Uncle Sam News

A Contemporary Theatre’s Executive Director Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi and President of the Board of Trustees, Chuck Sitkin, are appointing a new Director of Advancement. Sergei Tschernisch, President of Cornish College of the Arts from 1994 through 2011, will begin his new post on April 1, 2012. Tschernisch will oversee the expansion of fundraising efforts and work with senior management and the Board of Trustees to guide ACT to the next level of sustainability. ACT Development Associate Jennessa West has been promoted to Director of Development and will oversee the daily operations of the multifaceted fundraising efforts. (more...)

Chicago-area families can warm up a winter Saturday morning with a wide range of entertaining kid-centric activities and music when the Neighborhood Parents Network of Chicago (NPN) presents its fourth annual Wake Up & Boogie Down Family Festival FUNdraiser. Sold out the past two years, this year’s event takes place March 3, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago, and is open to the public. (more...)

Chicago-area families can warm up a winter Saturday morning with a wide range of entertaining kid-centric activities and music when the Neighborhood Parents Network of Chicago (NPN) presents its fourth annual Wake Up & Boogie Down Family Festival FUNdraiser. Sold out the past two years, this year’s event takes place March 3, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago, and is open to the public. (more...)

America's favorite holiday tradition, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade® returned to dazzle and enchant millions nationwide yesterday. (more...)

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl's new version of Anton Chekhov's THREE SISTERS, based on a literal translation by Elise Thoron with Natalya Paramonova and Kristin Johnsen-Neshati, directed by Les Waters. (more...)

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl's new version of Anton Chekhov's THREE SISTERS, based on a literal translation by Elise Thoron with Natalya Paramonova and Kristin Johnsen-Neshati, directed by Les Waters. (more...)

ACT -A Contemporary Theatre announces its 2012 Mainstage play season-including three World Premieres and two Northwest Premieres - along with a house filled with new presentations from The Central Heating Lab at ACT, The Young Playwrights Program, and The Hansberry Project at ACT, several of which will take place in the new 49-seat Eulalie Scandiuzzi Space located just a few steps away from the Bullitt Cabaret. (more...)

Audiences will probably be more familiar with the 1963 film version of BYE BYE BIRDIE from its innumerable screenings on television, with Dick Van Dyke, Ann Margaret, Janet Leigh, Maureen Stapleton and Paul Lynde all making vivid impressions under George Sidney's direction. But, seeing it live really is a special treat, especially on the expansive Muny stage. Opening night even provided the most gloriously mild weather one could have hoped for to enjoy this oft-played, but rarely perfected delight. Charles Strouse and Lee Adams wrote a number of memorable songs for this musical, and Michael Stewart's lightweight, but entertaining script which mixes romance and a satire on the cult of personality is a fairly sturdy framework to hang them upon. Happily, the production currently playing at the Muny is well worth your time and attention, and certainly beats seeing the film again for the umpteenth time. (more...)

When a performance montage this fantastic comes along you are caught up in the spirit and lost in the moment in a magical way that only truly transcendent performances can conjure - and, on Monday night, on the stage of the unassuming fireworks spectacular from Washington, D.C., A CAPITOL FOURTH, on PBS, hosted by Jimmy Smits, such a momentous musical theatre moment occurred. While it is no surprise that Broadway star Kelli O’Hara was note-perfect, gorgeous and spirited, the fact that she brought such an air of star presence to the proceedings and performed with such precision made the medley burst, much like a firework, into something truly, well, spectacular. The addition of GLEE star and Broadway baby Matt Morrison on a pristine “Tonight” from WEST SIDE STORY brought the entire enterprise to new emotional and musical heights. What a rare and celebratory treat it is to have a look at these patriotic and, alternately, pathos-infused performances going into the weekend, post-Fourth - plus, “America” from Josh Groban and a MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET medley! (more...)

Independence Fest held Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 Doors 1:00 PM / Show 2 PM until Midnight at Knitting Factory Brooklyn (more...)

James Gray and his merry band of cuckoos led by Momma are back for a whole week this year in Firecracker Follies, the campy and irreverent salute to our nation's history. Eric Seppala - does some great meatless recipes, Kendall Rose, and Dena Drotar are joined by special guest tap dancer Rusty Frank @ the Cavern Club of Casita del Campo in Silverlake through Sunday July 3. There are sendups of Betsy Ross, Uncle Sam, Daniel Boone, Rosa Parks (guess who plays her?), Mrs. Lincoln, Wonder Woman (and no, Momma does NOT play her; you'll have to go and see the show to find out), Ben Franklin, Shirley Temple Black (well, she was an ambassador!), George Washington and his dancing cherries (see photo below), and a great Jackie O(nassis) with 60s fashion guru Oleg Cassini in tow, Davy Crockett, Marilyn Monroe (well, via the Kennedy boys she was almost patriotic), the Wright Brothers, FDR with Annie Warbucks, Amelia Earhart & Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan - SINGING! Momma does a patriotic sing-a-long, bakes cookies-and you'll get a chance to see the new classic 4th of July picnic fiasco (now on youtube) from last year. On opening night, there were tech problems that made the show even funnier, as Gray mimed all of Momma's crazed eating habits from the dvd. Dena Drotar does her great MM with "Heatwave", Momma announces her candidacy for office with "Motherhood" and there's even a fireworks display as the grand finale. (more...)

Independence Fest held Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 Doors 1:00 PM / Show 2 PM until Midnight at Knitting Factory Brooklyn (more...)

We opened the Marquee Lounge! The lounge is open Fri & Sat from 5-mindight. Designed by Kroiz Architecture LLC (Gabriel Kroiz) and PI.KL Studio LLC (Kuo Pao Lian and Pavlina Ilieva), the Marquee Lounge is finished with materials typical of Southeast Baltimore; a white marble bar, rolled steel details and salvaged wood finishes. (more...)

We opened the Marquee Lounge! The lounge is open Fri & Sat from 5-mindight. Designed by Kroiz Architecture LLC (Gabriel Kroiz) and PI.KL Studio LLC (Kuo Pao Lian and Pavlina Ilieva), the Marquee Lounge is finished with materials typical of Southeast Baltimore; a white marble bar, rolled steel details and salvaged wood finishes. (more...)

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the U.S. premiere of Ingmar Bergman’s AUTUMN SONATA, directed by Robert Woodruff, based on a literal translation by Wendy Weckwerth, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) April 12-May 7, 2011. (more...)

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the U.S. premiere of Ingmar Bergman’s AUTUMN SONATA, directed by Robert Woodruff, based on a literal translation by Wendy Weckwerth, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) April 12-May 7, 2011. (more...)

Lydia Bushfield's 1940s musical revue, I'll Be Seeing You, opens the 2011 season at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre this week, running January 6 through February 5. Directed by David Compton, the cast features Melodie Madden Adams, Nancy Allen and Jennifer Richmond as three World War II-era factory workers who discover their shared love of music during workday breaks from contributing to the war effort. (more...)

Thanks to the efforts of playwright Lydia Bushfield and a talented cast of actors and musicians, Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre takes audiences on a sentimental journey back to the American homefront during World War II with I'll Be Seeing You, a musical revue that features some of the best-loved tunes from that time. Wonderfully evocative, Bushfield's sweetly crafted - if somewhat overly earnest and perhaps a little mawkish - script tells the stories of three women keeping the homefires burning while their men are off to war, making the world a safer place. (more...)

Lydia Bushfield's 1940s musical revue, I'll Be Seeing You, opens the 2011 season at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre this week, running January 6 through February 5. Directed by David Compton, the cast features Melodie Madden Adams, Nancy Allen and Jennifer Richmond as three World War II-era factory workers who discover their shared love of music during workday breaks from contributing to the war effort. (more...)

Lydia Bushfield's 1940s musical revue, I'll Be Seeing You, opens the 2011 season at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre this week, running January 6 through February 5. Directed by David Compton, the cast features Melodie Madden Adams, Nancy Allen and Jennifer Richmond as three World War II-era factory workers who discover their shared love of music during workday breaks from contributing to the war effort. (more...)