Play Yourself - 2002 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 11

The Sundance Institute welcomes the members of the six juries awarding prizes at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, today, January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

Yoshi's San Francisco announces updated calendar for club and restaurant through February 9, plus new shows through April 2014.

Houston Grand Opera is proudly presenting the US Premiere of Mieczyslaw Weinberg and Alexander Medvedv's 1968 opera THE PASSENGER. After the Second World War, a German couple, Lisa and Walter, are sailing to Brazil. Lisa, unbeknownst to her husband, was a camp guard at Auschwitz and feels she recognizes a former Polish inmate, Marta. In anticipation of opening night, Melody Moore, who plays Marta, spoke with me about Houston Grand Opera's production of THE PASSENGER and her career.

Sundance Institute announced today the members of the six juries awarding prizes at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. Short Film Awards will be announced at a ceremony on January 21 at Park City's Jupiter Bowl. Feature film awards will be announced at a separate ceremony on January 25 in Park City, hosted by husband-and-wife duo Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally and livestreamed at www.sundance.org/live. Offerman headlines the film Nick Offerman: American Ham in the Festival's Premieres section. Mullally voices a character in the English-language version of Ernest and Celestine, which will have its world premiere in the Festival's new Sundance Kids section.

Who best determines an infant's fate among differing values concerning drugs, religion and child rearing? Pulitzer Prize finalist Rebecca Gilman asks this question and more in her latest play, Luna Gale, directed by Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls in their fourth collaboration. Gilman's seven Goodman productions-six of which were world premieres, including five commissions-make her one of the most-produced contemporary playwrights in the theater's history. Appearing in her 16th Goodman production, Chicago stage favorite Mary Beth Fisher-who also originated roles in Gilman's Spinning Into Butter and Boy Gets Girl-stars as veteran social worker Caroline, who is charged with making tough decisions about the future of Luna Gale, a vulnerable child. The recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award, Luna Gale is part of the Goodman's 'Great Women at Play' subscription package, featuring works written and/or directed by Rachel Rockwell (Brigadoon), Joanie Schultz (Venus in Fur), Jessica Thebus, Tracey Scott Wilson (Buzzer) and Mary Zimmerman (The White Snake). Luna Gale runs January 18 - February 23 in the Albert Theatre (opening night is Monday, January 27). Tickets ($25 - $81; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Luna, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). The Goodman Women's Board is a Major Production Sponsor and Mayer Brown is a Corporate Sponsor Partner. Ogletree Deakins and U.S. Bank are the Opening Night Sponsors. Audience enrichment events and a full performance calendar follow.

The Lark Play Development Center in collaboration with Mexico's National Fund for Culture and Arts (FONCA) is pleased to announce the 2013 Mexico/ U.S. Playwright Exchange Program. For the eighth year the Lark will host playwrights from Mexico and pair them with bilingual U.S. playwrights, actors, and directors for a ten day cultural exploration that establishes ongoing channels of communication between artists in both countries.

The holidays are upon us with plenty to celebrate at the Kimmel Center's campus of events and performances.

NBC will celebrate the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas tree with a live broadcast from Rockefeller Center in New York City tonight, Dec. 4 (8-9 p.m. ET). The star-studded holiday special is hosted by 'Today' anchors Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker and Natalie Morales, and will feature performances from Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande, Jewel, Leona Lewis, Audra McDonald and The Rockettes.

The special will feature performances from Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Goo Goo Dolls, Ariana Grande, Jewel, Leona Lewis, Audra McDonald and The Rockettes.

The holidays are upon us with plenty to celebrate at the Kimmel Center's campus of events and performances.

The Lark Play Development Center in collaboration with Mexico's National Fund for Culture and Arts (FONCA) is pleased to announce the 2013 Mexico/ U.S. Playwright Exchange Program. For the eighth year the Lark will host playwrights from Mexico and pair them with bilingual U.S. playwrights, actors, and directors for a ten day cultural exploration that establishes ongoing channels of communication between artists in both countries.

NBC will celebrate the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas tree with a live broadcast from Rockefeller Center in New York City on Wednesday, Dec. 4

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its eclectic line-up of vivacious talent for November 4-10, including the Django Reinhardt NY Festival, Frank Wildhorn and Friends, Birdland Jazz Party with Cyrille Aimee, Barbara Carroll, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its eclectic line-up of vivacious talent for November 4-10, including the Django Reinhardt NY Festival, Frank Wildhorn and Friends, Birdland Jazz Party with Cyrille Aimee, Barbara Carroll, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

Though art about art has been all over Austin as of late, there's always room for one more production provided it's as good as this. Museum is a bold, laugh-out-loud farce that lovingly mocks the pretentiousness often found in both modern art and those who claim to love and understand it.

Tarragon Theatre presents TheatreRUN's The Double, an hilarious and innovative adaptation of the Fyodor Dostoevsky novella of the same name, created and performed by TheatreRUN Artistic Director Adam Paolozza (who also directs), Arif Mirabdolbaghi (bass-player and lyricist of the award-winning Canadian progressive metal band, Protest The Hero) and international actorViktor Lukawski. A dark comedy about our deepest fears of losing our identity, The Double opens October 23 and runs to November 24 (previews from October 15) in Tarragon's Extraspace.

BroadwayWorld Chicago sits down with star of "The Book of Mormon" in Chicago and former "American Idol" finalist, Syesha Mercado, to talk about playing Nabulungi, her time in Chicago, and more!

