Whitney Smith News

Kevin Smith Kirkwood, currently appearing on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, will bring CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE! back to Joe's Pub at The Public later this season after another smash, sold-out show earlier this summer.

From September 15 to October 1 the NEW York Theatre Company will present the premiere production of Michael Kimball's colonial crime drama, "Patience Boston," at The Players Ring Theater, 105 Marcy St, Portsmouth, NH. Show times are 8pm Fridays and Saturdays and 3pm on Sundays. Tickets cost $18, with discounts for students, seniors, and Players' Ring members. To reserve, visit www.playersring.org or call 603-436-8123.

Creating and starring in a solo show in which the late Whitney Houston, an undeniable legend with a complicated legacy, 'comes down from heaven and is reincarnated' in your body is a swing for the fences. But Kevin Smith Kirkwood does just that in CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE!, which mostly sets the darkness of the singer's later years aside to focus on Whitney's 'good times.'

Kevin Smith Kirkwood - currently appearing on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots - will bring CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE! back to Joe's Pub at The Public by popular demand.

Auditions for KC SuperStar 2017, Kansas City's high school singing competition ala 'American Idol/The Voice,' have been set for Wednesday, March 30, 4-8:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 2, 1-5 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City (The J), 5801 W. 115th St., Overland Park, KS. Singers only need to attend one audition for the competition, which is produced by The J. The final event will take place Sunday evening, Aug. 27, 2017.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera and the nation's leading champion for American opera, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2017 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards, selected from a record number of nominations. Now in their 10th year, these awards honor outstanding trustees of U.S. opera companies for their exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building efforts on behalf of their respective organizations.

January 27th through February 12th Fearon Productions will present The Maids by Jean Genet at The Players' Ring, 105 Marcy Street, Portsmouth NH.  Showtimes are 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays and 3 pm Sundays. Tickets cost $15 with discounts for students, seniors, and Players' Ring members.

From December 2nd-23rd the Player's Ring will present Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol as its 25th Anniversary Season holiday offering at 105 Marcy St, Portsmouth NH.

Brownwater Productions presents the world premiere of G. Matthew Gaskell's Ye Merry Gentlemen at The Players' Ring in Portsmouth, NH. 

Arriving on stage in a tear-away USA tracksuit to wow the crowd with 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' Kevin Smith Kirkwood looked every bit the part of Whitney Houston in the return of CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE! at Joe's Pub on August 31. But as everyone knows, a diva is more than just clothes (although the jumpsuit underneath was admittedly stunning as well). In less adept hands, the show's concept--- that Houston came down on a cloud for a repeat performance--- might have felt awkward or, worse, exploitative. Fortunately, Kirkwood, who is no stranger to glam and larger-than-life performers following his run in KINKY BOOTS, truly embodied the late icon on every level. Opening the show, he addressed the audience with a coy, 'Ladies and gentlemen, it's so good to be back.'

KEVIN SMITH KIRKWOOD - now appearing on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots - will bring CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE! back to JOE'S PUB at The Public by popular demand. 

KEVIN SMITH KIRKWOOD - now appearing on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots - will bring CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE! back to JOE'S PUB at The Public by popular demand. 

Portland's Lyric Music Theater has mounted a sweetly sad production of the Marsha Norman-Lucy Simon musical version of the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel, The Secret Garden, that is sure to touch the hearts of young and old alike. Directed by Joshua Chard, the production showcases the versatility of the company and offers a gentle lyrical contrast to previous endeavors such as Sweeney Todd and The Addams Family.

Kevin Smith Kirkwood, who is now appearing on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, is bringing CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE! back to New York by popular demand. Hot on the heels of its sold-out debut at Joe's Pub last year, Kirkwood will once again channel the voice, look and spirit of the late legend Whitney Houston at The Cutting Room on Wednesday, March 2 at 7:30 PM. In honor of the upcoming performance, Kevin took a moment to reflect on five Whitney performances that he finds have helped inspire him and his performance for the show. BroadwayWorld brings you his selections, from classics to medleys, below! 

KEVIN SMITH KIRKWOOD - now appearing on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots - is bringing CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE! back to New York by popular demand.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2016 National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards. Now in its ninth year, these awards honor outstanding trustees of U.S. opera companies for their exemplary leadership, generosity and audience-building efforts on behalf of their respective opera companies.

Discover how a wood chipper can stop an alien invasion. Learn how the Cuban missile crisis was averted by a guy in a bath towel. Confront the horrifying truth about life on Mars. Tonight, January 22nd, Evening Broadcast Productions critically acclaimed series Evening Broadcasts returns to The Players' Ring stage with a new, world-premiere collection of short plays.

Discover how a wood chipper can stop an alien invasion. Learn how the Cuban missile crisis was averted by a guy in a bath towel. Confront the horrifying truth about life on Mars. On January 22nd, Evening Broadcast Productions critically acclaimed series Evening Broadcasts returns to The Players' Ring stage with a new, world-premiere collection of short plays.

On November 6-29 Best Day Ever, the fourth installment of the hilarious Sharp Dressed Men series, written by G. Matthew Gaskell and directed by Jennifer Henry, will premiere at The Players' Ring Theater in Portsmouth for four weekends. Showtimes are Todays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays, November 8, 15, and 22 at 7pm, and Sunday, November 29 at 3pm. Tickets cost $15, with discounts for students, seniors and Players' Ring members. To reserve, visit www.playersring.org or call 603-436-8123.

On November 6-29 Best Day Ever, the fourth installment of the hilarious Sharp Dressed Men series, written by G. Matthew Gaskell and directed by Jennifer Henry, will premiere at The Players' Ring Theater in Portsmouth for four weekends. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays, November 8, 15, and 22 at 7pm, and Sunday, November 29 at 3pm. Tickets cost $15, with discounts for students, seniors and Players' Ring members. To reserve, visit www.playersring.org or call 603-436-8123.