Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Stop Dreaming and Come See Irving Berlin's White Christmas at the Fabulous Fox Theatre Nov 2 - 7


"You’re sure to catch the spirit of the season when you come to see our big holiday musical, Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS,” states Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. “This delightful romantic musical comedy has it all…glorious Irving Berlin songs, spectacular dance numbers, and gorgeous sets and costumes. Bring your loved ones to the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a heart-warming celebration of Americana from November 2-7. Tickets are on sale NOW at all Ticketmaster locations, the Fox Theatre Box Office, by calling 800-982-2787 and online at www.ticketmaster.com.”

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS is a delightful new musical based on the 1954 smash hit Paramount movie. It tells the story of two army buddies, Bob and Phil, who have a successful song- and-dance act after the war. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters to a Christmas gig at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by their former Army commander. The boys soon realize they are the only guests at the resort because there is no snow! In order to help the General, they come up with a scheme to bring in a crowd. They decide to stage their newest Broadway revue, as well as make a special television appeal to all their Army pals to show up on Christmas Eve. The show features classic Irving Berlin hits such as “Blue Skies,” “Sisters,” “Happy Holiday,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “I Love a Piano” and the unforgettable title song, “White Christmas.”

Starring as crooner Bob Wallace is John Scherer. He most recently appeared on Broadway in Lovemusik, directed by the legendary Harold Prince. He also worked with Mr. Prince in 3hree at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles. He starred in the Broadway and film versions of Andrew Lloyd Webber's By Jeeves, written and directed by Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Other Broadway credits include Sunset Boulevard and The Most Happy Fella (NYC Opera). He toured nationally in 42nd Street and Cats. He received critical acclaim for his performance as George M at the Goodspeed Opera House.  Film and television credits include The Shield, Crossing Jordan, Law and Order (all three series), Titus and The Guiding Light.

Amy Bodnar reprises the role of Betty Haynes after playing it at the Tony award winning Denver Center. On Broadway, Amy played Laurey in the recent revival of Oklahoma and was in the original production of Ragtime. She starred as Marguerite in the national tour of The Scarlet Pimpernel, as well as performing as Betty Schaefer in the Canadian company of Sunset Boulevard.

Denis Lambert plays the other half of Wallace & Davis as the dashing Phil Davis. He starred on Broadway in A Chorus Line and off-Broadway in Yank!, Zorba and Finian's Rainbow. His other credits include the 1st National Tours of A Chorus Line and The Producers.

Shannon M. O’Bryan stars as Betty’s sister and matchmaker, Judy Haynes. Her Broadway credits include: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, 42nd Street, City Center’s Encores!, productions of Face The Music, Follies and Of Thee I Sing.  Other favorites include: Gypsy, Grease, American In Paris (with Leslie Caron), the 1st National Tour and Theater of the Stars production of 42nd Street.

Starring as the cheerful but nosey inn manager Martha is Ruth Williamson. Her Broadway credits include: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, La Cage Aux Folles, The Music Man (Outer Critics Nomination), Epic Proportions, Little Me , Guys & Dolls, Smile, Musical Comedy Murders, and Annie. She’s had roles in these movies: Evan Almighty, The Producers, Legally Blonde II, Family Man, Malcolm X, Foreign Student, Easy Six, Psycho Beach Party and Die Mommie, Die! Her television credits include Monk, Medium, The O.C., The Practice, ER, Star Trek: Enterprise, Law & Order, Hannah Montana and Mrs. Grubman on Nip/Tuck.

Erick Devine stars as the commanding General Waverly. His Broadway credits include: Ragtime, Sid Caesar & Co., Cats, Seussical and National Tours of Big River, Ragtime, Me & My Girl (Helen Hayes Award Nominee, D.C.), Grand Hotel, Annie Get Your Gun (with Cathy Rigby).  He performed in A Sondheim Tribute at Carnegie Hall and Of Thee I Sing and Allegro at City Center's Encore! He directed Candide & HMS Pinafore (with Kristin Chenoweth), Anything Goes (with Kelli O'Hara), Annie Warbucks (with Gavin MacLeod) and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (with Cathy Rigby).

Tony Lawson will portray high powered producer Ralph Sheldrake and starring as the General’s adorable granddaughter Susan Waverly is 11 year-old actress Mary Peeples. Other cast members include Don Rey as the neurotic Stage Manager, Mike Nulty and James Young as the delightful Ezekiel Foster.
Ensemble members are: Adinah Alexander, Andrew Black, Scott Brateng, Melinda Cowan, Con O’Shea-Creal, Brandon Davidson, Jenny Florkowski, Megan Jimenz, Matthew Kirk, Janelle Neal, Amanda Paulson, Ashley Peacock, Kristyn Pope, Kelly Sheehan, Haley Swindal, Merrill West, and Richard Riaz Yoder.

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS features Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin with Book by David Ives and Paul Blake and is based upon the Paramount Pictures film written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank.

