The Ritz - 2007 - Broadway Articles Page 13

The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing firms, will hold another in its Sunday Seminars series, focused on the culture, business and history of Off Broadway this Sunday, January 12th.

Presented by Mary J. Davis, DISASTER! is the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street). DISASTER! is written by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick, directed by Mr. Plotnick, and has choreography by Denis Jones. A send-up of the 1970s disaster movie genre, DISASTER! features some of the best songs of the 1970s, including 'Hot Stuff,' 'Don't Bring Me Down,' 'I Am Woman,' 'Alone Again Naturally,' 'Signed Sealed Delivered,' 'Knock On Wood,' 'Daybreak' 'Sky High,' and more.

Casting is complete for the world premiere of Greg Edwards & Andy Sandberg's new comedy, Craving for Travel, which will run Off-Broadway January 9 - February 9, 2014 at the Peter J. Sharp Theater (416 W. 42nd Street, NYC).

Mary Birdsong (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, "Reno 911") will join the cast of DISASTER!, the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street) on Monday, December 9th. Ms. Birdsong will take over the role of lounge singer "Jackie," played by Michele Ragusa, whose final performance will be on Friday, December 6th.

DISASTER! -- the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street) - is getting into the holiday spirit by adding a performance to this week's schedule - and by offering a discount for those who come with canned goods (to be donated to charity). Those who come to the St. Luke's Theatre today, November 29th with 2 canned goods will be eligible to purchase $25 tickets to that afternoon's special matinee performance at 1:30 PM. All collected canned goods will be donated to charity. The St. Luke's Box Office will open at on Friday, 12/29 at Noon ($25 tickets are available IN-PERSON ONLY on a first-come, first-served basis while supply lasts).

DISASTER! -- the hilarious, acclaimed 1970s disaster movie musical now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre (308 W. 46th Street) - is getting into the holiday spirit by adding a performance to this week's schedule - and by offering a discount for those who come with canned goods (to be donated to charity). Those who come to the St. Luke's Theatre on Friday, November 29th with 2 canned goods will be eligible to purchase $25 tickets to that afternoon's special matinee performance at 1:30 PM. All collected canned goods will be donated to charity. The St. Luke's Box Office will open at on Friday, 12/29 at Noon ($25 tickets are available IN-PERSON ONLY on a first-come, first-served basis while supply lasts).

While watching the opening night performance of Musical Theatre West's lively (haha) regional premiere of Mel Brooks' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, something struck me almost immediately: I'm laughing hysterically. Though previous productions have certainly entertained in the past, much of the jokes and silly lyrics have been rendered inaudible. Thankfully, MTW's remount fixes the problem. Who would have guessed that a combination of good diction, under-emphasized accents, and working microphones---performed by a wonderful cast---would be a real, honest-to-goodness asset for a show? The show continues through November 17 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA.

Playwrights Horizons has announced initial casting for the New York premiere production of STAGE KISS, a new play marking the eagerly-awaited return of two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl(Dead Man's Cell Phone at PH; The Clean House, In the Next Room...) to the theater company. Directed by Rebecca Taichman (Milk Like Sugar at PH; the current Marie Antoinette, Orlando, The Scene, Luck of the Irish), the production will begin previews Friday evening, February 7 at 8PM with an Opening Night set for Sunday, March 2 at 7PM. The limited engagement will play through Sunday evening, March 23 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Tune in this Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 12:35 PM (ET) to join in the celebration with 'Mr. Showbusiness' on Jimmy Ferraro's THEATRE CHAT AND THIS 'N THAT, broadcasting live on WWJB -- regionally and nationally on the world wide web:www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's guests are Seth Grenleaf and Seth Rudetsky.

Musical Theatre West at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA opens its 61st season with Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, a musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award winning smash hit The Producers. The production, with music and lyrics by Brooks and a book by Thomas Meehan, marks the regional theater premiere of this hilariously tuneful show based on the 1974 smash hit film Young Frankenstein which was a wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks.

Home-grown hoofers from the Minneapolis arts scene, Rhythmic Circus makes its New York premiere on the New Victory stage with Feet Don't Fail Me Now!, a dynamic tap and music performance that mixes hard-hitting percussive dance and a live rock band from November 15 - December 1, 2013.

Mary J. Davis presents DISASTER!, written by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick, at St. Luke's Theatre beginning today, October 14, and opening Monday, November 4. DISASTER! is a musical based on 1970's disaster movies with a score consisting of 1970's pop, rock and disco hit songs. Directed by Jack Plotnick, choreographed by Denis Jones and music direction by Larry Pressgrove. Disaster! previously ran in 2012. For more information, visit www.disastermusical.com.

BIG BREAK NFL will premiere tonight, Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. ET and airs weekly todays nights.

After the success of THE PRODUCERS, Mel Brooks gave YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN the Broadway treatment. The ribald musical comedy had it's pre-Broadway try out at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington. It began previews on Broadway on October 11, 2007 and opened at the Foxwoods Theatre (then named the Hilton Theatre) on November 8. The show closed after 485 performances on January 4, 2009. The production launched two national tours, with the Second National Tour closing on May 31, 2012. Rights to the musical became available to regional theaters shortly thereafter, and many ballsy theatre companies are gladly taking on the ambitious project.

