Santa and Jesus Team to Fight Big Oil and the Record Companies to Save the North Pole in THE LAST CHRISTMAS
From the team that created FORKING!and A Merry FORKING! Christmas (playwright Daniel Heath, director Christy Crowley, and producer PianoFight), comes the world-premiere holiday action-musical, The Last Christmas. When oil companies threaten to drill in the North Pole, Santa embarks on a mission to save his workshop and Christmas. Teaming up with an idealistic street musician, her ass-kicking sister, and Jesus, this unlikely quartet enters a battle of the bands with a grand prize big enough to buy Santa's workshop AND the North Pole. But with the oil companies tilting the scales, an evil contest host, and a young pop princess primed to win, can Santa and his rag tag crew rescue the holidays? The Last Christmas runs Wednesdays through Saturdays, December 8 through 23, at 7pm at PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street, San Francisco. Tickets are $20 - $50 and can be purchased at www.pianofight.com
BWW Reviews: Rep Opens Season with Sexy and Captivating Production of CABARET
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis kicks off their season with a lively and captivating production of CABARET, Kander and Ebb's dark and cynical examination of life in Berlin prior to Hitler's ascension. This sleek, sexy, abrasive and poignant musical is solidly performed by both the cast, and the musicians portraying the Kit Kat Club house band. There's a lot of fine theatre taking place in St. Louis at the moment, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't take the time to check out this decadent delight.
Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal Opens with Kritzerland Salute to Composer Bob Merrill
On Sunday April 1 Kritzerland presented its monthly show, this time Take Me Along saluting composer/lyricist Bob Merrill at the all new Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal in NoHo. This also marked the opening night for the new venue. Bruce Kimmel hosted a lovely evening with singers Melody Hollis, Juliana Hansen, Julie Garnye, Kristopher McNeeley, Jeffrey Christopher Todd and special guest Lainie Kazan. Christy Crowl served beautifully as musical director at the piano. Shelly Markham played for Miss Kazan. As always, Kimmel told some interesting stories about the composer. As for Merrill, he composed all of his tunes on a toy xylophone and had a series of pop tunes in the 50s long before he had a Broadway success. Songs performed in the 90-minute set included these tunes as well as Broadway fare from hits like Funny Girl, Carnival and Sugar, as well as from flops Pretty Belle, Henry, Sweet Henry, based on The World of Henry Orient and Holly Golightly otherwise referred to as Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Photo Flash: Bryce Ryness, Lisa O'Hare in Reprise Theatre Company's CABARET
Reprise Theatre Company's production of the classic American musical 'Cabaret,' which opens the 2011-2012 Reprise season and plays September 13 to 25 (press opening September 14, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, includes a cast of new talents as well as Broadway and West End veterans - Zach Bandler as Ernst Ludwig, Lisa O'Hare as Sally Bowles, Jeff McLean as Cliff Bradshaw, Katrina Lenk as Fräulein Kost, Mary Gordon Murray as Fräulein Schneider, Robert Picardo as Herr Schultz and Bryce Ryness as the Master of Ceremonies.
Bryce Ryness, Lisa O'Hare to Lead Reprise Theatre Company's CABARET; Opens 9/13
Reprise Theatre Company's production of the classic American musical 'Cabaret,' which opens the 2011-2012 Reprise season and plays September 13 to 25 (press opening September 14, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, includes a cast of new talents as well as Broadway and West End veterans - Zach Bandler as Ernst Ludwig, Lisa O'Hare as Sally Bowles, Jeff McLean as Cliff Bradshaw, Katrina Lenk as Fräulein Kost, Mary Gordon Murray as Fräulein Schneider, Robert Picardo as Herr Schultz and Bryce Ryness as the Master of Ceremonies.
