BWW Review: New Rep's OLIVER!: Singing and Dancing Orphans, But No Dog
New Repertory Theatre dusts off an old chestnut for a family-friendly, non-holiday, crowd-pleasing offering as their gift for the season. Lionel Bart's OLIVER!, based on Charles Dickens' novel OLIVER TWIST, is known to be a little dark, with its themes of orphans, child exploitation, and vast income inequality (sound familiar?), but in the hands of New Rep's new Artistic Director, Michael J. Bobbitt, the darkness is lightened up with jaunty performances, a smattering of silly antics, and a set design (Luciana Stecconi) that skews to the cartoonish. With almost a dozen capable adults anchoring the cast, the seven children of all ages are given free rein to behave like children, albeit amazingly talented and spirited ones.
Broadway Vets Lead Cast of Cleveland Play House's THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Cleveland Play House (CPH) is proud to announce the cast of the high-spirited, interactive musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Broadway and TV actress Ali Stroker (Glee, Deaf West's Production of Spring Awakening) joins Broadway veterans Kirsten Wyatt (Annie, Elf, Shrek), John Scherer (Sunset Boulevard, By Jeeves, Funny Girl), Lee Slobotkin, Chad Burris (both of Book of Mormon), Kay Trinidad Karns (Little Mermaid), and more in this laugh-out-loud musical directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge on the Allen Stage through May 6th. This production is sponsored by Huntington National Bank and Zinner & Co.
Photo Flash: First Look at EST and Page 73's KENTUCKY
Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) and Page Seventy-Three Productions (Page 73) present KENTUCKY, written by Leah Nanako Winkler, and directed by Morgan Gould. KENTUCKY is currently playing previews at EST's Curt Dempster Theatre (549 W. 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019) for an official opening on Sunday, May 1. The strictly limited run plays through Sunday, May 22. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Review Roundup: Pre-Broadway EMPIRE THE MUSICAL at La Miranda Theatre
The pre-Broadway engagement of EMPIRE opened at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, with book, music & lyrics by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull, musical direction by Sariva Goetz, and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime). EMPIRE runs through Sunday, February 14, 2016.
BWW Review: Promising New Pre-Broadway Musical EMPIRE Debuts in La Mirada
It's no surprise that a palpable, uproarious reception greeted the opening night performance of EMPIRE - THE MUSICAL, a brand new stage show featuring book, music, and lyrics by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull---currently having its 'out-of-town' premiere at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through February 14, 2016. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge (RAGTIME), this ambitious new original musical---advertised with declared aspirations for an eventual engagement on Broadway---fashions an early 20th Century era, multi-character narrative about the construction of one of the world's most iconic skyscrapers: the Empire State Building in New York City. The good news? It's exceedingly entertaining. The not-so-good news? It's a show with lots of potential but needs a lot more tinkering and refining.
BWW Review: EMPIRE THE MUSICAL Aims for the Sky
EMPIRE THE MUSICAL has been knocking around in the wings ever since Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull began writing it in 1999. Its first fully-staged production took place at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood in 2003 and it has had periodic readings through the years in both Los Angeles and New York. Now the story of how the Empire State Building came to be is enjoying a lavish pre-Broadway run at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, produced in partnership with McCoy Rigby Entertainment, Sue Vaccaro, Ricky Stevens and The Rivet Gang.
Photos: Curtain Call and Press Night Celebration of EMPIRE At La Mirada Theatre - Kevin Earley, Stephanie Gibson & More!
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (2014 Ovation Award Nominee for Best Season!), in association with Sue Vaccaro, Ricky Stevens & The Rivet Gang announce the third show of their 2015-2016 season, the pre-Broadway engagement of EMPIRE, book, music & lyrics by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull, musical direction by Sariva Goetz, and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime). EMPIRE will preview on Friday, January 22, 2016 (with a press opening on Saturday, January 23) and run through Sunday, February 14, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at curtain call and press night below!
Photo Flash: Broadway Hopeful EMPIRE at La Mirada Theatre
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & MC Coy Rigby Entertainment presents their third show of their 2015-2016 season, the pre-Broadway engagement of EMPIRE, book, music & lyrics by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull, musical direction by Sariva Goetz, and directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominated Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show, below!
La Mirada Theatre to Present EMPIRE
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (2014 Ovation Award Nominee for Best Season!), in association with Sue Vaccaro, Ricky Stevens & The Rivet Gang announce the third show of their 2015-2016 season, the pre-Broadway engagement of EMPIRE, book, music & lyrics by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull, musical direction by Sariva Goetz, and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime). EMPIRE will preview on Friday, January 22, 2016 (with a press opening on Saturday, January 23) and run through Sunday, February 14, 2016 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
BWW Review: Cincinnati's SECRET GARDEN Delights
I was shocked and then realized I was behind the eight ball when hearing that Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park would open its season with a musical interpretation of The Secret Garden. Shocked because I somehow missed that my beloved girlhood book and movie had been turned into a musical. Albeit this occurred back in 1991, but still I found myself curious as to how the story would translate into this medium. Well I watched the performance of this version and I have mixed thoughts.
STAGE TUBE: First Look at Highlights of THE SECRET GARDEN at The Cincinnati Playhouse
The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park opens its 2015-16 season with the heartwarming, soaring musical THE SECRET GARDEN, based on the enduring family classic penned more than a century ago by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Winner of three Tony Awards on Broadway, with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon, THE SECRET GARDEN runs Sept. 5-Oct. 3 in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre. Check out a first look at highlights below!
Cincinnati Playhouse to Open 2015-16 Season with THE SECRET GARDEN
The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park opens its 2015-16 season with the heartwarming, soaring musical THE SECRET GARDEN, based on the enduring family classic penned more than a century ago by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Winner of three Tony Awards on Broadway, with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon, THE SECRET GARDEN runs Sept. 5-Oct. 3 in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre.