Matthew Ward

VIDEO: Watch Stephen Cole, Ward Roberts, and Peter Filichia Discuss 'Cole Porter as a Gay Icon'
by Blair Ingenthron - Jan 13, 2024

Chicago's Cole Porter Festival - A Celebration of the Man and his Music continues with the “Cole Porter as a Gay Icon,” notable Cole Porter fans, Stephen Cole, Ward Roberts and Peter Filichia, discuss Porter as a gay artist working in the 1920s-50s, hosted by Porchlight’s Producing Artistic Associate Frankie Leo Bennett. Watch the discussion here!

BWW Review: CICADA at Theatre Memphis
by Kevin Shaw - Apr 8, 2022

Theatre Memphis’ newest production (CICADA) which opened this past weekend and runs through April 16th explores the difference between a memory and a ghost and what it means to be haunted by both. Memories, like ghosts, are just manifestations (internal versus external) of the people in our lives (often family) who shaped, loved, and inspired us. Or they’re recollections (real or imagined) of kinfolk who sometimes shamed, tormented, and frightened us. Perhaps they’re both. There’s an argument to be made (generally speaking) when people utter the phrase, “Family is forever,” it’s supposed to be a good thing, but what if it’s not? What if your family offers nothing but a long lineage of misery and pain? What to do? Where to go?

Jessica Vosk Joins P-Town Lineup
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 26, 2021

Jessica Vosk, who starred most recently as Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, will make her Broadway @ The Art House series debut on Monday, August 30th at 7:00 PM, with Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host

Kristin Chenoweth, Stephanie J. Block, Lillias White and More to Perform at Provincetown's Art House & Town Hall
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 2, 2021

Over the next five weeks alone, between now and Labor Day weekend, The Art House and Town Hall in Provincetown will host a “who’s who” constellation of Broadway award-winners and music & comedy all-stars with no less than sixteen individual shows opening across the two venues’ three stages.

Judy Gold and Sierra Boggess to Kick-Off Provincetown Art House 10th Anniversary Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 25, 2021

The Art House 2021 season will kick-off in Provincetown. The Broadway @ The Art House series brings Sierra Boggess, Broadway’s original Ariel in The Little Mermaid and a frequent Christine Daaé in Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies, on July 2 & 3 with Seth Rudetsky as pianist & host

Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O'Hara, Lillias White, Stephanie J. Block & More Announced for Provincetown Art House Summer 2021
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 21, 2021

On the heels of this week’s announcement by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker that all of the state’s businesses can reopen at 100% capacity as of May 29, Mark Cortale, Producing Artistic Director of Provincetown’s Art House theater, has announced a fittingly momentous lineup of music and comedy superstars for the summer 2021 season.

Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O'Hara, Stephanie J. Block and More Announced for Provincetown Art House Summer Season 2020
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 9, 2020

Provincetown's Art House theater has announced its upcoming music and comedy lineup. Returning center stage is the Broadway @ series first launched in 2011 by Producing Artistic Director Mark Cortale and Sirius XM radio star Seth Rudetsky, and now in more than a dozen major venues worldwide.

Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O'Hara, Stephanie J. Block, and More Join the Summer 2020 Lineup at Provincetown Art House
by Stephi Wild - Mar 8, 2020

Many of Broadway's top stars are set to take the stage as part of Provincetown Art House's summer 2020 lineup. The lineup will include Kelli O'Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, Stephanie J. Block, Beth Leavel, Liz Callaway, Jenn Colella, Beth Malone, and many more!

Stephen Cole, Announces The Debut Of Two Musical Theater Creations
by A.A. Cristi - Aug 15, 2019

Award winning Book Writer/Lyricist, Stephen Cole, announces the Debut of two Musical theater creations, 'Merman's Apprentice' written with David Evans; and 'Casper the Friendly Musical, ' written with Matthew Martin Ward. 

Buck Creek Players Presents AFTER THE FAIR
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 12, 2019

Join the Buck Creek Players as we continue our 45th season of quality theater with AFTER THE FAIR, an Indianapolis Premiere musical with book and lyrics by Stephen Cole and music by Matthew Ward. Showing at the playhouse, 11150 Southeastern Avenue, for a limited three-weekend run, January 25th through February 10th, curtain times are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, with 2:30 p.m. matinees on Sundays.

