Only in America - 1959 - Broadway Articles Page 8

The story of Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Lion has continued to enthrall children and adults and been reinvented every generation. It found its most enduring place in American culture at the end of the Great Depression when The Wizard of Oz, the MGM feature film starring Judy Garland, opened on August 25, 1939.

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 91 greatest Sondheim songs from stage, screen and beyond. See if your favorites made the cut! What's at #1?

Women have always played an important role on and behind our stages. It’s about time we talk about them.

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center has announced their Spring season of digital offerings from April 1 to July 1, which is dedicated to the late Gustave M. Hauser.  CMS presents 28 digital programs, with concerts premiering on Thursday evenings at 7:30 and educational and hybrid talk-and-performance programs premiering on Monday evenings.

The Jazz Festival has been preserving and expanding Jazz’s legacy and impact by igniting interest in new generations of Jazz lovers through their Jazz Assembly programs and educational initiatives.

Today, baritone Will Liverman has released Dreams of a New Day: Songs by Black Composers with pianist Paul Sánchez on Cedille Records. Liverman says, “Right now, it is more important than ever to celebrate the contributions of Black composers, and I’m honored to give voice to the art songs on this album.'

There is a particular snobbery surrounding musical theatre: critics say that in a moment of high drama, crisis or emotion, the most unrealistic thing to do would be to break into song. Musicals are too camp, annoying and definitely not cool. They appeal to the coach parties of tourists rocking up in Leicester Square every weekend (those were the days!). However, musicals are not representations of real life, nor do they pretend to be. A successful musical has a magical combination of highly memorable music, an engaging storyline, incredible choreography and visually impressive set and costume design. It’s not a coincidence that the best musical theatre performers are called a triple threat, as they act, sing and dance, often without any perceivable effort.

On Friday, February 12, 2021, baritone Will Liverman releases Dreams of a New Day: Songs by Black Composers with pianist Paul Sánchez on Cedille Records.

ELYOT & AMANDA: ALL ALONE from Noël Coward's PRIVATE LIVES is the next production in Playhouse on Park's 12th Main Stage Season. Veanne Cox and Ezra Barnes will co-star in this timely, lighthearted adaptation. It will be available to stream online from February 10th - 28th, 2021.

For twenty-six years, The Robey Theatre Company has made its mission the telling of the stories of the Black global experience on stage. It is now also doing so in print. The Robey Theatre Company Playwright Series currently has nine play scripts in publication, available in paperback edition and also in Kindle format.

This morning at 10 a.m., Union Station and GEHA officials cut the ribbon to open a fascinating new exhibit and tribute to the American postal pioneers of the Railway Mail Service (RMS) and Railway Post Office (RPO). This new addition to Union Station's permanent exhibition space, “Union Station Stories,” is being presented and made possible by Government Employees Health Association (GEHA), whose founding in 1937 was by a small group of local RPO employees. 

Need something new to read, watch, or listen to? Check out this week's list of new and upcoming releases! This week's list includes a book of stories behind the musical Jagged Little Pill, the Moulin Rouge! songbook, and more!

BroadwayWorld put together a list of all the live action musicals you can stream on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BroadwayHD, and Disney Plus. Are you looking for something to get your mind off… all of this? So are we. Because everyone needs some escape,

Start sweater weather season off right with exciting new original series and A-list blockbuster movies coming this October to HBO Max.

For twenty-six years, The Robey Theatre Company has made its mission the telling of the stories of the Black global diaspora on stage. It is now also doing so in print. The Robey Theatre Company Playwriting Series currently has nine play scripts in publication, available in paperback edition and also in Kindle format. These plays, all by Black playwrights, are available through Amazon (See links below).

As the San Francisco Bay Area reaches six months of sheltering-in-place, the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for mental health have become more prevalent than ever. In response, The Marsh is bringing back virtual LIVE performances (with post-event discussions) of Brian Copelanda??s captivating drama a?oeThe Waiting Period.a?? This deeply moving and surprisingly funny work that outlines his own struggles with depression and suicidal thought has been shown to literally save lives. The first performance will be Saturday, September 5th at 7:30pm PDT, with 5 subsequent performances on alternate Sundays at 5:00pm from September 13th through November 8th. All performances are offered free of charge. Please visit The Marsh website for additional information. As people around the world continue to navigate the potential health and financial impacts of the ongoing pandemic, Copeland knew that offering performances of a?oeThe Waiting Perioda?? would provide a safe space and support system for those in need during these trying times. BroadwayWorld had the pleasure of speaking with Copeland twice in recent months about the show and his long, fascinating career. In two decades as a successful standup comedian, he opened for musical icons such as Smokey Robinson and Aretha Franklin. He has also hosted popular, long-running talk shows on KGO radio and TV. He is perhaps best known as creator and star of numerous of solo shows, including a?oeNot a Genuine Black Mana?? which he developed at The Marsh and remains the longest-running solo show in Bay Area history.

Luke Combs is nominated for six awards at the 54th Annual CMA Awards: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year (What You See Is What You Get), Song of the Year (“Even Though I’m Leaving” performed by Combs and “I Hope You’re Happy Now” performed by Carly Pearce and Lee Brice), Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year (“Beer Never Broke My Heart”).

On Friday, Jerry Joseph released the final single, “Dead Confederate,” leading up to the release of The Beautiful Madness, produced by Patterson Hood with Drive-By Truckers as his band, due on August 21.

On Friday, Jerry Joseph released the final single, “Dead Confederate,” leading up to the release of The Beautiful Madness, produced by Patterson Hood with Drive-By Truckers as his band, due on August 21. 

These books, many of which were written by current or former set designers, take a deep dive into what the art is all about, how to get started, what research goes into the craft, and even how to design on a budget!

We've rounded up 10 MORE books about Black theatre to read and educate yourself while in quarantine. 

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest Motown songs from 1960-1994. See if your favorite songs or artists made the list!

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest scenes in cinema from 1901 to 2020. See if your favorite movie moments made the list!

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best musical theatre characters from 1940-2020; see if your favorites are on our list of the best characters from Broadway musicals.

The Beatles! Rihanna! Michael Jackson! Johnny Cash! Kanye West! The Rolling Stones! Aretha Franklin! Bob Dylan! Miles Davis! Nirvana! BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the greatest albums from the rock and rap era (1950-2020); see if your favorites made the grade!