Great Celebrities to Join Williamstown Summer Line-Up!
The Williamstown Theater Festival’s Summer Line-Up has been announced and there are going to be some great cast members taking part in the shows produced in this summer season! The Corn is Green, written by Emlyn Willaims will kick off the summer line-up on the Williamstown Theater Festival’s Main Stage on August 1, 2007.
This first play of the season tells the story of a strong-willed schoolteacher, named MIss Moffat, and her relationship with a bullying teenage boy. Playing Miss Moffat is the incomparable Kate Burton known for roles in such shows as Hedda Gabler and The Constant Wife while the bullying teenager will be played by Morgan Ritchie, Burton’s real-life son. This debut show of the Festival will be directed by Nicholas Martin who is known for his work with shows such as Butley, Match and Hedda Gabler.
Such greats as Raul Esparza, known for his roles in shows such as Company, Taboo and Cabaret, and Becky Ann Baker, famous for such great shows as Assassins, Titanic and the film Spider Man 3, will be joining in on the summer-line-up as well, so you’re going ot want to make sure you keep your eyes open for thier shows’ opening nights! Make sur eyou get your tickets at stubhub.com today to gear up for this exciting line-up!
“Columbo” Stage Adapation Going to Broadway!
It was announced today that there will be a stage adaptation made of the classic TV series Columbo that will be presented on Broadway. Entitled Columbo Takes the Rap, this theatrical mystery promises to be a great night of theater and was already a hit at the International Mystery Writers festival in Owensboro, Kentucky where it was presented last month in June of 2007.
The stage adapation of the series will able written by William Link who created the show along with Richard Levison, bringing the cigar-smoking detective, with his easily distractable ways, to life. The original televisioin series ran from 1971 to 1978 on a regular basis and then began to run more sporadically from 1989-2003 when it finally ended its run.
The play Columbo Takes The Rap will be produced by Zev Buffman, of such shows as Private Lives, and will begin on a national tour before it hit Broadway next year, in 2008. The role of Columbo will not be played by Peter Falk, who played the role in the long-running television series, but instead will be played by Norm Boucher, a Chicago-based actor who also played the role at the Mystery Writers Festival. For your chance to see this great show, make sure you get tickets at stubhub.com today!
A Look at Xanadu’s Opening Night!
The Opening Night of Broadway’s latest sure-to-be-a-hit musical, “Xanadu” took place last night, Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at the Helen Hayes Theater, at 240 West 44th Street. Previews for the show began on May 23, 2007 and the official opening night was met with cheers and a lot of celebrities in attendance, from Olivia Newton-John to Mario Cantone to Cynthia Nixon.
Based on the movie of the same name, the book for the musical adaptation of “Xanadu” was written by Douglas Carter Bean and the score includes the same hits that made the movie such a cult favorite, from “Magic” to “Xanadu” as well as “Party All Over The World” all of which were Top 20 Billboard hits. The score and the music were undertaken by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, with Lynne himself writing and producing all of the music of Electric Light Orchestra (E.L.O.) while Farrar was the talent behind many of the hits that were originally performed by Olivia Newton-John in the film. This show is directed by CHristopher Ashley and choreographed by Dan Knechtges and the feel-good aspects that you loved from the movie promise to be alive and well onstsage in this adaptation. So go ahead, act fast and get yourself Xanadu tickets at stubhub.com today!
Catch Me If You Can to Have Workshop in July
It has been announced that Nathan Lane, the Tony Award winner who has been seen in such hits as The Producers and The Odd Couple and Butley, will be taking part in a July workshop of Catch Me If You Can, the new Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman adaptation of the Steven Spielberg movie of the same name. Lane himself will take on the role of Carl Hanratty, the character portrayed by Tom Hanks in the film, while the role of Frank Abagnale Jr., brought to life by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2002 film, will be played by Christian Borle, who has heretofore been seen in such shows as Legally Blonde and Spamalot.
The stage adaptation of Catch Me If You Can is slated to hit the stage in 2008 and undoubtedly fans are already excited. The show, which has music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, has a book by Terrence McNally and will be directed by Jack O’Brien. The show will be choreographed by Jerry Mitchell and will tell the story in the same way that the film did - from the two competing points of view from Abagnale as well as from his FBI pursuer. You will not want to miss this adaptation, so see what you can do about getting tickets to this preview and to the show itself at stubhub.com!
Iphigenia 2.0 a Must-See Show with Mulgrew in Cast!
Kate Mulgrew, who is known for her roles in such productions as Our Leading Lady, Tea at Five and from the television series Star Trek Voyager, was announced today as the replacement for Victoria Clark in the Charles Mee play, Iphigenia 2.0. The production is being staged by the Signature Theater Company who announced the replacement in this play which is directed by Tina Landau. The previously announced Victoria Clark has had to bow out of her responsibilities to the production due to a scheduling conflict, which therefore made the way for Kate Mulgrew to step in.
