Theater League Insider - Blog Edition

New Blog for Theater League Insider

2010-05-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

We wanted to make you aware that we have a new blog for our Theater League Insider that can be located at http://theaterleague.wordpress.com. We will be updating that blog regularly and this current blog is no longer in use. Please make sure you change your bookmarks to the new blog URL. Thank you.

Avenue Q FAQs

2009-11-11T13:51:00.000-08:00

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Avenue Q about?
Avenue Q tells the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone's looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a "purpose." Eventually, Princeton learns to embrace the ups and downs of city life and realizes that "the real world" isn't so bad, after all!

Is Avenue Q just a grown up version of Sesame Street?
No. There should never be a comparison between Sesame Street or Jim Henson’s Children’s Television Workshop and Avenue Q. Rather, Avenue Q is homage to all children’s television teaching life lessons for adults such as paying bills, getting a job and finding love.

Is Avenue Q a puppet show for children?
Due to adult situations (like full-puppet nudity), Avenue Q may not be appropriate for kids under 13. Parental guidance is suggested.

Who lives on Avenue Q?

Princeton – a recent college graduate who moves to Avenue Q to find his purpose in life
Kate Monster – a kindergarten teaching assistant who wants to find a boyfriend and start a special school for Monsters
Nicky – Rod’s roommate, a slacker

Rod – Nicky’s roommate, a Republican investment banker who won’t admit he’s gay

Trekkie Monster – a reclusive porn addict

Lucy The Slut – a sexy cabaret singer

Gary Coleman – the former child star from the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes and superintendent on Avenue Q

Christmas Eve – Brian’s fiancée, a feisty Japanese therapist

Brian – Christmas Eve’s fiancé, a 32-year old aspiring comedian

The Bad Idea Bears – Princeton and Kate’s inner devils

Mrs. T. – Kate’s boss, an elderly kindergarten teacher

How long is Avenue Q?
The show is 2 hours and 10 minutes including a 20 minute intermission.

Who is starring in the show?
Avenue Q is an ensemble show with many talented actors. The show features new, young and gifted performers.

What awards has Avenue Q won?
TONY AWARDS (2004)
WINNER! Best Musical
WINNER! Best Book of a Musical, Jeff Whitty
WINNER! Best Original Score, Jeff Marx
NOMINATED! Best Performance by a Leading Actress, Stephanie D’Abruzzo
NOMINATED! Best Performance by a Leading Actor, John Tartaglia
NOMINATED! Best Director of a Musical, Jason Moore
DRAMA DESK AWARDS (2003)
NOMINATED! Outstanding New Musical
NOMINATED! Outstanding Leading Actress, Stephanie D’Abruzzo
NOMINATED! Outstanding Book of a Musical, Jeff Whitty
NOMINATED! Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics (Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx)
NOMINATED! Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music (Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx)
GRAMMY AWARDS
NOMINATED! Outstanding Broadway Soundtrack

…AND MANY MORE!

Who created Avenue Q?
Avenue Q features music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx; and is directed by Jason Moore; puppet design by Rick Lyon, musical supervision by Stephen Oremus, choreography by Ken Roberson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Acme Sound Partners.

Where can I learn more about Avenue Q?
Please check out our website, http://www.AvenueQonTour.com/ for more information and fun online content!

WICKED Comes home to Kansas

2009-10-22T07:28:00.000-07:00

WICKED opened this past Wednesday at Century II Concert Hall in Wichita, KS to much fanfare. This Broadway Blockbuster coming to Wichita is a really big deal. This is the first time a show of this size has ever graced the stage at Century II, a fact not lost on City leaders. On Tuesday, the Mayor presented Theater League with a proclamation declaring Wednesday, October 21 as WICKED day. He and convention and tourism leaders understand all to well what a show like this can do for my hometown.

Thousand's of room nights in area hotels have been sold. Local stage hands, artists and backstage staff have been hired to work with the massive production. 75 cast and crew will be staying in Wichita during the three-week run and theater patrons from all over the region will enjoy this amazing show from now until November 8.

As a Wichita native, this makes me smile. I remember a time when the arts in Wichita were an afterthought. Now, the arts are center stage and have become more of a focus to City leaders as well as residents and visitors. I remember when downtown Wichita use to be the heart of not just the city, but a large portion of the state. It is wonderful to see the city I love embrace its downtown and the arts. It feels as though Wichita has made a bold new statement and WICKED has become that statements exclamation point.

The musical WICKED speaks to what is possible as well as looking beyond the surface. I for one am thrilled at the possibilities this big beautiful show has brought to my hometown. There is a feeling of excitement in Wichita, a feeling of awe and of anticipation. I am thrilled to be a part of this feeling and I am excited to see what happens next.

WICKED ANNOUNCES LOTTERY FOR $25 SEATS

2009-10-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for WICKED at Century II Concert Hall. Each day, 2 1/2 hours prior to show time people who present themselves at the WichitaTIX box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, located at 225 W. Douglas, with a limit of two tickets per person. Metered parking is available in and around Century II and the Expo Hall.

