Broadway To Vegas

Copyright: July 16, 2017
By: Laura Deni
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CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY BROADWAY CAST RECORDING IS . . . SWEET

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which can be seen at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City recorded a Broadway cast album which has been released by Masterworks Broadway records. The current Broadway production is dramatically different from either of the movies or the London stage production. This is a review of the Broadway original cast CD not the stage show.

The cast includes two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle (Willy Wonka), Jake Ryan Flynn, Ryan Foust, Ryan Sell making their Broadway debuts as Charlie Backet, Tony Award winner John Rubinstein (Grandpa Joe), Emily Padgett (Mrs. Bucket), Kathy Fitzgerald (Mrs. Gloop), F. Michael Haynie (Augustus Gloop), Ben Crawford (Mr. Salt), Emma Pfaeffle(Verusa Salt), Alan H. Green (Mr. Beauregarde), Trista Dollison (Violet Beauregarde), Jackie Hoffman (Mrs. Teavee), Michael Wartella (Mike Teavee).

With Yesenia Ayala, Darius Barnes, Colin Bradbury, Jared Bradshaw, Ryan Breslin, Kristy Cates, Madeleine Doherty, Paloma Garcia-Lee, Stephanie Gibson, Talya Groves, Cory Lingner, Elliott Mattox, Monette McKay, Kyle Taylor Parker, Paul Slade Smith, Stephen Carrasco, Kristin Piro, Amy Quanbeck, Michael Williams, and Mikey Winslow.

The overture capitalizes on the hit songs penned by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley made famous in the hit 1971 movie, leading into the bouncy, infectious and iconic song Candy Man which became a mega hit for Sammy Davis, Jr. New compositions by Grammy, and Tony Award winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman cleverly entwine easily understood dialogue within musical selections, permitting the listeners to both understand and follow the story line which now puts Charlie in the era of television, computers and Twitter.

Never fear, the movie hits Candy Man, Pure Imagination, I've Got a Golden Ticket and Oompa Loompa are all intact and beautifully performed. The classics are basically the musical anchors for this musical.

Cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Photo: Joan Marcus.

Vidiots performed by Willy Wonka, Mike, Mrs. Teavee & The Oompa-Loompas, is a pithy social commentary on today's obsession with tech gadgets, lack of exercise and inability to communicate other than with fingertips. There are also some current political sub-texts.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong perfomed by Mrs. Teavee, Mike Teavee and the Ensemble performing is hilarious, followed by the gentle If Your Father Were Here sung by Mrs. Bucket. While none of the new numbers are individual showstoppers, the various tunes serve as an effective dialogue transporter.

I've Got a Golden Ticker/Grandpa Joe is softly bonding then building, becoming energetically hopeful. When a child and an adult try to sing together there's the potential that either the adult will dominate and the child will be lost as an afterthought; or that the child will make the song sound infantile. In the case of the tender and beautiful The View From Here performed by Willie Wonka and Charlie Bucket, they each effectively convey their message and emotion. An exquisite way to end the CD.

However, the disc does contain a bonus track: When Willie Met Oompa which was Christian Borle's demo with all vocals performed by Borle.

All of the boys portraying Charlie are featured with their picture in the role and no mention is made of which "Charlie" sings on the CD.

Orchestra
Vocal direction by Nicholas Skillbeck and Nate Patten.
Musical Director/conductor Nicholas Skillbeck.
Abdy Ezrin, Ma Eisenstein, Nate Patten, keyboards.
Dave Noland, piccolo, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone.
Guseppe Fusco, flute, clarinet, soprano and tenor saxophone.
Ron Janelli, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, baritone saxophone.
Lynne Cohen, oboe, English horn.
Kyle Hoyt, French horn.
Trevor D, Neumann, trumpet, piccolo, trumpet, flugelhorn.
Nate Maykand, trombone.
Chris Biesterfeldt, guitars, banjo.
Steve Millhouse, upright and electric bass.
Warren Odze, drums.
Charles Descarfino, percussion.
Cenovia Cummins, violin, concert master.
Maxim Moston, Belinda Whitney, Louise Owen, Jonathan Dinklage, Rick Dolan, Erin Benim Mayland, violin.
Stephanie Cummins, Laura Bontrager, Anja Wood, cello.
Phij Adams, keyboard programming.
Randy Cohen, keyboard technician.

Orchestrated by Doug Besterman. Orchestrations by Michael Starobin. Arrangements by Marc Shaiman.

Recorded at DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York, New York. Recording service provided by Audiosmith Digital Solutions. Recorded and mixed by Lawrence Manchester. Additional Engineering by Isaiah Abolin and Scott M. Riesett. Assistant Engineers: Peter Wolford, Thom Beemer and Akihiro Nishimura. Digital Editing Ian Kagey. Mastered by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, New York, New York.

Recording Production Manager Janet Weber. Music coordinator John Miller. Music preparation by JoAnn Kane Music, Russell Bartmus and Mark Graham. Sound design by Andrew Keister. Additional music production Lucian Piane and David William Hearn. Music assistant Josephine Bearden.

Photography Joan Marcus. Graphic design Nancy Sacks.










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ART AND ABOUT

ROYAL GIFTS the special exhibition at the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace, will tell the story of The Queen’s reign through a wide-ranging display of official gifts presented to Her Majesty during the past 65 years.

With gifts representing every continent, including those from world leaders such as former US President Ronald Reagan, former South African President Nelson Mandela and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, the exhibition will present a spectacular display of craftsmanship from across the globe.

Saturday, July 22, 2017 - Sunday, October 1, 2017 at Buckingham Palace in London.

JURASSIC WORLD: THE EXHIBITION based on one of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history, the Exhibition immerses audiences of all ages in scenes inspired by the beloved film. Now, the park that was only a promise comes to life…right before your eyes.

Travel to Isla Nublar as a VIP guest and explore Jurassic World. Stare in wonder at a towering Brachiosaurus; come face-to-face with a Velociraptor; and get a rare up-close look at the most vicious dinosaur of them all, Tyrannosaurus rex.

Created in close collaboration with renowned paleontologist Jack Horner, the Exhibition is infused with interactive educational elements - drawn from the real-world science of dinosaur DNA that allowed Jurassic World to come to life. Visitors of all ages can now learn all about these incredible prehistoric creatures.

Don’t miss the awe-inspiring journey into Jurassic World: The Exhibition. The Field Museum hosts the Midwest debut of the exhibition through January 7, 2018 at the Field Museum in Chicago.

WIN CASH: BE SHOWN AT THE SAUSALITO ART FESTIVAL each year, the Sausalito Art Festival asks artists throughout the world to show their vision of iconic American imagery. The top submissions are awarded cash prizes and exhibited to thousands of people at the prestigious Sausalito Art Festival.

Forgotten America: Places, People, Things is this year's topic. The Competition is about capturing the images, the places, the people and things that tell a story of the overlooked or forgotten in America. This is your chance to show the world your interpretation of Forgotten America using photography, painting, drawing, sculpture and mixed media.

Currently there are submissions from nine countries and 26 states. The deadline to enter is July 31, 2017.

THE BERLIN PAINTER AND HIS WORLD

Greek, Attic, attributed to the Berlin Painter, Red-figure amphora of Type A: A. Athena; B. Herakles, about 500–490 B.C. Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig

has opened at the Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo, Ohio. This is the first major museum exhibition focused on the art and career of the influential ancient Mediterranean artist known as the Berlin Painter.

Eighty-four vessels and statuettes of bronze and terracotta from the early fifth century B.C. are being shown - including dozens of the finest vases attributed to the Berlin Painter along with works by other noteworthy artists of the period.

University of Oxford scholar Sir John Beazley (1885-1970) identified the work of a single anonymous artist in over 200 vessels worldwide, and named him after a characteristically painted vase found in a museum in Berlin in 1911.

The exhibition features masterpieces on loan from 15 renowned museums and two private collections, including the British Museum; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; J. Paul Getty Museum; Vatican Museums; Musée du Louvre and the Antikensammlung, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

Divided into four sections: World - Style - Gods - Heroes – the exhibition explores a range of painted subjects, from athletics and musical performances to the rich body of Greek myth and epic.

