You Got Older - 2014 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 16

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 12 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights. Chosen from over 150 nominated plays, the Finalists are:

Generations have loved listening to the Beatles music. RAIN is a beautiful walk down memory lane for many who grew up listening to the legendary music. It's also a chance for a younger generation to come appreciate how innovative the Beatles were for their time and how they shaped the music industry today.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Paramount's 'Tommy,' Drury Lane's 'West Side' and the Marriott's 'La Cage.' Plus 'Stomp' puts its foot down, 'Gent's Guide' books the fall, new shows in development and rewrite, plus 'Louis And Keely' at the Royal George, 'Titanic' at Northwestern and 'Grease' on FOX!

As the days dwindled down to a precious few in 2014, a few cabaret goers and performers in what is affectionately but also self-mockingly called the “cabaret community” would sidle up and ask if I was planning my annual end-of-the year “Best Of” column, similar to the “Top 20 Bests and Favorites” piece over the first half of the year I posted back in early July. I would respond in the negative with very reasonable and believable excuses, but the truth is I didn't want to reveal my “Bests” of the year until the voting for the 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards had ended. There's enough baggage and backstage whispering that comes with administering the BWW Awards, so I wasn't about to publish any opinions that might influence the vote while it was in process. I may be crazy but I'm not masochistic. But now all bets are off. You want lists? I'll give you lists.

MAMMA MIA is a show full of many ABBA favorites such as "Winner Takes It All" and "Dancing Queen." The story is endearing and funny as a family tries to unite and work together preparing for the wedding of Donna's only child, Sophie

Mark Hummel again returns to Harris Center for the Arts and brings more of his talented friends with him in this tribute to Bluebird Records. The Blues Harmonica Blowout has sold out in past performances and with the caliber of talent joining this evening's activities, tickets will be in high demand!

Mark Hummel again returns to Harris Center for the Arts and brings more of his talented friends with him in this tribute to Bluebird Records. The Blues Harmonica Blowout has sold out in past performances and with the caliber of talent joining this evening's activities, tickets will be in high demand!

Today we are talking to one of Broadway's biggest and brightest stars all about her incredibly busy year and impossibly packed schedule coming up for the rest of 2014 and the start of 2015 - the winsome and angelic Kelli O'Hara. Offering a generous tease of her upcoming Carnegie Hall holiday concert spectacular alongside fellow InDepth InterView participant Matthew Morrison and the NY Pops in KELLI & MATTHEW: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, O'Hara reflects on some of her favorite Christmas memories and shares some of her favorite holiday selections while commenting on the notable rapport shared between herself and Morrison, previously having co-starred in the Lincoln Center Theater productions of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and SOUTH PACIFIC. Furthermore, O'Hara offers us a behind the scenes perspective on starring in NBC's recent entertainment extravaganza PETER PAN LIVE! and her thoughts on the unique production process as well as performing in the live telecast itself and introducing new material into the hallowed score for the show specifically for the broadcast. Additionally, O'Hara opens up about her leading role in the hotly anticipated forthcoming revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's vaunted THE KING & I, to be directed by her frequent collaborator Bartlett Sher, and sheds some light on what preparations are currently underway in taking on the iconic role of Anna as well as posits her own insights into the complex character in the historically-informed story. All of that, first news on appearing in the Tom Hanks tribute as part of this year's Kennedy Center Honors, reflections on THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY on Broadway and on disc, whether she would consider playing Marian in NBC's recently announced live TV production of THE MUSIC MAN and much, much more!

As we count down the last days of 2014, New York City's top theatre critics have been taking stock of the theatre season- deciding on their choices for their favorite productions of the year. With so many stellar plays, musicals, revivals and new works, both on Broadway and off, a slew of shows have gained recognition from the critics. Below, check out our roundup of 'Best of' lists for theatre this year. Be sure to check back later for new additions as they're released!

After four years reviewing cabaret shows, more than two for BroadwayWorld, our lead New York cabaret critic Stephen Hanks will be giving up reviewing shows to be the BWW Cabaret section's Editor and lead feature writer. Here's how he became a cabaret reviewer, why he's giving it up, and who he's brought on board to make up BWW's new cabaret reviewing team.

Coming off the release of his New York Times best-selling memoir, ROCKS: My Life In and Out of Aerosmith (released October 7 via Simon & Schuster), JOE PERRY has just released a four song EP

On tour with their latest incarnation of their holiday show - now playing in Washington, DC at the National Theatre - their legions of loyal fans have yet another chance to revel in the fun of them sharing their love for music, family, the holidays and more.

Feinstein's at the Nikko kicks off 2015 with a bang with an exciting lineup of artists, including Tony Award winner Billy Porter; actress, feminist and activist Kathy Najimy; world-renowned artist Vonda Shepard; Broadway star Constantine Maroulis; and the dynamic cabaret duo Amy and Freddy. Additional artists will be added at a later date. Tickets for all performances are on-sale now and available by calling ?866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Today, in our second installment of Nashville Theater 101, in which we introduce members of the Nashville theater family to the larger theatrical world: Tonya Pewitt, Shawn Whitsell and Denice Hicks.

It's “inconceivable” to think of all of the memorable roles that Wallace Shawn has played in his career (see what I did there?). From THE PRINCESS BRIDE to CLUELESS to his work with Woody Allen to THE COSBY SHOW to GOSSIP GIRL to TOY STORY, Shawn easily has one of the most recognizable faces, and voices, in Hollywood.

Leading Australian theatre producer John Frost today announced that young classical music singer Mark Vincent will make his musical theatre debut in the role of Billy in the new Australian production of Dirty Dancing. The leading roles of Johnny Castle and Baby will be announced in coming weeks. Dirty Dancing will play at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from 28 November this year, then Melbourne's Princess Theatre from March and the Lyric Theatre, QPAC from May.

There is no better board game out there than Clue. In fact, I spent most of my childhood pestering people to play it with me. Whether it was Mrs. Peacock, in the study, with the rope, or Colonel Mustard, in the library, with the candlestick, the game never got old. This week, it was Dean Winchester, in the kitchen, with the revolver. You heard me; this week's SUPERNATURAL, entitled 'Ask Jeeves,' traveled to the world of the WASP's to solve an old-fashion, monstrous murder-mystery.

Executive Chef Efraim Nahon is our 'Chef's Spotlight.' Chef Nahon is at the helm of Bustan, the popular pan-Mediterranean restaurant on the Upper West Side of New York City.

It is all about how an author carefully and purposely beckons each word to each page until those words pull together into a magnificent creation having a life of its own. The book I am reviewing,All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, is one such masterful creation. Don't wait for the paperback, don't wait for the movie, buy the book, now. Buy it as a gift, buy it for yourself, insist that your book club adds it to the list of must reads. Read it when you have the time to savor each and every word that has been so carefully placed. This book puts to shame many of the other books I have read this year. The characters, the story line, the settings, the time periods, the premise and purpose that stand behind the book are knitted together flawlessly, satisfying the reader completely. Every sentence is fraught with beautiful imagery.

Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation presents its second season at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center -- Three Dog Night on Saturday, January 10 at 8 pm; The Four Tops on Saturday, February 21 at 8 pm; Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Friday, March 27 at 8 pm; The Muppet Movie Sing-a-Long on Saturday, May 16 at 2 pm and Dick Fox Doo Wop Extravaganza on Saturday, June 6 at 7 pm. This four concert season, and the additional attraction The Muppet Movie Sing-A-Long, is presented by the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation and is a means of raising funds to support arts in the schools and maintain this new, state-of-the-art facility.

The completely reimagined revival of Side Show officially opens tonight, November 17, at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the full cast, and watch interviews with the company below!

While many know Rachel Potter as the breakout Broadway star from the EVITA revival, she also wowed audiences on Fox's The X Factor with her stellar rendition of Queen's 'Somebody to Love.' Following a recent concert, I sat down with Rachel Potter to discuss NOT SO BLACK AND WHITE, her upcoming solo country album.

Z2 Entertainment is proud to present JD McPherson at the Fox Theatre tonight, November 12th, 2014.

Three previously unreleased Queen tracks featuring late singer Freddie Mercury spearhead an exciting new Queen album, Queen Forever, due today, November 11 th 2014 on Hollywood Records.

Gary Naylor sees a very fine debut from a new playwright that mixes comedy with reflection on the way the world has changed in little more than a generation and how that change impacts on a father, uncle and daughter.