What Did He See? - 1988 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 13

The 18th Long Island Al Jolson Festival coming up on August 16 is a whole-day affair featuring film presentations, lectures, memorabilia displays and sales, and a performance--'The Heart of Al Jolson'--by singer and Staten Island native Tony Babino (photo below), who can sing Jolson songs like, well, you ain't heard nothin' yet. The other day, like clockwork, I received my yearly invitation to attend from Oceanside, LI resident Jan Hernstat, who for the past 10 years has been the President of the 62-year-old International Al Jolson Society (which was formed in early 1950, a few months before Jolson died), an organization with a worldwide membership hovering around 1,000. I am proud to say that for 30 years, I've been one of them. I'm even prouder to say that I've been an Al Jolson fanatic for much longer. Here's my story about how it happened.

Much to the excitement of guitar aficionados across the globe, celebrated guitarist Marty Walsh released his eagerly awaited debut instrumental solo album 'The Total Plan' on June 16th 2014! Making the release even more thrilling is the array of guest artists appearing on the release – Billy Sherwood (YES/CIRCA:), John “JR” Robinson (Rufus, Eric Clapton, Mike Oldfield/Steve Winwood) and a multitude of LA Studio Legends.

The Kleban Foundation's 24th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre lyricist has been awarded to Nathan Tysen and the 24th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre librettist has been awarded to Arthur Perlman.The 2014 prizes will be presented tonight, June 23, 2014, in a private ceremony (by invitation only) hosted by ASCAP and BMI.

Coming immediately on the heels of the always emotionally taxing Hometown visits, each of Season XIII's remaining Idols performed three songs on Wednesday's penultimate performance show. The first round was made up of songs suggested by the surprisingly not-worthless 'full-time' mentor, Randy Jackson. The next round was songs that the judging panel of Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick Jr. selected, and the final round consisted of songs the Top-3 had previously performed on the show and were determined by their hometown fans (and by hometown fans, I mean the show's producers).

The Kleban Foundation just announced that the 24th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre lyricist has been awarded to Nathan Tysen and the 24th annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre librettist has been awarded to Arthur Perlman.The 2014 prizes will be presented on Monday, June 23, 2014, in a private ceremony (by invitation only) hosted by ASCAP and BMI.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced today that the 2014 Public Theater Annual Gala will present ONE THRILLING COMBINATION, a gala event directed by Ted Sperling celebrating Marvin Hamlisch, The Public Theater and the creation of A Chorus Line on Monday, June 23 at the Delacorte Theater. This unforgettable summer evening will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of The Public's groundbreaking musical, A Chorus Line, and the legendary man behind the music, Marvin Hamlisch, in a one-night-only, star-studded gala to support The Public Theater. Renee Beaumont and Lizanne Rosenstein will serve as Gala Co-Chairs for this memorable evening in Central Park.

It is hard not to like The Gospel at Colonus, the current Zach revival at the Topfer Theatre. The production is at once joyous and tragic; beautifully rich and amazingly stark - it will have you on your feet swaying to heartfelt, robust gospel music and it will also push you hard in your seat as you contemplate the tragic life of the main character(s).

Mothers and Sons, the new play by four-time Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally and starring Tyne Daly, opens tonight, March 24, 2014 at Broadway's John Golden Theatre. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Weller stars in MOTHERS AND SONS, Terrence McNally's latest drama, about the lives that continued 20 years after a death from AIDS.

Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation presents its first season at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center - Air Supply tonight, January 25 at 8 pm; America on Saturday, February 22 at 8 pm; Broadway star Susan Egan, the original Belle of Beauty and the Beast, on Saturday, March 1 at 8 pm; and The Temptations on Saturday, June 7 at 8 pm.

Triple threat Broadway legend Chita Rivera will bring her iconic class and showmanship to the Valley Performing Arts Center January 25 for one performance only at 8 pm. In our chat she tells us a little bit about the new show and talks in great detail about the joys of her career.

Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation presents its first season at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center - Air Supply on Saturday, January 25 at 8 pm; America on Saturday, February 22 at 8 pm; Broadway star Susan Egan, the original Belle of Beauty and the Beast, on Saturday, March 1 at 8 pm; and The Temptations on Saturday, June 7 at 8 pm. This four concert season, presented by the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation, is a means of raising funds to support arts in the schools and maintain this beautiful state-of-the-art facility.

Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation presents its first season at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center - Air Supply on Saturday, January 25 at 8 pm; America on Saturday, February 22 at 8 pm; Broadway star Susan Egan, the original Belle of Beauty and the Beast, on Saturday, March 1 at 8 pm; and The Temptations on Saturday, June 7 at 8 pm.

Former Broadway Les Miserables cast members Deborah Bradshaw and Craig Schulman lend a hand in the Cumberland County College Theater Arts Department for their production of Les Miserables.

As promised, we finish getting to know each and every cast member of 'The Most Happy Fella' before we close up shop on December 1st.

Rrazz Entertainment presents A Holiday Celebration of Rock, Rhythm & Soul at the Tarrytown Music Hall located at 13 Main Street in Tarrytown New York... See Bobby Rydell, , Charlie Thomas' Difters, Freda Payne, The Soul Survivors, Johnny Farina of Santo & Johnny-tickets are available now at www.TarrytownMusicHall.org or by calling 877.840.0457

Rupert Holmes' stage adaptation of John Grisham's novel has a black man in 1980s Mississippi on trial for murdering the white men who raped and beat his 10-year-old daughter.

In celebration of the upcoming 25th anniversary of the celebrated sitcom 'Roseanne,' which originally launched on October 18, 1988, WE tv will air a 'Best Of' marathon featuring fan favorite episodes from all nine seasons of the iconic franchise, beginning today, October 18 at 10am ET until 5pm ET. 'Roseanne' will continue to air weekdays from 10am to 1pm and Sundays from 10am to 4pm ET.

In celebration of the upcoming 25th anniversary of the celebrated sitcom 'Roseanne,' which originally launched on October 18, 1988, WE tv will air a 'Best Of' marathon featuring fan favorite episodes from all nine seasons of the iconic franchise, beginning Friday, October 18 at 10am ET until 5pm ET.

The Drama League (Executive Director, Gabriel Shanks; Artistic Director, Roger T. Danforth) has announced their Fall 2013 Programming Schedule of special performances, events and educational offerings at the new Drama League Theater Center in Tribeca and elsewhere. Highlights include intimate evenings with Tony Award winners Laura Benanti, Cherry Jones and Judy Kaye, plus actor Tony Danza. Theatre journalistPeter Filichia will take a look at 'Strippers, Showgirls and Sharks,' and conductor/composer David Friedman will discuss 'Conducting Disney,' and more.

The Civil Wars' self-titled sophomore album is now available to stream in its entirety for one week exclusively on the iTunes Store in the U.S. and Canada (iTunes.com/TheCivilWars).

Andris Liepa, former Bolshoi Ballet star turned ballet entrepreneur, is to return to the London Coliseum with his company Les Saisons Russes du XX1e Siecle from today, July 16th to July 20th 2013.

Andris Liepa was born in 1962 into a famous artistic family; his father Maris Liepa was one of the Bolshoi's legendary dancers. Andris trained at Moscow Ballet School and then joined the Bolshoi Ballet Company, dancing the leads in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Swan Lake and many more.

A new CD, The Hours Begin to Sing, with songs by American composers performed by soprano Lisa Delan, has just been released on the PentaTone Classics label (PTC 5186 459).

During the curtain speech of the company's recently closed drama 'Dancing at Lughnasa' (read our BWW Atlanta review), Stage Door Players Artistic Director Robert Egizio announced the plays and musicals that will comprise the company's 40th Anniversary Season. The well-balanced slate of shows features comedies, dramas, musicals, and two regional premieres.