Ronald Green News

Now playing at the adorable Noel S. Ruiz Theatre through September 28th, the lush show features a superb ensemble cast each of whom gets to shine. They're young, but they seem to 'get' this type of music, so devotees of this type of this style need not worry. Some of the iconic artists featured in the fun score are Duke Ellington, Casey MacGill, and Johnny Mercer. And, you're sure to recognize some of the classic song including a?oeIt Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) and a?oeBoogie Woogie Bugle Boya??

The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center, Nice Work If You Can Get It, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Joe DePietro, Patrick Grossman, Matthew W. Surico, Alison Weinberger, Ashley Nicastro, Amanda Wenchel, Nicolette Carosi, Ronald Green III, Steven Cottonaro, Bailey Whitney, Andrew J Beck, Emily Edwards, Briggs G. Houston, Barry Johnson, Emily Nadler, Adriana Michelle Scheer, Jeff Pangburn, Linda Pentz, David DiMarzo, John Mazzarella, Steven Press, Luke Ferrari, Mike Shapiro, Christian Kalinowski, Katie Perpall, Morgan Zweibel, Maggie Overbaugh, Jennifer Trezza, Juliana Jagielo, Katie Johnson, Megan Fives, Kristi Kahen, Megan Monaghan, and Katy Snair

Over the years, CM Performing Arts Center has continued to impress Long Island audiences with top-notch production value, talented casts, and crowd pleasing seasons of musicals. Their latest show on the marquee, Disney's "Newsies," is no exception. 

If there ever was a time to see Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, it is now. The strangely uplifting and silly show encourages the viewer to dream. Even if you are sad or down; continue to dream. Don't get me wrong; there are emotional and dramatic moments. However, the overall message thrives.

The tale, set in the 1960s, takes place in the city of Venice. It centers on Guido Contini who is dreading his upcoming 40th birthday. We follow him as he is facing a midlife crisis that seems to be blocking artistic whims cornering him in a web of romantic complications; Both in real life and his mind. Arthur Kopit's book takes much insight from the viewer as they switch between reality and Guido's mind. Moreover, the music, by Maury Yeston, is rich and moving.

You will not be disappointed when you see a production of the worldwide hit Mamma Mia!. As the current offering from the Noel S. Ruiz Theater at CM Performing Arts Center, this show boasts a remarkable cast. Running through March 9th at the Oakdale venue, Patrick Grossman directs the superb production featuring our favorites from pop group ABBA.

It's the last week to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Long Island Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Long Island Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Long Island Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Long Island Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

If you're looking to enjoy some holiday cheer in the comfort of a toasty theater look no further than the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center's production of the family favorite 'Annie.' Lavish sets by the masterful Patrick Grossman, a spacious house with a majority of plush red seats and some of the best talent on the island - this production is nothing less than you would expect from this company. Although there are multiple other companies also producing 'Annie' this season I must say this would be quite difficult to top.

In a superb offering, Oakdale's CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC) presents Phantom at the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre. Not to be mistaken for the famous Andrew Lloyd Weber musical Phantom Of The Opera, this is a different take - though based on the same novel - that gives us more insight into who the Phantom, the man, is. Running through November 3rd, Ashley Nicastro directs and choreographs this boffo incarnation.

Admittedly, when Long Island's Noel S. Ruiz Theatre announced they were going to have a run of the musical The Rat Pack Lounge, I was a little bewildered. The show hasn't been on Broadway, this is the first time it is being done in New York, and, honestly, there wasn't much overall information about the production as I was researching it. However... Sammy Davis, Jr., Ol' Blue Eyes, and Dean Martin? Pass me a martini because I am sold.

Some shows move you. Some shows run a chill up your spine. Some shows leave makeup and tears streaming down your face. This was my experience sitting in the intimate Circle in the Square Theatre, where 'Fun Home' premiered on Broadway in 2015 after an Off-Broadway run in 2013. More than three years later I experienced the same rush of emotions at Smithtown Performing Arts Center's production.

While watching and enjoying 'We Will Rock You,' the latest hit musical at the Smithtown Center For The Performing Arts, you tend to wonder why the show's stars who belt out Queen's greatest hits aren't on Broadway. Gifted performers Andrew Murano and Danielle Nigro delight audiences as they breeze through the rock and roll score and lead a talented troop of young artists to stardom.

The incarnation of Bullets Over Broadway, The Musical at Oakdale's Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC), is certainly an enjoyable one. Strongly directed by CMPAC Artistic Director Patrick Grossman, the Long Island premiere, running through August 11th, spectacularly closes out the venue's thrilling 42nd season. And let me tell you this cast is absolutely wonderful.

What would you do if you met someone who had never seen a musical before? They have no concept of what goes into it - the dance breaks, the big ensemble numbers, the balance of humor and pathos. The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre's production 'On the Town' would be the perfect production to display what it means to be a musical. Although it teeters on the cliche at times, the production value and the performances make up for the sometimes flawed piece.

In a Grease-meets-Romeo & Juliet type of tale, the Tony nominated musical Cry-Baby brings loads of laughs. The Long Island premiere - running through May 12th at The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC) - is superbly directed by Patrick Grossman - the Artistic Director of the Oakdale venue - and boasts an extraordinary cast. I've long admired the top notch comedic talent we have here on Long Island and the artists in this production certainly deliver sidesplitting performances.

It's 'Girls' Night Out' at Smithtown Center For The Performing Arts' electrifying production of 'Mamma Mia!' The ABBA musical brings down the house and features an energetic gang of Long Island's finest actors including the amazing Michelle Rubino who steals the spotlight as bride to be Sophie.

I had the honor of seeing the original Broadway cast of the Tony winning musical Ragtime as my very first Broadway show. So, as you can guess, I am absolutely ecstatic to see that the Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center has added it to their fantastic Spring/Summer schedule. This exciting and well done incarnation, kicking off their 42nd season, is excellently directed by Matthew W. Surico running through March 24th at the adorable Oakdale venue.