Seating arrangements can play a significant role in whether a person enjoys a musical or play. Poor seats may have limited lines of sight or be far from the stage. The best seats will allow a patron to see the entire show clearly.
Begin looking for tickets early. Good seats sell quickly. Large groups will have the most difficulty purchasing excellent seats together the closer it is to show time.
Sign up for any loyalty programs. Box offices may
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COMMENTSEvery small production company wants their production to have the highest quality possible to interest the audience at large. There is a simple and inexpensive approach to staging a Broadway quality production yourself. You just have to figure out what direction you want to go in with your production and what you want to do.
The first thing you have to look at is your stage make up. No matter how elaborate or low key your production might be, make up is the key that will make sure that you
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COMMENTS“Mamma Mia” is one of the most entertaining shows on Broadway. The musical first opened on Broadway on October 18, 2001 and is still running to packed houses each and every night. The show features a score consisting entirely of songs from the catalog of famed Swedish pop group ABBA, and the popularity of these enjoyable tunes intensify the pleasure theatergoers get from seeing it.
The plot of “Mamma Mia” is purely fictional and the songs themselves tell this story of love, laughter
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COMMENTSThe Los Angeles Times reported on January 24, 2011 that the Pasadena Playhouse presentation of “Baby It’s You!” is on its way to Broadway. The Times stated that the jukebox musical is set to open on April 27 at the Broadhurst Theatre and is based on the career of the Shirelles and recording producer Florence Greenberg.The show has been playing at the Pasadena Playhouse since 2009 and includes such well-known songs as “Tonight’s the Night,” “He’s So Fine,” “Soldier Boy” and, of course, “Baby It’s You!”In a Times review in 2009 Charles McNulty wrote that the play “works best as a nostalgic spectacle for aging boomers” and that “the the groove definitely pulsates.”Other famous jukebox musicals over the years have included:
Smokey Joe’s Caf (1995)Boogie Nights (1997)Mami Mia! (1999)Love, Janis (2001)Tonight’s the Night (2003)Saturday Night Fever (2004)Jersey Boys (2005)Ring of Fire (2006)Thriller Live (2006)Dreamboats and Petticoats (2009)Come Fly Away (2010American Idiot (2010)
With some jukebox musicals (such as “Lennon”) closing after a very short run versus the huge success of “Mama Mia,” the reception and fate of “Baby It’s You!” is unclear. We should find out soon enough as April rolls in and the beat goes on.
COMMENTSIf you want to put a song in your heart you may want to tap into one of the following love songs made famous on Broadway.No doubt if you’re the aficionado you profess to be you’re already familiar with some of these, but we bet not all. So check them out and add a little more love light to your life!
A Little Fall of Rain – Les MiserablesAll I Ask of You – Phantom Of The OperaAs Long As He Needs Me OliverBlame It On The Summer Night RagsCome Rain Or Come Shine – St. Louis WomanDulcinea - Man Of La Mancha Embraceable You - Girl CrazyHello, Young Lovers – The King and IHow Could I Ever Know – The Secret GardenI Do Not Know A Day I Did Not Love You – Two by TwoIf Ever I Would Leave You CamelotCOMMENTSread more
The leaves are changing, the breezes seem more crisp, and it’s time to think about attending one of Broadway’s amazing fall lineups. Check out some of the newest contenders so you can make your plans to see as many as you can fit in during this fleeting precursor to winter.The Pittmen Painters is a new play from Billy Elliot screenwriter/librettist/lyricist Lee Hall. Working from a book by William Feaver, Hall focuses again on working-class Brits with artistic leanings.Time Stands Still is last season’s Tony-nominated play returning for another go-round and it returns with original cast members Laura Linney, Brian D’Arcy James and Eric Bogosian, who are joined by Christina Ricci.La Bete stars David Hyde Pierce, Joanna Lumley and Mark Rylance who combine comic forces for a new U.K.-based production of David Hirson’s play about high and low art, and artists, in 17th-century France. Matthew Warchus, who did dynamic double duty last season with God of Carnage and The Norman Conquests, directs.Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown includes a posse of Broadway veterans including
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COMMENTSIf you plan on visiting the Big Apple this summer, you’ll want to take a stroll down the Great White Way in Midtown NYC where you’ll find the Theatre District of New York between 42nd and 53rd street. Here are the Broadway Musicals you can’t miss while in New York:
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Singing, Dancing, Actingtriple threats can do them all. And they can do them on a professional level. If you’re interested in a career in the performing arts, chances are you already have at least one of these talents perfected. The key is to hone in on the other two skills and master them as well. Triple threats are much more likely to be cast in a musical or production than someone limited to one discipline. In fact, the combination of the three desirable traits is becoming the norm in today’s musical theatre business.If you’re serious about a career in theatre, you’ll want to start developing all three skills early on. If you’re a dancer, take singing lessons on the side to develop your voice. If you’re a singer, sign up for a beginner jazz dance class. It would also be helpful to enroll in some tap and ballet classes to show versatility, but jazz is the main style choreographed in theatrical dances. Drama and acting classes that teach the appreciation and history of the art as well as the skills and performance aspects are key to a career in theatre. Most colleges and universities worldwide offer classes in each of the triple threat subcategories. You should seek schools that not only offer a drama major, but also offer musical and dance programs. In addition to taking the appropriate classes, you should put your talents work in community theatres. Local venues host shows with casts of all age groups, so finding an age appropriate audition shouldn’t be a problem. Performing locally will help you hone your skills and show you what areas need work. Past experience also looks good to a panel when auditioning.
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COMMENTSNo matter what area of the United States you live in, chances are there’s a local theatre close by. Theatres are a great recreational activity for some and a great place to start an acting career for others. Almost every big name in the theatre and Hollywood industry started in a local theatre. Most cities have children’s theatres or productions that your kids can partake in as well as regular theatre options. Local venues are often run by volunteer power, so if you’re interested in the theatre scene but don’t necessarily want to act on stage, you’re in luck.The easiest way to find a theatre in your area is by using Google. Type in the name of your town followed by a theatre, and Google Maps will pinpoint any in your area. If nothing turns up, try contacting your town’s chamber of commerce or community center. When you contact the theatre, ask them how many shows the typically produce each year, where and when any auditions, rehearsals, and performances are held, and get an idea of the help they currently need. The great thing about community theatres is that they often take talent with no previous experience. Many theatres offer acting lessons, and they are willing to help anyone willing to learn the art. If you are looking for a paid part in a play, you’ll most likely need prior experience (unless you’re a born natural).
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COMMENTSOn June 13th, the biggest names in Broadway were recognized for their amazing performances of 2009. If you haven’t seen any of these winning phenomena, it’s recommended you hop on a flight to the nearest Broadway Theater and divulge in the acting, singing, and dancing that has been prestigously voted the best of the best at the 2010 Tony Awards.The winner for Best Play was John Logan’s Redan extraordinary depiction of an artist’s striving lifestyle and ambition starring Alfred Molina and Eddie Redmayne. Similarly, the best revival of a Play was August Wilson’s Fences. Starring well known A-lister Denzel Washington and brilliant actress Viola Davis, the reenactment of a twentieth-century African American family with a love for sports and a knack for drama was only on Broadway for 13 weeks. The role won Denzel Washington the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play award.
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