No Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera boasts as many walk-away tunes as The Pirates of Penzance, the only collaboration of the pair to premiere on Broadway, and not in England. Building on the success of the previous year’s H.M.S. Pinafore, but trading—as their principal “serious” focus—the rigors of naval discipline for the obligations of duty, G&S manage to burlesque their normal share of popular institutions, including the army, the police, and operatic sopranos. Pirate apprentice Frederic, at age 21, has faithfully served out his indentures and, replete with a sense of duty, joins the police force, determined to exterminate his old mates. He falls in love with Mabel, the first girl he sees, but the daughter of Major-General Stanley, who himself is the target of a pirate revenge plot. Plans go awry when it is revealed that, thanks to a leap-day birth, Frederic is really only five and one-quarter years old. The engaging musical score includes some of the catchiest music in the G&S canon: Mabel’s pyrotechnic “Poor, wandering one;” the tongue-twisting patter song “I am the very model of a modern major-general;” “A policeman’s lot;” “Climbing over rocky mountain”—a survivor from Thespis, G&S’s lost first stage work; and “With catlike tread,” which, more than a quarter-century later, was given new words as “Hail, hail, the gang’s all here.” At The Egyptian Theatre.
Acclaimed Los Angeles cabaret artist Dianne Fraser will make a rare East Coast appearance in December to celebrate the release of her debut album, You and I – The Words and Music of Leslie Bricusse. Learn where and when to see her!
Which Best Musical and Best Play nominees will take home the ultimate prize at the 2023 Tony Awards? We're breaking it down.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has announced its 53rd season to be presented October 2023 through June 2024.
The Guthrie Theater has announced a robust 10-production lineup of cherished classics and insightful new work for its 2023–2024 Season. See the lineup, and how to purchase tickets!
Terence Blanchard’s opera Champion, based on the true story of the troubled former middleweight boxing champion Emile Griffith, will have its highly anticipated Metropolitan Opera premiere on April 10, with nine performances running through May 13.
While the series' recurring cast includes Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and more, guest stars have included Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Joanna Gleason, Adrienne Warren, Jinkx Monsoon, Norm Lewis, Norbert Leo Butz, and more. Check out a list of Broadway guest stars on Blue Bloods now!
Broadway veteran Maureen McGovern has revealed that she has been diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy with symptoms of Alzheimer’s and/or Dementia. In a message on her official website, Maureen shared that she can no longer travel, perform in concerts, or even drive.
Which Best Musical and Best Play nominees will win a Tony Award? BroadwayWorld has rounded up the winners of the Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Awards, the Drama League Awards and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the last fifty years to compare winners year by year.
Today's top stories: Sutton Foster speaks out about Scott Rudin controversy, Jagged Little Pill to open in Sydney, and more.
Inspired by the success from their safe drive-in performances of La bohème in the Fall, which heralded the return of live, in-person, opera to San Diego County since the start of the pandemic, San Diego Opera has announced a Spring season of safe, socially-distanced, drive-in performances.
Inspired by the success from their safe drive-in performances of La bohème in the Fall, which heralded the return of live, in-person, opera to San Diego County since the start of the pandemic, and provided over 300 jobs to many, San Diego Opera has announced a Spring season of safe, socially-distanced, drive-in performances.
BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that jazz icon and actor Annie Ross has passed away at age 89.
San Diego Opera's 2019-2020 main stage season comes to a close with Gioachino Rossini's classic comedy The Barber of Seville which opens on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances. Additional performances are April 28, May 1, and 3 (matinee), 2020.
San Diego Opera's 2019-2020 main stage season comes to a close with Gioachino Rossini's classic comedy The Barber of Seville which opens on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at the San Diego Civic Theatre for four performances.
Broadway veteran Elizabeth Ward Land (AMAZING GRACE, MEMPHIS, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL) returns to The Green Room 42 with her acclaimed concert STILL WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE- THE SONGS OF LINDA RONSTADT for three shows, January 16, 17 and 18, 2020 at 7pm. Touching on genres ranging from rock, country, folk, light opera, big band and mariachi, Elizabeth Ward Land finds her perfect vocal match in this salute to the great Linda Ronstadt. Featuring hits from the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers vast catalogue, including YOU'RE NO GOOD, BLUE BAYOU, DIFFERENT DRUM, DESPERADO, FRENESI and HEAT WAVE, the evening promises something for every music lover. Directed by Alan Muraoka, with Music Supervision and arrangements by Andrew David Sotomayor- with special guests Catherine Porter and Joel Waggoner.
