BWW Review: Scrooges Galore: Two Distinct Takes on A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Chesapeake Shakespeare and Toby's
It is a truth universally acknowledged that as Christmas rolls around, A Christmas Carol appears in theaters. And it's no wonder; Charles Dickens' irresistible holiday tale is irresistibly theatrical. It is machine-tooled to go right for the heartstrings. A lot of different things can be done within this framework, a versatility well-illustrated by two distinct takes on A Christmas Carol currently on offer at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Baltimore at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Columbia.
Sharif Atkins Stars in NBT and CTH's DUTCHMAN, Now thru 5/23
Actor Sharif Atkins ('White Collar,' 'Hawaii,' 'ER') will star as Clay in the co-production of 'Dutchman' by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) by Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT) and The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH). The two theater companies are mounting the production 50 years after the March 1964 world premiere of the play at the Cherry Lane Theatre and in tribute to the late theater great Baraka, who died on January 9. Ambien Mitchell stars opposite Atkins as Lula and Lorenzo Scott joins the cast as the Conductor. Previews of the Carl Cofield-directed show begin tonight, April 30 and run through May 2, and performances run from May 3 through May 23 at National Black Theatre in Harlem.
Sharif Atkins to Star in NBT and CTH's DUTCHMAN, 4/30-5/23
Actor Sharif Atkins ('White Collar,' 'Hawaii,' 'ER') will star as Clay in the co-production of 'Dutchman' by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) by Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT) and The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH). The two theater companies are mounting the production 50 years after the March 1964 world premiere of the play at the Cherry Lane Theatre and in tribute to the late theater great Baraka, who died on January 9. Ambien Mitchell stars opposite Atkins as Lula and Lorenzo Scott joins the cast as the Conductor. Previews of the Carl Cofield-directed show begin on April 30 and run through May 2, and performances run from May 3 through May 23 at National Black Theatre in Harlem.
BWW Review: Ease on Down and See THE WIZ at Toby's
What really puts the show across, however, is the songs. The wealth of black pop of the mid-70s is on display here, including power-pop ballads (THE FEELING WE ONCE HAD) and disco (EMERALD CITY BALLET), with definite echoes of the Shaft Theme in the TORNADO BALLET. And here this great music is put across by pros.
Khalil Kain, J. Kyle Manzay Set for THE GREAT MACDADDY at 777 Theatre
Korner Theatricals in association with the Negro Ensemble Company, Freedome Bailey and the Hip Hop Theater Festival have announced that TV and film veteran Khalil Kain and Obie award-winning actor and producer J. Kyle Manzay are joining to play the roles of Scag and The Great MacDaddy in the first major revival in 35 years of the Obie award-winning play THE GREAT MACDADDY. Award-winning director Alfred Preisser helms the production, which opens November 29th at 8:00 PM. The Great MacDaddy is the first production at the new 777 Theater in the Broadway theatre district, at 777 Eighth Avenue in New York City. Further casting will be announced at a later date.
National Theatre Conference Honors Elizabeth McCann, Dominique Morisseau, and New Federal Theatre with 2012 Awards
The National Theatre Conference (NTC), an organization founded in 1925 that meets annually in New York to discuss relevant issues in today's theatre community and to celebrate outstanding achievement in the American theatre, has named the recipients of its 2012 awards. Broadway producer Elizabeth McCann has been named Person of the Year; the New Federal Theatre, under the direction of its founder, Woodie King, Jr., is the recipient of the Theatre of the Year Award; and playwright Dominique Morisseau has been selected as the winner of the Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwright Award. All three will be presented with their awards and honored at the Players and at Signature Theatre during NTC's annual conference in New York October 26-28, 2012.
BWW Baltimore Awards Update 12/19 - TWO Weeks Left!
There's just TWO short weeks left to go in voting for the 2011 Baltimore Awards and here is the latest update! Have you voted yet, and helped to spread the word to support your favorites in the hopes that they will be the recipients of a 2011 BroadwayWorld Baltimore Award? There is no time to waste, click on the voting link and make your opinion count! Below are the stats so far as of Monday December 19, 2011. Voting ends at midnight on 12/31 so time is running out.
BWW Baltimore Awards Update 12/12 - Have You Voted?
There's just a few weeks left to go in voting for the 2011 Baltimore Awards and here is the latest update! Have you voted yet, and helped to spread the word to support your favorites in the hopes that they will be the recipients of a 2011 BroadwayWorld Baltimore Award? There is no time to waste, click on the voting link and make your opinion count! Below are the stats so far as of Monday December 12, 2011.
Teatro 101 to Present BROOKLYN's Regional Premiere
Teatro101, producer of recent hits The Wild, Party, Side Show, Violet, and The Little Dog Laughed, presents the Regional Premiere of Brooklyn: The Musical - a sidewalk fairytale about a young girl's quest for truth and love. The book, music, and lyrics - by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson - fills the stage with a mix of brash pop and some incredible soul. Come let our soulful street-corner singers and storytellers mesmerize and enchant you every step of the way. Limited-engagement will play at a new, special location: Baltimore Theatre Project.
Teatro 101 to Present BROOKLYN's Regional Premiere
Teatro101, producer of recent hits The Wild, Party, Side Show, Violet, and The Little Dog Laughed, presents the Regional Premiere of Brooklyn: The Musical - a sidewalk fairytale about a young girl's quest for truth and love. The book, music, and lyrics - by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson - fills the stage with a mix of brash pop and some incredible soul. Come let our soulful street-corner singers and storytellers mesmerize and enchant you every step of the way. Limited-engagement will play at a new, special location: Baltimore Theatre Project.
A Theatre Lover's Guide to DC/Capital Area Theatres â€" June 2011 Offerings
The humidity is starting to climb and it's what we call around here -- 'corn weather'. But in the air-conditioned theatres in the Nation's Capital there is a harvest of new shows opening. So if you're here visiting the monuments and the Smithsonian museums, get out of the heat and come see a play or a musical.
THE WILD PARTY Begins At Teatro101
This May, Teatro101 proudly presents Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party, the Off-Broadway hit musical based on the poem by Joseph Moncure March. The PARTY begins May 12th and shuts down May 28.