The Right to Love - 1925 - Broadway Articles Page 7

“Lover, when I'm near you . . .” sings the debonair Todd Murray this past Monday night at Birdland, mere feet away from rapt eyes into which he pours himself. He's performing the waltzy song acoustically, voice full out in opposition to lyric mood. The back of the house undoubtedly finds sound muted. “This is how you would've heard a band singer in 1925, before a new technique called 'crooning',” he tells us. “From the time I started working, they always called me a crooner.”

George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance: 'A Cavalcade of Ideas Wrapped Around a Full Portion of Wit' will run January 28 through February 22, 2015 at Walnut Street Theatre's Studio 5.

When Gaston Leroux published THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA back in 1911, little did he realize the numerous chandeliers that would come crashing down through the decades, and I've witnessed a good number of them. First, in 1925, there was 'the Man of a Thousand Faces,' Lon Chaney, Sr., who frightened poor Mary Philbin (a well-done version, even IF the film was silent); then, for Universal in 1941, Claude Rains (Bette Davis' favorite co-star) was a more subdued vocal coach for soprano Susanna Foster (a wooden Nelson Eddy, alas, is a greater impending horror as 'Raoul'). I could go on - even Herbert Lom, the actor who was the harried police superior to Peter Sellers' 'Inspector Clousseau,' took a swing on the old light fixture. (And let us not forget diminutive Paul Williams in the slightly askew PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE.) All of these pale, of course, in comparison to the legendary interpretation by Michael Crawford in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, which first brought the audience to its feet in 1986.

Fans of Agatha Christie's brilliant Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, can content themselves with the remaining three new episodes of David Suchet's career-capping portrayal, now being streamed by AcornTV. ELEPHANTS CAN REMEMBER, the 90 minute reworking of Christie's 1972 novel (here more successfully set in 1938), features Poirot and his irritating friend, crime write Ariadne Oliver (Zoe Wanamaker) in an adaptation that remains long on incredible plot (the chestnut of twins and unrecognized identity) but finds its success in nuanced, layered performances. This episode includes sufficient red herrings to divert the casual Christie viewer, but there are fewer superfluous characters. This tighter core of suspects renders the still-complex intersecting plotlines easier to follow and savor than some previous outings. SPOILER ALERT: Pay attention to Dr. Willoughby's research on twins as a key to the original murder, and to secretary Marie McDermott's bland disregard for St. Patrick in solving the second.

The 2014-15 Performing Arts Season of The Grand 1894 Opera House promises countless opportunities to 'Celebrate with The Grand!'

They love, they fight, they make up, they care for each other - it's a marriage. The award winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company presents "The First Fifty Years," a dramatic-comedy that shows the ups and downs of a marriage in seven scenes, each during a pivotal anniversary. Beginning right after their honeymoon in 1872, seven years after the end of the Civil War, the play marks the lives of Anne and Martin Wells up to their golden anniversary at the beginning of the Roaring '20s, in 1922.

Virgin America today announces it is launching sales on its new business-friendly flights from Dallas' Love Field (DAL) to New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The new flights take off in October 2014, with tickets on sale as of today at virginamerica.com and 1-877-FLY-VIRGIN.*** Virgin America will offer travelers award-winning service and nonstop, conveniently-timed flights from the airport closest to Dallas' central business district - the updated, modern Love Field. The airline will be the only carrier at DAL to offer a consistent, upscale product on every flight - with three classes of service (including a First Class cabin and a Main Cabin Select premium economy service) as well as WiFi, in-seat power outlets, confirmed seating and touch-screen seatback entertainment available for every guest. This month, Virgin America was selected by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for the award of two Love Field gates being divested as part of the American Airlines/US Airways merger settlement. To announce the news today, the airline made a surprise landing with one of its custom-designed Airbus A320 aircraft at Love Field - where it is hosting an "open plane" event for media, Elevate loyalty members, partners and social media fans. For more, follow #LoveToFlyVirgin on Twitter.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) announces the participation of world-renowned architect, Frank Gehry, in its November 2014 exploration of the life and career of Pierre Boulez, the revolutionary composer, conductor and curator whose 89th birthday was March 26, 2014.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today the details for Fassbinder: Romantic Anarchist (Part 1), May 16 - June 1. Divided into two parts, the retrospective will be the most extensive presentation of Fassbinder's films in New York since 1997, with Part 1 including almost all of his work leading up to 1974 and Part 2 (screening in November) to pick up from 1974 through 1982. The ambitious two-part series will include all of his theatrical features, much of his television work, films he starred in, films that influenced him, and films that were influenced by his work.

Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, set to open in previews on 1 March at the Gielgud Theatre, features Angela Lansbury reprising her role after the play's New York staging in 2009. Lansbury plays a medium hired by a skeptical novelist who actually manages to call up the spirit of his first wife during a seance that wasn't meant to succeed - a role for which she won her fifth Tony Award. Lansbury talked to the Irish Times about her upcoming performance on the West End, her career thus far, and her favorite kind of tea.

Artistic Director Carey Perloff announced today that American Conservatory Theater will present the exclusive California screening of Peter Brook: The Tightrope, a new and definitive documentary on the creative process of legendary theater director Peter Brook, on Monday, March 24 at 7 p.m. at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco).

Historic adaptation of PORGY AND BESS returns to National Theater.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company led by Producing Artistic Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, announced it is extending the run of The Guardsman by Ferenc Molnar, translated by Frank Marcus, with an added performance at 2:00 pm, now closing Sunday, December 1st, 2013.

The Society for the Preservation of Theatrical History is pleased to present STAGE STRUCK: From Kemble to Kate, an evening with five legendary actresses from the 19th to the early 20th Century, on Thursday, December 12, 2013, 7:30pm to 9:30pm at the Anne L. Bernstein Theater at the Snapple Theater Center, 1627 Broadway @ 50th Street. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Wine reception to follow.

The most wonderful time of the year is underway as rehearsals begin this week for Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol, 'a joyous present for the entire family' (Chicago Sun-Times), in its 36th annual production. Directing the holiday favorite for the first time, Henry Wishcamper's production features all-new on stage magic-set elements, special effects and more. The cast of 27 (below, includes 14 new and 13 returning cast members) stars Larry Yando, who most recently appeared in Mary Zimmerman's production of The Jungle Book as Shere Khan, in his sixth turn as Ebenezer Scrooge and 8-year-old Matthew Abraham as Tiny Tim for the second year. A Christmas Carol runs tonight, November 16 - December 28 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre.

The legend says that St. Bedric slew the griffin and gave prosperity to all the Christian people of the area. It is written that keeping the faith and remembering the griffin will maintain wealth and happiness for all. But does it? In truth the legend becomes the excuse for wholesale slaughter, degradation and enslavement. By pure chance one man, who should have died, finds himself the only survivor of an inhuman massacre. An all-consuming evil has engulfed St John's Cove leaving only this one living human to solve the riddle. Evan snatches the beautiful Rebecca from the very jaws of death and the two learn to love and trust each other. Pulling himself through all manner of adversity he is forced to save not only himself but also his attractive new bride. Discovering a black monk in the ghostly silence of the deserted village they tend his injuries but instead of thanks he demands the removal of the human heads from the avenue of death. The monk believes in their quest but nothing must interfere with the destruction of the evil force that holds the Cove in its grip. The monk has his own agenda and forces the good to face the evil. The Beast of St. John's Cove is available in both print and ebook format. Mr. Johnson is also the author of the Bill Reyner Mystery Adventure series, including titles such as 'Magnuscarter' and 'The Mermaid.' Book Information: The Beast of St John's Cove Author: Wentworth M. Johnson Publisher: I & W Johnson Books ISBN: 978-1491075395 Published: August 2013 Pages: 216 About The Author: Wentworth M. Johnson (born 1939) is a Canadian writer. He was born in March, Cambridgeshire, England. W.M. Johnson is the great grandson of William Edward Bourne 1850-1925 (Playwright, dramatist and theatrical producer). Johnson has published newspaper and magazine articles, as well as a number of fiction and non-fiction books. For more information, review copies, or interviews please contact: Wentworth M. Johnson Email: wentworth-johnson@sympatico.ca Website: http://www.wentworth-m-johnson.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malcolm.johnson.90226

Talk Is Free Theatre has announced principal casting and creative teams for the first three productions of the current season. Some of Canada's most renowned artists are scheduled to appear, with additional casting announcements expected to follow at a later date.

