This Side of Paradise - 2010 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 12

Michael Fletcher joins the cast of InSTEP Theatre's award-winning production of Departure Lounge direct from ITV's Superstar.

Michael Fletcher joins the cast of InSTEP Theatre's award-winning production of Departure Lounge direct from ITV's Superstar.

On the edge of glory, GLEE momentarily brought back the ecstatic excitement and indescribably infectious joy which made the musical dramedy series a huge hit in its first and second seasons, then commanding upwards of twelve million viewers a week. Now sixty-plus episodes into the series, in a two-hour episode helmed by co-creator Ian Brennan, last night's two-episode gorge-worthy and gorgeous feast - 'Props' and 'Nationals', by the hour - was a reminder of everything that cynics have cited as lacking from episodes in Season Three, as flagging ratings and a general media lull plagues the once seemingly indomitable mega-show despite its continued inventiveness and dramatic daringness. It was fresh and sassy and outrageous, but touching and heartfelt - attributes ascribed to the best episodes of the show. Yet, it was so much more, too - and then there's the music! Both hours were a totally over-the-top tribute to all things big and wow-worthy, coming at just the right moment to pump some energizing lifeblood into the audience base - passing references to Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marvin Hamlisch and Elton John as well as multiple winks at DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES songwriter and BAT OUT OF HELL mastermind Jim Steinman collectively pushing the theatre insider reference quotient into the stratosphere; and appreciably so. Yes, indeed, last night's double-dose of GLEE was an OD-worthy escapade worthy of returning to time and time again - Lea Michele's solo spots of Jason Mraz's 'I Won't Give Up' and Celine Dion's Grammy-winning 'It's All Coming Back To Me Now' alone were standouts of not only this or any season, but the series itself. With more than fifteen songs performed - everything from Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and The Who to STARLIGHT EXPRESS, TOMMY, FLASHDANCE and KISS ME, KATE - there was something for everyone in the two-hour GLEE extravaganza overflowing with the witty one-liners, out-of-this-world twists, outlandish characterizations, as well as the idiosyncratic theatrical reality that only GLEE can create. It was a true return to form to prove any and all naysayers wrong, and, this, coming after last week's Ryan Murphy-penned 'Prom-asaurus' season highlight, no less.

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tony Brunch on May 2, 2012, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Josh Young, nominee for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Jesus Christ Superstar.

Josh Young, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR 'I feel amazing. I honestly didn't expect a thing so I wasn't the least bit nervous. I figured I would sleep in as late as possible and wake up to find out that my show was nominated but that I wasn't. But, when I got up to walk the dog and checked my phone and saw a text from my agent saying 'atta boy!' These past couple of months have been a crazy roller coaster and have been some of the hardest weeks of my life. I was sidelined with a horrible chest infection and couldn't breathe, but trying to do the show as much as I could...and let me tell you, if there is ever a role where you need to breathe it's 'Judas.' So I'm just so appreciative to all of the nominators who came back to the show to see me. I want to celebrate but I think I need to go back to sleep so I can do a good job onstage tonight!'

Today, the still Broadway-bound production has released an official statement noting that "The PRINCE OF BROADWAY company and creative team has been informed that production on the show will continue without Dancap's involvement. Further details will follow shortly."

Central Square Theater and its resident companies, The Nora Theatre Company and Underground Railway Theater, have announced their 2012-2013, and 5th anniversary, season.

NewFilmmakers New York presents SPRING FESTIVAL April 1st - 10th.

Josh Young, who is starring as 'Judas' in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR after originating the role in both the Startford and La Jolla productions of the show, will be sidelined from the production again, this time for an undetermined period of time, as a bacteria infection which has caused him to miss several performances has worsened into laryngitis. Young, who has received rave reviews across the board for his performance, missed his first shows during previews just prior to opening night on March, 22. While he was back for the opening, he has been in and out of the show since March 29. His role has been played by Jeremy Kushnier and Nick Cartell in his absence.

NewFilmmakers New York presents SPRING FESTIVAL April 1st - 10th.

As previously reported, Josh Young, who is starring as 'Judas' in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR after originating the role in both the Startford and La Jolla productions of the show (receiving rave reviews in both cities), has been out of the show since March 20th, missing multiple critics performances. His role has been played by Jeremy Kushnier in his absence. BroadwayWorld has now learned that Young is feeling much better and will be back in the show tonight for the highly anticipated opening performance.

