What Did You Expect? - 2016 - Articles Page 15

Leah Harvey has just graduated from LAMDA, and is now making her professional debut in Phyllida Lloyd's all-female Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy: three plays staged in a 13-week repertory season at King's Cross Theatre. The Tempest is currently playing, with Julius Caesar beginning on 27 October and Henry IV on 17 November.

Today's big news: ALL THE WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU with Judith Light opens Off-Broadway, Molly Pope brings A STAR IS BORN to Feinstein's/54 Below, a starry production of THE PRODUCERS starts tonight at Paper Mill, and THE FRONT PAGE's Nathan Lane & John Goodman stop by TODAY!

The Public Theater officially opened the world premiere of WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? on Friday, September 16. WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?, play two of THE GABRIELS: Election Year in the Life of One Family, written and directed by Richard Nelson, began previews on Saturday, September 10 and has been extended through October 9. Click below to watch highlights from the production!

To call JERSEY BOYS a 'jukebox musical' is downright myopic, as underneath the musical's cotton-candy pop hits lies a piercing story of ambition, love, drugs, sex, greed, failures, triumphs, and yes, family values. However, it would take more than a fanatic mind to look beyond those monster hits to see the real heart of the show--one that tells of realities past that still ring true in today's cutthroat music industry.

Known to millions of television viewers as the snappy and charming Marc St. James on Ugly Betty, Michael Urie has since carved out a steady, thriving acting - and now directing - career; most effectively utilizing his training from Julliard. In between his current hosting gig on Logo's Cocktails & Classics, Michael is directing fellow C&C mate Drew Droege in his one-man show BRIGHT COLORS AND BOLD PATTERNS.

There's not much one can say when you look at the resume of Ben Vereen. I have to admit I thought the email to interview Mr. Vereen was a hoax or a vile trick someone was playing on me. Now the reason I say this is because he is one of my idols and reasons I studied musical theatre in college and left to go to NYC to work professionally. We are familiar with his work with Bob Fosse as the Leading Player in PIPPIN and as Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR but Mr. Vereen still continues to give us the ole razzle dazzle on the stage and on the screen. He's starred in 9 Broadway shows, has received the coveted Antionette Perry Award (The Tony), a Drama Desk Award, and a Prism Award. Nominated for an NAACP Image Award, starred in 30 plus movies and television shows, and has a huge crossover career. Ben Vereen hit the scene in Martha Graham's PRODIGAL SON in 1965 and he's been working ever since. I had the esteemed pleasure to sit and talk about his illustrious career and the current projects he's working on currently.

The incomparable Kristine W will headline Halloween Palm Springs, Saturday, October 29 from 6:00-10:00 p.m. Kristine W has scored 16 potent #1 dance hits and a record-setting string of nine consecutive #1s on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart over the past 16 years, earning Kristine third place on Billboard's Best of 2000s Dance Club Play Artists rankings and landing this highly-musical and multitalented independent entertainer squarely within a pantheon of legends and major stars. I had a chance to catch up with Kristine W as she was beginning to prepare for her upcoming Palm Springs appearance, to talk about both the Halloween Concert and all things Kristine W.

Sean Holmes has been Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith since 2009. Memorable productions during his bold and varied tenure include Three Kingdoms, Saved, Bugsy Malone, Ghost Stories, the Secret Theatre programme, and the Olivier Award-winning Blasted. Next up is a revival of Mark Ravenhill's provocative Shopping and F***ing.

Kate Hamill's fresh adaptation of the Jane Austen classic SENSE AND SENSIBILITY made its DC premiere at the Folger Theatre on September 13th. Director Eric Tucker and Choreographer Alexandra Beller took time out of their busy schedules to answer my questions on the emphasis on movement and choreography on the production and how it brings new life to the beloved Austen novel for audiences of today.

Tony-winning writer and director Richard Nelson returns to The Public with the next play in his new three-play cycle, THE GABRIELS: Election Year in the Life of One Family. The second play, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?, brings us back to the kitchen of the Gabriel family, with the country now in the midst of the general election for president. In the course of one evening in the house they grew up in, history (both theirs and our country's), money, politics, family, art and culture are chopped up and mixed together, while a meal is made around the kitchen table. WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE, will track the lives of the Gabriels throughout the coming presidential election year with the final play opening in real time on Election Night, November 8, 2016.

