BroadwayWorld.com Norfolk Stories

Wolf Trap Announces Upcoming Performances

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:42:24 PST

Wolf Trap has announced the following upcoming performances:

Joan Baez
Indigo Girls
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 8 pm
$28-$42

Folk powerhouses Joan Baez and Indigo Girls share the Filene Center stage in an evening of heartfelt tunes and earnest lyrics. The performance kicks off with acclaimed singer/songwriter and social activist Joan Baez, returning to Wolf Trap for the first time in more than two decades. Baez's musical journey spans over 50 years and is highlighted by her passion for human rights. She has advocated and performed in support of a variety of causes, including the Civil Rights Movement, LGBT rights, and environmental issues. Baez is the recipient of the 2007 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Grammy-winning Indigo Girls are known for their intelligent songwriting, commanding harmonies, and effortless live performances. The folk-rock duo, composed of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, has released more than 10 platinum records since the late '80s. Their latest album Beauty Queen Sister was released in 2011 under their own independent label, IG Recordings Company.

Video: Indigo Girls - Share the Moon

The Go-Go's
Special Guest: The Psychedelic Furs
Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 8 pm
$25-$42

The Go-Go's, one of the first commercially successful female groups of all time, brings their unique mix of new wave pop and punk rock back to Wolf Trap. Since they emerged on the music scene in 1978, The Go-Go's have garnered a loyal international fan base with chart-topping singles like "We Got The Beat," "Vacation," and "Our Lips are Sealed." They made history for being the first all-female band to write their own songs and play their own instruments in performances. In 2011, The Go-Go's re-released their breakthrough debut album under the title Beauty & The Beat: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition. That same year, the band also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The post-punk/new wave sextet The Psychedelic Furs performs as special guest for the evening. The Psychedelic Furs burst from England's post-punk scene in the late '70s, and have since toured extensively across the United Kingdom and the United States. The band became internationally famous for the title song in the John Hughes's Pretty in Pink (1986). Other recognizable hits include "Heartbreak Beat" and "The Ghost In You."

Video: The Go-Go's - Our Lips are Sealed

Celtic Woman
Friday, June 14, 2013 at 8 pm
$25-$55

The all-female Irish group Celtic Woman showcases their fresh arrangements of Irish traditional music and modern pop standards at Wolf Trap. Named Billboard's No. 1 World Music Artist in 2013, Celtic Woman continues to draw international audiences with their powerful voices and angelic harmonies. The foursome's most recent compilation, Believe (2011), reached No.1 on Billboard's Top World Albums. Celtic Woman became a global sensation in 2004 following the PBS airing of one of their sold-out shows in Dublin. A year later, their self-titled debut album peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's World Music chart and remained there for 81 weeks.

Video: Celtic Woman - Orinoco Flow

Bill Cosby
Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 8 pm
$25-$42

Bill Cosby, one of the world's most influential entertainers, returns to Wolf Trap for a joyous night of stand-up comedy routines. The Philadelphia-born actor, comedian, producer, and educator has been delighting audiences with his clean, family-friendly humor for over 50 years. His innate talent for comedy quickly led to acting roles in television shows, including I Spy and The Cosby Show, making him the first African-American to costar in a dramatic series. In addition to authoring 12 books, Cosby has appeared in more than 20 comedy albums, 10 musical albums, and numerous films. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, nine Emmys, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors.

Video: Bill Cosby - Dentist

Wolf Trap's 24th Annual
Louisiana Swamp Romp
Marcia Ball
Rosie Ledet & The Zydeco Playboys
Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 2 pm
$25 General Admission

The spirit of New Orleans takes over the Filene Center for Wolf Trap's 24th Annual Louisiana Swamp Romp, celebrating the vibrant music and culture of "The Bayou State." This year's program features some of Louisiana's finest bands, including singer/songwriterMarcia Ball with her unique piano style that blends Zydeco, swamp and Louisiana blues, and boogie woogie; the saucy, soulful melodies of Rosie Ledet & The Zydeco Playboys; and Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, combining French Creole music with swamp pop infusions. Attendees are invited to enjoy mouth-watering Cajun fare by sampling delectable Louisiana dishes, such as Muffuletta Sandwiches, Chicken Gumbo with White Rice, Cajun Crawfish Boil, and Pralines.

Video: Wolf Trap's 22nd Louisiana Swamp Romp

Tickets can be purchased by calling 1 (877) WOLFTRAP or online at www.wolftrap.org. For more information, call Wolf Trap at(703) 255-1868.

Barter Theatre Opens SOUTHERN FRIED FUNERAL, 5/30

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:04:12 PST

"Bless their hearts," writes Broadway World, "J. Dietz Osborne and Nate Eppler have scored a bonafide hit with 'Southern Fried Funeral.'" Barter Theatre will open the comedy on May 30 on Barter's main stage.

"Funerals bring out the worst, the best and the funniest in people and the Frye family is no exception. A big-hearted comedy about family-Southern Style," according to playwrights Osborne and Eppler.

When Dewey Frye drops dead in the middle of a joke to the Rotarians during their dinner meeting, his wife, Dorothy (Tricia Matthews) is faced with dealing with funeral arrangements, the realities of widowhood and a crazy assemblage of family and townspeople.

Dorothy now must manage the daughter who decided to focus on family (Holly Williams) and the daughter who decided to focus on having a good time (Erin Parker), and they will not quit picking at one another. Then there's her son, Dewey, Jr., a.k.a. "Dewdrop," who is not quite right (Sam McCalla). A victory for him is not putting his fingers in the blender.

We can't forget Ozella Meeks (played by the one and only Mary Lucy Bivins!). Ms. Ozella is from the Sonshine Committee at the church, and she's the resident know-it-all, busy body obsessing over the color of the punch and the napkins at the funeral and, of course, driving them all crazy.

Despite the trying circumstances, Dorothy would be holding it together were it not for Dewey's brother (played by Michael Poisson) swooping in like a vulture. In this case the vulture wants Dorothy's land and he's doing anything he can to make that happen.

Director Eugene Wolf believes that people's behavior gets juiced up just a bit when a family member dies. Old grudges and jealousies come up, and something happens that allows these things to finally be released.

"When my Grandmother passed away my Aunt Dot punched my poster of Barbara Streisand in the nose! It left a big hole in the sheetrock. I had never known she secretly hated Barbara!" said Wolf.

"Southern Fried Funeral" is made possible by corporate sponsor The United Company and media sponsors WKPT-TV and Kingsport Times News.

Barter Theatre is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

For tickets and more information, visit www.BarterTheatre.com or call 276.628.3991.

Barter Upgrades Assistive Listening System at Main Stage

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:51:48 PST

Barter Theatre announced today the recent upgrade of the assistive listening system at main stage. The new system is produced by Listen Technologies and transmits audio through a radio signal to a receiver used by patrons.

Abingdon ENT Associates, which has a long tradition of supporting Barter Theatre, underwrote the installation.

"We are very grateful to Abingdon ENT Associates for underwriting this project," said Allison Mays, Advancement Officer. "We want all of our patrons to enjoy the full experience of Barter Theatre, from every note of the music of "LES MISERABLES" to the comedy of "Southern Fried Funeral." The assistive listening system allows our hearing impaired patrons to be fully engaged with what is happening on stage."

This system is available for patrons who do not use a hearing aid, but may need some assistance with their hearing. It also works for patrons who do not have telecoil installed in their hearing aids. Barter Theatre main stage now has 21 fully charged receivers, and patrons can choose to use either headphones or earbuds to enhance their listening experience.

"The volume picks up immediately as soon as Richard Rose, Producing Artistic Director, starts his curtain speech," said Sandy Smith, Assistant House Manager. "Our patrons can hear without any delay."

The recent upgrade is just part of Barter's ongoing commitment to making live theatre more accessible.

John Mincks to Star in Firehouse Theatre Project's POP!; Full Cast Announced!

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:49:50 PST

Firehouse Theatre Project announces complete casting and the creative team for POP!, a new musical with book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman and music by Anna K. Jacobs, directed by Jase Smith. Sponsored in part by Yale Repertory Theatre's Binger Center for New Theatre, POP! will play for 18 performances, July 11 - August 10. Opening Night is Friday, July 12.

The cast for POP! includes John Mincks (Andy), Ian Stearns (Candy), Grey Garrett (Edie), Christie Jackson (Viva), Audra Honaker (Valerie), Evan Nasteff (Gerard), and Axle Burtness (Ondine).

POP! will feature choreography by Starr Foster, music direction by Anthony Smith, costume design by Margaret Joyner, light design by Andrew Bonniwell, set design by Eddie Slipek, and projection design by Nathan Wunderlich.

Who shot Andy Warhol? The fabulous drag queen Candy Darling hosts a happening whodunit musical in which the famous - and infamous - denizens of Warhol's legendary Factory all have motives to pull the trigger. But the pop art icon unravels an even bigger mystery as he confronts not only the prime suspects, but also his art and his own greatest creation: himself.

POP! features book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman and music by Anna K. Jacobs. The production will play Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA. Call (804) 355-2001 or visit www.firehousetheatre.org.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Director: Jase Smith
Choreography: Starr Foster
Music Director: Anthony Smith
Costume Designer: Margaret Joyner
Lighting Designer: Andrew Bonniwell
Set Designer: Edwin Slipek
Sound Designer/Assistant Technical Director: Joey Luck
Production Manager: Annie Colpitts
Production Stage Manager: Sharon Gregory
Stage Manager: Christin Boone
Projection Designer: Nate Wunderlich
Props Master: Kiari Hicks
Set Intern: Jessica Bishop

CAST:

Andy: John Mincks
Candy: Ian Stearns
Edie: Grey Garrett
Viva: Christie Jackson
Valerie: Audra Honaker
Gerard: Evan Nasteff
Ondine: Axle Burtness

BAND:

Anthony Smith on piano
Bentley Cobb, Jr. on drums
Grant Oliver on guitar
Khaled Hijaab on bass

The show runs July 11 - August 10, 2013, playing Thursdays - Saturdays at 8pm. PAY-WHAT-YOU-WILL Sundays are July 21, July 28 and August 4 at 2pm. PREVIEW: July 11, 2013. OPENING: July 12, 2013. Talkbacks: July 19 and August 2, 2013.

Tickets for POP! are $32 and are available online at www.firehousetheatre.org, by phone at (804) 355-2001, and in person at the Firehouse Theatre Box Office (1609 W. Broad Street). Student, senior, military, RAPT and group rates are also available. All tickets for the Thursday, July 11 Preview Night are $15. Seating is based on availability. Firehouse Theatre Project cannot guarantee availability without advance reservations.

Now Playing Onstage in Norfolk - Week of 5/19/2013

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

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[TITLE OF SHOW] (CLEAN VERSION)
Appomattox Regional Governor's School
5/23-5/24/2013
Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, hear about a new musical theatre festival. However, the deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away. With nothing to lose, the pair decides to try to create something new with the help of their friends Susan, Heidi and Larry on the eighty-eights. With the cast in place, Jeff and Hunter begin a conversation about what to write about. Eventually, Jeff Suggests they write about what to write about. They make a pact to write up until the festival?s deadline and dream about the show changing their lives. [title of show]?taken from the space on the festival?s application form which asks for the [title of show]?follows Hunter and Jeff and their friends on their journey through the gauntlet of creative self-expression. In the span of 90 minutes they write and perform their show at the festival and learn lessons about themselves as people, friends and artists. [title of show] is, above all, a love letter to the musical theatre?a uniquely American art form?and to the joy of collaboration. The musical received a Tony AwardMusic and Lyrics by Jeff Bowen; Book by Hunter Bell
Click Here for More Information
[TITLE OF SHOW] (CLEAN VERSION)
Appomattox Regional Governor's School
5/23-5/24/2013
Jeff and Hunter, two struggling writers, hear about a new musical theatre festival. However, the deadline for submissions is a mere three weeks away. With nothing to lose, the pair decides to try to create something new with the help of their friends Susan, Heidi and Larry on the eighty-eights. With the cast in place, Jeff and Hunter begin a conversation about what to write about. Eventually, Jeff Suggests they write about what to write about. They make a pact to write up until the festival?s deadline and dream about the show changing their lives. [title of show]?taken from the space on the festival?s application form which asks for the [title of show]?follows Hunter and Jeff and their friends on their journey through the gauntlet of creative self-expression. In the span of 90 minutes they write and perform their show at the festival and learn lessons about themselves as people, friends and artists. [title of show] is, above all, a love letter to the musical theatre?a uniquely American art form?and to the joy of collaboration. The musical received a Tony AwardMusic and Lyrics by Jeff Bowen; Book by Hunter Bell
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SPAMALOT
Army Entertainment
5/17-6/9/2013

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AVENUE Q
Little Theatre of Norfolk
5/17-6/9/2013
Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is a part flesh, part felt laugh-out-load musical that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.
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MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT
Army Entertainment
5/17-6/9/2013

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LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
American Shakespeare Center
4/12-6/15/2013
In Love's Labour's Lost, the King of Navarre and his three schoolmates are ripe for an education in love from the Princess of France and her three ladies. Joining the lovers is a brilliantly goofy troupe of clowns, including the love-warrior Don Armado and the lust-sick rogue Costard, who ardently pursue the affections of a winsome country maid - and who perform an unforgettable pageant for the royals. Written around the same time as Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream, this giddy and extravagant romantic comedy is Shakespeare's most exuberant wordfest - a joyful carnival of love, loss, and hope.
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THE DUCHESS OF MALFI
American Shakespeare Center
4/11-6/15/2013
John Webster's brutal and astonishing play tells the story of one of the stage's greatest women and two of its greatest villains. The widowed Duchess of Malfi tragically defies her two powerful brothers by secretly marrying her household steward. When they uncover her deception, the brothers plot a series of horrific events that leads them all to destruction in this dark tapestry of sibling rivalry, forbidden love, unquenchable ambition, and ensuing madness.
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TWELFTH NIGHT
American Shakespeare Center
4/10-6/16/2013
Writing at the height of his powers, Shakespeare provides a feast of language and songs - and a stage full of memorable characters - from the lovesick Orsino and Viola to the alesick Toby Belch, from the acquiescent Sir Andrew Aguecheek to the pompous Malvolio. Sublime and subversive, Twelfth Night breaks rules and bends gender to show love in all its guises and disguises.
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RED
Virginia Repertory Theatre
4/26-6/16/2013
Winner of 6 Tony Awards including Best Play! A searing portrait of an artist's ambition and vulnerability, Red is a moving and compelling account of Mark Rothko (one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century) and his young assistant, Ken. As Rothko struggles with a recent commission by New York's Four Seasons Restaurant, the two men both go head to head on the methods and purpose of art and the dynamic relationship between an artist and his creations. Join us for this electrifying new play that exposes human need and desire like no other. "There is only once thing I fear in life, my friend? One day the black will swallow the red."
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THE GUARDSMAN
Kennedy Center - Theater for Young Audiences
5/25-6/23/2013
Eisenhower Theater: - Frernc Molnar; trans: Richard Nelson; dir: Gregory Mosher.
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Hal Prince Version) in Broadway" border="0" height="100" width="100" align="right"> SHOW BOAT (Hal Prince VERSION)
Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre
5/2-6/30/2013
Since its premiere in 1927, SHOW BOAT has never stopped moving. For over seven decades this seminal musical has continued to evolve on a journey that has reflected the ongoing development of the lyric theater, confirming its status as the pivotal work bridging operetta and contemporary musical theater. After three film versions, numerous Broadway and London revivals, countless tours and recordings, legendary director Harold Prince took the helm for a new Broadway production in 1994 that instantly became the blockbuster hit of the season. With Oscar Hammerstein's eldest son William serving as advisor, Prince studied all previous versions of SHOW BOAT and, with the celebrated choreographer Susan Stroman, developed a version of the classic that was hailed as a triumph by critics and audiences alike. This epic musical spans 40 years in the lives of three generations of show folk, following theirs loves and heartbreaks, their ambitions and disappointments along the Mississippi River and in Chicago.Music by Jerome Kern; Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Based on the novel `Show Boat` by Edna Ferber
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COMPANY
Signature Theatre
5/21-6/30/2013
MAX Theatre: - book: George Furth; lyrics: Stephen Sondheim; music: Stephen Sondheim; dir: Eric Schaeffer.
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Hal Prince Version) in Broadway" border="0" height="100" width="100" align="right"> SHOW BOAT (Hal Prince VERSION)
Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre
5/2-6/30/2013
Since its premiere in 1927, SHOW BOAT has never stopped moving. For over seven decades this seminal musical has continued to evolve on a journey that has reflected the ongoing development of the lyric theater, confirming its status as the pivotal work bridging operetta and contemporary musical theater. After three film versions, numerous Broadway and London revivals, countless tours and recordings, legendary director Harold Prince took the helm for a new Broadway production in 1994 that instantly became the blockbuster hit of the season. With Oscar Hammerstein's eldest son William serving as advisor, Prince studied all previous versions of SHOW BOAT and, with the celebrated choreographer Susan Stroman, developed a version of the classic that was hailed as a triumph by critics and audiences alike. This epic musical spans 40 years in the lives of three generations of show folk, following theirs loves and heartbreaks, their ambitions and disappointments along the Mississippi River and in Chicago.Music by Jerome Kern; Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Based on the novel `Show Boat` by Edna Ferber
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PINKALICIOUS THE MUSICAL
Riverside Center Children's Theatre
5/25-7/13/2013

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STAGE TUBE: Highlights from Firehouse Theatre Project's POP!

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:14:03 PST

This summer, Firehouse will present the sensation musical, POP! Who Shot Andy Warhol? with book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman and music by Anna K. Jacobs. POP! is an outrageous whodunit musical in which the famous-and infamous-residents of Warhol's legendary Factory all have motives to pull the trigger. Click below to watch highlights from the show!

But the pop art icon unravels an even bigger mystery as he confronts not only the prime suspects, but also his art and his own greatest creation: himself. POP! is presented in partnership with Yale Repertory Theatre with music direction by Anthony Smith, choreography by Starr Foster, and starring Richmond Theatre Critics Circle (RTCC) Award nominee John Mincks as Andy Warhol.

POP! Who Shot Andy Warhol? will run July 11 - August 10, 2013. All shows play the Firehouse Theatre, 1609 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA. Call (804) 355-2001 or visit www.firehousetheatre.org for more information or to subscribe.

Click Here to Play!

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is Coming to Barter Stage II

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:40:40 PST

"The Pied Piper of Hamelin" is a classic fairy tale that has been told and retold for more than 500 years. Now, Catherine Gray has written a creative version for The Barter Players, the children's company of Barter Theatre, while still keeping true to its tradition. The mystical tale will be performed May 28-June 22 at Barter Stage II.

To honor Barter's beginnings in the Great Depression when patrons traded food for tickets, the theatre presents three Barter Days in June. Barter Day for "The Pied Piper" is Saturday, June 8 for the 10am performance. Bring non-perishable food to barter for tickets. All proceeds will go to Feeding America: Southwest Virginia.

In Hamelin, Germany, there stands an old, old church. In this church there is a staiNed Glass window depicting the town's children, led by a piper. The glass window tells a story of a time when rats were overrunning the town of Hamelin. Nothing was safe. That is until the mayor's daughter found the Pied Piper who could charm rats with his musical piping.

The Barter Players' artistic director, Katy Brown, says, "This show is an exciting exploration of imagination. The Players become different characters in the blink of an eye." The Players meet and greet the audience before each performance and talkbacks are available with prior arrangement.