BWW Review: SWEAT at Everyman Theatre
by Rowena Winkler - Nov 4, 2018

When the world you've known your whole life starts falling apart due to forces outside of your control, are you able to roll with the punches? When the bubble you've lived in for years starts imploding upon itself due to the choices made by others, are you able to move forward with compassion and understanding? What if the impact of those choices is caused by your friend? Or even your own mother? These are the questions audience members will ask themselves when they step into the world of Reading, Pennsylvania to see Sweat at Everyman Theatre.

Pulitzer Prize�"Winning SWEAT Makes Baltimore Debut At Everyman Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Oct 3, 2018

From its origins in the painstakingly researched fieldwork of two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage comes Sweat- the gritty, emotionally charged story of friendships and hardships in post-industrial small-town America. Hailed by The New York Times as "an extraordinarily moving drama" that "brims with the kind of ripe, richly imagined life associated with the work of the great August Wilson," the show's Baltimore debut runs October 23-November 25, 2018 and is directed by Everyman Theatre Founding Artistic Director Vincent M. Lancisi.

Photo Flash: Trezana Beverley Headlines As Mabel Mercer In MABEL MADNESS
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 28, 2018

THE THEATRE COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL ARTS CLUB in association with THE HARLEM SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL presented MABEL MADNESS: The Life and Times of Mabel Mercer.  Written by and Starring Tony Award Winner Trezana Beverley*. Pianist: Matthew Ward and General Manager: Debra Ann Byrd*

theatreWashington Announces 2018 Helen Hayes Awards Ceremony Details
by Stephi Wild - Apr 3, 2018

The 34th Annual Helen Hayes Awards will take place on Monday, May 14, 2018 at The Anthem, the cultural center of Southwest D.C.'s new District Wharf, with a celebratory party to follow.

2018 Helen Hayes Awards Will Be A Celebration of DC's Professional Theatre Community
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 3, 2018

The 34th Annual Helen Hayes Awards will take place on Monday, May 14, 2018 at The Anthem, the cultural center of Southwest D.C.'s new District Wharf, with a celebratory party to follow. Esteemed Washington theatre artists Michael J. Bobbitt, five-time Helen Hayes Award nominee, choreographer and Artistic Director of Adventure Theatre MTC, and Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, recipient of last year's Outstanding Lead Actress in a Play-Hayes Production for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, will host an evening showcasing the vibrant and diverse community of professional theatre artists in the Washington region. There are 258 Helen Hayes Award nominations-selected from 202 eligible productions from 64 theatres in 2017. Tickets for the event are $100 for reserved seating and $275 for VIP premium seating. Reduced-priced tickets will be available to artists and administrators in the community at an industry rate, subsidized by Artist Supporter tickets. All tickets are now available for purchase through the theatreWashington website.

Urban Stages to Present The New York Premiere of DOGS OF RWANDA
by Julie Musbach - Mar 6, 2018

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), will close its 34th season with the New York Premiere of Sean Christopher Lewis's DOGS OF RWANDA, directed by Frances Hill and Peter Napolitano. This limited engagement at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street), begins performances on Friday, March 9, opens on Monday, March 12 and will run through Saturday, March 31, 2018.

Urban Stages To Present The New York Premiere Of The Critically Acclaimed Play DOGS OF RWANDA
by Stephi Wild - Jan 31, 2018

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), will close its 34th season with the New York Premiere of Sean Christopher Lewis's DOGS OF RWANDA, directed by Frances Hill and Peter Napolitano. This limited engagement at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street), begins performances on Friday, March 9, opens on Monday, March 12 and will run through Saturday, March 31, 2018. Tickets for are $35 ($25 during previews; $50 on opening and $15 student rush) and may be purchased via OvationTix at www.urbanstages.org or by phone at 1.866.811.4111.

Chita Rivera, Jim Dale, Lee Roy Reams and More Set for WINTER RHYTHMS 2017, Starting Tonight at Urban Stages
by BWW News Desk - Dec 12, 2017

Urban Stages presents this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2017, which begins tonight, December 12, featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Chita Rivera, Jim Dale, Lee Roy Reams and More Set for WINTER RHYTHMS 2017 at Urban Stages
by BWW News Desk - Nov 9, 2017

Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2017, which will begin Tuesday, December 12 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Stephen Cole and Todd Ellison's New Musical THE BLACK AND WHITE BALL to Receive Industry Reading
by Julie Musbach - Oct 16, 2017

It's 1966. Summer in New York City. America is a country in transition. Racial tensions are coming to a head. Black Power is a new catch-phrase in all the daily papers. The country is divided. Protests and violence are everywhere. The classes are ready to clash!