Put It in Writing - 1963 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 4

Resonance Records is proud to announce the release of Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra - All My Yesterdays: The Debut 1966 Recordings at the Village Vanguard.

 Returning after last year's sold-out concert, singer/songwriter Noel Paul Stookey (Paul of Peter, Paul and Mary), brings his intimate musicality to the Rubicon Theatre Company stage once again for a one-night-only, two-hour event of story and melody spanning 50 years. The concert, entitled "At Home: Ventura," takes place on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at Rubicon's home in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District. For tickets, call (805) 667-2900 or go to www.rubicontheatre.org.

From tonight, October 8, through October 25, Theater for the New City will present the world premiere of 'Wives,' newly written by Mario Fratti, in a double-bill with his breakthrough play, 'The Academy.' Taken together, the two plays illustrate the changing nature of the battle of the sexes between the postwar period and now. The two-part evening is directed by actor/director Stephan Morrow, who plays the instructor of a school for gigolos in 'The Academy.'

Harold Pinter was born in Hackney, in London's East End, in October of 1930. An only child, he was born to Jewish parents of very moderate means; his father, a tailor, and his mother, a homemaker, were first-generation descendants of Eastern European immigrants. Like many of his contemporaries, Pinter's childhood was shaped by the onslaught of World War II; at the age of nine, he was evacuated from London through Operation Pied Piper and resettled in a town in Cornwall. The sense of isolation he felt in Cornwall would come to influence his work, as would the changed London to which he returned during the Blitz, where he was witness to, as his 2008 Guardianobituary put it, 'the dramatic nature of wartime life - the palpable fear, the sexual desperation, the genuine sense that everything could end tomorrow.'

From October 8 to 25, Theater for the New City will present the world premiere of a new play by Mario Fratti, 'Wives,' in a double-bill with his breakthrough play, 'The Academy.' Taken together, the two plays illustrate the changing nature of the battle of the sexes between the postwar period and now. The two-part evening is directed by actor/director Stephan Morrow, who plays the instructor of a school for gigolos in 'The Academy.'

From October 8 to 25, Theater for the New City will present the world premiere of 'Wives,' newly written by Mario Fratti, in a double-bill with his breakthrough play, 'The Academy.'  Taken together, the two plays illustrate the changing nature of the battle of the sexes between the postwar period and now.  The two-part evening is directed by actor/director Stephan Morrow, who plays the instructor of a school for gigolos in 'The Academy.'

Though the weather is still warm, soon the leaves will be turning and the Fall 2015 theatre season will be upon us. Here's a list of some of the offerings from September through December.

Cathy Street, artistic director of Street Theatre Company, and Taylor Kelly, one of the actors in this production of Dogfight, took some time out of their schedules to answer some questions for us about this amazing production. Kelly is a new addition to the Nashville theatre community, having moved to Nashville right before rehearsals started on this production.

Stephanie Blythe--who's at the Met these days singing Baba the Turk in Stravinsky's THE RAKE'S PROGRESS--“abhors labels.” That's why, despite a cavernous voice that has become even deeper with age and could easily be termed mezzo or contralto, she tells me to call her “a girl singer.”

Pompoms, popularity, sorority life and a mid-life crisis are just the tip of the iceberg in VANITIES, the musical. VANITIES, a play by Jack Heifner, opened Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in New York in 1976. The cast included Kathy Bates as Joanne, Jane Galloway as Kathy and Susan Merson as Mary. In 1981, the play was taped and televised on HBO starring Annette O'Toole, Meredith Baxter Birney and Shelley Hack. Needless to say, this script is powerful. The musical was adapted by Jack Heifner with music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum. When a popular play is transformed into a musical, I am doubtful, but this musical had its moments.

On the heels of the opening of Lonesome Traveler Off-Broadway, the musical which originated at Rubicon Theatre Company which celebrates the essence and spirit of America folk music, Rubicon Artistic Director Emeritus James O'Neil today announced a one-night-only concert by singer/songwriter Noel Paul Stookey tonight, April 11, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. at the theatre, located at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District. The performance will feature Stookey's own compositions, as well as hits from his years in the legendary group Peter, Paul and Mary (famous for performances of songs like Dylan's “Blowin' in the Wind, “If I Had a Hammer” and “Puff, the Magic Dragon”).

On the heels of the opening of Lonesome Traveler Off-Broadway, the musical which originated at Rubicon Theatre Company which celebrates the essence and spirit of America folk music, Rubicon Artistic Director Emeritus James O'Neil today announced a one-night-only concert by singer/songwriter Noel Paul Stookey on Saturday April 11, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. at the theatre, located at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District. The performance will feature Stookey's own compositions, as well as hits from his years in the legendary group Peter, Paul and Mary (famous for performances of songs like Dylan's “Blowin' in the Wind, “If I Had a Hammer” and “Puff, the Magic Dragon”).

