The Magic Man - 1974 - Chicago Articles Page 8

Oprah Winfrey, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Stan Lee, Julie Taymor, and other remarkable contributors to the Disney legacy will be honored as official Disney Legends during D23 Expo 2017.

Six-time Tony Award-winning costume designer CATHERINE ZUBER and legendary scenic designer TONY STRAIGES are among the 2017 TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards recipients which were just announced by Theatre Development Fund (TDF), a not-for-profit service organization for the performing arts.

Philadelphia Theatre Company will close its season on May 17-June 4 with The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, written and performed by James Lecesne, and directed by Tony Speciale with original music by Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening).  This production replaces the world premiere of American Canvas by Bill Cain, the winner of PTC's Terrence McNally New Play Award.  American Canvasimagines an ambitious portrait of Thomas Eakins,  Philadelphia's most brilliant and controversial artist.

Will Snider's How to Use a Knife is a world premiere play bursting with energy, secrets and suspense. It isn't easy running a busy restaurant kitchen in New York City, but it may be the last chance Chef George gets to turn his life around.

Due to popular pre-sale demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional week of performances for THE REAL THING, Tom Stoppard's (The Coast of Utopia, Arcadia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead) timeless comedy about an all-too-witty playwright who succumbs to the emotional ravages he puts his characters through. Timothy Near ("Master Harold"…and the boys) returns to Aurora to helm this Tony Award-winner for Best Play (1984) and Best Revival of a Play (2000), featuring Elijah Alexander, Liz Sklar, Carrie Paff (This Is How It Goes, A Delicate Balance, Collapse),Tommy Gorrebeeck (The Monster-Builder, The Eccentricities of a Nightingale), Seann Gallagher, and Emily Radosevich. THE REAL THING now plays through March 5th (added performances: Tuesday, February 28, 7pm; Wednesday, March 1, 8pm; Thursday, March 2, 8pm; Friday, March 3, 8pm; Saturday, March 4, 8pm; Sunday, March 5, 2pm, 7pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

The nominees for the NAACP Image Awards were announced today. The awards recognize the year's best in film, TV, music and books.

Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) presents their 16th season featuring two new works and one musical revival, which both tackle social issues including homelessness, immigration and race relations. 'We have a thrilling line up as we enter our 16th season at Astoria Performing Arts Center, and all of the work shares the resonant theme of home.

With so many upcoming projects in the works, BWW has put together a guide to what's in store from the House of Mouse and its uber-talented creative teams!

With Battlefield, Peter Brook and his internationally renowned team -- Marie-Helene Estienne and Jean-Claude Carriere -- revisit the great Indian epic the Mahabharata 30 years after Brook's legendary production captivated the theater world-and inaugurated the BAM Majestic Theater (now the BAM Harvey Theater).

When October hits and Halloween horror movies begin to flood late night TV, you can always count on at least one station somewhere airing Mel Brooks' 1974 classic comedy YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. But this year, the situation is a little different. With the recent passing of Gene Wilder, who stars in the title role and also co-wrote the film with Brooks, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN has been making many more appearances than usual in tribute to Wilder's uncommon genius. As a writer and actor, the film was some of his finest work and will continue to make audiences laugh for years to come.

Gala Night celebrated the best musicals in Sao Paulo between July 2015 and June 2016.

There's not much one can say when you look at the resume of Ben Vereen. I have to admit I thought the email to interview Mr. Vereen was a hoax or a vile trick someone was playing on me. Now the reason I say this is because he is one of my idols and reasons I studied musical theatre in college and left to go to NYC to work professionally. We are familiar with his work with Bob Fosse as the Leading Player in PIPPIN and as Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR but Mr. Vereen still continues to give us the ole razzle dazzle on the stage and on the screen. He's starred in 9 Broadway shows, has received the coveted Antionette Perry Award (The Tony), a Drama Desk Award, and a Prism Award. Nominated for an NAACP Image Award, starred in 30 plus movies and television shows, and has a huge crossover career. Ben Vereen hit the scene in Martha Graham's PRODIGAL SON in 1965 and he's been working ever since. I had the esteemed pleasure to sit and talk about his illustrious career and the current projects he's working on currently.

