Brian Murphy News

Verb Ballets makes its debut at Dobama Theatre for a show that will provoke an examination of our contemporary world through dance with Fresh Inventions on October 11 and 12, 2013 at 8pm. Fresh Inventions will premiere new works choreographed by company dancers Stephen James, Stephanie Krise, Brian Murphy and Or Sagi-Woodson. Also, featured on the program is the premiere of a new collaborative work, Warrior Project: Inspiration, between Verb Ballets and the Inspired Veterans Action Campaign (IVAC) funded by the Ohio Arts Council.

Verb Ballets' SUMMER SERIES was, with the exception of the opening number, a pleasant, if not compelling evening of dance.

Three-time Emmy award winner Anthony J. Wilkinson's comedic but heart felt portrayal of the autobiographical story of his real life Father's passing, coincidentally opened on Father's Day evening. Scroll down for photos from the opening!

'My Big Gay Italian Funeral' which began previews June 1st is set to open today, June 16th. After sold out previews filled with standing ovations and great feedback, the show has already picked up momentum and is gearing up for its official opening weekend. 'My Big Gay Italian Funeral' is yet another comedy from Wilkinson and uses some of the same characters from 'My Big Gay Italian Wedding.' The father (Joe Pinnunziato) is now deceased and we introduce some new characters, namely Anthony's gay brother Peter Pinnunziato, who he hasn't spoken to in over a decade. Family drama and crazy characters unite when everything that can possibly happen at an Italian wake certainly will!

'My Big Gay Italian Funeral' which began previews June 1st is set to open this Sunday June 16th. After sold out previews filled with standing ovations and great feedback, the show has already picked up momentum and is gearing up for its official opening weekend. 'My Big Gay Italian Funeral' is yet another comedy from Wilkinson and uses some of the same characters from 'My Big Gay Italian Wedding.' The father (Joe Pinnunziato) is now deceased and we introduce some new characters, namely Anthony's gay brother Peter Pinnunziato, who he hasn't spoken to in over a decade. Family drama and crazy characters unite when everything that can possibly happen at an Italian wake certainly will!

Staten Island native Anthony J. Wilkinson, most well known for brining 'Boys Just Wanna Have Fun' and 'My Big Gay Italian Wedding' to the Off-Broadway stage, is three weeks away from launching his latest endeavor, 'My Big Gay Italian Funeral.' The wedding is still currently running at St. Luke's Theatre and plays every Saturday at 8pm. The funeral will now join the St. Luke's line up and play every Sunday at 7pm after opening.

Following the model of the original Broadway production, four people were pulled from the Theatre Palisades audience and asked to participate in the contest. These visiting spellers were thrown into the mix, led into musical numbers by the cast, and asked to spell words until disqualified and sent back to their seats.

Verb Ballets returns to Cleveland Public Theatre as part of the DanceWorks '13 Series with two different programs. Verb Ballets is pleased to announce they will kick off the series with an additional program added to the season: Verb Goes Electric with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, running March 21- 23, 2013. The company will close out the contemporary dance showcase with a modern rendition of The Rite of Spring running April 18-20, 2013. 'Verb harnesses the opportunity to create work at CPT that is adventurous and can push the boundaries of creativity. The two shows will examine the close relationship dance has to music contrasting how it has changed over the past 100 years within the development of style and its impact on contemporary dance,' said Director, Dr. Margaret Carlson.

EXPLORE DISCOVER, Verb Ballet's Winter, 2013 series, was highlighted by the exciting works of Chung-Fu Chang and Richard Dickinson. It was a wonderful illumination of western and eastern modern and balletic dance.

The hero cops who stopped the massacre at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin discuss the shooting in their first television interview tonight, Nov. 13, on the CBS EVENING NEWS WITH SCOTT PELLEY (6:30-7:00 PM, ET) on the CBS Television Network.

Antonio Brown, whose work was the centerpiece of EXPLORE DISCOVER (9/22/12) has great potential as a choreographer. Though it might be incumbent upon a local reviewer to extol his work, it would not be a service to him or his audience. Brown is just developing a style and dance philosophy that will take years and maturity to polish, and needs honest evaluation to help him on his path. Verb should be praised for giving the young man a chance to ply his creativity and give him a chance to experiment.

The Summer Season at the Finborough Theatre continues with rediscoveries of EVENTS WHILE GUARDING THE BOFORS GUN and MERRIE ENGLAND. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the death of playwright John McGrath, and unseen in a professional production in London since 1966, John McGrath's Events While Guarding The Bofors Gun opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre for a limited four-week season from Tuesday, 22 May 2012 directed by Robert Hastie. Merrie England plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Sunday and Monday evening performances and Tuesday matinees, opening tonight, 27 May 2012.

The Summer Season at the Finborough Theatre continues with rediscoveries of EVENTS WHILE GUARDING THE BOFORS GUN and MERRIE ENGLAND. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the death of playwright John McGrath, and unseen in a professional production in London since 1966, John McGrath's Events While Guarding The Bofors Gun opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre for a limited four-week season from tonight, 22 May 2012 directed by Robert Hastie. Merrie England plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Sunday and Monday evening performances and Tuesday matinees, opening on Sunday, 27 May 2012.

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced at a news conference this morning by Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James. The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall in Manhattan. BroadwayWord was on hand for the big announcement and we bring you full photo coverage below!

The Summer Season at the Finborough Theatre continues with rediscoveries of EVENTS WHILE GUARDING THE BOFORS GUN and MERRIE ENGLAND. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the death of playwright John McGrath, and unseen in a professional production in London since 1966, John McGrath's Events While Guarding The Bofors Gun opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre for a limited four-week season from Tuesday, 22 May 2012 directed by Robert Hastie. Merrie England plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Sunday and Monday evening performances and Tuesday matinees, opening on Sunday, 27 May 2012.

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards will be announced at a news conference on Friday, April 27, 2011, at 9:30 AM at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street, in Manhattan. A continental breakfast will be available at 8:45 AM. Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James will announce the nominations in the various categories. In addition, there will be remarks by Drama Desk President Isa Goldberg, Drama Desk Awards Executive Producer Robert R. Blume and new Drama Desk Awards Executive Producer Gretchen Shugart, Nominating Committee Chairperson Barbara Siegel and Randie Levine-Miller, Drama Desk Director of Special Events, who annually produces this event.

A thriller inspired by the likes of Deathtrap and Sleuth. The story of Jack Forde, a writer with crippling writer's block and a crumbling marriage, Say a Prayer for Emily Hall is a tale of love, loyalty, and a couple desperate to save their marriage. It's also a tale of betrayal, sex, murder, and a terrible secret kept for decades. Ultimately, lives hang in the balance as Jack is forced to decide between his love and his best friend. The outcome will not be pretty, but it will be unforgettable.

ReVision Theatre is pleased to announce the return of its' successful reading series: READINGS FROM ASBURY PARK. READINGS is a monthly presentation of new plays and musicals that are in various stages of the development process.