Parade - 1996 - New York Articles Page 19

Returning to the London stage for the first time in nearly 40 years the inimitable Angela Lansbury reunites with acclaimed director Michael Blakemore to reprise her Tony award-winning Broadway performance as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit. Opening at the Gielgud Theatre on 18 March 2014, with previews from 1 March, this new production of Noel Coward's sharp comedy of social mores will also star Janie Dee and Charles Edwards.

The Huntington Theatre Company presents a concert version of Jason Robert Brown's powerful contemporary musical The Last Five Years for three performances only this weekend, November 23 and 24.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced that this year's New Year's Eve celebration, scheduled to take place in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District on Tuesday, December 31, 2013, will highlight the history of Highmark First Night Pittsburgh and commemorate 20 years of the family-friendly community event through special programs and new activities. Highmark First Night Pittsburgh 2014 is produced by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust with generous support from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the event's longtime supporter and returning presenting sponsor. Highmark First Night Pittsburgh provides the city with a chance to ring in the new year while celebrating the arts: dance, music, theater, comedy, magic, visual art and film, plus hands-on activities for children and adults.

Carnegie Hall announced today that world-renowned fashion designer Oscar de la Renta will receive the seventh Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence at a gala benefit on Thursday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. at The Plaza's Grand Ballroom. The award, recognizing Mr. de la Renta's outstanding leadership in business and philanthropy, will be presented by Sanford I. Weill, Chairman of Carnegie Hall's Board of Trustees.

Now in its 16th season, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook will continue to expand its scope celebrating the best in American singing and songwriting. New this year, the opening night concert will befree, in the David Rubenstein Atrium, on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. 'Live From Lincoln Center,' the Emmy Award-winning program broadcast nationally on PBS stations, will shoot four of the first week's American Songbook concerts in The Allen Room: by James Naughton, Lawrence Brownlee, Jason Isbell, and Patina Miller. These performances will be broadcast nationally beginning in Spring 2014. In addition, American Songbook concerts taking place in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center will be live-streamed via http://watch.lincolncenter.org.

Featuring a classic score overflowing with standards and a certain rat-a-tat syncopation and sassy style all its own, Frank Loesser's indelible musical comedy GUYS & DOLLS is one of the greatest musicals of all time and the incredibly exciting cast just announced for the upcoming Carnegie Hall concert is icing on the cake insofar as an ideal presentation of it - Nathan Lane as Nathan Detroit, Megan Mullally as Adelaide, Patrick Wilson as Sky Masterson and Sierra Boggess as Sarah Brown.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist celebrated for his many impressive musical theatre scores since his astonishing debut in the 1990s with SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD and PARADE, the one and only Jason Robert Brown. Discussing the finer points of the vastly different scores for his two new stage musicals premiering this year, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, Brown paints a vivid portrait of his composing process in creating both the serious romantic drama and bubbly musical comedy, respectively. Additionally, Brown outlines his experiences collaborating with theatre legends Harold Prince and Alfred Uhry on his first big Broadway musical, PARADE, and also reflects on the subsequent successful national tour which he himself conducted. Most importantly, Brown sheds some light on the sparkling new cast recording of his recent self-directed revival of his two-character cult mainstay THE LAST FIVE YEARS and how the last ten years have shaded his perspective on the piece, particularly as anticipation builds for the release of the highly anticipated feature film adaptation starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, directed by Richard LaGravenese and set for release next year, which Brown confirms he has completed his scoring duties on this month and offers an enticing endorsement of the indie movie musical. All of that, a discussion of his solo album and specialty material penned over the years, astute observations on his sporadic collaborations with wife, songwriter and fellow InDepth InterView participant Georgia Stitt as well as much, much more in this quick catch-up chat with one of Broadway's busiest musical craftsmen.

Now in its 16th season, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook will continue to expand its scope celebrating the best in American singing and songwriting. New this year, the opening night concert will befree, in the David Rubenstein Atrium, on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. 'Live From Lincoln Center,' the Emmy Award-winning program broadcast nationally on PBS stations, will shoot four of the first week's American Songbook concerts in The Allen Room: by James Naughton, Lawrence Brownlee, Jason Isbell, and Patina Miller. These performances will be broadcast nationally beginning in Spring 2014. In addition, American Songbook concerts taking place in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center will be live-streamed via http://watch.lincolncenter.org.

Stephen Fry, who is making his Broadway acting debut as Malvolio in the critically acclaimed Shakespeare's Globe production of TWELFTH NIGHT, will be a guest on 'The Colbert Report' on Thursday, October 24. 'The Colbert Report' airs at 11:30 PM ET on Comedy Central, 10:30 PM Central.

MUSE/IQUE, known for its inspired, unexpected live music events curated by noted artistic director/conductor Rachael Worby, continues its 'Uncorked Series' with a spotlight on female jazz musicians on Monday, November 11, 2013, 7 pm, at the expansive Avon Distribution Center in Pasadena. The program at Avon, itself long a symbol of female empowerment, opens with a screening of the acclaimed award-winning documentary film The Girls in the Band, which traces the history of women jazz artists from the 1930s through present day, exposing sexism and racism faced by the immensely talented women who broke through primarily male music bastions. Avon, according to Fortune magazine, is the world's fifth largest cosmetic company and second largest direct selling company, with 6.4 million independent sales representatives, primarily female, in more than 140 countries. Capping the evening are an interactive panel discussion with the film's director Judy Chaikin and some of the celebrated artists in the film, moderated by Worby, as well as musical interludes performed by some of the current leading ladies of jazz, including saxophonist Mindi Abair, who has appeared with Josh Groban, Lee Ritenour and the Backstreet Boys, among many others. A complimentary pre-concert cocktail hour for ticket holders, with 'popcorn fare' and music by an all-female jazz ensemble from Westridge High School in Pasadena, begins at 6 pm followed by the 7 pm program.

