Just So 1985 - Articles Page 7

Carlos Almaraz (1941-1989) painted murals and giant oils, works that burst with color and images of Echo Park, car crashes, and other aspects of life in LA. Most of these original works are out of reach of the common man now.

“To be an actor is to be.” This quote has set the foundation for everything I do in life. It was one of the first things I heard when I began Atlantic’s Staging Success program my freshman year of high school, where once a week my classmates and I met with acting teachers from Atlantic Acting School. This is a privilege that many children are not able to experience and I am so thankful that I did.

Based on the well-known board game distributed in North America by Parker Brothers (which was later folded into toy and game manufacturer Hasbro) that itself inspired a cult 1985 Paramount Pictures film of the same name written and directed by Jonathan Lynn, CLUE--the stage play--features the same infamous names and, yes, weapons and rooms synonymous with the classic whodunnit game. Writer Sandy Rustin, along with additional writers Hunter Foster and Eric Price, have revived the same colorful characters and personalities of the film and have transposed them into a madcap, 90-minute puzzle that's mostly silly and engagingly fun. The comedy's West Coast Premiere production continues at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts through October 17, 2021.

Stockard Channing and Rebecca Night will perform in the Pulitzer Prize-winning 'night, Mother by Marsha Norman.  This astonishing play, which had its UK premiere at Hampstead Theatre in 1985, will be directed by the theatre's Artistic Director, Roxana Silbert.  'night, Mother will run from 22 October until 4 December 2021.

In 1985 Great Performances on PBS presented a television special titled 'The Best of Broadway' that featured Tom Bosley hosting a treasure trove of performers from the American Musical Theater performing the numbers that they made famous on the Broadway stage.

The Actors’ Gang Theater has just begun streaming their live virtual production of WE LIVE ON, based on the 1970 Hard Times by Studs Terkel. Directed by Actors’ Gang’s artistic director Tim Robbins, WE LIVE ON is performed in three parts. Had a chance to have a fun chat with Patti Tippo, who’s playing legendary burlesque dancer Sally Rand.  

The novel was first published in French in 1985, and has been in print for over 35 years. The new English edition will shortly be re-issued.

This week (June 21-28) in live streaming: Kate Reinders, Amanda Kloots and Jennifer Nettles visit Backstage Live, Fredi Walker-Browne shares Ten Minute Tidbits, a Kerry Butler masterclass, Tovah Feldshuh in Becoming Dr. Ruth, and so much more!

Don Bluth Front Row Theatre debuts their new venue with ORSON WELLES, a one-man theatrical biography of the acclaimed actor/filmmaker. It’s a pleasant 80 minutes featuring Keath Hall’s expert performance of an unambitious script. 

Whether you do it in-person with your 'quarantine bubble', or online using a service like Netflix Party or Discord's video screening feature, here are some theatre movies and pro-shots to add to your Friday night plans.

The creative team and full cast list has been announced for the hilarious, feel-good musical, The Wedding Singer, which will have its Australian premiere in just two weeks on Friday 9 April.

This week, I was so sick I couldn’t get out of bed. What’s a neurotic theatre kid to do? Watch every Tony Awards that I could find, of course. Shout out to MsPoochSmooch.

Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre remembers and celebrates one of their founding members MICHAEL JONES, who passed away a year ago. An Emmy winner and recipient of the Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Award, Michael was a co-founder and Artistic Associate at OKC Rep. While Michael was a pillar of the OKC theatre community, he also worked all over the country. Michael touched the lives and hearts of so many he worked with. The OKC theatre community remembers Michael Jones.

Our monthlong series culling some of the early London theatrical triumphs of stars before they became known to the world at large draws to a close with our look back at a brilliant quintet of actresses who commanded attention in one musical (sometimes several) before broader renown came to call.

Carolin Fortenbacher cannot be stereotyped. Once you think that you fully understand her and you can pigeonhole her, she’ll surprise you the next time. This is why she has been doing different shows since 1985 such as “West Side Story”, “Man of La Mancha”, “Pirates of Penzance”, “Next to Normal” or “Mamma Mia”, just to name a view.

Gallery Players and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus has announced their next virtual program on Saturday, March 6 beginning at 7:15PM. Performed and recorded in NYC just for their Columbus audience, WE JUST MOVE ON! Songs of Kander and Ebb is going to be a virtual event you won't want to miss!

Spread the word, Upper Eastsiders -- all six seasons of “Gossip Girl” are coming to HBO Max on January 1st.

This week marks Alabama Shakespeare Festival's 35th anniversary in Montgomery. From its founding as a summer theatre festival in Anniston in 1972 to its designation as the State Theater of Alabama in 1977 to the stunning performing arts complex in Montgomery (built in 1985), ASF has been a leader in the performing arts throughout the state, region, and country.

Today (December 1) in live streaming:Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens and so much more!

San Francisco’s Cutting Ball Theatre has scored quite a coup in presenting the world premiere of Utopia, the latest work from Obie-winning playwright Charles L. Mee, available for streaming from October 16th through November 15th. Directed by Ariel craft, who is also Cutting Ball’s Artistic Director, the play is a multidisciplinary fantasia that explores the question “How do you make a life?” Cutting Ball is partnering on the production with RAWdance contemporary dance company, and Creativity Explored which supports artists with developmental disabilities, to create a work that harmonizes theater, dance and animation in a genre-defying dreamscape.  Audiences can stream from home from October 16th through November 15th. Additional details can be found at www.CuttingBall.com. BroadwayWorld chats with Mee from his home in New York City.

There is something beautiful about artists whose insight into the human condition allows them to create works that, even beyond their original intention, emotionally and intuitively meet the moment and help us through the tough times. Long one of the entertainment industry's ultimate hyphenates - singer, songwriter, actress, stage performer, author, healthcare advocate and keynote speaker – Gloria Loring works this magic with just a few inspiring lines from “Rise,” her rousing anthem on her highly anticipated new EP The Best of Me, set for release September 18. 

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, Tony Award winning actor Brent Carver has passed away at age 68. This evening, Carver's Broadway colleagues took to social media to celebrate his life and legacy.

Some of the books on this list provide insight on directing for musicals and plays, from a business standpoint. Others include written pieces and essays from other producers, to help inspire you to get your foot in the door. Whether you are brand new, or just want to learn more about the business, there is something on this list for you!

Happy Gay Pride! BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest LGBTQ songs and anthems from 1920-2020. See if your favorite songs or artists made the grade!

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest protest songs from 1939-2020. See if your favorite songs or artists made the list!