Natasha Ashley - Page 5

Broadway in the Finger Lakes is at it again in bringing a new and creative musical to audiences at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, a theatrical gem located in Auburn's beautiful Emerson Park. The new musical Anne of Green Gables: A new Folk Rock Musical comes to the theatre directly from four sold out performances in Broadway in the Finger Lakes' 2017 theatre series, The PiTCH. The production is modern and creative and the show is truly something special.

As per usual The Central New York (CNY) Playhouse is entertaining audiences with a challenging musical - and not just any challenging musical, a Sondheim musical. Into the Woods, daringly directed by Korrie Taylor, is yet one more example of CNY Playhouse's guts. If there's one thing the company doesn't lack, it's having not only the ambition, but also the ability to perform a musical most community theaters wouldn't dare to produce.

Auburn's Merry-Go-Round Playhouse has opened its 2018 Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival with the very popular, smash hit musical Mamma Mia! The catchy and fun musical, strongly directed by Artistic Director Brett Smock, is packing the house at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, celebrating its 60th anniversary.

The Redhouse Arts Center is now entertaining Syracuse audiences with none other than the hilarious and bold musical comedy La Cage Aux Folles. With fabulous direction by Cassie Abate, the Tony Award-winning musical is without a doubt dazzling, powerful, heartwarming, and full of laughs. It is pure comedic fun mixed with a powerful lesson on acceptance.

The classic story of Dirty Dancing by Eleanor Bergstein comes to life on a national tour now playing Syracuse's Landmark Theatre.

There is no doubt that Syracuse University has a fabulous Department of Drama. This time around they are showcasing their talented students in the thrilling and cult classic musical Little Shop of Horrors at Syracuse Stage. With book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and toe-tapping tunes by Alan Menken, the show certainly provides entertainment. Meticulously directed by Brian Cimmet, the students lift character acting to new heights, show off incredible puppetry skills with Audrey II, and belt out those oh so familiar tunes with pure power backed by the onstage five-person band under the direction of Jacob Stebly.

Is it a rock concert? A musical production? Or an Irish dance show? Rockin' Road to Dublin can be categorized as all three. The one-night-only engagement of this unique Irish dance and rock concert at Syracuse's Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater proved to be a fantastic experience. It offers a fresh take on traditional Irish tunes, showcases some very familiar classic rock hits, incorporates Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's Academy Award-winning song 'Falling Slowly,' along with Irish dance. The combination of all of this results in a powerful and memorable entertainment experience. The concert/dance show is referred to as 'the new generation of Irish rock and dance because there's more than one road to the Heart of Ireland.' I must say this generation of Irish dancers is on point!

Syracuse Stage concludes its season with an intriguing and mystifying production of The Magic Play. The unique production features a cast of three actors under the astute direction of Halena Kays. It is positively entrancing thanks to the brilliant cast and unique script.

The latest tour to entertain Syracuse audiences is none other than STOMP, the international sensation that features the use of some of the most unlikely instruments. On a blustery and cold April day (welcome to Spring in Syracuse) STOMP sizzles inside the historical Landmark Theatre. The multiple award-winning percussion sensation, created and directed by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, brought the house down with its intense rhythms, explosive sound, and top-notch performers.

The Central New York Playhouse has one again stepped up, taken a risk, and created something magical with its current musical, Chess. Under Robert G. Searle's clever direction, the entire talented cast Chess cast works together beautifully to deliver a very intriguing and powerful performance of the musical that has a little bit of rock 'n roll, romance, sex appeal, betrayal, and history.

The latest production entertaining audiences at the Central New York Playhouse is Aaron Sorkin's suspenseful play, A Few Good Men. Sorkin later adapted the play into a major motion picture of the same name starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore. Director Dustin M. Czarny has once again brought local theatergoers an intense and memorable production. The acting, set design, and meticulous direction are top notch, especially for a community theatre.

The latest tour entertaining audiences as part of Broadway in Syracuse at the Crouse Hinds Theater is the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, featuring a book by Harvey Fierstein with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper.

The Syracuse City Ballet, the only professional ballet serving the Central New York community, brought the enchanting ballet of Aladdin to life this past weekend at Crouse Hinds Theater in Syracuse, New York. The production was directed and choreographed by founding artistic director Kathleen Rathbun and it once again brought down the house. Like all Syracuse City Ballet productions, this one provided a wonderful opportunity for local professional, pre-professional, and student dancers to perform alongside national and international guest artists.

Devotion, passion, and drive are just some of the words that come to mind when I think of The Redhouse, 'a nonprofit, multi-arts organization dedicated to the production and presentation of interdisciplinary works, theatre, music and visual art.' The Redhouse has become a large part of the theatre scene within the Central New York area and it now has a new location at Syracuse, NY's City Center, just a few blocks away from its starter home. The Redhouse may have moved on to a larger venue with three performing spaces, but the heart is still very much there. What better way to open a new space than with the touching, entertaining, and heartwarming production of Ernest Thompson's On Golden Pond, brilliantly directed by Vincent J. Cardinal.

Syracuse Stage has once again brought an intense and gripping production to the local stage. This time around it is Lorraine Hansberry's American classic play A Raisin in the Sun (in a co-production with Indiana Repertory Theatre) captivating audiences.

The national tour of the classic musical A Chorus Line is entertaining audiences at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds theatre in Syracuse, New York. The production - restaged by Baayork Lee based on Michael Bennett's original direction and choreography - is 'One Singular Sensation.' With masterful music by Marvin Hamlisch, unique lyrics by Edward Kleban, and a flawless book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, it is no wonder that the original production received nine Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize in 1976.

Baldwinsville Theatre Guild, an ambitious community theatre in Central New York, repeatedly tackles some challenging large-scale musicals to show off local talents. Their latest musical production is none other than The Hunchback of Notre Dame, featuring a principal cast of ten, an ensemble of seven, a 22-member choir, and a live orchestra under the meticulous direction of Abel Searor.

Under the brilliant direction of Robert Hupp, the Artistic Director of Syracuse Stage, Next to Normal is thrilling audiences at Syracuse Stage with its intense story, dynamite singers, and powerful score. The uniquely brilliant musical covers many controversial topics such as grief, suicide, drug abuse, and modern psychiatry. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical is one that demands excellent actor-singers to properly showcase the music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. Director Hupp has assembled a top-notch group of performers that beautifully capture the emotional and powerful music and story. The lead role of Diana is played by Broadway veteran Judy McLane. Among her impressive credits includes more than 4,000 performances of the Broadway hit Mamma Mia!. She and the other cast members, deliver intense, emotional, and delivers truly electrifying performances.

The Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker has once again returned to Syracuse, New York for two performances at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre. This annual tour, produced by Akiva Talmi, is a holiday tradition that many look forward to seeing again and again and for good reason; it is breathtakingly inspiring.

Syracuse's Central New York Playhouse latest show is 1940's Radio Hour, written by Walton Jones and featuring various hit songs of the 1940s. Directed by Patricia Catchouny with musical direction by Abel Searor, 1940's Radio Hour transports us to December 1942 the final holiday broadcast of the Mutual Manhattan Variety Cavalcade on New York City radio station WOV.