The Young Actress 00/00/0000 - Articles Page 2

Newcomer Mariah Lyttle hasn't exactly pounded the New York City pavement quite yet, but it's not a reflection on her motivation or hard work. In fact, the young actress barely crossed the graduation stage before headlining a regional production of THE WIZ, which closed only moments before she booked the coveted role of Celie in the latest THE COLOR PURPLE national tour. While back at home for the holidays with her family, Ms. Lyttle sat down to share how the role has helped her find her voice, and how this classic story inspires hope and faith in audiences of all backgrounds and beliefs.

After World War II was over, we saw an increase in the American population thus characterizing that peace, love making lovers as 'the baby boomer' generation. They of course in turn gave birth to what is known as Generation X bringing a new age emergence of punk rock, grunge, and apparently both awesome and tasty cocktails. Generation X gave us millennials.

Second Annual Event to Feature Top Industry Executives Christopher Kühne, Larry Namer, and Emily Shah; Moderated by Kate Rees Davies

On Sunday, August 11th, Hollywood insider, Donelle Dadigan, and respected actress, Lee Purcell, hosted and invitation only screening of the documentary - THE MAX FACTOR.  The film takes a look behind the scenes into the star studded and astounding life of the inventor, pioneer and Hollywood' legendary King of Make-up.  The screening was followed by Q&A with the hosts and Filmmakers Clara and Julia Kuperberg and was moderated by film historian and critic, Leonard Maltin, who remarked 'The Max Factor Building is a true Hollywood treasure. I'm always happy to spend time there celebrating its history.' 

'Naaaaaaaaaaants ingonyama bagithi Baba!' No matter who you are or where you're from, it's a sure bet you're familiar with those iconic introductory lines. Set against the majestic backdrop of the rising Serengeti sun, the universally-recognized African cry, beckoning scores of meerkats, elephants, antelope and giraffes to emerge and greet the newest member of their animal tribe, is the quintessential Disney opening that defined a generation. 

Patty Smithey is marvelous as Ariel, but the show belongs to the amazing Janelle Richardson as Ursula.

Bursting at the seams with professionalism, passion and unbridled provocation, KINKY BOOTS at the Fugard Theatre has welcomed full audiences since its debut over a month ago and, from just 5 minutes into the show, it's easy to see why. The Harvey FiersteinCyndi Lauper hybrid production has garnered multiple awards in its prime, and this original South African rendition deserves equal accolades.

This is one fast and furiously entertaining show!

This re-imagining of Chekhov's 'The Seagull' is super-smart and boasts a dynamite cast.

Tennessee Williams's first success The Glass Menagerie lands at Arcola Theatre in an exciting and tremendously thought-provoking production directed by Femi Elufowoju jr. It's 1937 in St Louis. Amanda Wingfield's (Lesley Ewen) hopes that her two children will lead a more stable life than hers grapple with their own sense of individuality. While their mother lives in a past made of suitors and debutantes worrying about the future of her unmarried daughter Laura (Naima Swaleh) - a shy and scarred young woman who spends her days polishing her glass trinkets - Tom (Michael Abubakar) desperately wants to break free from his dead-end job at a shoe warehouse.

In a recent episode of FX's Fosse/Verdon, Bob brings Pippin to Broadway, and composer Stephen Schwartz, who was also represented in the episode, is speaking up about his thoughts on how the story is being told. 

FAMOUS re-opened in April after a successful run in 2018. I decided to speak with the show's Creator/Director Michael Leoni (ML) and producers Michelle Kaufer (MK) and Cassidy Pepper (CP), about how the new production uses stylized movements by the characters, enhanced lighting and sound designs, to bring the play flow so much more fluid than last year's version. The result grabs the audience's attention to the point of being able to hear a pin drop, making the entire experience even more stunning and breathtaking than before. And, of course, its relevance to the #MeToo movement is immediately recognizable as power players move in and out of Jason's life during the party.

Makenna Kirsch as the Leading Player and Jacob Atkins as Pippin lead an outstanding production.

Inspired by a true event, Peter Shaffer's EQUUS invites audiences to sit in on Alan Strang's psychological appointments after the teenager violently attacks six horses. Psychologically, religiously and sexually perverse, Alan's problematic relationship with horses is dissected by Dr. Martin Dysart who is jumping through his own torments. Expertly dark and inescapably sensual, EQUUS combines various elements of theatrical mastery that make this 2019 production a success for Pieter Toerien Productions.

Last Thursday, the Theatre des Capucins welcomed the comedy adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull. The plot is centered around a tragicomic chain of unrequited love, which ultimately brings several of the characters to the fringes of self-awareness, self-doubt and self-control.

Reynolds' career began unexpectedly in 1948 when she won a beauty contest at the age of 16. Two of the contest judges were scouts from Warner Brothers and MGM. When they heard Reynolds' show-stopping rendition of Betty Hutton's 'I'm Just a Square in a Social Circle,' they took an interest in the talented singer.

Casting and production dates have been announced for TINA: The Tina Turner Musical in Germany!

For being the centennial of Ingmar Bergman's birth, there seems to be very little evidence of the Swedish director's work around. It's hard to find even his best known films; his name is known to some generations only as a reference in the work of Woody Allen.

50th & 4th, a fantastic new play now in performances at UNDER St. Mark's, is a comical, intense and very truthful look at a couple living in Sunset Park, and what it really means to feel displaced - what it means to feel loved - no matter where you are from. As part of the 2018 Frigid Festival, which offers audiences the chance to see 30 productions (no more than sixty minutes in length) between two venues on the Lower East Side, 50th & 4th now debuts with a bang appropriate for any play set in the great borough of Brooklyn. Written by comedian Mike Lemme and directed by Tara Cioletti, this has quickly become a favorite out of the smaller productions I have reviewed.

Austin Shakespeare brings Chekhov's revolutionary play, The Seagull, to the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center from February 7 - 25, 2018. This is the first time the legendary Russian playwright's work will be performed by the professional (Actors' Equity) company.

Mad Horse Theatre continues its provocative and haunting programming this season with a gripping, poetic, and troubling production of Naomi Wallace's award-winning 1996 drama, One Flea Spare. The play, set in London in 1665 at the height of the Black Death, explores the social, sexual, and psychological interaction of four people quarantined together in a pair of rooms while the plague rages around them. Their battle for survival pits the wealthy merchant and his wife against the sailor and a young servant girl who break into their house in search of shelter. Class warfare, devastating past memories, repressed sexuality, gender politics, and intricate personal power struggles make the time of confinement a descent into hell.

Over four decades, 1.5 million people have delighted in Scrooge's unforgettable discovery of kindness, generosity and love. Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol celebrates 40 years. This year's spotlight falls on Paris Strickland, the adorable 10 year-old girl with a miraculous story of her own. CBS Sunday Morning chatted with the young actress and her Goodman company.

BroadwayCon 2018 announced that the creators of three popular Broadway-themed web series will participate in a roundtable, From Onstage to Online , discussing the behind-the-scenes of creating their own work in the digital age. The panel is set for 3:00 PM on January 26 at the Javits Center.

Stranger Things 2 hit Netflix this month and the fan feeding frenzy for the long-awaited return of the show has begun.

On Saturday, October 14, the 18th annual Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Awards Ceremony took place at Backstage Studio Productions in Kingston, NY. More than 500 filmmakers, film industry members, community leaders, and audience members attended the event held in the heart of Kingston's Uptown Historic District.