It's Not Easy Living Green

2009-09-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

Theater League was recently awarded a $5000 grant from the Broadway League to further promote it's educational programs in Wichita. This grant is awarded annually to theaters across the country to support programs like ours, giving students an opportunity to experience touring Broadway, not just as a form of entertainment, but also as an educational tool.

Theater League's program, "It's Not Easy Living Green" focuses on the newly formed green initiatives now in place on Broadway and in many touring Broadway shows. The inspiration for the grant was a small high school in a very small town in Western Kansas.

On May 4, 2007, Greensburg, Kansas was virtually wiped from the map after an E5 Tornado tore through the town of 1500. The devastation in its wake challenged the residents of this small town to rebuild or move on. Those who decided to stay came to the decision early on to rebuild a better and "greener" town. This decision brought this small town and it's very private residents into the spotlight. Greensburg and its efforts became an example of how to build and live in an environmentally friendly way.

A portion of the grant looks at Greensburg High School’s efforts to rebuild in a green fashion and how their “Green Club” has influenced its students. Theater League will work with Wichita High School West’s drama department, Greensburg High School, Greensburg City leaders and members of the touring company of WICKED to further the cause of the growing “Green Movement.” Through workshops, field trips, question and answer sessions and attending a performance of WICKED, students from both Greensburg and West High School will see major moments of the production come to life, while gaining a deeper understanding of our world and how to sustain it.

Jim Brickman's Beautiful World Holiday Concert

2009-09-10T08:03:00.001-07:00

Jim Brickman, a longtime supporter of public television, will make a very special appearance Monday, September 14 in Wichita during the KPTS Fall membership drive. Brickman will be on hand to discuss and preview his newest DVD release, BEAUTIFUL WORLD. This spectacular celebration of friendship and peace was inspired by Brickman's travels around the world. He is joined by many special guests, Latin singing sensation Jon Secada and American Idol alum Melinda Doolittle to name but a few.

Theater League is thrilled to bring Brickman back to Wichita for a very special one-night-only holiday concert, November 23 at Century II Concert Hall. In an effort to support public television and the performing arts in Wichita, Theater League has donated a block of tickets to be used during the pledge drive as part of valuable gifts offered KPTS/PBS members.

For more information about the Beautiful World tour and Jim Brickman CLICK HERE. To find out about all of the shows in the 2009-10 Broadway Series at Century II, which kicks off October 21 with the blockbuster WICKED, CLICK HERE.

Get Your 80s On!

2009-09-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

Remember when popped collars, mall bangs, hair bands and Madonna were cool? Did you morn the cancellation of the Dukes of Hazzard, or the apparent death of Bobby Ewing. Were you a fan of Prince, Tina Turner, Van Halen (before Sammy Hagar) and the Culture Club...then you are a true child of the 80s!

This season, Theater League is bringing back the 80s with the Tony® nominated Broadway hit THE WEDDING SINGER. Based on the hit film which starred Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler, THE WEDDING SINGER tells the story of lead singer and wannabe rock star Robbie Hart. He is New Jersey's favorite wedding singer, until he is left at the altar by his success-crazed, social climbing girlfriend. He falls in love with Julia, who happens to be engaged to a Wall Street womanizing hot shot. Robbie has to pull off the performance of a lifetime to get the girl before she is gone forever.

THE WEDDING SINGER celebrates the fun of the 80s and this tour is also celebrating the fun on the road. The cast is offering a great behind the scenes look at a National Broadway tour with their WEDDING SINGER BACKSTAGE PASS and is keeping fans updated on their exploits on the road with their official Facebook site.

The aspect of this show that makes it fun for the audience, is how much fun the cast is having on stage. Joy and laughter are contagious and the actors who make up the cast of THE WEDDING SINGER are definitely sharing the joy!

Catch THE WEDDING SINGER this fall when it hits the stage in Toledo, OH October 1-4 and South Bend, IN October 9-10. And watch for it later this season in Phoenix & Mesa, AZ, Santa Barbara & Thousand Oaks, CA and Wichita, KS.

WICKED On Sale Saturday, August 1

2009-07-24T07:20:00.000-07:00

BROADWAY'S BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTER IS READY TO TAKE KANSAS BY STORM

WICKED, the most anticipated musical production of the 2009 – 2010 season, flies into Wichita October 21 – November 8, for its premiere Kansas engagement. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Saturday, August 1; tickets will be exclusively available at the Wichita Tix box office, 225 West Douglas at 8:00 a.m. Beginning at 11 a.m., any remaining tickets will be available for purchase online at wichitatix.com or by calling the box office at 316.219.4849. There is an 8-ticket limit per patron.

Due to pre-existing sales to subscribers and groups, there is a limited inventory of WICKED tickets to start with. It is likely that the Wichita engagement will sell out in record time. Patrons are urged to purchase their tickets to WICKED early. The on sale event will feature hot air balloon rides provided by HAVNFUN…Hot Air Ballooning, games, breakfast, beverages and radio remotes provided by KZSN Kissin’ 102, B98 FM and Channel 963, WICKED merchandise and the chance for a lucky few to “fly to the head of the line” as well as a chance to win a hot air balloon ride for two.

