Roller Disco The Musical opens tonight at the Oberon Theater
OMG, This show will play Wednesday and Thursday nights through August 30th. Doors at 7:30pm, Show at 8:00pm. Want to know more? Visit, www.rollerdiscothemusical.com.
Here are a few worthwhile theater performances from some of Boston’s local theater companies. Support your community’s local theater scene and plan an evening with friends to see a show. Select the links below to learn more about each performance and to purchase tickets.
Support Boston’s Local Theater Companies
Xanadu – SpeakEasy Stage Co. – This fun performance elevates “camp” and will leave you humming familiar Olivia Newton John songs from the early 80s all the while laughing heartily with friends. In my opinion its the surprise show of the summer, which I give “two glow sticks up.” See the show and you’ll understand my reference. Xanadu closes on June 9th.
Private Lives – Huntington Theater Co – Can you imagine bumping into your former spouse while away on your second honeymoon? Neither can I but that’s the premise of this hilarious production which will run through June 24th
Avenue Q – Lyric Stage Co. of Boston – Have you never seen this popular Broadway musical, best described as Seasame Street for adults? This show has fantastically funny songs like The Internet is for Porn, and will leave you laughing out loud. Due to demand, this show has been extended and will run through July 1st.
Tagged BosGuy, Boston, Boston Guy, SpeakEasy Stage, Theater
A new show called Cupcake opens this week at Club Cafe. This is an original musical developed and produced locally.
Cupcake takes place in Summertown (Hmm… can you say Provincetown?) in a free-spirited seaside resort where every mouth waters for Tom’s irresistible cupcakes. Unfortunately, rookie Officer Stone is on the prowl and the law clearly states that street sales of food are taboo. The locals, especially the hunky Lifeguard and the sexy-nerdy Librarian relish Tom’s contraband cupcakes and help their adored baker boy avoid arrest.
May 10 – June 24 at Club Cafe
Shows are Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm as well as Sunday brunch/matinee shows (June10, 17, and 24 at 2pm). Ticket are $25 -$35 and can be purchased online here.
On Friday, the SpeakEasy Stage will open their 100th production with the 80s cult movie classic, Xanadu, and I will be front and center to see this movie from 1980 that was later turned into a Broadway musical.
Xanadu’s performances will run through Saturday, June 9th so be sure to get your tickets while they remain available. You can do this by visiting the Calderwood theater box office on Tremont Street or purchasing them online here.
Xanadu from The SpeakEasy Stage May 11th – June 9th
Starring Ryan Overberg as “Sonny”
Photo by Glenn Perry Photography
Here’s a little something to put you in the mood while you log-on to buy your tickets… Who can resist a little Olivia Newton-John?
I recently attended the opening night performance of the New Repertory Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors. This was my first visit to the theater company in Watertown. Normally, I don’t travel much beyond Cambridge, but I’m really pleased I did. The theater company has a lovely home in the Arsenal Center for the Arts (by the Arsenal Mall), and was surprisingly easy to get to.
I anticipate the New Repertory Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors will be quite successful. The rock musical is filled with songs inspired by the sounds of early Motown and has more than its share of outrageously funny scenes that will appeal to a wide audience.
The Rep’s designers did a great job building the set and the ensemble works well together. I was particularly taken by Susan Molloy who plays the role of Audrey. Her voice, comedic timing and all round acting was fantastic. Personal favorites where when she sang “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Suddenly Seymour“.
With several dining options near the theater and plenty of free parking there really is no excuse not to check out Little Shop of Horrors (prices range $28-$58) so snap up your tickets before this show passes you by. Little Shop of Horrors runs through Sunday, May 20th.
Last night I went to see the Lyric Stage of Boston production of The Temperamentals.
“Temperamental” was code for “homosexual” in the early 1950’s and this off-Broadway play revolves around Harry Hay, his lover, Rudi Gernreich, a Viennese refugee and designer, and the men who first came together to build the first gay rights organization in the United States. Do you know your gay history? Did you think it started at Stonewall? Think again, The Temperamentals is a powerful story about the birth of the LGBT movement in the US>
The Temperamentals closes this Saturday (April 28th) so hurry and buy your tickets if you are interested in seeing this show. Tickets can be purchased online here.
Tonight I’m heading out of town to see The Full Monty at the Stoneham Theater. This is based on the 1997 surprise hit movie that tells the tale of six unemployed, disgruntled steel workers living in Sheffield England. I remember seeing the movie at the Kendall theater and loving it. Aside from the obvious nerves it must take to play one of the six men, it is always a risk to take a popular film and try to bring it to the stage. I remain hopefully optimistic and look forward to attending a performance at a theater I’ve never visited before.
The SpeakEasy Stage included a quote from my review of Next to Normal, the rock-musical currently playing at the Calderwood Pavilion, that rocked my world when I saw it last weekend. I’m no Joyce Kulhawik (sorry its a local reference for those who grew up in Boston) so I was pretty darn flattered.
You may read my full review of Next to Normal here and purchase your tickets here. Get a few friends together and check it out.
Next to Normal, The SpeakEasy Stage’s latest production, explores a family that is anything but what its name implies. This rock musical centers around a mother who struggles with bipolar disorder, and how she and her family are impacted. This musical which opened on Broadway in 2009 and went on to receive 11 Tony nominations is making its Boston premiere at the Calderwood Pavilion on Tremont Street in the South End.
SpeakEasy Stage’s production is compelling. Kerry A. Dowling’s performance as Diana – the housewife struggling with bipolar disorder – is reason enough to see the show. However, Dowling is not forced to carry the show on her own, the entire cast comes together. In particular, I found myself extremely sympathetic to the high school daughter, Natalie, played by Sarah Drake who’s struggling to make sense of her life which lacks love and attention from her ill mother and her father too obsessed with “saving” his wife to notice her. More than once I could hear sniffles from the audience so I know I wasn’t the only one touched by this performance.
Next to Normal was extended and now runs through Sunday, April 15th. I dare you to step out of your “normal” routine and make date to check out this new show. Be sure to bring along some friends, because after the curtain drops you’ll want to talk about what you just saw. You can read more about the show and purchase tickets online here.
Tonight Boston’s SpeakEasy Stage production of Next to Normal opens at the Calderwood Pavilion on Tremont Street in the South End. This play won 3 Tony Awards and received the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama so I know the story line will be compelling. According to the website the show has a pop rock musical score which should add an element of drama to this story of a suburban family dealing with the direct and indirect effects of mental illness.
The cast of six includes three handsome faces who are making their debut with the SpeakEasy Stage. Native New Yorker – Chris Caron, Northeastern University graduate – Michael Levesque, and Boston Conservatory’s very own – Michael Tacconi.
Look for my review of the show early next week, and in the interim start talking to friends to line up a date to step out and enjoy this show.
Posted in Theater
Tagged BosGuy, Boston Guy, Calderwood Pavilion, SpeakEasy Stage, Theater
I love getting a good deal so when I saw this offer from The SpeakEasy Stage last night, promoting their spring musical comedy, Xanadu with a one day sale, I knew I had to post this. Tickets for the first week of performances of Xanadu (May 11-17 shows only) will be only $29 (not including phone or online handling fees).
This is a GREAT deal so snag a pair of tickets to see the show, which looks as if it will marry nostalgia with humor. Sale hours are today from 9:00am – midnight (online at www.SpeakEasyStage.com) and from 12:00pm – 7:00pm by phone (617-933-8600 ) or for walk-up sales.
In January I wrote about Green Eyes, when it first opened on January 18th. Due to popular demand, the show was extended through February 26th, and I’m excited to be able to see this unique production tonight.
The New England premiere of Tennessee Williams erotic drama was originally written in the 1970s but remained unpublished for nearly 40 years. Last year a production of Green Eyes was performed at the Hudson Hotel in NYC by The Kindness, a company founded by Travis Chamberlain and Chris Keegan.
The 2012 production in Boston takes place at the Ames Hotel. There are only 25 seats for each performance. Intrigued? I was too and I’m looking forward to seeing the show tonight. You can learn more about the production by visiting Company One.
The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company will perform Coriolanus for their 17th season of free Shakespeare plays on the Boston Common. Shows will run from July 25 – August 12, 2012 with performances Tuesday – Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7pm. Shows will run 2 hours and 45 minutes so plan to smuggle in an extra bottle of wine.
Not familiar with Coriolanus? Neither am I. According to The Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. website, “the play charts the rise and fall of a powerful general as he battles enemies abroad, and a tide of popularity at home in Rome. While the war hero triumphs in the field, it’s his struggle with politics, responsibility and government that threatens to undo him.” Seems appropriate considering this is an election year in the US.
How will you be spending Valentines Day?
I will be watching Gomez, Morticia and the rest of the Addams family as this Broadway show visits the Shubert Theatre. I vaguely recall these quirky characters on t.v. reruns and loved the movie from the early 90s .
Interested in seeing the show? Move quickly as the show only has 13 performances.
You can buy your tickets online here.
I couldn’t resist the opportunity to include a photo of Idina alongside her handsome husband, Taye Diggs. Below is a video from Idina Menzel’s show aboard the Atlantis Cruise. I’ve included her singing “Another Day” from Rent and “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.
BosGuy 