What Once We Felt - 2009 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 15

Opening this past Wednesday, the latest new work at the Marriott Theatre is "Hero," conceived and written by Aaron Thielen (the theater's Lead Artistic Director) and based somewhat on his childhood in Milwaukee and the neighborhood he grew up in. The show has music and lyrics by Michael Mahler, an actor, musical director, guitarist and keyboardist about town, who has written seven previous musicals and makes quite a mark with this one. The pair has been working on and workshopping the show since early 2009, and the work has paid off. It's a funny, engaging, likeable, tuneful and moving mid-sized musical.

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.

The Obie Award winning Talking Band presents the World Premiere of THE PERIPHERALS, a new music theatre work written and composed by Ellen Maddow and directed by Ken Rus Schmoll. Previews begin May 3 at Dixon Place with opening slated for May 11.

Actor and daughter of the late ITC Board Member Barbara Manuell, Lynn Manuell wrote the following as a plea to help the Illinois Theatre Center finish its season before its impending closure.

The Obie Award winning Talking Band presents the World Premiere of THE PERIPHERALS, a new music theatre work written and composed by Ellen Maddow and directed by Ken Rus Schmoll. Previews begin tonight, May 3 at Dixon Place with opening slated for May 11.

I had a chance to sit down and chat with the guys and learn more about MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and the individuals who make the show spectacular.

Today we are talking to a Broadway superstar beloved from the time of her breakthrough performance in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's PASSION nearly twenty years ago all the way to two tremendous revivals in the early 00s - KISS ME, KATE and MAN OF LA MANCHA - to her most recent trio of roles on Broadway, first appearing in the straight drama ENRON, then as the troubled lead character of Diana in the Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL, and, most recently, as the tortured Margaret White in the long-awaited New York return of CARRIE - the one and only Marin Mazzie. Recalling many memories of working on the original productions of such seminal musicals as INTO THE WOODS, PASSION, RAGTIME, SPAMALOT and NEXT TO NORMAL with some of Broadway's best and brightest talents, Mazzie expresses her sincere appreciation for the unforgettable shows she has been associated with and opens up about her experiences as both an originator of a role, as in the cases of PASSION and RAGTIME, and also as a replacement star and the challenges that that position poses for a performer. Additionally, Mazzie shares her enthusiasm for the words and music of the Tony Award-winning RAGTIME creators Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, whom she will be saluting alongside a starry assortment of notables on Monday at the NY Pops JOURNEY ON Gala at Carnegie Hall. Plus, Mazzie clues us in on all aspects of her journey with the recent New York reworking and reappraisal of CARRIE and gives us first news on recording the cast album, which is set for a Fall release, as well as news on her second duets album with husband, Jason Danieley and solo album thoughts. All of that and much, much more!

Obie Award winning Talking Band will present World Premiere of THE PERIPHERALS, a new music theatre work written and composed by Ellen Maddow and directed by Ken Rus Schmoll. Performances run May 3-19 at Dixon Place (161A Chrystie Street between Delancey and Rivington on the Lower East Side.)

Today, the spotlight falls upon Gabrielle Toldeo, Meg Perdue and Patrick Eytchison, a trio of particularly talented young actors who tonight will open in Carousel at Nashville's Christ Presbyterian Academy. Under the direction of the acclaimed Paula Y. Flautt, who has instructed, influenced, directed and mentored CPA students for the past 20 years, tonight's performance comes on the 67th anniversary of the beloved musical's opening night on Broadway!

Acting Up Stage enjoyed a tremendously successful season last year, and they're aiming to top it with their latest offering which was announced a few weeks ago. Featuring a new Canadian musical and a much loved classic, Acting Up Stage's new season has something for everyone. BWW spoke to Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus about how he went about programming the season, how his company hopes to appeal to the next generation and what the secret to their success is.

The Obie Award winning Talking Band presents the World Premiere of THE PERIPHERALS, a new music theatre work written and composed by Ellen Maddow and directed by Ken Rus Schmoll. Previews begin May 3 at Dixon Place with opening slated for May 11.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2011-12 season with the West Coast premiere of Maple and Vine, written by Jordan Harrison and directed by A.C.T. Associate Artistic Director Mark Rucker. Fresh from a run at Playwrights Horizons in New York City, Maple and Vine tells the story of married couple Katha and Ryu, a pair of stressed-out urban professionals who feel unfulfilled by the impersonal gadgets and fast-paced lifestyle of the modern world. After meeting a charismatic man from a community of 1950s reenactors, they decide to swap cell phones and sushi for phone trees and fish sticks by joining a community where life is slower, passion is risque, and a cocktail is a daily accessory. In this recreated world, where retro attitudes about gender, race, and sexuality stir up powerful questions, Katha and Ryu must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for happiness and whether the "good old days" were really that good. Maple and Vine performs a limited run March 29-April 22, 2012, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets (starting at $10) are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.

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

Also in the upcoming 'Rock of Ages' movie, Keith has many other TV, film and pop-music credits, as well as 4 B'way shows.

Canadian Stage today announced the details of the 2012.2013 season celebrating the 25th anniversary of the company.

The onetime Broadway musical It Girl is about to open in her 4th play off-Broadway this year.

Michael Feinstein releases his new CD through Concord Records on October 25, 2011.

Anne Brummel and Tiffany Haas, the two actresses playing Elphaba and Glinda in the national tour of Wicked - which will be calling Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Andrew Jackson Hall home October 19-November 6 - might be advised to keep an eye cast over their talented shoulders on lookout for Delaney Amatrudo and Katelyn Fiorini, two Nashville actresses and Wicked superfans, each of whom has her sights on claiming one of the two iconic roles sometime, somewhere in the future.

The Highline Ballroom is located at 431 West 16th Street between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue. 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.

Michael Feinstein releases his new CD through Concord Records on October 25, 2011.

The Brick Theater, presenter of the blockbuster New York Clown Theatre Festival in 2010 (and returning in 2012!), does not want fans of Clown Theatre to go hungry in the meantime.

The Brick Theater, presenter of the blockbuster New York Clown Theatre Festival in 2010 (and returning in 2012!), does not want fans of Clown Theatre to go hungry in the meantime.

The Brick Theater, presenter of the blockbuster New York Clown Theatre Festival in 2010 (and returning in 2012!), does not want fans of Clown Theatre to go hungry in the meantime.

Previously seen on B'way as a drag queen and a corpse, Clark is now in a show close to his real life.

MIF and the BBC are delighted to announce that they are collaborating with the award-winning theatre company Punchdrunk to create an extraordinary event for children aged 6-12 and their families: The Crash Of The Elysium