Take Me Along - 1985 - Broadway Articles Page 16

Rodgers & Hammerstein are, to me, the comfort food of musical theatre. Of all their shows, THE KING AND I holds up the best some 65 years on. It avoids the saccharine sweetness and didactic qualities of some of their other works. The musical is based on the 1944 novel 'Anna and the King of Siam' by Margaret Landon, which was derived from Anna Leonowens memoirs of her time as governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860's. The musical tells the story of Anna, a British schoolteacher hired as part of the King's drive to modernize his country. Their relationship is marked by conflict as well as by a love that neither can admit to. Premiering on March 29 in 1951, THE KING AND I ran nearly three years, and, at the time, was the fourth longest-running Broadway musical in history.

Once again crowned as the No. 1 Performing Arts Hall of its size in North America (Venues Today, 2000 seat category), the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is proud to announce a new season bustling with fresh talent and seasoned stars, with every performance delivering a dose of extraordinary. Single tickets go on sale this coming Saturday, September 13 at 10 AM at the Box Office, online, and by phone. Appointments are available for ticket buyers by calling the Box Office at 941-953-3368.

The soul of an artist is on full display in Signature Theatre's 14-15 season-opening production of Sunday in the Park with George, and you'll find the artist's soul behind the scenes in Matthew Gardiner, Associate Artistic Director of Signature Theatre, and the show's director.

In October of 1980, Nick Munns sent a tape of five songs to London theatre agent David Land. With Nick Munns music, David Land dreamed of replicating the success of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. SWAN ESTHER, not the hit that JOSEPH was, has enjoyed varying success. Now, Stage Door Records has re-released SWAN ESTHER's original concept album with studio rehearsal demos written for the reworked UK tour of the production entitled SWAN ESTHER AND THE KING.

From September 4-14, 2014, Houston Ballet launches its 45th season with the company premiere of John Neumeier's three-act ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream. The ballet is based on Shakespeare's lighthearted play of the same name and follows the hijinks and hilarity that ensues when a well-intentioned plan with a love potion goes awry. Created in 1977, A Midsummer Night's Dream has served as Mr. Neumeier's calling card, being seen as one of his most joyous and popular creations. Houston Ballet is the first American ballet company to perform the famous work and it is the first piece by Mr. Neumeier to enter the Houston Ballet repertoire.

Heartwarming, poignant -- and hilarious. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a revival of Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical dramatic comedy, Broadway Bound, directed by Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), who created the role of 'Stanley' in the original Broadway production. The 8-week run at the Odyssey Theatre is set to open tonight, Aug. 2.

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.

The journeys organized by Travel Dynamics combine first-class accommodations and stimulating sight-seeing with intimate chamber music performances in extraordinary locations. As co-Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society, along with my wife, the pianist Wu Han, we program the concerts and select additional musicians from the Society's artist roster to join us as collaborators. The passengers include music lovers who join the cruises through two of our prominent chamber music institutions New York's Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and Silicon Valley's Music@Menlo. Joining us on this adventure were Suzanne Davidson and Edward Sweeney, the executive directors of each organization respectively, as well as violinists Kristin Lee and Arnaud Sussmann, two of the most exciting young performers on the classical music scene today.

The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, New York Live Arts' Resident Dance Company, announced today the touring programs and productions for the 2014-2015 Season. The Company will perform and conduct residencies in more than 11 cities in eight states over the next 12 months, making their debut at a number of venues across the U.S. Highlights of the 2014-2015 Season include the New York City premiere of Story/Time (35, 36, 37 & 38) November 4 - 8 and 11 - 15 on the Company's home stage at the New York Live Arts theater; the world premiere of Analogy (working title) in June 2015 at Montclair State University; the Company debut at Dancers' Workshop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and more. Touring programs for the 2014-2015 season include Analogy (working title), the Company's newest work; Story/Time; Play and Play: An Evening of Movement and Music; Body Against Body; and A Rite.

Vocalist Laurie Antonioli delivers the most personal and soul-baring statement of her esteemed career with the release, on August 19, of 'Songs of Shadow, of Light: The Music of Joni Mitchell.'

