When We Were Twenty-one - 1900 - Broadway Articles Page 15

With a solidly funny book by Larry Gelbart and Bert Shevelove and a clever, under-appreciated score by Stephen Sondheim (It remains Broadway's only Best Musical Tony-winner with eligible music and lyrics that were not even nominated for Best Score.), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is one of the more dependable titles of musical theatre's standard repertoire.

A Red Orchid Theatre closes its 2010-2011 Season with Machiavelli's The Mandrake, translated by Peter Constantine and directed by Steve Scott.

Berkeley?s acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company proudly announces the lineup for its 20th anniversary season. Paying homage to Aurora?s beginnings at the Berkeley City Club, and to its growth, both artistically and physically, over the past 19 seasons, the 2011-12 season is a true celebration of Aurora Theatre Company?s artistic past, present, and future.

A Red Orchid Theatre closes its 2010-2011 Season with Machiavelli's The Mandrake, translated by Peter Constantine and directed by Steve Scott.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting the touring production of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Next To Normal" which began part of its life in a workshop locally at Village Theatre. This odd musical theater show about dealing with mental illness proves that the art form is alive and well and need not be the cookie cutter formula.

ACT in conjunction with the 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting the Northwest Premiere of "Vanities: A New Musical". Featuring three gorgeous and talented Seattle women, I found it difficult to find anything more to make this show stand out.

Rochelle Slovin, Director of Museum of the Moving Image, today announced the complete schedule for the screenings and programs that will celebrate the grand re-opening of America's only museum dedicated to film, television, and digital media.

Since COIL began in 2006, 50+ companies from NYC, the US, UK, Australia, continental Europe, Latin America and Asia have been presented as part of this mid-winter festival.

One of the most beloved stories of all time comes to life in White River Junction when Northern Stage, the region's professional theater, stages L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz from December 8 - January 2.

Rochelle Slovin, Director of Museum of the Moving Image, today announced the complete schedule for the screenings and programs that will celebrate the grand re-opening of America's only museum dedicated to film, television, and digital media.

The 5th Avenue has announced the seven productions that make up its 2010-2011 Season, which includes a mix of premieres of new works, the hottest shows direct from Broadway and Golden Age classics featuring Seattle's favorite performers and artists.

Since COIL began in 2006, 50+ companies from NYC, the US, UK, Australia, continental Europe, Latin America and Asia have been presented as part of this mid-winter festival.

The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting a brand new addition to holiday theater offerings with the new adaptation of the classic 1983 film, "A Christmas Story: The Musical". And while half the show harkened fond memories of the film and left me with a wonderful sense of hope for this new piece of musical theater, the other half fell into old familiar musical traps and left me wanting as it shot its eye out. In case you haven't seen the movie that is shown incessantly over the holiday season (sometimes for 24 hour periods nonstop) here's a brief rundown. We follow the quest of young Ralphie Parker as he plots and schemes to convince his parents (and Santa) to get him the best Christmas present in the world, a Red Ryder 200 Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle. The problem is he keeps running into obstacles of his Mother, his teacher and even Santa as they warn him away from the gift with the familiar, "You'll shoot your eye out." But Ralphie is tenacious and will have his prize. Meanwhile we also get to know the rest of the Parkers and their neighbors as we dive into the world of story originator Jean Shepherd. Complete with bullies, major awards and triple dog dares, the story harkens back to a simpler time when the biggest thing kids had to worry about was what Santa was bringing them. The show itself is a charmer with book by Joseph Robinette who manages to keep the feel of the original material intact and still hits all the points and jokes that have become so familiar. The problem I ran into was with the songs. As I said, half of the show worked great. Act One was filled with wonderful tuners that captured the tone perfectly. And composers/lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul seemed to show that someone understands the structure of musical theater. The songs were either perfect for moving the story along or emphasizing through song what a character couldn't do any other way. And the songs "Ralphie to the Rescue" and "A Major Award" were both complete show stoppers and crucial to the story. Then we hit Act Two and suddenly it was like a completely different writing team as the songs ceased being essential as every single moment in the play got one right up to the end. So many superfluous numbers that could have been forsaken for just telling the story weighed down the second half until it finally ended with a whimper of exhaustion. The cast however is superb and has the perfect style for the period. Clarke Hallum plays the scheming Ralphie and even though he was a bit presentational at times, his voice is right up there with any of the adults on stage. Anne Allgood is endearingly lovely as Ralphie's Mother and her moment in Act Two where she covers for Ralphie had me in tears. Frank Corrado is spot on as the narrator Jean Shepherd as he weaves this wonderful tale for us in the guise of a radio drama. And special kudos to John Bolton as Ralphie's "Old Man" who practically steals the show with is antics and especially with his overly zealous "Major Award" number. With a gorgeous set from Walt Spangler and costumes that look like they were transported right from the movie by Elizabeth Hope Clancy, this show could have been the new theatrical holiday standard by which all of the "Elf"s, and "Grinch"s would be judged. I only wish the writers had realized what they were doing so right in the first half and could have kept it up in the second. "A Christmas Story: The Musical" plays at the 5th Avenue Theatre through December 30th. For tickets or information contact the 5th Avenue Box Office at 206-625-1900 or toll free at 888-5TH-4TIX (584-4849) or visit them online at www.5thavenue.org. Photo Credit: Chris Bennion

One of the most beloved stories of all time comes to life in White River Junction when Northern Stage, the region's professional theater, stages L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz from December 8 - January 2.

Seattle's Intiman Theatre is closing out their main stage season with the adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic morality tale, "The Scarlet Letter". In "The Scarlet Letter" the letter in question is an "A" but with this production I can really only give it a C-.

One of the most beloved stories of all time comes to life in White River Junction when Northern Stage, the region's professional theater, stages L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz from December 8 - January 2.

Village Theatre is presenting a new musical production of the classic Lucy Maud Montgomery novel, "Anne of Green Gables". This new production stemmed from a prior workshop of the show featured in Village Original's Festival of New Musicals from 2009. And the full staging of this show only leads me to the question, "Why?"

Well today, Dear Readers was one helluva day! A group of spectacular shows and aside from a few interesting conversations I had with true New Yorkers on the bus, not a lot of time for anything else but shows since I was seeing three of them. So let's dive right in shall we?

Seattle's Intiman Theatre is closing out their main stage season with the adaptation of Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic morality tale, "The Scarlet Letter". In "The Scarlet Letter" the letter in question is an "A" but with this production I can really only give it a C-.

The 5th Avenue Theatre continues its celebration and love of the American Musical with the National Tour of one of the freshest new shows to come along in awhile, "In the Heights". And while the tour of this fresh show seemed to come across a bit stale, the show still demonstrates that good new musical theater is out there and doesn't need to be based on a movie.

Lisa Kron, actress and member of the Five Lesbian Brothers, returns to host the Sixth Annual New York Innovative Theatre Awards (the IT Awards), in a ceremony dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway.

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS- The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter October 16, 2010-May 30, 2011

Pittsburgh Irish & Classical Theatre packs its fifteenth year of theatrical excellence with an exciting array of productions running from May through September, concluding with a special end-of-year production for the holidays.

Opening in less than two weeks at Starlight Musical Theatre's stage is Hello, Dolly!, the classic Broadway musical tale of Dolly Levi and her mischievous matchmaking ways. For Starlight's 3rd and final summertime show, Starlight has brought aboard a fantastic cast and creative team to ensure the season ends with a resounding 'bang'.

Lisa Kron, actress and member of the Five Lesbian Brothers, returns to host the Sixth Annual New York Innovative Theatre Awards (the IT Awards), in a ceremony dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway.