What Did He See? - 1988 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 15

REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, has found its male and female leads: Jill Paice will play the role of "I" and Ryan Silverman the role of "Maxim de Winter." REBECCA will open on Broadway Sunday, November 18 at The Broadhurst Theatre. Previews will begin Tuesday, October 30.

Highline Ballroom (431 West 16th Street between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue) has just announced its line-up from tonight, June 18 through July 1. See full details below. Tickets may be purchased through Ticketweb, online at ticketweb.com or at the Highline Box Office from noon until doors close at 866-468-7619.

Highline Ballroom (431 West 16th Street between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue) has just announced its line-up from June 18 through July 1. See full details below. Tickets may be purchased through Ticketweb, online at ticketweb.com or at the Highline Box Office from noon until doors close at 866-468-7619.

Overflowing with enthusiasm and energy, the true star of the 2012 Tony Awards was unquestionably three-time host and affable Broadway spokesman extraordinaire Neil Patrick Harris, doing what he does best - namely, being the host with the most. Whether web-slinging behind Angela Lansbury and Ted Chapin or leading a spectacular production number with Patti LuPone and a lawnmower, Harris proved yet again why is he is the best in the biz at this sort of thing - well, right up there along with Hugh Jackman, at least. Speaking of whom, in addition to a goosebump-inducing trailer for the forthcoming Tom Hooper-directed film adaptation of the Broadway sensation LES MISERABLES, Hugh Jackman was featured on the Tony Awards telecast and personally on hand to receive a well-earned special Tony Award for his many fundraising successes over the course of his three-show Broadway career, as was crossover superstar Bernadette Peters who took home a special Tony Award for her BC/EFA and Broadway Barks efforts. Adding to the star quotient of the night was Broadway/Hollywood super direct Mike Nichols, giving one of the classiest (despite the CBS-sanction bleep; on the same word as during Danny Burstein's FOLLIES turn, "godammit", incidentlly) and most profound acceptance speeches on the Tony Awards in recent memory - breaking the current record with, now, six Best Director statuettes, by the way. As far as musical performances go, in addition to Harris's triptych of showstoppers throughout the show - without even mentioning the many biting and sassy remarks, jokes and offhand commets; staged and otherwise - there were some seriously strong showings from almost all new musicals and revivals currently running, and even one or two terrific turns from productions already shuttered. The musical highlights of the night were Josh Young and the cast of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR in a spirited and divine take on the title song from the celebrated Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera, as well as good showings from new musical head-to-head, nail-bite-worthy competitors, ONCE and NEWSIES, plus one or two other swoon-worthy moments, too. The 2011-2012 Broadway season may not have been a record-breaker insofar as outstanding content and memorable modern classics - while NEWSIES is certainly a smash, last year's THE BOOK OF MORMON is the type of hit we only see once a decade or so, and, therefore, is a bit eclipsed; and, ONCE won Best Musical, anyway - but Harris and the team of this year's show made it an unusually entertaining and unique Tony telecast, even when compared to the finest shows on the past - particularly those from the rightly lauded Cohen era. ONCE may have dominated the wins, but the many musical numbers showed that there is a lot of room for enjoyment whether or not your personal favorite show took home the prizes. Most of all, Neil Patrick Harris proved he was once, twice, three times a Tony triumph.

The McCallum Theatre, the Coachella Valley's premiere theatrical venue, celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season with a star-studded lineup of Classical Music, Jazz, Cabaret, Comedy and a Broadway Blockbuster Series which includes Rock of Ages, Dreamgirls and West Side Story. The McCallum Theatre opened its doors on January 2, 1988 with a gala performance honoring Bob Hope that was nationally televised. Since then The McCallum has been the Coachella Valley's mecca for world-class entertainment including an extensive array of Broadway and Cabaret offerings. The man behind the tremendous success of the McCallum's eclectic performance calendar for the past thirteen years is Mitch Gershenfeld, Director of Presentations and Theatre Operations, who will take the helm as the theatre's President and CEO beginning June 1. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Gershenfeld as he begins preparations for The McCallum's exciting Silver Anniversary Season. Gershenfeld is warm, passionate, highly astute, a performing arts afficionado and a genuinely kind man. Here are a few highlights from that conversation.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's exclusive multi-part InDepth InterView series focusing on the New York Pops 29th Birthday Gala concert celebrating the music and musicals of Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty, JOURNEY ON, that will take place at Carnegie Hall on April 30 at 7 PM, by talking to the musical half of the Tony Award-winning songwriting team, Stephen Flaherty.

1970's pop icon Engelbert Humperdinck, dubbed "The King Of Romance", brings his trademark vocal stylings and bedroom eyes to the beautiful McCallum Theatre for two performances on April 13 and 14 at 8:00 pm. Selling more than 150 million records over the past 40 years, Humperdinck has earned four Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe for Entertainer of The Year in 1988, a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame and countless swooning fans along the way. I had the chance to chat for a few minutes with the music legend. Here are a few highlights from that conversation:

San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company continues its 2011-12 season with a thrilling production of William Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR. Directed by renowned actor and playwright Michael Gene Sullivan (San Francisco Mime Troupe) and featuring a small ensemble cast, African-American Shakespeare Company's version of JULIUS CAESAR highlights the similarities between the politicians who will say anything, and do anything, to win.

Gotham Chamber Opera continues its 10th-anniversary celebration with a revival of Mozart's Il sogno di Scipione, which announced the company's arrival on the New York cultural scene ten years ago.

Jen was a preschooler when 'Carrie' had its ill-fated debut on Broadway and is now part of its resuscitation.

Actress Olivia d'Abo is BWW's Best Lead Actress Award winner for Entertaining Mr. Sloan. She is best known for TV's The Wonder Years and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Few may know that she is also an accomplished musician. In our chat, d'Abo speaks fiercely about her passions, showing just how consummate a performer she truly is.

Playhouse on Park schools us with KINDERGARTEN through March 11.

Playhouse on Park schools us with KINDERGARTEN through March 11.

Those who have made significant contributions to the arts in a variety of categories will be recognized for their achievements in enriching the communities and citizens of Utah at the 7th Annual Star Awards held Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem.

Those who have made significant contributions to the arts in a variety of categories will be recognized for their achievements in enriching the communities and citizens of Utah at the 7th Annual Star Awards held Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem.

San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company continues its 2011-12 season with a thrilling production of William Shakespeare's JULIUS CAESAR. Directed by renowned actor and playwright Michael Gene Sullivan (San Francisco Mime Troupe) and featuring a small ensemble cast, African-American Shakespeare Company's version of JULIUS CAESAR highlights the similarities between the politicians who will say anything, and do anything, to win.

In honor of La MaMa's 50th Anniversary season, Italy's Dario D'Ambrosi will stage 'Teatro Patologico in New York,' a festival of Pathological Theater and Film, December 15 to 22, 2011, mounting one large new work plus three smaller plays that are a cross-section of his 31 years of productions at La MaMa.

TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:30PM Route 66 Theatre Company presents A reading of a beautiful new play with two of Chicago's finest actors. FRANCIS GUINAN and JANET ULRICH BROOKS perform in GOLDFISH by John Kolvenbach and Directed by Route 66 Artistic Associate Damon Kiely with Kelly Wilson and James Victor Kuligoski.

Hartford Children's Theatre's 'Hairspray' and Cathy Rigby's 'Peter Pan' at The Bushnell show that cross-dressing is not just for adults through November 27.

Modern-day master of musical theatre Stephen Sondheim is about to release the second book of his complete collected lyrics - covering mostly everything written in the last three decades and in this one so far - titled after a line from what may very well be his ultimate masterpiece, the Pulitzer Prize-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - LOOK, I MADE A HAT; Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany. So, today, we are going to be taking a look at a litany of the finest moments from Sondheim's post-SWEENEY TODD musicals that are highlighted in LOOK, I MADE A HAT and perhaps discover a few of the many reasons why Sondheim's musicals - whether late-period or early on- are the best of the best Broadway has to offer - now or ever. And, what an absolutely mind-blowing list it is - and what a masterpiece of a book!

Two tremendous Tony-winning triple-threats make a grand return to the town that made them household names over thirty years ago in EVITA and set up show shop for two months - yes, Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin are back on Broadway with their new double-showcase concert spectacular, AN EVENING WITH PATTI LUPONE AND MANDY PATINKIN. In honor of these two theatrical heavyweights returning to the Broadway concert stage in this new special limited engagement beginning November 16, today we are shining a bright spotlight on some of Patti and Mandy's most beloved and most electrifying moments in their exceptional careers on stages and on screens large and small - EVITA being the white-hot beginnings of it all. EVITA opened on Broadway back in 1979 under the expert and assured direction of theatrical icon Hal Prince and went on to win 7 Tony Awards, including top honors for LuPone, Patinkin, Prince and the show's authors - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice (the latter of whom won two) - as well as Best Musical. So, with moments from LES MISERABLES, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, GYPSY, THE WILD PARTY and much, much more - in addition to some clips from their concert appearances of more recent vintage, such as when they both appeared in the thrilling SONDHEIM! THE BIRTHDAY CONCERT - today's countdown is sure to perfectly set the stage for the incredible virtuosity to be expected from these titanic talents come Wednesday's first preview (with the show itself running through the holidays until January 13) at the Ethel Barrymore Theater.

In honor of La MaMa's 50th Anniversary season, Italy's Dario D'Ambrosi will stage 'Teatro Patologico in New York,' a festival of Pathological Theater and Film, December 15 to 22, 2011, mounting one large new work plus three smaller plays that are a cross-section of his 31 years of productions at La MaMa.

CHINGLISH will play at the Longacre Theatre making its Broadway premiere following its world premiere production at Goodman Theatre in Chicago this summer. The show began performances on October 11 and opened tonight, October 27. What did the critics thing? Find out now!

Chess is nearing the end of its 6 week pre-West End run at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre, and today BWW speaks with James Fox, who plays Freddy in the production. James talks to us about the challenges working on such a vocally demanding show, preparation for singing Pity the Child and director Craig Revel Horwood.

Highline Ballroom Announces is schedule of upcoming events: