Alan Smith News

Lights, cameras, laughter as comedians relive the best (and worst) movies and TV of 2014 -- More sparks than David and Margaret! Punnier than QI! Sexier* than Rockwiz! Melbourne's funniest comedians go head-to-head on Saturday 20 December at The Butterfly Club, in a special festive season edition of Alan Smithee's Screen Test.

Alan Smithee Directed This Play from Big Dance Theater comes to BAM's Harvey Theater (651 Fulton Street), running tonight, September 30-October 4, 2014.

Melissa Arctic, Craig Wright's re-imagining of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, doesn't quite jell, despite many good elements in this two-hour production.

Joseph V. Melillo, executive producer of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, today announced programming for the 2014 Next Wave Festival. The festival runs from today, September 9, through December 20 and comprises theater, music, dance, film, humanities, and visual art events in the institution's three venues: the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, the BAM Harvey Theater, and the BAM Fisher.

Alan Smithee Directed This Play from Big Dance Theater comes to BAM's Harvey Theater (651 Fulton Street), running September 30-October 4, 2014.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce the first show of their 24th season, the West Coast Premiere of MELISSA ARCTIC written by Craig Wright and directed by Scott Alan Smith (Sovereign Body, That Good Night, Lady). MELISSA ARCTIC will preview on Sunday, September 21 at 2pm; Wednesday, September 24 at 8pm and Thursday, September 25 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 26 at 8pm and run through Saturday, November 15 at The Road On Magnolia 10747 Magnolia Blvd. (inside the NoHo Senior Arts Colony) in North Hollywood.

The Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, remain committed to their meaningful mission to produce and develop New Work for the Stage. They are thrilled to announce in this, their 23rd season, the fifth annual SUMMER PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL (SPF5).

Joseph V. Melillo, executive producer of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, today announced programming for the 2014 Next Wave Festival. The festival runs from September 9 through December 20 and comprises theater, music, dance, film, humanities, and visual art events in the institution's three venues: the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, the BAM Harvey Theater, and the BAM Fisher.

Rayna organizes a charity concert at Fort Campbell after finding out Luke has been injured in Afghanistan, forcing him to cut his tour short. Deacon and Maddie are brought closer together as they chart a new course for their future.

The next production in Town Hall Arts Center's 2013-2014 Season will be Spring Awakening, Book & Lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik, based on the play by Frank Wedekind. Spring Awakening is directed and choreographed by Nick Sugar, Henry Award winning director of Town Hall's 2012 production of The Who's Tommy and 2010 Henry Award winning production of RENT, and most recently seen directing and choreographing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for Town Hall this past fall. Returning for a second show in the 2013-2014 Season is Casey Andree as Melchior Gabor, most recently seen at Town Hall in Boeing-Boeing as Robert. Also returning to Town Hall, Heather Doris takes on the role of Wendla Bergmann. Heather was most recently seen at Town Hall in Oklahoma (2009) and Guys and Dolls (2010). Making his Town Hall debut is Jake Brasch as Moritz Stiefel.

The next production in Town Hall Arts Center's 2013-2014 Season will be Spring Awakening, Book & Lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik, based on the play by Frank Wedekind. Spring Awakening is directed and choreographed by Nick Sugar, Henry Award winning director of Town Hall's 2012 production of The Who's Tommy and 2010 Henry Award winning production of RENT, and most recently seen directing and choreographing Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for Town Hall this past fall. Returning for a second show in the 2013-2014 Season is Casey Andree as Melchior Gabor, most recently seen at Town Hall in Boeing-Boeing as Robert. Also returning to Town Hall, Heather Doris takes on the role of Wendla Bergmann. Heather was most recently seen at Town Hall in Oklahoma (2009) and Guys and Dolls (2010). Making his Town Hall debut is Jake Brasch as Moritz Stiefel.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, announced that the world premiere of SOVEREIGN BODY, written by Emilie Beck and directed by Scott Alan Smith (That Good Night, Lady) opens tonight, April 4 at 8pm and run through Saturday, May 24 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, announced today that the world premiere of SOVEREIGN BODY, written by Emilie Beck and directed by Scott Alan Smith (That Good Night, Lady) will now preview tonight, March 29 at 8pm; Sunday, March 30 at 2pm and Thursday, April 3 at 8pm and will open on Friday, April 4 at 8pm and run through Saturday, May 24 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce in this, their 23rd season, the world premiere of SOVEREIGN BODY, written by Emilie Beck and directed by Scott Alan Smith (That Good Night, Lady). SOVEREIGN BODY will preview tonight, March 22 at 8pm; Sunday, March 28 at 2pm and Thursday, March 27 at 8pm and will open on Friday, March 23 at 8pm and run through Saturday, May 10 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, announced today that the world premiere of SOVEREIGN BODY, written by Emilie Beck and directed by Scott Alan Smith (That Good Night, Lady) will now preview on Saturday, March 29 at 8pm; Sunday, March 30 at 2pm and Thursday, April 3 at 8pm and will open on Friday, April 4 at 8pm and run through Saturday, May 24 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce in this, their 23rd season, the world premiere of SOVEREIGN BODY, written by Emilie Beck and directed by Scott Alan Smith (That Good Night, Lady). SOVEREIGN BODY will preview on Saturday, March 22 at 8pm; Sunday, March 28 at 2pm and Thursday, March 27 at 8pm and will open on Friday, March 28 at 8pm and run through Saturday, May 10 at the Historic Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood, CA.

It's amazing how many Hollywood comedies, cult and otherwise, have been turned into musicals, some successfully, some not so much. Which brings us to ELF, freely adapted from the amusing Will Ferrell vehicle of the same name, but lacking his particular comedic talents. That's not to say there isn't an audience for this show. Packed houses with families in tow seem to be eating up the playful nature of this holiday fare, and it's understandable. I brought my son along and he had a jolly good time as well.

NETworks Presentations, LLC, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Unique Features bring the Broadway musical ELF to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami- Dade County from December 31 to January 5, 2014. To celebrate the arrival of ELF (and 2014), snow will rain down into the Center's Ziff Ballet Opera House lobby during intermission on opening night, December 31. ELF is part of the Broadway in Miami 2013-2014 subscription season presented by Bank of America. Tickets for ELF are on-sale now and range from $26.00 - $96.00*. For tickets visit www.arshtcenter.org, or call the Box Office at (305) 949-6722. Groups of 10 or more should call (786) 468-2326 or (954) 626-7814.

Elf the Musical is bringing the Christmas spirit to the Detroit Opera House until December 15th and is a fun time for the whole family. The entire production delights from beginning to end as it tells the story of Buddy, the orphaned human child who is brought up by Santa and his elves only to discover his real family is living in New York City without Christmas spirit.

NETworks Presentations, LLC, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Unique Features, bring the Broadway musical ELF to the Benedum Center in Pittsburgh. Tickets are available, but limited, for performances Tuesday, November 26 to Sunday, December 1, 2013; with best availability on Thursday, November 28. ELF THE MUSICAL is part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Broadway Across America and Pittsburgh Symphony.