Say Nothing - 1965 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 5

Any visit by celebrated chanteuse Barb Jungr to a New York cabaret stage or theatre is a cause for jubilation. Slightly less than a year since she rocked 59E59 with her week long run of Dancing In the Dark, Jungr was back on that stage with a new show based on her recently released, highly-acclaimed CD, Hard Rain: The Songs of Bob Dylan & Leonard Cohen. But where Dancing In the Dark was Jungr's introspective take on some classic pop songs (including some Dylan and Cohen), her Hard Rain set is truly dark and Jungr doesn't apologize for that. In fact, often during this collection of songs written by two of pop music's foremost dark poets of the soul (with stirring arrangements by Jungr and her CD Producer Simon Wallace), Jungr readily admits the set is depressing because her intent was to focus on Dylan and Cohen songs that were at once powerful, personal, political, philosophical, and often prophetic.

Boz Scaggs makes his first appearance at Concord's Capitol Center for the Arts on Sunday, October 19, at 7:30pm. Tickets start at $54.50 and are available now at the Box Office, located at 44 South Main Street, Concord, NH, online at ccanh.com, or via phone at 603-225-1111.

The 18th Long Island Al Jolson Festival coming up on August 16 is a whole-day affair featuring film presentations, lectures, memorabilia displays and sales, and a performance--'The Heart of Al Jolson'--by singer and Staten Island native Tony Babino (photo below), who can sing Jolson songs like, well, you ain't heard nothin' yet. The other day, like clockwork, I received my yearly invitation to attend from Oceanside, LI resident Jan Hernstat, who for the past 10 years has been the President of the 62-year-old International Al Jolson Society (which was formed in early 1950, a few months before Jolson died), an organization with a worldwide membership hovering around 1,000. I am proud to say that for 30 years, I've been one of them. I'm even prouder to say that I've been an Al Jolson fanatic for much longer. Here's my story about how it happened.

Prepare yourself for a major treat, a hidden bluegrass gem that should not be missed. But what else do you expect from the freeFall folk who are perhaps the most creative purveyors of theatre magic in the state?

Between graduating from Syracuse University in 2005, and getting her Broadway break opposite Harry Connick, Jr., in 2011, Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller was a Chicago-based actress, following in the steps of her Evanston-based parents, Roger Mueller and Jill Shellabarger. And what a career she had in the Windy City!

I hardly know where to begin in describing the beautiful, world-class, but dramatically uneven production of the beloved and immortal 'The Sound of Music' that opened at the Civic Opera House over the weekend. All the resources of Lyric Opera of Chicago have been brought to bear on a brand-new production of a title that is known throughout the world, and the result is occasionally thrilling--a feast for the eyes, and usually one for the ears as well.

Max von Essen, Erin Davie, Alli Mauzey and other Bway stars will sing lesser-known tunes by the lyricist of 'Peter Pan' and 'Little Me'.

Today we celebrate a master of the modern musical in honor of this week's start of previews for his newest theatrical venture, THE LANDING, as well as first news on a major NYC bow for his long-gestating project THE VISIT, to say nothing of the longest-running American musical in history going strong on Broadway (CHICAGO) and a hotly anticipated revival of CABARET on the way in 2014 - the one and only John Kander.

About halfway through Jim Brochu's Saturday, June 29 performance at the Metropolitan Room of his new show Character Man, I realized I was witnessing what was probably the best cabaret show I'd seen this year, and perhaps was one of the best in my almost three years of reviewing cabaret. By the time the show ended, I had changed my mind. Not because the show fell apart in the second half, but because what Jim Brochu had created (and is opening tonight at the Broward Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs, Florida, where it will be performed until August 11) was more than a cabaret show. Character Man is a delightful, extremely well-crafted Off-Broadway theater piece that is destined for a run that might rival his critically-acclaimed one-man Zero Mostel tribute show, Zero Hour, which played throughout the country between 2006-2012 and earned Brochu 2010 Drama Desk and Helen Hayes Awards.

The era of the British Music Invasion comes alive in 'ModRock,' a new musical, which is having its world premiere engagement beginning tonight, June 19 (press opening Sunday June 23 at 5pm) at the El Portal Theatre. 'ModRock' is set in the vibrant, swinging London of the mid 1960's - a time when styles and cultures clashed, the British bands ruled the pop charts and all fashion trends emerged out of Carnaby Street.

New Hampshire and summerstock are pretty much interchangeable. Across the Granite State, theatergoers will find incredible options for live entertainment. One night they could be in an old barn, where the floors creek and an occasional bat will make its presence known. Then the next night, you're in a brand new, modern facility with air conditioning, comfy seats and a bar.

