BWW Interview: THE BAND WAGON's Todd Ellison Loves the Intense Pressure of Encores! Shows
by Sally Henry - Oct 28, 2014
Conductor Todd Ellison is quite possibly one of the busiest men in the industry right now. His involvement in the fast-approaching production of THE BAND WAGON with Encores!, a Christmas concert with the Pittsburgh Symphony, and his own staged musical in March, only begin to scratch the surface of his hectic schedule for the next six months. Fortunately for us, he recently took the time to sit down and discuss these as well as prior engagements.
BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with Richard Portnow!
by Ken Womble - Aug 29, 2014
Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Richard Portnow!
CABARET LIFE NYC: Two Charming Young Women Performers--Carly Ozard and Nikki MacCallum--Conquer the Challenge of the Personalized Tribute Show at The Duplex
by Stephen Hanks - Jun 23, 2014
The biggest challenge in personalizing a tribute show is when the set list is structured to tell a story about the performer's life. Those songs better be good, that life better be interesting, and that storytelling patter better be clever, humorous, and self-deprecating or an audience (let alone a reviewer) will tune you out quicker than a liberal accidentally hitting FOX News on the remote. I recently saw two different shows at The Duplex from enchanting young women performers—Carly Ozard and Nikki MacCallum--who deftly managed to weave their love of a singer (Bette Midler for Ozard) or a songbook (Kander & Ebb for MacCallum) into a tale of life journey and personal growth to produce charming and entertaining shows.
Film Society of Lincoln Center Announces SEE IT IN 70MM, Now thru 1/1
by Movies News Desk - Dec 21, 2012
The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced that it will present 15 films in their original 70mm glory, featuring a mix of beloved classics and rarely screened gems, all at the Walter Reade Theater - one of the last remaining cinemas in the country equipped to screen 70mm prints.
Film Society of Lincoln Center Announces SEE IT IN 70MM, 12/21- 1/1
by Caryn Robbins - Nov 19, 2012
The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today that it will present 15 films in their original 70mm glory, featuring a mix of beloved classics and rarely screened gems, all at the Walter Reade Theater - one of the last remaining cinemas in the country equipped to screen 70mm prints.
Review - Sorry
by Ben Peltz - Nov 11, 2012
Playwright Richard Nelson first introduced audiences to the family of Apple siblings with That Hopey Changey Thing, which took place on election night 2010 and, by design, opened on that same night. He pulled the same trick last year with Sweet and Sad, which opened and was set on the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
FLASH FRIDAY: A Michael Bennett Musical Birthday (with Company!)
by Robert Diamond - Apr 8, 2011
On this very day in 1943, Michael DiFiglia was born in Buffalo, New York, and the world of Broadway would simply never be the same. Cutting his teeth with the accomplished choreography for A JOYFUL NOISE, PROMISES, PROMISES, SEESAW and COCO was merely the beginning of a career that would virtually rewrite and revolutionize the ways and means by which a director could yield ultimate control over a project. With COMPANY and FOLLIES, the later co-directing with Hal Prince, Bennett solidified himself as one of the most talented and brilliant choreographers of his generation and, shortly thereafter, proved with A CHORUS LINE that he was a master theatrical engineer with few, if any, peers. Worldwide success, Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize were just the gravy. Who else but Michael Bennett would then, or ever, receive - or should I say, earn - the credit "Entire Production Conceived, Produced and Directed by," besides him? While BALLROOM failed to live up to A CHORUS LINE in mostly every way, he soon after reinvented the wheel yet again with DREAMGIRLS in 1981. We never got to see his productions of CHESS and SCANDAL, both of which he was in the latter stages of developing at the time of his death in 1988. Broadway has never been the same since he's been gone. So, today, on the day following a glittering new production of COMPANY at Lincoln Center - with the complete dance sequence "Tick Tock" fully restored, now with five dancers - we take a tip of the top hat to the tops in taps, temerity and truthfulness onstage - the one and only Michael Bennett.
Books, CDs & DVDs Winter Roundup
by Robert Diamond - Dec 23, 2009
It's 'crunch-time' for gift giving and it's never too late to get a gift certificate from Amazon.com, who I wholeheartedly support, because I have yet to find better pricing on everything that my colleagues and I write about and review here at BroadwayWorld.com ... No, this is not a paid endorsement.
Mitzi Gaynor Talks About Celebrating South Pacific's 50th Anniversary
by Don Grigware - Oct 12, 2009
What can one do but stand in awe of the legendary accomplishments of Mitzi Gaynor! Motion picture star of over 17 films, including her Golden Globe nominated performance as Nellie Forbush in the 1958 blockbuster musical South Pacific, TV star of 9 spectacular musical specials that garnered 17 Emmy nominations, and night club performer extraordinaire in Las Vegas and touring the entire US and Canada, this lady has done it all. As part of this season's month long tribute to Richard Rodgers by Reprise Theatre Company and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Joshua Logan's film South Pacific, Miss Gaynor will appear onstage this Thursday, October 15 at the Majestic Crest Theatre in Westwood.