BOSTON, MA (NOVEMBER 2013) – Avant-garde sax and voice duo, KOEK, featuring soprano Aliana de la Guardia and saxophonist Kent O'Doherty, present their inaugural concert entitled “PILOT” with Equilibrium Concert Series on Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 7:30pm in the Davis Square Theater, 255 Elm Street, Somerville, MA. The program features solo and duo works by: Luciano Berio, the world premiere of works by Sergio Luque, Boston composers Daniel T. Lewis and Justin Barish, and electronic interludes by Kent O'Doherty. Tickets are $10 general admission and can be purchased with cash or check at the door. For ticketing questions visit Equilibrium Concert Series online at http://equilibriumconcertseries.org.

Thirteen announces 'NYC-ARTS' Weekly Listings for October 31, 2013 - January 9, 2014

Goodman Theatre announces the complete line-up for its 2013 New Stages festival, this year celebrating Latino playwrights. Three staged readings-The Rooster Room by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes, Feathers and Teeth by Charise Castro Smith and Another Word for Beauty by Jose Rivera-complement the previously-announced two fully-staged workshop productions, The Upstairs Concierge by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz and The Solid Sand Below by former Goodman Theatre Playwrights Unit member Martin Zimmerman.

The annual Halloween haunt at Walt Disney Concert Hall features one of the most classic horror movies of the 1920's, The Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon Chaney as Erik, the Phantom, in make-up he famously constructed for the role. The projection of the 1925 silent film will be accompanied by a live soundtrack performed by organist Clark Wilson on Halloween, tonight, October 31, 2013 at 8:00 PM.

Hear the rare recording of Louis Armstrong's magical reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (A Visit from St. Nicholas).' Enjoy holiday cheer this year at the Louis Armstrong House Museum with the museum's annual holiday tours! In keeping with Louis and Lucille's tradition, the house will be brightly decorated. From December 3rd through December 29th 2013, house tours will feature rare audio clips from Louis's personal recordings of himself and family celebrations at home. Listen to Louis's magical voice reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (A Visit from St. Nicholas)' and other seasonal favorites such as 'Zat You Santa Claus' and Louis listening to Nat King Cole sing 'All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.' Free candy canes included with museum admission.

The most wonderful time of the year is underway as rehearsals begin this week for Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol, 'a joyous present for the entire family' (Chicago Sun-Times), in its 36th annual production. Directing the holiday favorite for the first time, Henry Wishcamper's production features all-new on stage magic-set elements, special effects and more. The cast of 27 (below, includes 14 new and 13 returning cast members) stars Larry Yando, who most recently appeared in Mary Zimmerman's production of The Jungle Book as Shere Khan, in his sixth turn as Ebenezer Scrooge and 8-year-old Matthew Abraham as Tiny Tim for the second year. A Christmas Carol runs November 16 - December 28 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents The Winslow Boy, starring Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty as 'Desmond Curry', Academy & Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as 'Grace Winslow', Alessandro Nivola as 'Sir Robert Morton' and Tony Award winner Roger Rees as 'Arthur Winslow'.

The annual Halloween haunt at Walt Disney Concert Hall features one of the most classic horror movies of the 1920's, The Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon Chaney as Erik, the Phantom, in make-up he famously constructed for the role. The projection of the 1925 silent film will be accompanied by a live soundtrack performed by organist Clark Wilson on Halloween, Thursday, October 31, 2013 at 8:00 PM.