That's Life! - 1994 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 17

Thirty years after directing and choreographing the Odyssey Theatre's award-winning West Coast premiere, and following a wildly successful Off Broadway revival at the York Theatre last season, Bill Castellino reunites with musical directorGerald Sternbach to charm audiences with a revitalized, updated version of Ionescopade at theOdyssey Theatre beginning May 31.

Brooke Shields has been announced as the director of the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of CHICAGO, which holds the record as the third longest running show in Broadway history. Rob Fisher has also been announced as the conductor of the production. Shields starred in CHICAGO both on Broadway and in London's West End and this marks her directing debut. Fisher's association with the show began with the 1996 Broadway revival and he continues to be supervising music director of CHICAGO productions around the globe.

The Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) presents Douglas Carter Beane's new play The Nance directed by Jack O'Brien, opening tonight, April 15. This production features Jenni Barber, Andrea Burns, Cady Huffman, Mylinda Hull, Nathan Lane, Geoffrey Allen Murphy, Jonny Orsini and Lewis J. Stadlen.

Pacific Theatre has announced its 30th anniversary season! To celebrate three decades producing theatre, Pacific Theatre is offering a jam-packed season celebrating the past with revivals of some of the company's most iconic work and embracing the present with thought-provoking, entertaining work new to Vancouver audiences.

The new American musical Hands on a Hardbody will open tonight, March 21, at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day's vocalist/guitarist wrote the lyrics for 'American Idiot' in the rock opera style of 'The Who', with songs that follow three disenfranchised young men- Johnny (Alex Nee), Will (Casey O'Farrell), and Tunny (Thomas Hettrick) as they attempt to leave their stifling suburban selves in the hopes of not becoming another 'American Idiot'.

IFC is bringing comedian and podcaster Marc Maron to the small screen this spring with a new ten episode scripted comedy series titled MARON.

Today we are talking to a veritable legend in her own time - arguably the most influential and recognizable female stand-up comedian of all time, the one and only Joan Rivers. Opening up and revealing her trademark, impossible-to-top wit all the while, Rivers and I discuss many aspects of her life and career, with a particular focus on her many current projects - most importantly, the third season of her smash hit reality series JOAN & MELISSA: JOAN KNOWS BEST? on WE TV. What will happen when Joan, Melissa and company visit Colonial Williamsburg? What illicitness will they discover on Willie Nelson's former tour bus? Will Joan get arrested for protesting her book being banned at a big retailer? Answers to these questions all will be arrived up on Saturday. In addition to all about JOAN & MELISSA Season Three and the current series-high ratings run of FASHION POLICE, Rivers and I take a look back at many of the remarkable figures she has encountered and worked with over the course of her career - among them: Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Woody Allen and many more - and she generously shares candid backstage stories and remembrances as only she can. Of paramount interest to theatre fans may be the announcement of a revival of her one-woman play SALLY MARR… AND HER ESCORTS, which she will be reviving in a special weekly pop-up theatre space on Broadway later this year. Also, as if all of that were not enough, Joan gives us the 411 on her new uncensored web series, IN BED WITH JOAN, as well as her cute new pet lover's web project, MY FAT PET. Plus, her fashion forecast for 2013 and best current trends, favorite films of awards season, thoughts on Broadway today and her picks for the best shows to see as well as much, much more awaits in this career-spanning conversation!

Even as his latest book attracts international attention, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright premieres his new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. A reporter renowned for his work with The New Yorker - and the bestselling author behind The Looming Tower and Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief - Wright is also the playwright who penned My Trip to al Qaeda and The Human Scale. Now he debuts a fictional play about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Don't miss this sizzling new script, which is directed by Oskar Eustis, stars Concetta Tomei and Marjan Neshat, and features an incredible team of designers. The 65th world premiere presented by Berkeley Rep, Fallaci begins previews in the Roda Theatre tonight, March 8, opens March 13, and runs through April 21.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Concerts by Audra McDonald, Sarah Brightman and Chester Gregory, Yeston's 'Death Takes A Holiday' and more from Circle Theatre, all our top current runs, plus the premieres 'Straight Camp,' 'Things Fall Apart' and 'Next Stop!'

A legendary trio of country veterans gets back to the roots of their music with stories and songs. With over one hundred songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, forty-two top singles and fourteen #1 songs between them, good buddies Aaron Tippon, Joe Diffie and Sammy Kershaw perform on stage together in an acoustic evening filled with 'You've Got To Stand For Something,' 'John Deere Green,' 'She Don't Know She's Beautiful,' and so many more.

The frontwoman for Adelaide cover band Chunky Custard and former Formula One Grid Girl Becky Blake is back for the 2013 Fringe with two shows; her acclaimed Piano Chicks (a sellout in 2012) will return to The Promethean, 116 Grote Street Adelaide for three performances only tonight, 2, 10 and 12 March. Her new show Piano Boys transfers to The Promethean for three performances tonight, 2, 10 and 13 March.

