BroadwayWorld.com Madison Stories

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

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

View All Show Listings for Madison
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Madison Calendar

THE ARSONISTS
Mercury Players Theatre
5/10-5/25/2013
The little town of Plainfield is plunged into the headlines upon the discovery of the horrific acts committed of one of its citizens, Ed Gein. Two couples grapple with their values, beliefs and personal morals in the midst of an onslaught of unwelcome media attention; the strain takes a toll on their friendship and changes all of their lives, forever.
Click Here for More Information
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Bartell Theatre
5/3-5/25/2013
Love, Betrayal, Illusion and Laughter will all be there as Strollers gets "Back to the canon" with Shakespeare's most recognizable and beloved comedy. But trust Strollers to treat you to a fresh look at the classics. Even if you've seen it a hundred times before, we believe you will find new and wonderful things to love in our final show of the season.
Click Here for More Information

View All Show Listings for Madison
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Madison Calendar

Tickets Go on Sale Today for GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY National Tour!

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:30:00 PST

AEG Live has announced that the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, written by Stephen King, with music by John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, has confirmed a tour of 20 American cities throughout the Midwest and Southeast beginning October 10 in Bloomington, IN, and ending November 6 in Grand Rapids, MI. Tickets go on sale today, May 17 at 10am at aeglive.com.

This extraordinary collaboration, 13 years in the making, is a haunting tale of fraternal love, lust, jealousy and revenge, which will be performed by an ensemble cast of 15 actors and a four-piece live band. The album of the musical will be released on June 4 via Hear Music and the Concord Music Group. Complete tour dates are below.

The Ghost Brothers of Darkland County saga began when Mellencamp told King about a cabin on his land inIndiana where two brothers had gotten in a fight over a girl; one brother accidentally killing the other, only to die along with the girl in a car crash a short time later. King came up with an outline for a play in a matter of days. And then off and on, back and forth, they began to develop it into a full-length musical.

The superb blues 'n' roots music of Ghost Brothers reflects the wide range of styles and influences needed for a work that jumps back and forth across decades. Rather than use the songs to propel the play's narrative, as in a conventional musical, Mellencamp chose to make them a way to reveal the emotions and inner workings of the characters.

Set in the tiny town of Lake Belle Reve, Mississippi, the Ghost Brothers' story centers on two sets of brothers: the ghosts of Jack and Andy, dead in an apparent murder/suicide, and their nephews, the living Frank and Drake, who seem to be headed toward the same downward spiral as their uncles. Joe, younger brother of Jack and Andy, father of Frank and Drake, has decided it's time to reveal his own terrible secret at the site of the tragedy, before it's too late.

As the story emerged during the writing of the musical, it became clear to the collaborators that Ghost Brothers had taken them into unfamiliar territory - and they liked it that way. "John can make rock & roll records and I can write books for the rest of our lives," says King, "but that's the safe way to do it, and that's no way to live if you want to stay creative. We were willing to be educated, and at our age, that's an accomplishment."

Putting King's words and Mellencamp's songs on the stage is in the skilful hands of acclaimed director Susan Booth, who calls the musical a "a kind of new age travelling Medicine Show." "This is a gothic story-driven rock concert," says Booth. "I want the emphasis to be on this fantastic score and our great singers and how the story advances us from song to song. In most musicals, the songs advance the narrative. With Ghost Brothers, the story will advance the songs."

Tickets go on sale today, May 17 at 10am at aeglive.com. The complete Ghost Brothers of Darkland County tour itinerary is below:

October

10 -Bloomington,IN-IndianaUniversityAuditorium

11 -Louisville,KY- Whitney Hall *

12 -Knoxville,KY- Knoxville Civic Auditorium

13 -Asheville,NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium **

16 -Nashville,TN- Ryman Auditorium

17 -Evansville,IN- Aiken Theatre at The Centre

18 -Indianapolis,IN- Clowes Memorial Hall

19 -Akron,OH-AkronCivic Theatre

22 -Columbus,OH- Palace Theatre

24 -Ft. Wayne,IN- Embassy Theatre

25 -Madison,WI- Overture Hall

26 -Rockford,IL-CoronadoPerformingArtsCenter

27 -Appleton,WI- Fox Cities PerformingArtsCenter

29 -Milwaukee,WI- Riverside Theatre ***

31 -Minneapolis,MN- State Theatre

November

1 -Sioux City,IA- Orpheum Theatre

2 -Ames,IA- Stephens Auditorium

3 -Davenport,IA- Adler Theatre

5 -South Bend,IN- Morris Performing Arts Center

6 -Grand Rapids,MI- DeVos Performance Hall

* Louisville onsale Friday, May 31 at 10am
** Asheville onsale Saturday, May 18 at 10am
*** Milwaukee onsale Friday, May 17 at 12 noon

To purchase the Ghost Brothers of Darkland County album, go to:

iTunes: http://smarturl.it/GBODC_iTunes
Amazon Hardcover Edition: http://smarturl.it/gbodcHC
Amazon Deluxe Version: http://smarturl.it/GBODCdeluxe

Listen to Ghost Brothers music and view the trailer at: www.ghostbrothersofdarklandcounty.com. For more, go to stephenking.com.

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

Sun, 12 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

View All Show Listings for Madison
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Madison Calendar

ORPHAN TRAIN
Broom Street Theater
4/26-5/18/2013
It is the late 1800's, long before Social Security, when hundreds of thousands of homeless and orphaned children ran in the mean streets of New York. Some worked as newspaper boys, formed gangs, stole food, were jailed with adults, or were placed in 'educational' orphan asylums with not much hope for a bright future. But the lucky ones rode the train west. The Orphan Train is their story.
Click Here for More Information
900
Broom Street Theater
4/27-5/19/2013
900 is a love story in real time - the play ends when the call ends. At 11:11 pm, the conversation begins. One game. Two players. They'll either both win... Or they'll both lose. 900 is Rob Matsushita's romantic comedy about Ben, who has just moved into town and has never called a phone sex line before and Augustina, a comic book geek who works out of her apartment. They're about to have a phone sex call like no other.
Click Here for More Information
900
Broom Street Theater
4/27-5/19/2013
900 is a love story in real time - the play ends when the call ends. At 11:11 pm, the conversation begins. One game. Two players. They'll either both win... Or they'll both lose. 900 is Rob Matsushita's romantic comedy about Ben, who has just moved into town and has never called a phone sex line before and Augustina, a comic book geek who works out of her apartment. They're about to have a phone sex call like no other.
Click Here for More Information
THE ARSONISTS
Mercury Players Theatre
5/10-5/25/2013
The little town of Plainfield is plunged into the headlines upon the discovery of the horrific acts committed of one of its citizens, Ed Gein. Two couples grapple with their values, beliefs and personal morals in the midst of an onslaught of unwelcome media attention; the strain takes a toll on their friendship and changes all of their lives, forever.
Click Here for More Information
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Bartell Theatre
5/3-5/25/2013
Love, Betrayal, Illusion and Laughter will all be there as Strollers gets "Back to the canon" with Shakespeare's most recognizable and beloved comedy. But trust Strollers to treat you to a fresh look at the classics. Even if you've seen it a hundred times before, we believe you will find new and wonderful things to love in our final show of the season.
Click Here for More Information

View All Show Listings for Madison
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Madison Calendar

Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett's GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY to Kick Off National Tour, Oct 2013

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:16:25 PST

AEG Live has announced that the southern gothic, supernatural musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, written by Stephen King, with music by John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, has confirmed a tour of 20 American cities throughout the Midwest and Southeast beginning October 10 in Bloomington, IN, and ending November 6 in Grand Rapids, MI. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 17 at 10am at aeglive.com.

This extraordinary collaboration, 13 years in the making, is a haunting tale of fraternal love, lust, jealousy and revenge, which will be performed by an ensemble cast of 15 actors and a four-piece live band. The album of the musical will be released on June 4 via Hear Music and the Concord Music Group. Complete tour dates are below.

