the Finborough Theatre for a four week limited season on Tuesday, 20 October 2015 (Press Nights: Thursday, 22 October and Friday, 23 October 2015 at 7.30pm).