The Last Sweet Days - 1997 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 6

The Downtown Urban Theater Festival (Reg E. Gaines, Artistic Director) will present its 13th annual season in New York City from May 13th - 30th, 2015.

Canadian actor Jonathan Crombie, known for his role as Gilbert Blythe in CBC TV's 1985 ANNE OF GREEN GABLES series and sequels, passed away after suffering a brain hemorrhage on April 15 in New York City. He was 48.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director), as part of its acclaimed Developmental Readings Series, presents Call My Publicist! - The Starry Education of a Broadway Press Agent, written and performed by Joshua Ellis. This premiere reading, directed by Gretchen Cryer will be presented for one-performance only TONIGHT, April 8, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). The reading is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.00.

The York Theatre Company, as part of its acclaimed Developmental Readings Series, presents Call My Publicist! - The Starry Education of a Broadway Press Agent, written and performed by Joshua Ellis. This premiere reading, directed by Gretchen Cryer will be presented for one-performance only on Wednesday evening, April 8, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). The reading is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.00.

In the coming months, Broadway will welcome a fresh crop of productions- many of which will mark the Broadway debuts for a slew of talented actors. Whether they are fresh faces or established stars, these Broadway babies will soon take their very first bows on some of the grandest stages in the world.

Pauline McLynn (Father Ted, Shameless, EastEnders) will play Ella Khan in Ayub Khan Din's critically-acclaimed play East is East, embarking on a 16 week national tour and making its Scottish debut at the Theatre Royal Glasgow from Monday 10 until Saturday 15 August 2015.

Pauline McLynn (Father Ted, Shameless, EastEnders) will play Ella Khan in Ayub Khan Din's critically-acclaimed play East is East, which was part of Jamie Lloyd's second Trafalgar Transformed season, directed by Sam Yates, on a 16 week National Tour from 11 June 2015, commencing at Theatre Royal, Brighton. East is East is designed by Tom Scutt, with lighting by Richard Howell and sound and music by Alex Baranowski.

Today we are talking to the originator of leading roles in two iconic Tony Award-winning musicals of the 1990s and 2000s, RENT and AIDA, as well as a notable presence on the Great White Way in musicals such as CABARET, CHICAGO and MEMPHIS - the charismatic and steel-voiced Adam Pascal. Reflecting on his career highlights as part of Jonathan Larson's seminal rock musical RENT and how it defined an entire generation, Pascal opens up about his participation in the early stages of the show as well as comments on the enduring legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning musical in its 20th anniversary year. Furthermore, Pascal sheds some light on his other originating role in a Broadway musical as part of Elton John and Tim Rice's Disney stage musical AIDA, sharing observations on headlining a new musical of such epic proportions. Most importantly, Pascal previews what audiences can expect from his upcoming East Coast concerts coming up later this month and what sort of evening of story and song he has planned for his passionate fan-base. Additionally, Pascal reflects on his runs in a handful of revivals ranging from Kander & Ebb's long-running CHICAGO to the last Roundabout Theatre Company revival of CABARET as well as starring in the Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS. Plus, Pascal offers the 411 on his new self-penned stage adaptation of the unique M. Night Shyalaman superhero film UNBREAKABLE and what his plans are for the project currently in development. All of that, potential future roles he would like to take on someday soon, his upcoming feature films PUNK IS DEAD and THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL: HALLELUJAH, CHESS observations and much, much more with one of Broadway's most recognizable modern leading men!

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

If you've been a regular reader of this particular reviewer's musings, you know that every year there are long stretches of time where I just haven't been able to critique all the shows I've seen that deserve commentary. So I end up playing what they call in sports, 'Catch-up ball,' and post a mash up of belated reviews from past shows. It's kind of like a critic's version of the song 'Six Months Out of Every Year,' from Damn Yankees. Give or take a month or two, that's usually the time period during which I store unpublished reviews in my fevered brain and then unload them all in one seemingly endless column-like this one is going to be. If my cabaret-show reviewing days will be over (as chronicled here), I might as well go out with a bang-and relieve my procrastination guilt during holiday season. Now I can scratch one New Year's resolution off the list.

This week, Mr. van Zweden will lead the Orchestra in Korngold's Violin Concerto, with Hilary Hahn as soloist; Beethoven's Symphony No. 7; and J. Wagenaar's Cyrano de Bergerac Overture, marking the Philharmonic's first time performing the work, tonight, November 26, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, November 28 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, November 29 at 8:00 p.m.

Jaap van Zweden - music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic as well as former concertmaster of Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - will return to the New York Philharmonic for the first time since his debut in April 2012 to conduct two weeks of concerts. In the first program, Mr. van Zweden will conduct Mozart's Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola, featuring Acting Concertmaster Sheryl Staples and Principal Viola Cynthia Phelps, and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8, tonight, November 20, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, November 21 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, November 22 at 8:00 p.m.

Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation presents its second season at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center -- Three Dog Night on Saturday, January 10 at 8 pm; The Four Tops on Saturday, February 21 at 8 pm; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Friday, March 27 at 8 pm; The Muppet Movie Sing-a-Long on Saturday, May 16 at 2 pm and Dick Fox Doo Wop Extravaganza on Saturday, June 6 at 7 pm. This four concert season, and the additional attraction The Muppet Movie Sing-A-Long, is presented by the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation and is a means of raising funds to support arts in the schools and maintain this new, state-of-the-art facility.

Jaap van Zweden - music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic as well as former concertmaster of Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra - will return to the New York Philharmonic for the first time since his debut in April 2012 to conduct two weeks of concerts. In the first program, Mr. van Zweden will conduct Mozart's Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola, featuring Acting Concertmaster Sheryl Staples and Principal Viola Cynthia Phelps, and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8, Thursday, November 20, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, November 21 at 2:00 p.m.; and Saturday, November 22 at 8:00 p.m.

Sir Howard Stringer, Chair of the American Film Institute's Board of Trustees, announced today the Board's decision to honor Steve Martin with the 43rd AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film.

Central Works concludes the 2014 season with 'Recipe,' a profoundly funny new work by Michael Gene Sullivan, opening with a press Night on Saturday October 18 at 8 pm and running through November 23 at the historic Berkeley City Club. Sullivan serves up the laughs in this delicious take on a circle of sweet old grandmotherly bakers, who just happen to be dedicated to the armed overthrow of the United States government. But baking pies and cakes isn't enough to satisfy these four intrepid refugees from the sixties, and their burning desire to 'Up the Revolution!' Directed by Gary Graves, 'Recipe'is Central Works 45th world premiere and features Velina Brown* (Diane), Tamar Cohn (Ruth), Phoebe Moyer* (Lillian), Lynne Soffer* (Helen) and Jan Zvaifler (Janice), (*member AEA). It's one thing to say 'The government is probably listening to my calls,' but what do you do when you find out it's true? If it seems that the government that you call 'a fascist, surveillance state' has specifically targeted you, is specifically watching YOU (it's not paranoia if they really are after you!), then what? How do you live your life knowing that all your fears may, actually, be true?

NewFilmmakers is a unique Screening Series that gives new filmmakers the opportunity to screen their films in New York, Los Angeles, and Online. Tonight, August 20th, NewFilmmakers NY presents a Documentary Series, two Special Programs, a Short Film Program, and the new feature THE BEEKEEPER.

NewFilmmakers is a unique Screening Series that gives new filmmakers the opportunity to screen their films in New York, Los Angeles, and Online. On Wednesday, August 20th, NewFilmmakers NY presents a Documentary Series, two Special Programs, a Short Film Program, and the new feature THE BEEKEEPER.

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.

A.R. Gurney's enduring romance about first loves and second chances, LOVE LETTERS, will have its first Broadway revival, beginning performances Saturday, September 13, 2014, at 8pm, at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41 Street).

This August at Bookworks features many events such as Livia King Blackburne with Midnight Thief, Ryan Winfield with the Land of Enchantment Romance Writers of America, and John Nichols. There are also events for kids, like Story Time with author & illustrator Martha Mans! There are also clubs like the Second Cup of Coffee Book Club and the Bookworks Book Club. For more information visit bkwrks.com/event

'Dance is a metaphor for expression, for freedom. In Footloose we use dance to express ourselves when we have no words. [As characters] we are all closed off, and finally at the end of the story, we are loosened; we become individuals again.' Speaking is Kristen Martin, who plays Ariel in Maine State Music Theatre's final season production of Footloose, which runs from August 6-23. Her co-star, Eric Sciotto, agrees that his character, Ren, is 'on a journey to find himself after being abandoned by his father. Ren sees in Ariel a troubled soul who reminds him of himself. They recognize immediately that they are kindred spirits.'

THE ILLUSIONISTS - WITNESS THE IMPOSSIBLE, the world's best-selling touring magic show, will make its Broadway bow this fall at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway), beginning previews on November 26 and opening on December 4. It will play a strictly limited six-week engagement through January 4 2015 as part of a 30-city US tour. Tickets for THE ILLUSIONISTS go on sale today at www.ticketmaster.com.

Orange County movie fans can look forward to another great summer of free and fun film screenings at Segerstrom Center for the Arts as Movie Mondays returns for its eighth season on the Arts Plaza. Movie Mondays 2014 kicks off with the heartwarming 1935 classic The Little Colonel, starring Shirley Temple. From post Civil War America we head to 1990s London with the sparkling Spice Girls starring in the jet set musical, Spice World. Then it is off to turn-of-the-20th century Paris with the Academy Award®-winning musical Gigi, directed by Vincente Minnelli and featuring some of the most memorable Lerner & Loewe tunes. Continuing with the winner of this year's Audience Favorite Fan Poll, Cabaret, starring Oscar winners Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey. Shirley MacLaine as the eternal optimist in Sweet Charity wraps up the summer film series. Center audiences will have a chance to see MacLaine live when she makes her Center debut on September 20 in her one-woman show.

North America's largest showcase of Japanese film and “One of the loopiest… and least predictable of New York's film festivals” (New York Magazine), JAPAN CUTS: The New York Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema returns for its eighth annual installment.