Tickets go on sale Friday, May 17 at 10am at aeglive.com. The complete Ghost Brothers of Darkland County tour itinerary is below:

October

10 -Bloomington,IN-IndianaUniversityAuditorium

11 -Louisville,KY- Whitney Hall *

12 -Knoxville,KY- Knoxville Civic Auditorium

13 -Asheville,NC - Thomas Wolfe Auditorium **

16 -Nashville,TN- Ryman Auditorium

17 -Evansville,IN- Aiken Theatre at The Centre

18 -Indianapolis,IN- Clowes Memorial Hall

19 -Akron,OH-AkronCivic Theatre

22 -Columbus,OH- Palace Theatre

24 -Ft. Wayne,IN- Embassy Theatre

25 -Madison,WI- Overture Hall

26 -Rockford,IL-CoronadoPerformingArtsCenter

27 -Appleton,WI- Fox Cities PerformingArtsCenter

29 -Milwaukee,WI- Riverside Theatre ***

31 -Minneapolis,MN- State Theatre

November

1 -Sioux City,IA- Orpheum Theatre

2 -Ames,IA- Stephens Auditorium

3 -Davenport,IA- Adler Theatre

5 -South Bend,IN- Morris Performing Arts Center

6 -Grand Rapids,MI- DeVos Performance Hall

* Louisville onsale Friday, May 31 at 10am
** Asheville onsale Saturday, May 18 at 10am
*** Milwaukee onsale Friday, May 17 at 12 noon

To purchase the Ghost Brothers of Darkland County album, go to:

iTunes: http://smarturl.it/GBODC_iTunes
Amazon Hardcover Edition: http://smarturl.it/gbodcHC
Amazon Deluxe Version: http://smarturl.it/GBODCdeluxe

Listen to Ghost Brothers music and view the trailer at: www.ghostbrothersofdarklandcounty.com. For more, go to stephenking.com.

Now Playing Onstage in Madison - Week of 5/05/2013

Sun, 05 May 2013 10:00:00 PST

View All Show Listings for Madison
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Madison Calendar

ALADDIN AND HIS AMAZING LAMP!
First Act Children's Theatre
5/9-5/9/2013
Join us for a magical musical carpet ride that takes us back to Agra bah and the fantastic tales of Scheherazade! When Aladdin discovers a magical lamp with an awesome Genie inside, his life is turned inside out! Based on the story from the Arabian Nights, this musical version is full of new tunes and modern twists to challenge and engage young actors of all ages and talents!
Click Here for More Information
ORPHAN TRAIN
Broom Street Theater
4/26-5/18/2013
It is the late 1800's, long before Social Security, when hundreds of thousands of homeless and orphaned children ran in the mean streets of New York. Some worked as newspaper boys, formed gangs, stole food, were jailed with adults, or were placed in 'educational' orphan asylums with not much hope for a bright future. But the lucky ones rode the train west. The Orphan Train is their story.
Click Here for More Information
900
Broom Street Theater
4/27-5/19/2013
900 is a love story in real time - the play ends when the call ends. At 11:11 pm, the conversation begins. One game. Two players. They'll either both win... Or they'll both lose. 900 is Rob Matsushita's romantic comedy about Ben, who has just moved into town and has never called a phone sex line before and Augustina, a comic book geek who works out of her apartment. They're about to have a phone sex call like no other.
Click Here for More Information
900
Broom Street Theater
4/27-5/19/2013
900 is a love story in real time - the play ends when the call ends. At 11:11 pm, the conversation begins. One game. Two players. They'll either both win... Or they'll both lose. 900 is Rob Matsushita's romantic comedy about Ben, who has just moved into town and has never called a phone sex line before and Augustina, a comic book geek who works out of her apartment. They're about to have a phone sex call like no other.
Click Here for More Information
THE ARSONISTS
Mercury Players Theatre
5/10-5/25/2013
The little town of Plainfield is plunged into the headlines upon the discovery of the horrific acts committed of one of its citizens, Ed Gein. Two couples grapple with their values, beliefs and personal morals in the midst of an onslaught of unwelcome media attention; the strain takes a toll on their friendship and changes all of their lives, forever.
Click Here for More Information
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Bartell Theatre
5/3-5/25/2013
Love, Betrayal, Illusion and Laughter will all be there as Strollers gets "Back to the canon" with Shakespeare's most recognizable and beloved comedy. But trust Strollers to treat you to a fresh look at the classics. Even if you've seen it a hundred times before, we believe you will find new and wonderful things to love in our final show of the season.
Click Here for More Information

