Gianluca Russo - Page 2

Rain and romance fill Capital Repertory Theatre with their touching and humorous staging of John Patrick Shanley's "Outside Mullingar." Though confronting themes such as death, acceptance, and self-discovery, the play is a gentle, comedic telling of a feel good, relatable story for all.

The Two of Us Productions are gearing up to go into their second and final weekend of their production of Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein." Darryl Gangloff of the Lakeville Journal writes in his review of the comedic musical, "This production of 'Young Frankenstein' ... shows how much passion a local theater company has for its craft."

Acclaimed 1960s throwback group The Midtown Men are back on tour this fall, performing at Schenectady's Proctors Theatre tonight. The group, composed of Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer, performed on Broadway together in Jersey Boys for three years before forming The Midtown Men. With having performed over 2,000 live shows together, the group couldn't be more thrilled to be back on tour and bringing the music of the 60s to audiences both new and old. Tony Winner Christian Hoff was kind enough to speak with us and tell us a little about why The Midtown Men hold a special part in his heart.

It's hard to deny the fact that the Albany area is full of talented performers and artists who strive for the best in their careers. With theatre and dance opportunities growing each year, some travel far beyond the Capital Region and make their mark in professional venues all over the world. One of these Albany natives is Corey John Snide, currently portraying the role of Coricopat in the Broadway revival of Cats. Snide was kind enough to speak with us about his dance roots here in Albany and how they helped him create a successful and riveting career so far.

Broadway meets Elvis in the 2004 jukebox musical All Shook Up, playing this Friday and Saturday at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady. Featuring some of the king's hit songs, including "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Burning Love," the show is presented by a group of teens ages 18 and under through the theatre's annual Broadway Camp.

After a successful run of Kander and Ebb's Chicago, director John Saunders is bringing Stephen Sondheim's beloved classic Into The Woods to the Mac-Haydn stage starting July 28. The musical is composed of many classic fairy tales, including Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Jack and the Beanstalk, and takes a look at the events that occur after "happily ever after."

Park Playhouse's production of John Kander and Fred Ebb's Chicago brings a slick, sultry, and sensual vibe to Washington Park, seducing its way through each member of the audience. The show, now known as the longest running American musical in Broadway history, is ruthless, dark, and heartless, though that may not be a great thing.

Mac-Haydn Theatre is almost ready to razzle dazzle audiences with their upcoming production of the longest running American musical, Chicago. The show runs July 7 through July 24 in Chatham, New York. Stepping into the iconic roles of Roxy and Velma are Caitlin Wilayto and Bridget Elise Yingling, respectfully, who were kind enough to speak with us via phone last week.

Legendary lyricist Tim Rice's new musical, From Here to Eternity, is currently playing at Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse through July 20. Based off the 1951 novel of the same name by James Jones, the show tells the story of a group of U.S. Army soldiers during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. From Here to Eternity, as Rice tells us via a phone interview, is much different than some of his past musicals including The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast. 'It's not like Aladdin or The Lion King,' he explains. 'The material is very different and more mature than those shows. It's a very complex story. There is a lot going on in it but that is what makes it such a beautiful show.'

A new kind of circus is heading to the area this weekend presented by Marquise Productions. The event, entitled YOL, meaning "road" or "way" in Turkish, combines a group of different performers together into a beautiful spectacle. At the helm of the production is founder Aaron Marquise, a circus performer himself.

Looking back, I owe so much to the theatrical opportunities presented to me in high school. Not only was my school's theatre program educational and entertaining, but it opened up a new door in my life and sparked my love for what now has started to become my career. Among these experiences was performing in a production of the beloved classic West Side Story with C-R Productions. Though only my first production with the group, I cherished every moment of working alongside these incredibly talented performers who made each rehearsal an amazing experience.

A musical formed by the geniuses of Mel Brooks, Nathan Lane, and Matthew Broderick would no doubt be a comedic masterpiece, and that is exactly what The Producers is. This critically acclaimed musical opened on Broadway in 2001 and broke the limit for the most Tony Award wins with 12, though Hamilton will most likely take that title soon. Schenectady Light Opera Company has taken a swing at putting on a production of this loved show this past week and, much like with the Broadway production, they have knocked it out of the park.

There are very few productions that move me to tears, the last being Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Violet starring Sutton Foster, ironically also based on a woman's journey to happiness. And though I usually stay composed and proper, something about Capital Repertory Theatre's beautiful production of The Trip to Bountiful compelled me to join in on the show's emotional rollercoaster and ponder upon the current state of my own life.

Sometimes ever the brightest stars don't get their chance to shine. On March 23rd, the world of theatre lost yet another uprising star. Parker Leikam, an 18 year old senior at South Jefferson High School in Adams, New York, was killed in a head on car collision only two blocks from his home. Police reported that the other driver tried to pass a vehicle in front of him, entering a no passing zone, and crashing into Leikam's minivan.

It's obvious that theatre nowadays has begun to stray from the cute, playful shows of the 1950s, in which plots were thin and laughs were large. And rightfully so, as after a certain point, one craves to feel moved and inspired by a piece. But something about Joe DiPietro's Living on Love, which opened April 1st at the Curtain Call Theatre, makes me wish that these old time farces will soon make a comeback.

Who knew that a show based upon President Kennedy's promise to get a man on the moon could be so entertaining, humorous, and, to put it simply, magnificent? The Blue-Sky Boys, which opened Tuesday at the Capital Repertory Theatre, is written by Deborah Brevoort, under the direction of Gordon Greenberg.

The cast, or tribe as they preferred to be called, of Schenectady Light Opera Company's production of Hair is certainly letting it all out to shine for us in this restaging of the 1968 Broadway game changer. The production is extremely timely considering the upcoming presidential election and protests that accompany it.

Success in the arts is certainly not easy, often taking years before finally booking your big break. The waiting can be exhausting and discouraging, perhaps making us question why we even got into this business in the first place. Some, however, experience success very early in their careers. One of these lucky and talented few is Benjamin Cook, currently in rehearsals for the upcoming Broadway production of the new musical Tuck Everlasting.

Guilderland High School's drama club, The Guilderland Players, will open their 47th musical on March 10th with a production of the Tony Award winning hit, 42nd Street. The show, originally appearing on Broadway in 1980, features music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin, and a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble.

Audiences expecting a historic, telling musical of our seventh president of these United States, Andrew Jackson, are in for quite a surprise. The show, which prefaces that it is not historically accurate, is an emo and rock filled tale of Jackson, the formation of the Democratic Party, and his torture and removal of Native Americans. The musical uses extreme irony to expose the faults of our nation's history and leaders, a topic that is very relevant in the today's news.