The exhibition was organized by J. Michael Padgett, Ph.D., curator of ancient art at the Princeton University Art Museum.

SWEET CHARITY

AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT TINA HOWE whose latest work Singing Beach begins performances at HERE in New York City on July 22, will make her debut as a photographer with a special exhibit titled Suddenly: Double Exposures and Unexpected Encounters. On display at HERE Arts Center (in the lower level gallery), the 28 framed and signed photographs have been donated as part of a special fundraiser and will be available as a “perk to patrons” who make charitable contributions to Theatre 167, the company producing her new play Singing Beach at the HERE Mainstage July 22-August 12, 2017.

The official opening reception for the exhibit will be held Tuesday, July 18, 2017. The 28 images on display were selected from thousands of photos Howe has taken over the years. The Tony Award nominated playwright, known for her heightened sensibility and visually evocative worlds, has frequently written about art in plays including Painting Churches, Rembrandt’s Gift, Chasing Manet, and Museum - a play that has been performed in art galleries around the country as well as theatres.

SPREADING THE WORD

LADY OF SPAIN

Prince William leads the procession of young royals into the white tie banquet for King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. Following Wills is Kate and behind her to the right in Prince Harry, marking the first time he has attended an official state visit banquet. Photo: Kensington Palace.

guests at the white tie Spanish state banquet honoring King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, who is a former television journalist, hosted by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace in London last Wednesday were serenaded by the Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra.

Tunes included the theme from the Bond film Skyfall and Coldplay's Viva La Vida.

Obvious highlight of the musical selections was the obvious Lady Of Spain written in 1931 by Tolchard Evans with lyrics by Erell Reaves. The accordion version was by Robert Hargreaves and Stanley J. Damerell, retaining Reaves' lyrics. Both versions were hits in the late 1940s and 50s. A recording by Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter and his orchestra was made at Manhattan Center, New York City, on July 18, 1952. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-4953 (in USA)[2] and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10362. Fisher had a hit with the song. In total the tenor had 17 songs in the Top 10 on the music charts between 1950 and 1956 and 35 in the Top 40.

In 1954 Dick Contino's accordion version became his signature piece. He had first placed it on December 7, 1947 winning first place in the Horace Heidt/Philip Morris talent contest. The album Lady of Spain - Dick Contino at the Fabulous Flamingo was recorded at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas,

At one time both Fisher and Contino were Vegas mainstays. Fisher was the father of Carrie Fisher and grandfather of Billie Lourd. Fisher died in September 2010 and Contino passed away this past April. His son lives in Las Vegas.

As for the royal banquet, all senior members of the British monarchy attended the white-tie event as did Prime Minister Theresa May and prominent members of the Cabinet. Making his first appearance at a state banquet was Prince Harry. He was seated next to Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, and a friend of Kate’s.

CANDIDE IN CONCERT AT CADOGAN HALL in London takes place July 21, 2017.

With a book by Hugh Wheeler and lyrical contributions from the incomparable Stephen Sondheim, Candide is a masterpiece for the ages. Join the 34 piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra under the baton of conductor Freddie Tapner alongside a host of stars as they deliver one of the most iconic musical scores of all time.

The cast includes: James Dreyfus as Dr. Pangloss, Rob Houchen as Candide, Louise Gold, Michael Matus, Stewart Clark, Anna O’Byrne, and Jessica Duncan.

Candide tells the story of Candide, the bastard cousin of Baron Thunder-Ten-Tonck, who is expelled from home, dragged into the Bulgarian army, brought before the Spanish Inquisition, swindled out of a fortune, shipwrecked on a desert isle, and separated time and again from his true love Cunegonde. She, too, bears a barrage of misfortunes including, sale into prostitution, forced marriage to an exorbitantly wealthy man, and slavery. Through it all, however, they try to hold onto the lessons of their dear master Dr. Pangloss: “Everything is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.”

