Heidi Scheuermann - Page 3

I'm so thrilled to say that on Thursday evening one of my biggest inspirations, Gavin Creel, along with Seth Rudetsky will be presenting a concert at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. I'm even more thrilled to say that I had the unique opportunity to hold him hostage on the phone for nearly half an hour to talk about his life, career, and some burning questions that I just had to have answered.

Lucky for all of us here in New Orleans, Mark Cortale is again bringing his Broadway in New Orleans series to the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) beginning tonight at 7:30pm.  The first concert of the 2016-2017 series features an actor/singer who you may know from any number of Broadway shows such as LES MISERABLES, SHE LOVES ME, and most recently FUN HOME.  Or, if you grew up in the 90s like me, you may know her as the barefoot running, Native American, Disney princess Pocahontas.  Is "Colors of the Wind" anyone else's go-to road trip jam?

This past weekend was the second in a three week run of Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre.  The show opened their 2016-2017 season in Le Petit's 100th year, which is something to celebrate in and of itself.  New Orleans is full of history and Le Petit has certainly been a wonderful part of that history for a whole century!  So before I go any further… congratulations to the Le Petit family, and happy 100th birthday!

Well folks, this is it.  You've got one weekend left to get on over to 30 x Ninety Theatre for their presentation of the Tennessee Williams classic CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF.  And you should get on over there for this production.  Trust me, this is an experience you don't want to miss!

Playing the oldest Von Trapp daughter, Liesl, is Paige Silvester. The role was made famous by the recently deceased Charmain Carr (may she rest in peace) in the 1965 film by the same name. Silvester hails from Sacramento, California; earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan; is no stranger to the stage; and writes a really fun blog. She grew up dancing, singing, and acting, and has performed The Muny, Sacramento Music Circus, and was most recently seen in the ensemble of the Broadway 1st National Tour of EVITA.

Ok, so maybe the title of this article is only halfway true. Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts ended a successful run of the musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING successfully... except it's obvious they tried really hard. And the hard work paid off!

Theatre is always a fun outing during the summer months, especially in New Orleans (can you say air conditioner?).  Let's look at some of our top picks for shows to see around the Big Easy in June and July…

The wildly popular show about the witches from Oz is returning to New Orleans for the third time in recent years to share the magic!  WICKED, a musical adaptation of the book by Gregory Maguire, tells the story of two young girls who meet at Shiz University, and go on an adventure that will lead them to become Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.  If you grew up with THE WIZARD OF OZ, you're going to love WICKED.  Think of it as a behind the scenes look at everything that took place before Dorothy and her little dog too were dropped into the Emerald City.

The first thing that came to my mind when I found out that Rivertown Theaters was doing SPELLING BEE was 'Oh!  That's that show where Celia Keenan-Bolger wore the pink overalls!'  I don't know why that's the first thing that came to mind, but it was.  Maybe because I'm a fan of hers.  Maybe because it reminded me for some reason of my neon blue Tweety Bird overalls I had when I was a kid (I kid you not… My mom actually let me out of the house wearing that).  Maybe because those overalls reminded me of a time in life when things were simpler.  Happier.  Less complicated.

Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome to Roundabout Theatre Company's cast of CABARET who opens their show this week at the Saenger Theatre!  We are so happy to have you here.  For those of you who will be in attendance this week, you're in for some pure awesomeness.  Whether you're drawn to this show for its music, its choreography, or its incredible story oozing with sass and history, prepare to be both entertained and educated.

Throw on some makeup, grab your highest heels, and hold on to your wigs because something fabulous is strutting into New Orleans tomorrow that you won't want to miss!  KINKY BOOTS is a fairly new, Tony Award-winning musical production brought to you by creative dream team Jerry Mitchell, Cyndi Lauper, and Harvey Fierstein.  Inspired by the true-life events of Steve Pateman, it tells the story of a young man who inherits his family's failing shoe factory. 

Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross. All are Motown artists that we will get to meet when the national tour of MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL hits New Orleans tonight!

For the second time in the past few years, the Disney favorite BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is in New Orleans. If you caught the show a couple of seasons ago (read my review here), you know that this is one of the most magical productions currently running! It's a classic story with a great message about seeing beyond a person's exterior and trying to get to know them for the person they are inside. Belle certainly sees beyond the Beast's exterior, and through her passionate care, helps the residents of his castle to reclaim their humanity.

Of all the shows that I have seen throughout my lifetime, absolutely none… and I do mean none… nada, zip, zilch… have excited me more than Disney's NEWSIES.  It's honestly surprising upon meeting someone new if I don't mention this show within the first twenty minutes of our conversation.  I love it that much, and I can't wait for this tour to get to New Orleans next week!

After a long process, Jefferson Performing Arts Society has finally opened their brand new theater that cost upwards of $5 million to build on Jefferson Highway near Zephyr Field!  Their first production in the new facility was MY FAIR LADY, which has always been a favorite of mine.

Whether it's Disney's Cinderella, A Cinderella Story, Ella Enchanted, Ever After, or some other variation, you know the story.  This classic fairy tale has been told time and time again.  It just never gets old!  And now, to make things even better, the national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA is making its way to the Saenger Theatre tonight!  That's right, you and yours have the chance to experience the most magical evening of all during the most enchanted week of the year (of course, I'm referring to Halloween).

Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts is now in the midst of their very first season of all musicals, and they couldn't have opted for a better opening show than THE PRODUCERS, directed by Ricky Graham.  They also couldn't have chosen a better pair than Sean Patterson and Gary Rucker to play leading men Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom.

I honestly don't think I can name a single person who I know who hasn't seen Disney's The Little Mermaid.  Not even one.  It has been a favorite of so many since the movie premiered in 1989.  The story is based off of a fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen, and was adapted for the big screen with music written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.  It tells the tale of a 16-year-old mermaid named Ariel, who falls in love with Prince Eric, a land creature.  This love is forbidden by Ariel's father, King Triton.  Disobeying her father, Ariel goes on a quest with her friends Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle to make a deal with the sea witch Ursula that will turn her into a human so she can be with her love at last.

Two things in the world that I think are just the coolest are 1) Dolly Parton and 2) being introduced to shows that I don't know anything about before the curtain comes up. Playmakers Theater in Covington combined these two really cool things that I love into one night of laughs when they presented 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL.

There's that saying 'Every day you live is one day closer to death.'  The opposite happened for me when by some miracle, or maybe even magic, I became younger and younger until I was young enough to think lovely thoughts and follow Peter to his Neverland at Rivertown Theaters.  PETER PAN is a show that has always been very special to me.  Whether it was my sister betting her fellow first graders that they hadn't seen the 'Mary Martin version' or learning the entirety of the shadow puppet show from 'I Gotta Crow,' this story is one that has and will forever resonate within my soul.