Things We Want - 2007 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 17

Being an opera singer is a little like walking a tightrope without a net--no matter who you're singing with, you're out there on stage, alone, for the crowd to cheer but, also for everyone to hear each glitch or misstep in your singing. Soprano Angela Meade--who's starring as Imogene in Caramoor's concert performance of Bellini's IL PIRATA, a role debut, on July 8--not only did her first wire-walking with a major role but at a big house: the Metropolitan Opera.

On Today, July 1, from 7 pm to 10:30 pm, Brookfield Theatre presents Christmas in July: Battle of the Christmas Musicals. This festive event treats audiences to 45-minute previews of 3 brand new holiday-themed musicals. At the end of the evening, audiences vote for their favorite and the winning show will be performed as a full-length staged reading in December. Come meet the writers, enjoy the shows, and vote for your favorite musical!

With the challenges of putting a brand new musical on its feet, finding a moment where actress Alysha Umphress could steal away from rehearsal for this interview was a challenge of its own. And when we did connect, it was not without technical difficulties on my end, and a coffee spilling fiasco on her end as she prepared for her long day of rehearsal. Through it all, Alysha, who has appeared on Broadway in AMERICAN IDIOT, ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, BRING IT ON and ON THE TOWN (starring opposite DFW's Jay Armstrong Johnson), was upbeat, down-to-earth, excited to talk about her new big gig, and just as happy to humor me with stories from her early career.

Fraking Trip is a brand new performance written, directed and choreographed by Lucile Frak Graciano, the 2017 winner of NY's Got Talent. The multimedia dance performance will be performed over four nights at the Elektra Theater (June 28, July 5th, 11th and 12th). 

Fraking Trip is a brand new performance written, directed and choreographed by Lucile  Frak Graciano, the 2017 winner of NY's Got Talent.

On Saturday, July 1, from 7 pm to 10:30 pm, Brookfield Theatre presents Christmas in July: Battle of the Christmas Musicals. This festive event treats audiences to 45-minute previews of 3 brand new holiday-themed musicals. At the end of the evening, audiences vote for their favorite and the winning show will be performed as a full-length staged reading in December. Come meet the writers, enjoy the shows, and vote for your favorite musical!

Bruce Kimmel wrote, directed and starred in the cult movie hit, "The First Nudie Musical."  He also co-created the story for the hit film, "The Faculty," directed by Robert Rodriguez.  As an actor, Mr. Kimmel guest-starred on most of the long-running television shows of the 1970s.    Mr. Kimmel is a legendary Grammy-nominated producer of theatre music on CD, having produced over 180 albums. Most recently he has directed the shows L.A. Now and Then, Hit Song, The Musical, Welcome to My World, Li'l Abner, and Inside Out.  Mr. Kimmel is the author of seventeen books, many musicals, and is an award-winning songwriter. Bruce Kimmel serves as director on the Group Rep's upcoming production of Frederick Knott's mystery thriller Dial "M" for Murder which opens on the Main Stage, June 30th, at the Lonny Chapman Theatre in North Hollywood at the edge of the NoHo Arts District.  Written by Steve Peterson

The Hollywood Bowl has announced the cast and creative team for a benefit performance of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, conceived and directed on Broadway by James Lapine.

Lefra Productions is bringing a stage adaptation of Dalene Matthee's classic South African novel, FIELA SE KIND, to the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg this June. Adapted by Suzanne van Wijk, the production is produced and directed by Frans Swart.

JAPAN CUTS, North America's premiere showcase for new Japanese cinema, returns for its 11th installment July 13-23 to serve up a slice of the best and boldest films from Japan never before seen in NYC with special guest filmmakers and stars, post-screening Q&As, parties and more. Boasting a thrilling slate of epic blockbusters, shoestring independents, radical documentaries, mind-bending avant-garde, newly-restored classics and breathtaking animation, Japan Society's renowned summer film festival promises a bounty of cinematic discoveries for film fans and pop culture enthusiasts alike.

The Bush Theatre is thrilled to announce that their production of Nassim written by Nassim Soleimanpour (While Rabbit Red Rabbit) and directed by Bush Theatre Associate Director Omar Elerian (One Cold Dark Night, Islands) will transfer to the Traverse Theatre for a full run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer.

When I was 12 years old, the Homecoming Queen in our small town in Pennsylvania was killed in a drunk driving accident. A few months later, her older brother shot the driver of the car that killed her point blank in the head four times. But did he really do it? Was he covering for his brother? Or his father? Now, 30 years later, this story still haunts our small town and is a topic that is still discussed at holiday dinners and when driving by the murder site. The brother was convicted of third degree murder and sentenced to 20 years, of which, he only served 10 for good behavior.