Music by Leonard Bernstein. Book by Hugh Wheeler after Voltaire. Lyrics by Richard Wilbur. with additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John La Touche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein Orchestrations by Leonard Bernstein and Hershy Kay. Musical continuity and additional orchestrations by John Mauceri. Narration for concert version by Leonard Bernstein and John Wells, adapted from the satire by Voltaire and the book by Hugh Wheeler, edited and supplemented by Erik Haagensen.

Director: Shaun Kerrison. Sound Designer: Avgoustos Psillas for Autograph. Lighting Designer: Mike Robertson.

This performance of Candide in Concert heralds the start of next year’s Bernstein centenary celebrations.

MARK HANSON Executive director and CEO of the Houston Symphony will assume the role of executive director of the San Francisco Symphony on September 1, 2017. He succeeds Brent Assink, who stepped down in March.

Hanson, 43, has been with the Houston Symphony since 2010. During his tenure, the Houston Symphony's budget grew from $25 million to $34 million, and the orchestra recruited music director Andrés Orozco-Estrada. The Houston Symphony's 104th season begins on September 9 with a concert starring mezzo-soprano Susan Graham.

SWING OUT AT THE GLOBE bring your dance shoes and Jive It Up as Swing Dancing San Diego moves to the beat of The Mad Hat Hucksters. The Globe wants to make theatre matter to more people. Therefore, The Old Globe’s Arts Engagement department invites friends, flappers, jitterbugs, and anyone else to their latest free AXIS event, Swing Out at the Globe, on Saturday, July 22, preceding the matinee of Guys and Dolls.

The event, which is family-friendly and free to all, will begin with an open dance led by Swing Dancing San Diego’s Hang Ten Hoppers to the beat of The Mad Hat Hucksters. The Hang Ten Hoppers will then offer brief group dance lessons in various styles, followed by a chance to perfect your moves on the dance floor! Learn the 1920s Charleston; the 1930s Lindy Hop; followed by the 1940s Lindy Charleston; and the 1950s Jitterbug; Saturday, July 22, 2017 on the Globe's Copley Plaza, San Diego, CA.

MARJORIE MOON Executive Director Emeritus of Brooklyn's Billie Holiday Theatre, has joined the team of Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre as Administrative Consultant.

Moon is a veteran producer, director and educator who served as Executive/Producing Director of The Billie Holiday Theatre a cultural landmark in Bedford-Stuyvesant, for over 40 years. During her tenure, she produced more than 120 productions there including Inacent Black and the Five Brothers by A.Marcus Hemphill, starring Melba Moore, which went on to be the first Broadway production to derive more than 50% of its financing from the Black community. She also developed a grassroots marketing plan which pushed audience attendance from 7,000 to 38,000 per season and nurtured the development of theater artists including Debbie Allen, Bill Cobbs, Samuel L. Jackson, Tichina Arnold, Samm-Art Williams, John Henry Redwood and Jackie Alexander among others. William "Smokey" Robinson made his debut as a musical theatre composer/lyricist there in 1997 with the musical Raisin' Hell.. Moon directed over 20 plays there, including works by Judi Ann Mason, Leslie Lee, John Henry Redwood, Samuel L. Kelley and Weldon Irvine.

RED BULL THEATRE presents eight World Premieres on July 25 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York City as part of their annual festival of 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes. This year's selections are in response to this year’s theme: Delusions of Grandeur.

Two new commissions from Arthur Kopit and Dael Orlandersmith will premiere alongside six brand new plays by Charlotte Ahlin, Urian Celaya, Justin Halle, Rachel Leopold, Jason Gray Platt, and Christian Simonsen, whose plays were selected from hundreds of open submissions.

LORETTA LYNN is still recovering from a recent stroke and thus has issued a statement in which she announced that she has canceled her 2017 tour and postponed the release of her new album, Wouldn't It Be Great. However, Lynn has firmed tour dates beginning in January 2018 and also plans to release the album next year.

TODAY, JULY 16 is National Corn Fritter Day and National Ice Cream Day (celebrating any kind of ice cream).

Tuesday is National Caviar Day. Wednesday is National Daiquiri Day.

Thursday is National Lollipop Day, Fortune Cookie Day and National Ice Cream Sundae Day.

Friday is National Junk Food Day.

OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY

THE THIRD ANNUAL BILLIE BURKE ZIEGFELD AWARD

Billie Burke

which presents a $10,000 Grant for a Female Musical Theatre Composer will open for applications beginning Monday, July 31, 2017.

In addition to the money, the recipient will receive one year of artistic and professional mentorship from a prominent composer and a producer of musical theatre.

The grant, which aims to celebrate an emerging female composer or composer/lyricist who compellingly demonstrates outstanding artistic promise in musical theater composing and who can clearly show how the grant money and mentorship will further her artistic career. This grant was inspired by a noticeable lack of female composers being produced on Broadway today.

Past recipients of the Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award are composer/lyricist Masi Asare in 2015 and Anna Jacobs in 2016. In addition to the cash prize received, each recipient also receives a year of mentorship from industry composers and producers. Last year Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori and Tony Award-winning producer Daryl Roth served as mentors to Ms. Asare, while composer Kristen Anderson-Lopez and producer Barbara Whitman served as mentors to Ms. Jacobs.

Those interested in applying for the Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award must submit their application between Monday, July 31, 2017 and Friday, September 1, 2017. Contact the organization for submission details.

The Ziegfeld Club is among the first not-for-profits in the Broadway community. Founded in 1936 by Billie Burke in honor of her late husband Florenz Ziegfeld musical theater impresario and producer of the legendary Ziegfeld Follies. The organization was originally formed to provide help to Ziegfeld Girls who had fallen on hard times. As all of the Ziegfeld Girls have now passed away, the Ziegfeld Club’s mission remains to help women of today’s musical theatre.

Additionally, the Ziegfeld Club has preserved exciting theater history in their treasured archives that include original programs, sheet music, personal correspondence and costumes, as well as portraits of Ziegfeld Girls.



US CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS HOST INTERNATIONAL ARTSLINK FELLOWS CEC ArtsLink has announced the selection of ten leading cultural institutions throughout the US to host the latest group of ArtsLink Fellows from ten countries for 5-week professional residencies.

The Fellows will be in the US at their host sites from October 12 till November 15, 2017. They will have opportunities to develop community-based projects, present new art trends from their regions and spark collaborative projects with US artists that can potentially be realized through additional ArtsLink Awards support.

2017 ArtsLink Fellows in Performing Arts and Literature
7 Stages Theater, Atlanta, GA
Aksana Haiko, Belarus, artist

CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Art, San Francisco, CA
Monika Lipšic, Lithuania, arts manager

Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Nikita Makarenko, Uzbekistan, arts manager

Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland, OH
Adriana Totiková, Slovak Republic, artist

Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA
Anton Ovhcinnikov, Ukraine, arts manager

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Kansas University, Lawrence, KS
Goran Ferec, Croatia, artist

Kansas City Art Coalition, Kansas City, MO
Corina Bucea, Romania, arts manager

Movement Research, New York, NY
Canan Yücel Pekiçten, Turkey, artist

Seven Loaves / GOH Productions, New York, NY
Enton Kaca, Albania, artist

Yale School of Drama, New Haven, CT
Marcell Szabó, Hungary, artist

ArtsLink Awards are funded through public and private sources including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Trust for Mutual Understanding, the Kettering Family Philanthropies and the Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation.



ROBIN HOOD!

Director Jessica Stone (center) with the cast of Ken Ludwig's Robin Hood in the Globe-commissioned world premiere, running July 22 - September 3, 2017 at The Old Globe. Photo by Jim Cox.

by Ken Ludwig who gave us one of the funniest plays ever written - Lend Me a Tenor, the award winning musical Crazy for You and a long list of other hits.

Directed by Jessica Stone.

This production is a brand-new Globe-commissioned world premiere comedy about Robin Hood. Ludwig was in San Diego for the rehearsals and on his blog disclosed that he "wrote new passages and I even added a new scene."

"Packed with thrills, romance, laughs, and great characters like Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian, Robin Hood! tells the timeless story of a hero of the people who takes on the powers that be."