View All Show Listings for Madison
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Madison Calendar

High School in the Spotlight: Shorewood High, WI

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:08:07 PST

BroadwayWorld's High School Center is proud to showcase high school performance programs around the country in our weekly feature of 'High School in the Spotlight'.

This week, we're thrilled to feature the Drama Department at Wisconsin's Shorewood High School under the direction of Joe King.

The Drama Department of Shorewood High School in the Village of Shorewood, Wisconsin, has had a tradition of putting on professional quality shows since its inception in 1935.

Shorewood Drama is regularly invited to prestigious drama festivals including the well known Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland and the International Thespian Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska.

They have performed many well-known shows including Avenue Q, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Urinetown, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cabaret, A Chorus Line, Les Miserables, Rent, Godspell, Wit, Ragtime, The Laramie Project, A Few Good Men, and Aida.

The 2012-2013 season was a busy one for Shorewood High with a slew of productions including LEND ME A TENOR, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, and GODSPELL. Up next is an unedited staging of the Tony Award-winning musical SPRING AWAKENING which will run May 10 thru 18. For tickets, click here. Scroll below to see a photo of the cast!

To learn more about Drama at Shorewood High, visit http://www.shorewooddrama.org/

Info courtesy of SHS. Photo credit: Adam W. McCoy

Cast of SPRING AWAKENING

Shorewood High School to Stage Unedited SPRING AWAKENING, 5/10-18

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:52:02 PST

Shorewood Drama will present an unedited version of the musical SPRING AWAKENING for six performances only beginning May 10 in the SHS Auditorium.

Tickets are $10 for Adults and $5 for Students.

To learn more, visit http://www.shorewooddrama.org/ or call 414-963-6940.

SPRING AWAKENING is appropriate for high school aged students and older.

SPRING AWAKENING has music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater. It is based on the controversial German play Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind. The Broadway production starring Lea Michele, Jonathan Groff and John Gallagher Jr. earned 8 Tony Awards.

The Drama Department of Shorewood High School in the Village of Shorewood, Wisconsin, has had a tradition of putting on professional quality shows since its inception in 1935. Shorewood Drama is regularly invited to prestigious drama festivals including the well known Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland and the International Thespian Conference in Lincoln, Nebraska. They have performed many well-known shows including Avenue Q, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Urinetown, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cabaret, A Chorus Line, Les Miserables, Rent, Godspell, Wit, Ragtime, The Laramie Project, A Few Good Men, and Aida.

DISNEY'S PLANES Screens in Oshkosh, 8/2

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:17:06 PST

Everyone knows that Oshkosh becomes the busiest airport in the world the week of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (July 29-August 4), and that airplanes take off all the time ... however, 2013 will be a first for some very special planes.

The summer release of "Disney's Planes," the animated comedy adventure from above the world of the popular 2006 film "Cars," has the entire aviation community buzzing! Those attending AirVenture this year will have the opportunity to experience a Special Preview Screening at the Fly-In Theater on Friday night, August 2, one week before the movie opens in theaters nationwide. "Disney's Planes" will touch all who see it and help them understand the thrill and excitement that flying offers.

Director and aviation enthusiast Klay Hall says, "'Disney's Planes' is a great underdog story. It has a lot of heart and a message we can all use: If we can believe in ourselves, step out of our comfort zones and get past whatever fear that's holding us back, we'd be surprised with the results. And that's exactly what happens to Dusty in this movie. He's a crop duster who's never flown above 1,000 feet, but he dreams of being the fastest air racer in the world. He has a lot of obstacles to overcome and needs to dig pretty deep to find the courage to become more than he was built to be. We're so happy to share the film with the passionate aviation community at AirVenture."

