Wonderful Town - 1994 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 10

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

PRAIRIE-OKE!, the musical mash-up parody that rocked Los Angeles, returns for three weekends only to the Cavern Club Theater.

BroadwayWorld is excited to report complete casting for the New York premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy Award nominated writer Rolin Jones and Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winning Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong's new play with music THESE PAPER BULLETS!, directed by Jackson Gay at Atlantic Theater Company. Much of the company carries over from the show's Los Angeles premiere.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Tonight, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Johnny Mercer. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton now brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast is headlined by Damon Kirsch, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also features Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope.

To kick off its 21st Season and celebrate the world of William Shakespeare, Frog & Peach Theatre Company will host a Benefit Gala NATURAL MAGIC tonight, September 24 at 7pm at the Greenwich House Music School (46 Barrow Street) to raise funds for the company (which includes free and subsidized tickets for NYC public school students).

To kick off its 21st Season and celebrate the world of William Shakespeare, Frog & Peach Theatre Company will host a Benefit Gala NATURAL MAGIC on Thursday, September 24 at 7pm at the Greenwich House Music School (46 Barrow Street) to raise funds for the company (which includes free and subsidized tickets for NYC public school students).

On Friday, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Johnny Mercer. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton now brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast is headlined by Damon Kirsch, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also features Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope.

The Cape Playhouse follows its sold-out run of My Fair Lady with the 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Christopher Durang's laugh-out-loud comedy, directed by Shear Madness director and co-writer, Bruce Jordan, opens tonight, August 11, and runs through August 22 only.

The Cape Playhouse follows its sold-out run of My Fair Lady with the 2013 Tony Award winner for Best Play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Christopher Durang's laugh-out-loud comedy, directed by Shear Madness director and co-writer, Bruce Jordan, opens on August 11 and runs through August 22 only.

The World Music Institute has announced its 30th Anniversary, 2015-16 season -- the debut season for Artistic Director Par Neiburger. Recognizing the ever-expanding nature of world music, Neiburger showcases the experimental and avant-garde along with the classic.

Ireland will celebrate its greatest modern playwright, Brian Friel, in a major two-part festival with performances, talks, discussions, music, dance and good food between 20 and 31 August 2015.

Theater Schmeater is proud to announce a co-production of a new workshop with celebrated author and composer Scott Warrender of his new musical Peanutty Goodness, directed by Billie Wildrick and with Warrender himself musically directing and playing the performances.

The Old Globe's presentation of Kiss Me, Kate, the classic musical comedy featuring a book by Sam and Bella Spewack and an iconic score by Cole Porter, begins tonight, July 1, on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

The complete cast and creative team have been announced for The Old Globe's presentation of Kiss Me, Kate, the classic musical comedy featuring a book by Sam and Bella Spewack and an iconic score by Cole Porter.

Powerful, moving and ripe for revival, Inge's drama is not simply a breezy summer romance. Set in small town Kansas, this is a sexy world, dangerous and cruel, where residents keep each other in their place while longing to break free. At once sensual, passionate and delightfully funny, Picnic probes the sometimes tenuous line between restraint and desire.

Theater Schmeater is proud to announce a co-production of a new workshop with celebrated author and composer Scott Warrender of his new musical Peanutty Goodness, directed by Billie Wildrick and with Warrender himself musically directing and playing the performances.

It's another busy weekend of new shows opening and many others continuing to delight audiences, with ACT 1's Dog Sees God and Street Theatre Company's Dogfight both opening tonight, while two shows that opened yesterday will continue to treat audiences to some especially wonderful music. Plus, there's a whole slate of shows being performed at Crossville's Cumberland County Playhouse, a revival of Osborne & Epplers' Southern Fried Nuptials down in Woodbury at the Arts Center of Cannon County, and John Chaffin's Cliffhanger enters its final weekend at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre. Go to the theater, young man (and woman) and let yourself be transported to a whole new world of magic and enchantment!

As part of BroadwayWorld's expansive coverage of the 69th Annual Tony Awards, we are providing the full text of all of the 2015 Tony Award acceptance speeches; from the emotional to the bizarre, and everything in between. Keep up with all of the winners' speeches on our continuously updated list.

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre has confirmed casting for all six shows in the 65th Music Circus season. The stellar cast for the season is loaded with Broadway veterans, some of whom are making their Music Circus debuts, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus productions.

Disney's Newsies will claim Nashville as their own hometown with a weeklong run at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center beginning Tuesday, Osborne and Eppler's Southern Fried Nuptials takes the stage in Woodbury, and local favorite Geoff Davin unveils his latest theatrical creation - Adamenses Huckster…and there's plenty of theater continuing this week to keep you occupied all week long!

It's the official kick-off to summer, what with the Memorial Day Weekend upon us already - seriously, where did the time go? - and while we're certain your calendar is filled with cookouts, fireworks (we don't save all the sparklers for July 4th do we?) and swimming (if it warms up enough here in frosty Tennessee, where it's in the 50s as I type). But being the theatrical fanatic that we (using either the editorial "we" or the royal "we"…just take your pick) are, we would like to humbly suggest you make your way to the theater in the next few days to get some artistic inspiration.

Powerful, moving and ripe for revival, Inge's drama is not simply a breezy summer romance. Set in small town Kansas, this is a sexy world, dangerous and cruel, where residents keep each other in their place while longing to break free. At once sensual, passionate and delightfully funny, Picnic probes the sometimes tenuous line between restraint and desire.

It's been a busy spring in Tennessee and as we head into summer, you can rest assured that things are only going to get busier - and more interesting. Our advice? Hydrate yourself (drink plenty of water before heading out), dress comfortably (but tasteful) and head out for a night at the theater. You'll be inspired, entertained and possibly even transported to some far-away world of wonder and imagination.