Robert Klein has built a 40 plus year career on stage, film, and television and will perform in a benefit for the White Plains Performing Arts Center. BWW got a chance to talk to him about his incredible career.

Robert Klein has built a 40 plus year career on stage, film, and television and will perform in a benefit for the White Plains Performing Arts Center. BWW got a chance to talk to him about his incredible career.

The era of the British Music Invasion comes alive in 'ModRock,' a new musical, which is having its world premiere engagement beginning Wednesday, June 19 (press opening Sunday June 23 at 5pm) at the El Portal Theatre. 'ModRock' is set in the vibrant, swinging London of the mid 1960's - a time when styles and cultures clashed, the British bands ruled the pop charts and all fashion trends emerged out of Carnaby Street.

Beloved actress best known for television's 'Hart to Hart' steps into 'Looped' tour as the legendary stage and screen diva Tallulah Bankhead. Powers co-starred with Bankhead in the 1965 cult thriller 'Die! Die! My Darling!' which serves as inspiration for this Matthew Lombardo comedy.

'This is like children's theatre for 40-year-old gay people!'

Uproariously funny, it's a master class in physical comedy.

With her tribute show to the music of Harold Arlen and Duke Allington, 'When Harry Met The Duke' is Rosemary Loar's creative foray back into the caressing arms of the Great American Songbook. If you consider that the contemporary cabaret scene in New York is 30 years on (since the opening of Don't Tell Mama in 1982 and the start of MAC in 1983), there have been likely been thousands of cabaret shows with GAS themes and the interesting new ideas may be down to a precious few. And Loar, who has been performing cabaret shows during that same time frame, has managed to come up with yet another variation and her erudite and accessibly sophisticated show goes down like a delicious vodka martini topped with a skewer of blue cheese stuffed olives.

Few people know the real story of football's most legendary coach, Vince Lombardi. Through his inspirations and passions, he had an ability to drive people to achieve more than they ever thought possible. Arizona Theatre Company's "Lombardi" centers on the iconic Green Bay Packers coach during a pivotal week in 1965. This Southwest premiere production of the Broadway hit plays at the Temple of Music and Art and runs from October 20 - November 10, 2012. It continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from November 15 - December 2, 2012. "Lombardi" is supported by Opening Night Sponsor, Kate Garner. Arizona Theatre Company Season Sponsors are I. Michael and Beth Kasser.

Cleveland Play House opens its 98th consecutive season with its new production of the smash Broadway hit Lombardi. Bob Ari, seen last season as Mark Rothko in Red, returns to CPH to play the legendary coach who defined inspiration.

Robert Klein opens the 2012-13 Centenary Stage Company season with a benefit performance on Saturday, September 22. BWW was lucky that Mr. Klein could take some time to speak to us about his forty plus year career.

In the opening song on Barbra Streisand's stunning new album, RELEASE ME (produced by Streisand and Jay Landers)- a career-spanning collection of rarities and recordings that have been heretofore hidden away in vast vaults and rarely even referenced, let alone ever heard - she powerfully imparts a lyric from the Betty Comden/Adolph Green/Jule Styne score of the Arthur Laurents-directed Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 1968, HALLELUJAH, BABY!, also acting as an oh-so-apt autobiographical summation: 'I'll be the best or nothing at all.' Indeed, so goes the legacy of Barbra Streisand - the voice of a generation; the greatest living recording artist, bar (or, if you prefer, Bar) none; who, now, today, is in the final stages of preparation before embarking on her new tour in conjunction with the release of this new album, directed by longtime creative collaborator and co-director, Richard Jay-Alexander with musical director and conductor William Ross.

Cleveland Play House opens its 98th consecutive season with its new production of the smash Broadway hit Lombardi. Bob Ari, seen last season as Mark Rothko in Red, returns to CPH to play the legendary coach who defined inspiration.

In preparation for the All-Day Long Island Al Jolson Festival (in Oceanside, NY) on Saturday, August 18, BroadwayWorld.com cabaret columnist Stephen Hanks offers his take on what made the 'World's Greatest Entertainer' so great, and muses about the reasons as to why he is such a devotee of the man who once owned Broadway and starred in the first talking picture.

In preparation for the All-Day Long Island Al Jolson Festival (in Oceanside, NY) on Saturday, August 18, BroadwayWorld.com cabaret columnist Stephen Hanks offers his take on what made the 'World's Greatest Entertainer' so great, and muses about the reasons as to why he is such a devotee of the man who once owned Broadway and starred in the first talking picture.