Christian Anderson News

This February, New Conservatory Theatre Center's Family Matinee Series gives Hans Christian Anderson's heartwarming tale of friendship and adventure a fresh new twist in Snow Queen, written by Stacey Lane and directed by NCTC Conservatory Director Stephanie Temple.  

The Emperor's New Clothes, a new musical adaptation for children and their families, begins performances at the Loeb Drama Center (64 Brattle Street, Cambridge) today-December 21-and continues through December 31, 2018.

On Wednesday December 19th at 7pm, many of your favorite Lost Nation Theater artists will gather to present dramatic readings of stories from around the world. The return of the light and the peaceful magic of this winter season is heralded in tales from a host of different traditions.

Plays through 15th of December, 2018

The Drama Studio Presents The Snow Queen. Written by Grace Robertson. Directed by Debbie Endris. November 30 & December 1 @ 7:30 PM December 2 @ 2:00 PM.

The Drama Studio Presents The Snow Queen. Written by Grace Robertson. Directed by Debbie Endris. November 30 & December 1 @ 7:30 PM December 2 @ 2:00 PM.

Gerda's best friend Kai has changed. Where he was once sweet and kind, he has turned cruel and controlling. Just as Gerda discovers the enchantment that has caused this change, Kai is stolen away by the mysterious Snow Queen. Gerda embarks on an epic quest for friendship, escaping a witch's trap and travelling to the furthest reaches of the North with her new friends, a crow and an energetic princess.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents 54 Sings As Thousands Cheer on May 24, 2018 at 9:30 PM. Before there was SNL, The Daily Show, and Last Week Tonight, there was As Thousands Cheer, Irving Berlin and Moss Hart's famed musical revue. Opening on Broadway in September 1933, As Thousands Cheer brought laughter and joy to audiences at the Music Box Theatre. Now, 85 years after its Broadway premiere and 20 years since its last production in New York, Feinstein's/54 Below and a cast of New York's finest perform Irving Berlin's score. With classic songs including "Easter Parade," "How's Chances?," "Heat Wave," and "Harlem On My Mind,"  As Thousands Cheer will be a delightful evening of comedy, politics, showstopping songs, and everything in between!

Madeleine Potter and Donald Sage Mackay complete the cast for the forthcoming West End Premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winner Sam Shepard's ferociously funny, modern classic, True West. They will join the previously announced Kit Harington - renowned for his leading role in the internationally acclaimed series Game of Thrones - and Johnny Flynn - star of the widely celebrated film Beast and US TV series Genius, and who received rave reviews for his performance in the New York transfer of Hangmen, in the first UK production of Shepard's work since his death last summer. True West will play a limited season at the Vaudeville Theatre from Friday 23 November - Saturday 16 February (Press Night: Tuesday 4 December at 7:00pm).

The Broadway at Birdland concert series has announced that dancer/singer/ Evan Ruggiero and his band The S'Evan Legs will be in concert at Birdland on Monday, August 27 at 7:30pm.

Uber busy, much in-demand choreographer Janet Roston will have three separate theatre productions running this month of July. Already opened - CABARET at Celebration Theatre and MUTT HOUSE at Kirk Douglas - Janet's latest choreographic piece GATSBY REDUX will be world premiering July 24, 2018 as part of THE MUSIC CENTER'S MOVES AFTER DARK. We had the opportunity to catch Janet in a rare, spare moment between her shows to see how her choreographic mind works.

'Once Upon a Mattress' is a comical retelling of the 1835 fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, 'The Princess and the Pea.' This fun song and dance show is reminiscent to the films like 'The Court Jester' starring Danny Kaye. Overall the production is a fun comedy representation of the real story behind this classic fairy tale.

Summer Theatre Arts Rendezvous (STAR), Perseverance Theatre's five-week youth acting program, provides theatrical training and performance opportunities to students aged 10-18 who are excited about theatre. In addition to rehearsals, STAR participants take daily workshops on voice, movement and acting technique, culminating in three fully produced shows that are perfect summer entertainment for the whole family: Once on This Island Jr, As You Like It, and an original piece, Extreme Theatre! Performances run between July 20 and July 29.

Internationally renowned cabaret star Le Gateau Chocolat returns with a celebration of what makes us different in his reimagining of childhood favourite Hans Christian Anderson's The Ugly Duckling. Family-friendly glamour and glitz takes centre stage as Le Gateau Chocolat breaks out of his shell in his first work for children as he puts his own twist on the classic tale of identity and belonging.

This summer, the Orlando Shakes takes audiences under the sea with Brandon Robert's new telling of Hans Christian Anderson's classic fairytale, THE LITTLE MERMAID.  I talked with the little mermaid herself, Jillian Gizzi, about what she's learned from playing Allura, human shoes, and more! 

MainStreet Theatre Company, the resident professional company at the Lewis Family Playhouse, has special treats in store for the thousands of school groups and families who make up the bulk of their audiences.  "I'm so excited to announce our 13th season", says Mireya Hepner, MainStreet's Producer. "We always strive to share stories that the kids and families will not only enjoy, but will send positive messages, as well. The three offerings next season are very different from each other, but all are geared for families to enjoy together. Our season includes a nostalgic musical, a magical introduction to contemporary dance based on a beloved book, and a new take on an age-old story."

Aimed at those aged from to two to 11, it runs during the half-term holiday (Monday 28 May to Sunday 3 June). There are shows, events and workshops at The Marlowe Theatre, The Marlowe Studio, The Marlowe Kit (in Stour Streeet), and in the city's streets.

For the first time in New England, Little Mermaid splashes onto the stage in a live action ballet spectacle by Festival Ballet Providence (FBP). The classic fairytale takes you on a bubbly adventure under the sea with imaginative choreography by Charlotte Ballet¹s Mark Diamond and a colorful cast of dancing characters. The Rhode Island premiere makes its debut in Providence April 27-29, 2018 at The Vets.

Since the earliest days of civilization, legends abound of mythical sea creatures who lure handsome young men to the lower depths of the sea. One such story is of Ondine, which tells of a young man on a beach enamored with a beautiful shadow from the sea. This story has sparked the imaginations of composers from Dvorak's operatic masterpiece "Rusalka" to compositions by Ravel and Debussy, and a critically acclaimed play by the French dramatist Jean Giraudoux. This legend was popularized in Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tale, 'The Little Mermaid.' and in the popular Disney animated film by the same name.