Good Morning BALTIMORE!

 

Good morning Baltimore!  ...or maybe it was, "GOOD EVENING ATLANTA!" when Tracy Turnblad jumped out of her bed last night at Atlanta's Fox Theatre to a packed and cheering house.

Being a Hairspray "virgin," I had no idea what was in store for me last night.  My date for the evening was one of my best friends who has LOVED Hairspray since its first inception.

She knew all the songs and characters.  She asked everyone around us if they loved Hairspray as much as she did, and she sang and "seat" danced through the entire production.  She was not alone.

Many patrons raised their hands, hoot and hollered, cheered, sang, and seat danced along with the cast last night. And I will say that I loved the musical and became a fan myself last night as well.

As is the case with most Broadway musicals, the talent for Hairspray is off the charts.  I am always amazed at how these individuals can exert so much physicality - dancing and singing - and then belt out lines and solos with effectively no huffing or puffing.  Every time I leave a show, I say, "I cannot believe the talent I just witnessed!"

Last night was no exception.  Niki Metcalf is stunning at her portrayal of Tracy Turnblad, a classic figure in American cinematic and theater history.  Everyone knows Tracy, and Niki did not fail in bringing life to the character and carrying on the tradition started by Ricki Lake in 1988.

Please visit Niki on Instagram (link above) for some fun content and to see the talent this girl possesses! 

For more fun and to see the origins of Hairspray, check out this vintage movie trailer found on the internet:

What else can one say after that trailer?  This story is an American classic.  A story of race-torn Baltimore in 1962.  A TV dance show akin to Philadelphia's American Bandstand.  Picket lines, racial inequality, and a rousing happy ending where everyone comes together.

Our troubled times could stand to revisit Hairspray and learn how we can live together in today's modern era, accepting the differences between us and even celebrating them.

As I mentioned above a few minutes ago, the Cast for this tour are amazing, each in their own right.  Talent above par.

I'd like to highlight them all (because they ALL deserve their own shoutout), but time and space do not allow - so for now, here are two you must take note of and follow on social media:

• Andrew Levitt (Edna Turnblad) - Lovely, just lovely.  Great portrayal of Edna Turnblad.  Wonderful and endearing.  Provides comic relief and emotion at one point with the duet, "(You're) Timeless to Me" with Wilbur Turnblad (Ralph Prentice Daniel).
  
  
• Asabi Goodman (Motormouth Maybelle) - There are NO words to describe the talent Asabi brings to the table for ballads such as, "I Know Where I've Been."  I was dumbfounded there was not a standing ovation for her last night after this song.  We were truly taken to church.  I can't wait to follow Asabi and her future projects.  I am a new fan for sure!

Hairspray plays The Fox Theatre through Sunday, June 4th.  It is a great family event to attend.  No nudity and light sexual innuendos that would probably go over most kids' heads.  Profanity is low as well (almost nonexistant).

Our crowd last night consisted heavily of female groups seeing the musical together, but I also saw a lot of Mother-Daughter dates around me as well.  A truly feel good night out in the City for any family member.

Visit the Fox Theatre website to purchase your tickets before this amazing group of people leave town.  I would hate for you to miss the fun and experience of Baltimore 1962!

Thank you to Regions Bank and Broadway in Atlanta for making this event possible!

*I was provided with two tickets to opening night strictly for promotion purposes.  This review is my personal opinion and write up with no influence from the PR company, sponsors, or touring company.

Riverdance - Student Discounted Tickets!

Local college students looking to experience an evening of iconic Irish dancing are in for a treat as Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta is offering a special $25 Student Rush Ticket for the debut engagement of RIVERDANCE – The 20th Anniversary World Tour, playing at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre May 5-7 as a 2016/2017 season special. Students simply need to bring valid college student identification with them to the Fox Theatre Box Office two hours prior to each performance. The Student Rush Ticket price will be valid for all performances with a two-ticket limit per student ID.  Student Rush Tickets are subject to availability and will be sold from best available, which may include limited view locations. RIVERDANCE - The 20th Anniversary World Tour is an innovative and exciting blend of dance, music, and song.  Drawing on Irish traditions, the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music into the present day, capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures.  Each Riverdance touring company consists of up to 55 cast and crew members, with the remarkable Riverdance Irish Dance Troupe featuring world class dancers from Ireland, U.K, America, Australia, and Canada, the cream of Irish musicians in the Riverdance Band and a spectacular array of international stars from Spain, America, and Russia all performing to the magic of Bill Whelan’s Grammy award winning music.  RIVERDANCE - The 20th Anniversary World Tour has set design by Robert Ballagh, lighting design by John Comiskey, costume design by Joan Bergin, and sound design by Michael O’Gorman. RIVERDANCE - The 20th Anniversary World Tour will play five performances only at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre May 5-7.  The performance schedule is 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit BroadwayInAtlanta.com.

