Benny Van Buren — the manager of the hapless Washington Senators in the musical “Damn Yankees” — has plenty of heart, but he just can’t seem to spur his team on to victory over the Bronx Bombers. Then, out of nowhere, comes Joe Hardy, a slugger who leads the Senators… Read More →
When the curtain opens at the Tarrytown Music Hall at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Max Levy will do something that nobody thought he’d be able to do just a few weeks ago: He’ll play The Beast in Random Farms Kids’ Theater’s production of “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.” When he was… Read More →
Heard from Pia Haas at Westchester Broadway Theatre that Robert Cuccioli will play Guido in the Elmsford dinner theater’s upcoming production of “Nine.” I’m looking forward to speaking with composer Maury Yeston, about the musical, the movie and Cuccioli, who played the title character in Yeston’s “Phantom” several times.
You might have seen it on the big screen. Now, “Nine” is coming to Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford. The dinner theater is holding auditions for young boys for their upcoming production of “Nine.” Here’s the audition notice: “Seeking Boys able to play 9 year old Italian boys. Actual age is… Read More →
“Again! Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch. Again! Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch. Again! Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch. Again!” So starts “A Chorus Line,” as young dancers learn combinations that might, just might, land them a job in a Broadway chorus. Players in Lighthouse Youth Arts Center’s… Read More →
The Harrison Players are holding a Mardi Gras/Valentine’s Day function Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Building, 210 Halstead Ave., Harrison. Tickets are $15 per person (in advance, by Feb. 5) or $20 at the door and includes: dinner, dessert, beverages, dancing and entertainment. The evening includes a Mardi Gras Costume… Read More →
The tiny Small Town Theatre Company will present Rich Orloff’s “Engagement Rules,” directed by Keith Whalen and featuring Jim Brownold, Louise Kaminer, Rasha Clark and Peter Lillo. One-night-only performance is Feb. 11 at 8 at the Hergenhan Center, 40 Maple Ave., Armonk. Tickets are free, but reservations are strongly recommended…. Read More →
Fort Hill Players’ “From the Wings Showcase,” Jan. 29 and 30 at 8 p.m., will be all over the map: Everything from “Who’s on First?” to a scene from “The Merchant of Venice.” Featured in the cast are Tal Aviezer, Jim Brownold, Jackie Cartwright, Rasha Clark, Toni-Marie Farrell, Megan Frey, Mario Fuentes,... Read More →
Hudson Stage, the brave little theater company started by Croton’s Denise Bessette, Olivia Sklar and Dan Foster, continues to build its program with events held at Woodward Hall Theatre on the Briarcliff campus of Pace University, 235 Elm Road. Go to www.hudsonstage.com or call the HSC hotline at 914-271-2811 for details…. Read More →
Mighty Theater Company, the resident theater group of Peekskill’s Paramount Center for the Arts, presents Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” one night only—Jan. 23 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. The play looks at an affair from the husband’s perspective — in reverse order. Mighty Theater presented Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros” last year and… Read More →
The Fort Hill Players are helping to support The Big Read Westchester on Feb. 6 from noon to 6 p.m. at The Westchester mall in White Plains. No auditions necessary. If you like to read, and are ready to lend your voice to “The Things They Carried,” Tim O’Brien’s novel about… Read More →
New Rochelle High School’s Theater Works will hold its annual dinner-theater benefit Feb. 4, 5 and 6, before performances of Brian Friel’s magical “Dancing at Lughnasa.” For $15 ($12 students and seniors), hungry theatergoers get a buffet supper with cabaret entertainment, then a full production of the Tony-winner, about an… Read More →
I spent a few hours today at Valhalla High School, talking to teacher Patricia White and her Period H creative-writing class. Together, they’ve written “Aftermath,” a play about the ripples set off by a drunk-driving accident. The writing is straightforward and age appropriate, the scenes short and to the point…. Read More →
“After Miss Julie” hit Broadway this year with a star-studded cast. Now, director Joanne Hudson is casting the play that started it all, August Strinberg’s “Miss Julie,” as part of the Salty Women Festival taking place at the Pulse Performing Arts Center in Bedford Hills from February through June. “Miss Julie” will… Read More →
John MacLean at Woodlands High School wonders if anyone has sets, props, costumes from past productions of “The Sound of Music.” John’s a one-man show at Woodlands, a real man of the theater in the best sense of the word, and is looking to borrow or rent. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
I had an earlier post about a fund-raising concert at Westchester Sandbox Theatre in Mamaroneck. Jason Summers, inset, followed up with details. The venue is a new non-profit youth theater Summers is co-managing. They’ll be holding auditions in coming days. For seventh-graders and older, it’s the Jason Robert Brown show,... Read More →
Jack Rosen, inset, dropped me a line this morning with news: Clarkstown Summer Theatre Festival’s 2010 musical will be “On the Town,” with music by Leonard Bernstein and a book and lyrics by Comden and Green. It’s cold outside today, but thinking about a summer show might thaw you out… Read More →
Without the payroll of professional shows, community theater has a larger playbook to consider. Many contemporary playwrights don’t write big shows, knowing that getting them produced is a huge financial hurdle that delays a payday for producers. (Tracy Letts is one notable, and exceptional, exception. His “August: Osage County” has… Read More →
Jason Summers got in touch about next weekend’s HOPE Players Concert for a Cure. Jason, a director and choreographer who works all over the place, is also one of the minds behind HOPE, a group dedicated to fighting breast cancer through benefit concerts and shows. Next weekend’s shows—8 p.m. Jan…. Read More →
A million years ago, I directed “You Can’t Take It With You” at Irvington Town Hall Theater, for the old Town Hall Players. It’s a great show that reminds me of the Kramer household on any given evening, without the Russian ballet teacher and the servants. Great, great comedy. George… Read More →
John Thompson, inset, has a soft spot for George Bernard Shaw in general and his play “Major Barbara” in particular. “It is such a fascinating social commentary while being extremely entertaining and very funny,” Thompson says. “It’s very witty, very urbane and the characters are incredibly well drawn.” The director… Read More →
A few groups are first out of the gates with new productions opening this weekend. From a slimmed down “Merchant of Venice” (maybe just a half-pound of flesh?) to a Disney family favorite to the Lower Hudson Valley premiere of a musical about a girl in search of her father… Read More →
A new year brings a host of opportunities for theater lovers who want to take a more active role. Here’s a sampling of upcoming auditions across the Lower Hudson Valley: “Major Barbara” What: Bedford Community Theater auditions for George Bernard Shaw’s play, directed by John Thompson. When: 7 p.m., Jan…. Read More →
