Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: December 10, 2017
By: Laura Deni
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BROADWAYCON ORGANIZERS BRING HARRY POTTER MANIA TO THE HEARTLAND

Mischief Management which produces BroadwayCon is bringing LeakyCon, a Harry Potter Fan Convention to America.

Not that Harry Potter needs to worry about popularity, but how the fan base is organized can't help but keep ticket sales bubbling after Harry Potter materializes on Broadway and the presumed, eventual tour.

The Broadway transfer of the London hit, which begins 19 years after The Deathly Hallows left off, will begin previews on Broadway March 16, 2018 at the Lyric Theatre. The official opening is set for April 22.

Original members of the London cast crossing the pond to the Great White Way are Jamie Parker playing Harry Potter. Noma Dumezweni is Hermione and Paul Thornley is Ron. Anthony Boyle, who won an Olivier for playing Scorpius Malfoy, as well as Poppy Miller as Ginny Potter, Sam Clemmett as Albus Potter, and Alex Price as Draco Malfoy are also on board.

Four months after the Broadway opening, LeakyCon's Harry Potter Fan Convention will see fans from around the world gathering in Dallas, TX August 10–12, 2018 for a celebration of “The Boy Who Lived” and the extraordinary impact his story has had on both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds.

The annual convention was previous held August 31-September 3, 2017 in Dublin, Ireland.

Tickets for the Texas bash sold out faster than Potter could finish a chant. The convention had to move from the Hyatt Regency into a larger venue - this one the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center. "A very limited number of additional tickets" went on sale December 6.

Melissa Anelli, CEO of Mischief Management, the company that puts on LeakyCon, said in a press release, "We were blown away by the community's response to LeakyCon and are thrilled that thousands of people are joining us to celebrate their love of Harry Potter. This move allows even more fans to experience the magic of this community."

Anelli is the New York Times Best Selling author of Harry, A History. A graduate of Georgetown University and a former NYC news reporter, she joined the Leaky staff in 2001.

She is also co-founder of BroadwayCon.

Organizers promise that the Potter convention will feature "beloved guests from J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World - a magical lineup of guests from Harry Potter to Fantastic Beasts and beyond - from actors to authors, designers, musicians, and many more."

There will be panels, programs, discussions, and performances and that all important Marketplace.

A general pass was priced at $149 while the 'Marauder Pass' went for $349, meaning fans have enough green stuff to pony up for Broadway tickets.

Tickets to the Broadway show Harry Potter and the Cursed Child which opens at the Lyric Theatre went on sale in October 2017 priced between $20 and $199.

The LeakyCon promoters are required to state that: "LeakyCon is Harry Potter fan convention. It is not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported directly or indirectly by Warner Bros. Entertainment, the Harry Potter book publishers, or J.K. Rowling and her representatives."










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ART AND ABOUT

CHRISTMAS AT THE CHARLES DICKENS MUSEUM in London has become an annual tradition Dickens’s novella, A Christmas Carol, is one of his best known and best loved works. The circumstances that drove Dickens to write on Christian charity however are little known by the public. This exhibition will reveal how a campaigning article about the injustices of child labor turned into a story that continues to inspire more than 170 years after its publication.

Written in six weeks in the winter of 1843 to ensure publication before Christmas, A Christmas Carol sold 6,000 copies in the six days between its release and Christmas Eve that same year and has never been out of print since. Inspired by a damning parliamentary report and growing awareness of child poverty, the book follows Ebenezer Scrooge over the course of a tortuous night. At the time of publication, one critic declared it ‘a national benefit to every man and woman who reads it.’

The exhibition explores the inspiration behind the novella through artefacts such as the earliest hand-tinted etchings by John Leech for the first edition of A Christmas Carol in 1843, first editions of the story, playbills and presentation copies given by Dickens to his friends.

Unwrapping A Christmas Carol aims not only to examine the novella’s creation but its success, legacy, and continued enormous popularity. The exhibition has l partnered with the new film The Man Who Invented Christmas, which stars Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens.

To celebrate the film, which focuses on Dickens’s motivations for writing A Christmas Carol, the Museum has devoted a section of the exhibition to original costumes and props from the film. Among the highlights will be the costumes worn by Dan Stevens, Ger Ryan as Elizabeth Dickens, and Dickens aficionado Simon Callow as John Leech.

On display through Sunday, February 25, 2018 at the Dickens Museum in London.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY recently collected two objects that connect over 200 years of philanthropy history: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s costume from Hamilton and a portrait of Eliza Hamilton that hung in the orphanage she helped found. These are two of the most recent additions to our growing philanthropy collection - part of an initiative at the museum to explore how philanthropy helped form and re-form our nation. The National Museum of American history is located in Washington, DC.

SWEET CHARITY

PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY

Princes Harry (L) and William (R) practicing with light sabers on the movie set. Photo: Kensington Palace.

will attend The European Premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, at the Royal Albert Hall on December 12.

Supposedly, both of the royal boys have cameo parts in the film, serving as First Order Stormtroopers during a brief scene with John Boyega.

After the screening the brothers will meet with members of the cast and crew, including Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Mark Hamill.

The premiere is hosted in aid of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

The Royal Foundation has invited more than 400 young people, military veterans and volunteers who have taken part in its programs "to change their lives and the lives of others," to attend the premiere. Families affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy, as well as representatives of the local fire services, charities and organizations helping them, will also be in attendance. Before the premiere, William and Harry will meet some of the beneficiaries.

CONGRATULATIONS TO KRISTEN CHENOWETH the Emmy-and Tony Award-winning actress, singer and author who was honored Monday, December 4, 2017 at t the TrevorLIVE Los Angeles 2017 Livestream Gala, featuring Carol Burnett presenting her with The Trevor Project's Icon Award.

Designer, award-winning screenwriter, producer and film director Tom Ford received the Hero Award.

TrevorLIVE is a signature fundraising event offering a celebratory evening of impact and awareness for the suicide prevention resources and crisis intervention services offered by The Trevor Project, which is an organization founded in 1998 focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

Previous Trevor Live honorees and performers include Imagine Dragons, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Shoshana Bean, Edie Windsor, Ingrid Nilsen, Tyler Oakley, Arianna Huffington, Sir Ian McKellen, Jazz Jennings, Queen Latifah, Amy Poehler, Darren Criss, Mary J. Blige and Cheyenne Jackson.

A PIECE OF MY MIND BENEFIT takes place at The Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, December 16, as a fundraiser for L.A. theater director Dan Bonnell and his family. Bonnell suffered a massive brain aneurysm in April while in a meeting at Sacred Fools Theatre in Hollywood. He remains in rehabilitative care.

The funny and powerful solo play A Piece of My Mind, written and performed by Eric Barr has his sharing his inspiring true story of how he survived a series of devastating strokes, which robbed him of speech, movement and all his future plans. But it didn’t rob him of hope, or his sense of humor and optimism. His solo play takes audiences on his journey from near-death to recovery and reinvention. It is a celebration of life, love and the human spirit.

“I have known Dan Bonnell for over 25 years as both a director and a friend,” says Barr. “When I was chairman of the UC Riverside Theatre Department, Dan directed a number of shows for us and he always raised the level of our students’ work and of our productions. Our students loved Dan.”

Fountain Theatre co-artistic director Stephen Sachs is also a longtime friend of Bonnell. “Dan is a warm-hearted human being and a respected member of our L.A. theater community,” Sachs states. “I offer the Fountain as a way to use theater as an instrument for healing and raising awareness. This night will bring L.A. theater artists and friends of Dan together to show Dan and his family that they are supported.”

A stroke impacts more than the patient. It affects the entire family. Proceeds from the one-night performance will benefit Bonnell and his family as they face mounting medical expenses. A silent auction is also planned to raise additional assistance.

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SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CHARGES RESULT IN MORE TERMINATIONS AND RESIGNATIONS

Famed conductor James Levine is out. Photo: Met Opera

In a tragic encore, more performing arts professions have been fired or resigned because of sexual misconduct charges.

Famed Metropolitan Opera conductor James Levine was terminated last Sunday by the Met for inappropriate sexual conduct occurring over a 20-year period of time involving teenage boys. The Boston Symphony Orchestra said Levine “will never be employed or contracted by the BSO at any time in the future.” The Juilliard School (where Levine had studied) replaced him in a scheduled February performance with the Juilliard Orchestra, and singers from the Met's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. On December 5, the Cincinnati May Festival canceled Levine’s appearance in May.

