Andrea Stephenson - Page 16

While the 1992 movie Newsies received mixed reviews and did not perform well in movie theaters, it developed quite a following as a home movie. The inspirational movie, based loosely on the historical newsboys' strike of 1899, starred Christian Bale as Jack Kelly and David Moscow as David Jacobs. In 2011 Disney Theatrical Productions adapted Newsies for the stage, and it opened on Broadway in 2012, earning eight Tony Award nominations. Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and book by Harvey Fierstein, has found its way onto stages in many schools and community theatres, building up a new generation of Newsies fans. With its rousing musical numbers and high-energy dancing, Newsies is sure to bring audiences to their feet. Under the direction of Adam Gustafson and Kyle Weary, Theatre Harrisburg's Newsies opened at the Whitaker Center on November 2nd, when I had the opportunity to view this delightful show.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Rivals, a comedy of manners, did not receive a warm welcome in it's first performance at Covent Garden Theatre in 1775. After a rewrite, however, it captured the audience's hearts and funny bones, and has been delighting audiences ever since. A new musical version of The Rivals, with book and lyrics by Richard Kellogg and music by Stephen Weiner, will hit the stage at the Bristol Riverside Theatre October 30th under the direction of Eric Tucker. The Rivals is the story of a wealthy young woman, Lydia Languish, who will lose a portion of her wealth if she does not marry someone of whom her guardian, Mrs. Malaprop, approves. Between mistaken identities, scheming servants, and unintentionally misused words, The Rivals is sure to have audiences laughing. The all-star cast includes Harriet Harris, who has portrayed Bebe Glazer in Frazier, Mrs. Meers in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Felicia Tilman in Desperate Housewives, among many other roles. BroadwayWorld recently had the opportunity to speak with Harris about her experience with The Rivals.

The musical Cabaret is a show that has truly stood the test of time. Based on the short novel Goodbye to Berlin and the play I Am A Camera, Cabaret has captured the attention of audiences through its show-stopping musical numbers, complex characters, complicated relationships, and intense emotions. Cabaret will be returning to Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (HMAC) on October 5th, and Broadway World had a chance to talk with Lindsay Bretz, who will be portraying Sally Bowles, and Michael Zorger, who will be taking the stage as the Emcee.

Based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, Ken Ludwig's 2015 adaptation, Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: a Sherlock Holmes Mystery, follows Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they attempt to save Sir Henry Baskerville from a rumored family curse. This is one of the most self-aware shows this writer has seen from Ludwig, and the fast-paced humor-both verbal and physical-makes it intelligent and entertaining.

Sister Act lights up the stage at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre starting on September 20th. Broadway World had an opportunity to get the inside scoop from actress Megan Opalinski, who can be seen portraying the rapping sister, Sister Mary Lazarus.

I Hate Hamlet, by Paul Rudnick, first hit the stage in 1991. Set in actor John Barrymore's apartment, the play introduces the audience to Andrew Rally, a television actor considering an attempt at playing Hamlet. The characters, which include a television star, a Hollywood director, an agent, a realtor, John Barrymore himself, and a theatre-obsessed virgin girlfriend, are delightful, and the show is packed with humor. The Broadway run of the show was cut short when one of the actors was intentionally injured on stage. I Hate Hamlet opened at Oyster Mill Playhouse on Friday, August 17th.

Becky's New Car, written by Steven Dietz as part of ACT Theatre's New Works for the American Stage program in 2008, follows the story of Becky Foster, a wife and mother who works at a car dealership. Simultaneously funny and poignant, the play explores the question of what makes life most fulfilling-contentment or adventure. Becky's New Car opened in the studio theatre at DreamWrights Center For Community Arts on August 2.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask, takes audiences on a journey. It's a journey of love, loss, betrayal, and acceptance. There is no such thing as the fourth wall in this show-this rock musical's audience is also the audience for the band Hedwig and the Angry Inch. As Hedwig performs she shares her story through word and song. After having the opportunity to hear from Chad-Alan Carr and Lindsay Bretz-Morgan about their experience performing Hedwig and the Angry Inch at HMAC, I had the chance to actually experience it for myself. And what an experience it is.

If you're looking for something to do this Memorial Day weekend, check out Hedwig and the Angry Inch. This rock musical tells a story written by John Cameron Mitchell through the lyrics and music of Stephen Trask. Originally performed off-Broadway, the story touches on a wide range of themes and emotions to engage and challenge the audience. Hedwig and the Angry Inch comes to Harrisburg this Memorial Day weekend. Put together a live band, amazing acting, and breath-taking vocals, and this will be a show you do not want to miss. This production, at HMAC Stage on Herr stars Chad-Alan Carr as Hedwig and Lindsay Bretz-Morgan as Yitzhak.

Beauty and the Beast, Jr. opened at Gettysburg Community Theatre on April 27th with a wonderfully talented cast of children and teens. With just one weekend left to see this family-friendly show, Broadway World had an opportunity to gain some perspective on this production from director Bruce Moore.

The film version of Grease celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and many of us probably still picture John Travolta and Olivia Newton John when we think about this show. First appearing on stage in 1971, Grease enjoyed an eight-year run on Broadway, two revivals, and of course many community theatre and school performances over the years. I even performed in Grease at my high school during my junior year. This iconic musical, which follows the lives, loves, and heartbreaks of a group of high school students in the 1950s, takes the stage at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre May 3-June 17. Kathleen Carter, who portrays Rizzo, took a few moments to give us some insight into the production.

Hairspray originally opened on Broadway in 2002. The stage musical by Marc Shaiman, Mark O'Donnell, Thomas Meehan, and Scott Whittman, is based on the 1988 film written and directed by John Waters. The show takes place in 1962 in Baltimore and follows the story of teenager Tracy Turnblad. In many ways, Tracy is a typical teenager-longing for fame, wanting to be accepted, falling in love. But Hairspray is about more than teenage drama. It explores racism, segregation, integration, fat shaming, standards of beauty, and controversial relationships. Theatre Harrisburg's Hairspray opened at the Whitaker Center on April 26, 2018.

Curtains by John Kander, Fred Ebb, Rupert Holmes, and Peter Stone is a murder mystery wrapped up in the trappings of a romantic comedy. When it premiered at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, Curtains received mixed reviews. However, in 2007 the show opened on Broadway and received eight Tony Award nominations. Curtains presents the audience with a show within a show. This musical whodunit explores the lives, loves, and lies of the cast and crew of a musical called 'Robbin' Hood' who find themselves suspects in a murder investigation when their leading lady is killed backstage. The curtains opened on Curtains at Oyster Mill Playhouse on April 20, 2018.

I remember reading Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson in fifth grade. It was one of my favorite Newbery Award winning books because of its themes of friendship and acceptance and its very real exploration of loss and grief. The book was published in 1977 and won the Newbery Award in 1978. Over the years the book has been plagued by censorship for a number of reasons-promoting secular humanism, questioning Christianity, using borderline offensive language, and portraying the death of a child. In the story, two children, Jesse and Leslie, become friends after Jesse loses a race to Leslie. Leslie loves to read, and Jesse loves to draw. Together they create an imaginary kingdom called Terabithia where they can be themselves and escape from the bullies at school and the tediousness of chores.

Karen, Ruch, director of Collective Rage: A Play in Five Betties at Open Stage Harrisburg, comments, 'It's interesting that the Urban Dictionary explains that 'a betty epitomizes a modern day queen, commonly associated with increased levels of self-worth (because she continues to create it). She has the power and agency to be irresistibly sexy and feminine minutes after effortlessly emasculating a mere dozen men with her intellect and ability to deliver. She is educated, deep, witty, simple and young-hearted. She is naturally beautiful, honest, brave, loyal and nurturing. She is the whole package; balanced, quirky, open-minded, complex and flawed. She can be raw with her words, and gentle with her touch. She is soulful, connected and driven. A modern day triple-threat, go-getter. Most commonly found being creative. An entrepreneur, wife, mother, daughter, sister, girlfriend.'