Playing with Fire - 1981 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 9

When I'm not at a show, I keep my eyes and brain busy by learning as much as I can about Broadway from my favorite books on the subject. My current favorites range from fiction to memoir to history. Here are the books that I'm currently keeping close by.

Lynne Meadow and Barry Grove have announced that Tony and Emmy Award winner John Lithgow returns to Broadway in the Manhattan Theatre Club world premiere production of THE COLUMNIST by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan. In this new play, Lithgow plays noted newspaper columnist Joseph Alsop. This limited engagement will begin previews on Tuesday, April 3 and open Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

Two-time Tony Award® winner James Earl Jones (Hoke Coleburn), Tony and Oscar® winner Vanessa Redgrave (Daisy Werthan) and four-time Tony Award® winner Boyd Gaines (Boolie Werthan) will star in the critically acclaimed production of Driving Miss Daisy, at the Wyndham's Theatre from 26 September until 17 December, with press night on 5 October. The play, written by Alfred Uhry and directed by David Esbjornson, enjoyed a record breaking sell-out run on Broadway until 9 April this year. Design is by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Jane Greenwood, lighting is by Peter Kaczorowski , music by Mark Bennett and sound by Christopher Cronin. Driving Miss Daisy is being produced in the West End by Jed Bernstein and Adam Zotovich.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and has quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and has quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance.

Universally hailed as the reigning King of the Blues, the legendary B.B. King will perform three UK concerts in Manchester, Edinburgh and London in June 2011.

Virginia Opera announces Joseph Rescigno (Pronunciation: Rescigno - re-SHEEN-yoe) as guest conductor for Wagner's production of The Valkyrie. Maestro Joseph Rescigno has served since 1981 as Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor of the Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee, WI where he conducts some of the company's most challenging and exciting repertory. He has conducted symphonies, concertos, operas, and oratorios for more than 50 companies on four continents.As a frequent guest conductor, Joseph Rescigno has conducted the New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Hungarian State Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Seattle Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Vancouver Opera, Teatro Bellini, l'Opéra de Marseille, and l'Opéra de Montreal among others. The symphony orchestras he has conducted include the Montreal Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony orchestras, both of which he has conducted in their regular subscription series as well as in opera productions.As Artistic Director of l'Orchestre Métropolitain of Montreal, Maestro Rescigno made four recordings in four years: works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Mendelssohn, and operatic and concert arias by Mozart featuring Lyne Fortin. Two additional recordings round-out his discography: One is Verismo, arias with Diana Soviero. The other is Minoru Miki's Joruri, of which he conducted the world and Japanese premieres.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce its upcoming production of CATS at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce the opening of its production of CATS at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. CATS previews February 11 and runs February 12 through February 27, 2011. Dana Solimando directs and choreographs Musical Theatre West's production of CATS with musical direction by Dennis Castellano.

Highlights Include Michael Bolton, Vic Damone, Michael Feinstein, Roberta Flack, Dudu Fisher, Whoopi Goldberg, Shirley MacLaine, Peking Acrobats, Don Rickles & Joan Rivers, Jake Shimabukuro, The Temptations & The Four Tops, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Forever Plaid, Tango Inferno, NETworks Presents Disney's Beauty & The Beast & The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce its upcoming production of CATS at the beautiful 1,070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Highlights Include Michael Bolton, Vic Damone, Michael Feinstein, Roberta Flack, Dudu Fisher, Whoopi Goldberg, Shirley MacLaine, Peking Acrobats, Don Rickles & Joan Rivers, Jake Shimabukuro, The Temptations & The Four Tops, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Forever Plaid, Tango Inferno, NETworks Presents Disney's Beauty & The Beast & The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Patrick Cassidy is at work on a new piece about his father, the late musical actor Jack Cassidy, who died in an accidental fire at the age of 49. The younger Cassidy is developing a one-man show about Jack, with the help of some of Jack's old friends, including Hal Prince and John McMartin.

Virginia Opera announces Joseph Rescigno (Pronunciation: Rescigno - re-SHEEN-yoe) as guest conductor for Wagner's production of The Valkyrie. Maestro Joseph Rescigno has served since 1981 as Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor of the Florentine Opera Company in Milwaukee, WI where he conducts some of the company's most challenging and exciting repertory. He has conducted symphonies, concertos, operas, and oratorios for more than 50 companies on four continents.As a frequent guest conductor, Joseph Rescigno has conducted the New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Hungarian State Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Seattle Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Vancouver Opera, Teatro Bellini, l'Opéra de Marseille, and l'Opéra de Montreal among others. The symphony orchestras he has conducted include the Montreal Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony orchestras, both of which he has conducted in their regular subscription series as well as in opera productions.As Artistic Director of l'Orchestre Métropolitain of Montreal, Maestro Rescigno made four recordings in four years: works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Mendelssohn, and operatic and concert arias by Mozart featuring Lyne Fortin. Two additional recordings round-out his discography: One is Verismo, arias with Diana Soviero. The other is Minoru Miki's Joruri, of which he conducted the world and Japanese premieres.

As 2010 comes to a close, Brooklyn Public Library would like you to end the year on a good note.

Today we are taking a look at one of the most exciting DVD/Blu-Ray releases of the year - perhaps ever, at least as far as Broadway connoisseurs are concerned. Taped back in mid-March of this year, a week before the actual central celebratory event itself occurred, comes SONDHEIM! The Birthday Concert, which will also be shown next Wednesday on PBS as part of this season's sensational series of GREAT PERFORMANCES at 9 PM on WNET in New York and across the country. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that has been ever-so-lovingly rendered on disc in high definition preserving a heavenly host of the very best Broadway talent one could ever possibly ask to be assembled. SONDHEIM! has it all.

As 2010 comes to a close, Brooklyn Public Library would like you to end the year on a good note.

Blue Öyster Cult will be coming to the Colonial on October 8 at 8PM. Tickets for the performance are $45 and $35 and can be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street Monday-Friday 10AM-5PM, performance Saturdays 10AM-2PM, by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.thecolonialtheatre.org.

Blue Öyster Cult will be coming to the Colonial on October 8 at 8PM. Tickets for the performance are $45 and $35 and can be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street Monday-Friday 10AM-5PM, performance Saturdays 10AM-2PM, by calling (413) 997-4444 or online at www.thecolonialtheatre.org.

For tickets, and all ticketing issues, please phone TicketWeb at (866) 468-3399

Fresh from the wildly successful Off Broadway run of his play, 'My Trip Down the Pink Carpet,' Leslie Jordanreturns to his favorite intimate cabaret venue The Rrazz Room for five fabulous nights filled with storytelling and lots of Hollywood dish.

Highline Ballroom is located at 431 West 16th Street between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue.

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem announces its August 2010 Schedule. This month of public programs presented by the National Jazz Museum in Harlem features retrospectives (Louis Armstrong and Hank Jones), discussions with two of the most prominent and influential contemporary saxophonists (Joe Lovano and Steve Coleman) as well as a talk with top jazz journalist Bill Milkowski, and live performances that riff on the connection between visual art and jazz, by trumpeter Marcus Printup and trombonist Ryan Keberle at the Rubin Museum of Art, and the NJMH All Stars at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Whether your taste leans toward the historical and traditional, or to the futuristic and cutting edge, you'll find it this month. Mark your calendar and bring some friends!

The Public Theater has announced additional casting for the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif, and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, in repertory June 9-August 1.

The National Jazz Museum in Harlem announces its August 2010 Schedule. This month of public programs presented by the National Jazz Museum in Harlem features retrospectives (Louis Armstrong and Hank Jones), discussions with two of the most prominent and influential contemporary saxophonists (Joe Lovano and Steve Coleman) as well as a talk with top jazz journalist Bill Milkowski, and live performances that riff on the connection between visual art and jazz, by trumpeter Marcus Printup and trombonist Ryan Keberle at the Rubin Museum of Art, and the NJMH All Stars at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Whether your taste leans toward the historical and traditional, or to the futuristic and cutting edge, you'll find it this month. Mark your calendar and bring some friends!