Chester's new Storyhouse is thrilled to announce a further four new shows to its already impressive line-up for the inaugural Autumn 2017 season.

Principal POPS Conductor Michael Feinstein opens the 2017 Pasadena POPS Sierra Auto Concert Series at the Los Angeles Arboretum on Saturday, June 17th with Broadway: The Golden Age.

"Massacre (Sing to Your Children)" is an abstract play whose meaning will depend on an individual's views of the world, and their willingness to search for the author's intent and purpose. This is a script and production for playgoers who like to probe for ideas with no need for clarity of ideas or outcomes.

Ten years ago, actress/playwright Jeanne Sakata began writing down her various thoughts on her personal connections with the subject matter of her DAWN'S LIGHT: THE JOURNEY OF GORDON HIRABAYASHI. Through various reincarnations over the last decade, and a title change to HOLD THESE TRUTHS; Jeanne will be opening at The Pasadena Playhouse. I was most excited to get Jeanne's insight on this dark and deplorable episode of American history.

Houston's Alley Theatre will open a new musical comedy, FREAKY FRIDAY, on June 2 to will play through July 2. A co-production by La Jolla Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse, and Alley Theatre, directed by Christopher Ashley, this wild classic has been translated into a contemporary musical comedy based on Mary Rodger's novel of the same name, with music and lyrics by Tom Kitt and   Brian Yorkey of Next to Normal and If/Then. I spoke with Jennifer Newberry, Houston native and avid performer about her performance past growing up in Houston and the striking similarity she has to her character in FREAKY FRIDAY, Gretchen.

Any time a high school theater department takes on a Stephen Sondheim musical, the intensity level cranks up a notch. So when drama teacher Joseph Donia took on Into the Woods, which the school last did in 2008, he needed some extra expertise behind the scenes to deal with Sondheim's uniquely difficult vocal score. Enter Kayla Bailey, a graduate of Oaks Christian High School (2007), Cal Lutheran University (2011), and a former Miss Ventura County (2012), who has been seen locally mainly as a performer. Donia chose Bailey to be his vocal director despite Bailey never having served in that capacity before. But when, as the saying goes, opportunity knocks, you go for it, and Bailey, who has a uniquely positive spin on life, leaped in feet first and has been having the time of her life. We spoke with Kayla in between performances about this unique experience, one which has already had a major effect on her career outlook going forward.

Circle House, which opened Friday, April 27, is the newest production from The Plagiarists, a return to a group-writing style that is rather uniquely theirs. Company member and lead playwright Jessica Wright Buha organized a group of writers and artists into multiple writing sessions over several months, exploring both the cyclical nature and unsteadiness of nature and life. From there the script was developed by Buha and her team, then masterfully tackled by the sure and sensitive hand of director Kate Nawrocki.

Brenda Rae, a fast rising opera star in Europe, is now spreading her wings across the United States. She has a sound reminiscent of molten silver, a wide range, and a great deal of flexibility. At Santa Fe this summer she will sing Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, a romantic, bel canto opera about a real Scotswoman who lost her reason when forced to marry a man she did not love.

When an icon is as approachable, affable and humble as Ben Vereen is, it is easy to see why he has been so successful. The winner of a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for his role in Pippin, Vereen is, at the age of 70, showing no signs of slowing down. Luckily for us, he is bringing his energy and talent to our area to perform with the Stockton Symphony on May 6 and 7.

'Whattya wanna do?' 'I dunno, what do YOU wanna do?' 'I dunno, what do YOU-' Stop the madness, y'all. Jacksonville is the smallest big town I've ever seen, and although there is so much to do, it can be overwhelming trying to narrow it down. The Vital 5 is here to help you decide. This weekly feature breaks down my top 5 theatrical picks for the upcoming week. Share this to help your friends, and we can then all avoid the frustration of having to choose (well, kind of - you're on your own for dinner plans!)

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in collaboration with The Sol Project Latinx theater company will present the New York premiere of Martin Zimmerman's meditation on mourning, redemption and revenge, 'Seven Spots On The Sun,' directed by Ethiopian-Canadian 2016 Dora Award winner Weyni Mengesha. The six week engagement runs from April 26th to June 10th.

AMERICAN BORN CHINESE by Gene Luen Yang broke boundaries when it won the 2007 Printz Award and was a 2006 National Book Award finalist. No graphic novel had ever received either award before. The graphic novel has gone on to win many other awards and become a school reading staple.

OBERON, the American Repertory Theater's (A.R.T.) second stage and club theater venue, presents ONTHEFLOOR, created and performed by The Dance Cartel. Performances will be held on Thursday, April 27 and Friday, April 28 at OBERON, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge.