Eddie Varley - Page 204

Sylvia Brooks and her outstanding group of musicians will be returning to the Catalina Bar & Grill for an 8pm show on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 following six Best Bet critics' picks in the Los Angeles Times in Jazz and World. The Catalina engagement precedes the release of their new album coming in late spring of 2009. 'The great singers of the past poured their lives into the music; they took you on a journey.' says Brooks. 'I've chosen great music that does just that -- and I've chosen musicians who understand what this music is saying.' Combining Brook's passionate musical sensibilities; her powerful voice; and her musician's deep commitment to jazz, these two different worlds have melded together, creating something truly unique. As one critic said, 'This gifted artist brings something innovative and alive to the stage. Sylvia Brooks is certainly here, and that is definitely a great thing.'

Stone Soup presents Lee Blessing's Eleemosynary, an evocative play about love, personal identity and the importance of family. The story is about an eccentric Grandmother--played by Artistic director, founder, Maureen Miko--a brilliant but alienated mother and a precocious spelling bee champion granddaughter. Praised by Variety Magazine and produced to glowing audience response in productions throughout the country, Eleemosynary takes us on a journey of humor and discovery. It touches on themes we can all relate to about challenged families and the need to be loved for who we really are. At the same time offers a quirky and fresh perspective on the challenges of everyday relationships.

Broadway producers Jeffrey Richards announced in an official statement on Friday that, 'The producers of SPEED THE PLOW have officially filed a grievance with Actors' Equity re: Jeremy Piven's departure. A date for the arbitration is to be determined.' Piven countered with his own response stating, 'The claims made by the producers of Speed-the-Plow are absurd and outrageous. Mr. Piven's serious medical condition has been well documented by multiple physicians. He withdrew from the play due to medical necessity on the advice of his doctors, after he was hospitalized and warned by his physicians that enforced rest was necessary in order to avoid serious medical problems, including a heart attack.' There is now rumors on the street intimating that the grievance was actually filed a week earlier than first reported but was kept quiet as SPEED producers didn't want any more negative press for the hit show. Sources also reveal that Piven's exit from the Broadway drama has given Hollywood producers pause regarding the Emmy winning actor. That being said up until the SPEED-THE-PLOW scandal he was sought after by industry executives and was celebrated by his peers in relation to his work in television and film.

Miramax's Doubt, which stars Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Viola Davis continues a solid run at the box office. BoxOfficeMojo.com reports that Doubt has now taken in more than $25 million domestically. John Patrick Shanley's film adaptaion of his Tony winning play has gotten excellent word of mouth and reviews and is being discussed as a possible Oscar contender for the upcoming Academy Awards. Set at a Catholic school in the Bronx, Doubt centers on a nun who grows suspicious when a priest begins taking too much interest in a young black student. Is she being overly protective or not protective enough? And can she work within the system to discover the truth? A charismatic priest, Father Flynn, is trying to upend the schools' strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. T

Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words continues its sit-down, open-ended run at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street, tonight Monday, January 19, at 7:30pm, with a cast that includes Scott Adsit, Jackie Hoffman, Cheyenne Jackson, Kristen Johnston, Richard Kind, Seth Rudetsky, and Sherri Shepherd. The comedy sensation Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words features a line-up of rotating performers who interpret the actual words and stories written by the famous and the infamous, in both solo and ensemble 'chamber' pieces. Some of the 'authors' that are featured include Ivana Trump, Vanna White, Mr. T, Star Jones, Kenny Loggins, Tommy Lee, Sylvester Stallone, 'N Sync, Zsa Zsa Gabor, David Cassidy, Neil Sedaka, Britney Spears, Madonna, Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson, as well as the infamous memoirs of Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds, which are edited together to create a Rashomon-esque playlet in the participants' own words.

Actor Jamie Bell, the award winning actor who created the role of Billy Elliot in the film version can currently be seen on the big screen in 'Defiance', he spoke to People magazine about working on that film as well as his performance in Billy Elliot. On dealing with fame and an Oscar nomination at age 13, he explained, 'I had my mom. The day I got back from the Oscars, she said, 'Great. Now take out the trash.' Bell, now 22, also explains that the other kids at school would, 'Chase me around school, I didn't know of they wanted to beat me up or congratulate me.'

