Theatre

[suelyblu]

My 15 year old granddaughter went to her first gig/concert last night at the LG arena Birmingham. She and her two friends tickets were for the "pit" (area for standing at the front of the stage) . She/they , queued for nearly 8 hours , in pouring rain so they could get a "good spot". The one mother took dry jeans and t-shirts down to them when there was just an hour left for them to wait. The group that received all this devotion was "My Chemical Romance". !!  Ahhhh ! Those were the days !! Who me ?? Queue for 5 hours to see UB40 in the 70's?? I plead the fifth !!

[oilgun]

Anna Nicole Smith:  The Opera!  Any of you Brits seeing it?  I hear it's sold out.

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117944670

Anna Nicole
[...]
Letting characters sing the line "It's a unique story so you won't be bored" is dangerous to the point of hubris. But in "Anna Nicole," it's nothing but the truth. Commissioned by the Royal Opera, composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and librettist Richard Thomas have fashioned a headline-grabbing, high-art, low-life collision that is funny, foul-mouthed and fast-paced. Musically and dramatically, it's ultimately less than satisfying, but Richard Jones' spectacular yet exhilaratingly precise production ensures that it's extraordinarily entertaining. When was the last time anyone said that of a new opera?
[...]

[canmark]

AP video report on the Anna Nicole Smith opera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG0g1Jrl7Yo

[Lyle (Mooska)]

I know some people who've seen Jane Fonda in 33 Variations
recently and they've all thought it was pretty good.  It was
written by Moises Kaufman and I had to laugh at one person
who reviewed the show who thought it was kind of tepid,
and the headline of his review was:  "Moises Off" -- lol!

[BayCityJohn]

Press Release
Musical Theatre.

‘Stars of the West End Sing the Songs of Steven Luke Walker’

The most exciting line up to arrive in Theatreland made up of only the best of the West End, will take to the stage at The Charing Cross theatre on Sunday 20th March to sing the songs of Steven Luke Walker.

Steven Luke Walker, top West End vocal coach and singing tutor to leading Drama Schools, GSA and Mountview, will be showcasing an array of entirely original musical theatre numbers from a vast and diverse catalogue of shows , as well as songs written exclusively for the stars appearing on the night.

Included in the programme will be songs inspired by Blockbuster motion picture ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and CS Lewis’ ‘The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe’ and JK Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ series. Other material will include songs from ‘The Boy King ‘ a musical based upon the legend of Tutankhamun and ‘The Willow Tree’ – a musical theatre telling of London’s own infamous Gunpowder Plot.

For one night only, the Stars of the West End will sing the songs of Steven Luke Walker; you’ve known and loved Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz now come and tantalise your ears with the songs of Steven Luke Walker.

STARRING : Samantha Barks ( Les Miserables 25th anniversary O2 , Cabaret) , Gina Beck ( The Phantom of the Opera ) , Cassandra Compton ( Wicked ) , Alice Fearn (The Woman In White) , Hadley Fraser ( Les Miserables 25th anniversary O2 , The Pirate Queen – Broadway ) , Ramin Karimloo ( Love Never Dies ) Conleth Kane (Naked Boys Singing) , Jeremy Legat (Wicked) , Rebecca Lock ( Martin Guerre / Avenue Q) , Martin Neely (Les Miserables) , Abbie Osmon (Lord Of The Rings , Evita) , Sophia Ragavelas (Les Miserables , Mamma Mia) , Rebecca Seale ( Mamma Mia / Les Miserables ) Summer Strallen ( Love Never Dies / The Drowsy Chaperone ) and many more Supported by an especially formed choir from GSA.

http://www.stevenlukewalker.com/pressrelease.php

[BayCityJohn]

Chandler Center for the Arts, in Randolph Vermont, and Chicago's Pride Films and Plays announce first annual
Summer Pride at Chandler fest July 8 to 17.

Chicago, IL and Randolph, VT - Two organizations that embrace change and innovation have announced a partnership to produce Summer Pride at Chandler, a festival looking at GLBT Theater slated for July 8 to 17, at Chandler's beautifully restored, 103-year-old facility.

The mission of Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph, Vermont is to inspire and cultivate artistic expression and education in the performing and visual arts for people of all ages, deepen the cultural and artistic growth of youth, and strengthen and energize our community by offering opportunities for people to come together in pursuit and celebration of the arts. Chandler has a long tradition of developing collaborative and innovative community arts programming serving a diverse population.

In this tradition of innovation, it is with great enthusiasm that Chandler now joins with Pride Films and Plays in announcing the first annual Summer Pride at Chandler July 8-10th and 15-17th. This first season of Summer Pride at Chandler begins with a look back at the classic gay play The Boys in the Band. Then it looks forward to fresh writing: prize-winning selections from Pride Films and Plays' 2011 Great Gay Play Contest.

Pride Films and Plays (PFP), a Chicago-based non-profit which links an international network of writers with film and theater producers , fosters excellent new work for the stage and screen that not only speaks to the gay and lesbian community, but also is essential viewing for our friends, family, and co-workers. Using gay and lesbian characters or themes, Pride Films and Plays develops human stories of parenting, marriage, faith, and love that become a cultural bridge to understanding.

PFP's Executive Director David Zak, who will direct all the Summer Pride at Chandler offerings, has won many Jeff Awards for directing and writing. (For Chicago's active non-equity theater sector, the Jeff award is the equivalent of the Tony award for New York theater) He is an adjunct faculty member at both Roosevelt University in Chicago and Korea National University of Arts in Seoul. He has directed in Chicago, London, Dublin, Seoul and New York, and he is very excited to link artists and audiences from Vermont with PFP's international group of writers working on new gay and lesbian material.

Over the past 30 years, Chandler has brought its beautifully renovated and expanded 103-year-old Music Hall & Gallery to prominence as a regional center for arts presentation and education. Located in a cluster of small rural towns in the heart of Vermont, Chandler provides youth with their first arts experiences; adults with a chance to participate in and enjoy a wide variety of music, dance, and theater presentations; and visual artists of all ages with a place to show and sell their work. Chandler now presents a year-round calendar of self-produced and contracted performances, gallery exhibits, arts education activities, and civic events attracting to Randolph's historic downtown nearly 20,000 people from across the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.

Chandler anticipates that this collaboration with Pride Films and Plays will enhance its other offerings and strengthen connections with the regional gay and lesbian community.

The full schedule of performances will be announced on May 1, 2011. For more information, or to order tickets for Summer Pride at Chandler, call 802-728-6464 or order on line at www.chandler-arts.org.

For more information on Pride Films and Plays and their ongoing contests for GLBT plays and screenplays visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com

Auditions for Summer Pride performances will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 14th -15th. Headshots and resumes for men and women 20's to 50's should be sent to ChandlerPride@gmail.com.

Chandler Center for the Arts
71-73 Main Street
Randolph, VT  05060

www.chandler-arts.org
Rebecca McMeekin, Executive Director,
Betsy Cantlin, Community Outreach Manager,
 

[BayCityJohn]

Larry (Oregondoggie) had lunch with Marc Platt today. I stayed home



Marc Platt (as Dream Curley) and Katharine Sergava (as Dream Laurey) dance together in a scene from the original production of the Broadway musical Oklahoma! at the St. James Theatre, New York City, 1943.

[Oregondoggie]

Renee Renouf, a San Francisco dance writer, bused up from San Francisco with a carriage load of treats.  I brought wine and ice-cream.  Up into the low hills of Santa Rosa we went.  Marc Platt now lives in a senior park of double wide trailers.  He has a good neighbor pal who did the honors as "hostess".  A calico cat made a late entry.  Yes, Marc is 97.  Frail but lively and rather witty.  

He was quite ready to answer questions and offer anecdotes about his years with the late 30s versions of the Ballet Russe.  Particularly his rather prickly (I gathered) relationship with Massine.  Told how Massine, in California, demanded he join the company upon seeing the artful way he knew how to fall on the floor!  Marc had studied under Mary Anne Welles?   When he finally left the Ballet Russe, Massine sat in a wicker chair outside the theater (?) unwilling to acknowledge his contributions to the company.  Marc was furious.  He considered Massine a second father.  Years later, in New York, Massine agreed to meet with him at the Russian Tea Room.  They had scarcely begun to chat when a young man came in and began to speak in Russian with Massine, both ignoring Marc.  The young man was Rudolf Nureyev.

 
 

[BayCityJohn]

Here's a clip of Marc Platt dancing with Rita Hayworth in the 1947 film "Down to Earth"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v99C17S8lb4

[BayCityJohn]

Marc in the purple shirt. This clip is from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PRmYK89pKc

[Cally]

Marc in the purple shirt. This clip is from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PRmYK89pKc

Both wonderful - love 7 Brides.

[canmark]

The Lion King touring production rolled into town. I had seen the Toronto production of the show several years ago, and was pleased with the quality of the tour. Was also pleased to see so many young people in the theatre: children with their parents, teenagers with school groups.

I think I gained some respect for the simplicity of The Lion King. While there is a large, beautifully costumed cast, the show itself doesn't rely on massive sets, video projections, or other stage trickery of the mega musicals. Instead it uses more ancient theatrical devices like shadow puppets or lighting to express the African sun or the stars at night. Many scenes are just actors on a virtually bare stage. It seems such a contrast to Taymor's Spider-Man fiasco, or The Lord of the Rings musical which played in the same theatre in Toronto. Which is not to say that The Lion King is a simple show, but the story is simple and the telling is both imaginative AND makes you use your own imagination. A joyful experience for all ages, with humour and a meaning: a well-deserved success.

[canmark]

NY Times article on the upcoming Tales of the City musical: Tales of Maupin, This Time With Music
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/theater/tales-of-the-city-become-a-musical.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimestheater

[BayCityJohn]

Reviews › The Pearlfishers

OperaOpera Australia
Reviewer: Simon Parris
Date of Show: Saturday, 7th May 2011
Venue: State Theatre


Everpopular classic The Pearlfishers makes a welcome return in an interesting production that highlights an alternative take on the central love triangle.

Such is the following of golden star soprano Emma Matthews that fans might turn out in droves to hear her sing a football theme song. Fortunately, the exquisite music here is far more refined.
 
The role of Léïla does not give Matthews much of a chance to flex her considerable acting muscles but there is plenty of ravishing music for her to sing. Out from under her veil at the beginning of act two, Matthews has the audience spellbound with her superb ornamentals in “Me voilà seule dans la nuit”. Her pianissimo trills and runs demonstrate the human voice as a true instrument.

For all the gorgeous music she has to sing, Matthews does not have the hit duet of the opera, “Au Fond du temple saint”, which belongs to two of her three talented male co-stars. Most productions treat French Governor Zurga (Luke Gabbedy) and young Indian Nadir (Henry Choo) as best friends who have fallen in love at first sight with the same priestess, Léïla. Director Ann-Margaret Pettersson has taken the extra verse of the famous duet and expanded the theme to treat Zurga and Nadir as possible male lovers who were divided over Nadir’s attraction to Léïla.
 
The exotic action in India is presented as Zurga’s reminiscences of a fateful time that left him to grow old as a lonely man, not unlike Ennis del Mar in “Brokeback Mountain”. The opera that prompts his recollections is seen several times, the gilded proscenium arch and glowing footlights of the Paris Opera House magically floating in the background.
 


more...
http://www.theatrepeople.com.au/reviews/pearlfishers

[BayCityJohn]

Brokeback Meets Les Miz

Up There - Stars of the West End Sing the Songs of Steven Luke Walker (Brokeback Mountain)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1zw_97ocmM