Continuing with its season of silliness, the historic Woodlawn Theatre stages a four-week run of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein on its main stage, opening tonight, October 4. This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend, based on the 1974 classic comedy film of the same name, follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen to you) as he attempts to complete his grandfather's masterwork and bring a corpse to life - with both scary and hilarious complications.

Musical Theatre West at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA opens its 61st season with Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, a musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award winning smash hit The Producers. The production, with music and lyrics by Brooks and a book by Thomas Meehan, marks the regional theater premiere of this hilariously tuneful show based on the 1974 smash hit film Young Frankenstein which was a wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks.

Mary J. Davis will present DISASTER! written by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick, at St. Luke's Theatre starting on October 14, opening Monday, November 4. DISASTER! is a musical based on 1970's disaster movies with a score consisting of 1970's pop, rock and disco hit songs. Directed by Jack Plotnick, choreographed by Denis Jones and music direction by Larry Pressgrove. Disaster! previously ran in 2012.

Continuing with its season of silliness, the historic Woodlawn Theatre stages a four-week run of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein on its main stage, opening October 4. This wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Frankenstein legend, based on the 1974 classic comedy film of the same name, follows bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen to you) as he attempts to complete his grandfather's masterwork and bring a corpse to life - with both scary and hilarious complications.

Megan Mullally is a two-time Emmy-winning star of TV's Will & Grace, and recent star of Broadway's Young Frankenstein. On August 28 & 29 she returns to Provincetown by popular demand - for two shows only - after her sold-out Art House debut last summer. Patti LuPone won her second Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, as well Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, for her performance as Rose in the most recent Broadway production of Gypsy, and created the title role in Evita on Broadway with her now legendary performance, for which she won her first Tony and Drama Desk Awards. On August 31 and September 1 she makes a triumphant Provincetown return for 4 shows only, after debuting at The Art House last summer. Chita Rivera is a living Broadway legend and a two-time Tony winner as Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman and Anna in The Rink. She originated the Broadway roles of Anita in West Side Story, Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, Velma in Chicago, and appeared in the original casts of Guys and Dolls, Can Can, Seventh Heaven, Mr. Wonderful, Jerry's Girls, and many others. She makes her Provincetown debut on Sept. 7 & 8 with two shows only. Series host and SiriusXM radio star Seth Rudetsky joins each of these three leading ladies at the piano. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com, or call 1-800-838-3006.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is ALIVE and causing mayhem on the Barn Theatre stage August 20 through September 1 and is scientifically-proven to be a monstrously good time!

As usual, the summer is chockfull of mind numbing entertainment. Hollywood releases action packed blockbusters. Television channels flood the airwaves with brainless reality shows and thinly written dramas. Everywhere you turn, there are offerings of entertainment for the sake of entertainment. Summer musicals are no exception, and Galveston's Island East-End Theatre Company (ETC) is presenting Mel Brook's glitzy, splashy musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN to pad out this summer. Following the wild success of THE PRODUCERS, Mel Brooks reassembled his creative team and jumped back into the saddle of creating theatrical musicals. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN had it's pre-Broadway try-out in Seattle in 2007, ran on Broadway from November 8, 2007 through January 4, 2009, and has had enjoyed two successful national tours across the United States.

Unlike most groups that long to tour the U.S. and world, Forgotten Door is excited about staying in town, performing for residents, tourists, conventioneers, etc. Celebrating the upcoming release of their highly anticipated, appropriately titled debut album Unlocked, the eclectic band-whose lineup includes co-founder, vocalist and guitarist Lonnie Danley, lead vocalist Melody Ritz, lead and slide guitarist, and vocalist Michael Seal, bassist Karl Gottmann and drummer Kevin Brennan-is starting an unprecedented six month weekend residency in July in the Wolf Theatre at the Clarion Hotel & Casino (305 Convention Circle Drive, Las Vegas 89109).

Summertime is an important season for Broadway, with tourists flocking from all over to check out the stars they watched on the Tony Awards, be the first to visit the newest additions to the Broadway line-up, and even stop back at an old favorite. Need help keeping track of Broadway's newest and most buzzed-about performers? BroadwayWorld brings you a roundup of the hottest stars of the summer below!

Groundbreaking actor, singer, dancer, author and educator Rita Moreno has been named the 50th recipient of SAG-AFTRA's highest tribute - the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment.

Unlike most groups that long to tour the U.S. and world, Forgotten Door is excited about staying in town, performing for residents, tourists, conventioneers, etc. Celebrating the upcoming release of their highly anticipated, appropriately titled debut album Unlocked, the eclectic band-whose lineup includes co-founder, vocalist and guitarist Lonnie Danley, lead vocalist Melody Ritz, lead and slide guitarist, and vocalist Michael Seal, bassist Karl Gottmann and drummer Kevin Brennan-is starting an unprecedented six month weekend residency in July in the Wolf Theatre at the Clarion Hotel & Casino (305 Convention Circle Drive, Las Vegas 89109).