WENN News Services is reporting that Tony winning actor Ben Vereen has been hit with a $10 million lawsuit by his daughter's ex-fiance over a house the former couple once shared together. William McGlynn, 39, in the lawsuit filed last week, claims he proposed to Malaika Vereen with a $30,500 engagement ring in 2004 and spent over $250,500 on the entertainer's daughter and grandson during their two-year courtship. McGlynn alleges he made a $123,000down payment on the $600,000 New Jersey home the couple shared, which was co-signed by Ben Vereen reports WENN. McGlynn allegedly called off the wedding in 2005 and demanded to sell the home and be reimbursed for his down payment, when he learned his future father-in-law was the only name on the deed. McGlynn says, '(Vereen) said my word is my word, we don't have to sign anything. He told me that everything would be okay... I tried reaching out to him... he said it's out of his hands. Even if I don't get the money back, I can let people know who these people are - to beware. Love is blind, I guess.'

Broadway's Nick Adams is featured on both the cover and inside the latest HX magazine available at various outlets now, in the issue Adams discusses his ever growing career and his personal workout regime. He also reveals a bit about rehearsals for the upcoming Broadway musical Guy & Dolls in which he'll soon be seen. Nick Adams is also Instinct magazine's coverboy for the December 2008/January 2009 issue. He is also featured inside the issue in a Broadway flavored pictorial. The photo shoot for the hip and stylish publication took place at the fabled, Palace Theatre, the current home of 'LIZA'S at the PALACE...!' Adams, 25, starred in Broadway's A Chorus Line as Larry -- opposite Mario Lopez -- and shortly will be recognized for his upcoming 2(x)ist underwear campaign. Nick was also one of the featured male dancers on the Kennedy Center Honors television special and the recent NBC special, ROSIE LIVE!

In celebration of Black History Month, award-winning Broadway star Andre De Shields will perform Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory: From Douglass to Deliverance for one show only on Monday, February 9, 2009, 7:30 PM, at SEIU District 1199, 310 West 43rd Street. Presented by Actor's Equity Association's EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) Committee, the performance is free and open to the public. Seating will be on a first come, first served basis. Conceived, researched and written by Mr. De Shields, Mine Eyes is directed by Alfred Preisser, Artistic Director, Classical Theatre of Harlem, where Mr. De Shields has frequently performed.

Casting has been announced for Si Kahn and Amy Merrill's romantic musical comedy, Silver Spoon, which will be presented in two industry readings at Chelsea Studios on Wednesday, January 21 at 3:00pm and 7:00pm. David Glenn Armstrong directs Broadway veterans Nick Wyman (A Tale of Two Cities, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Sly Fox, Phantom, Les Mis?rables) and Madeleine Doherty (The Producers, Les Mis?rables) as two mismatched potential lovers. Wyman and Doherty occasionally appeared together in the original Broadway production of Les Mis?rables as the Th?nardiers and also played their Silver Spoon roles in an earlier reading at the York Theatre. Sandy Rustin (I See London I See France, Election Day, Modern Orthodox, I Love You, You're Perfect...) and Zal Owen (Ogunquit's Fiddler, High School Musical, Les Mis?rables) complete the four-person cast as young lovers from opposite sides of the East River. Ken Clifton (former resident musical director at Ogunquit and the Riverside Theatre) is the Musical Director/Arranger. Silver Spoon is a love story about the dividing lines of heritage and class - can true love span the elite reaches of the Upper East Side into the heart of pro-labor Brooklyn in 1960's New York? Two rebellious young lovers take a wild leap of faith against the outrageous protestations of their families.

The Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening, which just played its final performance on Broadway last night, Sunday January 18th, will receive its UK premiere at West London's Lyric Hammersmith with performances beginning January 23rd. The young UK cast is led by Aneurin Barnard, Charlotte Wakefield and Iwan Rheon. Here we bring you exclusive pictures of the fresh new cast. This fall marked the launch of the First National Touring Company, which premiered at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco and just completed an engagement in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre. The tour's upcoming schedule includes Tempe, AZ, Chicago, Boston, Tampa, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Washington, DC among many other stops and is currently booked through the end of 2009. International productions are set in 2009 Vienna, Toronto, Helsinki, and Seoul.

The producers of 'HAIRSPRAY' are delighted to announce that Nigel Planer and Verity Rushworth are to join the cast of the multi-award winning musical, beginning on Monday 2 February. Nigel takes over the role of 'Wilbur Turnblad', husband of larger than life 'Edna' played by Michael Ball.

The one man play ZOMBIE written and performed by Bill Connington and adapted from a novella by Joyce Carol Oates will open Off Broadway at Theatre Row on February 21, with previews beginning February 18th. ZOMBIE, about a serial killer and sex offender will play through March 29th. Thomas Caruso directs. It first played a run last summer at the New York International Fringe Festival. Press notes desrcibe ZOMBIE as, 'Stand back, Jeffrey Dahmer. A mild-mannered 'everyman' sheds his skin, revealing the serial killer within. He follows his romantic delusions to horrific extremes, preying on young men, hoping to create a zombie who will be his forever. ZOMBIE asks what is the nature of a 'monster'--and what potential monsters may be lurking within ourselves?'

Passing Strange- the film directed by Spike Lee is showing at Sundance 2009 and is gaining raves from both critics and audiences alike at the famous Utah film festival. The film is being screened during the Spectrum Documentary Spotlight program through Feb. 25, 2009. Celebrated director Spike Lee filmed two of the show's final performances to preserve it for future generations and it is premiering to much acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival. Click here to read the article. Lee spoke with the New York Times about the film, his passion for the show and its long 'strange' trip from the Sundance Institute Lab to the current 2009 Festival.Lee filmed Passing Strange with a live audience during the matinee and evening performances on Saturday, July 19th 2008.

Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's Spring Awakening, the first musical to be presented by the Atlantic Theater Company, opened June 15th 2006 for a limited run through July 9th at the Atlantic Theater Company (336 West 20th Street). The show, in its world premiere production, began previews on May 19th, from the very first performance audiences knew something special was happening. As it readies to play its final performane tonight, we collected some of our past coverage and take a look back at some of the many Spring Awakening highlights in words, pictures and videos.

SFB-SHOTGUN PLAYERS 'MACBETH' by William Shakespeare, directed by Mark Jackson, opened Saturday, December 6th at 8PM and now has extended and runs through February 1st. Thursday through Sunday through January 11th. The show will be taking place at The Ashby Stage in Berkeley. Runs Thursday - Saturday at 8PM. All Sundays at 5PM through January 11.

Broadway Kids Care (BKC), the organization of theater kids for kids (and others) will be donating scarves they've knit for their second annual 'Knitting Project', BroadwayWorld checked in with the talented young performers as they showed off their colorful creations! Their creations will be donated to the residents of the Lillian Booth Actors' Home as well as residents of Freedom House NYC, a New York City shelter for disabled women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The project will be ongoing through January 2009. 'Nothing is sadder than to see someone cold during this time of year,' said Gabby Malek, Chair of the Children's Committee. 'Broadway Kids Care wants to share some of the warmth from our hearts, by donating handmade scarves and collecting coats for those in need.' Later this winter, the children will also perform a special holiday concert at The Actors' Home, where they will be distributing the scarves.

To celebrate Inauguration Day, 5th Avenue Theatre is selling tickets for 'Memphis' and 'Hello, Dolly!' for only $20.09. Tickets are available at this low price for one day, Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to midnight (online only) and 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (box office and phone). Shows on sale include the first week of the Broadway-aimed musical 'Memphis' (Jan. 27 to Feb. 1) and the first week of 'Hello, Dolly!' (March 7 to 15).

Various reports indicate that the 2009 Reprise Theatre Company season which was to present the world premiere of CHESS with a new book by Tony? winner Richard Maltby, Jr., has cancelled the production. THE FANTASTICKS, a musical they were planning for next season will now take it's place. CHESS was to play May 5th through 17th, 2009. Reprise is getting ready to open the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' it begins performances on Feburary 14th.

The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, is proud to present the World Premiere of a new musical comedy cabaret, Three Joisey Tenors, on Thursday, January 29, at 2 p.m. Performances continue Thursdays at 2 p.m. on February 12, March 12, March 19 and March 26. Moving from the waiting room at the NJ Dept. of Motor Vehicles to the grand concert stage of the Suds & Studs Launderama & Chop Suey Parlor, these Garden State guys prove they're willing to 'let it all hang out' as they hilariously entertain with the best of Tom Jones, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Engelbert Humperdinck, and showstoppers from Les Miserables, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Anything Goes, Pippin, Man of La Mancha, and much more. Three Joisey Tenors opens the Bickford Theatre's 2009 A La Carte Series and stars Christopher Budinich, David Scott Miller, and Michael St. John. All performers are NJ residents with major National Tour and Regional Theatre credits.