Review: ELF at Fairfield Center Stage
On Saturday, November 11th, I had the pleasure of seeing ELF, the musical, performed by Fairfield Center Stage, at Wakeman Hall inside First Congregational Church of Fairfield. With book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin and music by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, this musical is based on the 2003 movie. Director Marcelle Morrisey, musical director Clay Zambo, and choreographers Emily Frangipane & Kelsey Kaminski combine their talents to bring out the best in this phenomenal ensemble cast. The music is of the traditional show-tunes genre, a rarity in more recently written musicals.
ELF THE MUSICAL Comes to Fairfield Center Stage in November
Community theater group Fairfield Center Stage (FCS) will present the musical comedy ELF, based on the hit movie starring Will Ferrell, in downtown Fairfield, CT. The show runs for two weekends, Nov 10-19, 2023 at Wakeman Hall inside First Church Congregational of Fairfield at 148 Beach Rd.
Craig Campbell Sets Date for 'The Lost Files: Exhibit B'
Craig Campbell dug deep into his catalog of songs recorded during two label deals and gems he cut for his own label, when he released The Lost Files: Exhibit A in February. Continuing the process, he unearthed another 17 songs which will be released as The Lost Files: Exhibit B on his Grindstone Recordings label.
La Compañía Nacional De Danza Fortaleció Su Actividad Nacional E Internacional En 2022
La Compañía Nacional de Danza (CND) del Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (Inbal) llegó de forma presencial y virtual a gran parte de su audiencia, a lo largo de este 2022, mediante la presentación de diversas puestas en escena en el Palacio de Bellas Artes y en otros recintos de la Ciudad de México, así como del interior del país, y de transmisiones virtuales de algunas obras de su acervo.
BWW Review: The Magic of OZ; The Miracle of MSMT
To stage the beloved cultural icon that is THE WIZARD OF OZ offers any theatre company a herculean challenge: one which requires stretching the imagination to the limits to create a universe where reality is redefined and fantasy is fulfilled. In short, it demands stunning stagecraft and brilliant artistic vision. And it is just that kind of theatrical magic which Maine State Music Theatre's new production co- directed by Marc Robin and Curt Dale Clark boldly and beautifully realizes.
Mellon Foundation Expands Funding For Cincinnati Opera, CCM Partnership
Cincinnati Opera and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) are pleased to announce that The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded a new grant of $550,000 to renew funding for Opera Fusion: New Works and support two new initiatives to promote diverse voices in the arts.
BWW Review: MSMT Brings Glitter of Hollywood's Golden Age to the Pickard Stage
As its main stage finale in this Diamond Jubilee season, Maine State Music Theatre chose to present the stage version of one of the most beloved musicals of all time, Singin' in the Rain. With its book by Betty Comden/Adolph Green, and songs by Nacio Herb Brown/Arthur Freed), based on the famed MGM musical, this iconic classic receives a production that recreates the glitter of Hollywood's Golden Age on a dazzlingly grand scale. MSMT's staging, directed/choreographed by Marc Robin, sparkles with the effervescence of fine champagne, bubbles with energy and originality, exudes sunshine and joy, and offers its audiences an exhilarating, entirely magical entertainment experience.
BWW Review: We Love You Conrad: MSMT's Stylish Revival of BYE BYE BIRDIE
It has been fifty-eight years since the Tony-award-winning Michael Stewart/Charles Crouse/Lee Adams musical Bye Bye Birdie first opened on Broadway, and while the topicality of the material is no longer au courant, still this fresh, charming Maine State Music Theatre revival, directed/choreographed by Raymond Marc Dumont, retains its humor, humanity, and universality.
BWW Review: Dance, Dance, DANCE: MSMT's SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER
With the immortal songs of the BeeGees, mesmerizing disco dancing, and a cast of unforgettable characters, the musical version of Saturday Night Fever offers an inherently compelling theatrical experience. Maine State Music Theatre's new production does all that and more: it brings freshness, originality, and strong dramatic narrative to the work, all the while that it envelops the audience in its pulse and passion. This production is white-hot, warm, funny, and genuine.
BWW Review: MSMT'S Opulent BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Offers Pure Enchantment
With what is arguably the largest production in Maine State Music Theatre's history, the company brings a level of opulence, sophistication, and magic to the Pickard stage that makes this production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast a fitting jewel in the Diamond Jubilee Crown. It is no secret that the company has used every single ounce of its resources (and overcome a number of unforeseen obstacles along the way) to create this magnificent production, but the result has been entirely worth the effort. This beloved fairytale dazzlingly comes to life in all its heartfelt beauty.