Peter Filichia, noted theatre journalist, author and President of the Theatre World Awards, will host the 46th Anniversary Gala for Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, on Monday, March 30th, 2015 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington & 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is distinguished actor, director, and choreographer Andre De Shields.

Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation presents its second season at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center -- Three Dog Night on Saturday, January 10 at 8 pm; The Four Tops on Saturday, February 21 at 8 pm; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Friday, March 27 at 8 pm; The Muppet Movie Sing-a-Long on Saturday, May 16 at 2 pm and Dick Fox Doo Wop Extravaganza on Saturday, June 6 at 7 pm. This four concert season, and the additional attraction The Muppet Movie Sing-A-Long, is presented by the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation and is a means of raising funds to support arts in the schools and maintain this new, state-of-the-art facility.

The McCallum Theatre presents 'The New Christy Minstrels', with special guest star Barry McGuire for one very special performance, Sunday, November 16, at 3:00pm, Founded by Randy Sparks in 1961, the group's 1962 debut album, 'Presenting the New Christy Minstrels', won a Grammy, remained on the Billboard charts for two years, and scored a hit with 'This Land Is Your Land'. Their 1963 album 'Ramblin' was highlighted by the single 'Green, Green' which climbed the charts and became a hit single. In 2006, the California State Legislature honored The New Christy Minstrels with resolutions from both the Senate and Assembly. Randy Sparks was recognized for his fifty years in the recording industry, and the group was honored for their contributions to the music industry. In 2009, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to Randy Sparks and The New Christy Minstrels. I had the chance to chat with founder, Randy Sparks, about their upcoming return to The McCallum Theatre and a bit for the history of The New Christy Minstrels. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation:

Bob Coburn spent his career grinding out ad copy. Darn good ad copy, mind you. For products like Volkswagen.

The Postal Service is cooking up a feast of 20 million Limited Edition Celebrity Chefs Forever stamps today. The sugar-free, fat-free, zero-calorie stamps will be on the menu of the nation's Post Offices beginning today.

A satirical and horrifying anti-war story, Slaughterhouse Five, carries a unique poignancy - and humor. A best seller when released, the novel brought Vonnegut to prominence as a major voice in American fiction. It has been adapted for the stage by Tony-nominated and Oscar-winning Eric Simonson and is directed by Custom Made Theatre's Artistic Director Brian Katz.

A satirical and horrifying anti-war story, Slaughterhouse Five, carries a unique poignancy - and humor. A best seller when released, the novel brought Vonnegut to prominence as a major voice in American fiction. It has been adapted for the stage by Tony-nominated and Oscar-winning Eric Simonson and is directed by Custom Made Theatre's Artistic Director Brian Katz.

In 1946, Will Jenkins imagined computers. In his famed literary work, he called them logics. And in his mind - one that told the story of the future - people had them in all their homes.

Today we are talking to a remarkably accomplished writer and director who has amassed numerous top entertainment trophies over the course of his long and distinguished career, including multiple Emmy Awards, Tony Awards and even a Grammy - the uniquely talented Martin Charnin. Sharing his thoughts on the forthcoming big screen adaptation of his hit musical property ANNIE as well as previewing what we can expect from the forthcoming 2014-2015 national tour, Charnin also reflects on the original production of the classic Depression-era musical and analyzes why it remains a continual cultural touchstone for generations new and old while also looking ahead to a potential Broadway production of the sequel, written with original composer Charles Strouse, ANNIE WARBUCKS. Also, Charnin touches upon his time as a member of the original cast of iconic musical WEST SIDE STORY and recounts working alongside legends such as Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents and more. Additionally, Charnin sheds some light on his illustrious string of collaborations with recently deceased composer Mary Rodgers Guettel, ranging from more than 50 songs written as a team to a string of special TV musicals as well as working together on the stage musicals HOT SPOT and THE MADWOMAN OF CENTRAL PARK WEST. Besides of all of that, Charnin also looks back to his heyday as a TV variety special helmer, having created award-winning tributes to a slew of Broadway's best composers and lyricists including George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter and many more. Plus, Charnin shares his thoughts on GLEE, how show business has changed, the possible future life for TWO BY TWO and much, much more in this wide-ranging chat with a major Broadway notable.

Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) continues its popular ICON series with a brand-new selection of collections available today, including a hit-stacked 2-CD collection from American legends

Music Director Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announce the Orchestra's 2014-2015 season, its eighth under the direction of Maestra Alsop. The full schedule and details about each production follow.

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter will make her New York Philharmonic debut in Mary Chapin Carpenter with the New York Philharmonic and Special Guests, a retrospective program featuring songs from throughout her career, some newly arranged for orchestra.