He was also terminated by the Ravinia Festival. The iconic maestro was due this summer to begin a five-year term as Conductor Laureate at Ravinia.

On Thursday Levine denied all charges to the NY Times.

Lee Trull, Dallas Theater Center's director of new play development, was fired Monday night after the theater investigated a complaint about "inappropriate behavior."

The fall out was immediate. Stage West executive producer Dana Schultes wrote Monday, in an email, that she canceled plans for Trull to direct the regional premiere of Halley Feiffer's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City March 8-April 1.

Trull had been a company member of Kitchen Dog Theater. Co-artistic director Tina Parker issued an email statement that "Lee Trull has been suspended from the Kitchen Dog Theater Artistic Company pending further review."

Second Thought Theatre rescinded its offer for Trull to direct the January 10-February 3 regional premiere of Lucas Hnath's Hillary and Clinton for Second Thought Theatre.

The news comes just weeks after Dallas Museum of Art Senior curator Gavin Delahunty, who brought international esteem to the Dallas Museum of Art for his role in the much lauded Jackson Pollock exhibition, abruptly resigned over allegations of "inappropriate behavior." against him.

Actor Danny Masterson has been fired from the Netflex series The Ranch amid rape allegations made against him.

Lorin Stein, the editor of The Paris Review, resigned on Wednesday, amid an internal investigation into his behavior toward female employees and writers.

Joe Alexander, the former chief creative officer at The Martin Agency of Richmond, Va., has left the company after several sexual harassment claims about him were made with the agency, according to Adweek, which first published the information. Alexander spent more than 26 years with Martin, serving in the top creative role. Their clients include Geico, Oreo, Subway and Benjamin Moore paint.

According to richmond.com Alexander stated that he had resigned to avoid an investigation.

X-Men director Bryan Singer has been sued by Cesar Sanchez-Guzman who asserts that in 2003, when he was 17, Singer 'forc(ed) him to perform oral sex on him' while at a yacht party thrown by tech investor Lester Walters. Singer offered to take Sanchez-Gusman on a tour of the boat. After the incident Sanchez-Guzman claims he told Singer would promote his acting career provided he kept quiet.

Gusmanis represented by lawyer Jeff Herman, who has sued for emotional distress, mental anguish, and physical and mental pain.

Last month a Change.org petition was launch by seven students at the University of Southern California who are seeking to have Singer's name removed from the film school. The petition reads: "We, the students of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, are formally requesting that Bryan Singer's name be removed from our Division of Cinema and Media Studies. 'It is completely unacceptable that this prestigious department within our school still carries the name of Bryan Singer, a man accused multiple times of sexual harassment, assault, and pedophilia."

Longtime New York City Ballet chief Peter Martins, 71, announced on Thursday, December 7, 2017, that he will take a leave of absence until an investigation of sexual harassment claims against him have been investigated. Singer has strongly denied all the allegations against him.

According to multiple reports a second actress has accused Dustin Hoffman of sexual assault, Kathryn Rossetter, who co-starred with Hoffman on Broadway in a 1984 production of Death of a Salesman, asserts that the Oscar-winner would "grope her nightly, demand foot rubs and once pulled her slip over her head to expose her breasts in front of the backstage crew. She said she cried nightly," according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Senator Al Franken whom many thought would be a candidate for president in 2020 will resign. Official photo.

Former Saturday Night Life writer and comedian Al Franken, who served almost a decade as a Democratic Senator from Minnesota, on the Democratic radar to unite the party, and viewed as a presidential hopeful, resigned Thursday over accusations of sexual misconduct.

Inappropriate sexual conduct should be a non-partisan issue, which points a finger at the political hypocrisy involved in the Franken resignation.

The Franken situation is bothersome. To create a Saturday Night Live episode which is topical, funny and garners the ratings, demands a certain amount of emotionally immature, 13-year-old behavior and mindset. That doesn't mean stupid antics are appropriate or even permissible. However, I'm more concerned about how Franken has behaved since he has been in the Senate - his term began in July 2009. I'd wish there had been the opportunity for due process to run its course. A timely and impartial Ethics Committee hearing should have taken place before a call for him to resign resonated. The guillotine fell too soon.

