The Great Man - 1931 - Broadway Articles Page 15

Filled with colorful criminals, biting social satire and a brilliant score, The Threepenny Opera opens International City Theatre's 2009 Season at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Jules Aaron directs Michael Feingold's translation of the trailblazing musical by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill that became one of the most influential plays of the 20th Century. Darryl Archibald is musical director and Kay Cole choreographs the five-week run February 20 through March 22; low-priced previews begin February 17. First performed in 1928, Brecht and Weill's The Threepenny Opera was a revolutionary musical theater masterpiece that mocked the bourgeois political movement of pre-Hitler Germany. Brecht's brittle, sardonic tale of beggars, thieves and prostitutes, adapted from the 1728 play The Beggar's Opera by John Gay, was a fierce social and political critique, and Weill's innovative score that fused American jazz with German cabaret captured the ironic tone of the lyrics. Part acid social criticism, part bittersweet romance, the now eighty-year old saga of 'Mack the Knife' and his entourage of criminals and whores has never lost its theatrical punch. 'It's a satire on capitalism and corruption told from the viewpoint of the 'little people',' notes Aaron. 'If there was ever time to revive this show, it's now. Michael [Feingold]'s translation is earthy, gritty and very funny. I think it's going to strike a chord with audiences.'

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-wining Mint Theater Company (Jonathan Bank, Artistic Director) continues the 2008-2009 season with The Widowing Of Mrs. Holroyd by D.H. Lawrence beginning February 4th. In conjunction with that, they will present a series of play readings, speakers and discussions to add to the experience, all under the banner 'EnrichMINT events.' READINGS - $35 each or $95 for all three (save $10) January 19th, 2009 at 7:30 PM The Marrying Of Ann Leete by Harley Granville Barker, directed by Gus Kaikkonen with Mary Bacon, Ross Bickel, Chet Carlin, Paul Coffey, Jack Davidson, Kurt Everhart, Jonathan Hogan, Allison McLemore, Chris Mixon, Thomas M. Hammond, Laurie Kennedy, Lee Moore, Patti Perkins, Saxon Palmer, Sandra Struthers-Clerc, Marc LaVasseur, and Kyle Yackoski

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-wining Mint Theater Company (Jonathan Bank, Artistic Director) continues the 2008-2009 season with The Widowing Of Mrs. Holroyd by D.H. Lawrence beginning February 4th. In conjunction with that, they will present a series of play readings, speakers and discussions to add to the experience, all under the banner 'EnrichMINT events.' READINGS - $35 each or $95 for all three (save $10) January 19th, 2009 at 7:30 PM The Marrying Of Ann Leete by Harley Granville Barker, directed by Gus Kaikkonen with Mary Bacon, Ross Bickel, Chet Carlin, Paul Coffey, Jack Davidson, Kurt Everhart, Jonathan Hogan, Allison McLemore, Chris Mixon, Thomas M. Hammond, Laurie Kennedy, Lee Moore, Patti Perkins, Saxon Palmer, Sandra Struthers-Clerc, Marc LaVasseur, and Kyle Yackoski Written in 1899 when Granville Barker was 22, Ann Leete was the first play that Barker wrote without a collaborator. The Stage Society presented the play in 1901 but it was not seen again until the Royal Shakespeare Company produced it in 1975 with Mia Farrow in the title role. 'Its absence from the stage for more than two generations was unfortunate for English drama:' writes Dennis Kennedy in Granville Barker and the Dream of Theater, 'It is an extraordinary piece...' The play has never been produced in the U.S.

Back in Pictures celebrates the songs that were originally written for the masterpieces of the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring music from Casablanca, Easter Parade, A Star Is Born, Pennies From Heaven, Disney, Meet Me In St. Louis, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, The Wizard of Oz and many more. Back in Pictures is showing at the Reprise Room, 245 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, New York, from April 7, 2008 through January 5, 2009.

Back in Pictures celebrates the songs that were originally written for the masterpieces of the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring music from Casablanca, Easter Parade, A Star Is Born, Pennies From Heaven, Disney, Meet Me In St. Louis, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, The Wizard of Oz and many more. Back in Pictures is showing at the Reprise Room, 245 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, New York, from April 7, 2008 through January 5, 2009.

The Music Center of Los Angeles County announces the sixth season of the Dance at the Music Center series. The season opens with the return of Miami City Ballet led by Artistic Director Edward Villella, performing the much anticipated, West Coast premiere of NIGHTSPOT a Twyla Tharp and Elvis Costello collaboration, October 24-26. Known for her innovation and creativity, Twyla Tharp has created some of the most memorable dances in modern repertory.

The Willows Theatre Company presents 'Sunrise at Campobello' about FDR beginning May 5.

Westport Country Playhouse (Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe, artistic directors, Jodi Schoenbrun Carter, managing director) announces that two-time Tony Award-winner, film star and Weston resident James Naughton will direct the lively song and dance revue, Hot 'n Cole: A Cole Porter Celebration!, playing June 10 - 28.

The 2008 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards recognizing excellence in dance on both stage and film have announced that nine time Tony Award & two time Astaire Award winner Tommy Tune will receive the 2008 Fred & Adele Astaire Lifetime Achievement at the awards gala slate for June 2, 2008

Reached by telephone in Florida on the day after Christmas, Jerry Herman had just taken his morning swim and was enjoying the balmy weather. 'It's beautiful here. You know you take your chances with the weather this time of the year even in Miami, but it's just been beautiful.' After doing considerable reading about the composer and enjoying a lengthy conversation with him, it is quite apparent that much of this man's life has indeed been quite beautiful.

The Mint Theater premieres Dawn Powell's 1931 comedy/drama of finding love and adventure in New York

Starring Gabriel Byrne (Cornelius Melody) with Dearbhla Molloy (Nora Melody), Emily Bergl (Sara Melody), John Horton (Nicholas Gadsby), Byron Jennings (Jamie Cregan), Kathryn Meisle (Deborah), Randall Newsome (Paddy O'Dowd), Ciaran O'Reilly (Dan Roche) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Mickey Maloy).

Legendary actress Anne Bancroft, who won a Tony for her performance in the Miracle Worker, has passed away at the age of 73

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is proud to present Gabriel Byrne as 'Cornelius Melody' in a new Broadway production of Eugene O'Neill's drama A Touch of the Poet, directed by Doug Hughes at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street).

Mint Theater Company has announced that its premiere of Arthur Schnitzler's Der einsame Weg entitled The Lonely Way will continue through Sunday, May 1st due to critical acclaim and popular demand.

The classic musical political satire gets a fast and funny re-mounting