A statement from Young's rep reveals that 'It was extremely unfortunate timing that Josh became sick over the past week. He has been with JCS since its inception in Canada and was saddened that this happened at such a crucial time and rendered him unable to perform. Josh is waiting for his doctor to clear him to rejoin the cast. Nothing brings him more joy than performing the role of Judas with this amazing company of actors and he cannot wait to return to his work'

Linda Lavin (Broadway Bound), Sebastian Arcelus (Elf), LaChanze (The Color Purple), Emily Skinner (Side Show), Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma!), Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange) and Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies, The Little Mermaid) will be among the star players in the upcoming Broadway Hal Prince tribute, PRINCE OF BROADWAY, The New York Times reveals.

Political leaders and cultural thinkers, writers and journalists, dancers and musicians, visual artists and scientists will converge to explore the remarkable global impact of a singular European city when New York City hosts ThinkSwiss: Genève Meets New York, March 6-12, 2012.

The Devil dreams of returning to heaven and to God's side. Title 66 Productions invites Montreal to attend the trial of the Devil, presented at Theatre Rouge in the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Montreal through March 4th. If he can prove that humanity is indeed culpable for many of his alleged crimes, he may return to paradise forever. From the creative mind of Clive Barker, master engineer of fantasy and horror, The History of the Devil tells the satiric tale of the Devil's trial at the hands of the human race, with whom he's shared the world for millennia.

The Highline Ballroom has announced a program including Chick Corea and Sam Sparro for April.

The Devil dreams of returning to heaven and to God's side. Title 66 Productions invites Montreal to attend the trial of the Devil, presented at Theatre Rouge in the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Montreal from February 29th to March 4th. If he can prove that humanity is indeed culpable for many of his alleged crimes, he may return to paradise forever. From the creative mind of Clive Barker, master engineer of fantasy and horror, The History of the Devil tells the satiric tale of the Devil's trial at the hands of the human race, with whom he's shared the world for millennia.

Musical geniuses Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Seger, Don Schlitz, Harvey Schmidt & Tom Jones and Jim Steinman will become the newest members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization's 43rd Annual Induction and Awards Dinner. The star-studded event is slated for Thursday, June 14th at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Additional special award honorees will be announced soon.

The Devil dreams of returning to heaven and to God's side. Title 66 Productions invites Montreal to attend the trial of the Devil, presented at Theatre Rouge in the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Montreal from February 29th to March 4th. If he can prove that humanity is indeed culpable for many of his alleged crimes, he may return to paradise forever. From the creative mind of Clive Barker, master engineer of fantasy and horror, The History of the Devil tells the satiric tale of the Devil's trial at the hands of the human race, with whom he's shared the world for millennia.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Don Gregory, has announced the full company for the new Broadway production of Mary Chase's Harvey starring Jim Parsons (Elwood P. Dowd), Jessica Hecht (Veta Louise Simmons), Charles Kimbrough (William R. Chumley, M.D.), Larry Bryggman (Judge Omar Gaffney), Carol Kane (Betty Chumley), Peter Benson (E.J. Lofgren), Tracee Chimo (Myrtle Mae Simmons), Holley Fain (Ruth Kelly, R.N.), Angela Paton (Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet), Rich Sommer (Duane Wilson), Morgan Spector (Lyman Sanderson, M.D.) and directed by Scott Ellis.

Political leaders and cultural thinkers, writers and journalists, dancers and musicians, visual artists and scientists will converge to explore the remarkable global impact of a singular European city when New York City hosts ThinkSwiss: Genève Meets New York, March 6-12, 2012.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the "hysterically funny" (New York Post) new musical The Toxic Avenger.

The full Broadway cast has been announced for The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff which will open March 22, 2012 (previews begin March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the "hysterically funny" (New York Post) new musical The Toxic Avenger.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announced the cast and creative team for their production of The Toxic Avenger. In a new production, which features several new songs and revised book by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Memphis, Bon Jovi founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, Tony-nominated Constantine Maroulis takes center stage as the righteous superhero in the title role. John Rando (Tony Winner for Urinetown) returns to the Alley to reinvent his hilarious 2009 Off-Broadway staging of The Toxic Avenger following his smashing Alley productions of The Man Who Came to Dinner, Mrs. Mannerly and Be My Baby.