Heartwarming, poignant -- and hilarious. Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a revival of Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical dramatic comedy, Broadway Bound, directed by Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), who created the role of 'Stanley' in the original Broadway production. The 8-week run at the Odyssey Theatre is set to open Aug. 2.

The State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton, PA, announces its 88th Season. Tickets for the new season will go on sale to State Theatre Members on Thursday, August 5th, to the public on Tuesday, August 19th.

Grab the umbrellas! Audiences will be delighted by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Singin' in the Rain, May 30-June 8 at the Benedum Center. A talented cast of Broadway's best and Pittsburgh CLO veterans will take this feel-good movie-musical off the silver screen and on to the Benedum Center stage.

Grab the umbrellas! Audiences will be delighted by Pittsburgh CLO's production of Singin' in the Rain, May 30-June 8 at the Benedum Center. A talented cast of Broadway's best and Pittsburgh CLO veterans will take this feel-good movie-musical off the silver screen and on to the Benedum Center stage.

Today we are turning our attention to one of the most revered and respected plays of the last century in honor of the premiere of the HBO film adaptation this weekend, Larry Kramer's THE NORMAL HEART.

Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will feature Resident Actor Jeffrey Bean as Vanya, Sharon Lockwood returning to the Alley as Sonia, Alley Artist Josie de Guzman returning as Masha, and Resident Actor Jay Sullivan as Spike. Rounding out the cast and making their Alley debuts are Rachael Holmes as Cassandra and Sarah Nealis as Nina. Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater, helms the production and returns after having directed the Alley's 2011 production of Amadeus.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for recent Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Appearing in titles roles are Resident Actor Jeffrey Bean as Vanya, Sharon Lockwood returning to the Alley as Sonia, Alley Artist Josie de Guzman returning as Masha, and Resident Actor Jay Sullivan as Spike. Rounding out the cast and making their Alley debuts are Rachael Holmes as Cassandra and Sarah Nealis as Nina. Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater, helms the production and returns after having directed the Alley's 2011 production of Amadeus.

The New York Philharmonic and American Composers Orchestra (ACO), in collaboration with ACO's EarShot: the National Orchestra Composition Discovery Network, announce the selection of 13 emerging composers from an international pool of more than 400 applicants from seven countries and 37 states ranging in age from 9 to 84, whose original scores for orchestra have been chosen for readings and performances by the Philharmonic and ACO as part of the inaugural NY PHIL BIENNIAL.

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:

This April, May and June at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb's Tony winning musical Cabaret, starring Tony Award-winner Alan Cumming and Golden Globe-winner Michelle Williams, begins previews tomorrow, Friday March 21. Cabaret officially opens on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). This is a 24-week limited engagement. Scroll down to learn more about the full company, plus watch a TV spot for the production below!

For DIRECTOR'S CHOICE, the fourth program of Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2013-2014 season, Artistic Director Peter Boal selects from his roster of acquisitions and increases them by one: The captivating mixed-bill program will feature a much-anticipated world premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo, resident choreographer of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The program also reprises audience favorites TAKE FIVE...More or Less, Broadway-darling Susan Stroman's sunny slice of jazz-infused Dave Brubeck fun; and Susan Marshall's distinctive aerial duet, Kiss. Rounding out the lineup is Molissa Fenley's State of Darkness, a tour-de-force solo performance set to Stravinsky's riot-inducing The Rite of Spring. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE runs for seven performances only, today, March 14 through 23 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall.

Patricia Ward Kelly's compelling presentation combines rare and familiar film clips, previously unreleased audio recordings, personal memorabilia, and insights culled from her hours of interviews and conversations with her husband whom she met in 1985 in Washington, D.C., where she was the writer for a television special about The Smithsonian for which he was the host and narrator. She was 26; he was 73. Soon after, he invited her to California to write his memoir. They fell in love, married, and were together until his death in 1996.

The 22nd Annual Movieguide Awards will air on Reelz today, March 1, 2014 at 2pm ET/ 11am PT, with an additional broadcast on Oscar Day, Sunday, March 2 at 2pm ET/ 11am PT.

This March, April and May at 54 BELOW presents a lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.