Tickets are $12, group rates are available. For more information visit BarterTheatre.com or call 276.628.3991.

The Virginia Arts Festival Announces The Rite of Spring: 100th Anniversary Performance, 5/29

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:38:48 PST

The Virginia Arts Festival will make-and remake-history on May 29. That's when the Festival will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the world premiere of The Rite of Spring, Igor Stravinsky's groundbreaking work that changed the worlds of music and dance forever.

The original premiere, on May 29, 1913, took place in Paris. For months before the fateful night, Stravinsky worked side by side with choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky to create a bold new work, with every pulsing beat of the music drawing the dancers deeper into a mysterious story of ritual and sacrifice, in steps and movements that classical audiences had never seen before. Traditionalists were aghast; but many among that first audience, thrilled by what they saw, knew that they were in the presence of astonishing genius. This was revolution, and Stravinsky, leading the forces for change, won the day.

Now, 100 years to the day after that headline-making premiere, the Virginia Arts Festival presents the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Ballet in The Rite of Spring: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the genius of an artist who has left an indelible mark on music, and through music, on the world.

The Richmond Ballet revives the choreography created by Salvatore Aiello. In his vision of the historic ballet, Aiello invented a primitive society to explore the myth of earth and life, imagining a chosen group of women pampered, protected and prepared for the ultimate offering to the gods. The fluid, undulating movement of the dancers builds with the music to the final shattering scene.

Virginia Symphony Music Director JoAnn Falletta conducts the orchestra in Stravinsky's masterwork, which in its day redefined the sound of an orchestra. Stravinsky, calling on ancient Russian pagan traditions, sought to recreate the sound of keening voices and stamping feet.

The Hub Announces Free for All Play Fest 2013

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:32:13 PST

The Hub Theatre has announced its first annualHUB PLAY FEST, a staged reading festival showcasing new plays. The two-day festival features four new play readings, and offers two insightful Panel Discussions about topics relevant to theatre in America. The entire festival is free and open to the public.

During its five-year history, The Hub Theatre has offered staged readings throughout its season as a way of fostering new work, and getting genuine audience responses to new plays. Helen Pafumi, The Hub Theatre's Artistic Director said, "Staged readings give us a wonderful opportunity to explore new plays or playwrights by allowing us to hear the work out loud. And the bonus is we also get to hear the audience reaction and talk with them about what they saw. Seeing how a play works, with an audience, informs whether or not we might produce the work as part of our regular main stage season."

The Hub has a proven track record of auditioning plays through staged readings before moving them to fully mounted stage productions. Marc Acito's BIRDS OF A FEATHER (Helen Hayes Award, Outstanding New Play) received a staged reading at The Hub before it moved to the main stage for its World Premiere and Helen Hayes eligibility. Pafumi said, "The audience reaction at the BIRDS reading was so wonderful, we knew Marc's play had to be produced, and we knew we had to be the theatre to do it."

In addition to the four new plays at this year's Festival, The Hub is hosting important conversations with the community through two Panel Discussions. During Day One of the Festival, noted playwright, Jacqueline Lawton, one of 30 of the nation's leading black playwrights named by Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute, will lead a panel in conversation with the audience about Gender Parity in American Theatre. This is a relevant conversation as theatre companies are questioning the importance of hiring female playwrights and directors. On Day Two, The Hub's Playwright in Residence, Kristen LePine (DIRE WOLVES), will lead a panel discussion exploring the challenges a theatre and a playwright face in a session called,New Play Development.

FESTIVAL DAY ONE - SATURDAY, JUNE 1

1:00 PM

SHE RODE HORSES LIKE THE STOCK EXCHANGE

By Amelia Roper | Directed by Robert Lufty

In a nice New England park, in a nice New England city, two nice New England couples try very, very hard to be nice to each other ... while the world around them falls apart. Award-winning Australian playwright and Yale School of Drama MFA Candidate, Amelia Roper, leads us on an absurdly funny and terrifying ride through downsized, foreclosed America. The cast include Jon Odom and Eric Tucker.

3:00 PM

PANEL DISCUSSION - GENDER PARITY IN AMERICAN THEATRE

Moderated by Jacqueline Lawton

PANELISTS:

Michael Dove, Artistic Director, Forum Theatre

Eleanor Holdridge, Freelance Director, Catholic University Head of MFA Directing Programs

Helen Pafumi, Playwright and Artistic Director, The Hub Theatre

While female theatre artists make up over 50% of those involved in the theatre, why are so few female playwrights being produced? Why so few female directors helming shows? The esteemed panel will tackle this issue head-on, discussing the gender divide, and sharing their opinions about what theaters can do level the playing field.

4:00 PM

THE ELECTRIC BABY

By Stefanie Zadravec | Directed by Kasi Campbell

In this dazzling new play, three very different couples discover that their lives are connected in ways that none of them could ever imagine. A middle-aged couple confronts the secrets of their troubled marriage. A young woman becomes attached-literally, by a pair of pink, fluffy handcuffs-to the hopeful young man who secretly loves her. And a Romanian mother and Nigerian father care for their child, who glows like the moon, and brings everyone together to experience the power of storytelling, the importance of community ... and the hope of new beginnings. Casting will be announced soon.

FESTIVAL DAY TWO - SUNDAY, JUNE 2

1:00 PM

FAILURE: A LOVE STORY

By Philip Dawkins | Directed by Helen Pafumi

Join us for a magical, musical fable about the triumphs and aspirations of three sisters living in a rickety two-story building by the Chicago River. The building was the Fail family home and clock shop in 1928. Nelly was the first to die, followed soon after by sisters, Jenny June, and Gerty. As with so many unforeseen circumstances in life-blunt objects, disappearances, and consumption-these sisters never saw death coming. This profoundly funny and moving story reminds us that in the end, all that remains is love. The cast includes Michael Kevin Darnall, Kristen Garaffo, Heather Haney, Katie Jeffries, Casie Platt, and Chris Stinson.

3:00 PM

PANEL DISCUSSION - NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT

Moderated by Kristen LePine

PANELISTS:

Randy Baker, Playwright & Co-Artistic Director, Rorschach Theatre

Allyson Currin, Playwright in Residence, Theatre J Locally Grown

Anne McCaw, Executive Director, The Inkwell

Helen Pafumi, Playwright and Artistic Director, The Hub Theatre

What goes into developing a new play for production? The Hub gathers theatre experts from across the Washington Metro area to share their insights about the challenges, the process, and their successes in selecting and developing new work for production.

4:00 PM

CHING CHONG CHINAMAN

By Lauren Yee | Directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner

Turning every cliché about Asian American identity on its head, award-winning playwright Lauren Yee (A MAN, HIS WIFE, AND HIS HAT) introduces us to the all-American Wong family. Ed the patriarch loves to golf, and mom Grace wants another child. Desdemona obsesses over early admission into Princeton, while her brother Upton is focused on World of Warcraft superstardom. To ease the burden of homework and free up more time for training, Upton acquires an indentured servant from China. Life in the Wong household is turned upside down with the arrival of Jinqiang ("Ching Chong"), who harbors his own American dreams! The cast featuresJennifer Knight, Hazel Loranzo, MiRann Powell, Al Twanmo, Jacob Yeh, andNicholas Yenson.

The 2013 HUB PLAY FEST is generously sponsored by Friends of Lake Anne, a community-development organization dedicated to supporting Reston, VA and Lake Anne area events.

All 2013 HUB PLAY FEST readings and panel discussions are FREE OF CHARGEand will take place at the RESTON COMMUNITY CENTER. Reservations are encouraged and are available at https://bit.ly/HubFest. Rush tickets will be available at the door, only as space permits.

Now Playing Onstage in Norfolk - Week of 5/12/2013

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

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VIRGINIA ARTS FESTIVAL COFFEE CONCERT I
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
5/14-5/14/2013
A favorite of the Festival's chamber music lovers, these intimate concerts offer the opportunity to hear world-class artists in intimate, acoustically superb settings. After the performance, enjoy coffee, pastries and conversation with the artists!
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HELLO, DOLLY!
Signature Theatre
3/15-5/18/2013
- book: Michael Stewart; lyrics: Jerry Herman; music: Jerry Herman; dir: Eric Schaeffer.
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NEXT TO NORMAL
Virginia Repertory Theatre
4/25-5/18/2013
Next to Normal is the acclaimed, groundbreaking musical "that pushe[d] Broadway in new directions" (Rolling Stone). With a thrilling contemporary score, Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. Its story concerns a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effect that her illness has on her family. The musical also addresses such issues as grieving a loss, suicide, drug abuse, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life. Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Next to Normal also won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Original Score. 2009 Tony Award nominations include Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical.
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CAROUSEL
Thomas Dale High School
5/15-5/18/2013
In a Maine coastal village toward the end of the 19th century, the swaggering, carefree carnival barker, Billy Bigelow, captivates and marries the naive millworker, Julie Jordan. Billy loses his job just as he learns that Julie is pregnant and, desperately intent upon providing a decent life for his family, he is coerced into being an accomplice to a robbery. Caught in the act and facing the certainty of prison, he takes his own life and is sent 'up there.' Billy is allowed to return to earth for one day fifteen years later, and he encounters the daughter he never knew. She is a lonely, friendless teenager, her father's reputation as a thief and bully having haunted her throughout her young life. How Billy instills in both the child and her mother a sense of hope and dignity is a dramatic testimony to the power of love. It's easy to understand why, of all the shows they created, CAROUSEL was Rodgers & Hammerstein's personal favorite.Music by Rodgers, Richard; Book by Oscar Hammerstein II; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Based on the Play LILIOM by Ferenc Molnar; As adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer; Original Dances by Agnes De Mille
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HELLO, DOLLY!
Signature Theatre
3/15-5/18/2013
- book: Michael Stewart; lyrics: Jerry Herman; music: Jerry Herman; dir: Eric Schaeffer.
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CAROUSEL
Virginia Opera
5/10-5/19/2013
Act I The year is 1873, in a small town in Maine. Two friends who work at a nearby mill, Julie Jordan and Carrie Pipperdridge, have gone to the amusement park. Julie catches the eye of the barker for the carousel, Billy Bigelow. Billy has a reputation, but Julie is intrigued. Mrs. Mullin, the owner of the carousel, is extremely jealous. Billy mocks her, and she fires him. At the same time, Julie is approached be her boss at the mill, and when she refuses his offer of a ride home, he fires Julie as well. But despite all this, Julie and Billy still go out. A month later, and Julie and Billy are married. No one approves of the wedding, and Billy, stressed from being out of work, has become sullen and angry, and violent towards Julie. An old friend, Jigger, tries to talk Billy into helping with a robbery. Mrs. Mullin is also asking Billy to come back to the carousel, but insists that he would have to leave Julie. He is debating, but then Julie tells him that she is pregnant. Going back to the carousel is not an option, but he does feel like he needs to support his family, and so agrees to help Jigger with the robbery. The town is having a clambake, and everyone is going, including Julie, her friend Carrie and Carrie's fiance Enoch. Billy had initially refused, but realizing it would be a good alibi, goes along. Act II Julie sees Billy getting ready to leave, and tries to persuade him to stay, and feeling a knife under his coat, knows that something bad is about to happen. The robbery goes terribly wrong - Jigger escapes, but Billy is caught. Not wanting to go to jail, Billy stabs himself with his knife. Julie arrives, but only in time to hold Billy while he dies. Billy goes up to the gates of heaven, where he meets with The Starkeeper. He tells Billy that he hasn't done enough good in life to get to go into heaven. But he can redeem himself - he is allowed to go back to Earth for one day and perform a good deed. On his way down to Earth, Billy steals a star to take with him. Fifteen years has passed, and Billy is given a glimpse of his daughter, Louise. She is a sad, lonely girl, who has been tormented for being the child of a thief and wife-beater. While her mother, Carrie and Enoch and their children are preparing to go to the high school graduation, Louise talks to Enoch Jr. about wanting to run away and join an acting troupe. Enoch Jr. says that he would stop her by marrying her, but that his father would never approve. They both get angry, and Louise is left alone. Billy appears, claiming to be a friend of her father. He tries to talk to her, and give her the star he stole, but she refuses. Billy loses patience, slaps Louise and runs off. Moments later, Louise tells her mother what has happened - but to Louise, the slap felt like a kiss. Julie knows in her heart that it must have been Billy. At the graduation, the speaker talks to the graduating class, encouraging them to live their own lives, not thinking of their parents' successes or failures. Invisible, Billy whispers to Louise, encouraging her to reach out, that she doesn't need to be alone, and to believe in herself. Letting Julie know that he loves her, Billy finally gets to go to heaven.
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SNOW WHITE GOES WEST
The Perry Family Theatre
5/17-5/19/2013
Snow White Goes West is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. It's Snow White with a Stetson! Set during the California Gold Rush, this rambunctious tongue-in-cheek retelling of the timeless classic pits the hapless heroine against an ill-tempered saloon hall owner named Queenie and her assistant Sneaky Sam.
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THE KING AND I
Fauquier Community Theatre
5/3-5/19/2013
The 'G2K' Getting To Know Series: Uniquely adapted musicals specifically for youth performers. East versus West makes for a dramatic, richly textured and ultimately uplifting tale of enormous fascination. It is 1862 in Siam when an English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, having been summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. The King is largely considered to be a barbarian by those in the West and he seeks Anna's assistance in changing his image, if not his ways. With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and, eventually, respect one another, in a truly unique love story. In this adaptation for pre-high school students, the content has been edited to better suit younger attention spans, but all the magic and beauty of the original are still in place. You and your students will be enchanted by the timeless story and the dazzling score, while at the same time learning about theater and its production. PLEASE NOTE: All schools wishing to peruse or perform a G2K musical should apply through theMusic by Rodgers, Richard; Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
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CAROUSEL
Virginia Opera
5/10-5/19/2013
In a Maine coastal village toward the end of the 19th century, the swaggering, carefree carnival barker, Billy Bigelow, captivates and marries the naive millworker, Julie Jordan. Billy loses his job just as he learns that Julie is pregnant and, desperately intent upon providing a decent life for his family, he is coerced into being an accomplice to a robbery. Caught in the act and facing the certainty of prison, he takes his own life and is sent 'up there.' Billy is allowed to return to earth for one day fifteen years later, and he encounters the daughter he never knew. She is a lonely, friendless teenager, her father's reputation as a thief and bully having haunted her throughout her young life. How Billy instills in both the child and her mother a sense of hope and dignity is a dramatic testimony to the power of love. It's easy to understand why, of all the shows they created, CAROUSEL was Rodgers & Hammerstein's personal favorite.Music by Rodgers, Richard; Book by Oscar Hammerstein II; Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Based on the Play LILIOM by Ferenc Molnar; As adapted by Benjamin F. Glazer; Original Dances by Agnes De Mille
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IN THE HEIGHTS
Monticello High School
5/17-5/19/2013
IN THE HEIGHTS tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York?s Washington Heights neighborhood ? a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It?s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which tradtions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. IN THE HEIGHTS is the winner of the 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda; Book by Quiara Aleg
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JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
St. John's Episcopal Church
5/17-5/19/2013
The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. Joseph, his father's favorite son, is a boy blessed with prophetic dreams. When he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, Joseph endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged. He is purchased by Potiphar where thwarting advances from Potiphar's wife lands him in jail. When news of Joseph's gift to interpret dreams reaches the Pharaoh (wryly and riotously depicted as Elvis), Joseph is well on his way to becoming second in command. Eventually his brothers, having suffered greatly, unknowingly find themselves groveling at the feet of the brother they betrayed but no longer recognize. After testing their integrity, Joseph reveals himself leading to a heartfelt reconciliation of the sons of Israel. Set to an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock 'n' roll, this Old Testament tale emerges both timely and timeless.Lyrics by Tim Rice; Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
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SPAMALOT
Army Entertainment
5/17-6/9/2013

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AVENUE Q
Little Theatre of Norfolk
5/17-6/9/2013
Winner of the Tony "Triple Crown" for Best Musical Score and Best Book, Avenue Q is a part flesh, part felt laugh-out-load musical that tells the timeless story of a recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. He soon discovers that although the residents seem nice, it's clear that this is not your ordinary neighborhood. Together, Princeton and his new-found friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.
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LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST
American Shakespeare Center
4/12-6/15/2013
In Love's Labour's Lost, the King of Navarre and his three schoolmates are ripe for an education in love from the Princess of France and her three ladies. Joining the lovers is a brilliantly goofy troupe of clowns, including the love-warrior Don Armado and the lust-sick rogue Costard, who ardently pursue the affections of a winsome country maid - and who perform an unforgettable pageant for the royals. Written around the same time as Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream, this giddy and extravagant romantic comedy is Shakespeare's most exuberant wordfest - a joyful carnival of love, loss, and hope.
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THE DUCHESS OF MALFI
American Shakespeare Center
4/11-6/15/2013
John Webster's brutal and astonishing play tells the story of one of the stage's greatest women and two of its greatest villains. The widowed Duchess of Malfi tragically defies her two powerful brothers by secretly marrying her household steward. When they uncover her deception, the brothers plot a series of horrific events that leads them all to destruction in this dark tapestry of sibling rivalry, forbidden love, unquenchable ambition, and ensuing madness.
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TWELFTH NIGHT
American Shakespeare Center
4/10-6/16/2013
Writing at the height of his powers, Shakespeare provides a feast of language and songs - and a stage full of memorable characters - from the lovesick Orsino and Viola to the alesick Toby Belch, from the acquiescent Sir Andrew Aguecheek to the pompous Malvolio. Sublime and subversive, Twelfth Night breaks rules and bends gender to show love in all its guises and disguises.
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RED
Virginia Repertory Theatre
4/26-6/16/2013
Winner of 6 Tony Awards including Best Play! A searing portrait of an artist's ambition and vulnerability, Red is a moving and compelling account of Mark Rothko (one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century) and his young assistant, Ken. As Rothko struggles with a recent commission by New York's Four Seasons Restaurant, the two men both go head to head on the methods and purpose of art and the dynamic relationship between an artist and his creations. Join us for this electrifying new play that exposes human need and desire like no other. "There is only once thing I fear in life, my friend? One day the black will swallow the red."
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Hal Prince Version) in Broadway" border="0" height="100" width="100" align="right"> SHOW BOAT (Hal Prince VERSION)
Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre
5/2-6/30/2013
Since its premiere in 1927, SHOW BOAT has never stopped moving. For over seven decades this seminal musical has continued to evolve on a journey that has reflected the ongoing development of the lyric theater, confirming its status as the pivotal work bridging operetta and contemporary musical theater. After three film versions, numerous Broadway and London revivals, countless tours and recordings, legendary director Harold Prince took the helm for a new Broadway production in 1994 that instantly became the blockbuster hit of the season. With Oscar Hammerstein's eldest son William serving as advisor, Prince studied all previous versions of SHOW BOAT and, with the celebrated choreographer Susan Stroman, developed a version of the classic that was hailed as a triumph by critics and audiences alike. This epic musical spans 40 years in the lives of three generations of show folk, following theirs loves and heartbreaks, their ambitions and disappointments along the Mississippi River and in Chicago.Music by Jerome Kern; Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; Based on the novel `Show Boat` by Edna Ferber
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COMPANY
Signature Theatre
5/21-6/30/2013
MAX Theatre: - book: George Furth; lyrics: Stephen Sondheim; music: Stephen Sondheim; dir: Eric Schaeffer.
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