A Saturday Night Photos - Broadway

For the past several summers, I have attended the Festival of Arts and The Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. But this year, I also decided to also visit two other art festivals along Laguna Canyon Road rather than spend any time cruising the town as I had done before. The full-day of exploring all the artistic delights on display this year at all three locations left me dazzled by all the talent on display, while wishing I had lot of extra income to purchase and bring home many of the awe-inspiring items that caught my fancy. But the real highlight of the day was viewing the abundance of 'local color' on display in this summer's 'Under the Sun' themed Pageant of the Masters.

Due to popular demand, Pipeline Theatre Company (Ari Schrier, Artistic Director; Natalie Gershtein, Producing Director) is proud to announce a one-week extension of the world premiere production of Folk Wandering, a new musical conceived by Jaclyn Backhaus (Men on Boats) and Andrew Neisler (Clown Bar), featuring a book by Backhaus; music by collaborating composers Blake Allen(Boston|Nebraska), Backhaus, Mike Brun (Music Director, Mr. Burns), Andrew R. Butler (Finn the Fearless), Joel Esher (PharmaBro: an American Douchical!), Alex Fast (The Drawer Boy), Jo Lampert (Joan of Arc: Into The Fire), Barrie Mclain (Hundred Days), Annie Tippe (Director, Ghost Quartet), and Dominique Toney ('Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'); and lyrics by Allen, Backhaus, Brun, Butler, Esher, Lampert, McLain, and Tippe. Andrew Neisler will direct.

Babes With Blades Theatre Company (BWBTC) launches its 20th Anniversary Season: "Origins" with its 20th world premiere The Invisible Scarlet O'Neil, playing at the Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., September 2 - October 14. Based on the 1940s comic strip by Russell Stamm, the new play is written by BWBTC Ensemble Member Barbara Lhota, directed by Ensemble Member Leigh Barrett and features violence design by Ensemble Member Libby Beyreis. Preview performances are Saturday, Sept. 2 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 3 at 3 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. Opening Night is Saturday, Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. Regular performances are Thursdays - Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Preview tickets are $10, student and senior tickets are $15, early bird general admission (available online through September 9) are $20 and general admission (after September 9) are $25. To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit BabesWithBlades.org.

Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates Black History Month with THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH, starring singer and actress Miche Braden of the original Off-Broadway production (named one of the 10 Best Off-Broadway productions of the year by the N.Y. Daily Times). Described by CBC as a, "bawdy, bluesy, boozy rollicking night out at the theatre," the show follows the life, loves and career of blues and jazz singer Bessie Smith, called the "Empress of the Blues." 

Ian Gelder - Kevan Lannister in the epic TV drama series Game of Thrones - is to play Frankenstein director James Whale and Will Austin is gardener Clayton Boone, who becomes the object of Whale's obsession, in the world premiere of Gods and Monsters at Southwark Playhouse. Gods and Monsters, directed by Russell Labey, produced by Danielle Tarento, will receive its world premiere in a five-week season now through Saturday 7 March. Press night is 10 February. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the stars onstage below!

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's 2013 Season continues with the provocative romantic comedy Tovarich. This long-forgotten treasure, by French playwright Jacques Deval, and adapted by the great American author Robert E. Sherwood, began performances on August 7th at The Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage - The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Peccadillo Theater Company is currently presenting the first major NYC revival of Sidney Howard's THE SILVER CORD, directed by OBIE Award winner Dan Wackerman. The production opened last night, June 11th at Theatre at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street (between Ninth & Tenth Ave.) Check out the cast's celebration at Sardi's below!

Broadway and film star Bobby Cannavale attended last night's preview performance of THE SILVER CORD, which is scheduled to open officially next Tuesday, June 11th at Off-Broadway's Theatre at St. Clement's. Bobby brought along a couple of his fellow actors from Broadway's THE BIG KNIFE, Lee Aaron Rosen and Mark Zeisler. This marked a reunion with SILVER CORD star Dale Carman, who served in the wardrobe department for THE BIG KNIFE through the end of its limited engagement last Sunday. Cast members from both shows posed for onstage photos after the performance.

Come and meet those dancing feet as Theatre at the Center presents the winner of the 1980 Tony Award for "Best New Musical" and the 2001 Tony Award for "Best Revival of a Musical", 42ND STREET. The biggest production to ever be presented on Theatre at the Center's stage, this heart pounding, foot stomping spectacular runs now through October 21 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, with a press performance September 16. Check out photos from the show's opening night below!

The inmates are running the asylum! Well, not really, but it might be better if that were the case, in Joe Orton's classic sex-farce-with-a-kick What the Butler Saw, beginning its run at Fort Worth's Stage West on Thursday, July 5. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

The song and tap extravaganza 42nd STREET previews March 30th, opens April 10th and runs through May 29th at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. The Broadway production of 42nd STREET won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Choreography in 1980, and Best Revival in 2001. The Marriott Theatre's production will feature Direction and Musical Staging by 2010 Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell, Choreography by 2010 Jeff Award winner Tammy Mader, with Musical Direction by multi-Jeff Award winner Doug Peck.

The Mint Theater's rare revival of IS LIFE WORTH LIVING? is directed by Jonathan Bank. Performances began August 19th and opening night is set for September 14th.

THE QUIET MAN TALES, a riveting new play presented by Libby Adler Mages (Mavin Productions II), Tony D'Angelo and Smock Alley Theater Company, will make its world premiere at The Chicago Theatre Downstairs, 175 N. State Street, Sunday, March 22. THE QUIET MAN TALES runs through May 24. Susan Felder will direct.