As You Like It Photos - Broadway

What did our critic think of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Desert Theatreworks?

It is a brilliant production of the second-most produced American opera. (After 'Porgy and Bess') Gorgeous scenic effects and world-class voices.

Shaun Rennie (Director) allows Tennessee Williams’ words to be the hero of the night as he presents a captivatingly simple expression of SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER at Ensemble Theatre.

Pitlochry Festival Theatre have released production images for their exciting new revival of Noël Coward ‘s classic comedy Private Lives.

The eagerly awaited pairing of Conor McPherson’s writing and directing with the music of Bob Dylan’s career, GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY arrives at the Theatre Royal, Sydney.

With the current theatre world on hiatus, I have created a Spotlight Series on Broadway World which features interviews with some of the many talented artists who make our Los Angeles theatre community so exciting and vibrant thanks to their ongoing contribution to keeping the Arts alive in the City of the Angels. And just like all of us, I wondered how they are dealing with the abrupt end of productions in which they were involved. This Spotlight focuses on Julia Buis, an L.A. actor who traveled the world entertaining before settling in Hamburg, Germany.

On Thursday, July 12th, Hollywood maven and powerhouse, Donelle Dadigan, (Co-Founder of the Jose Iturbi Foundation/President & Founder of The Hollywood Museum, Chairman of The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce) invited a select group of VIPs for an evening of dinner and a concert at The Hollywood Bowl as the Los Angeles Philharmonic presented an evening of Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No.2 under the stars with Behzod Abduraimov on piano and conductor, Gustavo Dudamel.

Of all the composers in the world Giuseppe Verdi is by far the most popular. Of all the operas in the world his 'La traviata' is by far the most frequently performed. Have you missed out on this mega hit? You can fill in that cultural gap with the splendid production now offered by Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

AS YOU LIKE IT, currently running at The City Theatre, has been transformed from its original comedic writing by William Shakespeare, into a dramedy set during the great depression in America's backyard. The premise of this show begins with young and fair Rosalind, fleeing the court from persecution into the Forest of Arden. Rosalind, along with her cousin Celia, venture into the woods dressed as a maid and a gentleman  in what appears to be a young child's game. The laws of attraction quickly interfere with their plan of evasion from the court. Young Orlando catches the eye and heart of Rosalind early in the play, and as their adventures continue in the forest, their paths inevitably cross. However, with Rosalind in disguise, Orando plays like putty in her hand, as she manipulates his motives and desires. Seemingly all characters in AS YOU LIKE IT are desperately looking for love, and falling hard for the wrong person. With one of Shakespeare's most renowned comedies, the show presented at The City Theatre is presented more dramatically with less gags than common productions.

London Classic Theatre returns to the Everyman with their production of Noel Coward's comedy masterpiece, Private Lives. Olivia Beardsley and Helen Keeley reprise their roles as Sibyl Chase and Amanda Prynne and they are joined by three new cast members: Gareth Bennett-Ryan (Elyot Chase), Paul Sandys (Victor Prynne) and Rachael Holmes-Brown (Louise).

If American Horror Story decided to do a season set in the time of ancient mythical English kings, you would get Julia Rodriguez-Elliott's King Lear. I highly recommend this eerie interpretation of one of Shakespeare's most produced works.

Hollywood Boulevard's newest theatre troupe is one to keep an eye on.

'The Last Tycoon' opened last night at the Tabard Theatre, direct from its run at the Arts Theatre in London's West End. Adapted for the Tabard stage it depicts the heady days of the 1930's glamorous Hollywood scene. Written by Simon Levy, with the approval of the F Scott Fitzgerald Estate, and directed by Linnie Reedman.

Andrea Goss, who plays Sally Bowles, a young British singer at the Kit Kat Club in CABARET, spoke with me from her Denver appearance last week. Andrea has also appeared in RENT and ONCE. CABARET opens at Omaha's Orpheum on October 11 and runs through the 16th.

SIDE SHOW, the musical about the sisters that were quite literally joined at the hip makes it's Australian Premiere at Hayes Theatre

Philadelphia chanteuse Julie Charnet brings her blend of jazz and swing to the Ethical Society of Philadelphia and other venues.

Like many from my generation, our love of screen icon Marilyn Monroe made her a star and continues to keep the flame of her incredibly hot sexual appeal alive. And while I have seen several performers take on the role. The amazing Sunny Thompson fully embodies the heart and soul, not just the heat and breathy voice we associate with the woman who encapsulated what a woman was supposed to look like long before the Kardasians were even born. Sunny Thompson truly embodies her look and voice, and seemingly channels the tortured, playful soul of Hollywood's greatest star.

With its emphasis on improvisation, stock characters, and a genial carnival atmosphere, the Commedia dell' arte (dating back as early as the 16th century) has never had much appeal to me; I generally find the productions thumb-twiddling after a while. I certainly had my reservations about Playhouse on the Square's current production, ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS, adapted by British playwright Richard Bean from a 1743 play by Venetian Carlo Goldoni. However, as much as I cringe at the thought of a play written in this tradition, at the opposite end I am very much a fan of British humor at its silliest - from the 1930's and 40's comedies of Will Hay (who, at least in a number of films, utilized his own kind of stock company) to the sketches of Benny Hill and Rowan Atkinson's delightful MR. BEAN (and wasn't there a group called MONTY PYTHON?) That said, Mr. Bean's sublimely silly little take on the Goldoni play, removed in time and place to early 1960's Brighton, has a plot that bounces from corner to corner of the proscenium like a ping pong ball on Ritalin.

If you are a fan of old-fashioned, escapist musicals with pleasant music, performed by a talented cast, you'll love SHE LOVES ME.

This week's School in the Spolight is the Drama Depatment at Vasser College in Poughkeepsie, NY! Scroll below for a historical look at the department, see what's upcoming in their production season and view photos from past shows!

Puppets and live performers enact an enigmatic tale of early World War II in 'King Executioner,' the newest creation of Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre written and directed by Vit Horejš. The play is loosely based on 'When you are a King, You will be an Executioner' ('A Jak Krolem a Jak Katem Bedzies,' 1968) by the Polish magical realist novelist Tadeusz Nowak (1930-1991). Theater for the New City will present the world premiere of the work March 21 to April 7. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Jubilee takes you on a right-royal 1930s romp through early celebrity culture with parodies and asides of such greats as Noël Coward, Bing Crosby, Elsa Maxwell and George Gerswhin. The story tells of a fictional royal family who, when an imminent revolution threatens their throne, decide to relinquish their responsibilities and pursue their dreams.