The No-Frills Revue - 1987 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 7

In his New York Post column today Friday, April 24th, Michael Riedel writes that the new Stephen Sondheim show 'iSondheim' may have been saved from the 'never been' bin by the Roundabout Theatre Company.

On March 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., The Collegiate Chorale appears with The New York City Opera Orchestra at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall in a performance of Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin's 1945 Broadway operetta The Firebrand of Florence. The performance, led by guest conductor Ted Sperling, stars baritone Nathan Gunn, soprano Anna Christy, baritone Terrence Mann, and soprano Victoria Clark. Krysty Swann, David Pittu and Patrick Goss complete the cast, and narration will be provided by Stage Director Roger Rees. Boasting a score by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by playwright and screenwriter Edwin Justus Mayer, The Firebrand of Florence had a short run on Broadway in 1945. The work was subsequently not heard for over a half-century until three presentations - Ohio Light Opera (1999), the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London (2000) and the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Vienna (2000) - shed new light on the relatively obscure work. The performances were not only accepted, but widely acclaimed, thus giving hope for a new life in a new century. Variety's theater critic Steven Suskin says 'I have long believed that Firebrand in concert should be a dazzling delight.' Benvenuto Cellini, the great Florentine artist, is sentenced to hang, but he is pardoned when the duke realizes that he has not completed a previously commissioned sculpture. Freed, he is able to turn his attention to his favorite model (and object of his affections), Angela. The Duke also is interested in Angela. In a typical operetta plot, Cellini swashbuckles around the stage, keeping the Duke away from Angela, keeping himself away from the Duchess, and escaping yet another death sentence by fleeing to Paris, as the end of the show recapitulates the beginning.

The 2009 Festival of New American Musicals, a four-month musical theatre festival, will be held in April through July, 2009, throughout Southern California. Marcia Seligson, Bob Klein, and Linda Shusett are the Executive Producers of the second annual Festival.

On March 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., The Collegiate Chorale appears with The New York City Opera Orchestra at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall in a performance of Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin's 1945 Broadway operetta The Firebrand of Florence. The performance, led by guest conductor Ted Sperling, stars baritone Nathan Gunn, soprano Anna Christy, baritone Terrence Mann, and soprano Victoria Clark. Krysty Swann, David Pittu and Patrick Goss complete the cast, and narration will be provided by Stage Director Roger Rees. Boasting a score by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by playwright and screenwriter Edwin Justus Mayer, The Firebrand of Florence had a short run on Broadway in 1945. The work was subsequently not heard for over a half-century until three presentations - Ohio Light Opera (1999), the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London (2000) and the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Vienna (2000) - shed new light on the relatively obscure work. The performances were not only accepted, but widely acclaimed, thus giving hope for a new life in a new century. Variety's theater critic Steven Suskin says 'I have long believed that Firebrand in concert should be a dazzling delight.' Benvenuto Cellini, the great Florentine artist, is sentenced to hang, but he is pardoned when the duke realizes that he has not completed a previously commissioned sculpture. Freed, he is able to turn his attention to his favorite model (and object of his affections), Angela. The Duke also is interested in Angela. In a typical operetta plot, Cellini swashbuckles around the stage, keeping the Duke away from Angela, keeping himself away from the Duchess, and escaping yet another death sentence by fleeing to Paris, as the end of the show recapitulates the beginning.

Cameron Mackintosh has been honoured for his contribution to musical theatre at this year's South Bank Show awards. The Awards other big winners included: Film This Is England Comedy Gavin and Stacey (BBC Three) TV Drama The Mark of Cain (Channel 4) Theatre Saint Joan at the National Theatre Pop Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare Literature Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist Classical Music Traced Overhead: The Musical World of Thomas Ades at the Barbican Visual Arts Andy Goldsworthy at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park Opera The Turn of The Screw at the ENO Dance Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company: Programmes 1 and 2 at Sadler's Wells Literature Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist Arts Council England - decibel Award Daljit Nagra: Look We Have Coming To Dover Outstanding Achievement Award JK Rowling

Four Time Emmy Award winning actress Valerie Harper stars as Tallulah Bankhead in the Pre-Broadway Engagement of Looped , a new comedy by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Rob Ruggiero. The production (direct from its sold out World Premiere at The Pasadena Playhouse) arrives at The Cuillo Centre for the Arts, prior to a Broadway bow in Summer 2009. Tony Award winning actor Jarrod Emick co-stars.

B.B. King Blues Club and Grill and The Highline Ballroom, two of the nation's most respected music venues and New York's premier home for Broadway stars and cabaret, present their schedule of performances, with recently added or altered shows.

A 'Forbidden Broadway' alum and Drama Desk nominee for 'Ruthless!', Donna is back at Goodspeed in 'Half a Sixpence'.

Based on the turbulent and triumphant life of Danny Kaye, this intimate musical portrayal chronicles Kaye's career and his relationships on and off the stage…

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) announces the cast for Christopher Durang's award winning comedy The Marriage of Bette and Boo directed by Walter Bobbie, featuring Terry Beaver (Father Donnally), Heather Burns (Emily Brennan), Victoria Clark (Margaret Brennan), John Glover (Karl Hudlocke), Julie Hagerty (Soot Hudlocke), Kate Jennings Grant (Bette Brennan), Adam Lefevre (Paul Brennan), Charles Socarides (Matt), Christopher Evan Welch (Boo Hudlocke).

The West Bank Café announces our March, 2008 line-up of live entertainment, to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre

NEW THIS WEEK! CSC has the BEST BET of the week! Ford's Theatre presents annual Lincoln Medals! Local benefit of Nunsense A-Men! New shows at DCT, Spotlighters and Theatre Project!

Penguin Rep, a suburban Equity house formed in 1977 as a community theater, is presenting 'The Goldman Project' in NYC.

Bruce F. Winston remembers his 'musical theatre mentor' Harold Rome, the composer/lyricist of Call Me Mister, Fanny, I Can Get It for You Wholesale and more

The Songbook Project, Inc. is pleased to announce plans for a late summer benefit, TRUNK SONGS, featuring two treasures of the American Musical Theatre: Craig Carnelia (Sweet Smell of Success, Three Postcards) and Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, john & jen).

After love letters from the critics and intense audience acclaim, the splendidly savage and delightfully bitter British musical comedy trio FASCINATING AIDA have announced the triumphant Off Broadway return of their show Absolutely Fascinating. By popular demand, an exclusive limited engagement will run at the Kirk Theatre on Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street) from April 6 to May 15. Founding members and seasoned veterans Adele Anderson and Dillie Keane are again joined by dazzling new diva Liza Pulman, with musical director Russell Churney on piano. The official opening night is set for April 11

The Duplex Cabaret Theatre is pleased to present BELTERS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH, a celebration of the lyrics of Bill Russell, the esteemed lyricist of Side Show, Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens and Pageant, among other projects. Belters. will be performed for two special performances only, Mondays, December 13 and 20 at 7pm.