There haven't been claims of rape, exposing himself, or demanding any type of sex. There have been claims of women feeling uncomfortable while having their photographs taken with him; three complaining about being kissed by him. Except for one, all events took place before he became a senator. That doesn't make it right, but it does make a serious point to investigate before lining up the firing squad.

The wafting of a strange political under-odor surrounds the Franken case.

Franken might very well have been kicked to the curb, but it would have been done through the appropriate channels - a legal processes which sets this country apart from so many others.

Sexual abuse in any form is wrong. I have my own horror stories and list of evil doers.

However, when such a large contingency of men finally begins to fall, it becomes incumbent upon everyone to play by the rules. Just because power hungry, egomaniacal men have regularly abused women as a matter of course, doesn't mean the women should try to "get even" by ignoring due process.

Venues, corporations, friends, co-workers and society in general have spent decades turning a blind eye on all forms of misconduct. To now take the position of looking at the problems head on, quickly taking steps to remedy the situations and prevent future problems are commendable actions. But everyone accused is entitled to due process - and that includes even the most heinous of accusations. We shouldn't revert back into a lynch mob society.

There are many types of murder - none of them good - and all with consequences. The same should hold true for sexual assault. Unless the sexual charge involves minors, rape, threats, confinement, or exposure either in person or through photographs - it would be an exercise in good judgment to take the position that each sexual misconduct charge is entitled to be individually examined.

SPREADING THE WORD

A CHRISTMAS STORY LIVE airs on FOX on December 12, 2017. A don't miss television event. The script penned by Robert Cary and Jonathan Tolins is based on the 1983 movie and the Tony nominated Broadway musical.

Alex Rudzinski directs the cast which includes Andy Walken as Ralphie and Matthew Broderick as the narrator. Maya Rudolph and Chris Diamantopoulos co-star as Ralphie’s parents, and Jane Krakowski as Miss Shields, Ana Gasteyer as Mrs. Schwartz, David Alan Grier will play Santa Claus and Ken Jeong will be a Christmas tree salesman and a restaurant owner.

Some newcomers are also getting their big break with this production, including Sacha Carlson, 14, who is making his national television debut as Skut Farcus, the bully who torments Ralphie and his young pals.

Others in the cast include Sammy Ramirez as Schwartz, Artyon Celestine as Richie, Elie Samouhi as Grover Dill, Abigail Dylan Harrison as Louise, Hayley Shukiar as Esther Jane, JJ Batteast as Flick, Kylee Mellick as Nancy and Noah Baird as Billy.

The broadcast will also feature new songs from La La Land composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. There’s even a performance by L. A. boy band PrettyMuch (composed of Austin Porter, Brandon Arreaga, Edwin Honoret, Nick Mara, and Zion Kuwonu) will play the Hohman Indiana carolers.

Off camera vocalists include Santino Fontana, Laura Dickinson, Jessica Fontana, Chris Mann, Jasper Randall, Greg Whipple, Geoff Packard, Adrienne Stiefel, Chelsea Packard, Julie Garnye, Katharine Hoye and Nick Gaswirth.

WINTER RHYTHMS 2017 an award-winning music festival from Urban Stages in New York City, returns December 12 - 23, 2017 with 21 different shows featuring over 100 artists.

Winter Rhythms 2017 opens with a salute to the late Barry Levitt (1947-2017), celebrated Broadway, Off Broadway, jazz and cabaret musician, musical director, composer, and a longtime member of the Urban Stages family. The show will exclusively feature some of Barry’s best arrangements and original songs, most of them performed by the talented artists they were written for.

With Tony Award winner Trezana Beverley, Deb Berman, Erin Cronican, Ann Dawson, Dawn Derow, Valerie DiLorenzo, Helena Grenot, Janice Hall, Sunny Leigh, Sue Matsuki, Kati Neiheisel, Charlie Romo, Brian Charles Rooney, Warren Schein, Deborah Tranelli, Andrea Bell Wolff and The Barry Levitt Workshop Ensemble. On bass: Boots Maleson. On percussion: Howie Gordon. Musical Directors: John DiPinto and Mark Janas. Guest Accompanist: Gregory Toroian. Produced and Hosted by Stephen Hanks. A champagne reception with the artists follows the show.

