On stage, you’re required to “fill the room” with your presence. Bigger, grander, bolder gestures are encouraged. If you don’t project your voice, the audience members in the back rows may not be able to hear you, especially if you aren’t provided a microphone. In a black box theater, the distance may only be 30 feet. In theaters like the Gershwin Theatre in New York City, the distance is exponentially larger.
The critically acclaimed bestselling book and box office hit movie Life of Pi is seeing a third resurgence with its adaptation to the Broadway stage, premiering on March 30th at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.
“Your boys are back in town,” a tweet from Nick Jonas announcing the Jonas Brothers’ five-show, limited engagement run at the Marquis Theatre March 14-18. Jonas Brothers on Broadway: 5 Albums 5 Nights will feature Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas performing a different album each night. The albums include – Jonas Brothers, A Little Bit Longer; Lines, Vines and Trying Times; Happiness Begins; and their new album set to release in May, The Album.
“The Ferryman” is coming to the New Village Arts Theatre for its regional premiere in Carlsbad, California. Thomas Edward Daughtery is also set to play the lead role of Quinn Carney, the gentle-natured father of seven trying to hold his family together during the Irish “Troubles.” This production continues through March 5 and, according to his bio in the program, marks Daughtery’s first time on stage in 20 years. Back in 2003, he was in the original cast of a new Stephen Sondheim musical that played in Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Have you ever seen a show live and been completely transfixed by a character’s costume? Maybe it was something dramatic like an onstage costume change that caught your eye, or maybe you wondered how an actor was able to dance and move around in a period-accurate floor-length gown without passing out from heatstroke. Whatever it might have been, I assure you it was intentional. The art of costume design is one of the most creative, thoughtful, and important parts of a show’s production, not by chance but because it has to be. Costume design is one of the most important parts of production design because of its ability to immediately convey a setting, enhance a performer’s stage presence, and express themes and moods throughout the show.
For many people, the life of an actor is one that appears glamorous and exciting, but there is often a fear that inhibits people from pursuing this lifestyle. This fear is, unfortunately, one that cannot be avoided by an actor as simply as a claustrophobe might avoid small spaces. Performance anxiety is a very real and very limiting fear that often confronts people and deters them from following their passion for performing. Though it can be incredibly fun and cathartic to perform, it can also be very hard at times for actors to overcome the anxiety that comes with bearing one’s emotions and actions to an audience. Thankfully though, there is a way to work through this roadblock. By spending enough time warming up before a performance, actors may soothe their anxiety enough for them to put on a show. The physicality and social aspects of acting warm-ups make warm-ups a well-suited weapon for combating performance anxiety and thus putting on a better show.
One of the most memorable learning experiences in my days as a grade schooler didn’t take place inside a classroom, but rather on the stage of my quaint elementary school’s small auditorium. A traveling acting duo–a man and woman, whose names I’ve sadly forgotten– stopped by our school to sweep us up in a two-day improv training experience, where the children of my grade got to romp about on stage and build upon a variety of kid-imagined scenarios in the name of theater. I found the whole thing amazing, and it connected me and my classmates in a way that I had never experienced before. Though I had no formal knowledge of the technical benefits of drama instruction, I knew even then that this was something everyone should experience.
If you have ever wanted to be in the spotlight but have found yourself deterred from taking on the challenge of an audition, then I have the perfect solution for you. While the glitz and glamor of acting on stage is what catches most people’s eye in the theater, it isn’t always possible to get on stage, whether that be because you couldn’t land the part, or didn’t have the confidence to take on an audition. Thankfully though, there is a way to engage with the theater that doesn’t involve performing for an audience. Every theater production needs a crew to put together the world that the cast will be acting in. Take it from me, someone who has been in both the cast and crew before, working in a theater crew is a great way to build up the confidence and know-how needed to nail that next audition.
It isn’t uncommon for beloved classics to be revived, rewritten, and retold over time, and musicals are no exception. There have been several musical-to-film adaptations over the years, and that stream isn’t ending anytime soon. Sure, some film retellings have flopped, but there are also a large number of iconic stage-to-screen revivals that honor the original medium of a story in an entirely new, beautifully cinematic way. Here are four upcoming musicals set for movie adaptations that will hopefully join the ranks of those legendary revivals.
Looking for a new tradition to shake up the holiday season? Well I have the perfect suggestion. Going out to see a play or show is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season. Not only does it allow people an opportunity to spend time with their loved ones and those within their communities, but it represents the spirit of philanthropy, giving back, and uniting communities.
Going out to see a play is a great way to support your community. Most community theaters try to put on some sort of production for the holidays, and taking the time to go and see what they have been working on is a great way to acknowledge all of the time and effort that the cast and crew put into the show during months of rehearsals.
The production of KPOP will end its run on Broadway early after receiving poor reviews and grossing less in ticket sales than initially expected. The production was previewed at the Circle in the Square Theatre on October 13th and opened on November 27th. So far, the show has had 44 previews and just 17 reviews. KPOP’s last performance will be at the same Circle in the Square Theatre this Sunday.
Theater as an art form is ancient. The performing arts have been a part of human culture since forever, which isn’t surprising given our never-ending hunger for entertainment and joy. But our need for theater also serves a deeper purpose: it explores the human condition in a way few other mediums are able, and has the power to change attitudes, encourage empathy, and promote prosocial behavior among audience goers. It allows us to open our minds and flourish as people–and that’s a fact supported by science.
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