Only You Photos - Off-Broadway

Every once in a while a theater-goer sees a production in which it becomes apparent that the lead actor was born to play a role.  Julie Andrews as Eliza in MY FAIR LADY, Zero Mostel in FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM and Marlon Brando in STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, come to mind.  

The New Jewish Theatre will celebrate the Jewish musical theatre legend Stephen Sondheim with their production of Into the Woods November 30 through December 17. See photos of the production.

Set in London during the stock market crash of 1987, this new adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth by award-winning theatre company Proteus takes the macabre tale to the trading room floor. The entirely BAME cast have worked closely with Theatre Ad Infinitum's George Mann to create a highly physical, major new interpretation of a classic. Directed by Mary Swan, the artistic director of Proteus, this Macbeth is a gripping corporate thriller.

'Feathers of Fire: A Persian Epic' is a visually breathtaking cinematic shadow play for all ages, created and directed by Hamid Rahmanian, a 2014 Guggenheim fellowship-winning filmmaker/visual artist. Inspired by the tenth century Persian epic 'Shahnameh' (The Book of Kings), it dramatizes the origin story from the tale with elaborate shadow puppets, multimedia and live actors. The production, which debuted at BAM in 2016 and was presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art the same year, returns to New York next month for two days only.  It will be presented by Fictionville Studio September 7 and 8 at Kaye Playhouse, 695 Park Ave. (at 68th Street), for three performances only before it travels to China and Paris.

In this age of women's issues at the forefront of the news, Rivertown Theaters is proud to present "Steel Magnolias," the Louisiana-written play that, since it's first production in 1987, has as much poignancy if not more today about women, their strengths and most importantly, the priceless value of female friendship.

Celebration Theatre is a very small venue known for putting on very big musicals and doing them very well. But I have to tell you, seeing Del Shores claim the stage as his own was really a treat as he transformed himself into not only his mother but several other friends and relatives from his childhood in Texas or others he has met over the years in gay bars, banks and convenience stores in SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF A PLAY. The title, of course, riffs on Pirandello's classic title, but in this one, Shores brings to life six one-of-a-kind characters he has met in real life that haven't quite made it into one of his plays, films or TV shows. In 90 minutes, the audience heard the truth behind how he collected these eccentrics and their stories as he portrays his hilarious, off-the-rails encounters with them.

'Anything can happen in the woods.' And in the Garden Theater's production of INTO THE WOODS, many, many things happen there. The Sondheim favorite has been adored by theater-goers the world over since it's opening night in 1987. With its combination of fabled fairytales, witty music, and intricate storyline, it's no wonder this show has enjoyed staying power over the years. But staying power can be dangerous as well - a theater never wants a beloved production to start to feel stale or aged. A theatre-goer may love 'Into the Woods,' but how do you make it fresh and new but still keep that beloved quality to the production?

Rock of Ages, running March 3 - April 2, 2017 in the Hawks Mainstage Theatre at Omaha Community Playhouse, is set in L.A.'s infamous Sunset Strip in 1987. It tells the story of Drew, a boy from South Detroit, and Sherrie, a small-town girl, both in L.A. to chase their dreams of making it big and falling in love. This jukebox musical was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It uses the hits of the 1980s to tell its story, including "Sister Christian," "We're Not Gonna Take It," "Dead or Alive," "I Want to Know What Love Is," "Here I Go Again," "Don't Stop Believing" and many more. Rock of Ages takes you back to the times of big bands with big egos playing big guitar solos and sporting even bigger hair! Contains mischievous behavior, suggestive and adult dialogue and comedic reference to drug usage.

Pinchgut Opera is celebrating Christmas in July as they present The Chimney Sweep by Salieri. Now it's only six months between drinks! You no longer have to wait a full 12 months to hear Pinchgut do what they do best as they bring you two productions in 2014. More information about tickets can be found below.

The three comics who were inspired to condense all of Shakespeare's 37 plays into 97 minutes - and then went ahead and did it - had no idea where that whacky idea would lead. First performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1987, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, went on to become a runaway success, playing at the Criterion Theatre in London for over ten years. It has since been translated into dozens of different languages and has become a world-wide theatrical phenomenon. Whether you love Shakespeare, hate him or are completely indifferent, do yourself a favor and head over to Albuquerque Little Theatre, for an evening of guaranteed hilarity.

The Old Globe today announced principal casting for the Globe's 2012 Shakespeare Festival. Craig Noel Award winner Jay Whittaker returns to the Festival for his third consecutive season to appear in the title role of William Shakespeare's Richard III. He will also appear as Oliver in Shakespeare's As You Like It. Also returning to the Festival are Craig Noel Award winner Robert Foxworth and Adrian Sparks, who will take to the courtroom floor as titanic lawyers Henry Drummond and Matthew Harrison Brady, respectively, in the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee classic Inherit the Wind. Foxworth, an Old Globe Associate Artist, will also play Lord Hastings in Richard III, and Sparks will play Lord Mayor of London in Richard III and Corin in As You Like It. Festival veteran Dana Green will star as Rosalind, and Dan Amboyer, new to the Festival stage, will play Orlando, the object of her affections, in As You Like It. Green will also play Queen Elizabeth in Richard III. Amboyer will also be featured as Bertram Cates in Inherit the Wind and the Earl of Richmond in Richard III. Festival newcomer Jacques C. Smith will play Jacques in As You Like It, the Duke of Buckingham in Richard III and Mr. Meeker in Inherit the Wind. Adrian Noble returns for his third outing as Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Festival and will helm As You Like It and Inherit the Wind. Renowned British director Lindsay Posner makes his debut at the Globe with his production of Richard III. Noble recently directed the World Premiere stage version of The King's Speech, which is currently touring England, and Posner's hit revival of Noises Off is currently playing at London's Old Vic and will transfer to the West End in March. The 2012 Shakespeare Festival, performed in repertory in the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, runs June 3 - Sept. 30, 2012.

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small-town girl met a big-city dreamer - and in L.A.'s most legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80's. It's ROCK OF AGES, a hilarious, feel-good love story told through the hit songs of iconic rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, and many more. Direct from Broadway, Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis of 'American Idol' fame will reprise his acclaimed performance as Drew in this first National Tour, playing the National Theatre beginning July 12 for two weeks only.