Wonderful Town - 2000 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 20

The Chicago Commercial Collective has announced that TO MASTER THE ART has recouped its full production capitalization in just 5 weeks. Commissioned by TimeLine Theatre in 2008, the play, about the adventure and romance of Julia and Paul Child's journey of discovery to Paris during the 1950s, has had a successful run at the Broadway In Chicago's Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E Chestnut) and will continue through October 20.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin previously announced the directors for the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at the Addison Theatre Centre. Directing the season opener, Hank Williams: Lost Highway (tonight, October 11-November 3, 2013) will be Michael Serrecchia.

Parson's Nose Theater, led by Producing Artistic Director, Lance Davis, presents its 14th Season of classical adaptations beginning tonight, September 28th with The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, followed by Classics that go Bump in the Night with works by Poe, Benet, and Jackson, The Middle Class Nobleman by Moliere, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, As You Were: Stories for American GI's in WWII by Twain, Dana, Parker and Whitman, The Algonquin Round Table by Parker, Benchley, Thurber, and Friends, The Seagull by Anton Chekhov, and concludes with Little Sophie's Misfortunes: A Cautionary Tale by Comtesse de Segur.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced the directors for the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at the Addison Theatre Centre. Directing the season opener, Hank Williams: Lost Highway (October 11-November 3, 2013) will be Michael Serrecchia. The Game's Afoot (or Holmes for the Holidays) (December 13- January 5, 2014) will be directed by Robin Armstrong. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (January 24-February 16, 2014) will be directed by Emily Scott Banks. Spunk (April 11-May 4, 2014) will be directed by Akin Babatunde.Good People (June 6-29, 2014) will be directed by Rene Moreno and Dogfight (July 25-August 17, 2014) will be directed by Terry Martin.

Parson's Nose Theater, led by Producing Artistic Director, Lance Davis, presents its 14th Season of classical adaptations beginning September 28th with The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, followed by Classics that go Bump in the Night with works by Poe, Benet, and Jackson, The Middle Class Nobleman by Moliere, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, As You Were: Stories for American GI's in WWII by Twain, Dana, Parker and Whitman, The Algonquin Round Table by Parker, Benchley, Thurber, and Friends, The Seagull by Anton Chekhov, and concludes with Little Sophie's Misfortunes: A Cautionary Tale by Comtesse de Segur.

Award-winning singer Brian De Lorenzo swings into The Metropolitan Room to celebrate the artistry and remarkable career of one of America's favorite singers, Nat King Cole tonight, August 24 at 7 p.m. De Lorenzo presents songs for which Mr. Cole is well known - songs such as 'Nature Boy,' 'Mona Lisa,' and 'Don't Get Around Much Anymore' - plus stories and anecdotes about Mr. Cole's personal and professional lives. De Lorenzo will also interweave memories and anecdotes from his own experiences of Nat King Cole's music.

Infinity Theatre Company (Anna Roberts Ostroff & Alan Ostroff) and Perry Street Theatricals (Martin Platt & David Elliott) have just announced that the first Broadway production of DAMES AT SEA will set sail on Broadway in 2014. With a book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller, music by Jim Wise, and musical direction byRob Berman (The Pajama Game, Finian's Rainbow), DAMES AT SEA will be directed and choreographed by three time Tony Award nominee Randy Skinner (42nd Street, Irving Berlin's White Christmas). Design team, casting, production dates and Broadway theatre to be announced at a later date.

Today, August 17, Mount Tremper Arts will present a daylong, site-specific performance of Robert Ashley's 1983 landmark opera Perfect Lives. Adapted by composer-performer collective Varispeed, the performance consists of seven half-hour episodes staged throughout the Catskills. Performances are free and begin at 11am at Woodstock Village Green, a local park in Woodstock, NY. The final episode will take place at Sportsman's Alamo Cantina, a bar on Main Street in Phoenicia, NY.

El proximo 8 de noviembre en el Teatre Municipal de Girona la actriz traera por primera vez su espectaculo 'Lenny & Steve' acompañada al piano por Jason Carr. La ganadora de tres premios Olivier y protagonista de 'The Woman In White', 'Chicago', 'Ragtime' y 'Passion' actuara dentro del marco del Festival Temporada Alta 2013.

