Shoko Kambara News

The Hangar Theatre Company continues its 45th summer season with the beloved musical, Into the Woods, with matinee and evening performances from June 28 to July 13.

Missing Bolts Productions and the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival presents the world-premiere of CAVAN a short film directed by Dave Solomon (associate director of Tootsie: the musical), featuring Erin Wilhelmi (To Kill a Mockingbird); Blair Baker (The Humans, currently The Play That Goes Wrong 1st national tour) and Tony-nominee Lucas Steele (Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812; The Kid)

Cultures and gardens clash in acclaimed playwright Karen Zacarias' hilarious hot-button comedy Native Gardens. When a questionable fence line puts a prize-worthy garden in jeopardy, neighborly rivalry escalates into an all-out border dispute, challenging everyone's notions of race, privilege, class, and good taste. Well-intentioned neighbors quickly turn into feuding enemies.

Cultures and gardens clash in acclaimed playwright Karen Zacarias' hilarious hot-button comedy Native Gardens. When a questionable fence line puts a prize-worthy garden in jeopardy, neighborly rivalry escalates into an all-out border dispute, challenging everyone's notions of race, privilege, class, and good taste. Well-intentioned neighbors quickly turn into feuding enemies.

Nothing encapsulates Native Gardens like its standout line 'Old neighbors, new neighbors.' Anyone who's ever been a new neighbor, especially in suburbia, knows the feeling of the side-eying, judgey but well-meaning older couple living next door, down the street, etc. Playwright Karen Zacaria couples that unease with sociopolitical themes and sitcom intimacy in this fun new(ish) play about the colliding of two upper-middle class worlds.

Danita Thomas, John E. Thomas and Born Cooper Productions will present LIZZIE The Musical. LIZZIE has music by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, lyrics by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Tim Maner with a book by Tim Maner, directed by Victoria Bussert, with choreography by Jaclyn Miller.

Geva Theatre Center presents Native Gardens, by Karen Zacarias and directed by Melissa Crespo, in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from March 26 through April 21, 2019.

Utah Opera Artistic Director Christopher McBeth has announced the programming, initial casting, and creative teams for the company's 2019-20 season, which comprises four opera productions at the newly renovated Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. Featuring improved seating and sightlines on the orchestra level, the theatre reopens after a six-month closure for the company's season-opening production of Verdi's La traviata in October 2019. The season continues with composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell's Silent Night in January 2020, Rossini's The Barber of Seville in March 2020, and Massenet's Tha s in May 2020. Silent Night is presented as part of Utah Opera's American Opera Initiative, through which the company champions and commissions American contributions to the art form. Both Silent Night and Tha s are Utah Opera premieres.

Artistic Director Christopher McBeth today announced the programming, initial casting, and creative teams for Utah Opera's 2019-20 season, sponsored by the George S. and Dolores Dor Eccles Foundation. In its upcoming season, Utah Opera produces four operas at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre: Verdi's La traviata in October 2019, Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell's Silent Night in January 2020, Rossini's The Barber of Seville in March 2020, and Massenet's Tha s in May 2020. Both Silent Night and Tha s are company premieres. Season subscriptions are on sale now by calling (801) 533-6683 or visiting utahopera.org. Single-opera tickets go on sale to the general public on June 14, 2019 through Utah Opera and ArtTix outlets.

Syracuse Stage is now delighting audiences with a contemporary play Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías. The witty comedy, wonderfully directed by Melissa Crespo, features a fun and entertaining story that delves into important social issues. It also features some top-notch actors.

A backyard border dispute between Washington, D.C., neighbors leads to spirited comedy in the contemporary satire "Native Gardens" at Syracuse Stage Feb. 13 through March 3.

Tickets won't last long for this one. George Street Playhouse (GSP) is now presenting the world premiere of Little Girl Blue-The Nina Simone Musical through February 24. Superbly written and performed by Laiona Michelle, the production enjoys inspired direction by Devanand Janki. This show is a sure fire hit!

The world premiere of Little Girl Blue - The Nina Simone Musical-a powerful new show exploring the life of American icon Nina Simone, as told through her own words and groundbreaking music-will kick off 2019 at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ.

It looks like the Holidays have come early to Auburn's Merry - Go - Round Playhouse with their current production of Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn, delightfully directed by Richard J. Hinds. The heartwarming musical will compel you to tap your feet along to the upbeat tunes. It will put a smile on your face and have you longing for the holiday season (even if it is August).

Next up this summer at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival (FLMTF) is Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn. The show runs August 1 through August 22 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Emerson Park.

Under the brilliant direction of Robert Hupp, the Artistic Director of Syracuse Stage, Next to Normal is thrilling audiences at Syracuse Stage with its intense story, dynamite singers, and powerful score. The uniquely brilliant musical covers many controversial topics such as grief, suicide, drug abuse, and modern psychiatry. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical is one that demands excellent actor-singers to properly showcase the music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. Director Hupp has assembled a top-notch group of performers that beautifully capture the emotional and powerful music and story. The lead role of Diana is played by Broadway veteran Judy McLane. Among her impressive credits includes more than 4,000 performances of the Broadway hit Mamma Mia!. She and the other cast members, deliver intense, emotional, and delivers truly electrifying performances.

The Merry - Go - Round Playhouse in Auburn, New York ends their 2017 season with Always...Patsy Cline the musical based on a true story of the legendary Patsy Cline. The show shines light on the talented singer Patsy Cline and the memorable music she brought to the country music industry during her very short life. Director Douglas S. Hall brings the toe-tappin' and comedic musical to life with the two stellar female cast members

The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse has officially kicked off their 2017 season of Broadway in the Finger Lakes with none other than the multiple Tony Award-winning musical of Guys and Dolls. Featuring a book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, along with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, the musical is widely known thanks to numerous revivals and the film adaptation starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons, Vivian Blaine, and of course Frank Sinatra. The long-awaited production, perfectly directed by Richard J. Hinds, as part of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival is classic and fresh, making it a sure hit.

The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival (FLMTF) launches its 2017 season with the blockbuster musical comedy, Guys and Dolls. The show runs June 7 through June 28 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Emerson Park.