Talking With - 1982 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 15

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents PTC@Play, a two-week festival of new work today, February 18-March 3 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). The festival will feature staged readings of four new plays by both established and emerging playwrights, a new play with music in development starring Tony and Barrymore Award winner Forrest McClendon as African American vaudeville legend Bert Williams, and an evening of short plays, FuturePhilly@Play, by seven emerging playwrights. Each playwright will be in-residence at PTC for their reading, and every reading will conclude with a reception where audiences and artists can meet. All events are free with curtain time at 7:30 PM. A highlight of PTC@Play will be the February 18th announcement of the winner of the Terrence McNally New Play Award, a $10,000 cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art.

Red Bull Theater will present the American Premiere of a new adaptation of August Strindberg's The Dance of Death by Mike Poulton (Tony Award Nominee for Best Play for Fortune's Fool), directed by Joseph Hardy (Tony Award winner for Best Director for Child's Play), for a strictly limited engagement beginning April 10th and continuing through May 4th only, at the Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson Streets). Opening Night is set for Thursday April 18th.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced the line-up today for two Public Forum Duets this February, kicking off the spring Public Forum season with an intense focus on music and the way it shapes our lives.

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents PTC@Play, a two-week festival of new work on February 18-March 3 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). The festival will feature staged readings of four new plays by both established and emerging playwrights, a new play with music in development starring Tony and Barrymore Award winner Forrest McClendon as African American vaudeville legend Bert Williams, and an evening of short plays, FuturePhilly@Play, by seven emerging playwrights. Each playwright will be in-residence at PTC for their reading, and every reading will conclude with a reception where audiences and artists can meet. All events are free with curtain time at 7:30 PM. A highlight of PTC@Play will be the February 18th announcement of the winner of the Terrence McNally New Play Award, a $10,000 cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art.

Happy New Year, all! To kick off this brand new year, BroadwayWorld looks ahead at all the upcoming productions slated to take the Broadway stage in 2013!

Today we are talking to a tremendously talented triple-threat star all about her many recent and upcoming endeavors, including the forthcoming feature films ADDICTED, 1982 and THE LAST LETTER, as well as the pilot for a new TV series, GUILTY, and, of course, her debut solo album project - the magnetic and beautiful Sharon Leal. In addition to discussing many aspects of her films to date and her starry assortment of co-stars and collaborators on them - Jennifer Hudson, Bill Condon, Bernie Mac, Samuel L. Jackson, Pam Grier, Chris Brown, McG and Cuba Gooding, Jr. included - Leal and I also discuss her theatrically-attuned work thus far in her career, having appeared on Broadway in RENT, as well as in starring in BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY, regional work and in a prominent featured role as part of the big screen film adaptation of DREAMGIRLS. Plus, Leal recounts her fruitful artistic and romantic relationship with recent fellow InDepth InterView participant, choreographer/director Paul Becker, and also outlines her plans for the future, near and far, as she anticipates continuing work on her solo album project and promoting her many current projects while taking a temporary holiday break - all of that and much, much more awaits!

Thirty years and 26 albums later, Sanchez, whose Live in Hollywood recording is set for digital release September 25, 2012 on Concord Picante, is still with the label; even though he had plenty of opportunity to leave in the late '90s. (There will be a physical release October 30, 2012.)

Given all the ups and downs the music industry has experienced in the past three decades, it's remarkable to find anyone who still retains a sense of allegiance or loyalty. Master Conguero, Band Leader and Latin Jazz Legend Poncho Sanchez is the exception. Thirty years ago, his close friend, multi-instrumentalist jazz icon Cal Tjader recommended he sign with Carl Jefferson's Concord Records. Tjader told him that Jefferson was looking for new talent and he highly recommended Sanchez. Jefferson gave Poncho a one record deal with his Concord Picante imprint, and the rest is Latin Jazz history. Thirty years and 26 albums later, Sanchez, whose Live in Hollywood recording is set for digital release today, September 25, 2012 on Concord Picante, is still with the label; even though he had plenty of opportunity to leave in the late '90s. (There will be a physical release October 30, 2012.)

Yesterday's MEET THE PRESS WITH DAVID GREGORY featured a network exclusive interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; an interview with the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice. Read excerpts of the program below.

SOUNDING BECKETT - a singular evening of theater and music that pairs three plays by Samuel Beckett from his 'ghost period' with new works by contemporary composers written expressly in response to those plays - will be presented tonight, September 14-23 at the Classic Stage Company (136 E. 13 St.) in Manhattan.

The 60th edition of the San Sebastian Festival will this year bestow its Donostia Awards on actors John Travolta, Ewan McGregor and Tommy Lee Jones and the Special 60th Anniversary Donostia Award going to director Oliver Stone. In 1969, Jones made his Broadway debut in John Osborne's A Patriot for Me. His other Broadway appearances include Four on a Garden and Ulysses in Nighttown.