Award-winning singer Brian De Lorenzo swings into The Metropolitan Room to celebrate the artistry and remarkable career of one of America's favorite singers, Nat King Cole on August 24 at 7 p.m.. De Lorenzo presents songs for which Mr. Cole is well known - songs such as "Nature Boy," "Mona Lisa," and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" - plus stories and anecdotes about Mr. Cole's personal and professional lives. De Lorenzo will also interweave memories and anecdotes from his own experiences of Nat King Cole's music.

On August 17, Mount Tremper Arts will present a daylong, site-specific performance of Robert Ashley's 1983 landmark opera Perfect Lives. Adapted by composer-performer collective Varispeed, the performance consists of seven half-hour episodes staged throughout the Catskills. Performances are free and begin at 11am at Woodstock Village Green, a local park in Woodstock, NY. The final episode will take place at Sportsman's Alamo Cantina, a bar on Main Street in Phoenicia, NY.

David MacGillivray, DOM AP, (www.davidmacg.com), spent more than 20 years as a ballet dancer and Broadway performer. He appeared with the National Ballet of Canada and in the original production of Susan Stroman's Contact, performing with the musical throughout its entire three year run.

The Django Reinhardt NY Festival returns with The Young Lions of Gypsy Jazz headed by the very talented guitarist Samson Schmitt, son of legendary gypsy guitarist/violinist Dorado Schmitt. 'The greatest jazz show in town' says Will Friedwald of The Wall Street Journal.

Today we are talking to a spectacularly talented composer/lyricist noted for his incredibly impressive and accomplished oeuvre thus far, having collectively composed more than twenty full-length musicals, operas and specialty performance pieces - Michael John LaChiusa. Discussing his vast array of projects from BUZZSAW BERKELEY to FIRST LADY SUITE, HELLO AGAIN and THE PETRIFIED PRINCE Off-Broadway through to his double-header in the 1999-2000 millennial season with MARIE CHRISTINE and THE WILD PARTY both on Broadway to his Off-Broadway, regional and international successes since, ranging from LITTLE FISH to another two-show-season in 2006 with BERNARDA ALBA and SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE as well as THE HIGHEST YELLOW and the recent Americana-themed epic musical pseudo-trilogy of LOS otros, QUEEN OF THE MIST and GIANT. Additionally, LaChiusa touches upon some of his lesser-known work, such as his musical revue HOTEL C'EST L'AMOUR, various operatic pieces, additional material he provided for pieces such as THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS and his previous and upcoming solo musicals for continuing collaborator Audra McDonald, such as SEND (who are you? i love you) and MARLENE DIETRICH'S ABCs OF LOVE. Most importantly, LaChiusa takes us behind the scenes of the sparkling new deluxe cast album for GIANT, starring Brian D'Arcy James, and discusses the themes, ideas and adaptation of the Edna Ferber novel itself in a fascinating and revealing analysis of the vast, enveloping and vivid score he has composed for GIANT. Also, LaChiusa offers the 411 on this year's Tony Awards specialty song composed for host Neil Patrick Harris and some starry cohorts (Megan Hilty, Laura Benanti and Andrew Rannells), as well as previous Tony show one-offs penned for Hugh Jackman and others. Plus, LaChiusa clues us in on his upcoming projects - including FIRST DAUGHTER SUITE - and much, much more in this career-spanning conversations with one of modern musical theatre's most daring and prolific artists.

The Django Reinhardt NY Festival returns with The Young Lions of Gypsy Jazz headed by the very talented guitarist Samson Schmitt, son of legendary gypsy guitarist/violinist Dorado Schmitt. "The greatest jazz show in town" says Will Friedwald of The Wall Street Journal.

It is summer in Houston. The heat index is soaring more and more each day. Moreover, many of our local theatre companies are producing family friendly fare that allows each and every one of us to beat the heat for fun theatrical treats. Championing this campaign is Country Playhouse with their whimsical and captivating production of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' SUESSICAL. The Broadway incarnation tried out in Boston before moving into the Richard Rogers Theatre late in 2000. It was met with lukewarm reviews and closed on May 20, 2001 after 198 performances and 34 previews. Before hitting the road on its first of two national tours, the book underwent extensive revisions because of its marginal showing on Broadway.

Audra McDonald will perform her only Berkshire solo performance tonight, June 15 at 8pm at The Colonial Theatre accompanied by pianist Andy Einhorn.