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 20th anniversary season with 'Home,' Samm-Art Williams' brilliantly inventive, lyrically expressive play that tells the coming-of-age story of a young black man, Cephus Miles, from rural North Carolina. From beginning to end - and through tragedy and triumph - Cephus never loses his joyful goodwill, his indomitable spirit, and the conviction that one day his quest for fulfillment with be rewarded. 'Home' stars returning Rep Stage actors Felicia Curry and Fatima Quander, as well as Rep newcomer Robert Lee Hardy in the role of Cephus Miles.

From tonight, February 21-March 3, 2013, Houston Ballet presents Stanton Welch's La Bayadere ('The Temple Dancer'), a historic classic staged by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch and set in royal India of the past.

UW School of Drama presents David Edgar's Pentecost, directed by MFA in Directing candidate Andrew McGinn, in his thesis production at the Jones Playhouse. Previews begin tonight, February 20, 2013. The production runs through Sunday, March 3, and features performers from the School of Drama's graduate and undergraduate programs.

From February 21-March 3, 2013, Houston Ballet presents Stanton Welch's La Bayadere ("The Temple Dancer"), a historic classic staged by Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch and set in royal India of the past. La Bayadere is a dramatic ballet of eternal love, mystery, fate, vengeance and justice, featuring spectacular scenery and costumes by the acclaimed English designer Peter Farmer. This lavish production recounts the story of Nikiya, a temple dancer, her lover Solor, and the vengeance that keeps them apart -- at least in this life. Houston Ballet will give seven performances of La Bayadere at Wortham Theater Center in downtown Houston. Tickets may be purchased by calling 713 227 2787 or by visiting www.houstonballet.org.

SJCChicago LLC is proud to present the return of Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre production of Smokey Joe's Café – The Songs of Leiber and Stoller at the Royal George Cabaret Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Ave. The hit production received rave reviews from Chicago critics when it ran at Chicago's No Exit Café last fall. The transfer of Smokey Joe's Café – The Songs of Leiber and Stoller features the same award-winning cast directed, once again, by Brenda Didier. This production's musical direction is by Jeremy Ramey and Steve Hiltebrand serves as the associate director and associate producer. Smokey Joe's Café runs Thursday, March 7 – Sunday, May 26.

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 20th anniversary season with 'Home,' Samm-Art Williams' brilliantly inventive, lyrically expressive play that tells the coming-of-age story of a young black man, Cephus Miles, from rural North Carolina. From beginning to end - and through tragedy and triumph - Cephus never loses his joyful goodwill, his indomitable spirit, and the conviction that one day his quest for fulfillment with be rewarded. 'Home' stars returning Rep Stage actors Felicia Curry and Fatima Quander, as well as Rep newcomer Robert Lee Hardy in the role of Cephus Miles.

Virgin America is the latest marquee brand - and the first airline- to partner with IFC for a multi-platform integrated partnership around the network's hit comedy series PORTLANDIA.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' renowned summer theatre camp program, CHAN DT MUSICAL THEATRE CAMP, returns this summer with exciting new themes for youths and teens. Since 1994, nearly 11,500 kids and teens have learned about the magic of musical theatre as only Chanhassen can do it. CHAN DT MUSICAL THEATRE CAMP is an educational camp program that's also terrific summertime fun. Kids and teens, ages eight to eighteen, are given opportunities to explore a wide spectrum of musical theatre components including voice, movement, costumes, scenery, stage combat, improv and more -- all taught by professional members of the Chanhassen acting company, designers and choreographers making the CDT student theatre experience stand out above other offered theatre camp programs.

Dance/pop powerhouse Kristine W celebrates her past and looks ahead to her future on her latest release, New & Number Ones, a collection of some of her 16 chart-topping dance hits, as well as new original songs, remixed hits, and covers of two of her music idols' songs.

Yoshi's San Francisco newly added shows include: Secondhand Serenade (Tue, Feb 26, 8pm $25), Rita Coolidge (Fri-Sat, Mar 29-30, 8pm $36,10pm $26) Molly Ringwald (Tue, Apr 16, 8pm $25, $45 Limited VIP), René Marie's 'Experiment in Truth' Quartet (Tue, Apr 23, 8pm $20), Rachelle Ferrell (Fri, May 3, 8pm $32, 10pm $28) and Junior Brown (Sun, May 12, 7pm $25).

Dance/pop powerhouse Kristine W celebrates her past and looks ahead to her future on her latest release, New & Number Ones, a collection of some of her 16 chart-topping dance hits, as well as new original songs, remixed hits, and covers of two of her music idols' songs.

INTAR (Lou Moreno, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director) today announced the cast for the first of the two plays for its Winter/Spring 2013 season: Lucy Loves Me, written by Migdalia Cruz, directed by Lou Moreno, will star Annie Henk, Bertha Leal, and Gerardo Rodriguez.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today the lineup for the upcoming 13th edition of FILM COMMENT SELECTS (February 18-28), Film Comment magazine's essential and eclectic film festival.