Ashley Anderson News

Musical Theatre West presents the second production of their 61st season, Davis Gaines (Los Angeles' longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera) starring as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) starring as Marian Paroo in Meredith Willson's timeless and joyous, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and directed by Jeff Maynard.

Repertory Dance Theatre's Charette returns for the ninth time on February 22, 2014 with an all new host, Sister Dottie S. Dixon. Based loosely on TV's 'Iron Chef,' Charette challenges five choreographers to each create an entirely new dance piece in just one hour. Audience members are invited to watch the choreographic process and vote for their favorite to crown this year's Iron Choreographer.

Musical Theatre West presents the second production of their 61st season, Davis Gaines (Los Angeles' longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of The Opera) starring as Professor Harold Hill and Gail Bennett (Mary Poppins) starring as Marian Paroo in Meredith Willson's timeless and joyous, THE MUSIC MAN, book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacey, musical direction by Corey Hirsch, choreography by John Todd and directed by Jeff Maynard.

Repertory Dance Theatre's signature event and FUNdraiser, Charette, returns to the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center for the ninth consecutive year on February 22, 2014, hosted by the formidable (and hilarious) Sister Dottie S. Dixon.

This hilarious and touching story is perfect for the whole family and plays in the Historic Arcade Theatre Dec. 6-22 with four nearly sold out preview performances on Dec. 3-5.

Florida Rep's Education Department presents A Mark Twain Story Book by Tom Poole as part of the Lunchbox Theatre Series. The story celebrates the life and times of one of America's most celebrated authors! A Mark Twain Storybook plays today, Nov. 21 and the 23rd at 11am in the Arcade Theatre, and the admission price includes the show, an interactive presentation, and a lunch from The Deli.

Florida Rep's Education Department presents A Mark Twain Story Book by Tom Poole as part of the Lunchbox Theatre Series. The story celebrates the life and times of one of America's most celebrated authors! A Mark Twain Storybook plays Nov. 21 & 23 at 11am in the Arcade Theatre, and the admission price includes the show, an interactive presentation, and a lunch from The Deli.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present an all-new revival of one of the greatest musicals of all time, SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, with book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay, lyrics, music and new songs by Johnny Mercer, Gene de Paul, Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn. SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS features musical direction by Dennis Castellano, choreography by Patti Colombo and will be directed by Glenn Casale. SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS opened on Saturday, April 13, and runs through Sunday, May 5, 2013 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. BroadwayWorld was there for the opening celebrations and brings you photos below!

Some 67 years after Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel first opened at Broadway's Majestic Theatre, director Paula Y. Flatt will unveil her vision for the show-which was named by Time magazine in 1999 as the best musical of the 20th century-in a new production featuring her students at Nashville's Christ Presbyterian Academy.

Matt Logan could easily have rested on his laurels and simply re-staged the second offering of showHOPE's Cinderella, the Enchanted Edition in exactly the same manner as he did in 2010 - it was a magical evening, at the very least, and it would certainly be easier, acceptable even to his most loyal fans, to have done so. Instead, as expected, Logan, one of the region's finest and most inventive stage directors, chose to re-imagine his vision for Cinderella, giving it a more sophisticated presentation and breathing new vigor into the project while tapping heretofore unknown reserves of creativity among his cast and crew - and even himself.

Think about it: What if you were watching The King and I and when Anna and the King of Siam started to sing 'Shall We Dance' and they just stood there, it just wouldn't have much of an impact, would it? Or if all those budding chorus members in A Chorus Line just stood around and talked about dancing but never did even the most basic shuffle-ball-change...sounds pretty bleak, doesn't it? That's where choreographers come into the picture; they collaborate with the director, the music director and the cast members to create movement that elevates every musical comedy. Without them, the action remains stagebound and static. A choreographer allows your heart to soar along with the performers onstage, making musical comedy all the more compelling and transformative. These talented men and women created remarkable and memorable work in 2010 as First Night's Top Choreographers...

Ten versatile and talented Nashville area men took on roles in musical theater that other actors would love to play, proving once again that country music isn't the only genre that makes this Music City USA. Musical theater is alive and well in Tennessee and with the plethora of talent to be found on Volunteer State stages, actors can display their tremendous range while singing and dancing. These men comprise the list of the ten best performances by actors in musicals in 2010...

'There are no small parts, only small actors,' goes the old theatrical saw that's tossed about willy-nilly to encourage budding thespians to take on roles they suspect might be beneath them and their lofty stature. But, of course, there's much truth to be found in the axiom and you will certainly see it brought to life in the efforts of the members of many acting ensembles, particularly those considered among the best in Nashville's 2010 theater season:

If you find yourself venturing outside of New York, and you want to see some really good musical theater, what should you do? Allow me to suggest a visit to my neck o' the woods: A trip to Nashville might provide you with exactly what you seek. After all, in a city perhaps best known throughout the world as Music City USA, what else could you expect but some exceedingly well-cast, well-produced, well-played and well-sung musical theater? We're lousy with exceptional singers and musicians and, as a result, musical theater is alive and well - and thriving - in Nashville. And here's my list of the Best Musicals of 2010...

On December 17 at Kean University, Liberty Hall Museum collected nearly 500 toys and a donation of $1,000 and delivered them to the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Foundation in Edison, NJ.

Gap in the Wall Productions presents 'The Last Castrato' by Guy Fredrick Glass, Off Broadway at the Connelly Theater, 220 East 4th Street Bet Avenue A & Avenue B subway: F to 2nd Ave.;6 to Astor. Inspired by true events, the play is directed by John Henry Davis. Previews begin on November 12th and the Opening is Tuesday, November 16th. www.lastcastrato.com.

With an imaginative staging and details-oriented direction by Matt Logan, with the superb musical direction of Nathan Burbank and the spirited choreography of Ashley Anderson McCarthy (who does double duty as 'Minnie Fay' in the cast - and has never looked lovelier onstage), Studio Tenn's first official season kicks off in high style with this charming production that is as colorful and heartwarming as any we've seen.

With its 2010-2011 season ready to kick off next month with a production of Hello, Dolly!, Studio Tenn promises to fully engage the Nashville theater community as their primary source of talent, and likewise commit to having Broadway, film and/or national tour-credited talent involved in every production.

Ciaran McCarthy gives such a stunningly raw and beautifully nuanced performance as film director Guido Contini in Boiler Room Theatre's production of Nine that it would be easy to lavish praise on him and leave it at that. But he is surrounded by a cast of women (and one very talented young man) who are wonderfully cast and who deliver performances that match McCarthy's in intensity and artistry. In other words: Don't even think of missing this show!

WorkShop Theater Company, currently in its 15th season, will present the world premiere of Kathryn Chetkovich's 'SHE SAID, SHE SAID,' directed by Peter Sylvester. 'SHE SAID, SHE SAID' will be performed at the WorkShop Theater, 312 West 36th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues), 4th floor Main Stage Theater. Previews begin Thursday, March 12, and the Official Opening Night will be Monday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. Performances are scheduled to run through Saturday, April 4.