Farley and Gurland Return to Laurie Beechman For 'RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN' 1/29
by BWW News Desk - Jan 29, 2009
Award winning vocalists Brian Farley and David Gurland return for one final performance of their first full show together.- An evening of RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN. Already great interpreters of the American Popular songbook, this will be the pair's first foray into the catalog of arguably the greatest songwriting team in history. Featuring songs from Carousel, The Sound of Music, The King and I, this years' biggest Broadway hit South Pacific, and many more. Musically directed by Tracy Stark., The show previously played the Laurie Beechman Theatre in July to packed houses and ecstatic reviews.
THE FIREBRAND OF FLORENCE Begins 3/12
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jan 26, 2009
On March 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., The Collegiate Chorale appears with The New York City Opera Orchestra at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall in a performance of Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin's 1945 Broadway operetta The Firebrand of Florence. The performance, led by guest conductor Ted Sperling, stars baritone Nathan Gunn, soprano Anna Christy, baritone Terrence Mann, and soprano Victoria Clark. Krysty Swann, David Pittu and Patrick Goss complete the cast, and narration will be provided by Stage Director Roger Rees.
Boasting a score by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by playwright and screenwriter Edwin Justus Mayer, The Firebrand of Florence had a short run on Broadway in 1945. The work was subsequently not heard for over a half-century until three presentations - Ohio Light Opera (1999), the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London (2000) and the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Vienna (2000) - shed new light on the relatively obscure work. The performances were not only accepted, but widely acclaimed, thus giving hope for a new life in a new century. Variety's theater critic Steven Suskin says 'I have long believed that Firebrand in concert should be a dazzling delight.'
Benvenuto Cellini, the great Florentine artist, is sentenced to hang, but he is pardoned when the duke realizes that he has not completed a previously commissioned sculpture. Freed, he is able to turn his attention to his favorite model (and object of his affections), Angela. The Duke also is interested in Angela. In a typical operetta plot, Cellini swashbuckles around the stage, keeping the Duke away from Angela, keeping himself away from the Duchess, and escaping yet another death sentence by fleeing to Paris, as the end of the show recapitulates the beginning.
Marni Nixon Replaces Ailing Howes in Encores! MUSIC IN THE AIR
by Eddie Varley - Jan 25, 2009
Marni Nixon has joined the upcoming Encores! presentation of Music in the Air, she replaces Sally Ann Howes who had to drop out due to an illness. Marni Nixon, is known in the popular world as the singing voice behind the stars of West Side Story, The King and I and My Fair Lady. An accomplished singer in her own right, she has has sung opera, classical song and appeared on Broadway. Ms. Nixon worked with Lehmann in a production of Ariadne auf Naxos at the Music Academy of the West and considered her a friend. Besides her singing career, Marni Nixon is also an actress, recently nominated for an Ovation award. She gives master clases throughout the country in musical theater and classical song. She was last seen on Broadway in NINE and The Dead. Music in the Air, a rarely seen 1932 musical, will be directed by Gary Griffin with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Michael Lichtefeld. The production runs for five performances at City Center, West 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). Production dates are February 5th through the 8th.
Dallas Theater Center to Present IN THE BEGINNING Jan. 21 - Feb. 15
by BWW News Desk - Jan 21, 2009
Dallas Theater Center, in association with SMU Meadows School of the Arts, presents In the Beginning, an adaptation of the first 10 chapters of the Book of Genesis, featuring the newly announced DTC acting company, and directed by artistic director Kevin Moriarty. In the Beginning runs Jan. 21-Feb. 15 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater.
Presenting familiar stories from Genesis - the creation of the world, Adam and Eve in Eden, jealousy and murder among brothers, the world's destruction by water - In the Beginning offers a fresh retelling of age-old tales interspersed with engaging dialogue taken directly from conversations with local community members and respected religious scholars about the text.
'In the Beginning does not present a single, definitive interpretation of the stories we find in Genesis,' Moriarty says. 'Rather, it is a reflection of the conversations we've had with people of faith throughout our community about the text and the personal truths and insights they've found through their own explorations into these stories.'
Dallas Theater Center to Present IN THE BEGINNING Jan. 21 - Feb. 15
by Robert Diamond - Jan 15, 2009
Dallas Theater Center, in association with SMU Meadows School of the Arts, presents In the Beginning, an adaptation of the first 10 chapters of the Book of Genesis, featuring the newly announced DTC acting company, and directed by artistic director Kevin Moriarty. In the Beginning runs Jan. 21-Feb. 15 at the Kalita Humphreys Theater.
Presenting familiar stories from Genesis - the creation of the world, Adam and Eve in Eden, jealousy and murder among brothers, the world's destruction by water - In the Beginning offers a fresh retelling of age-old tales interspersed with engaging dialogue taken directly from conversations with local community members and respected religious scholars about the text.
'In the Beginning does not present a single, definitive interpretation of the stories we find in Genesis,' Moriarty says. 'Rather, it is a reflection of the conversations we've had with people of faith throughout our community about the text and the personal truths and insights they've found through their own explorations into these stories.'
Farley and Gurland Return to Laurie Beechman For 'RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN' 1/29
by Gabrielle Sierra - Jan 5, 2009
Award winning vocalists Brian Farley and David Gurland return for one final performance of their first full show together.- An evening of RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN. Already great interpreters of the American Popular songbook, this will be the pair's first foray into the catalog of arguably the greatest songwriting team in history. Featuring songs from Carousel, The Sound of Music, The King and I, this years' biggest Broadway hit South Pacific, and many more. Musically directed by Tracy Stark., The show previously played the Laurie Beechman Theatre in July to packed houses and ecstatic reviews.
Photo Flash: Reprise's I LOVE MY WIFE
by Gabrielle Sierra - Dec 3, 2008
The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre. Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander. 'I Love My Wife' will be directed by Larry Moss with choreography by Lee Martino and music direction by Michael Skloff.
BWW's Holiday CD Roundup Part 2: The Singers
by Robert Diamond - Nov 21, 2008
Happy Holidays Everyone! Well ... here it is ... our BIGGEST CD coverage EVER and just in time for some last minute 'stocking-stuffer' inspiration ... even though a few of these are better used as coal, if you know what I mean.
Eakeley, Lysy and Pressley Join Cast of MTC's THE AMERICAN PLAN
by Eddie Varley - Nov 19, 2008
Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) announced full casting for the upcoming Broadway premiere of Richard Greenberg's THE AMERICAN PLAN which will be directed by Tony nominee David Grindley (Journey's End). The previously announced Lily Rabe and Mercedes Ruehl will be joined by Benjamin Eakeley (Sweeney Todd), Austin Lysy (A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Delacorte), and Brenda Pressley (The First Breeze of Summer).
Broadway in Chicago to Present World Premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY
by Faetra Petillo - Oct 30, 2008
Broadway In Chicago will host the world premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, beginning performances Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St., Chicago).
Duncan and Ziemba To Announce Outer Critics Circle
by BWW News Desk - Apr 2, 2008
Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers covering New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway, is proud to report that Broadway stars Sandy Duncan and Karen Ziemba will publicly announce the nominees for the 2007-08 season on Monday, April 21st (11AM) at the historic Algonquin Hotel (59 West 44th Street). Outer Critics Circle will post award nominations in 23 categories and are the first major Broadway/Off-Broadway award nominees of the New York theater season.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY Headed for Bway; by Lippa, Elice & Brickman
by BWW News Desk - May 21, 2007
Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, writers of the 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Jersey Boys, are the librettists for THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Drama Desk Award-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party) is writing the score, and Improbable Theater founders Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter) will direct and design. EET plans to premiere THE ADDAMS FAMILY in the 2009-2010 Broadway season, preceded by an out-of-town tryout.
Encores 2007! Follies, Face the Music and New Revue
by BWW News Desk - Jun 29, 2006
Arlene Shuler, President and CEO of New York City Center, announced today that the 14th season of its acclaimed ENCORES! series will celebrate the great Broadway revue, a form that flourished from just before 1900 until the early '50s.
Universal Pictures to Distribute HBO's "Outkast" Musical, Vereen, Battle and Labelle Involved as Well
by BWW News Desk - Sep 9, 2005
ANDRE BENJAMIN AND ANTWAN PATTON STAR IN LEAD ROLES; ALSO STARRING VING RHAMES, TERRENCE DASHON HOWARD, FAIZON LOVE, MALINDA WILLIAMS, PAULA PARKER, JACKIE LONG, PAULA PATTON AND PATTI LABELLE; WITH MACY GRAY, BEN VEREEN AND CICELY TYSON
AWARD-WINNING BRYAN BARBER MAKES THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM DIRECTING DEBUT
TONY-WINNER HINTON BATTLE CHOREOGRAPHS DANCE SEQUENCES