John Piazza News

Internationally celebrated percussionist/singer Alessandra Belloni, joined by her performance troupe I Giullari di Piazza, will return June 29 to Cathedral of St. John the Divine for a June 29th, 8 PM, performance of with 'TARANTATA - SPIDER DANCE,' an ancient healing tradition with Tarantella trance dances and healing chants for the Black Madonna.   

Tony Award-winning Best Musical JERSEY BOYS is coming to the big screen under the direction of Clint Eastwood and the cast discusses the new Four Seasons movie musical in a new promotional featurette just released.

The film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical JERSEY BOYS will hit theaters on June 20th. Directed by Clint Eastwood, JERSEY BOYS, written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, features the music and lyrics of Bob Gaudio & Bob Crewe. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge got to chat with stars John Lloyd Young and Vincent Piazza about the new film and you can watch the full interview below!

During Italian Heritage & Culture Month, Alessandra Belloni and I Giullari di Piazza will return to St. John the Divine, where they are artists-in-residence, for a performance of their dazzling 'Tarantata,' a feast of Southern Italian music, dance, and ancient legend in which a 'Tarantata' (one who has been bitten by a tarantula) seeks a cure.

Primary Stages launched its 28th season with Harrison,TX: Three Plays by Horton Foote. Opening night was last night, August 14. Tony Award nominees HAllie Foote (Dividing the Estate, The Orphans' Home Cycle) and Jayne Houdyshell (Follies, Well) will head up an ensemble featuring Devon Abner (Dividing the Estate, The Orphans' Home Cycle), Mary Bacon (Motherhood Out Loud, Happy Now?) Jeremy Bobb (Is He Dead?, Shipwrecked!...), Alexander Cendese (Psycho Therapy, A View From the Bridge), Andrea Lynn Green (Giant, Anne and Emmett), Evan Jonigkeit (High, History Boys at Arden Theatre Company), and Jenny Dare Paulin (Dividing the Estate, The Orphans' Home Cycle). Helmed by Tony Award nominated director Pam MacKinnon (Clybourne Park, A Lifetime Burning at Primary Stages), Harrison,TX: Three Plays by Horton Foote runs through September 15 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and will bring you full coverage from the festivities below!

On Friday, November 4th, The American Songbook Project held its annual signature event, their 'Name That Tune' benefit at the historic Hudson Theater in New York. Their mission is to preserve the American Songbook by bringing professional singers in the NYC schools. This year they honored Broadway composer Jerry Herman and Guild Hall (East Hampton), both of whom celebrated their 80th birthdays this year. Liz Smith emceed the Jerry Herman tribute and her passionate, loving remarks about her friend included 'It is said by show biz insiders that Jerry is so universal the you just hear a song of his once and you can hum it or sing it. And you probably can't stop. That is pretty damned great. He is universal in the musical theater, the songsmith of modern American life.' Mr. Herman's tribute included performances by James Darrah recreating his role of Ambrose Kemper from the last Carol Channing revival of Hello Dolly singing 'It Only Takes a Moment;' Meredith Patterson and Jeffry Denman performing 'Tap Your Troubles Away' from Mack and Mabel; and Andrea McArdle singing 'If He Walked into My Life Today' from Mame accompanied movingly by nine-year old Kyrian Friedenberg on trumpet.

Theatre Hopkins will open its final production of the season, the area premiere of the Tony award winning musical, The Light in the Piazza, on Friday, June 12, at the Swirnow Theater in the Mattin Center on The Johns Hopkins University's Homewood campus, 3400 N. Charles St. in Baltimore. With a Tony-winning score and lyrics by Adam Guettel and book by Craig Lucas, the production is directed by Todd Pearthree.

Theatre Hopkins will open its final production of the season, the area premiere of the Tony award winning musical, The Light in the Piazza, on Friday, June 12, at the Swirnow Theater in the Mattin Center on The Johns Hopkins University's Homewood campus, 3400 N. Charles St. in Baltimore. With a Tony-winning score and lyrics by Adam Guettel and book by Craig Lucas, the production is directed by Todd Pearthree.