Leslie Howard News

What did our critic think of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL at John W. Engeman Theater At Northport? I must admit I was a little hesitant in seeing The Scarlet Pimpernel because I was starting to believe Frank Wildhorn was a one-hit wonder on Broadway. That one hit wonder of course being Jekyll & Hyde, a great musical with a fantastic score despite what the critics said. His latest productions that I've seen (Wonderland, Bonnie and Clyde) just didn't measure up.

Popcorn will be flowing at Jaffrey's Park Theatre this weekend. The theatre is presenting three classic movies as part of its “Popcorn Movie Festival Weekend.”

Returning to lead the cast are Shereen Ahmed as Eliza Doolittle, Laird Mackintosh as Professor Henry Higgins, Leslie Alexander as Mrs. Higgins, Adam Grupper as Alfred P. Doolittle, Kevin Pariseau as Colonel Pickering, Gayton Scott as Mrs. Pearce, and Sam Simahk as Freddy Eynsford-Hill.

The national tour of MY FAIR LADY opens October 7th in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre, running through October 31st. Bartlett Sher directs this timeless story of Professor Henry Higgins’ experiment to transform the social standings of Eliza Doolittle, a lowly flower girl, to one fitting comfortably in high society. MY FAIR LADY, brimming with familiar musical standards, stars Laird Mackintosh as Professor Higgins and Shereen Ahmed as Eliza Doolittle. Had the chance to catch Laird during his offstage time before his evening performance.

This week's Theater Stories features The Broadhurst Theatre! Learn about Jagged Little Pill, nominated for 15 Tony Awards, The Group Theatre featuring Strasberg, Adler and others, the theatre's longest running show and so much more!

Violinist Benjamin Baker comes to Pepperdine University's Raitt Recital Hall at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2020 as the final performer of the Recital Series for the 2019-2020 season.

Chanticleers Theatre ('Chanticleers') presents Cabaret, Book by Joe Masteroff, Based on the play by John Van Druten and Stories by Christopher Isherwood, Music by John Kander, and Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Spiritual Resistance in the face of oppression is the theme for this season of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene.  Their programming has been curated to accompany the exhibit 'Auschwitz.  Not Long Ago.  Not Far Away.'  Hannah Senesh, the first of four mainstage productions, is definitely worth a journey to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park.

The imaginative and increasingly important Key Pianists concert series, founded by pianist Terry Eder in 2015, embarks on its fifth season with a recital by James Dick, whom American Record Guide lauded for his 'patrician civility and lucid, beautiful sonority', on Thursday evening, October 10, 2019, at 7:30 pm at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall.

The Celebrity Series of Boston presents the 5th annual Stave Sessions, the unique music series showcasing the innovative, the experimental, and the collaborative approaches of emerging artists. The 2019 Stave Sessions take place March 19-23, 2019 at 160 Mass. Ave. in Boston. Doors open at 7pm; concerts begin at 8pm. Each concert features 2 sets with one intermission. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased by calling 617.482.2595 or by visiting www.stavesessions.org. 

A 1930s comedy for Christmas, Jeannie by rediscovered female playwright Aimee Stuart will open at the Finborough Theatre for a four-week limited season on Tuesday, 27 November 2018 (Press Nights: Thursday, 29 November and Friday, 30 November 2018 at 7.30pm).

A 1930s comedy for Christmas, Jeannie by rediscovered female playwright Aimee Stuart will open at the Finborough Theatre for a four-week limited season on Tuesday, 27 November 2018 (Press Nights: Thursday, 29 November and Friday, 30 November 2018 at 7.30pm).

Hale Centre Theatre's season-opening production of THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, directed by the inimitable Cambrian James ~ is two and a half hours of spirited story-telling, featuring a bravura performance by Austin Delp as the heroic Sir Percy Blakeney. Show runs through October 6th.

Four-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert E. Sherwood's The Petrified Forestbegins performances, Thursday, August 2 at 7pm, The Fitzpatrick Main Stage (83 East Main Street) in Stockbridge, MA. Opening night is Saturday, August 4 at 8pm. Directed by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner David Auburn (Proof), The Petrified Forest features: David Adkins (Homeland BTG: At Home at the Zoo, The Homecoming) as Alan Squier; Joel Austin(Brilliant Traces) as Lineman 2/Legion Commander; Lauren Baez (West Side Story) as Paula;Rebecca Brooksher (Dying City BTG: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Anna Christie) as Gabby Maple;Joey Collins (The Glass Menagerie BTG: At Home at the Zoo, The Homecoming) as Ruby;Sean Cullen (Michael Clayton, South Pacific) as Jason Maple; Jeremy Davidson (Army Wives, Brothers and Sisters BTG: Quills; Wilder, Wilder, Wilder) as Duke Mantee; Tre' Alexander Dukes (The Piano Lesson) as Pyles; Jennifer Van Dyck (Hedda Gabler BTG:Coastal Disturbances, The Stillborn Lover) as Mrs. Chisholm; Shawn Fagan (Henry IV Part One) as Boze Hertzlinger; Walter Hudson (The Pirates of Penzance BTG: Arsenic and Old Lace, Sylvia) as Mr. Chisholm; John Thomas Waite (Amadeus) as Gramp Maple and Devin White (Last Days of Judas Iscariot) as Jackie. This production is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union, Greylock Insurance Agency, Red Lion Inn, Massachusetts Cultural Council and The Shubert Foundation.

Sarasota Opera's Da Capo Society, the only young patrons group, ages 21 - 45, dedicated to a single arts organization in Sarasota, will host The Wizard of Oz themed costume contest Thursday, June 7th at 6pm to celebrate the launch of the new season of "Classic Movies at the Opera House." Launched in 2017, the "Classic Movies at the Opera House" series will occur twice monthly starting Thursday, June 7 and will include timeless films designed to be enjoyed on the big screen in the elegance of the Opera House. Each presentation will begin at 7:30pm.

Sarasota Opera is pleased to announce the line-up for the 2018 season of 'HD at the Opera House' and "Classic Movies at the Opera House".  This weekly series of filmed performances has allowed Sarasota Opera to expand its programming from the fall and winter season to year-around. The 2018 "HD at the Opera House" series will open on Sunday, May 20th and run through September 30th and will include presentations of Ballet and Theater from some of the world's most famous venues and companies including the Royal Opera House; Teatro alla Scala in Milan; Royal Shakespeare Company; Vienna State Opera; and the Royal Ballet. Each presentation will begin at 1:30pm.

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! It's Wednesday, May 3, the day of THE BIG PAYBACK, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's annual initiative to help local non-profits add to their coffers during a 24-hour online fundraising/giving event that has arts organizations coming up with new and clever ways to get their supporters to take part: We urge you to show your support throughout the day for your favorite arts non-profits and to help keep the lights on, the curtains up and your friends gainfully employed.

Rhapsody Magazine for United Airlines recently talked to Jefferson Mays as he prepares to begin previews for his new play, Oslo.

Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Lowe's superb mixture of acerbic wit and lilting romance remain's one of Broadway's greatest musicals.

If your knowledge of pop culture doesn't quite extend to the Busby Berkeley era, here are some quick footnotes to help you along: