next to normal - 2008 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 17

The PNC Pops proves 'there's no business like show business' during an evening of Broadway showstoppers with 'Broadway Standing Ovations' on February 17-19 at Heinz Hall.

Most actors receive a standard show contract for around 12 months, but that doesn't mean every actor hangs up their shoes and immediately walks into another show. In fact, not only do some actors extend their contracts, but some make an entire career out of an individual credit. Rob Ouellette, who is currently playing pianist Oscar and a member of the tap-dancing ensemble of the 42nd STREET national tour is about to shuffle into his 1,000th performance with the show on February 16th, 2017, so we caught up with him about his experience. Not only has Rob danced his way through six different companies of the musical, but he's performed several variations of the show's choreography, has worked three times with original book writer and director Mark Bramble, as well as with choreography icons Randy Skinner, Kelli Barclay, and Rick Conant, among others.

Sense and Sensibility, a Jon Jory adaptation of Jane Austen's romantic novel, plays in the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis February 10 - 26, 2017. (PLEASE NOTE: Wednesday performances have been added to the normal production run.) In this story, sisters find themselves captivated by two very different men and when a scandalous past and a secret engagement come to light, the sisters must rely on themselves and each other to weather the heartache as they learn what love can be.

Sense and Sensibility, a Jon Jory adaptation of Jane Austen's romantic novel, plays in the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis February 10 - 26, 2017. (PLEASE NOTE: Wednesday performances have been added to the normal production run.) In this story, sisters find themselves captivated by two very different men and when a scandalous past and a secret engagement come to light, the sisters must rely on themselves and each other to weather the heartache as they learn what love can be.

Daryl Roth, Elizabeth Ireland McCann and Cody Lassen, the producers of Indecent -- the newest work by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel (HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE) -- have announced that the entire original Off-Broadway ensemble will travel to Broadway when the production begins previews at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues), on April 4, prior to its official opening night on April 18.

PlayPenn, Philadelphia's artist-driven organization dedicated to improving the way in which new plays are developed, has announced their Spring 2017 education offerings.

Abingdon Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Tony Speciale, presents the world premiere of CHESS MATCH NO. 5, conceived and directed by Anne Bogart, with text arranged by Jocelyn Clarke from the words of John Cage.

As reported by BWW last month, President Donald Trump's initiative to shrink government spending involves the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts, an organization which provides funding and support to artistic projects throughout the nation.

The Gallery Players' Overtures New Musical Reading Series presents staged readings of the award-winning musical comedy WE ARE THE TIGERS: A NEW MUSICAL on February 6th and February 7th at 7pm.

The PNC Pops proves 'there's no business like show business' during an evening of Broadway showstoppers with 'Broadway Standing Ovations' on February 17-19 at Heinz Hall.

What do Anita Gillette (multiple award-winning Broadway actress and beloved star of theatre, film and television), and Harold Sanditen (international cabaret favourite and charismatic emcee in London's West End) have in common?

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of IMOGEN SAYS NOTHING by Aditi Brennan Kapil, directed by Laurie Woolery, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), January 20-February 11. Opening Night is Today, January 26.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Executive Director Diane Quinn, will present The Night of the Iguana, written by Tennessee Williams and directed by Michael Wilson. Performances begin on Saturday, February 18 and run through Saturday, March 18 at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the third show of its 2016-2017 season, Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS, starring Devin Archer and Natalie Storrs, with musical direction by Brent Crayon and directed by Ovation Award-winner Nick DeGruccio.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the third show of its 2016-2017 season, Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS, starring Devin Archer and Natalie Storrs, with musical direction by Brent Crayon and directed by Ovation Award-winner Nick DeGruccio.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of IMOGEN SAYS NOTHING by Aditi Brennan Kapil, directed by Laurie Woolery, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), January 20-February 11. Opening Night is Thursday, January 26.

MTAP's Hot Metal Musicals Incubator presents its third installment of new musical theatre work-in-development with a public reading of The Storm with book, lyrics and music by Stephanie Riso. This free reading, featuring a cast of 15 and directed by Pittsburgh CLO's producing director Mark Fleischer, will be held on Sunday, January 15, at 6:00 p.m. in the Pittsburgh CLO's Charles Gray Auditorium, 130 CLO Academy Way in downtown Pittsburgh. MTAP's Hot Metal Musicals Incubator readings are being presented with the extensive cooperation and support of the Pittsburgh CLO.

For theatre lovers in our area, we always look forward to what our theatre companies have in store for us in their upcoming seasons. We look to see if there are any trends that stand out to us as audience members. We also see growth in many companies with each new season of shows. Anyone that's been following DC theatre for a while will notice how things have changed in the last twenty or thirty years. One of the biggest examples of this would be the clean up and revitalization of 14th Street, which had direct implications for Studio Theatre and Source.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the third show of its 2016-2017 season, Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS, starring Devin Archer and Natalie Storrs, with musical direction by Brent Crayon and directed by Ovation Award-winner Nick DeGruccio.

Universal Stage Productions, the live theatre division of the world famous movie studio, has announced that Ghostlight Records will record the cast album of the critically acclaimed Roundabout Theatre Company production of HOLIDAY INN, THE NEW IRVING BERLIN MUSICAL on January 8 & 9, 2017.

Center Theatre Group announced the appointment of 11 new board members to its Board of Directors in 2016: Thom Beers, Mara Carieri, Susanne Daniels, Bradford W. Edgerton, M.D., Manuela Cerri Goren, Louise Moriarty, Michael Rogers, Monica Horan Rosenthal, Sandra Stern, Quentin D. Strode and Marshall Trenkmann.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of IMOGEN SAYS NOTHING by Aditi Brennan Kapil, directed by Laurie Woolery, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), January 20-February 11. Opening Night is Thursday, January 26.

MTAP's Hot Metal Musicals Incubator presents its third installment of new musical theatre work-in-development with a public reading of The Storm with book, lyrics and music by Stephanie Riso.

EQUUS by Peter Shaffer will have its Theatre Rhinoceros premiere for a limited engagement - 17 performances only - 3 weeks! The show plays Nov. 25 - Dec. 10, 2016.