Featuring Michael Boatman (Prince John), Kevin Cahoon (The Sheriff of Nottingham), Manoel Felciano (Sir Guy of Gisbourne), Meredith Garretson (Maid Marian), Andy Grotelueschen (Friar Tuck), Suzelle Palacios (Doerwynn), Daniel Reece (Robin Hood), and Paul Whitty (Little John).

The creative team includes: Tim Mackabee (Scenic Design), Gregg Barnes (Costume Design), Jason Lyons (Lighting Design), Fitz Patton (Original Music and Sound Design), Jacob Grigolia-Rosenbaum (Fight Director), David Huber (Voice and Dialect Coach), Caparelliotis Casting (Casting), Jess Slocum (Production Stage Manager), and Peter Van Dyke (Stage Manager).

July 22 – August 27 at The Old Globe in San Diego, CA.

AN OCTOROON by new MacArthur "Genius Grant"-winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Directed by Nataki Garrett.

This remount will reunite the entire cast and production teams from Woolly’s 2016 production.

A plantation on the brink of foreclosure. A young gentleman falling for the part-black daughter of the estate’s owner. An evil swindler plotting to buy her for himself. Meanwhile, the slaves are trying to keep things drama-free, because everybody else is acting crazy.

An Octoroon, Jacobs-Jenkins’ Obie-winning riff on a 19th century melodrama that helped shape the debate around the abolition of slavery, is an incendiary adaptation. Part period satire, part meta-theatrical middle finger, it’s a provocative challenge to the racial pigeonholing of 1859 - and of today.

Featuring company members Shannon Dorsey, Jon Hudson Odom, and Erika Rose.

July 18-August 6, 2017 at Woolly Mammoth in Washington, DC.

A related event Stereotypes: The Power of Perception, an r an interactive presentation, will explore ways in which images, narratives, and media influence the perception and lives of marginalized peoples. The event will be led by Sarah Bellamy, Artistic Director of the Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, MN who is also an expert facilitator around issues of equality, diversity, and inclusion. July 29, 2017.

LA HAVANA MADRID conceived and written by Sandra Delgado.

Directed by Teatro Vist ensemble member Cheryl Lynn Bruce.

Step back into 1960s Chicago and La Havana Madrid, the long-gone Caribbean night club that drew throngs of newly-arrived Latinos to Chicago's north side. Inspired by real stories, this intimate recreation of the vibrant music venue immerses audiences in the pulsing sounds of live mambo and salsa.

Delgado’s spirited, inspired-by-true-events tales of Puerto Rican, Colombian and Cuban immigrants “who found refuge in the play’s titled nightclub” in Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood in the 1960s, features an eight-member cast lead by Delgado as a “mystical woman who conjures stories and songs performed live each night by Colombian-American musician Roberto “Carpacoh” Marin and his renowned Carpacho y Su Super Combo.”

Featuring Donovan Diaz as Carlos, Krystal Ortiz as Maria, Mike Oquendo as Tony, Claudia Quesada as Myrna, Marvin Quijada as Carpacho, Tommy Rivera-Vega as Henry, Valeria Rosero as Maruja. Jennifer Aparicio is the Production Manager and Julia Zayas-Meléndez is the Stage Manager The Teatro Vista production will have performances in the Owen Theatre of Chicago's Goodman Theatre, July 21-August 20, 2017.

THE 39 STEPS a comedy thriller by Alfred Hitchcock.

Directed by Mark Shanahan.

Packed with nonstop laughs and over 150 eccentric characters (played by four actors) the play is about a man with an ordinary life who meets a woman with a strong accent who says she's a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered. Soon, a mysterious organization called "The 39 Steps" is hot on the man's trail in a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale. A riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft.

Starring Elizabeth Bunch as Pamela, Annabella, and Margaret. Mark Price as Man #2. Todd Waite as Richard Hannay and Bruce Warren as Man #1.

The creatives are: Hugh Landwehr scenic design - Alejo Vietti costume design - Rui Rita lighting design - Ryan Rumery sound design - Pamela Prather dialect, voice and text coach - Jen Waldman movement coach - Brandon Weinbrenner assistant director - Rebecca R. D. Hamlin stage manager - Kristien Larson stage manager - Emily Bohannan assistant stage manager.

