Footlights

Ragtime, the Tony Award-winning musical about life in these United States during the very early years of the 20th century, is a richly drawn and evocatively told rumination on the pursuit of the American dream seen from the perspective of a diverse, multi-ethnic cast of characters. Now onstage through Sunday at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s James K. Polk Theatre, in a glittering and sumptuous revival from Nashville Repertory Theatre, Ragtime proves an ambitious choice for the company’s return to live performance after more than 18 months of darkness due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It's hard to believe that Jonathan Larson's epic rock musical masterpiece, Rent, debuted on Broadway, making headlines around the world, winning the Pulitzer Prize and bringing a whole new generation of audiences to the theater 20 years ago. Larson who died just prior to the show's 1996 off-Broadway opening didn't live to see the acclaim with which his musical - based upon Puccini's La Boheme - was greeted, but if we believe in such things, we may rest assured that since his untimely demise he has watched over Rent's evolution, which includes the 20th Anniversary production now touring the country in an astounding revival which reaffirms its place among the very best of American musical theater.

The members of the Upper Dorking Amateur Dramatic Society from England don't shy away from a challenge, even though they probably should. The sheer scale of their ambition in producing 'Murder at the Maner' is matched only by their incompetence. Setting out on a worldwide tour they bring their acclaimed show (Two Stars from The Upper Dorking Women's Gazette) to The Venue on West 34th Street, Houston on June 17-21.

Bijan Sheibani directs Federico Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba running at the Almeida Theatre from 19 January - 10 March 2012.

Bijan Sheibani will direct Federico Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba running at the Almeida Theatre from 19 January - 10 March 2012, with press night on 26 January at 7pm.

Bijan Sheibani will direct Federico Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba running at the Almeida Theatre from 19 January - 10 March 2012, with press night on 26 January at 7pm.

Bijan Sheibani will direct Federico García Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba running at the Almeida Theatre from 19 January - 10 March 2012, with press night on 26 January at 7pm.