Little Me Photos - West End

What did our critic think of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY at Connor Palace? David Greene, the Senior Vice President of Programming at Playhouse Square, informs theater-goers in his program notes for GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY that “it is a non-traditional musical which features songs by music legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bob Dylan.” 

How a director envisions a production makes all the difference in its prestation to an audience, starting with casting and continuing through rehearsals and all technical aspects of the show. I spoke with Branda Lock on bringing her vivid imagination and directing skills to George Bernard Show’s PYGMALION, filled with unique Lock-inspired changes to the casting which promise to shed new light on this classic tale of class struggles in Shaw’s time.

LEGENDS AND BRIDGE is a comedy imagining former, silver-screen legend Joan Crawford (matronly, washed-up, and pickled on spiked Pepsi) who invites Judy Garland (recently fired from her CBS TV show) and Bette Davis (bitter at no longer being the “Queen of Hollywood”) up to her Manhattan apartment in 1964 to live with her as they work on a “secret” film project. I find it difficult to believe anyone reading this does not already know about the three screen legends featured in the show. But just to be sure, I decided to interview the three actors portraying them to find out more about what it was like to portray such well-known personalities.

For those too young to remember, from 1957 to 1962 The Everly Brothers sold more than 35 million records and had 35 Billboard top-100 singles, 26 in the top 40, and to this day, carry the record for most Billboard charting hits of any American Duo. Their success at that time was only rivaled by Elvis. The Zmeds are absolutely thrilled to be able to contribute to a cause that supports the recognition and preservation of the intimate origins of America's greatest Rock 'n Roll sibling duo, stating, 'We are not impersonators. Our aim is to honor the aesthetics of the Everly Brothers' iconic sound and their unique place in music history, all while having a little fun telling our own personal story.' And that they certainly did with great style, talent, and humor.

In 10th Grade, I was in the chorus of a production of Oklahoma! in the auditorium of my synagogue and it was the best theatrical experience I've ever had. I remember getting home from the closing night cast party and crying myself to sleep. I could cry now putting on the movie or listening to 'The Farmer and the Cowman,' or maybe most of all, if I sing a little bit of the introduction to the title song.

The hilarious angel doo-wop quartet of Frankie, Sparky, Jinx and Smudge (Craig Sherman, Philip McBride, Augusto Guardado and Andrew Allen) again return to Earth to get a second chance at 'making it big' after missing out on the opportunity when a freak accident caused their demise on the night of February 9, 1964 while the Beatles appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Believing their mission is to find the purpose for their return, the spirited guys set out to recall past show-stopping performances, finally realizing how much it meant to bring joy and music to their fans.

The saying, 'Good things come to those who wait,' could certainly be applied to the world premiere of The Good Swimmer playing at BAM's Fishman Space as part of the Next Wave festival from November 28th-December 1st. Defined as a pop requiem for the youth of the Vietnam War, this collaboration between Heidi Rodewald (music) and Donna Di Novelli (lyrics) directed by Kevin Newbury has been the better part of a decade in the making since the two women began working on the piece at a Eugene O'Neill Theater Center residency and left with three songs based on text from out-of-print lifesaving manuals that would become the foundation of The Good Swimmer -- the title song, 'Red Cross' and 'Double Drowning'.

Unique portraits of many Broadway and jazz musical legends will be featured at highly respected British drummer and artist Gilson Lavis' first ever New York City art exhibit 'Gilson Lavis: In Tune With The Portraits' at the Salomon Arts Gallery at 83 Leonard Street in Tribeca from September 15th through October 5th, 2017. His paintings have become very much sought after in British music and art world inner circles. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the collection below!

Like many others during 1964-1966, I made sure to be home when "The Addams Family" TV show was broadcast. Carolyn Jones and John Astin were like no parents I knew and their family certainly lived the sort of off-kilter life totally different than any other family I had ever known. But it was their unwavering support of each other and their entire family that drew me to the series, so when I heard the glitzy-gloomy musical based on the characters was being brought to the stage by 3-D Theatricals, I excitedly made plans to see it and can happily report it was a spectacular and highly creative extravaganza with an awesomely talented cast.

