A Face in the Crowd - Articles Page 24

John Montgomery Theatre Company (JMTC) is proud to present acclaimed New York monologist Bob Brader's Spitting In The Face Of The Devil to The London Fringe Festival. Called 'One of the bravest men in show business' by Jeff Goodman of Time Warner Cable's 'Two On The Aisle' and 'an incredibly engaging and versatile performer' by Duncan Pflaster of Broadway World, Brader returns to The London Fringe, June 17-27, 2010. As part of their Fringe run, JMTC will present a Benefit Show for Women's Community House on Friday, June 25 at 8.15pm. All proceeds from that show will go to WCH.

John Montgomery Theatre Company (JMTC) is proud to present acclaimed New York monologist Bob Brader's Spitting In The Face Of The Devil to The London Fringe Festival. Called 'One of the bravest men in show business' by Jeff Goodman of Time Warner Cable's 'Two On The Aisle' and 'an incredibly engaging and versatile performer' by Duncan Pflaster of Broadway World, Brader returns to The London Fringe, June 17-27, 2010. As part of their Fringe run, JMTC will present a Benefit Show for Women's Community House on Friday, June 25 at 8.15pm. All proceeds from that show will go to WCH.

New play 'Kenny and the Virgin' revives the Historic Jan Hus Playhouse bringing theater back to the Upper East Side. First 5 weeks, all proceeds go to charity. Received A Record Breaking $11,500 opening weekend.

New play 'Kenny and the Virgin' revives the Historic Jan Hus Playhouse bringing theater back to the Upper East Side. First 5 weeks, all proceeds go to charity. Received A Record Breaking $11,500 opening weekend.

The Finborough Theatre presents VIBRANT - An Anniversary Festival of Finborough Playwrights. 30 NEW PLAYS TO CELEBRATE, 30 YEARS IN JUST UNDER 30 DAYS from 25 May - 19 June 2010

While the Northern East Coast of the U.S. was hammered with blizzard-like conditions last week, Broadway vet Kevin Kern was busy with the launch of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, the concert revue he co-stars in, which compiles many of the prolific composer's musical hits that are in turn interpreted by six talented, well-known performers of the Broadway stage. Luckily, he and the extraordinary cast will get the chance to thaw out a little bit when the show pays a visit to the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a limited, one-week engagement on February 16 through 21. Kern-whose theater credits include Broadway's Wicked, The Wedding Singer, and Les Miserables, as well as the pre-Broadway runs of 9 to 5: The Musical and Next to Normal-recently took some time in between performances to talk with BroadwayWorld/Costa Mesa to discuss the concert, as well as his early work in the original casts of Altar Boyz and 9 to 5 (in the latter, he divulges his early star-struck shyness towards a certain Ms. Parton). He also breaks the exclusive news (to us first!) about his upcoming involvement in a hit Broadway musical that's about to cross the pond over to London!

Sex. Masturbation. Porn. These are topics that our society shies away from openly discussing, at least within the daylight hours. America is not a land where candid talks about one's self-pleasuring habits are commonplace. We can see an arm blown off on TV but we can't hear the word vagina without going red in the face.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and what's coming up in the world of cabaret (and sometimes beyond!) This week's column features another great Cast Party, the Johnny Rodgers Band, and a look ahead to the coming week.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Chicagoans in New York, Splash, Therapy, Marie's Crisis Cafe, 'Funny Girl,' Noel Coward, 'Chess,' more.....

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre invites you to look, listen and learn during an evening devoted to the great film director Alfred Hitchcock.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

The Palace Theatre in downtown Manchester, NH will continue its 2009-2010 Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series with the Broadway musical CATS, opening October 30th at 7:30pm. The show will run through November 14th.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre invites you to look, listen and learn during an evening devoted to the great film director Alfred Hitchcock.

'We love you, Liza!,' a faint, but audible voice yelled from what seemed to be a far corner of the Palace Theatre's mezzanine. And though the 62-year-old entertainer was understandably still catching her breath after a spirited vaudevillian delivery of Styne, Comden & Green's tongue-twisting comic masterpiece, 'If,' she suddenly stopped what she was doing, lifted her face to the direction of the adulation and with a soft, angelic look of wonderment, answered in a clear, strong voice, 'I love you, too. You know I do.'

Though Julie Wilson was certainly not the first and by all means not the last great singer to have her heart stomped upon by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's 'Surabaya Johnny,' there is no one I can name more deserving to claim it as their signature song.  (Okay, maybe Lotte Lenya, but you know that's a special case.)  Though for many years now the 83-year-old beloved cabaret star has been singing songs less and less and speaking them more and more, there are few who can match her for painting vivid word pictures and bringing complex dramatic subtext to a lyric.  With pianist Christopher Denny doing a marvelous job of softly supporting her many pauses and tempo changes, Wilson's crushing performance of Marc Blitzstein's translation, played to a pin-drop silent crowd on opening night of her new show at The Metropolitan Room, is an emotionally striking portrayal of a woman who can explode with anger at the mistreatment she endures from her faithless lover while moments later barely control a sob at the admission that she still loves him.  Through the years I've seen Julie Wilson sing 'Surabaya Johnny' many times but her performance that night was the best I've ever seen or heard from anyone.  (And as is typical of her modesty, she actually introduced the song by complimenting Donna Murphy's performance of it on Broadway in LoveMusik.)  She follows it with a devilishly humored 'Mack the Knife' (also Blitzstein's translation) that builds so slowly and precisely that she goes through the entire song twice in order to hit the climax.  I heard no complaints.

The Palace Theatre in downtown Manchester, NH will continue its 2009-2010 Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series with the Broadway musical CATS, opening October 30th at 7:30pm. The show will run through November 14th.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

The Palace Theatre in downtown Manchester, NH will continue its 2009-2010 Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series with the Broadway musical CATS, opening October 30th at 7:30pm. The show will run through November 14th.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and what's coming up in the world of cabaret (and sometimes beyond!) This week's column features John Proulx 'After Hours' at Feinstein's at Loews Regency, Liz Callaway, Raissa Katona Bennett, and more!

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the 45-plus year career of one of the most popular vocal groups in history is a surprising one. 'We chose the wrong name!' he exclaims.

On Sunday, October 11th, over 150,000 people descended on the nation's capital to support equal rights for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities. Numerous Broadway celebrities were part of this effort, adding their voices to the cause that had approximately 1,400 people under the Broadway Impact banner alone.

SAMMY, a new musical about the life of Sammy David Jr. currently in previews at The Old Globe, is gearing up for it's much anticipated opening on October 2nd and the buzz has begun. After all, what $2.5-million production about an icon with a 13-piece orchestra and list of award-winning actors wouldn't generate excitement?