All Proceeds go to Arts, Theater and Education via Urban Stages' Outreach Program.

CONCERT OF MAN OF LA MANCHA Transport Group's first musical in this season’s Anne L. Bernstein Concert Series will take place Monday, December 18, 2017 at the Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center in New York City.

The concert stars John Cariani, Jason Danieley, Santino Fontana, Marc Kudisch, Julia Murney, Bryce Pinkham, Andrew Samonksy, and Mary Testa.

The concert will feature George Abud, Stanley Bahorek, Sherry Boone, Jessica Fontana,, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, and Tally Sessions.

Also joining the cast are Tim Dolan, Michael De Souza, Stephen Mir, Doug Shapiro, Jason SweetTooth Williams, and Rowan Vickers.

The concert will be directed by Transport Group artistic director Jack Cummings III and will feature original orchestrations. Man of La Mancha is written by Dale Wasserman, and has music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion.

The evening will feature a talkback with original Broadway cast members including Mimi Turque who originated the role of Antonia.

CLINT HOLMES a current two-time Grammy nominee, will take part in an intimate conversation on December 19 at the Clive Davis Theater at the Grammy museum in Los Angeles, hosted by Museum Executive Director Scott Goldman. Joining Holmes will be Gregg Field, Jane Monheit, and Christian Tamburr. Prior to his Grammy Museum appearance, Holmes will perform a full concert featuring songs from his new album at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, CA on Friday, December 15, 2017.

DAY FOR NIGHT FESTIVAL takes place in Houston, Texas December 15-17, 2017.

Day for Night is "a visually immersive art and music festival exploring the boundaries of light, space, and sound. Eschewing the idea of musical genres, Day for Night focuses instead on acts that specialize in an inventive and highly visual approach to performing."

Performers include: Nine Inch Nails, Thom Yorke, Solange, Justice, St. Vincent, James Blake, Pretty Lights, Jamie XX, Phantogram, Pussy Riot, The Jesus Lizard, Nina Kraviz, Rezz, Laurie Anderson, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Tyler, The Creator.

Talks by Chelsea Manning, Nadya from Puzzy Riot, Laurie Anderson and Lauren McCarthy.

Installation and performances by Ryoji Ikeda, Matthew Schreiber, Conditional Studio + Processing Foundation, James Clar and Felicie D'Estienne D'Orves.

TODAY, SUNDAY DECEMBER 10 is National Lager Day. Monday is National “Have a Bagel” Day. Tuesday is National Cocoa Day and National Ambrosia Day, December 13. Wednesday is National Popcorn String Day. December 14 National Biscuits and Gravy Day and National Bouillabaisse Day are celebrated on Thursday. Friday is National Gingerbread Latte Day and National Lemon Cupcake Day, December 16 is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

TOWN STAGES has opened in the heart of Tribeca, in New York City. A new female-driven cultural arts institution and venue space, Town Stages is billed as "a state-of-the-art, flexible performance and event space," in a 9,000 storefront facility.

The venue has a Mainstage, a Cabaret Lounge, and a multi-use event space with a capacity of 225.

"Town will also be home to a Fellowship Program for artists, entrepreneurs, writers, content creators, movers, shakers, and makers of all kinds. In partnership with Sokoloff Arts (501c3), the program is part residency, part incubator, and part home base: offering the ultimate creative freedom to grow. An application-based program, the Fellowship offers access to shared spaces, rehearsal/performance/event subsidies, and an opportunity to be a part of a shared creative community, working together under one roof."

Officials are Robin Sokoloff, Founder & Executive Director. Chie Morita, Deputy Director. Magan Wiles, VP Operations. Staci Jacobs, VP Development.

THE QUEEN MARY the retired ocean liner that now serves as a hotel, museum and tourist attraction in Long Beach, CA is set to stage more "large-scale music festival and concerts" as its leaseholder Urban Commons inked a deal with Goldenvoice, the company that puts on the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Established in 1981 Goldenvoice operates numerous Los Angeles venues including the Fonda Theatre, El Rey Theatre, the Shrine Auditorium, The Roxy Theatre, Novo, and The Regency Ballroom. The company promotes more than 1,400 concerts a year in California, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii and Canada.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

Last Friday, December 8, Long Beach celebrated the 50th anniversary of the legendary ship's arrival to port, with visitors viewing the opening of Their Finest Hours: Winston Churchill and the Queen Mary Exhibit, hearing live lectures, playing deck games on the sports deck, and drinking tea.

E-Book

Soft back Book

This is not your typical, totally boring textbook.

In the pages of How To Earn A Living As A Freelance Writer you'll find sex, celebrities, violence, threats, unethical editors, scummy managers and lawyers, treacherous press agents, sex discrimination; as well as a how-to for earning money by writing down words.






FARINELLI AND THE KING a new play by Claire Van Kampen.

Directed by John Dove.

The Belasco Theatre has been transformed for this beguiling and transporting production, lit almost exclusively by the glow of candlelight with live music played on Baroque instruments in a gallery above the stage.

King Philippe V of Spain (Mark Rylance), plagued by insomnia, lies awake in his chamber. The Queen, desperate for a cure, hears of Farinelli - a castrato with a voice so divine it has the power to captivate all who hear it. Philippe is astonished when Farinelli sings, and begs him to stay. But will Farinelli, one of the greatest celebrities of his time, choose a life of solitude over fame and fortune in the opera houses of Europe?

Starring three-time Tony Award winner and Academy Award winner Mark Rylance.

The cast features Sam Crane (Farinelli), Huss Garbiya (Doctor José Cervi), Melody Grove (Isabella Farnese), Lucas Hall (Jethro/Miguel, cover Farinelli), Colin Hurley (John Rich) and Edward Peel (De La Cuadra). The company also features Peter Bradbury and Margot White.

Grammy Award-winning countertenor Iestyn Davies also stars as the singing voice of Farinelli, performing many of the exquisite Handel arias first sung by the real-life Farinelli in the 1730s. Acclaimed countertenor James Hall will perform the singing voice of Farinelli at select performances Designed by Jonathan Fensom, with musical arrangements also by Claire van Kampen. Lighting design is by Paul Russell. U.S. Casting is by Jim Carnahan, C.S.A. U.K. Casting is by Matilda James. U.K. Music Supervisor is Bill Barclay. Production Stage Manager is Evangeline Rose Whitlock. Stage Manager is James Latus.

Patrons will have the choice of on-stage and banquette seating. Theatregoers who choose on-stage seats, in the upper gallery and at stage level, will have an authentic, up close and intimate viewing experience. The front two rows of the Belasco Theatre have also been replaced with cushioned banquettes, in the style of Shakespeare’s Globe’s indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, a recreation of a Jacobean-era theatre, where Farinelli and the King originally premiered in 2015. The banquette seats also provide close proximity to moments of the production’s staging.

In previews at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre in New York City.

SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT written by Kris Lythgoe, "with unique Houston customization to the script".

Directed by Linda Goodrich.

Theater Under the Star's modern twist on the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. This version has a contemporary score featuring magic and pop hits by Aloe Blacc, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, John Legend, and others

starring Tony Award winner, Debbie Gravitte as the evil fairy, Carabosse. The production also stars John O’Hurley as “he King of Houston, Garrett Clayton, as The Prince of River Oaks, Lauren Taylor as Princess Aurora, Vonzell Solomon as The Good Fairy. Ben Giroux as Silly Billy, and Jeff Sumner as Nanny Tickle.

Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight tells the story of Princess Aurora who is cursed by an evil fairy, Carabosse, and of the handsome Prince who is on a quest to save his Sleeping Beauty before it’s too late. An updated version of the classic Grimm fairytale, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight is "a singing and soaring winter adventure that features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing, interaction with the audience and contemporary music from Jessie J’s Domino to John Legend’s All Of Me, Pharrell Williams Happy to Survivor’s Eye of The Tiger and more.

The creative team includes Choreographer Spencer Liff - Music Director - Jim Vukovich, and Music Supervisor Michael Orland. Becky Lythgoe serves as Casting Director.

Debuting December 12 and running through the 24th in Sarofim Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Houston, Texas.

BELLEVILLE by Amy Herzog.

Directed by Michael Longhurst.