Prior to the movie, Hall will be present at the screening to talk about the making of "Disney's Planes," sharing behind-the-scenes stories and secrets.

"The Fly-In Theater has become a signature event at AirVenture and Ford is delighted to host Dusty and the crew for a screening that no doubt will pack the house," said Kevin Keling, Director of Global Auto Shows & Events for Ford Motor Company, which each year sponsors the Fly-In Theater presentations.

The special preview screening is included with regular EAA AirVenture admission on Aug. 2. The Fly-In Theater is an outdoor facility with a five-story-high screen and full sound system that presents aviation and other action movies for AirVenture attendees during AirVenture. It is a favorite evening activity for all Oshkosh attendees, especially those from the adjacent Camp Scholler camping area.

Jack Pelton, EAA Chairman of the Board, says "AirVenture is a wonderful family event and we are absolutely thrilled to be a part of the ultimate family experience with this special screening of "Disney's Planes." Dusty will be a real star of AirVenture this year in so many ways. We urge people to make plans now to join us for this special event."

"Disney's Planes" features a talented roster of voice talent, including Dane Cook, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stacy Keach and more. "Disney's Planes" takes off in theaters on Aug. 9, 2013. For more information, check out Disney.com/Planes, facebook.com/DisneyPlanes and twitter.com/DisneyPictures.

Now Playing Onstage in Madison - Week of 4/28/2013

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:00:00 PST

View All Show Listings for Madison
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Madison Calendar

BOOM
Madison Theatre Guild, Evjue Theater
4/19-5/4/2013
boom is the story of Jules, a grad student in marine biology, and Jo, a journalism student, who meet one Saturday night in Jules's small underground laboratory on a university campus after Jo answers Jules's online personal ad offering an encounter that promises "sex to change the course of the world." Little does Jo know what that promise is really about.
Click Here for More Information
ORPHAN TRAIN
Broom Street Theater
4/26-5/18/2013
It is the late 1800's, long before Social Security, when hundreds of thousands of homeless and orphaned children ran in the mean streets of New York. Some worked as newspaper boys, formed gangs, stole food, were jailed with adults, or were placed in 'educational' orphan asylums with not much hope for a bright future. But the lucky ones rode the train west. The Orphan Train is their story.
Click Here for More Information
900
Broom Street Theater
4/27-5/19/2013
900 is a love story in real time - the play ends when the call ends. At 11:11 pm, the conversation begins. One game. Two players. They'll either both win... Or they'll both lose. 900 is Rob Matsushita's romantic comedy about Ben, who has just moved into town and has never called a phone sex line before and Augustina, a comic book geek who works out of her apartment. They're about to have a phone sex call like no other.
Click Here for More Information
900
Broom Street Theater
4/27-5/19/2013
900 is a love story in real time - the play ends when the call ends. At 11:11 pm, the conversation begins. One game. Two players. They'll either both win... Or they'll both lose. 900 is Rob Matsushita's romantic comedy about Ben, who has just moved into town and has never called a phone sex line before and Augustina, a comic book geek who works out of her apartment. They're about to have a phone sex call like no other.
Click Here for More Information
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Bartell Theatre
5/3-5/25/2013
Love, Betrayal, Illusion and Laughter will all be there as Strollers gets "Back to the canon" with Shakespeare's most recognizable and beloved comedy. But trust Strollers to treat you to a fresh look at the classics. Even if you've seen it a hundred times before, we believe you will find new and wonderful things to love in our final show of the season.
Click Here for More Information

View All Show Listings for Madison
Click Here to View BroadwayWorld.com Madison Calendar

Voting Opens for the 2013 BroadwayWorld Awards! Vote Now for the Best of the 2012-13 Theatre Season...

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:39:40 PST

The Tony Awards nominators had their say earlier this week and now it's your turn! We're pleased to announce that voting has now opened for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards!

Once again last year, hundreds of thousands of theatregoers and fans weighed in, breaking site traffic records and further solidifying the BroadwayWorld.com Awards place as the largest and most popular online Broadway polling event of its kind, open to all and with fully visible and audited results. Voting is open through May 31, 2013.

Click Here to Vote Now!