Benjamin Magnuson News

Despite the fact that I am a great lover of cinema, the film version of ONCE (2006) somehow eluded me; now, the musical stage adaptation, with music by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova and a book by Enda Walsh, is affording Memphians an 'off season' 'pub crawl' at the historic Orpheum Theatre - and though I have never been particularly fond of Irish whimsy (Barry Fitzgerald's coy old priest in GOING MY WAY is probably the source of that), and though PBS repeats of performances of clarion-voiced Irish lasses sawing away at violins and Riverdancers send me reaching for the remote, I am happy to report that . . . I finally 'get it.' ONCE is a refreshingly 'laid back' vehicle for a musical; its often wistful, incisive, perceptive numbers are an intimate alternative to the often overblown showstoppers of larger musicals.

Subtle and, at times, molasses-slow in execution---yet ultimately powerful in impact---ONCE is a beautifully-staged, soul-searing musical that interchanges romantic entanglement for creative fulfillment---and how the line that separates these emotions are often blurred. The eight-time Tony award-winning musical---featuring a book by Enda Walsh and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova---continues performances in Costa Mesa through August 31.

Once/book by Enda Walsh/music & lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova/directed by John Tiffany/Pantages Theatre/through August 10

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 GRAMMY Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is celebrating its Hollywood Pantages Premiere with a limited four-week engagement tonight, July 15 through August 10, 2014. Opening Night is Thursday, July 17th at 8pm.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 GRAMMY Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is celebrating its Hollywood Pantages Premiere with a limited four-week engagement; July 15 through August 10, 2014. Opening Night is Thursday, July 17th at 8pm.

This Saint Patrick's Day weekend, skip the riots and go see the national tour of the little musical that could, for a tribute to the modern Irish tradition of producing great singer-songwriters.

Once, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, makes its Minneapolis premiere at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre, April 1-6, 2014. Tickets for Once are on sale now. Once is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as part of its Broadway Season. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org or call 1.800.982.2787.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will play the Benedum Center for a limited engagement from today, March 11 through Sunday, March 16, 2014. ONCE is part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Broadway Across America and Pittsburgh Symphony.

The cast is brilliantly talented....Every member acts, sings, dances. AND plays an instrument. And sometimes they do ALL at the same time! BRAVO! The show gives us all hope and promise and a perfect Valentine reminder: 'What can be more important than Love'... GO SEE THIS WONDERFUL SHOW!

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will play the Benedum Center for a limited engagement from Tuesday, March 11 through Sunday, March 16, 2014. ONCE is part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Broadway Across America and Pittsburgh Symphony.

The national tour of ONCE, the 2012 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, roars into the Boston Opera House with a baker's dozen cast of talented actor/musicians under the direction of Tony Award-winner John Tiffany. Based on the motion picture, the autobiographical story of musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova captures the glorious intensity of one week that changed both of their lives forever with the help of friends, family, love, and music.

About half an hour before the start of ONCE, the touring version of the musical which is now appearing at the Palace, the audience is invited on stage for beer, music and dancing. It turns out to be a big Irish jam session. An intermission hoe-down is also included in the staging. Come early. Join in. Have fun!

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, begins a strictly limited engagement from November 26 - January 5 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Media night is Thursday November 28, 8pm.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, hit the road for the first North American tour, opening at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago. Check out the video below of Stuart Ward performing 'Say It To Me Now', via via the Chicago Tribune Theater Loop, below!.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, hit the road for the first North American tour, opening at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below!

There is no denying that the transition from film to musical can be a tricky one. It's likely even trickier when the film was a small-budget, minimalist piece, with only two main characters and a fairly somber, melancholy tone. It helps, though, when the film includes amazing, award-winning music, which will translate perfectly to the stage. In this case, the movie is Once, an Irish musical/film which was released in 2007, became an indie darling and then went on to become a major mainstream success. That success included an Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Made for around $150,000 and shot in 17 days, it went on to gross twenty million dollars worldwide and earned critical raves. It was then developed as a musical at the American Repertory Theater in Boston and eventually opened on Broadway in 2012, winning that year's Tony Award for Best Musical.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album will soon hit the road for the first North American tour, opening at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI with performances beginning on October 1, 2013. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was in the rehearsal room with the cast and director John Tiffany as they prepared for the first stop and you can check out what they had to say below!

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will soon hit the road for the first North American tour, opening at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI with performances beginning on October 1, 2013. BroadwayWorld was in the rehearsal room with the whole gang as they prepared for the first stop and you can check out photos below!

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Theater Album, will play the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in Providence, RI with performances beginning on October 1, 2013 and running through October 6, 2013. ONCE is part of PPAC's Taco/The White Family Foundation Broadway Series. WPRI 12 is the media sponsor of PPAC's Broadway Season

The producers of ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Theater Album, have just announced casting for the first North American touring company. The tour opens at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI with performances beginning on October 1, 2013.