In this New York premiere production, Mulgrey will play the character of Clytemnestra, and is quite excited to take on her new role. This play itself tells the tale of an imperial powers decision to go to war and the dire repurcussions that arise from this wholly wrong action that set the entire empire on a irreversible road to destruction. Following the leader of the Greek Empire, Agamemnon, and his persuasive means to convince his soldiers and followers that this attack is the necessary, worthy and righteous task to undertake, Iphigenia 2.0 showcases Agamemnon makign the ultimate sacrifice himself as a means to convince his followers to do the same. A strong and startling look at the destruction and loss of innocence brought on by war, this is one play you will not want to miss out on, so make sure you get tickets from stubhub.com today!
West End Theatre: London’s Broadway
English language theater has two heavyweight champions: New York’s Broadway and London’s West End. The two terms, Broadway and West End, have come to represent largely the same thing: touristy districts in the largest cities in their respective nations, and industry leaders in professional theater. The two have become remarkably close in appeal and essence. In fact, total gross profits for Broadway and West End productions were both just above $12 million last year.
Probably the most glaring difference between the West End and Broadway is location. Other than that, they actually have a lot in common. They share many of the same plays, actors, directors and audience members.
So the question remains, which is the superior place to see a production, West End, or Broadway? The answer will probably be determined by each individual theatergoer. There are a few differences between the two, which are probably more subtle than obvious. Seeing the British version of The Office is different from seeing the American version, though they both share the same elements that make them successful. So if you like what you are seeing with your Broadway tickets (which you hopefully got at StubHub.com), you might want to check out something slightly different while you are in London this summer.
Disney on Broadway
Walt Disney Theatrical or Disney on Broadway is the stage production wing of the Disney Corporation, which has produced several hit Broadway plays. Starting with Beauty and the Beast in 1994, Disney has been delving deeper and deeper into the Broadway scene. Other Broadway plays that have been produced by Disney have included The Lion King, Tarzan, and a German edition of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The Little Mermaid Broadway play is already in the works.
Will Disney be creating anything that is specifically designed for the stage, and hasn’t first been a movie, TV show, or Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale? Well, the answer to that is already “yes.” I’ll have you know that Aida (debut in 2000) and On the Record (2004) were two original Disney on Broadway productions that were designed specifically for the stage.
It seems as though Disney already has a huge fan base and numerous movies that could be easily be turned into stage performances. Expect a lot more from this company as the years go by. If you would like to see The Little Mermaid when it comes to your city, or get Tarzan tickets right now, you should check out StubHub.com.
Beverly Sills has Died
Beverly Sills, the legendary opera soprano and a generous supporter of the arts, has died at the age of 78. Sills suffered from inoperable lung cancer and succumbed to the illness yesterday, July 2, 2007. Sills, who was a nonsmoker, passed away in her Manhattan home and will be sincerely missed by all who knew her and by all who were touched by her incredible voice and her generosity.
Born Belle Miriam Silverman in May of 1929, Sills made her operatic debut in 1947 and quickly rose to stardom in 1955 with her perfromance in Die Fledermaus at the New York City Opera. Having performed in such operas as Manon, Giulio Cesare, Lucia di Lammermoore and The Magic Flute as well as Don Giovanni. Having retired from performing in 1980, Sills continued to support the performing arts, and in 2002 the Metropolitan Opera asked her to sit on its board, a role she held for two years before she retired for health and family reasons.
Beverly Sills was an incredible addition to the opera world, never mind her active role in supporting the arts as a whole. Her presence will be missed, and she will be forever remembered. For your chance to take in some of the performing arts events that Beverly Sills helped to support, make sure you visit stubhub.com today!
Canada Day Celebrations
Last Friday, June 29, 2007, Broadway perfromers from several shows currently in production as well as slated to being soon, came together in celebration of Canada Day, which was Sunday, July 1, 2007. Performers from such shows as The Little Mermaid, Grease as well as Mama Mia!, 110 in the Shade, Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast celebrated Canada Day with Robert Greigthon and Friends for his 3rd Annual Canadian Day Party. The festivities were held at the Kevin St. James.
Canada Day is the celebration of the establishment of Canada as a Dominion, which was declared on July 1, 1867. Being as Canada is such a close neighbor to New York and is a country so dedicated to the arts, it makes sense that such a celebration would be embraced and quite enjoyed. To catch all that’s new on the Broadway theater scene, make sure you check out stubhub.com!
Leo Burmester Dies at 63
Leo Burmester, a Broadway veteran who was most recently seen by audiences as Hucklebee in the Off-Broadway revival of The Fantasticks, succumed to leukemia yesterday, Thursday, June 28, 2007. Burmester was 63 years old when he died.
A talented performer who hailed from Louisville, Kentucky, Burmester appeared on Broadway in many shows including “Urban Cowboy,” “Thou Shalt Not,” “The Civil War,” “Ah Wilderness,” “Buried Child,” “Big River,” and “Lone Star and Pvt. Wars.” Additionally, Burmester originated the role of the money-grubbing innkeeper Thenardier in the original Broadway cast of “Les Miserables.”
Burmester also appeared in dozens of television and movie roles not least of which included “The Devil’s Advocate,” “The Last Temptation of Christ,” and “Lone Star,” and the actor had just finished filming a part in Spike Lee’s film “M.O.N.Y.”
Burmester will be sincerely missed on Broadway, but if you want a chance to see some of the roles that this theater veteran made famous, make sure you check out the shows playing all over the country at stubhub.com!
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