Melissa Giordano - Page 8

Ahead of the 30th Anniversary concert this weekend at the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center, Artistic Director Patrick Grossman took a few moments to chat with me about the shows this season, his plans for theatre, and more!

Opening their 41st season in tremendous style, the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center offers a superb production of the Tony winning musical Dreamgirls. Running through October 1st at the Oakdale venue, this incarnation boasts a stupendous cast who are absolute naturals in their respective roles. Excellently directed by CM Artistic Director Patrick Grossman (who also serves as Choreographer and Set Designer), the show is certainly a must see for the fall season.

The Gateway Playhouse closes out an amazing and busy Summer season with a superb production of the musical Little Shop Of Horrors. This incarnation runs at the Bellport venue through September 9th boasting an outstanding Broadway caliber cast. Based on the classic 1960 film, book writer Howard Ashman pens - and writes the lyrics for - the theatre staple's heartfelt story. And Alan Menken's music is a fun fusion of 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and Motown. You'll more than likely be familiar with the score's popular tunes including the title song and 'Suddenly, Seymour'.

Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theatre closes out their spectacular 26th season with a fun production of Shakespeare's As You Like It. This incarnation, running through September 3rd, features a stellar cast of favorites including Tony, Oscar, and Emmy winner Ellen Burstyn, Andre De Shields, Kyle Scatliffe, and more. Bay Street's boffo showing is in conjunction with New York City's Classic Stage Company and is excellently directed by CSCs Artistic Director John Doyle. In fact, once the run at Bay Street ends, this production will be opening at CSC on September 13th.

The latest offering from The Bare Bones Theatre Company is a splendid incarnation of Neil LaBute's off-Broadway play Some Girl(s). Excellently directed by Bare Bones vet Eric Clavell, the production runs through August 20th at the charming Posey School dance studio on Main Street in the beautiful town of Northport on Long Island. The story follows a gentleman, simply known as 'Guy', as he travels across the United States in an attempt to make amends with several ex-girlfriends before he embarks on his marriage.

The Gateway's latest offering is an absolutely thrilling production of the worldwide blockbuster hit Mamma Mia!. Running through August 5th at the Patchogue Theatre For The Performing Arts, this incarnation is excellently directed by Larry Raben. Indeed, this uplifting show, set to the fun music of ABBA, will leave you smiling and humming the score for days.

Intimate Apparel by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage is the second offering in Bay Street Theatre's spectacular 26th season. Excellently directed by Bay Street's Artistic Director Scott Schwartz, the show runs through July 30th at the charming Long Island venue. And I have to say that this is certainly one for the books.

The classic musical On The Town is probably the perfect theatrical offering - thanks to Bellport's Gateway Playhouse- during the 4th Of July festivities. Instead of an overture, the band plays the Star Spangled Banner and the story follows three sailors from the US Navy on a one day shore leave. We follow the sailors as they quickly meet three women who show them around New York City on their day off.

I had the honor of seeing the original Broadway cast of the Tony winning musical Ragtime as my very first Broadway show. So, as you can guess, I am absolutely thrilled to see that the BroadHollow Theatre Company has added it to their Spring season. This exciting incarnation, directed by Marian Waller, runs through July 9th at East Islip's BayWay Theatre and then heads over to BroadHollow's Elmont location beginning August 5th.

Closing out their wonderful 47th Season, Theatre Three offers a first-rate showing of the musical Saturday Night Fever. Based on the iconic 1977 movie and a story by Nik Cohn, this entertaining production, featuring songs by the Bee Gees, runs through June 24th at the charming Port Jefferson venue. This officially opened a few weeks ago and judging by the enthusiastic and still-packed house, you will certainly need to get your tickets quickly.

In their ongoing effort to support new works, the Bay Street Theatre kicks off their 26th main stage season with the World Premiere of Andrew Lippa's latest musical The Man In The Ceiling. Running through June 25th, this endearing production, directed by Tony winner Jeffrey Seller, boasts a stellar cast and creative team. And judging by the very enthusiastic, packed house opening night, you may want to get your tickets quickly.

Closing out their spectacular 32nd season, the Hampton Theatre Company (HTC) offers the uproarious British comedy Alarms and Excursions by Michael Frayn. In this engaging play, the actors appear in a series of vignettes - different characters and stories; sometimes all on stage together and sometimes not - making light otherwise embarrassing situations. Moreover, situations involving new technology - 1998 technology. Most of the vignettes don't have any relation, but each are absolutely sidesplitting.

I'm always cautiously optimistic in seeing a regional production of Jonathan Larson's Rent as I am a Renthead of MANY years. The thing to remember, obviously, is art has different interpretations. It is interesting to see the different elucidations of the choreography, the varied choices the actors make, the Director's vision, et cetera. I can proudly say that The Gateway Playhouse's incarnation of the Tony and Pulitzer winner, which is kicking off a very busy Summer season for the darling Bellport venue, does not disappoint.

Brilliantly ending their spectacular 10th season, Long Island's John W. Engeman Theatre offers a great incarnation of the iconic, game-changing musical Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!. Excellently directed by Engeman vet Igor Goldin, this production runs through June 25th at the gorgeous Northport venue. The cast is truly outstanding and the whole production is well done.

See, everyone? Getting older doesn't have to be boring or frightening. As depicted in the adorable production of Assisted Living, The Musical, it can be an interesting ride to embrace. For the satirical tale, creators Rick Compton and Betsy Bennett created an eclectic collection of characters, portrayed by two actors, to make light in reaching the twilight years living in a retirement community.

Spring is in the air and that means a hopping theatre scene is in full force on Long Island. For the past almost six years, I've truly enjoyed traveling the Island to tell you about the amazing shows and extraordinary talent that we have.

The latest offering from Theatre Three, Where There's A Will, is indeed a special treat. Not only did Jeffrey Sanzel (Theatre Three's Artistic Director and a pillar of the Long Island theatre community) create the hilarious play, but he also assembled an all-star cast for the presentation. This zany production runs through May 6th at the Port Jefferson venue.

Canadian playwright Bernard Slade is perhaps best known for his 1975 Broadway debut play Same Time, Next Year in addition to his TV credits. Out of his usual comedic realm, Mr. Slade proves versatile with this gripping British who-dun-it play, An Act of the Imagination, currently being presented by the Hampton Theatre Company through April 9th at the Quogue Community Hall.

To start, this article will probably not do this incredible production justice. The Engeman's latest, Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical is absolutely electrifying and the Broadway caliber cast is positively glorious. This is, without a doubt, a must see for the season. And by the reaction of the sold out audience on opening night, you may want to get your tickets quickly as this runs through April 30th.

CK Productions' latest, Tony nominee You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown is a really cute production. Based on the characters created by Charles M. Schulz in his iconic comic strip Peanuts, this fun musical, created by Clark Gesner, was actually originally done in 1967. This incarnation, however, is a replication of the 1999 revival.