The Sound of Music Transforms the Fox Theatre into Austria's Swiss Alps

Last night, I had the privilege to travel to Austria.

Okay.  Not the real Austria, but it felt like it...

Last night, Director Jack O'Brien brought Rodgers & Hammerstein's wonderful, delightful, and timeless musical, The Sound of Music, to Atlanta.  (The musical will play The Fox Theatre for one week only, ending Sunday, March 6.)

The musical did not stray far from its film counterpart with all the beloved songs and characters well represented.  The sets were amazing, and the talent mesmerizing.

The Sound of Music, as you probably already well know, tells the story of the von Trapp family who live within the Swiss Alps of Austria.  Their story is set during a time when Nazi Germany was impending a takeover.  Ben Davis plays Captain Georg von Trapp, a widow left with seven children to raise.  (Davis' voice can both bellow and croon softly.  What a talent they have discovered in this man!)

Since the children's Mother has died, Captain Georg has not allowed music, fun, or games into the household.  He is not sure he will ever be able to experience those feelings of joy and happiness again, and this is where the lovely Maria Rainer, played by Kerstin Anderson, comes into our story.

(Kerstin Anderson is a Pace University student currently in pursuit of her BFA in musical theater.  I will tell you that Kerstin's voice is remarkable and as crystal clear as the stunning chandelier prop hanging over head in the von Trapp's home.)

Maria is a would-be nun from the local Abbey.  However, she seems intent to be enjoying singing and celebrating life and laughter a little bit more than they would like at the Abbey.  To try and help her Postulant out, The Mother Abbess, played by Ashley Brown, sends Maria to be the new Governess at the von Trapp household.

...And as the saying goes, it's all history from there.  Maria and Capitan Georg eventually fall in love, and Maria brings the family back together again.

The story of the von Trapps does not end there though.  As we mentioned above, Nazi Germany is impending invasion into Austria and they have "recruited" the staunch anti-German Captain Georg to man one of their ships.  To escape servitude to the Nazis, Maria and Georg make a plan and agree to let the family sing at a local festival and competition representing Austria.  During the judging of the event, the family escapes back to Maria's former Abbey for protection and hiding from the searching Nazis.  After the Nazis leave the Abbey empty-handed, the family heads off to Switizerland via the mountains surrounding them.

(Since The Sound of Music is based on a true story, we know that the family actually left Austria and headed, by train, to Italy before finally landing in the United States, via London.)

If you have a chance to venture into the City this week and see The Sound of Music, I highly encourage you to do so.  As I said above, the sets are seamless and beautiful and give the feeling of transporting you to the Swiss Alps of Austria.

The music is familiar and easy to sing along to, and the talent is beyond measure.  (One of our favorites was Ashley Brown as Mother Abbess.  The notes she hits are amazing, and she brings such a warmth and love to her character, it's hard not to embrace her.)

For more information on the play or to purchase tickets for this week's show, you can visit the Fox Theater's website or Brave PR's facebook page.

Tickets Go On Sale for Disney's Beauty and the Beast!

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Atlanta as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2015/2016 season.

Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Fox Theatre from February 2-7.

Tickets go on sale Sunday, November 8. 

Tickets start at $33.50 and are available at by visiting www.FoxTheatre.org/Beauty, calling 1-855-285-8499, or visiting the Fox Theatre Box Office (660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308).  Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. For more information, please visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com or www.BroadwayInAtlanta.com.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will play in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre February 2-7. The performance schedule is:

Tuesday-Thursday      7:30 p.m.

Friday                          8 p.m.

Saturday                      2 p.m., 8 p.m.

Sunday                        1 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast features the Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs composed by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton.

The original creators of the Broadway production have reunited for this new touring production. The play is directed by Rob Roth and choreographed by Matt West, with Costume Design by Ann Hould-Ward (Tony Award® winner for her work on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Lighting Design by Natasha Katz (five-time Tony Award® winner), Scenic Design by Stanley A. Meyer, Sound Design by John Petrafesa Jr. and Music Supervision by Michael Kosarin.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress.  If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Based on the 1991 Academy Award®-winning animated feature film and celebrating 21 years since its Broadway premiere in 1994, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is the ninth longest running musical in Broadway history that has become an international sensation seen by over 35 million people worldwide in 22 countries, and translated into 9 different languages. This production launched in February 2010 and has been seen nearly 3 million people while playing over 1,500 performances in all 50 United States and 8 Canadian Provinces.  Currently, there are five productions playing around the world including the North American Tour, Paris, tours in Japan and Germany, and a new international tour (inspired by the North American tour) that will visit over 14 countries in two years.