WICKED has been seen by millions of people all around the world, but this Wichita engagement marks the first time it has been presented in Kansas. “The cultural and economic impact of WICKED will be significant,” said Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson, “It will employ hundreds of local theater professionals, generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales tax revenues and create an economic impact of millions of dollars. I want to thank Theater League, Inc. for bringing such a critically acclaimed work to the home of Dorothy and Toto.”

Tickets start at $57 and can be purchased beginning at 8:00 a.m. Saturday, August 1 at the Wichita Tix box office. Online and phone purchases can be made for all remaining tickets beginning at 11:00 a.m. For more information on WICKED, visit wickedthemusical.com

Special Father's Day Offer - Toledo

2009-06-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

MAMMA MIA! Celebrates Dad this Father's Day.

Bring your "Pappa" to see MAMMA!

This week only save $10 on tickets to the Blockbuster Broadway Hit MAMMA MIA! Live at the Stranahan Theater through June 21.

Use the code: DAD and save $10 off Orchestra and Balcony tickets for the 2:00 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday, June 21. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/65569/804014?brand=theaterleague&camefrom=CFC_THL_WEB

or by calling 800.745.3000.

Visit http://www.theaterleague.com/shows/?id=25
for show information and for a video preview.

Tony Recap

2009-06-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

The most glamorous night on Broadway, The Tony Awards®, was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris Sunday, June 7 on CBS. Sir Elton John opened the show in grand fashion, accompanied by cast members from each of the nominated shows.

BILLY ELLIOT led the pack with nine Tony wins including Best Musical, Best Performance by a Featured Actor, Best Direction, Best Choreography and in a Tony first, a Best Lead Actor award was shared by the show's three young stars, David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish. HAIR received the award for Best Revival, Best Theatrical Event went to Liza Minnelli for LIZA’S AT THE PALACE and Best Lead Actress went to Alice Ripley for NEXT TO NORMAL. WEST SIDE STORY received one Tony win with the award for Best Featured Actress presented to Karen Olivo.

At the end of the evening the winners, of the 52nd presentation of the Tonys, took their places alongside the very best of Broadway. The list of individual acting nominees read like a “who’s who” of American film and theater with the likes of Jane Fonda, Jeff Daniels, Raul Esparza, Stockard Channing, Allison Janney, Angela Lansbury, Marc Kudisch, James Gandolfini and Geoffrey Rush. A past American Idol finalist even made the grade with Constantine Maroulis’ nomination in the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical category.

For more information, a complete list of winners and video from Sunday night’s telecast, visit www.tonyawards.

In Other Tony News

2009-06-05T13:46:00.002-07:00

The Tony Awards recently announced that three touring productions will be featured in Sunday evenings Tony broadcast. MAMMA MIA! is one of the featured productions with the current tours three Dynamos (Michelle Dawson, Kittra Wynn Coomer and Rachel Tyler) performing Dancing Queen during the evening. The actresses were plucked from the current tour to perform live at Radio City Music Hall.

Catch the MAMMA MIA! preview Sunday and remember tickets to the show are still available at the Stranahan Theater in Toledo (June 16-21) and The Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend (July 24-26). Visit theaterleague.com for tickets and additional information.

Theater League On Broadway

2009-06-05T13:46:00.001-07:00

Theater League not only promotes the arts in each of the communities it serves, but it also works within the Broadway community to bring the best and brightest new musicals to the stage. From fan favorites CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY to last season’s Broadway hit NOVEMBER, Theater League supports new and established producers and directors.

This season, Theater League is enhancing Broadway by supporting 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL. With music and lyrics by the legendary Dolly Parton, book by original screenwriter Patricia Resnick and direction by Tony Award Winner (and WICKED director) Joe Mantello, this hilarious story is based on the 1980 hit film which starred Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL began life as a staged reading in 2007 before moving into a week-long workshop. The show opened at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles the following year, winning two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle awards. 9 TO 5 opened on Broadway April 30 and was nominated for four Tony Awards including Best Original Score and Best Performance by a Leading Actress (Allison Janney). Critics and audiences have fallen in love with this story of revenge, friendship and “girl power.”

The 2009 Tony Awards

2009-06-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

The most glamorous night on Broadway, The Tony Awards®, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and featuring performances by Dolly Parton, Liza Minnelli and Elton John, takes to the airwaves Sunday, June 7 on CBS.

The nominees in this the 52nd presentation hope to take their place alongside those Broadway legends. The list of individual acting nominees read like a “who’s who” of American film and theater with the likes of Jane Fonda, Jeff Daniels, Raul Esparza, Stockard Channing, Allison Janney, Angela Lansbury, Marc Kudisch, James Gandolfini and Geoffrey Rush. A past American Idol finalist has even made the grade with Constantine Maroulis’ nomination in the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical category.

