Now and Then - 1921 - West End Articles Page 7

Luigi Creatore, who with his cousin Hugo Peretti wrote and produced iconic hits for such stars as Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Perry Como, Sarah Vaughan, Della Reese, Jimmie Rodgers, Patti Page and many others, including the Tokens' “Lion Sleeps Tonight,” Presley's “Can't Help Falling in Love” and “Wild in the Country,” and Cook's “Another Saturday Night” and “Twistin' the Night Away,” died of pneumonia at a Boca Raton hospice on Sunday, Dec. 13. He was 93.

'Tis the Season with Brian Stokes Mitchell is THE highlight of this holiday season.

Composer Paola Prestini, the Creative and Executive Director of the National Sawdust (NS), announces the initial programming for the non-profit's winter 2016 season in its acclaimed new home -- a $16 million, 13,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art chamber hall in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Orange County, Calif.-Nov. 20, 2015-Powerhouse performances make for a breathtaking evening when Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, performs Beethoven's dramatic "Eroica" Symphony on a program that includes another musical marvel, Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3, performed by Chinese-American sensation Conrad Tao. The calm, controlled opening of Prokofiev's Concerto disarms the audience for the tumult that's to come-scales swoop through the orchestra and the keyboard explodes as Tao performs his magic. Now 21, the pianist has been called "the most exciting prodigy to ever come my way" by a music critic at Musical America, while The New York Times says he plays with "fiery panache" and New York Magazine notes Tao's "aggressive charm and flashes of genuine wisdom." 

Brian Stokes Mitchell talks Broadway's 'Shuffle Along' and his upcoming Christmas concert at San Francisco Symphony. Read the full interview to learn about his creative process, Mitchell's take on arts education, and his upcoming album projects. Then visit sfsymphony.org for tickets to his December 16 concert.

Orange County, Calif.—Nov. 20, 2015—Powerhouse performances make for a breathtaking evening when Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, performs Beethoven's dramatic “Eroica” Symphony on a program that includes another musical marvel, Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3, performed by Chinese-American sensation Conrad Tao. The calm, controlled opening of Prokofiev's Concerto disarms the audience for the tumult that's to come—scales swoop through the orchestra and the keyboard explodes as Tao performs his magic. Now 21, the pianist has been called “the most exciting prodigy to ever come my way” by a music critic at Musical America, while The New York Times says he plays with “fiery panache” and New York Magazine notes Tao's “aggressive charm and flashes of genuine wisdom.” 

City Theatre gets festive with A BROADWAY HOLIDAY, a one-night-only concert featuring performances by award-winning Broadway stars Billy Porter and Anthony Rapp. With local talents Maria Becoates-Bey, Daina Michelle Griffith, and Billy Hartung, the special performance will include hit Broadway songs as well as a variety of holiday favorites.

'Eric Bentley's Brecht-Eisler Songbook,' the debut CD from soprano actress Karyn Levitt, will be available from Roven Records today, October 30.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, in partnership with Mark Cortale, has added two new leading ladies to the line-up of Seth Rudetsky's Broadway Concert Series, for the 2015-16 season. Performances by Tony-Award winners Kelli O'Hara and Sutton Foster have been added due to popular demand, completing the roster of Broadway powerhouses to perform with Sirius XM star Seth Rudetsky. The series kicks off with Tony-Award winner Audra McDonald on Wednesday, October 7. Additional performances in the series will take place on Friday, January 29 (Kelli O'Hara), Thursday, March 3 (Sutton Foster), and as previously announced, Thursday, May 5 (Megan Hilty). All performances will be held at the Merriam Theater at 8:00 p.m. In this unique series, Rudetsky will serve as pianist and host, engaging in intimate and witty conversations with the Broadway stars, all while presenting an evening of stellar performances of musical theater favorites.

Obie Award winning Metropolitan Playhouse revives Arthur Richman's never-published hit comedy from 1921: THE AWFUL TRUTH.   Directed by 2-time NYIT Award nominee Michael Hardart at the Playhouse: 220 E 4th Street, New York City

Pearl Buck, the Nobel Prize winning author, once wrote that 'if you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday.' Which is what Australian Ballet Artistic Director David McAllister has attempted with his new production of Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty, which will premiere in Melbourne, Australia, on September 15 2015, before touring to Perth from October 7-10, and Sydney from November 17-December 16.

Japan Society's Film Program resurrects Monthly Classics to give New Yorkers regular screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems or recent discoveries of Japanese cinema on the first Today of every month.

Obie Award winning Metropolitan Playhouse revives Arthur Richman's never-published hit comedy from 1921: THE AWFUL TRUTH.   Directed by 2-time NYIT Award nominee Michael Hardart at the Playhouse: 220 E 4th Street, New York City

Japan Society's Film Program resurrects Monthly Classics to give New Yorkers regular screenings of beloved classics, hidden gems or recent discoveries of Japanese cinema on the first Friday of every month.

'Eric Bentley's Brecht-Eisler Songbook,' the debut CD from soprano actress Karyn Levitt, will be available from Roven Records on October 30.

Following their triumphant, sold-out New York engagement last spring, the Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre of Russia returns with a new theatrical masterpiece Smile At Us, Oh Lord, based on the novels of Lithuanian-born Israeli writer Grigory Kanovich and directed by Rimas Tuminas (Eugene Onegin). Presented by The Cherry Orchard Festival Foundation (www.CherryOrchardFestival.org), Smile At Us, Oh Lord will play 4 performances at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street): Tonight, June 5th at 8pm, June 6th at 2pm and 8pm and June 7th at 2pm.

From July 9-19 Japan Society's renowned summer film festival presents 28 features never before seen in New York

Drawing on Gibbs' classic stories that have captivated the imaginations of children for almost 100 years, SNUGGLEPOT AND CUDDLEPIE: LIVE ON STAGE brings the Gumnut Babies and their Bushland Friends and foes to life with a "modern, funny and enchanting" production.

Following their triumphant, sold-out New York engagement last spring, the Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre of Russia returns with a new theatrical masterpiece Smile At Us, Oh Lord, based on the novels of Lithuanian-born Israeli writer Grigory Kanovich and directed by Rimas Tuminas (Eugene Onegin). Presented by The Cherry Orchard Festival Foundation (www.CherryOrchardFestival.org), Smile At Us, Oh Lord will play 4 performances at New York City Center (131 West 55th Street): June 5th at 8pm, June 6th at 2pm and 8pm and June 7th at 2pm. Tickets are $45-$150.

Today we are celebrating this week's hot news of Audra McDonald's big Broadway return next season!

A superb play, 'Repairing a Nation' is now on a limited engagement at Crossroads Theatre Company through Sunday, March 8th. Written by Nikkole Salter and directed by Marshall Jones, III, this family drama is a significant piece of theatre that is a must-see production for metropolitan area audience.

Every once in awhile I am blown away by an innovative and excitingly creative theatrical production which surprises me both physically and emotionally. Such was the case when I experienced Eugene O'Neill's ANNA CHRISTIE at the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble. The incredible cast stars Zoe Perry alongside her real-life father, Scandal's Jeff Perry, and Grey's Anatomy's Kevin McKidd as the play's trio of iconic characters who create an explosive mix, each struggling for salvation.

Five plays - one about a young woman's coming of age at the intersection of the Jewish and American communities; one about the friendship between the actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson and Soviet Jews during WWII; one about a feisty, successful Yiddish actress who fiercely guards her agonizing secrets from a zealous director; one about love and scandal in the 1921 Yiddish Art Theater's production of Ansky's 'The Dybbuk'; and one which takes place during 1945 at the closing of WWII in the Jewish neighborhood of Saratoga Springs known as 'Gut' -- have been chosen as the finalists in first-ever National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's [NYTF] International David and Clare Rosen Memorial Play Contest.

Spearwood, Australia

Today we salute one of Broadway's most influential artists in honor of his birthday this week, the one and only Ira Gershwin!