Today we are focusing a super-special spotlight on one of the Fall's most intriguing musical entries trying out in New York, the York Theatre Company's lab mounting of the new Paul Jabara jukebox musical LAST DANCE, by talking to the show's lead, recognizable TV and film star Rob Morrow, and the show's lead producer, noted comedic shepherd and filmmaker Robert D. Wachs, whom filled me in on all aspects of the show in a comprehensive chat late last week just prior to this week's start of rehearsals. In this all-encompassing conversation, Morrow, Wachs and I discuss the genesis of the new disco-themed musical celebrating the life and career of Jabara, the accomplished Emmy, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer of Broadway shows (RACHAEL LILY ROSENBLOOM… AND DON'T YOU EVER FORGET IT), movie songs ("Last Dance" from THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY; the titular "The Main Event") and numerous pop/rock/disco hits, such as "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's epic disco duet "Enough Is Enough (No More Tears)" and his many solo hits, as well as the finer points of the story, concept, casting and the ultimate goals of the new Philip William McKinley-directed production, which features a book by Shaun McKenna. Additionally, Morrow and Wachs each generously share showbiz tales from their storied careers involving such big names as Eddie Murphy, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Larson, Tony Scott and many more and both copiously convey their infectious enthusiasm for the forthcoming fully-produced lab presentation of the new musical that will play for five performances beginning September 20 as they prepare for its first viewing before a paying audience. All of that and much, much more awaits!

Actor/singer Maxwell Caulfield became an instant heartthrob in 1982 when Grease 2 hit the big screen. He also created a sensation in TV's Dynasty and The Colbys and has essayed countless MOWs on TV and stage plays internationally. Without question he has turned into a fine dramatic actor over the last 30 years. Originally from Great Britain, Caulfield has been married to actress Juliet Mills since 1980. He is currently rehearsing Euripides' Helen as King Menelaus at the Getty Villa in Malibu which opens September 6. In our chat he talks about Helen, some of his recent stage roles and those he would like to play.

McGovern creatively opens and closes the musical with an image that evokes all the glitter and glamor of old Hollywood: the presentation of the Academy Awards in 1941, the year that Ginger Rogers beat out such adversaries as Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Joan Fontaine and Martha Scott for the best actress Oscar for her performance of "knocked-up shopgirl" Kitty Foyle.

The cast of DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL STARS has just been announced. The show will premiere Monday, September 24, 8:00-10:00 p.m., ET/PT on the ABC Network. The All-Stars cast will feature Gilles Marini, Pamela Anderson, Kelly Monaco, Shawn Johnson, Melissa Rycroft, Joey Fatone, Helio Castroneves, Drew Lachey, Bristol Palin, Apolo Anton Ono, Kirstie Alley and Emmit Smith.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Oklahoma!' at Lyric Opera, 'Assassins,' Lake County shows like 'Sweeney Todd,' summer musical theater camps, summer show extensions, 'Bunheads' and more!

SOUNDING BECKETT - a singular evening of theater and music that pairs three plays by Samuel Beckett from his 'ghost period' with new works by contemporary composers written expressly in response to those plays - will be presented September 14-23 at the Classic Stage Company (136 E. 13 St.) in Manhattan.

NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products announces the launch of new exclusive products with exciting celebrity appearances and events at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International (SDCC), the largest comic book and popular arts convention in the world.

The Tony Award-winning Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, and Michael Stotts, Managing Director, presents William Shakespeare's magical masterwork, The Tempest, directed by Darko Tresnjak, playing now through June 10, 2012 (press opening: Wednesday, May 16 at 7:30pm). Tony Award nominee Daniel Davis, best known for his recent NYC roles in Classic Stage's The Cherry Orchard, Lincoln Center's The Invention of Love, and the 2004 Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles, as well as six seasons as Niles the Butler on TV's "The Nanny, plays Prospero. See photos of Davis and the rest of the cast on stage below!

Rick Elice, Nominated for Best Play for PETER AND THE STARCATCHER 'I was feeling neurotic this morning and forced myself to go outside in the rain to get away from the TV and phone. So I went to Starbucks and got a coffee and stood under the arch of the Natural History Museum at 77th Street to drink my coffee out of the rain when my pocket started buzzing. I figured it was good news at that point! I heard Nicholas Hynter in an interview recently say 'It's great to be on Broadway' and that's just how I feel - it's going to become my mantra I think. It's especially great to be on Broadway with a passion project like Peter And The Starcatcher. It seemed so unlikely that we would make it to Broadway when we first started. I have to tell you, it is because of BroadwayWorld's contest last year that helped enable us to bring the show to Broadway. You ran a poll about which off Broadway play was the most popular and our show won by such a large margin that we were sending the link around to several producers who were on the fence to show just how much people loved it. So yes, if people are enjoying the work it then I'll be a very happy fellow. It is great to be on Broadway. And now I have to do my laundry.'

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), in association with noted Harvard Business School Professor Clay Christensen and the Disruptor Foundation, announced it will hold the third annual Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards, hosted by NYU Stern School of Business, on April 27. The 11th edition of TFF runs April 18 to 29.

The Tony Award®-winning Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, and Michael Stotts, Managing Director, presents William Shakespeare's The Tempest, directed by Darko Tresnjak, playing May 18 through June 10, 2012 (press opening: Wednesday, May 16 at 7:30pm).

CBS News legend Mike Wallace, the 60 MINUTES' pit-bull reporter whose probing, brazen style made his name synonymous with the tough interview - a style he practically invented for television more than half a century ago - died last night. He was 93 and passed peacefully surrounded by family members at Waveny Care Center in New Canaan, Conn., where he spent the past few years.

CBS News legend Mike Wallace, the 60 MINUTES' pit-bull reporter whose probing, brazen style made his name synonymous with the tough interview - a style he practically invented for television more than half a century ago - died last night. He was 93 and passed peacefully surrounded by family members at Waveny Care Center in New Canaan, Conn., where he spent the past few years.

The Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), in association with noted Harvard Business School Professor Clay Christensen and the Disruptor Foundation, announced it will hold the third annual Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards, hosted by NYU Stern School of Business, on April 27. The 11th edition of TFF runs April 18 to 29.