Come on Strong Photos - Broadway

What did our critic think of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD at Desert Theatreworks?

There is something magical about watching a musical during the final weekend of a show. The company becomes fully integrated in the show and the audience gets to experience art come to life, amplified by months of rehearsal and weeks of applause-fueled performances. The Woodlawn Theatre's performance of Hairspray on Friday, March 25th was a beautiful living art piece that captured the fun campy style of John Waters creation, while also emphasizing the importance of the Civil Rights movement.

It’s 1962 and perky, pretty and plump teen Tracy Turnblad has dance moves that will never be seen unless she can find a way to get on the local teen dance show, “The Corny Collins Show.” Niki Metcalf shines as the effervescent, strong and kind Tracy Turnblad who dares to cross boundaries (she’s often in detention for her big hair-don’t) to stay true to herself. Playing now thru November 28th at Broadway San Jose, there’s still time to get your tickets and be carried away on dance wave of laughter and music from a phenomenal show with a stellar cast. Review by Linda Hodges

Meredith Wilson's 'The Music Man' is one of American musical theatre's most produced shows. Professional, community and educational theatres stage the show on a regular basis. The songfest, which is as American as apple pie and a Fourth of July fireworks display, is now on stage at Porthouse Theatre.

What has not been said or proclaimed about the majesty and mastery of Martha Graham, her company and her legacy? She revolutionized the way that dance was created and experienced by re-shaping how movement was expressed and performed in the 20th century that has, in turn, inspired and laid the foundation for the dancers and choreographers of today. A sculptor of bodies and painter of gestures, Graham contrasted sharp angles with fluid movements and molded her dancers into statuesque and broken shapes, more akin to Pablo Picasso's repositioning of beauty standards and body parts than her dance peers' styles. Never before or after Graham have knees been so enchanting. To encounter the work of Martha Graham is to understand the capacity of the human form in motion and appreciate the splendor of every sinew.

Edward Albee, author of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf,' now in production at Beck Center for the Arts, is one of the best known Theatre of the Absurd American writers. This form of theatre, which was at its apex shortly following World War II, is based, in part on philosophical existentialism, which asks 'what is the purpose of existence?'

The New York Musical Festival, which nurtures the creation, production, and public presentation of stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals to ensure the future vitality of musical theatre, celebrated its opening night last night, July 9. 

The Great American Songbook Foundation has mounted an interactive public exhibit of rare items from the personal archives of Meredith Willson, creator of The Music Man, The Unsinkable Molly Brown and other pop culture touchstones. Scroll down for a sneak peek at some of the materials!

The international touring company of the beloved classic musical "West Side Story," which features music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, will come to The Theatre at Solaire (Aseana Avenue, Solaire Resort and Casino) next month, August 10-27.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the continuation of the fourth season of Chicago's hit "lost" musicals in staged concert series, Porchlight Revisits Little Me, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and book by Neil Simon based on the novel by Patrick Dennis, with direction by Porchlight Artistic Director Michael Weber, musical direction by Linda Madonia, choreography by Craig Miller with special guest choreography by veteran Bob Fosse dancer Jane Lanier and starring Jeff Award-winner Matt Crowle. Porchlight Revisits Little Me is presented for three-nights-only Tuesday, Feb. 28 through Thursday, March 2 at 7:15 p.m. and is performed on the set of Porchlight's The Scottsboro Boys (previews begin Friday, Feb. 3) at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets for Little Me are $35. All tickets include access to the popular pre-performance event, Behind the Show Backstory, a multimedia presentation, created and hosted by Weber that discusses that evening's production including the show's creative history, backstage gossip and the state of the art on Broadway that season. Single tickets to Little Me are available at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling the Stage 773 box office, 773.327.5252. 

Regarded as one of most popular musicals of all time, the classic My Fair Lady turns 60 and receives this month a new theatrical production signed by the Director Jorge Takla. With a great cast and live orchestra, the show - based on the classic Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw - tells the story of an aristocrat teacher, Mr. Henry Higgins, who takes up the challenge to transform the poor Eliza Doolittle, street vendor without any refinement, in a society lady. With luxurious scenery and costumes, the show will have place at the Santander Theatre, in Sao Paulo, between August 27 and November 6, 2016.

On Tuesday, May 10, at 9:30 am, 11:30 am, and 1:15 pm at Richardson Auditorium, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra's (PSO) BRAVO! education program presented 'The Sky is the Limit!', a concert designed to get the imaginations of over 2,000 area school children soaring with works ranging from Ottorini Respighi's 'The Hen' and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee to Daniel Dorff's Blast Off! and Gustav Holst's 'Mars.' Music Director Rossen Milanov conducted as he guided the students through the upper stratosphere and beyond. Scroll down for photos!

It should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen Anne Washburn's MR. BURNS A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY, now in production at Cleveland Public Theatre, that when the show opened in Washington, DC in 2012 and then in New York in 2013, it received mixed reviews that ranged from 'passionate dissent' to raves.

Artistic pairings and new historical perspectives guide two recent exhibition at the Frick Collection and MoMA.

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

In 1962, the original production of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum was struggling in its off broadway try out. Audiences were not turning up and so producer Hal Prince hired director Jerome Robbins to come in and offer some advice to the creative team. Robbins biggest influence in the piece was to scrap the opening number 'Love is in the Air' and commission Stephen Sondheim to write a new uptempo tune that introduced the piece as a wild bawdy comedy. 'Comedy tonight'was born and so to the show which went on to win a number of Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Bernadette Peters surprised Broadway legend Joel Grey on his 80th birthday with a cake backstage at 'Anything Goes' at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York City yesterday, April 11, 2012. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the celebration and brings you complete photo coverage below!

Bernadette Peters surprised Joel Grey on his 80th birthday with a cake backstage at 'Anything Goes' at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in New York City on April 11, 2012.

Nathalie Armin, Paul Bhattacharjee, Simon Chandler, Michael Cochrane, Tariq Jordan, Belinda Lang, Shereen Martin, Daniel Rabin, Simon Rouse, Rick Warden and David Yip comprise the cast for THE BOMB - a partial history.

On Monday, September 14th, The Marvelous Wonderettes celebrated its one-year anniversary in New York where it continues to run at Off-Broadway's Westside Theatre, upstairs (407 West 43rd Street). Written and directed by Roger Bean, The Marvelous Wonderettes features Kirsten Bracken, Misty Cotton, Christina DeCicco and Lindsay Mendez.