David Clarke - Page 23

Continuing with the popular Straight From New York Concert Series and workshops, Tyce Green, in partnership with Bryan-Keyth Wilson's The Wilson School of Acting & Musical Theatre, is bringing YouTube sensation, American Idol alum, and stage veteran Natalie Weiss to Houston, TX. In anticipation of her workshops and cabaret performances, I recently spoke with her about her burgeoning career and her Houston concerts and workshops.

As Houston Ballet was putting the finishing touches on their production of David Bintley's mesmerizing ALADDIN, I got the opportunity to talk with Houston Ballet Principal Sara Webb. On the night before the production opened at The Wortham Theater Center, we discussed the U.S. Premiere of the ballet and her career.

There is no conceivable way that anyone had any idea how Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? would change the face of the theatre. It opened on October 13, 1962, and it went on to win both the 1963 Tony Award and New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play. Now, for the digital age, Masterworks Broadway has re-released the 1963 Columbia Masterworks original Broadway cast recording, letting a whole new generation experience the classic play with its brilliant original cast.

The Music Box Theater is proudly closing its third year with their latest musical revue MORE BROADWAY AT THE BOX. Rebekah Dahl, Brad Scarborough, Kristina Sullivan, Cay Taylor, and Luke Wrobel masterfully entertain Houston audiences with the inventive cabaret revue, earning copious amounts of cheers and applause. MORE BROADWAY AT THE BOX is truly everything that it was hyped up to be.

In no time at all, Houstonians will be able to click their heels and follow the yellow brick road to The Hobby Center to see TUTS' presentation of the National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE WIZARD OZ. In anticipation of the musical landing in Houston, I spoke with Jacquelyn Piro Donovan who plays Miss Gulch and The Wicked Witch of the West about the show and her career.

Last night, Houston Ballet presented the American Premiere performance of David Bintley's spellbinding ALADDIN. The ballet, commissioned by National Ballet of Japan, had its World Premiere on November 15, 2008. For this opulent and mesmerizing theatrical treat, choreographer David Bintley pulls his inspiration from the original story; however, his ballet stills delivers everything fans of the 1992 Disney film expect from the story.

When GHOST: THE MUSICAL opened on Broadway it was met by a bevy of critical slams and was plagued by technical issues that would stall the production. Now, the troubled movie turned musical turned theme-park ride is limping, zombie-like, across the nation in a Non-Equity National Tour. Luckily, the production is employing a handful of theatre professionals. In many ways, that is this overblown clunker of a show's only saving grace.

The splashy and showy musical adaptation of BIG FISH opened to mixed reviews on Broadway and let its final curtain fall sooner than many expected. The show was poised to be hit; however, with just one listen to Broadway Records' Original Cast Recording of BIG FISH and the faults that brought this giant to its knees begin to become apparent.

TUTS' The River is gearing up for their annual 'Dream Out Loud' celebration. At this year's celebration, the Sammy Award will be given to Lauren Potter. Most people will recognize her as the sassy cheerleader Becky Jackson on FOX's GLEE. In anticipation of this year's event, Lauren Potter talks about her career, anti-bullying initiatives, and advocacy for people with disabilities.

Earlier this week Broadway Records released the concept cast recording of Ron Yatter's musical SAMSON & DELILAH. Featuring American Idol alums and current stars of the latest National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo in the titular roles, the pop score is sung with radio-friendly vocal styling but fails to truly impress.

Fresh off of Broadway, the visually spectacular GHOST: THE MUSICAL is making an appearance in Houston as part of Gexa Energy's Broadway at the Hobby Center series. The musical follows the plot of the Oscar-winning film Ghost and features a score written by Dave Stewart (one half of the 80s pop duo The Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard (co-writer with Alanis Morissette on the multi-platinum album Jagged Little Pill, among many other notable credits and collaborations). Recently, Brandon Curry, who plays the Subway Ghost, took some time out his busy tour schedule to talk to me about his career, GHOST: THE MUSICAL, and why Houston should be gearing up to see this production.

When it comes to the development of drama in the United States, August Wilson's legacy is undeniable. His plays are recognized for being influential and sumptuously powerful. His Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning drama FENCES certainly upholds this banner. Currently being presented at Pearland's Pearl Theater by the Pearland Theatre Guild, this celebrated American work masterpiece is being brought to life in a compelling and touching way.

It seems that jukebox musicals made to appeal to my parents' generation are a dime a dozen these days. However, there is something truly special about Randy Johnson's A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN. His intimate theatrical portrait of the Queen of Rock from Port Arthur, Texas spent three sold-out years on the road before opening to rave reviews and enthusiastic crowds at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre on October 10, 2013. Even though the show just closed on February 9, its magic and energy has been preserved by Broadway Records on A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN (Original Broadway Cast Recording).

Miki Johnson took Houston audiences by storm when The Catastrophic Theatre premiered her first play AMERICAN FALLS. Now, The Catastrophic Theatre and Miki Johnson are back at it with the riveting and gut wrenching world premiere of her tautly constructed new drama CLEAN/THROUGH. The 60-minute one-act play is a deeply traumatizing experience that leaves audiences profoundly devastated and hopeful all at the same time.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) consistently brings the best the opera world has to offer to Houston stages. Time and time again, they cast operas with incredible talent and put on productions that are visually stunning as well. Their latest production of RIGOLETTO is no exception. Everything that makes performances at HGO exciting was perfectly in place. The auditorium was buzzing with excitement about the show, the cast was vocally impressive and on point, and the orchestra was playing with all the gusto and pizzazz that Giuseppe Verdi's darkly toned score requires.

Just as exciting as the annual summer concert presentation of a more-or-less forgotten hit musical from yesteryear are Bayou City Concert Musicals' fundraising cabaret performances. Kicking off their 2014 season, Paul Hope has programmed an evening of Irving Berlin's hit songs for the 1930s. In this set, titled CHEEK TO CHEEK: IRVING BERLIN IN THE 1930s, there are numerous favorites that left audiences tittering excitedly from the time they took their seats until the program ended.

Based on the legends of Don Juan, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's DON GIOVANNI is a true staple in the operatic repertoire and is the tenth most-performed opera worldwide. The opera is often considered to be a dramma giocoso, which means that it mixes serious drama with comedy to create a melodramatic plot; however, Mozart catalogued the work as an opera buffa, or comic opera. Houston's Opera in the Heights production highlights the humor of the piece and thrills with skillful performances.

In May of 2011 Santry Rush, directed by John Tyson, presented the Houston premiere of Conor McPherson's THE GOOD THIEF at the Mosaic Theatre Company. Since then, the duo has been seeking an opportunity to bring the show inside the loop for another staging, and was granted that opportunity by Stark Naked Theatre Company, who is currently producing the Houston professional premiere of the riveting one-man show in repertory with Brian Friel's FAITH HEALER.

On January 28, 2013 more than 100 Broadway stars joined with over 300 students from several Newton dance groups, the Sandy Hook Elementary School 3rd and 4th grades (2012/2013 school year), and the Newton High School Chamber Choir (2012/2013 school year) to present FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR SANDY HOOK. The event was a heartfelt concert of healing, and today Broadway Records is releasing a two-CD recording of the concert. Also, Broadway Records is donating 100% of its profits from the CD, DVD (also released today), and Blu-Ray (releasing February 18th) to support the Newtown-Sandy Hook community via the Newton-Sandy Hook Community Foundation.

As a new year begins, we often feel that we have all the time in the world. Presenting the Regional Premiere of Philip Dawkins' FAILURE: A LOVE STORY, Stages Repertory Theatre is kindly reminding audiences that time is something precious and that it is also often wasted. This touching play, filled with a lot of heart and energy, is sure to leave audiences more cognizant of the constant tick-tock of life's clock and how we choose to spend our time.