West Side Story - 1980 - Broadway Articles Page 16

Before Broadway's 'Hamilton' composer Lin-Manuel Miranda was the name on everybody's lips, Stephen Sondheim dominated the title of leading composer and lyricist in the 1970's and 1980's. After having both critical and commercial success with the Broadway musicals 'Company,' 'Follies,' 'A Little Night Music,' 'Pacific Overtures,' and 'Sweeney Todd,' 'Merrily We Roll Along,' starring a gaggle of fresh and talented youngsters opened at the Alvin Theater on November 16, 1981 and closed after fifty-two previews and sixteen regular performances. At the time, the show was the most anticipated amongst the Broadway community and the most panned by the critics on opening night. Only the score received a Tony Award nomination and still ranks as one of the composer's best.

Some of the most critically acclaimed and awarded young actors the D-FW area has ever embraced have formed their own theatrical production company and launch their endeavor this March with Kenneth Lonergan's THIS IS OUR YOUTH. The Basement is an offshoot of Fun House Theatre and Film, started by a group of young adult artists with the shared goal of not only continuing but taking charge of their own artistic development while honoring their previous training.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and Conductor John Morris Russell have announced the details of the Pops' 2017-18 season, the first back in the Orchestra's home at Music Hall following an extensive renovation and transition season at the Taft Theatre.

In the 89 years that the Academy Awards have been held, over 40 musicals have either been nominated for or have won an Oscar for Best Picture, including this last December's LA LA LAND. The first musical to ever win Best Picture was THE BROADWAY MELODY at the second Academy Awards in 1929. The film starred Charles King, Eddie Kane, Bessie Love and Anita Page

Michael Matus & George Rae will play Dionysos and Xanthias in the UK premiere of the latest Broadway version of the rarely performed musical, an hilarious send up of Greek comedy and satire, with a book revised and expanded by Nathan Lane.

Full casting of the hit Broadway musical, The Life, includes John Addison (Jojo), David Albury (Fleetwood), Jalisa Andrews (Chichi), Matthew Caputo (Oddjob), Lawrence Carmichael (Snickers), Omari Douglas (Slick), Aisha Jawando (Carmen), Thomas-Lee Kidd (Bobby), Charlotte Reavey (April), Jo Servi (Lacy), Lucinda Shaw (Tracy), Johnathan Tweedie (Theodore), T'Shan Williams (Queen) and Joanna Woodward (Mary). They join the previously announced musical theatre stars Sharon D. Clarke (Sonja), who was recently appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 Queen's New Year Honours for services to drama, and Cornell S. John (Memphis).

It began as an Academy Award-winning film, then an Emmy-winning TV series and then on to the stage as riveting musical theatre-all conceived and developed by David De Silva.

The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players (cp2 ) explore iconic Broadway classics and early cinema hits by Gershwin, Bernstein, Kerns, Rogers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, and more at City Winery Chicago (1200 W Randolph St, Chicago.) An accomplished, inventive cp2 quintet performs selections from the beloved American hits such as "Porgy and Bess" and "West Side Story."

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the West Coast premiere of Hand to God written by Robert Askins and directed by David Ivers. The Broadway smash hit and Tony Award-nominated play begins previews on Friday, February 3, and the show runs through Sunday, March 19. Individual tickets begin at $29 and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone, 510 647-2949. Press night will be on Friday, February 10.

It began as an Academy Award-winning film, then an Emmy-winning TV series and then on to the stage as riveting musical theatre-all conceived and developed by David De Silva.

Berkeley Rep today announced the American premiere of 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips adapted by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) and Emma Rice, with Rice also directing.

The latest Broadway version of the rarely performed Stephen Sondheim musical The Frogs, an hilarious send up of Greek comedy and satire, with a book revised and expanded by Nathan Lane, is to get its UK premiere in 2017 at Jermyn Street Theatre.

Berkeley Rep today announced the American premiere of 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips adapted by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) and Emma Rice, with Rice also directing.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce that two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth will headline the theater's 2017 exclusive benefit on Monday, May 1, 2017 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW).

Long Wharf Theatre, under the director of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, present Other People's Money, by Jerry Sterner, directed by Marc Bruni from tonight, November 23, through December 18 on the Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck Theatre.

The Jazz Thieves, through personal and evocative lyrics, passionate and soulful improvisation, and thoughtful, wide-ranging originals revitalize jazz by reconnecting it to its roots.

Today, November 16 at 4:30 PM, a Sidewalk Signing and Honors Ceremony will be held onstage at Theater 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place.

On Wednesday, November 16 at 4:30 PM, a Sidewalk Signing and Honors Ceremony will be held onstage at Theater 80 St. Marks, 80 St. Marks Place. 

Imogen Poots and Luke Treadaway will join the previously announced Imelda Staunton and Conleth Hill in the new production of multi Tony and Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, directed by James Macdonald.

Berkeley Rep today announced the American premiere of 946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips adapted by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse) and Emma Rice, with Rice also directing.

Long Wharf Theatre, under the director of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Joshua Borenstein, present Other People's Money, by Jerry Sterner, directed by Marc Bruni from November 23 through December 18 on the Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck Theatre.

One of the neat things about writing a column for Broadway World is that you get a chance to interview some folks whose work you've been enjoying and admiring for many years. One of today's subjects first came on my radar way back in 1980 with the Broadway revival of West Side Story. Debbie Allen played Anita in that production and her Her performance deservedly garnered her a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award. A few years later she wowed me again playing the lead role in Sweet Charity, which resulted in yet another Tony Award nomination.

Opera Exposures  (http://www.operaexposures.org), the not-for-profit opera company founded by Edna Greenwich in 2004, will present  a special recital celebrating  Elizabeth Taylor Browning, the first African American opera singer to gain recognition in Europe and the United States in the mid to late 19th century, on Sunday, September 18, at 3:00 PM at the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, 1466 Manor Road.  Tickets, available at the door, are $25. Children under ten will be admitted free of charge.

Next week, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

The Public Theater kicks off the 2016-17 season this month with a free Public Works musical adaptation of TWELFTH NIGHT, conceived by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub, with music and lyrics by Shaina Taub.