This weekend's big news: THE GABRIELS: PLAY TWO - WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? opens tonight at The Public, Sting's THE LAST SHIP debuts in Utah, and Paige O'Hara, Angela Lansbury and more reunite for a 25th anniversary screening of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in NYC!

The Public Theater announced today that THE GABRIELS: Election Year in the Life of One Family will present marathon performances of all three shows in this acclaimed trilogy.

No matter the song, style, or setting, Janice Hall, the multi-talented opera singer, cabaret chanteuse, and character actress, is her own master. She broke into the cabaret scene in 2010 in a big way with the 2011 Bistro Award Winner for Best Tribute Show and 2012 MAC Award Winner for Best Female Vocalist. The show that earned her those awards? 'GRAND ILLUSIONS: THE MUSIC OF MARLENE DIETRICH,' which Hall debuted in 2010 and will revive for one night on September 13 at 7:00 pm at the Metropolitan Room. Before Hall takes the stage this upcoming Tuesday night, we sat down for a discussion on career invention, reinvention, and versatility--- both Dietrich's and her own.

Kerry Logan - former caterer/event planner, now writer/director/producer - has combined his party throwing expertise and acting experiences into an audience-participation, behind-the-velvet-ropes evening titled HOLLYWOOD PREMIERE PARTY THE SHOW debuting October 7, 2016 at the Manor on Vine in Hollywood.

Brooklyn based indie folk-rock outfit Common Jack was formed by singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist John Gardner during a two and a half year world tour with the actor-musician Broadway show, ONCE.

Known as 'the only podcast that shows you Broadway from the inside out,' The Ensemblist podcast has become the champion of the unsung performance heroes and inner workings of the theatre world. Co-created and co-hosted by Nikka Graff Lanzarote (Chicago, Women on the Verge) and Mo Brady (SMASH, The Addams Family), the podcast has covered everything from the Gypsy Robe ceremony, to the audition process, to what it's like to be a Broadway babysitter during its first three years on the air. Now, following a successful first season covering the 'Ensemblist Essentials,' this past spring, The Ensemblist is entering into its second season (check out the first episode below!) and I sat down to talk with Nikka and Mo about how the podcast has grown, what it looks like to balance careers in the arts with being podcast masters, which Broadway ensemble they'd like to join, and more-check out the full interview below!

Following rave reviews and a record-breaking run in Chichester, Cameron Mackintosh has announced the West End transfer of the critically acclaimed hit musical 'HALF A SIXPENCE' - which he co-produced with Chichester Festival Theatre - introducing the sensational new star Charlie Stemp as Arthur Kipps.

Darren Criss, the mastermind behind the event, just checked in with BroadwayWorld to chat about all things Elsie...

Hershey Felder returns to NY with his fabulous Leonard Bernstein show: Maestro

Transcendence Theatre Company had an INCREDIBLE week!! We closed DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY and also held a special and NEW experience, the Wine Country Speakeasy.

Director/Writer/Actor Peter Marc Jacobson's latest directorial project MOUNT VERNON re-opens August 26, 2016 at the Hudson Guild after its successful world premiere in this year's Hollywood Fringe Festival.

Pitch Me This (PMT) Productions has partnered with Juxtapose Arts Collective to bring back its third annual production of MIDTOWN: LIVE! This year's show will be performed at the MATCH, and features some of Houston's finest local talent performing engaging pop music and high energy dance and movement. This past Sunday, I drove to the MATCH, and got the opportunity to sit down and talk with Director Eduardo Guzman and Choreographer Cara Shanks about this year's unique production.

It was a delight to chat with Broadway actor Kevin Massey, currently starring in the national tour of A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, playing at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas this August.

Kurt Koehler and Oscar Quintero partnered up in 2003 to give birth to the outrageous, laugh-inducing comedy troupe of Chico's Angels, a most loving homage to TV's crime-fighting Charlie's Angels. Kurt found some time readying CHICO'S ANGELS FIVE-O: WAIKIKI CHICAS! between juggling wigs, sequins and demanding divas to chat with BroadwayWorld and myself.

Prolific playwright Tom Jacobson will have the world premiere of his latest theatrical work CAPTAIN OF THE BIBLE QUIZ TEAM opening August 27, 2016  (weekends only) through October 3, 2016.  This immersive piece (with the audience as the congregation) will be presented at venues to include the Lutheran Church of the Master, St. Matthew's Lutheran Church and Hollywood Lutheran Church.