Mesa Encore Theatre's current production of Gilbert and Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE pushes the already campy comic opera.
The 72nd Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday June 10th at 8/9c hosted by Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles. It's the biggest award show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long awards season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. We can't help but wonder what chances this year's Best Musical and Best Play nominees have of taking home the ultimate prize...
Good morning, BroadwayWorld, and Happy Friday! Kick off your weekend by catching up on today's top stories!
Walter Stearns, Executive Director of Mercury Theater Chicago, announced today the cast and creative team of the upcoming LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, running on the main stage from March 1 through April 28. The press opening is Sunday, March 10 at 7:30pm. This hit sci-fi musical has devoured the hearts of audiences around the world for more than 30 years, following the story of floral assistant who stumbles across a new breed of carnivorous plant that promises to grant him fame, fortune and all his desires - as long as the blood keeps flowing. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will feature the creative talents of Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director) and Christopher Carter (Choreographer)
Complementing performances of Tony Award-winning actress and director Victoria Clark's production of Conor McPherson's new version of Strindberg's The Dance of Death, Classic Stage Company (CSC; Artistic Director, John Doyle) presents the second installment of its new Classic Conversations series. The series began with acclaimed actor Raul Esparza on the occasion of his "blisteringly good" (New York magazine) turn in Bertolt Brecht's Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui; another conversation will be announced this spring. The March 5 at 7pm event will serve as a rare, intimate, and engaging distillation of Clark's life in theater through conversation-with CSC Artistic Director John Doyle and celebrated music director Ted Sperling-and song. Sperling, who memorably worked with Clark on The Light in the Piazza, for which they both received Tony Awards, will also accompany Clark on piano for the musical portion of the evening. This one-night-only engagement takes place Tues, March 5 at 7pm at Classic Stage Company (136 E 13th Street, New York); tickets are $100-$150 and can be purchased at classicstage.org or 212-352-3101 (or toll free 866-811-411). The Dance of Death runs in repertory with director Shariffa Ali's staging of Yael Farber's Mies Julie through March 10.
Today, we're bringing you back to 1981 with this flashback photo from our archives of Gary Sandy, following a performance of Pirates of Penzance!
Rehearsals have begun for The 5th Avenue Theatre's new production of the beloved musical Annie, which plays this holiday season from November 23 - December 30, 2018. The 5th is excited to introduce Visesia Fakatoufifita of Tacoma, WA, and Faith Young of Kent, WA, who make their 5th Avenue Theatre debuts alternating the title role.
Actor Patrick Cassidy, best known for his roles in musical theatre and television, headlines Some Enchanted Evening ~ A Night of Broadway Song & Dance to benefit Inland Pacific Ballet, the professional ballet company based in the Inland Empire. This 2nd annual intimate cabaret evening features song and dance by Inland Pacific Ballet dancers and Academy students, cocktails, hor d'oeuvres, dessert, silent/live auction, and is hosted by IPB Associate Director Jonathan Sharp (The Red Shoes, Carousel, The Rocky Horror Show Live, The Dance of the Vampires, Fiddler on the Roof). Some Enchanted Evening takes place on Saturday, September 22 at 6 p.m., at Inland Pacific Ballet located at 9061 Central Avenue, Montclair, 91763.
Welcoming the audience to get involved in the action, the Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) open the company's 38th season with the multiple Tony Award-winning musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood with book, music and lyrics by Rupert Holmes. Performances are October 26-November 18, 2018 at SSP's home in the lower level of St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, Chicago. Starting this season, SSP Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees remain at 2 p.m.
The 72nd Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday June 10th at 8/9c hosted by Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles. It's the biggest award show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long awards season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. We can't help but wonder what chances this year's Best Musical and Best Play nominees have of taking home the ultimate prize...
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