July 21 - August 20, 2017 at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas.

SINGING BEACH the latest work by renowned playwright Tina Howe. This is her first full-length play in eight years.

Directed by Ari Laura Kreith.

As a Category 4 hurricane approaches Singing Beach, the Sleeper clan is struggling with storms of its own. Singing Beach deals with climate change, aging, and the power of imagination to change the world.

Featuring Erin Beirnard, Devin Haqq, Jackson Demott Hill, John P. Keller, Tuck Milligan, Elodie Morss, and Naren Weiss.

The production will also feature scenic design by Jen Price Fick, lighting design by Matthew Fick, costume design by Caroline Spitzer, and prop design by Kelly Pooler.

World premiere takes place at HERE Mainstage in New York City beginning Saturday, July 22, 2017. Singing Beach opens Sunday, July 30th with performances through Saturday, August 12, 2017.

THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, with additional lyrics and book by Dick Scanlan, based on the original book by Richard Morris. Music adaptation is by Michael Rafter.

Directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall.

Music Adaptation, Music Director, Vocal and Incidental Arrangements by Michael Rafter.

Hannibal Missouri’s own brash and beguiling Molly Brown shines in this exhilarating adaptation of Meredith Willson’s 1960 musical. Her rags-to-riches story sparkles with a new book by Dick Scanlan (Thoroughly Modern Millie), and new songs from the Meredith Willson songbook. The tempestuous can’t-live-with-him/can’t-live-without-him love story that survived the Silver Boom, Gold Rush and sinking of the Titanic returns to the stage with more fun and flair than ever. This is one of those classic musicals that will have your heart soaring! Starring Marc Kudisch (J. J. Brown), Beth Malone (Molly Tobin), Paolo Montalban (Arthur), and Whitney Bashor (Julia).

Running July 21-27 at The Muny in St. Louis, MO.

WHO'S WHERE

BEBE NEUWIRTH performs Stories with Piano on Friday, July 21, at Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY. Two-time Emmy winner for her roles on Cheers and Frasier and a Tony Award-winner for Sweet Charity, Neuwirth performs an evening of story songs from Kander & Ebb and Stephen Sondheim to Tom Waits and Edith Piaf. Some stories are narratives, some are impressionistic, some are unfolding in the moment. They embody the nuances of many emotions, including joy, heartbreak, and nostalgia. Scott Cady is the music director and pianist, and has created all the song’s arrangements.

IRON MAIDEN on stage Wednesday, July 19 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA. On Friday they open a two night stand at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

PAUL McCARTNEY stars in Wichita, KS at the INTRUST Bank Arena on July 19. On Friday he's in Des Moines, IA at the Wells Fargo Arena. Next Sunday, July 23, his tour stops in Omaha, NE at the CenturyLink Center.

NEIL DIAMOND stars at the American Airline Center in Dallas on Tuesday, July 18. On Friday his tour stops at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

STEVE MARTIN, MARTIN SHORT and the Stone Canyon Band perform Saturday July 22, at the Bellco Theatre in Denver. CO. Next Sunday, July 23, they'll be on stage at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

QUEEN AND ADAM LAMBERT bring their tour to the Bell Center in Montreal, OC on Monday, July 17. Tuesday's stop is at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON. Thursday they are on stage at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, MI. Friday's gig is at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Next Sunday, July 23, the show is at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

BRUNO MARS onstage Tuesday, July 18, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA. Thursday finds him at the SAP Center in San Jose, CA. Next Sunday, July 23, he'll be singing his hits at the Moda Center in Portland, OR.

COLDPLAY entertains Tuesday, July 18, in Paris, France at the Stade de France.

TIM McGRAW AND FAITH HILL singing their hits Friday, July 21, at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ. Saturday's romp is in Ontario, CA at the Citizens Business Bank Arena. Next Sunday, July 23, they are at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, CA.

MATTHEW AND GUNNAR NELSON perform their Ricky Nelson Remembered show on Friday, July 21, at the Loud N Lima Festival in Lima, OH.

Next Column: July 23, 2017
Copyright: July 16, 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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