The field is tight in the 2009 Best Musical category with nominees BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, NEXT TO NORMAL, ROCK OF AGES and SHREK THE MUSICAL. The Best Revival of a Musical category brings back some of the best of Broadway: GUYS AND DOLLS, HAIR, PAL JOEY and WEST SIDE STORY.

A long list of Broadway luminaries will present the awards in each of the 27 categories. Presenters include Lucie Arnaz, Kristen Chenoweth, Carrie Fisher, Jessica Lange, Susan Sarandon, Kevin Spacey and Frank Langella.

This is the 42nd year for the televised Tonys. The first broadcast took place in 1967 and was hosted by Mary Martin and Robert Preston and featured performances from CABARET, THE APPLE TREE, I DO! I DO! And WALKING HAPPY. The evening lasted for only one hour, but it set the stage for what was to become one of the finest award shows on television.

While the 60s marked the first television broadcast of the awards show, its history dates back 20 more years to 1947. The very first Tony Award dinner took place on April 6, 1947. This black-tie optional event was held in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and included performances by Mickey Rooney, Herb Shriner and David Wayne. The winners that night were to become Broadway legends--Arthur Miller, Helen Hayes, Ingrid Bergman and Agnes de Mille--to name but a few.

The Tonys have come a long way from the hour-long broadcast more than 40 years ago. This not-to-be-missed theater event begins on CBS at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/ 7:00 p.m. Central. For great background information on everything Tony, or to catch a video glimpse of all the nominees, visit www.tonyawards.com.

Revivals – Better the Second Time Around

2008-11-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

Producing a Broadway musical is risky business. Producers have spent and lost millions of dollars trying to create the next big sensation. Mounting a full-stage musical is no easy task and trying to guess what audiences will want is daunting at best. Shows like DIRTY DANCING, XANADU and LEGALLY BLONDE succeed by tapping into an existing audience—fans of the film version—without jeopardizing the creative spirit necessary to pull together a brand new musical. Standing alongside the next new sensation on Broadway is the revival. Surprisingly, a well thought-out revival, re staged for a new generation of theatergoers, can on occasion eclipse the success of the original and out-live and out-gross many brand new musicals.

The musical CHICAGO, based on the 1926 play by Chicago Tribune reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, opened on Broadway June 3, 1975, and ran for a total of 936 performances before closing in August of 1977. Conceived by the legendary Bob Fosse, the show played to mixed reviews. Fosse reinvented the contemporary Broadway musical, adding vaudevillian flair. This interpretation pulled down the “fourth wall” between performers and the audience. This made audiences accustomed to more typical staging’s uncomfortable. Fosse was impeded further by the sudden illness of his star, Gwen Verdon, and by a new musical--A CHORUS LINE--which opened the same year.

In 1996, a stripped-down version of CHICAGO opened on Broadway to critical acclaim. Audiences were no longer shocked by the theme of criminal as celebrity and were more accustomed to the concert style of the show. In 1996, CHICAGO The Musical won 6 Tony Awards®, more than any revival in the history of Broadway at the time. It is the eighth-longest running musical of all time and is the longest running revival ever mounted. Since its opening in 1996, the show has had more than 5000 performances and is considered the most successful revival in Broadway history.

Some musicals see new life in revival in very unique ways; one such show is JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Created by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber as a double album, the show was first staged in 1971 at Southold High School in New York. At the same time “unauthorized” versions of the show were being produced, prompting Rice and Webber to work through the courts to shut down nearly 100 different productions before the show premiered on Broadway later that same year.

SUPERSTAR ran on Broadway until June of 1973, a total of 711 performances, and received five Tony Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Featured Actor. It was revived in 1977 and again in 2000 with an updated look targeted toward a new generation. Neither revival achieved the same level of success as the original production. A National tour in 1972 featured Ted Neely in the role of Jesus. Neely went on to recreate the role in a 1973 film version and has since become synonymous with not only the show, but the role of Jesus. A total of five National tours have been hugely successful. SUPERSTAR enjoys a following many producers dream of and its story continues to be as relevant and thought-provoking now as it was nearly four decades ago.
A show that seems to be more successful with each revival is SWEENEY TODD. The story of SWEENEY TODD began as a Victorian melodrama entitled String of Pearls, but the modern take on the story is based on the 1973 play by British Playwright Christopher Bond. The well-known musical adaptation of the original play was created by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler. It opened on Broadway in March of 1979 starring Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou in the title roles of Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd. This incarnation of the story ran for a total of 557 performances winning nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score.

A National tour in 1980 introduced the show to a larger audience, as did a filmed broadcast for PBS in 1982. SWEENEY TODD was revived on Broadway in 1989 and then again in 2005 starring Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris in the lead roles. Re staged by director John Doyle, the 2005 version was notable in that the actors were also the orchestra, playing their own instruments on stage. Doyle’s 2005 revival won six Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction and Best Orchestration.

The golden age of Broadway saw shows produced by Rogers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, Lerner and Lowe and Irving Berlin. In recent history, blockbusters like LES MISERABLES, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE LION KING and THE COLOR PURPLE have ushered in a new age of creativity and imagery, but the revival is still king. Currently revivals of GYPSY, GREASE, GUYS AND DOLLS and SOUTH PACIFIC treat audiences to a taste of what made Broadway great and play to sold out houses. Many look at the Broadway revival as a visit from an old trusted friend and sometimes, what was old can be new again.

Broadway Buzz - Billy Takes On Broadway

2008-11-24T10:50:00.000-08:00

BILLY ELLIOT The Musical opened to rave reviews at the Imperial Theatre in New York November 13 after breaking box office records in London and Sydney. The show is based on the 2000 film and features music by Elton John, with the book and lyrics by the films writer Lee Hall.

Set against the backdrop of the coal miner’s strikes of Northern England in the eighties, the new musical tells the story of young Billy Elliot who discovers a talent and love of dance and follows his struggle for happiness and self-acceptance. But this version of the story has as much to do with the problems facing Elliot’s community as it does about his journey. The musical is more than just a carbon copy of the film, it is a reinterpretation and the producers, while hopeful fans of the film will come to the musical, aren’t counting on their attendance. Unlike many adaptations of film to musical, the creative team behind BILLY ELLIOT believes the musical stands on its own.

Living in Wichita and Looking For Something Cool To Do Before Thanksgiving?

2008-11-18T08:48:00.000-08:00

Meet and interact with cast members of STOMP when they make a very special FREE pre-show appearance at Exploration Place Wednesday, November 26 at 1:00 p.m. Make sure and catch the "OUR BODY: The Universe Within at Exploration Place" exhibit and Save $5 on your ticket purchase for STOMP when you present your ticket stub from Exploration Place at the Century II Box Office!

Cynical 'Chicago' is my kind of town

2008-11-14T12:13:00.001-08:00

Lawrence Toppman
From charlotteobserver.com
Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008

A new national tour begins at the PAC, with Tom Wopat headlining and the terrific ensemble dominating the show.

When “Chicago” premiered on Broadway in 1975, Richard Nixon had recently made his humiliating exit from Washington.

During the 1996 revival, Bill Clinton was turning the White House into a hot-pillow motel.
A fresh national tour began Tuesday night in Charlotte, exactly one week after the last sleazy exchanges of the nastiest political season in recent memory.

Whatever the bizarre link between “Chicago” and politics may be, the musical’s sardonic outlook always seems to be timely. The new touring version, which is shiny and hard as a diamond, seems even colder and less sentimental than the New York productions I’ve seen.

Maybe the bleak world view of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb (who wrote the book with original director Bob Fosse) applies even more to the 21st century, where we seek tawdrier titillation in the media to avoid the harsh realities of life. The show seems more than ever about us, the gullible and easily diverted public, than the connivers who are misleading us rubes.

If you, too, have long been familiar with the show, what will surprise you about the Charlotte run is the importance of the ensemble. Glittering stars Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon and Jerry Orbach dominated the ’70s production. But strong as the leads are in this show, it’s the crackling precision of the chorus that immediately shifts you to the edge of the seat. Fosse’s hip-thrusting, pelvic-locking, derby-snapping choreography, now in its third generation, comes at us with the fast, clean sweep of a slicing razor.

That praise also applies to the crisp, robust, 13-piece orchestra, mounted on a stage platform like a band in a 1920s speakeasy. (And how satisfying it is to hear a stage orchestra with no synthesizer in it!) The musicians cluster around a set of steps that lead down and out of sight, possibly to a smoky basement where all illicit desires will be fulfilled.

From out of that darkness come Velma Kelly (throaty Terra MacLeod), the veteran murderess expecting to claim the attention of the Windy City with her upcoming trial; Roxie Hart (pert Bianca Marroquín), the newcomer who steals the attention of the press; Mama Morton (growly Roz Ryan), the warden who manages publicity campaigns for inmates; and Billy Flynn (genial Tom Wopat), the attorney who can’t be a shyster because there’s nothing shy about him. Oops – I almost forgot Amos, Roxie’s forgettable husband (played by Ben Elledge, who’s worth remembering for his one big number, “Mr. Cellophane”).

Old elements of the show still look fresh. Rock Hill native William Ivey Long got one of his 11 Tony nominations for the sexy costumes, and they always knock the eyes out. John Lee Beatty’s simple set, surrounded at the proscenium by a frame – justice is all a frame-up, right? – still raises a smile.

The tour needs tweaking in small ways. That fine orchestra occasionally covers the singers; the women cut through it, but Wopat’s agreeable baritone can get lost. The interaction between the stars and the conductor onstage seems a bit hokey, like something added to bring extra smiles to the provinces. (On the other hand, Ryan’s confident ogling of the audience in “When You’re Good to Mama” seems right.)

Overall, though, the show seems tuned up and ready to charge around America for many a year. Both sides of the political divide may have voted with fresh hope in this month’s election, but the nation’s deep-rooted vein of cynicism should survive for decades to come.

Click Here to Buy Tickets to Chicago in Mesa OR
Click Here to Buy Tickets to Chicago in Phoenix!

All That Jazz

2008-11-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

Sarah Aarthun

From charlotteobserver.com
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I'd be lying if I said I came home from "Chicago" (the musical, not the city) last night and went to bed.

In fact, I put on a pair of tights and Mary Janes and tap-danced my way around my apartment -- much to the dismay of my dog and my neighbor below me.

But that's what the infectious music of "Chicago" does to you.

The show -- the first in the new national tour -- opened last night at the Belk Theater, bringing a wide range of ages to the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. I saw one man in his 60s snorting with laughter at the show's bawdy humor while another young woman was singing along to all of the songs and excitedly telling her husband when her favorite parts were coming up.

An audible murmur went through the ladies in the audience when the female castmembers started "Cell Block Tango." "This is my favorite song!" they all whispered to their dates for the evening. (Perhaps the dates should have been worried: the song is about women who murdered their husbands/boyfriends with the catchy chorus "He had it comin'.")

I had previously seen only the movie version of "Chicago," which, while entertaining, seemed to drag in spots. I was happy to find that the stage version moves along at a nice pace, and I wasn't ready for it to end.

Scarvey review of 'Chicago': 'A show so splendiferous...'

2008-11-14T11:55:00.000-08:00

Salisbury Post (Charlotte, NC)
Thursday, November 13, 2008

"You've got to razzle dazzle them." So goes a classic line from the musical "Chicago," which opened Tuesday night at the Belk Theater — the very first performance of the show's new national tour.

A black comedy set in the 1920s that debuted on Broadway in 1975 , the show shows no signs of becoming irrelevant.

The opening night audience in Charlotte — many of whom had probably seen the touring production two years ago — gave the cast a standing ovation.

"Chicago" follows the fortunes of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, both in the pokey awaiting trial for separate murders. With unrealized dreams of stardom, Roxie is basking in the white hot attention of the media, while Velma is conniving to regain the spotlight. Billy Flynn is the lawyer whose job it is to deflect attention from the women's obvious guilt.

During "Razzle Dazzle," which celebrates trial as tawdry theatre, a row of lights drops down on stage, so glaringly bright they have the effect of temporarily blinding the audience, i.e., the gullible public.

It's symbolic, of course, and stunningly effective — in a show that consistently entertains.
Tony-nominated actor Tom Wopat is the slick, cynical Billy Flynn, who knows a bit about flim-flamming a jury so it won't convict the cold-blooded trollops he's representing. Dukes of Hazzard fans may remember Wopat as Luke, the dark-haired Duke brother.

The set is simple and effective, dominated by the 13-piece orchestra that performs on the stage as though it's a smoke-filled speakeasy. The jazz music is fabulous, although at times the orchestra threatens to overwhelm Wopat's pleasant but less than muscular voice. Since Tuesday was the opening night of the tour, one assumes this is a sound glitch that can be remedied.

Roxie Hart is played by Bianca Marroquin. In such a big, electric cast, the petite actress manages to turn in a surprisingly nuanced performance, never overplaying her part. Her gift for physical comedy is immense, and she's particularly fun to watch as she flops around as a ventriloquist's dummy controlled by Flynn.

Terra MacLeod is appealing as the brassy Velma. She shines in "The Cell Block Tango," which features the incarcerated femmes fatale singing about how their male victims "had it coming" — for such unpardonable offenses as snapping gum after being asked to stop.

MacLeod wields her voice like a dominatrix brandishing a whip in this crowd-pleasing number.
Mama Morton, played by Roz Ryan (Queen Latifah in the movie version), is the warden who advises her inmates on how to parlay their sexy notoriousness to their advantage — for a profit, of course. Morton's performance of "When You're Good to Mama" is deliciously lascivious.
Ben Elledge is well-cast as Amos, Roxie's "cellophane" husband — who's so invisible that when he asks the orchestra leader to play his exit music, he's met with thunderous silence.

The chorus is crucial to the success of this show, and it's hard to take your eyes off these lean, sultry dancers, all thrusting pelvises and serpentine grace. They are remarkably in sync with one another, and the Fosse-inspired choreography is anything but stale.

"Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it/And the reaction will be passionate," sings Billy Flynn.
It's true — and fortunately, there's more than just flash in this production.

Sometimes You Gotta Dance!

2008-10-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

In 1984, a film opened that would ultimately capture the feel of a decade and catapult its star, Kevin Bacon, to superstardom. Footloose, directed by Herbert Ross, was seen as a cross between James Dean's Rebel Without A Cause and the classic Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland musicals of the 40s and 50s.

The film is based on the true story of a small Oklahoma town's struggle against a 19th Century law that prohibited dancing within the city limits. The teenagers in town wanted a prom, but a local minister thought that dancing was a tool of the devil. This story of one person fighting against the system spoke to teens and adults alike, making Footloose one of the highest grossing films of 1984. Richard Corliss of Time Magazine, wrote that the film included "motifs on book burning, mid-life crisis, AWOL parents, fatal car crashes, drug enforcement and Bible Belt vigilantism," themes that spoke to a generation.

