Review: Seth Rudetsky presents Tony Winner Lillias White at OC's Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - May 31, 2024
To close out their 2023-2024 Series, Segerstrom Center welcomed theater aficionado Seth Rudetsky to serve as an interviewer/pianist for Tony Award winner Lillias White for three shows May 16-18, 2024 in one of the most incredibly wonderful, fan-favoring shows that the OC arts campus has ever hosted at the intimate Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa, CA.
Review: PRELUDE TO A KISS Returns to South Coast Repertory as a World Premiere Musical
by Michael Quintos - Apr 23, 2024
Based on Craig Lucas' 1988 play and 1992 film adaptation of the same name, PRELUDE TO A KISS - THE MUSICAL is an admirable first attempt of a new musical that is, clearly, still a work-in-progress. In its current state, this genuinely charming but disjointed musical could use a sharp refocus and some more magical and narrative clarity.
Arena Stage Names Hana Sharif as New Artistic Director
by Stephi Wild - Apr 25, 2023
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has announced that its Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Hana Sharif, Augustin Family Artistic Director of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, as its next Artistic Director. She will succeed Molly Smith, who is retiring at the end of June after 25 years with the company.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, OY! HANUKKAH, MERRY KWANZAA Extends Virtually Through January 9
by Gigi Gervais - Dec 12, 2021
For the delight of audiences aged 5 to 105, Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., will present Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre (CAMT) in 'A Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa' from December 22 to January 2. The show is an adaptation of Dickens' classic with Old World accents and New World inclusiveness.
BWW Interview: NEA Four Artist John Fleck Is So ALIVE & Still Kicking Up A Storm
by Gil Kaan - Sep 10, 2021
Performance artist John Fleck will present four live, work-in-progress performances of his musical cabaret/special event it’s alive, IT’S ALIVE! at the Odyssey Theatre starting September 18th. Had the chance to chat up this infamous NEA FOUR artist on his creativity, his patience in the makeup chair and his creative history with David Schweizer.
BWW Blog: Now Is The Time/No Time Like The Present
by Atlantic Theater Company - Sep 3, 2020
I've been acting since 1989 - a union member of both major acting unions since the late 1990's/early 2000's. During my career, I've been described as a 'working actor,' an 'actor's actor' and/or 'a blue collar actor.' There have been times where even though I have called myself, with outward pride, an actor; internally, I've felt lacking. I never went to a four-year acting program. I actually started out as a visual artist, attending art school after high school. But even as a child in North Carolina, I'd strike poses in my bedroom mirror, as if I was appearing in the opening credits of shows like 'Hawaii Five-O,' humming the theme song as I vamped it up. I had the dream, but I honestly didn't even know there was such a thing as an acting school.
Will Downing Releases the First of Two EP Tributes
by Sarah Jae Leiber - Oct 22, 2019
The tribute album is certainly not a new concept, as artists have raised their voices in celebration of iconic musicians and songwriters in all sorts of creative ways over the years. So conventional wisdom would suggest, there's no new way to approach this concept? Well what if you celebrated a 'sound” – more specifically, you celebrated the personal influence and impact of a 'vocal range' in a particular genre? If you contemplate the creation of a modern day tribute to the impact of 'deep male voices' of the past in 'romantic ballad' settings, one name should instantly stand out from the all the rest – The Prince of Sophisticated Soul himself, Will Downing.
BWW Interview: Theatre Life with KenYatta Rogers
by Elliot Lanes - May 17, 2019
Today's subject KenYatta Rogers is currently living his theatre life onstage at Signature Theatre playing Folk Man 3 in Spunk. The production directed by the esteemed Timothy Douglas runs through June 23rd in Signature's ARK space. The show is KenYatta's Signature Theatre debut.
BWW Exclusive: Meet Broadway Couple Jenny Jules and Ralph Brown!
by Monroe George - Apr 6, 2019
What would you do if, upon walking in on your first date, you saw your date as a sixty-year-old woman? Would you turn and run, or would you tell her you saw your future? The Ferryman's Ralph Brown chose the latter when walking in 25 minutes late to his date with Cursed Child's Jenny Jules and, 20 years of marriage later, they are sitting down with BroadwayWorld to talk all things life, love and all magic that comes in between.
Ethan Hawke to Executive Produce and Star in GOOD LORD BIRD for Showtime
by Kaitlin Milligan - Mar 11, 2019
SHOWTIME has ordered the eight-part limited series GOOD LORD BIRD from Blumhouse Television, based on the National Book Award-winning novel The Good Lord Bird by bestselling author James McBride. Oscar®, Golden Globe® and Tony® nominee Ethan Hawke will star as 19th-century abolitionist John Brown and is co-writing and executive producing with award-winning author and producer Mark Richard (The Ice at the Bottom of the World and Hell on Wheels). Emmy winner Anthony Hemingway (Underground) will direct and executive produce. GOOD LORD BIRD is told from the point of view of Onion, an enslaved teenager who becomes a member in Brown's motley family during the time of Bleeding Kansas, eventually participating in the famous 1859 raid on the Army depot at Harpers Ferry. Brown's raid failed to initiate the slave revolt he intended, but was the instigating event that started the Civil War.
Kristin Scott Thomas and Fiona Shaw Join the Cast of FLEABAG
by Kaitlin Milligan - Jan 24, 2019
Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Fiona Shaw CBE are set to guest star in series two of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's multi award-winning series Fleabag. The highly anticipated second series, which is produced by Two Brothers Pictures, will premiere on BBC Three this spring.
Dame Kristin Scott Thomas And Fiona Shaw CBE Join Cast Of FLEABAG
by Stephi Wild - Jan 24, 2019
Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Fiona Shaw CBE are set to guest star in Series Two of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's multi award-winning series Fleabag. The highly anticipated second series, which is produced by Two Brothers Pictures, will premiere on BBC Three and Amazon Prime Video this spring.
BWW Interview: Bert Emmett Assumes First LA Directorial Assignment for Group Rep's BREADCRUMBS
by Don Grigware - Sep 8, 2018
A graduate of Northern Arizona University, Bert Emmett has taught, acted in, produced, written, and directed plays for over 35 years. Bert's favorite acting roles in L.A. include Col. Armadillo in The Armadillo Necktie (Last Straw Award), Karl Lindner is A Raisin in the Sun (A Noise Within), Kanute in Don't Hug Me I'm Pregnant (Eddon Award). Other LA shows include Sherlock Through the Looking Glass, Lombardi, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me, Sherlock's Last Case (Scenies Award), and Cobb. Film: 'The Forsaken," 'Alien Hunter," 'Outside Ozona," and "Our Next Caller" (with Eric Roberts). Member of SAG/AFTRA and AEA. This is Bert's directorial debut at The Group Rep.
When did you get interested in directing?
Meet the 100-Person Cast of THE ODYSSEY at Seattle Rep
by BWW
News Desk - Sep 8, 2017
It's nearly here! An initiative and production years in the making comes to the Seattle Repertory Theatre Bagley Wright Theatre stage in just two short weeks in the form of a musical adaptation of The Odyssey, featuring an over-100-person cast.