Today we are talking a phenomenally talented performer known for his decades treading the boards in a number of featured and lead roles, most recently wowing crowds with his turn as one of the title characters in THE GERSHWINS' PORGY & BESS - the engaging and golden-voiced Norm Lewis. Discussing many of his most celebrated roles as well as some more obscure, Lewis paints a vivid picture of his career trajectory thus far and shares compelling and candid stories of working on productions as varied and diverse as the original Broadway versions of THE WHO'S TOMMY, SIDE SHOW, THE WILD PARTY, AMOUR, THE LITTLE MERMAID and SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM as well as his sensational work regionally in projects such as his recent essaying of Javert in LES MISERABLES at The Muny (to say nothing of the 25th Anniversary live at the 02) as well as turns in SWEENEY TODD and THE WIZARD & I: THE MUSIC OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ among many others. Additionally, Lewis sheds some light on his recent onscreen work, clueing us in on how he became involved with hit nighttime soap SCANDAL and how he enjoyeds working with co-stars Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn on it - and if we will possibly see him in Season Three, perhaps. Plus, Lewis opens up about his upcoming solo gigs and performing plans - including first news on his starring part in the upcoming Public Theater musical version of THE TEMPEST - as well as touches upon a host of topics ranging from his appearances at spectacular special events - DREAMGIRLS: IN CONCERT, HAIR: IN CONCERT, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA in the Park - to his appearance in SEX & THE CITY 2 (opposite Liza Minnelli) to recording studio work, dream projects, future goals, favorite workshop/reading experiences and much, much more!

Today we are talking to an electrifying live performer who has made a major mark in the theatrical realm with his work as the title character in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL - PHANTOM 25 for short - as well as the originator of the role in its musical sequel, LOVE NEVER DIES - to say nothing of his long-standing and upcoming association with LES MIERABLES, at the O2, in Toronto this Fall and beyond - the one and only Ramin Karimloo. Espousing on the many major musical theatre roles he has essayed thus far as well as what he would like to take on in the future, Karimloo grants unprecedented access into his background and illustrates his experiences participating in some already classic once-in-a-lifetime events, such as PHANTOM 25 and LES MIZ at the 02. Most importantly, Karimloo clues us in on what we can expect from his series of shows this week at SubCulture as well as explains the history and future plans for his Broadway and Bluegrass - aka Broadgrass - tour. Additionally, Karimloo discusses the finer points of his forthcoming headlining role as Jean Valjean in the Toronto kick-off of the brand new LES MISERABLES revival and shares his memories of appearing on the Academy Awards this year with the film's cast. Also, Karimloo offers first news on his upcoming series of EPs, reflects on his past solo albums and how they developed, as well as comments on his recent UK TV recurring role on THE SPA ROOM and desire to pursue more TV/film work in the future, as well as shares his enthusiasm for GLEE - and much, much more!

There's an old saying in theatre: "There are no small roles, just small actors". Despite her featured role as Tessie Tura in GYPSY at Maine State Music Theatre, her talent and impressive resume prove that she is no "small" actress. From understudying Patti LuPone in the original Broadway production of Evita, success in films and sitcoms, to becoming an MSMT favorite, it is clear to see why as soon as you see her on stage. Though, the audiences at MSMT might have a hard time convincing her that Brunswick's crowds are bigger fans than she is of the midcoast town.

A few weeks before BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Reviewer and Columnist Stephen Hanks was about to stage the opening night of his debut solo cabaret show on May 31, a number of cabaret performers asked him if he was going to write about the experience in some way, with some even encouraging him to keep a diary. 'It might be really interesting to read how your perspective about cabaret performers and performing might have changed and how it might impact your reviews now that you're doing it yourself,' commented one singer. 'It was a fascinating notion and one that I had already thought about,' Hanks admits, 'but between a full time job, attending shows, writing reviews, taking vocal lessons, rehearsing, etc., finding the time and the energy to keep even a weekly diary was not in the cards.' Hanks certainly didn't think he'd forget even the little things that have gone into making his journey what he calls 'an amazing, fantasy-fulfilling, almost surreal experience.' On the eve of his last performance of his three-show run (over three weeks) at the Metropolitan Room of Beyond American Pie: The Don McLean Songbook, BroadwayWorld.com sat down with our lead cabaret reviewer to get his insights and perspective on what's it been like to be on the performer end of things.

David Scheel is a true Australian success story. Born at Stirling in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia he studied at the University of Adelaide, gaining an Honours degree in languages and a concert diploma on the piano. However, coming from a theatrical family theatre was David's first love, and after a short stint on stage, in films and on television he decided - like so many before him - to try his luck in England. The gamble was so successful that it was to keep David away from Australian shores for the best part of 18 years.

The 40-date VANS WARPED TOUR--well established as America's premier music and lifestyle festival tour of the summer--is set to kick off today, June 15 in Auburn, WA at White River Amphitheater and wrap up August 4 in Houston, TX at Reliant Park. A music lover's playground, the VANS WARPED TOUR has been breaking up-and-coming indie talent as well as both creating and showcasing major established artists since 1995.The nationally-renowned touring festival will be bringing the 'Best Day Ever' to fans across the U.S. and Canada.

Giuliana Rancic, co-anchor of 'E! News,' and Nick Jonas, Grammy-nominated American singer-songwriter, will host the 62nd Annual Miss USA Competition airing live on NBC Sunday, The co-hosts chat about what to expect at this year's exciting competition.