Even though Kevin Bacon is completely identified with the role, he was not the first choice for Ren McCormick. Producers originally considered Tom Cruise, but felt he was wrong physically. Rob Lowe auditioned but had to bow out due to a knee injury. Bacon ultimately secured the role, but not before he was asked to screen test in a fully filmed scene set to music. The role of Ariel, Reverend Moore's red-boot-wearing daughter, was offered to Lori Singer, who beat out Madonna. Rounding out the cast was Diane Wiest, John Lithgow, Chris Penn and a virtually unknown Sarah Jessica Parker.

Filmed entirely in Utah, Bacon researched his role by enrolling in Payson High School (where the school scenes were shot) as a transfer student, where he studied the kids in their natural habitat. For a week, he went to school like any other student and was treated in much the same way as his character in the film--as an outcast.

The soundtrack, featuring hits by Kenny Loggins, Ann Wilson, Sammy Hagar, Bonnie Tyler and Denise Williams was released the same year. Interestingly, none of the music, with the exception of the title track, was complete at the time of filming. All of the dance scenes were filmed with different music and the soundtrack was added during the editing process. The soundtrack went on to sell 9 million copies in the United States producing three top 10 hits.

The film takes a simple concept that could have come across as just another cheesy teen angst movie and combines it with great music to create one of the best-loved films of the genre. Its popularity helped spawn FOOTLOOSE the musical as well as, a film version of the musical, starring Zac Efron in 2010. Footloose has become a reflection of a generation that grew up in the 80s; it speaks to anyone who believes there is no sin in being young, having fun and getting to dance.

Check out our Web site to Buy Tickets Now for Footloose!

There is More to Broadway Than Just Musicals

2008-10-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

The word Broadway conjures up images of musicals like OKLAHOMA!, LES MISERABLES or RENT. All are different forms of the same genre and all share common characteristics. By definition, a musical has a book, music and lyrics, but in the last several years, another form of musical theater has shared the spotlight--the special theatrical event.

The special theatrical event contains some of the traits found in a more traditional Broadway-style musical. It has music, sometimes lyrics but most don't have a book. Examples include the musical review, shows that feature performers like Dame Edna, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and non-traditional shows like the Blue Man Group, BLAST! and STOMP. Each has taken its turn on the Great White Way and has played to sold-out houses across the country.

Theatrical events have been around for years, but have never achieved the same level of notoriety as more classic forms of the musical. In 2001, the Tony Awards ® created a special event category in response to criticism to CONTACT winning the best musical award in 2000. Considered a "dance play", CONTACT featured no cast vocals, used recorded music and songs and minimal dialog. The show lacked all the ingredients found in a standard Broadway production. The theater world was not ready to classify the show as a musical, so the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing created a new award category, Best Special Theatrical Event.

The first winner in the new category was BLAST! in 2001. The show further stretched the boundaries of the genre by bringing the artistry and energy of the drumline to the stage. Since then, Broadway legends Elaine Stritch, Bea Arthur and Barbara Cook have shared the new category with Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam, Bill Maher and ventriloquist Jay Johnson giving credibility to this new genre.

The theater world has taken notice and now productions like CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY, MOVIN' OUT and STOMP receive the well-deserved critical acclaim their traditional counterparts have enjoyed for decades.

Visit our Web site to Buy Tickets Now to catch STOMP in your city!

Can you use the word in a sentence?

2008-10-17T08:08:00.000-07:00

In 1925, Frank Neuhauser correctly spelled the word "gladiolus." Since that first championship, the National Spelling Bee has become a large part of American culture. From Charlie Brown specials to The Simpsons, the "bee" has been spoofed and its participants characterized as over-zealous, over-achieving children who stop at nothing to succeed. The public has had an ongoing fascination with all things "bee" for more than 83 years. So, it seemed natural to a group of improv actors and writers in New York to create a show with the bee as a central "character."

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is based on an original improvised play called C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E. The original work was created by Rebecca Feldman and performed by The Farm, a New York-based improv troupe. Writer and playwright, Wendy Wasserstein, saw the original and was so enamored by the show that she suggested that her friend, songwriter and lyricist William Finn, see it. He almost immediately contacted the shows creator and began transforming this work of improvisational comedy into a full-length musical.

The new musical was work-shopped from February through July of 2004 and moved Off-Broadway the following year to the Second Stage Theatre garnering box-office and critical success. The show moved to Broadway in 2005 and ran for more than 1000 performances!
The show features six adolescents who compet e in a spelling bee, which takes place in the fictional Putnam Valley Middle School. The "kids" are all portrayed by adults who capture the awkwardness and craziness of being a teenager in the throes of puberty. While scripted, the show hasn't lost its improv roots. Each night, a few audience members are selected to make their musical theater debut as featured "spellers" on stage with the cast.

