For those too young to remember the vaudevillian style lounge shows popular in the 50s and 60s in Las Vegas, where an iconic and often talented performer in their own right hosted other acts to keep gamblers entertained as they visited the lounge bar for a drink, looked for a companion for the night, or needed time to recover from a huge loss at the tables, you can now experience a little bit of old Vegas, right here in Hollywood. And I can tell you, I don't remember laughing as hard as I did the night I attended THE TONY MARTINI VARIETY HOUR at Three Clubs Cocktail Lounge, rumored to be the exact same place where Frank Sinatra would hang out with his assorted Rat Pack buddies, friends, and lovers during their own Las Vegas heyday. And that vibe still exists in the room where those great entertainers wowed the crowds so many years ago.
Theatre, as do all of the arts, represents the era from which it comes or is written about. For example, Lanford Wilson's TALLEY'S FOLLY places the spotlight on Missouri in 1944, the border state that, until this day, is noted for its laws and customs regarding prejudice against Jews, Catholics and Blacks (e.g. the Ferguson incidents). It also showcases many of the feelings of border Southerners regarding 'proper' etiquette, the sanctity of the roles that women are to play in society, and the power of gossip. All this is folded into a charming tale.
After the impossibly long winter, summer is finally coming to Maine shores, woods, and towns. And along with summer outdoors fun, comes the return of summer theatre. Maine is blessed to have a wide selected of professional and community playhouses from which to choose. Here is but a small sampling:
With the snow finally off the ground, birds returning home, and the beaches beckoning, it is once again summertime in Maine. With the major professional companies ending their seasons in late May, Maine's numerous summer theatres soon go into full swing with an exciting lineup of summer theatre. Here are some of the highlights of the 2014 season:
Elton John and Tim Rice's contemporary take on AIDA, a tale of star-crossed lovers based on Giuseppe Verdi's opera of the same title, made it to Manila through Atlantis Productions Inc.'s local production that opened at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City Friday night. (The musical runs until Sunday, July 10)
The international producers of 'Cats: Now and Forever' in Manila -- Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, Concertus and All Youth Channels in association with The Really Useful Company Asia Pacific - have been kind enough to share with BroadwayWorld.com their first set of official production shots of the Broadway musical that is currently taking Manila by storm.
The Philippine Opera Company held a press preview of its acclaimed production of Terrence McNally's 'Master Class' Wednesday night, July 28, 2010, one day prior to the reopening of the show, which ran for a limited engagement a few years ago. This group of opera and classical music advocates has been so thrilled to bring back Philippine cinema icon Ms. Cherie Gil in her much-talked about indelible portrayal of opera diva Maria Callas in the Tony award-winning play.
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