Americans Zack and Abby are bright, young and recently married. He’s a doctor combating infant disease. She’s an actress, also teaching yoga. It’s just before Christmas and they’re living the expat high-life in bohemian Belleville, Paris.

It’s all a little too perfect.

Four of the UK's most exciting young actors all make their Donmar debuts: Faith Alabi, Malachi Kirby, James Norton and Imogen Poots.

The UK premiere has performances through February 3, 2018 at the Donmar in London.

EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE with new songs by lead singer-songwriter of The Feeling Dan Gillespie Sells and writer Tom MacRae.

Directed by Jonathan Butterell.

Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield.
Jamie doesn’t quite fit in.
Jamie is terrified about the future.
Jamie is going to be a sensation.

Supported by his brilliant loving mum and surrounded by his friends, Jamie overcomes prejudice, beats the bullies and steps out of the darkness, into the spotlight.

John McCrea, Josie Walker, Tamsin Carroll and Mina Anwar lead a twenty-four strong company and an eight-piece band.

Billed as a "fabulous, funny, feel-good brand new musical sensation.

Sixteen: the edge of possibility. Time to make your dreams come true.

On stage at the Apollo Theatre in London.

WHO'S WHERE

HIGH HOPES CHOIR Ireland's first choir for homeless people established in 2014 by David Brophy former conductor of the RTE Concert Orchestra performed Sunday, December 17, at St. Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland.

ANDRE RIEU performs Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. Friday's stOp is at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, UK. On Saturday the gang performs at Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham, UK.

THE WEEKND Canadian singer, songwriter and record producer brings his tour to the Entertainment Center in Adelaide, Australia on December 11. On December 14 the show is at the Arena in Perth, Australia.

DEPECHE MODE on stage Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at the Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy. On Saturday they are in the spotlight at the WiZink Center in Madrid, Spain.

FOO FIGHTERS perform tonight, Sunday, December 10, at the Casper Events Center in Casper, WY. On Tuesday they star at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, UT.

MATTHEW AND GUNNAR (RICKY NELSON REMEMBERED) in a performance December 15 at Turtle Lake Event Center in Turtle Lake, WI. On Saturday there are two shows at the Q Casino in Dubuque, IA.

PINK MARTINI perform tonight, Sunday, December 10, in Reno, Nevada. On Tuesday their marvelous sounds can be enjoyed in Monterey, CA at the Golden State Theatre. On Thursday they open a four night stand in San Francisco at the SFJAZZ Center.

FINAL OVATION

SHEILA FAREBROTHER mother of Elton John, died Monday, December 4, 2017. She was 92.

In announcing her death on his Instagram account, Sir Elton wrote:

"So sad to say that my mother passed away this morning. I only saw her last Monday and I am in shock. Travel safe Mum. Thank-you for everything. I will miss you so much.”

STEVE ELMORE who originated the role of Paul in the 1970 Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical Company, died recently in Boynton Beach, Florida . He was 84.

Elmore appeared on Broadway ten times over three decades. His Broadway debut was in Lerner and Lowe's Camelot, followed by The Apple Tree, Jenny with Mary Martin, Fade Out, Fade In with Carol Burnett, as well as the Hal Prince-Susan Strohman revival of Showboat and the Jerry Zaks-directed revival of Anything Goes.

His career break was considered to be when he was cast as Hennessy/The Captain in the original Off-Broadway classic Dames at Sea, which also introduced Bernadette Peters. That led to him being cast as Paul in Sondheim's Company.

Additionally, Elmore stepped into Jerry Orbach's role of lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago and as director Julian Marsh in 42nd Street.

He appeared in Arthur Laurent's The Enclave off-Broadway and in Bob Fosse's film All That Jazz.

His final Broadway appearance came in April 1993 in a two-performance concert celebration of Company that reunited the original cast.

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Marcell Elmore, son, Stuart Elmore, daughters Stephana Sherwood, and Dr. Susan Elmore, daughter-in-law Michele Burdette Elmore, and 4 grandchildren

Next Column: December 17, 2017
Copyright: December 10, 2017 All Rights Reserved. Reviews, Interviews, Commentary, Photographs or Graphics from any Broadway To Vegas (TM) columns may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, utilized as leads, or used in any manner without permission, compensation and/or credit.
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Laura Deni

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