Over the years, many guest spellers have tried to beat the cast in the bee. In 2006, National Scripps Spelling Bee Champion, Katharine Close, survived 14 rounds and was the last audience member to be eliminated. The show has also had its share of celebrity spellers. Last year, Julie Andrews, who was on hand for a Broadway production promoting Kids Night on Broadway, was eliminated when she misspelled "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" during the competition.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE speaks to the best and the worst of what it means to be an adolescent. The characters share the need to win and run the gamut from the girl whose best friend is a dictionary, to the Boy Scout who hits puberty at the most inopportune moment. In this Tony ® Award-winning musical comedy, the audience will relive their teenage years...at a very safe distance.

Visit our Web site to BUY TICKETS NOW for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!

Post from the Prez: NINE TO FIVE

2008-09-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

Theater League president, Mark Edelman, talks about NINE TO FIVE The Musical:

Recently, I saw the new Broadway musical NINE TO FIVE, trying out at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. This one is a real winner. Allison Janney (from TV's The West Wing) stars in this stage adaptation of the movie with two WICKED veterans Megan Hilty (who plays the Dolly Parton role) and Stephanie Block (Lily Tomlin's part) co-starring.

It's very funny, and Dolly Parton has written a wonderful, warm, winning score. Speaking of WICKED, Joe Mantello directs the show just right. The choreography is very inventive; set is really cool and the rest of the cast-- including stand-out Kathy Fitzgerald from THE PRODUCERS-- is amazing.

I counted twelve Tony nominations without breaking a sweat. This is the one to see on Broadway (opens in the Spring, I think).

- Mark Edelman, Theater League President
http://www.theaterleague.com/

NINE TO FIVE is one of the new musicals Theater League has invested in as part of our mission to encourage and support the arts nationwide.

The Dickens You Say!

2008-09-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

Oliver Twist, the second novel by Charles Dickens, was originally written as a monthly serial for a publication called Bentley's Miscellany in London. It was published from February 1837 through April 1839 and proved to be highly successful, not just as a novel, but as a way to address the issues surrounding the poor and lower classes of English Victorian society. The novel contains some of the most well-known characters in literature, many of which were based on people Dickens came into contact with throughout his childhood.

Far from idyllic, Dickens' family dealt with poverty throughout his younger years. At 12, Dickens was forced to work 10 hour days placing labels on jars of shoe polish in order to support his family. He lived with friends of the family for many years and grew resentful of a system that, for all intents and purposes, took his childhood away. The character Oliver Twist may have been based on his own experiences. Or perhaps was influenced by the life of Robert Blincoe, whose own childhood in the workhouses of London was widely known in the early 1830s.

At the time of its publication, Oliver Twist shocked and surprised readers with its depiction of life in the workhouses and slums of London. The novel is credited with "the clearing" of the slum that was the basis of Jacob's Island in the story. Dickens' characterization of Oliver as above reproach, a young boy whose soul could not be tarnished by the world around him, became a way for the writer to highlight his "goal of social commentary." He was able to show the extremes of life in a way that could reach the masses in society. These were not just simple plot devices, but an aspect of humanism in which good always triumphed in very unexpected ways.

Dickens' style of writing and vivid descriptions of life in 19th Century London made his novels popular among dramatists who longed for material to produce for the stage. To date, more than 100 adaptations of his work have been created for stage and screen. Many of his works were adapted as plays during his lifetime as Dickens had a keen respect and fascination for theater.
Dickens' picturesque descriptions and memorable characters have lived on in productions ranging from A CHRISTMAS CAROL to THE PICKWICK PAPERS and some of his most well-known characters will come to life again in Toledo as Theater League presents the Broadway classic OLIVER! November 13-16.

Visit our website to BUY TICKETS NOW for OLIVER!

Broadway Buzz... Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy

2008-09-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

Last season, you had a chance to experience the magic of CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY before it made its debut on Broadway!

CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY, after an extensive US Tour, made its debut at the Broadway Theatre in New York on June 26th for an exclusive 10-week engagement. After a highly successful nation-wide run, the producers approached several presenters involved in the tour and asked them for help in bringing the show to Broadway.

Theater League invested in making the producers' goal a reality. "If you go to the Broadway Theatre-next door to where David Letterman is taped-you will see Theater League above the title as one of the shows presenters," says Theater League President Mark Edelman. CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY is just one of many shows Theater League has supported. 9 To 5 The Musical, NOVEMBER starring Nathan Lane and THE COLOR PURPLE are just a few of the productions Edelman and Theater League have chosen to support.

CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY has been well received in New York. Audiences have been as entranced by the spectacle as the audiences in Theater League's cities. So much so that the production, after closing on Broadway this month, will mount a new national tour. There may even be an award in the shows future. "I think it has a good chance to win a Tony Award® for best special event-like BLAST received several years ago," says Edelman. The best part is Theater League members got to see this show first!

Be on the look out for even more exciting shows in the coming years as Theater League works to bring you the best and the brightest BEFORE they go to Broadway!

Visit Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy's Official Website