Showing posts with label Rodgers and Hammerstein. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rodgers and Hammerstein. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Remembering Peter Pan

Mary Martin immortalized the boy who wouldn't grow up when her Peter Pan flew across television screens in a televised broadcast in 1955, 1956 and 1960 of her Broadway hit.
Emily Skinner, Lynne Halliday, and Cameron Adams in the York Theatre Company world premiere production of the new musical revue, Inventing Mary Martin, conceived, written and directed by Stephen Cole, with music supervision and arrangements by David Krane, co-direction and choreography by Bob Richard and music direction by Lawrence Goldberg. The cast also features Jason Graae with Bob Renino on bass and Perry Cavari on drums. Now in performance through May 25 at York Theatre Company’s home at Saint Peters. Photo credit: Carol Rosegg.

"Inventing Mary Martin," a world premiere conceived, written and directed by Stephen Cole, is a musical revue about the titular star's career.  The York Theatre production, through May 25th also touches lightly on her life. Mary Martin went from a small Texas town to Hollywood and on to Broadway and London stages. She was the toast of the town in any number of hits. 
Cameron Adams and Jason Graae in the York Theatre Company world premiere production of the new musical revue, Inventing Mary Martin, conceived, written and directed by Stephen Cole, with music supervision and arrangements by David Krane, co-direction and choreography by Bob Richard and music direction by Lawrence Goldberg. The cast also features Lynne Halliday and Emily Skinner with Bob Renino on bass and Perry Cavari on drums. Now in performance through May 25 at York Theatre Company’s home at Saint Peters. Photo credit: Carol Rosegg.


Of course, she also had her share of misses, most famously in passing on the musical which came to be named "Oklahoma."  
Emily Skinner, Lynne Halliday, Cameron Adams and Jason Graae in the York Theatre Company world premiere production of the new musical revue, Inventing Mary Martin, conceived, written and directed by Stephen Cole, with music supervision and arrangements by David Krane, co-direction and choreography by Bob Richard and music direction by Lawrence Goldberg. Now in performance through May 25 at York Theatre Company’s home at Saint Peters. Photo credit: Carol Rosegg.

The talented cast recreating some of the songs along Mary Martin's path include Cameron Adams, who sings and taps to perfection, Jason Graae as host and narrator, Lynne Halliday, and Emily Skinner. The latter is tasked with singing "Swatting the fly," the big number from the show Martin, and her husband Richard Halliday, chose for her instead of Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic show. 
Emily Skinner in the York Theatre Company world premiere production of the new musical revue, Inventing Mary Martin, conceived, written and directed by Stephen Cole, with music supervision and arrangements by David Krane, co-direction and choreography by Bob Richard and music direction by Lawrence Goldberg. The cast also features Cameron Adams, Jason Graae, and Lynne Halliday with Bob Renino on bass and Perry Cavari on drums. Now in performance through May 25 at York Theatre Company’s home at Saint Peters. Photo credit: Carol Rosegg.

The musical arrangements, by David Krane, of classic tunes by the likes of Noel Coward, Cole Porter, and so forth, are delivered by an  off-stage trio, led by Lawrence Goldberg on the piano, with Perry Cavari on percussion and Bob Renino on bass. 

"Inventing Mary Martin" is a tuneful and well-sung remembrance of the much-awarded star that informs rather than engages. 

For more information about "Inventing Mary Martin," and the York Theatre Company, please visit  http://www.yorktheatre.org.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

What are you doing this weekend? A few select suggestions:

 See Bette Midler play Sue Mengers, or go see "Motown The Musical" or you could head home to Bountiful, TX.... 
Bette Midler is the perfect hostess in "I'll Eat You Last," as she invites the audience into her home, well, Sue Mengers' home.  Click above for review and details, but there are only a few performances left, and honestly, you should not miss this one. Closing June 30th.


Love the music that came out of Detroit in the late '50s and early '60s? Come relive the era with "Motown The Musical." Tickets aren't discounted on the usual sites, but go ahead and treat yourself after you click on the links for our reviews, at any rate. (See also, Gordy Tells His Story on VP as well as the review on this site.)

There are discounts for "The Trip To Bountiful," for which Cicely Tyson won the Tony. (For discounts check on BroadwayBox.com, among others.) Cuba Gooding, Jr. makes his stage debut in this lovely production.

Off-Broadway, there's "Cornelius" by JB Priestley at 59E59 Theaters' Brits Off Broadway. The play takes place during tough economic times during the 1930s, but you can relate, right? [Also closing on June 30th.]
Alan Cox and Col Farrell in J.B. Priestley's “Cornelius,” directed by Sam Yates, part of Brits Off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters. Photo by Carol Rosegg.



It plays only on Wednesdays, but plan to attend a matinee or evening performance before July 31st:
"Unbroken Circle" (review) at the St Luke's Theatre.
Photo by Bill Selby


Looking for romance and dancing? "Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella" can take you on a waltz-filled adventure. It won a Tony for the spectacular costumers, but it's a genuinely enjoyable production.



Looking for something a bit ... smaller? St Ann's Warehouse in Dumbo is celebrating toy theater from June 14th to the 23rd. It's the Tenth International ToyTheater Festival. Check it out. Photo below is courtesy

Great Small Works, and features Barbara Steinitz and Bjorn Kollin presenting "Schnurzpiepegal," a picture book that comes alive. 


Another highlight of the festival is Janie Geiser's "The Reptile Under the Flowers," which incorporates mechanical objects, puppetry, small projections in twelve diorama scenes of a peepshow spectacle. Don't know about you but "Toy Theater" appeals to my love of minatures.


Janie Geiser’s "The Reptile Under the Flowers," courtesy Great Small Works



Monday, June 10, 2013

Tony, Tony, Tony!

The Tony Awards are more than just a celebration of the great work done by the theater community in the past season, they are also a showcase for New York City's best product: Broadway!

Broadway is an export product, with shows touring all over the country, but more importantly, it imports visitors to our town and brings them to the Great White Way to share some of the magic. The 2013 Tony Awards highlighted what's in store for out-of-towners and locals alike.

Making book on who will win is not a blood sport, but I am gratified at how many picks I got right this year!
Imagine how much more satisfying those wins were to Patina Miller, Cicely Tyson, Tracy Letts, Billy Porter-- yes I predicted these wins. Congratulations to you all and to "Kinky Boots," and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and Pam McKinnon, and all the rest. In fact, a big congratulations to all the nominees and the Bests.