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

The anticipation of celebrating the 50th anniversary of that memorable night, August 23, 1964 when I saw The Beatles live at the Hollywood Bowl for the first time, had me excited for days, knowing this time I would be able to hear the music and celebrate it along with a sold out Hollywood Bowl audience eager to experience some of the best music ever written. And I was not disappointed. The show ROCKED!

In its Music Circus premiere, the Disney classic musical Mary Poppins, based on the books by P. L. Travers and the beloved 1964 Disney film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, is the second show in the 2014 Music Circus season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, the 64th season for the venerable Sacramento institution. Performances are July 8 - 13. Check out a first look below!

Tony Award-Winner Adriane Lenox (After Midnight, Doubt), Tony Award-nominees Anita Gillette (Neil Simon's Chapter Two) & Robert Cuccioli (Jekyll & Hyde), Drama Desk-nominees Aaron Lazar (LES MISERABLES, A Little Night Music), Patrick Page (Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark, Cyrano, the upcoming Casa Valentina by Harvey Fierstein), Nancy Anderson (Jolson & Company, Wonderful Town, A Class Act), and Jeffry Denman (Yank!, Irving Berlin's White Christmas) were among the many stars to appear in Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series last night- THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1940-1964. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photos from backstage with the stars below!

Tony Award-Winner Adriane Lenox (After Midnight, Doubt), Tony Award-nominees Anita Gillette (Neil Simon's Chapter Two) & Robert Cuccioli (Jekyll & Hyde), Drama Desk-nominees Aaron Lazar (LES MISERABLES, A Little Night Music), Patrick Page (Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark, Cyrano, the upcoming Casa Valentina by Harvey Fierstein), Nancy Anderson (Jolson & Company, Wonderful Town, A Class Act), and Jeffry Denman (Yank!, Irving Berlin's White Christmas) were among the many stars to appear in Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series last night- THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1940-1964. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photos from the concert below!

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

Tom Hewitt, Lesli Margherita, Meg Gillentine and Seán Martin Hingston are the Broadway and West End stars that will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's third production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Kiss Me, Kate', playing May 10 to 22 (press opening May 11, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Samuel and Bella Spewack will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre @ Boston Court and choreographed by Lee Martino. Michael Paternostro will serve as musical director.

After the success of Brief Encounter in the West End and on Broadway, Kneehigh's new adaptation of Jacques Demy and Michel Legrand's The Umbrellas of Cherbourg will arrive at the Gielgud Theatre following a limited run at Curve, Leicester.

After the success of Brief Encounter in the West End and on Broadway, Kneehigh's new adaptation of Jacques Demy and Michel Legrand's The Umbrellas of Cherbourg will arrive at the Gielgud Theatre following a limited run at Curve, Leicester. The Umbrellas of Cherbourg will begin previews on 5 March, with press night on 22 March and is booking until 1 October 2011. Directed by Emma Rice, with lyrics translated by Sheldon Harnick, designs by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, sound by Simon Baker and musical supervision by Nigel Lilley, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg will be produced in the West End by Daniel Sparrow and Mike Walsh Productions, Curve Leicester and City Lights International in association with BE MY Productions.

After the success of Brief Encounter in the West End and on Broadway, Kneehigh's new adaptation of Jacques Demy and Michel Legrand's The Umbrellas of Cherbourg will arrive at the Gielgud Theatre following a limited run at Curve, Leicester.

On Saturday, July 31, stage favorites Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Michael Cerveris and George Hearn teamed up with the Ravina Festival and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in tribute to Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Lonny Price and conducted by Paul Gemignani, the concert featured Sondheim classics from shows such as A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Gypsy and more. BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of the concert below.

Mauckingbird Theatre Company delves into the lives of two influential gay writers Truman Capote and James Baldwin - both authors of literary touchstones of the mid-twentieth century.

Broadway lovers and teddy bear collectors came together on Sunday, February 11, at the 'Broadway Bears X' auction, which raised a grand total of $130,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.