Cliff Bemis News

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced an extended holiday schedule for its hit musical, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. (more...)

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced an extended holiday schedule for its hit musical, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. (more...)

New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse is currently presenting Irving Berlin's White Christmas, directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Randy Skinner and musical direction by Steven Freeman. The cast features: James Clow (Bob Wallace), Tony Yazbeck (Phil Davis), Jill Paice (Betty Haynes), Meredith Patterson (Judy Haynes), Edward James Hyland (General Waverly) and Lorna Luft (Martha Watson). The show opened last night, November 20, and runs through Saturday, December 24. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the recent opening and brings you red carpet coverage of the after party below! (more...)

New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse is currently presenting Irving Berlin's White Christmas, directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Randy Skinner and musical direction by Steven Freeman. The cast features: James Clow (Bob Wallace), Tony Yazbeck (Phil Davis), Jill Paice(Betty Haynes), Meredith Patterson (Judy Haynes), Edward James Hyland (General Waverly) and Lorna Luft (Martha Watson). The show opened last night, November 20, and runs through Saturday, December 24. (more...)

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee- Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) today announced the cast and creative team for its holiday musical, Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Irving Berlin's White Christmas will be directed by Marc Bruni, with choreography by Randy Skinner and musical direction by Steven Freeman. The cast features: James Clow (Bob Wallace), Tony Yazbeck (Phil Davis), Jill Paice (Betty Haynes), Meredith Patterson (Judy Haynes), Edward James Hyland (General Waverly) and Lorna Luft (Martha Watson). (more...)

There have been several musical plays based on Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. The first and biggest hit was Lionel Bart's Oliver, which went on to a major film in 1968 and a multitude of Oscars. There has been a gay version as well, also titled Twist, that was nominated for Critics' prizes in New York, and now there's the interracially cast adaptation Twist in its West Coast premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse. From top to bottom the show is slick and a triumph for director/choreographer Debbie Allen. The cast is fine-tuned, and much of the music quite memorably singable. Its only flaw, for purists like me, is in the book, which does not include the charming Fagin, whose deliciously mischievous manipulation of everybody in Oliver Twist is a major highlight. (more...)

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced that full casting is complete for the west coast premiere of the new musical TWIST - An American Musical by William F. Brown and Tina Tippit (book), Tena Clark (lyrics and music) and Gary Prim (music). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen directs a cast of 31 performers led by Tamyra Gray ("American Idol," Rent and Bombay Dreams) and Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award-winner, Dreamgirls). The five-week limited engagement performs June 14 - July 17, 2011 with the official press opening on June 26, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue). (more...)

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced that full casting is complete for the west coast premiere of the new musical TWIST - An American Musical by William F. Brown and Tina Tippit (book), Tena Clark (lyrics and music) and Gary Prim (music). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen directs a cast of 31 performers led by Tamyra Gray ("American Idol," Rent and Bombay Dreams) and Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award-winner, Dreamgirls). The five-week limited engagement performs June 14 - July 17, 2011 with the official press opening on June 26, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue). (more...)

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced that full casting is complete for the west coast premiere of the new musical TWIST - An American Musical by William F. Brown and Tina Tippit (book), Tena Clark (lyrics and music) and Gary Prim (music). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen directs a cast of 31 performers led by Tamyra Gray ("American Idol," Rent and Bombay Dreams) and Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award-winner, Dreamgirls). The five-week limited engagement performs June 14 - July 17, 2011 with the official press opening on June 26, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue). (more...)

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced that full casting is complete for the west coast premiere of the new musical TWIST - An American Musical by William F. Brown and Tina Tippit (book), Tena Clark (lyrics and music) and Gary Prim (music). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen directs a cast of 31 performers led by Tamyra Gray ("American Idol," Rent and Bombay Dreams) and Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award-winner, Dreamgirls). The five-week limited engagement performs June 14 - July 17, 2011 with the official press opening on June 26, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue). (more...)

Providence Hollander, one of the pivotal performers in Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris that became Ohio's longest running musical production, passed away in Cleveland September 10th at 84. (more...)

The Barrington Stage Company has announced the casting for its world premiere production of the musical POOL BOY. POOL BOY will star Cliff Bemis (Mr. Lopes), Sara Gettelfinger (Mrs. Duval), John Hicock (Mr. Rodney Duval), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Nick), Jon Norman Schneider (Jack), Sorab Wadia (The Sultan), and Cortney Wolfson (April). POOL BOY will be directed by Daniella Topol, with musical direction by Matt Castle and choreography by Shonn Wiley. (more...)

Kate Dawson in THE A**HOLE IN MY HEAD at Birdland Monday, August 30 at 7pm (more...)

Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab, under the mentorship of Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist William Finn, kicks off its fifth season with the world premiere of Pool Boy, a splashy new musical with music and lyrics by Nikos Tsakalakos and book and lyrics by Janet Allard. (more...)

Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab, under the mentorship of Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist William Finn, kicks off its fifth season with the world premiere of Pool Boy, a splashy new musical with music and lyrics by Nikos Tsakalakos and book and lyrics by Janet Allard. (more...)

Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab, under the mentorship of Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist William Finn, kicks off its fifth season with the world premiere of Pool Boy, a splashy new musical with music and lyrics by Nikos Tsakalakos and book and lyrics by Janet Allard. (more...)

The Barrington Stage Company has announced the casting for its world premiere production of the musical POOL BOY. POOL BOY will star Cliff Bemis (Mr. Lopes), Sara Gettelfinger (Mrs. Duval), John Hicock (Mr. Rodney Duval), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Nick), Jon Norman Schneider (Jack), Sorab Wadia (The Sultan), and Cortney Wolfson (April). POOL BOY will be directed by Daniella Topol, with musical direction by Matt Castle and choreography by Shonn Wiley. (more...)

The City of Cleveland Heights and Cain Park proudly announce that Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Hugh Wheeler) opens Cain Park's 2010 season in the Alma Theater June 11-27 (preview June 10). Paul Gurgol, founder/artistic director of Kalliope Stage, directs this 1979 Tony Award-winning musical thriller with music direction by Jodie Ricci. (more...)

The City of Cleveland Heights and Cain Park proudly announce that Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Hugh Wheeler) opens Cain Park's 2010 season in the Alma Theater June 11-27 (preview June 10). Paul Gurgol, founder/artistic director of Kalliope Stage, directs this 1979 Tony Award-winning musical thriller with music direction by Jodie Ricci. (more...)

The City of Cleveland Heights and Cain Park proudly announce that Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Book by Hugh Wheeler) opens Cain Park's 2010 season in the Alma Theater June 11-27 (preview June 10). Paul Gurgol, founder/artistic director of Kalliope Stage, directs this 1979 Tony Award-winning musical thriller with music direction by Jodie Ricci. (more...)