Sound and Beauty - 1983 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 16

Never more apparent than at this very moment in history, the operatic emotions, over-the-top theatrics and outrageous outspokenness of the 1983 SCARFACE, new on Blu-ray this week, burst forth from screens both large and small, depending on your preferred venue. And, with the fiery, ferocious fearlessness that Brian DePalma so astutely and assuredly weaves his web of debauchery and demons of the soul, heart and mind with - its apotheosis residing in Al Pacino's legendary essaying of the title role - the world finally seems ready to see SCARFACE for what it really is: a classic American film. No, there are not many modern day classics and there certainly have not been over the last thirty years since its release, but SCARFACE is unquestionably now part of the great pantheon of American films - just as much as CITIZEN KANE, CABSABLANCA and THE GODFATHER before it - and with Fathom's re-release of the film in movie theaters for one night only last week, the impact of the film as felt in its true artistic home was something akin to transcendental. Indeed, I was lucky enough to check out the HD print in a showing in Ithaca, NY, last week, which was also accompanied by an ultra-informative and revealing behind-the-scenes look at the production and subsequent legacy of the near-thirty-year-old film which is also available in an even more expanded form on the new Blu-ray - including new interviews with Brian DePalma, Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia, Martin Bregman, as well as comments from fellow filmmakers and fans like Eli Roth (who shares a particularly hilarious anecdote about reciting Lopez's monologue for classmates in sixth grade). The new Blu-ray is packed to the brim with Special Features - including this brand new hour-long making-of documentary to go along with the hours of bonuses ported over from many of the prior DVD releases. Yet, above all of these other virtues, the reason you must own SCARFACE on Blu-ray is not just because the HD remastering of the image is pristine, the 7.1 sound is perfect and the Special Features are overwhelmingly enjoyable, but - most of all - it is because SCARFACE is American movie-making at its finest - and most emotionally, visually and outwardly operatic. It sings. And stings. And zings. And, bring it - all.

Profiles Theatre announces new dates for the run of A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder.

A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) will present The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, opening the A.R.T.'s 2011-2 season on August 117 at the Loeb Drama Center. The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin, is adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and Diedre Murray, and directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus.

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance launches its eighth season this Fall 2011 with an exciting and eclectic collection of culturally diverse programs featuring some of the world's greatest musicians, dance companies, and artistic visionaries, as well as an exciting selection of performances by the city's most acclaimed music and dance institutions.

Dallas Theater Center launches its 2011-2012 season with Shakespeare's beloved final play, The Tempest, at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Sept. 9 - Oct. 9.

Paper Mill Playhouse has just announced the full creative team behind its season opener, the premiere of a new Disney stage musical, Newsies. Featuring music by eight-time Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act, The Little Mermaid), lyrics by Jack Feldman and a new book by four-time Tony® Award winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles, Torch Song Trilogy), Newsies is adapted for the stage from the 1992 live-action Disney feature film musical. The show begins performances on Thursday, September 15. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, September 25.

La Jolla Playhouse has announced that the acclaimed Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Playhouse Director Emeritus and Stratford Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Des McAnuff, will replace the previously-announced musical Finding Neverland. This thrilling revival will run in the Mandell Weiss Theatre November 18 - December 31, 2011.

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance today announced its full Harris Theater Presents 2011-2012 season, offering Chicago audiences a ground-breaking collection of innovative, culturally diverse programming by the world's finest musicians and dance companies, as well as Harris' signature collaborations with Chicago's leading dance and music institutions.

A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) opens its 2011-12 season with The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin. The adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and Obie Award-winning composer Diedre L. Murray, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Ronald K. Brown, begins previews on August 17 and opens for the reviewing press on August 31 at 7pm. Performances are at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge. Tickets for preview performances are currently on sale, remaining tickets for the run go on sale on July 12.

Lou Volpe appearing at The John Birks Gillespie Tuesday June 21st 8 PM Tickets are $15.00 WBGO Members $10

Lou Volpe appearing at The John Birks Gillespie Tuesday June 21st 8 PM Tickets are $15.00 WBGO Members $10

East 3rd Productions, the acclaimed production company that recently presented A Bicycle Country and The Weird Sisters as well as the short film "Tapeworm", is proud to present Stephen Metcalfe's postwar drama STRANGE SNOW.

East 3rd Productions, the acclaimed production company that recently presented A Bicycle Country and The Weird Sisters as well as the short film "Tapeworm", is proud to present Stephen Metcalfe's postwar drama STRANGE SNOW. Performances begin this Thursday, May 12th and opens officially on Friday, May 13th.

East 3rd Productions, the acclaimed production company that recently presented A Bicycle Country and The Weird Sisters as well as the short film "Tapeworm", is proud to present Stephen Metcalfe's postwar drama STRANGE SNOW.

East 3rd Productions, the acclaimed production company that recently presented A Bicycle Country and The Weird Sisters as well as the short film "Tapeworm", is proud to present Stephen Metcalfe's postwar drama STRANGE SNOW.

East 3rd Productions, the acclaimed production company that recently presented A Bicycle Country and The Weird Sisters as well as the short film "Tapeworm", is proud to present Stephen Metcalfe's postwar drama STRANGE SNOW. Performances begin this Thursday, May 12th and opens officially on Friday, May 13th.

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) closes it 2010-11 mainstage season with IN ACTING SHAKESPEARE written and performed by James DeVita. Close April 17, 2011.

East 3rd Productions, the acclaimed production company that recently presented A Bicycle Country and The Weird Sisters as well as the short film "Tapeworm", is proud to present Stephen Metcalfe's postwar drama STRANGE SNOW.

A cast of Broadway veterans will converge on a small Kansas town April 13 to perform a new musical comedy by Sheldon Harnick, co-creator of "Fiddler on the Roof."

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced casting details for Shooting Star which will be performed on the Main Stage May 27 - June 26, 2011.

Three-time Tony Award-winning scenic designer ROBIN WAGNER and esteemed costume designer LEWIS BROWN are among the 2011 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards recipients. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, April 8 at 6:30pm at the Hudson Theatre (145 West 44th Street). Mr. Brown was selected to receive the 2011 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for costume design, and Tony Award-winning scenic designer Robin Wagner will receive the Robert L.B. Tobin Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatrical Design. Sadly, Mr. Brown passed away in January of 2011. His award will be accepted by his long-time colleague and friend, Albert Wolsky, who was the recipient of the 2010 TDF/Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award

David Elzer &Peter Schneider, producers of the smash-hit, award-winning productions of The Marvelous Wonderettes and Life Could Be A Dream, are thrilled to announce that their critically-acclaimed, smash-hit, Ovation Recommended, world premiere original musical, HAVING IT ALL, music by John Kavanaugh, book by David Goldsmith & Wendy Perelman, lyrics by David Goldsmith, conceived by Wendy Perelman, with musical direction by Greg Nabours and directed by Richard Israel is EXTENDING through Sunday, May 29 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) closes it 2010-11 mainstage season with IN ACTING SHAKESPEARE written and performed by James DeVita.

A cast of Broadway veterans will converge on a small Kansas town April 13 to perform a new musical comedy by Sheldon Harnick, co-creator of "Fiddler on the Roof."

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 202nd season with an all-new production of Peter Shaffer's AMADEUS, winner of the 1981 Tony Award for Best Play and 1985 Academy Award for Best Picture. Directed by Malcolm Black, AMADEUS closes March 6th on the WST Mainstage.