Dreamgirls Revival Tour 2009 - Articles Page 18

For the first time in its 30-year history, Red Mountain Theatre Company brings a straight play (non-musical) to their stage with The Odd Couple: Female Version February 19-March 1, 2009, at the RMTC Cabaret Theatre (301 19th Street North). Neil Simon's contemporary classic gets a makeover in this hilarious tale of mismatched roommates. Newly separated from her husband, obsessive compulsive Florence Unger decides to move into the home of divorcee Olive Madison, currently enjoying the slovenly life as a single female. When their worlds collide, the story explodes in this laugh-out-loud comedy that takes a look at life from a different point of view.

Broadway favorite and [title of show] star Heidi Blickenstaff is 'Ursula' in the Disney musical THE LITTLE MERMAID on Broadway. The talented and 'very sweet' Blickenstaff assumed the 'very sassy and sinister' role on January 27, 2009.

Center Theatre Group's 2009-2010 season at the Ahmanson Theatre is a yearlong celebration of big, lush Broadway hits, including four Tony Award-winning musicals, the 2008 winner of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for Best Play, and a rare, limited engagement of two stage virtuosos.

A brand new production of ?Dreamgirls,? one of Broadway?s most popular shows, will be the fourth production of the new season at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre, February 24 through April 4, 2010. Opening is set for February 26.

The gender-reversed benefit concert extravaganza is always one of the Center's most anticipated events of the year, and on Monday, February 9, 2009, Broadway Backwards returned to Broadway's American Airlines Theatre. BroadwayWorld's cameras were everywhere to capture all the gender-bending fun!

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch will lead the New York Philharmonic in New York Moments, a concert featuring iconic musical moments from Broadway and film, with stars from the stage and screen (in alphabetical order): Ashley Brown, who originated the title role in Mary Poppins on Broadway; Maria Friedman, who played Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and Marian in The Woman in White in London; Joel Grey, whose numerous starring roles have included the famous M.C. in Cabaret, on Broadway and in the film; Jennifer Holliday, one of the original Dreamgirls; Liza Minnelli, last seen on Broadway in Liza's at The Palace; Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot, stars of the current Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific; and 15-year-old up-and-coming singer, Nikki Yanofsky. The concert will take place Monday, April 20, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. All except Mr. Hamlisch and Ms. O'Hara are making their New York Philharmonic debuts.

An all new cast of celebrities hits the dance floor on ABC's Dancing with the Stars with the highly anticipated two-hour season premiere MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009 (8:00-10:02 p.m., ET) on ABC. Season Eight introduces viewers to 13 new stars including the youngest competitor to date, an NFL legend, a computer icon, a female rapper, three music artists, and a Wildboy. Additionally press notes state, love is a battlefield, when for the first time three real life couples take the ballroom floor. Husband and wife, Ty Murray and Jewel, compete for bragging rights while newly engaged professional dancers, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff, go head-to-head. To top it off, country crooner, Chuck Wicks teams with girlfriend and two-time Dancing with the Stars champ, Julianne Hough.

The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation Presents ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: A Help Is On The Way Valentine Benefit Concert. Beneficiaries of this year's concert are Lyon-Martin Health Services, Maitri, and Sunburst Projects. This all-star Valentine-themed benefit concert features performers in all facets of entertainment including Broadway, Film, TV, Recording, Jazz and Dance. This one-night only gala benefit concert takes place on Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at the POST STREET THEATER, 450 Post Street (at Powell) in SF 94102. Performance begins at 7:30 pm. Tix: $45 & $65 general reserved seating (Show Only), Underwriter Level tickets: $125 & up - (Preferred seating / Show & Post Party) Call REAF ticket line at 415-273-1620 or order online at www.helpisontheway.org

A service to celebrate the life of Gerald Schoenfeld, the late Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Shubert Organization, will be held on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 1 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre (247 West 44 Street) in New York City. Mr. Schoenfeld died on November 25, 2008. A limited number of seats will be available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis at the Majestic Theatre on February 9.

The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation presents ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: A Help Is On The Way Valentine Benefit Concert. Beneficiaries of this year?s concert are Lyon-Martin Health Services, Maitri, and Sunburst Projects. This all-star Valentine-themed benefit concert features performers in all facets of entertainment including Broadway, Film, TV, Recording, Jazz and Dance. This one-night only gala benefit concert takes place on Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at the POST STREET THEATER, 450 Post Street (at Powell) in SF 94102. Performance begins at 7:30 pm. Tix: $45 & $65 general reserved seating (Show Only), Gala tickets: $100. Underwriter Level tickets: $125 & up - (Preferred seating / Show & Post Party) Call REAF ticket line at 415-273-1620 or order online at www.helpisontheway.org

The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation Presents ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: A Help Is On The Way Valentine Benefit Concert. Beneficiaries of this year's concert are Lyon-Martin Health Services, Maitri, and Sunburst Projects. This all-star Valentine-themed benefit concert features performers in all facets of entertainment including Broadway, Film, TV, Recording, Jazz and Dance. This one-night only gala benefit concert takes place on Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at the POST STREET THEATER, 450 Post Street (at Powell) in SF 94102. Performance begins at 7:30 pm. Tix: $45 & $65 general reserved seating (Show Only), Underwriter Level tickets: $125 & up - (Preferred seating / Show & Post Party) Call REAF ticket line at 415-273-1620 or order online at www.helpisontheway.org

A service to celebrate the life of Gerald Schoenfeld, the late Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Shubert Organization, will be held on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 1 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre (247 West 44 Street) in New York City. Mr. Schoenfeld died on November 25, 2008. A limited number of seats will be available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis at the Majestic Theatre on February 9.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced casting for its production of RAGTIME in the Eisenhower Theater April 18 - May 10, 2009. Based on a 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow, the production features book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and will be directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. The musical is part of the Kennedy Center's Broadway: The Third Generation, a series celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers. The official press night will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.

BROADAWAY BY THE BAY (BBBay), the Peninsula's premiere musical theatre company, is proud to present its dynamic 2009 season featuring three full scale productions as well as an intimate presentation of the music of Broadway legend Cy Coleman. Under the leadership of Artistic DirectorBrooke Knight and Executive DirectorJim Gardia, BBBay's 44th season kicks-off with a rousing revival of George and Ira Gershwin's tap dancing musical comedy CRAZY FOR YOU (April 2-19, 2009). Next, BBBay presents the captivating and exotic Rodgersand Hammerstein classic, THE KING AND I (July 16-August 2), followed by THE FULL MONTY (September 17 - October 4), the spunky and heartwarming Broadway hit based on the British film of the same name. The 44th season closes with BROADWAY UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: A TRIBUTE TO CY COLEMAN (November 5 - November 8), featuring Tony Award winnersDavid Zippel and Lillias White and Ovation Award winner Jason Graae.

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch will lead the New York Philharmonic in New York Moments, a concert featuring iconic musical moments from Broadway and film, with stars from the stage and screen (in alphabetical order): Ashley Brown, who originated the title role in Mary Poppins on Broadway; Maria Friedman, who played Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and Marian in The Woman in White in London; Joel Grey, whose numerous starring roles have included the famous M.C. in Cabaret, on Broadway and in the film; Jennifer Holliday, one of the original Dreamgirls; Liza Minnelli, last seen on Broadway in Liza's at The Palace; Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot, stars of the current Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific; and 15-year-old up-and-coming singer, Nikki Yanofsky. The concert will take place Monday, April 20, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. All except Mr. Hamlisch and Ms. O'Hara are making their New York Philharmonic debuts.

La Jolla Playhouse productions heading for national exposure fared well as the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, presented the annual Craig Noel Awards for Theatrical Excellence, honoring the best local stage work of 2008. Noel, the 93-year-old founding director of the Old Globe Theatre, was in attendance for his namesake awards, which were presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla, attended by some 350 theater industry members and supporters. Moises Kaufman's '33 Variations,' about to open on Broadway with Jane Fonda in the lead role, was honored for David Lander's lighting and Derek McLane's set. The Playhouse's premiere of Joe DiPietro and David Bryan's 'Memphis' (now in production at Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre) was honored as outstanding new musical and for Chad Kimball's lead performance. A fresh staging of 'Xanadu,' which Playhouse artistic director Christopher Ashley first directed on Broadway, was named outstanding resident musical, and Bill T. Jones won for his choreography in the Playhouse's hip-hop musical 'The Seven.' Old Globe productions garnered four mentions, including Steven Drukman's boxing-themed drama about Joe Louis, 'In This Corner,' which was named outstanding new play. 'Dancing in the Dark,' a debut musical with Broadway aspirations (based on the classic film 'The Band Wagon'), won for Patrick Page's featured performance and Larry Hochman's orchestrations. A revival of 'The Women,' directed by Old Globe resident artistic director Darko Tresnjak, was honored for Anna Oliver's costumes. And the national touring production of 'Spring Awakening,' produced by Broadway/San Diego, a Nederlander Organization, won for best touring show.

The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation presents ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: A Help Is On The Way Valentine Benefit Concert. Beneficiaries of this year?s concert are Lyon-Martin Health Services, Maitri, and Sunburst Projects. This all-star Valentine-themed benefit concert features performers in all facets of entertainment including Broadway, Film, TV, Recording, Jazz and Dance. This one-night only gala benefit concert takes place on Monday, Feb. 9, 2009 at the POST STREET THEATER, 450 Post Street (at Powell) in SF 94102. Performance begins at 7:30 pm. Tix: $45 & $65 general reserved seating (Show Only), Gala tickets: $100. Underwriter Level tickets: $125 & up - (Preferred seating / Show & Post Party) Call REAF ticket line at 415-273-1620 or order online at www.helpisontheway.org

The 92nd Street Y continues the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists with DAVID ZIPPEL as host and artistic director of It Started with a Dream, February 21-23. Subtitled David Zippel - Lyrics He Wrote, Lyrics He Wishes He Wrote, the Tony award-winning, Oscar-nominated lyricist of City of Angels and Disney's animated Hercules and Mulan, presents highlights from his own scores and shares his inspirations and personal favorites from the American Songbook. The show features an all-Broadway cast, including vocalists KATE BALDWIN (Wonderful Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Full Monty), KEVIN EARLEY (A Tale of Two Cities, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Mis?rables), Tony Award-winner DEBBIE GRAVITTE (Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Chicago, Les Mis?rables), DANNY GURWIN (Little Women, Urinetown, The Full Monty), and Tony Award-winner LILLIAS WHITE (The Life, Dreamgirls, and. the voice of 'Calliope' in Hercules). One of the most acclaimed and sought-after lyricists working today, David Zippel's other credits include the Broadway musical The Goodbye Girl (written with Marvin Hamlisch and Neil Simon), The Woman in White (with Andrew Lloyd Webber, for which Zippel won another Tony nomination) and the musical stage version of Wendy Wasserstein's bestselling children's book, Pamela's First Musical, written with Wasserstein and City of Angels collaborator Cy Coleman. Series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer, in her first season at the helm, notes that this is the first time in over 25 years that L&L will devote an entire show to a contemporary Broadway songwriter at the height of his career--a return to the spirit in which L&L was founded, with the living lyricist as an active participant.

Returning to Cleveland after acclaimed performances in The Color Purple on Broadway and Gone with the Wind in London?s West End, NaTasha Yvette Williams takes the stage in the lead role of The Cleveland Play House production of Mahalia: A Gospel Musical. Since 1997, when she performed in The Play House production of (I Could) Stop On a Dime and Get Ten Cents Change, Williams has also played in several Broadway national tours and performed her gospel music all over the world. Kent Gash, Associate Artistic Director of The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, GA, is directing Williams in this musical tribute to the most celebrated gospel singer of all time. Mahalia: A Gospel Musical begins in the Bolton Theatre at The Cleveland Play House on Friday, January 30 and runs through Sunday, February 22, 2009. Tickets are on sale now at The Cleveland Play House box office by calling 216.795.7000 ext 4 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. Mahalia: A Gospel Musical is presented in promotional partnership with Time Warner Cable and The Kulus Foundation. The media sponsor for Mahalia: A Gospel Musical is 107.3 FM The Wave WNMV.

BroadwayWorld.com has confirmed the news that Laura Bell Bundy will be briefly returning to the role of Elle Woods, taking over the part on tour, temporarily replacing Becky Gulsvig who has broken a toe. Bundy is currently flying to Washington, DC, the tour's current stop through tomorrow and will begin performances on January 13, 2009 in East Lansing, Michigan, the tour's next stop. The length of her stay has not yet been revealed.

After much anticipation, DTC artistic director Kevin Moriarty announced today the members of the inaugural resident acting company of his tenure for the 2009-10 season. Although the acting company is slated for the 09-10 season, the full nine-member company will be seen in DTC's upcoming production of In the Beginning, a dramatic exploration of the book of Genesis, Jan. 21-Feb. 22.

Join Joe Iconis as he rings in 2009 the only way he knows how - a kick ass show, a concert, lots of food and an open bar. Thursday, December 31, festivities will begin at 9PM with the acclaimed new musical by Joe Iconis, ReWrite directed by John Simpkins, followed by special concert with Joe Iconis and Friends at Urban Stages (259 West 30 Street). Tickets are $100 (all inclusive) and can be purchased at www.SmartTix.com or call 212.868.4444

Join Joe Iconis as he rings in 2009 the only way he knows how - a kick ass show, a concert, lots of food and an open bar. Thursday, December 31, festivities will begin at 9PM with the acclaimed new musical by Joe Iconis, ReWrite directed by John Simpkins, followed by special concert with Joe Iconis and Friends at Urban Stages (259 West 30 Street). Tickets are $100 (all inclusive) and can be purchased at www.SmartTix.com or call 212.868.4444

Jeffrey Finn Productions presents a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater. The production runs through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004.