61.0°,
Light Rain With Shakespeare blooming, can spring be far behind?
In its second decade, Town Hall’s sellout series “Broadway By the Year” has a new format, in four star-studded hark-backs, under the enlightened guidance of beloved impresario Scott Siegel, who has created, written and hosted the series from its inception. This season we’ll be treated to lore on Broadway musicals of the last 100 years (and a bit of their dirty linen!) That means the chance to hark back or make the acquaintance of Broadway hits (and a few “not”) with Siegel setting a backdrop of the temper of the times.
The four-part series will feature the histories, and showcase the melodies of 100 shows in total, serving up at least 100 songs — delivered by 100 top current Broadway stars! The first evening, “Broadway Musicals of 1915-1939” will have its nostalgia served up by such as Karen Akers, Stephanie J. Block, Carolee Carmello, Beth Leavel, Mark Nadler, Tonya Pinkins, Noah Racy, Chip Zien — and a surprise guest or three.
With director Scott Coulter and long-time musical director Ross Patterson sharing the helm with Siegel — you can count on thrilling to songs you didn’t know were headliners in the 1930s — and sing along with old favorites — all delivered by star performers of 2014! Who could ask for anything more? But with the show nearly sold out — tickets right now are a must. Get them at Ticketmaster or 1-800-982-2787 or the Town hall Box Office (123 West 43rd St. 212-840-2824)
Shakespeare in the park
It’s not too early to circle June 3 to July 6 (“Much Ado About Nothing”) and July 22 to Aug. 17 (“King Lear”, starring John Lithgow in the title role. The gem talents in “Much Ado” include Lily Rabe as Beatrice and the always delightful Hamish Linklater as Benedick. Details to follow, but info currently available at
www.shakespeareinthepark.org.
Conceived by Joseph Papp, the concept of making great theater accessible to all has never wavered — instead expanding its programs and enlisting top theater talents to make every production a memory to treasure. In its first season, George C. Scott was Shylock in “The Merchant of Venice”— and James Earl Jones Caliban in “The Tempest.” 1991’s “Othello” thrilled audiences starring Raul Julia and Christopher Walken.
Were you there, when Meryl Streep and Raul Julia starred in “Taming of the Shrew” in 1978? And what a special memory to cherish if you sat under the stars as Streep, Kevin Kline and Philip Seymour Hoffman shared their awesome talents in “The Seagull” in 2010. Perhaps most vivid in memory for this Shakespeare buff was Streep’s haunting portrayal of “Mother Courage” in 2006, with Kline. Hopefully the above may wet your theater appetite to become a subscriber or patron of the Public Theater. It’s a gift you can count on to keep giving you more pleasure than money can buy!
Warm Up with ‘Extended’ Spice!
Can’t take one more blast of arctic air? Head downtown where adventurous theatergoers have been warming up to two solo shows — one newly extended, one soon to re-open.
“Human Fruit Bowl” winner of the 2013 NYC FRINGE makes the leap to off- Broadway with a March 27 re-opening at the Rose Nagelberg Theater at Baruch Performing Arts Center. (55 Lexington Ave. in Manhattan) Structured as a “live fine art modeling session,” this unique, compelling exploration of the complicated relationship between artists and their models is partly story (written by Andrea Kuchlewska) and performed by solo performer Harmony Stempel. The playwright’s story — part art history, part mystery involves French painter Pierre Bonnard and the mysterious death of his muse and mistress — with the model (Stempel)’s mind going in all directions — while her unclothed body does not.
Tickets for the terraNOVA production of “Human Fruit Bowl” (March 27 to April 11 at www.baruch.cuny.edu/bpac/ or at 1-646-312-5073.
After reviews that promised “hilarious and charming” and “fearless and candid” it will surely melt your heart to meet Valerie Hager — playwright and star of the award-winning “Naked in Alaska.” Hager’s play follows her 10-year career as an exotic dancer and strip club performer from Mexico to Alaska. After she “went clean” at 21 — she found herself drug free — but evicted. Her tale of her experiences during her teenage travails is a moving, frank reach out to empowering others. It has won many awards and is now again extended thru Mar. 1.(21A Clinton Street in Lower Manhattan. (See www.nakedinalaska.com or www.thecoweye.com.