Closing Aurora Theatre Company's 21st season is the Bay Area Premiere of Neil LaBute's dark, edgy comic drama THIS IS HOW IT GOES, directed by Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross (A Delicate Balance). Ross helmed LaBute's The Shape of Things, the first LaBute play produced in the Bay Area, in 2003. Featuring Aldo Billingslea (Collapse), Gabriel Marin (Collapse, Jack Goes Boating), and Carrie Paff (A Delicate Balance, Collapse, Betrayal), THIS IS HOW IT GOES presents a one-two punch after LaBute's Fat Pig (staged at Aurora in 2009).

Danny Burstein, Eisa Davis, Raul Esparza, Peter Friedman, Judy Kuhn, Martin Moran, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Anika Noni Rose and Henry Stram will star in Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock, the inaugural show of New York City Center's new Encores! Off-Center series, playing for five performances, July 10 - 13 at City Center. The show will be directed bySam Gold and choreographed by Chase Brock; Jeanine Tesori is the Encores! Off Center artistic director. Chris Fenwick is the music director. In keeping with City Center's founding mission to make the arts accessible to all and to younger audiences, the majority of tickets are $25.

Audra McDonald will perform her only Berkshire solo performance on June 15 at 8pm at The Colonial Theatre accompanied by pianist Andy Einhorn.

Audra McDonald will perform her only Berkshire solo performance on June 15 at 8pm at The Colonial Theatre accompanied by pianist Andy Einhorn.

Today we are talking to a five-time Tony Award-winning director/choreographer celebrated for her stupendous work on CRAZY FOR YOU, THE PRODUCERS, CONTACT, THE FROGS, THOU SHALT NOT, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and many more - the master musicals director Susan Stroman. In discussing a vast array of topics, Stroman and I touch upon many of her past projects as well as look ahead to her current and future endeavors - that is: the forthcoming Broadway bow of the new musical BIG FISH, starring Norbert Leo Butz, as well as the world premiere of Ahrens & Flaherty's LITTLE DANCER next year. Most importantly, Stroman shines a light on her enduring artistic partnership with Mel Brooks in bringing to life the screen-to-stage musical adaptations of both THE PRODUCERS and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, with BLAZING SADDLES on the way - their rich collaboration also being highlighted in this week's AMERICAN MASTERS tribute to Mel Brooks on PBS. Additionally, Stroman reflects on some of her lesser-known entities and casts a light on some of her foremost influences as well as candidly discusses her specialty work for a bevy of major stars - such as at SONDHEIM: A CELEBRATION AT CARNEGIE HALL in 1992 - and the finer points of working with Stephen Sondheim and Nathan Lane on Sondheim's most recent original Broadway musical, THE FROGS. Plus, Stroman shares first details of her upcoming collaboration with comedy master Woody Allen on the musical stage adaptation of Allen's Academy Award-winning BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and also offers the 411 on the upcoming Los Angeles and West End productions of Kander & Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS - including the real-life role the musical has played in the pardoning of the originally accused nine just last month. Stroman also comments on her work with Hal Prince on the career revue PRINCE OF BROADWAY, opening in Japan in 2015, and also touches upon her ongoing desire to pursue a film adaptation of her multi-Tony Award-winning and genre-redefining 2000 Best Musical, CONTACT. All of that and much, much awaits in this wide-ranging conversation!

Broadway In Chicago has announced that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois State Legislature have received the distinguished 2013 STAR OF TOURING BROADWAY AWARD at the annual Broadway League Awards today, May 15,2013, honoring excellence and achievement for Touring Broadway.

Closing Aurora Theatre Company's 21st season is the Bay Area Premiere of Neil LaBute's dark, edgy comic drama THIS IS HOW IT GOES, directed by Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross (A Delicate Balance). Ross helmed LaBute's The Shape of Things, the first LaBute play produced in the Bay Area, in 2003. Featuring Aldo Billingslea (Collapse), Gabriel Marin (Collapse, Jack Goes Boating), and Carrie Paff (A Delicate Balance, Collapse, Betrayal), THIS IS HOW IT GOES presents a one-two punch after LaBute's Fat Pig (staged at Aurora in 2009). Tweaking perspectives of truth and interpretation to broach sharp questions about race, love, and manipulation,THIS IS HOW IT GOES, about which the Chicago Tribune raved "Highly recommended! LaBute's play has a lot of sting and nothing is as it seems!" plays June 14 through July 21 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($35-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.