NETworks Presentations LLC (Producer), from its inception nearly 20 years ago, has been an industry leading producer and manager of touring musical theatre productions and remains committed to delivering quality entertainment to audiences worldwide.  Having toured over 60 productions extensively throughout North America, NETworks is now expanding its tours into many international markets including South America, Greece, Italy, Turkey and South East Asia.  Current touring productions include Cameron Mackintosh’s The Phantom of the Opera, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast domestic and international productions,Dirty Dancing, Blue Man Group, Elf the Musical and coming soon Bullets Over Broadway, Once the Musical and an international tour of Shrek The Musical.          

FIFTH THIRD BANK BROADWAY IN ATLANTA is presented by Broadway Across America. Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, under the supervision of John Gore (Owner & CEO). BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 38 markets. Current and past productions includeBeautiful: The Carole King Musical, Finding Neverland, It Shoulda Been You, Million Dollar Quartet, Hairspray and The Producers. www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; www.Broadway.com

elf Comes to Atlanta's Fox Theatre!

ELF THE MUSICAL

WILL PLAY ATLANTA’S FOX THEATRE FROM DECEMBER 2- 6

Tickets on sale September 20

                                                                                            

NETworks Presentations, LLC, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, and Unique Features bring the Broadway musical ELF to Fox Theatre in Atlanta as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2015/2016 season. Tickets go on sale September 20.

ELF will play December 2-6. The performance schedule is:

• Wednesday and Thursday - 7:30pm
• Friday - 8pm
• Saturday - 2pm, 8pm
• Sunday - 1pm, 6:30pm

Tickets start at $33.50 and are available at by visiting www.FoxTheatre.org/Elf, calling 1-855-285-8499, or visiting the Fox Theatre Box Office (660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308). Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 404-881-2000. For more information, please visit www.BroadwayInAtlanta.com.

ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole.  Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth.  With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.  This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF.

Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, ELF features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone). The production will feature direction by Sam Scalamoni and choreography by Connor Gallagher.

Casting will be announced at a later date.

The New York Times says that ELF is “A SPLASHY, PEPPY, SUGAR-SPRINKLED HOLIDAY ENTERTAINMENT!” USA Today calls ELF “ENDEARINGLY GOOFY!” Variety proclaims, “ELF is happy enough for families, savvy enough for city kids and plenty smart for adults!”

Additional information about ELF is available at www.ElfTheMusicalOnTour.com.

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BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA is part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, under the supervision of John Gore (Owner & CEO).  BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 38 markets. Current and past productions include Beautiful, Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Quartet, Hairspray and The Producers. BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com; Broadway.com

Production Biographies

NETworks PRESENTATIONS, LLC (Producer) Since 1995, NETworks has produced and managed over 45 touring productions in the US., U.K. and internationally. Current productions include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Billy Elliot The Musical, Blue Man Group National Tour, Elf The Musical, Flashdance the Musical, La Cage Aux Folles, The New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, Shrek The Musical and National Theatre of Great Britain’s production of War Horse touring the U.S.  

WARNER BROS. THEATRE VENTURES (Producer) is the live stage play division of Warner Bros. Entertainment responsible for developing and producing world-class musicals and other stage productions for the Studio.  It has numerous productions in various stages of development, including co-productions with award-winning Broadway and film producers.  WBTV’s ELF The Musical is back on Broadway this year after a record-breaking run at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre during the 2010-2011 holiday season.  In June 2013, the division will premiere the highly anticipated musical adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, with Sam Mendes directing, in London.  WBTV also licenses third-party stage rights to the various properties held within the Studio’s vast media library, including such recent stage productions as Light in the Piazza, The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ in the Rain, The Color Purple and 42nd Street as well as the upcoming Diner and Bridges of Madison County.  WBTV’s parent company, WARNER BROS. ENTERTAINMENT, a Time Warner Company, is a fully integrated, broad-based entertainment company and a global leader in the creation, production, distribution, licensing and marketing of all forms of creative content and their related businesses, across all current and emerging media and platforms.  The company stands at the forefront of every aspect of the entertainment industry from feature film, TV and home entertainment production and worldwide distribution to DVD and Blu-ray, digital distribution, animation, comic books, licensing and broadcasting.

UNIQUE FEATURES (Producer) is an independent company that was launched in 2008 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne, who together built New Line Cinema into an industry powerhouse.  The company is currently developing and producing several film and television projects, including “The Mortal Instruments” with Constantin Film, starting production this month with director Harald Zwart; an animated adaptation of Paul McCartney’s illustrated book “High in the Clouds” to be directed by Rob Minkoff, written by Josh Klausner with original music by McCartney; “Sailing to Byzantium,” based on the award-winning novella by Robert Silverberg; “French Lessons,” based on the successful novel written by Ellen Sussman. In television, the company is developing an original television series with Bennett Miller and Kristen Gore, and developing the reality series “Dude, That’s My Sister” for MTV with Bunim-Murray.