Mixing legendary blues with political commentary, ballet with myth busting genius and big recognizable names with big - less mainstream, but just as brilliant - names… the 20th Season of Park City Institute's brand of performance has arrived. In keeping with its mission to entertain, educate and illuminate, PCI delivers a line-up of world-renowned musicians, actors, dancers, authors, thinkers and doers. There are throwbacks to The Eccles Center's grand opening first season. There are Grammy winners and acclaimed traditional entertainers. And there are pioneers, who would never have fit into the performing arts mold of yesterday.

New York City's famed MasterVoices (formerly The Collegiate Chorale) - founded in 1941 by legendary conductor Robert Shaw - will celebrate its 75th anniversary during the 2016-2017 season.

Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) presents their 16th season featuring two new works and one musical revival, which both tackle social issues including homelessness, immigration and race relations. 'We have a thrilling line up as we enter our 16th season at Astoria Performing Arts Center, and all of the work shares the resonant theme of home.

With Battlefield, Peter Brook and his internationally renowned team -- Marie-Helene Estienne and Jean-Claude Carriere -- revisit the great Indian epic the Mahabharata 30 years after Brook's legendary production captivated the theater world-and inaugurated the BAM Majestic Theater (now the BAM Harvey Theater).

For their inaugural offering, Great Circle Productions will present the world premiere of EDWIN, The Story of Edwin Booth, a dramatic musical that commemorates the 150th Anniversary (1866-2016) of the legendary actor's return to the stage, as well as the 400th Anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, with music by Marianna Rosett, and book & lyrics by Eric Swanson.

How many of these great songs do you know from underappreciated musicals?

Today, from the historic Studebaker Theater, Chicago Opera Theater (COT) announced plans for its 2016/17 season, which will bring rarely performed operas and a world premiere to a range of Chicago neighborhoods, will target new types of audiences and will set the stage for a bold future ahead for the company now in its 43rd season. At the event, Andreas Mitisek, COT's Stefan Edlis & Gael Neeson General Director, detailed the ambitious new season, which will feature performances at the Music Box Theatre, the Studebaker Theater Chicago and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.

59E59 Theaters has announced the line-up for the this year's Brits Off Broadway festival, the critically acclaimed annual festival of New British Theater. Now in its 12th Season, the 2016 Brits Off Broadway festival kicks off on Tuesday, April 19 and runs through Sunday, July 3.  Single ticket prices range from $25 - $70 ($17.50 - $49 for 59E59 Members). Tickets to Brits Off Broadway go on sale to the general public on March 7, with an exclusive pre-sale for 59E59 Members beginning on March 1. Tickets are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or online at www.59e59.org.

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet and Ellen Maddow -- former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater -- the Talking Band has remained a cornerstone of New York City's avant-garde theater community. La MaMa in association with Talking Band presents the world premiere of its latest work, BURNISHED BY GRIEF, a sinister, music infused romantic comedy, at La MaMa's first floor theater, opening tonight, January 27, and running through February 7, 2016.

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet and Ellen Maddow -- former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater -- the Talking Band has remained a cornerstone of New York City's avant-garde theater community. La MaMa in association with Talking Band will present the world premiere of its latest work, BURNISHED BY GRIEF, a sinister, music infused romantic comedy, at La MaMa's first floor theater from tonight, January 22, through February 7.

Happy New Year, BroadwayWorld! As we eagerly anticipate the amazing musicals and plays coming up in 2016, we're taking a moment to look back at the significant Broadway closings of 2015.

BUYER & CELLAR is an outrageous new one-man comedy about an out of work actor who signs up to take on the oddest of odd-jobs: the only shopkeeper in the private shopping mall beneath Barbra Streisand's Malibu mansion. Will she get him his big break? Or will life with the demanding diva try his patience and his love life? This campy comedy, directed by Darren Sextro, features KC's favorite Bat Boy, Seth Golay as Alex More.

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet, Ellen Maddow and Tina Shepard-former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater-the Talking Band has remained a cornerstone of New York City's avant-garde theater community. Ben Brantley of The New York Times recently called them 'one of the boldest and most venerable politically minded companies in New York experimental theater.' American Theater magazine has deemed them 'one of the most exceptional theater companies in the country.' The Talking Band will present in association with La MaMa the world premiere of its latest work, Burnished by Grief, a sinister, music infused romantic comedy, at La MaMa'sfirst floor theater from January 22-February 7.