Multi-Platinum superstars Toni Braxton and Kenny 'Babyface' Edwards are the latest Grammy Award-winning artists set to join the roster of 'Special Guest Star' vocalists in the new Broadway musical After Midnight. With an impressive 16 Grammy Awards between them, Braxton and Edwards will join the company following k.d. lang, Tuesday, March 18, 2014 through Sunday, March 30, 2014. As previously announced, After Midnight will reintroduce the Cotton Club's exciting tradition of welcoming the stars of today in limited engagements throughout the musical's run. After Midnight will begin preview performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013. Tickets for Braxton and Edmonds' engagement will go on sale Monday, November 4, 2013.

The Huntington Theatre Company presents a concert version of Jason Robert Brown's powerful contemporary musical The Last Five Years for three performances only November 23 and 24. Adam Kantor (Rent, Avenue Q) and Betsy Wolfe (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture) play the two twenty-something New Yorkers who dive head-first into marriage, fueled by the optimism of finding 'the one.' Winner of Drama Desk Drama Awards for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics, The Last Five Years takes a bold look at one young couple's hope that love endures the test of time.

The Harvard Department of Music and the Office for the Arts at Harvard have announced the appointment of Jason Robert Brown as Blodgett Artist-in-Residence during the spring of 2014. A celebrated American composer, Brown has been hailed as 'one of Broadway's smartest and most sophisticated songwriters since Stephen Sondheim' (Philadelphia Inquirer). He is known best as the award-winning composer and lyricist of the musical The Last 5 Years, and the Tony-award winning composer of Parade.

Ralph Lee's Mettawee River Theatre Company presents its new production of 'TALIESIN', with script by Robert Bagg from a medieval Welsh tale, running September 6, 7, 8 and 13, 14, 15 at 7:30 PM (Today/Saturday/Sunday) at the Outdoor Garden of St. John the Divine.

Gloucester Stage wraps up the 2013 season with Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy from tonight, September 5 through September 22 at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the stars in action below!

Gloucester Stage wraps up the 2013 season with Alfred Uhry's Driving Miss Daisy from September 5 through September 22 at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the stars in action below!

Ralph Lee's Mettawee River Theatre Company presents its new production of 'Taliesin,' drawn from a medieval Welsh legend.

Ralph Lee's Mettawee River Theatre Company presents its new production of 'TALIESIN', with script by Robert Bagg from a medieval Welsh tale, running September 6, 7, 8 and 13, 14, 15 at 7:30 PM (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) at the Outdoor Garden of St. John the Divine.

Today we salute one of Broadway best-loved leading ladies now that she is back treading the boards as Miss Hannigan in the current revival of ANNIE, the simply divine Faith Prince.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today additional casting for its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet. Academy Award winner William Hurt will play the role of Friar Laurence; Emmy Award nominee T.R. Knight has been cast as Mercutio and Tony Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega as the Nurse. CSC also announced that Finn Wittrock, previously announced to co-star as Romeo, has withdrawn from the production due to a film offer. A new Romeo and complete casting will be announced shortly. CSC's Romeo & Juliet, which begins performances Friday, September 27, will be directed by Tea Alagi? (Jackie). The official opening night is Wednesday, October 16. Romeo & Juliet will play a limited engagement through Sunday, November 3. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, September 5 at 12pm.

Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

To commemorate the Los Angeles-based arts and culture promoter's 20th anniversary, Green Galactic harks back to its roots by mounting an inspired event featuring electronic music innovators pole, John Tejada and Plaid in collaboration with Grand Performances(GP) today, June 30, 2013.

For the Arden's 26th Season of great stories by great storytellers, the company presents a daring and ambitious musical, dramas that grapple with the complicated notion of the American family, provocative pieces by contemporary playwrights, and a new approach to a classic text. Says Arden's Producing Artistic Director Terrence J. Nolen: "The 2013/14 season will include a remarkable range of stories by master storytellers. We are proud to produce the work of Jason Robert Brown, Lydia Diamond, and Alfred Uhry at the Arden for the first time, and are thrilled to welcome plays by Philadelphia writers Quiara Alegria Hudes and Michael Hollinger to our stages. The coming year also includes a new translation by Curt Columbus of Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, and adaptations of Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School and Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat. Coming this fall, we will also open the Hamilton Family Arts Center, our new education and production center. We are thrilled by the prospect of creating our 2013/14 productions in this great new space.'

FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will perform at the Majestic Theatre for eight performances tonight, June 18-23. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, March 1.

To commemorate the Los Angeles-based arts and culture promoter's 20th anniversary, Green Galactic harks back to its roots by mounting an inspired event featuring electronic music innovators pole, John Tejada and Plaid in collaboration with Grand Performances(GP) on Sunday, June 30, 2013.