Jessica Lynch thought she had been in her last high-school musical when “The Music Man” closed at Briarcliff High on March 10. She played Zaneeta Shinn, the mayor’s daughter, who was fond of blurting out “Ye, Gods!” whenever the least bit frustrated. But on April 26, Lynch steps into a… Read More →
Paramount’s closure could send theater awards to Stepinac — or Jersey Albert Stanaj and Nicole Heney lead the cast of Stepinac’s “The Phantom of the Opera” at the 2012 Metropolitan High School Theatre Awards at Peekskill’s Paramount Center for the Arts last June. With the Paramount shuttered, Stepinac has offered… Read More →
Lower Hudson Valley theatergoers have two productions of the musical “The Secret Garden” to choose from, starting this week. White Plains PAC presents the musical setting of the classic children’s story — about an orphan girl who arrives at her uncle’s cold, forbidding estate and discoveries, well, a secret garden. With… Read More →
Just in time for spring training, Fort Hill Players present “National Pastime,” a screwball comedy about a Depression Era radio station that broadcasts the games of the ultimate baseball dream team. Emphasis on “dream.” Melinda O’Brien directs “National Pastime,” which runs this weekend and next at Rochambeau School in White… Read More →
In “Next to Normal,” Jennifer Damiano earned a Tony nomination as Natalie, a disillusioned teen who can’t step out of the shadow that her brother’s long-ago death cast on their mother’s mind. At one point, Natalie sings: “Superboy and the Invisible Girl. Son of Steel and Daughter of Air. He’s… Read More →
Whatever happened to Charlie Brown and his “Peanuts” pals? The White Plains-based New York Performing Arts Center, a youth theater in its second year, is presenting one scenario, in Bert V. Royal’s satire “Dog Sees God.” The wholly unauthorized play, subtitled “Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” will be presented by… Read More →
Fort Hill Players in White Plains is still seeking a male actor for the part of George in “Don’t Dress For Dinner.” Here’s their notice: “Don’t Dress for Dinner” is a frenetic case of mistaken identity with more twists than a corkscrew. From the author of “Boeing, Boeing,” this expert… Read More →
In an age when youth theaters can charge big money for a double-cast production of “Annie,” it’s refreshing to learn of a program that won’t cost theater-loving high-school kids a penny to participate. Director Betsy Hooper is launching Free Theatre Westchester with auditions tomorrow night at the Mamaroneck Avenue School… Read More →
The changing of the guard at “Next to Normal” — the Tony- and Pulitzer-Prize-winning musical by Armonk’s Tom Kitt (composer, orchestrator) and Brian Yorkey (book, lyrics) — is under way. Tony Award nominee and White Plains native Jennifer Damiano will play her final performance as Natalie on July 18 at… Read More →
Running the risk of becoming a very sad blog today with more sad news to share. Joseph Manzo, whose costumes graced the stages of schools and theater groups across the Lower Hudson Valley, died Friday. Frank Portanova, director at Archbishop Stepinac High School — where Joe’s design for “The Drowsy… Read More →
Here, from Helen Hayes Youth Theater producer Danielle Rudess, are the nominations for the 2010 Metropolitan Awards, honoring achievements in participating high-school musicals from Westchester, Rockland and Bergen counties. Thirty-nine schools entered: 19 from Westchester, 13 from Bergen, six from Rockland and one from Putnam. (Producer Rudess said Putnam Valley… Read More →
The White Plains Performing Arts Center’s Conservatory Theatre is putting the finishing touches on “Fame,” the musical based on the TV show that was popular when I was as old as some of the kids in this cast. Directed by Jeremy Quinn, with choreography by Linda Duci and musical direction… Read More →
At last night’s press opening of “Sugar” at Westchester Broadway Theater, the Bob Fitzsimmons Scholarship was awarded to Douglas Daniels, who blogged for us at mymusical.lohudblogs.com. I saw Doug’s performance in Stepinac’s top-flight production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” and enjoyed reading his blog posts. Nice to see him honored, with… Read More →
They’ve had a few hiccups getting these auditions under way, but Little Radical Theatrics will hold tryouts for its sophomore production — “Sweeney Todd” — May 8 at 3 p.m. and May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains. Performances of the production, directed… Read More →
Nine high schools across the Lower Hudson Valley dim the lights and open their spring musicals this weekend, a production weekend that runs the gamut from Harold Hill to Nathan Detroit to a Space Age Prospero. Weeks of work culminate in the call of “Places,” when actors take their spots… Read More →
There will be plenty of fans of musical theater at the spring musical at Archbishop Stepinac’s Major Bowes Theater the next two weekends, and one of them will be in a cozy wing chair on stage. Stepinac senior Douglas Daniels plays the character called “Man in Chair,” a fan of… Read More →
It was originally scheduled to run five weeks — to fill a winter’s lull — and ran for 15 months. Now it looks like the great cabaret experiment at The Castle at Tarrytown may have run its course. John Treacy Egan, the Larchmont-raised Broadway actor from “Bye Bye, Birdie,” “The… Read More →
The von Trapps could outsmart the Nazis, but apparently not Consolidated Edison. Tonight’s performance of Woodlands High School’s production of “The Sound of Music” has been canceled because ConEd has a 6-hour emergency electrical repair to do, director John MacLean told me. The repair will begin right after school, at… Read More →
NOTE: I just received word, at 12:41 p.m. on Friday, that tonight’s performance—March 19—had to be canceled because of a 6-hour emergency electrical repair by Con Edison. Director John MacLean told me the power will go out at 3 and stay off till 9. Tickets for tonight will be honored… Read More →
In a winter of shoveling discontent, there are at least nine reasons to see “Nine” at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. Reason 1: Robert Cuccioli’s performance is just the thing to soothe nerves frazzled by winter-storm warnings and power outages. Cuccioli, a WBT favorite in past productions of “Phantom” — also… Read More →
In a story about Bob Cuccioli over the weekend, I mentioned that Westchester audiences might know him from his work at the “now-defunct” White Plains Performing Arts Center. In the context of the story, that is accurate: The producing team and the regional Equity season in which Cuccioli played Don… Read More →
Here’s a look at a very busy spring on local stages, in both professional and community theater. Professional Axial Theatre Company: Axial presents “For The Love of Money,” an evening of monologues about people’s romance with money, May 13 through 23. At St. John’s Episcopal Church, 8 Sunnyside Ave., Pleasantville. 914-286-7680…. Read More →
Most Saturdays for more than a generation, Garrison Keillor has held radio listeners rapt near the close of his live show “A Prairie Home Companion” with 15 minutes of homespun humor called “The News from Lake Wobegon.” In those monologues, he has introduced a host of locals, from Clarence Bunsen… Read More →
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 →
“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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains has a tradition of great theater and a tradition of alumni doing their part—and then some. Case in point: Stepinac’s 6th Annual Alumni Cabaret on Jan. 9. Here are the details, from an email: “Join Stepinac Alumni in the 6th Annual Alumni Cabaret… Read More →
OK, these are kind of down the line, but director Melinda O’Brien will hold auditions for Fort Hill Players production of “For Better” — Eric Coble’s “bright new farce about love in the Age of Twitter.”
