Romina Oliverio

Michigan native Eric Gelb is not your typical teenager. His resume lists an impressive number of accomplishments including producing, writing, performing, marketing and designing. In 2011, Eric co-wrote and co-produced the high-school musical 'Project X' which toured across venues in his home state. He also worked with playwright Maggie Kennan-Bolger on her play 'Queering History' and interned for the 2012 Broadway for Obama campaign. Did we mention he's only 14 years old? BroadwayWorld's Student Centre sits down with Eric to get a glimpse into this busy teenager's life, his thoughts on arts in the schools, and what he's learned from President Lincoln.

A holiday treat awaits theatre-bound families as the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People presents the World Premiere of Leslie Arden's 'The Princess & the Handmaiden'. Directed by Allen MacInnis, the show will be presented on the Mainstage from November 15 to December 30, 2009.

As theatre patrons somberly filed out of Alumnae Theatre's production of 'Palace of the End', it seemed as if the air had been sucked out of the small studio theatre. Not only had we experienced a phenomenal work of playwriting staged by a stellar production, but we had been on the receiving end of a visceral account of atrocities inspired by the Iraq war. This was not a case of art imitating life - this was life, in its undistorted reality.

A holiday treat awaits theatre-bound families as the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People presents the World Premiere of Leslie Arden's 'The Princess & the Handmaiden'. Directed by Allen MacInnis, the show will be presented on the Mainstage from November 15 to December 30, 2009.

The Alumnae Theatre Company's 'Palace of the End' is a searing triptych of monologues that present different perspectives on the war in Iraq. A young and pregnant American soldier - in disgrace for her treatment of Iraqi prisoners - tells us about 'My Pyramids'; a disillusioned British weapons inspector invites us to witness his suicide at 'Harrowdown Hill'; and an Iraqi woman shares the heartbreaking story of her family's torture in 'Instruments of Yearning'. The characters are all based on real people and events. The play runs from November 13 to 28.

'Hell is other people'. In Jean-Paul Sartre's existentialist masterpiece, 'No Exit', three damned souls collide in hell, expecting to be subjected to torture for their mortal sins, only to be left at the mercy of one another. Sartre's philosophical journey into the human psyche will be staged as a 'live movie' in a hybrid film and theatre performance presented by Nightwood Theatre from November 11-21 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. The production is conceived and directed by Kim Collier.

The Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, known for its development, creation and encouragement of new work, has announced the lineup for its annual Play Reading Week which will run from November 19 to 28, 2009. In all, nine original works will be given a reading by professional actors. This year's offerings will include the following theatrical works:

Retailer Holt Renfrew has announced a change to the talent lineup for tonight's 'Holiday Window Unveiling.' Previously scheduled Tony and Emmy award winner Kristin Chenoweth has pulled out of the event due to illness. Replacing her will be Juno-award winning singer-songwriter Feist. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:30PM tonight, November 5.

Tony-award winner Lea Salonga, who originated the role of Kim in 'Miss Saigon' and provided the singing voices for Disney's Mulan and Princess Jasmine in 'Aladdin,' will make a special appearance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto tonight, November 4, at 8PM.

Parental woes may soon be playing out in their full dysfunction on the Canadian stage if Mirvish Productions' plans to bring the Broadway hit 'God of Carnage' to Toronto materialize.

'Tis the season for Holt Renfrew's annual 'Holiday Window Unveiling,' and this year the Toronto-based luxurious retailer will have a little something extra to sing about as Tony and Emmy award winner Kristin Chenoweth is expected to be on hand, according to a report in the National Post. The event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 5.

'Oh What a Night' it is bound to be on Friday November 6, when the original Jersey boy with the golden falsetto Frankie Valli and his current Four Seasons line-up croon for fans in a rare concert appearance at Toronto's Massey Hall.