Oh, Brother!

A renaissance of Buffalo born theatre productions at the former Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo continues to burnish brightly. As I sat in the crowded, newly renovated Shea's 710 Theatre, thinking how the facility had been mothballed a decade ago, Buffalo's hometown pride burst through. On afternoon when the Buffalo Bills were playing, a mix of cultures gathered for a spectacular production of DREAMGIRLS. In a joint production between Shea's 710 and the newly formed AnsariSaxon Productions, the energy was palpable both on and off stage.

The Colony Theatre in association with producers Christine Russell (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Head Over Heels), Robert Ulrich and Jay Paul Deratany are presenting the Reel Red Entertainment production of The Civility of Albert Cashier, a new musical about notable queer history figure Albert Cashier, born Jennie Hodgers, who served alongside the men of the 95th Illinois Volunteer Infantry with distinction throughout some of the fiercest fighting of the Civil War. While not alone as a woman serving on the battlefield during the war, Cashier never revealed himself as anyone other than a man dedicated to serving his country on the battlefields during its greatest time of need. He was recognized as such by his comrades in arms and those surrounding him and retained his identity as a man throughout his later life. Transgender musician and actor Cidny Bullens (Pictured) portrays the older Cashier in the play with Dani Shay taking on the role of the younger Cashier. I decided to speak with Cid about his own road to self-discovery and what led him to the role of a transgender man.

This time, the reader question was: With The Great Gatsby musicals happening now, are there other examples of musicals about the same subject?

The release comes on the heels of their reissue of their Colin Newman produced album “If I Die, I Die”, which came out in early 2023, and arrives via BMG on 3LP and 2CD, alongside a media and artbook, new sleeve notes, remastered audio, and brand-new remixes from the band's theatrical, award-winning frontman Gavin Friday, and Apparition.

There was a lot of history crossing that stage, with performers reprising numbers they’d sung on the Great White Way as far back as the 1970s. Giving the proceedings a uniquely touching quality was the sweet meeting of the generations, with these still very vital veterans being welcomed by — and conversing with — a respectful master of ceremonies who’s still in his teens, but is immersed in musical theatre lore.

The cast has been announced for the world premiere of BERLUSCONI at Southwark Playhouse. Rehearsals begin on 13 February with first preview on 25 March and press night on 29 March.

Pasadena Playhouse has announced the cast for Sunday in the Park with George, the first production of the theater’s six-month-long celebration of Stephen Sondheim. See performances dates and how to purchase tickets!

I grew up in a musical family. My grandmother was my piano teacher and she actually lived with us pretty much my whole life until I moved to Nashville. I remember going to Davidson's Record Shop in Huntington, West Virginia and getting the the single to Let It Be and I Want to Hold Your Hand by the Beatles.

Reviewer Peter Nason counts down the greatest 101 YACHT ROCK HITS for your summertime listening pleasure.

The smile in question is that of Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Ann Talman's close friend for (almost) all of her life, and her stage mother in THE LITTLE FOXES, and these are their tales.

The Carnegie is preparing for its first-ever Tiny Concert Series, featuring local singers and Carnegie favorites, and Community Film Series next month.

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest protest songs from 1939-2020. See if your favorite songs or artists made the list!

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest Motown songs from 1960-1994. See if your favorite songs or artists made the list!

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest scenes in cinema from 1901 to 2020. See if your favorite movie moments made the list!

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best film musicals since the sound era began; see if your favorites made the list!

How do we make a list of the 101 greatest show tunes from the past 100 years? Well, we did the near-impossible task.  Check out our full list here! 

A 40th Anniversary reunion benefit concert of the 1979 hit Broadway production of They're Playing Our Song will be held on Monday, February 11th at 7:30 pm at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th St.) and will star the Broadway cast members Lucie Arnaz as 'Sonia Walsk' and Robert Klein as 'Vernon Gersch'.

The Actors Fund announced today a 40th Anniversary reunion benefit concert of the 1979 hit Broadway production of They're Playing Our Song. The concert will be held on Monday, February 11th at 7:30 pm at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th St.) and will star the Broadway cast members Lucie Arnaz as 'Sonia Walsk' and Robert Klein as 'Vernon Gersch'.

The San Diego Symphony has announced its complete lineup for its Jazz @ The Jacobs and City Lights series for the 2018-19 season. Back for its fourth year, the successful Jazz @ The Jacobs returns with Gilbert Castellanos continuing in his role as series curator. From October through April, the five-concert series features a new and exciting lineup of programs and guest artists. The popular City Lights series also returns bringing the best of Broadway musicals and the American Songbook to San Diego in four exciting concerts.

Particularly in light of the 2016 documentary I Am Not Your Negro, author and civil rights activist James Baldwin is garnering new attention and appreciation for his astute analyses of race, class, and sexuality in U.S. culture. Our reading group will take up his groundbreaking semi-autobiographical first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953). Attendees are invited to read this seminal text that brought mid-20th Century African-American literature out of the shadow of Richard Wright while deftly exploring the post-Civil War Great Migration, its southern roots, its religious inflections, and its generational tensions. The suggested edition is the most recent paperback (ISBN 978-0345806543). Traditional New Orleans fare of coffee and beignets at Muriel's Jackson Square with lively discussion to follow led by Festival favorite and Southern literary scholar Gary Richards. Seating is limited to 50 persons; pre-registration is required.

The Case Western Reserve University/Cleveland Play House MFA Acting Program announces the debut performance of the Class of 2020. Fifth of July, from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson, will run in the Helen Theatre at Playhouse Square.

The entertainment industry mourns the death of songwriter and actress Judy Parker Gaudio, (age 79). Gaudio, the writer of Billboard chart-topping songs and Broadway hits, passed away peacefully from respiratory complications on Thursday, her husband Bob Gaudio confirmed.

There is still time to catch the Broadway shows closing in early 2017 - check out which shows are closing soon, and be sure to see them while you still can!

Don't miss this one night only opportunity to celebrate one of Broadway's lost gems! FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents a special concert production of Oh, Brother! on Sunday, November 20, at 7:00 PM.  Original cast members Larry Marshall and Steve Sterner will be joining the fun to revive and celebrate this lost Broadway gem.

As the characters Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, Mark Edward Lang and Alison J. Murphy seem to be a perfect fit in the play about the famous Broadway actors. Lang and Murphy are married in real life and have been performing together for many years. Recently visiting San Antonio, Texas, BWW had a chance to sit down and chat with them about their roles and about the show LUNT AND FONTANNE 'THE CELESTIALS OF BROADWAY.'