John Webber News

A new Canadian musical is about to hit the stage in Toronto. The Musical Stage Company (formerly Acting Up Stage Company) is bringing us their new work, ONEGIN. I had a chance to chat with ONEGIN's creators, Amiel Gladstone and Veda Hille as well as two of the cast members, Daren A. Herbert (Onegin) and Hailey Gillis (Tatyana) about the experience of bringing this story to life.

Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice will join forces on an animated big screen adaptation of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT.

A reverently irreverent Christmas story. Pacific Theatre jumps into the holiday season with a brand-new, commissioned work: Holy Mo! A Christmas Show! by Lucia Frangione.

New York-based singer Diane Armesto is giving jazz fans an early Christmas present this year with her rendition of the holiday classic “I'll Be Home For Christmas.”

Vancouver, BC ~  Vancouver Opera kicks off the exciting 2015-2016 season with Giuseppe Verdi's thrilling blockbuster, Rigoletto. Powerful baritone Gordon Hawkins will sing the title role, with international superstar soprano Simone Osborne as Gilda and acclaimed tenor Bruce Sledge as the Duke. Sensational melodies, heartbreaking drama and vivid characters make this dark, tender drama of love and revenge irresistible.

Vancouver, BC ~  Vancouver Opera kicks off the exciting 2015-2016 season with Giuseppe Verdi's thrilling blockbuster, Rigoletto. Powerful baritone Gordon Hawkins will sing the title role, with international superstar soprano Simone Osborne as Gilda and acclaimed tenor Bruce Sledge as the Duke. Sensational melodies, heartbreaking drama and vivid characters make this dark, tender drama of love and revenge irresistible.

History and fantasy collide in this imagined meeting between two of the twentieth century's greatest minds: Sigmund Freud and CS Lewis. Pacific Theatre's production of Freud's Last Session by Mark St. Germain takes a few pieces of historical trivia and weaves them into a fascinating and compelling discourse on life's greatest questions: sex, love, the existence of God, and the meaning of life.

History and fantasy collide in this imagined meeting between two of the twentieth century's greatest minds: Sigmund Freud and CS Lewis. Pacific Theatre's production of Freud's Last Session by Mark St. Germain takes a few pieces of historical trivia and weaves them into a fascinating and compelling discourse on life's greatest questions: sex, love, the existence of God, and the meaning of life.

Ruby Slippers Theatre presents the touching and captivating double bill: Apres Moi and The List. These English translations of two French Canadian plays will take the audience on a very human journey through love, loss, compassion and memory and remind us that by letting other people in, if only briefly, our life's trajectory can be profoundly altered.

Ruby Slippers Theatre presents the touching and captivating double bill: Apres Moi and The List. These English translations of two French Canadian plays will take the audience on a very human journey through love, loss, compassion and memory and remind us that by letting other people in, if only briefly, our life's trajectory can be profoundly altered.

Solo Collective Theatre proudly presents the world premiere of Cool Beans by Anton Lipovetsky, a romantic musical comedy involving identity crises, hipsters, wannabes and a coffee shop. Directed by Rachel Peake, with music direction by Mishelle Cuttler, Cool Beans features Jay Clift, Gili Roskies, Katey Hoffman and Josh Epstein, and is designed by John Webber and Drew Facey. Cool Beans runs from tonight, November 21-December 1, 2013 at Performance Works.

Solo Collective Theatre proudly presents the world premiere of Cool Beans by Anton Lipovetsky, a romantic musical comedy involving identity crises, hipsters, wannabes and a coffee shop. Directed by Rachel Peake, with music direction by Mishelle Cuttler, Cool Beans features Jay Clift, Gili Roskies, Katey Hoffman and Josh Epstein, and is designed by John Webber and Drew Facey. Cool Beans runs from November 21-December 1, 2013 at Performance Works.

Leda hasn't seen her daughter in years, but when her life comes to a crisis point her therapist does the unthinkable and offers concrete advice, sending all three women on a collision course with their all-too-human need for certainty and connection. Playing Oct 25-Nov 9 Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm with 2pm matinee on Saturday at Pacific Theatre, 1440 W 12th Ave. For tickets ($19.99-29.99, taxes and fees not incl.) call 604.731.5518 or visit pacifictheatre.org. A guest production by Ruby Slippers Theatre.

This April and May, 54 BELOW, the performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife, presents an exciting lineup of Broadway's brightest talent. Located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, 54 Below continues to present its special series: 'Backstage' with Susie Mosher will be joined by '54 Piano Bar,' a new vocal competition - 'The Callback,' and more.

The 54 Below WBGO Jazz Series will feature weekly Tuesday evening shows by jazz artists curated by the famed veteran Jazz programmer, Todd Barkan. Just around the corner from Swing Street, these seasoned jazz performers come to Broadway's Nightclub to play and sing the night away in grand style. The series is sponsored by the WBGO, the country's premier jazz radio station, promising a truly classic only-in-New York experience.

The 54 Below WBGO Jazz Series will feature weekly Tuesday evening shows by jazz artists. Just around the corner from Swing Street, these seasoned jazz performers come to Broadway's Nightclub to play and sing the night away in grand style. Whether you're a long time jazz buff or new to the genre, this series, sponsored by the country's premier jazz radio station, promises a truly classic only-in-New York experience.

Gary Naylor sees a shameful episode of Olympics history exposed and explained.

Rumble Productions is set to present Greg MacArthur's Snowman. Denver and Marjorie are drifters who have found a routine: find a town, find an apartment, get jobs, walk around, make friends, and stay for a month or a year before packing up and moving on.

Centaur Theatre Company's Season 42 concludes with a serio-comic trek across the intangibles of love. The RUBY SLIPPERS THEATRE production of A BEAUTIFUL VIEW, written and directed by Daniel MacIvor, chronicles a twisting friendship between two women performed by DIANE BROWN and COLLEEN WHEELER. The National Post recently described it as, 'Magic, its short 75 minutes illuminates the lives of two women and their relationship so completely, there is no other word.'

The Mad Batter, 19 Jackson Street, is hosting an after-show opening night party for KT Sullivan on Friday, April 29. Hors d'oeuvres are provided, with a cash bar, but no other costs, to come and meet this lovely Broadway and cabaret performer and her musical arranger and accompanist, Jon Weber. KT is only performing for two nights in Cape May: April 29 and 30 at 8:00 p.m., at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes St. in Cape May.