This brand new production of Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS is produced by Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars. The show will have previews at the Municipal Auditorium in Chattanooga, TN on Oct 29-30 and then tour to the following cities:

Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA – Nov 2-7
            The Peace Center in Greenville, SC – Nov 9-14
The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, CT – Nov 16-21
            Proctors in Schenectady, NY – Nov 22-28
David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, FL  - Nov 30-Dec 5
            Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, NC – Dec 7-12
            Broadway In Chicago at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago, IL – Dec 15-Jan 2

The creative team includes direction by Norb Joerder, choreography by Randy Skinner, scenic design by Anna Louizos, scenic supervision and adaptation by Kenneth Foy, lighting design by Ken Billington, and sound design by Peter Fitzgerald and Erich Bechtel. The tour is produced by agreement with R&H Theatricals, an Imagem Company. The official tour web site is: www.whitechristmasthemusical.com.

Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS will play the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta from November 2-7, 2010. Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2 pm & 8 pm, and Sunday at 1:30 pm & 7 pm. Tickets are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster outlets, 800-982-2787 and www.ticketmaster.com.  Ticket prices range from $25-$70. Special group rates are available through the Fox Theatre Group Sales Department at 404-881-2000.

Theater of the Stars celebrates its 58th Anniversary as one of the nation’s premier regional theater companies. A civic not-for-profit cultural treasure, Theater of the Stars is dedicated to presenting and producing the best in musical theater. To learn more about our history of excellence, visit www.theaterofthestars.com.
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Georgia Shakespeare is excited to announce... the Winner of the Search for Ralphie, Lead Role in 'A Christmas Story'

“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”

Georgia Shakespeare announces that the city-wide competition The Search for Ralphie has come to a pitch-perfect conclusion. After four open calls across the city, semi-finals and finals rounds, 13-year-old Cooper Driskell has been selected to portray Ralphie on stage in this December’s production of A Christmas Story. The competition also sought and found six other kids’ roles: Ralphie’s brother and his friends.

Georgia Shakespeare is thrilled to produce the regional premiere of A Christmas Story, directed by Drew Fracher, written by Philip Grecian, based on the motion picture “A Christmas Story”
(© 1983 Turner Entertainment Co., Distributed by Warner Bros.), written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Rob Clark and based on the book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd. The show runs December 7-26; evening performances begin at 7pm.

“The Search for Ralphie” took place across Atlanta over four successive weekends in September, beginning at the Decatur Book Festival, moving to Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta, then to Chocolate Perks in Duluth, and winding up at Bloomingdale’s Lenox Square. Overall, the judges saw over 150 auditions in this process.

"Auditions were a blast, all the kids did a tremendous job and made the decision process difficult in giving me so many possibilities!” says director Drew Fracher. “I'm so impressed with the quality of the casting pool here in Atlanta and can't wait to get started with our talented bunch."

The semi-finals brought ten “Ralphies” before the judges, and were conducted at the Atlanta Parent Magazine Family Block Party on October 9. On October 16 and 17, five “Ralphies” came before the judges at finals, conducted at Georgia Shakespeare.

The judges were radio and TV personalities Holly Firfer and Tom Sullivan; Atlanta-based actor Brad Sherrill; Whole World Improv Theatre’s Artistic Director Chip Powell; Georgia Shakespeare’s Producing Artistic Director Richard Garner and Education Director Allen O’Reilly, and A Christmas Story Director Drew Fracher.

The cast is announced:

Ralphie – Cooper Driskell
Randy – Ian L’Abate
Flick – Eric Broner
Scut Farkas – Whit Weinman
Schwartz – Giovanni Tortorici
Esther Jane – Shea Jones
Helen – Alice Garriga
Ralph (the narrator) – Allan Edwards*
The Old Man – Mark Kincaid*
Mother – Sherman Fracher*
Miss Shields – LaLa Cochran

*Indicates member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

Ralphie Parker wants just one thing for Christmas, just one thing: an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model BB Rifle with a Compass in the Stock. But can Ralphie survive the last several days before Christmas and overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles to his owning the precious Red Ryder BB gun? “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.”
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Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris November 26, 2010 – January 2, 2011

Horizon Theatre reprises the outrageous holiday comedy The Santaland Diaries written by NPR comic genius David Sedaris. With more holiday sneer than cheer, this rebel without a Claus recounts the true-life tale of an out of work writer who must take a job as a Macy's Department Store elf.

Box office 404.584.7450 or visit http://www.horizontheatre.com.

TICKET INFORMATION*
Tuesday – Friday 8 PM: Tickets $25General, $40 VIP
Saturday 8:30 PM: Tickets $30 General, $45 VIP
Sunday 6 PM: Tickets $30 General, $45 VIP
*Ticket prices are subject to change. *8% sales tax will be added to all ticket orders. Group, Student & Senior discounts available
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Madeline’s Christmas at Horizon Theatre

Based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans
Book and lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby
Music by Shirley Mier
December 11, 2010 – January 2, 2011

Back by popular demand: A family holiday musical based on the beloved Madeline books.

“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines,” begins the story of Madeline. This holiday season will be unlike any other for Madeline and her friends. While on their morning walk with Miss Clavel, the girls come down with the flu, and as they take to their bed, many wonder if they will be able to go home for Christmas. With the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Madeline and the other girls get a holiday adventure beyond their wildest dreams. A musical play adapted from Ludwig Bemelmans’ delightful book. A holiday treat for the whole family! This charming musical adaptation will be sure to enchant audiences at Horizon Theatre Company this Holiday Season.

Box office 404.584.7450 or visit http://www.horizontheatre.com.

TICKET INFORMATION*
Adult $15 & Children $12
December 11, 2010 – January 2, 2011
Saturdays and Sundays @ 1:00 & 3:30 PM**
**no show on December 25th
School Day Performances:
Tuesday & Wednesday December 14th and 15th at 10:30 am
Weekday performances: Monday, December 13 @ 6:30 PM Tuesday-Wednesday, December 14-15 @ 10:30 AM Monday, December 20 @ 1:00, 3:30 & 6:30 PM Tuesday-Friday, December 21-24 @ 1:00, 3:30 PM Monday - Friday, December 27-31 @ 1:00, 3:30 PM *Ticket prices are subject to change. *8% sales tax will be added to all ticket orders. Group discounts available
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Broadway Across America - Atlanta and Dress for Success Hosting Drive During Dreamgirls

Wednesday, Oct 13

Atlantans invited to spread some magic with donation and discounted tickets

Broadway Across America - Atlanta is partnering with Atlanta’s Professional Women’s Group, the job retention program of Dress for Success, to help make dreams come true for teenage girls throughout Atlanta during the engagement of DREAMGIRLS. On Wednesday, October 13 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., members of Atlanta’s Professional Women’s Group will be onsite at Fox Theatre accepting donations of evening dresses and accessories.

When a donation is made, the donor will receive a voucher that can be exchanged at the Fox Theatre box office (660 Peachtree Street N.E.) for half-priced admission to DREAMGIRLS. Each half-price ticket will be valid for the best seat currently available in the top two tiers of tickets. Donors will get to experience the smash hit musical on October 13 for the bargain price of $16 or $23.

Each year the Professional Women’s Group plans a community service project. This year, members will collect and sort the formal attire and give the donations to various local organizations that provide prom gowns to teens who cannot afford to purchase them. They will also help the girls “shop” and get ready for their big night.

Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, DREAMGIRLS tells the story of an up-and-coming, 1960s singing girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. Hopeful talents Deena Jones, Lorrell Robinson and Effie White are performing as The Dreamettes when ambitious agent Curtis Taylor, Jr. discovers them. He lands them a job as backup singers for the soul and rock ‘n’ roll sensation James “Thunder” Early and begins to guide their quickly rising career. However, when the beautiful Deena emerges as the star of the group rather than the full-voiced Effie, the girls are brought to personal and professional crossroads.
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Driving Miss Daisy at the Legacy Theatre, Tyrone

Show Dates: October 15th-October 31st

Show Times: Friday-Saturday 8PM and Saturday-Sunday 3PM

Ticket Prices: Adults $25, Seniors 60 and older/Students 13 and older $22, and Children 12 and under $15

Group Rates: Groups with 20 people or more get tickets for only $20 per person! The group leader also receives a free ticket!

Join The Legacy Theatre for three more weekends of this amazing show! Winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway play. A warm-hearted, humorous and affecting study of the unlikely relationship between an aging, crotchety white Southern lady, and a proud, soft-spoken black man. A long-running Off-Broadway success and an Academy Award-winning film. Rated PG.

To purchase tickets please visit www.thelegacytheatre.org, or call 404-895-1473

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

A Christmas Carol - Alliance Holds One Day Sale Oct 11

Just like October has probably snuck up on you (yes, it's true, it's October), Christmas will be here before you know it. But Christmas doesn't really arrive in Atlanta until you've seen A Christmas Carol here at the Alliance.

To ensure that you get the best seats at the best prices for this year's edition, you'll want to mark your calendars for Monday, October 11, for our One Day Sale!

What is the One Day Sale?

On Monday, October 11, tickets to select performances of A Christmas Carol will be Buy One, Get One at 50% Off! Available performances are linked below. For this offer, please use Promo Code ONEDAYSALE. If purchasing online, please note that all tickets are listed as being 25% off - these savings are equivalent to buy one, get one 50% off. The One Day Sale offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets and it is based on availability.

Available Dates
November 26 at 8 p.m. »
November 27 at 2:30 p.m. »
November 27 at 8 p.m. »
November 28 at 2:30 p.m. »
November 28 at 7:30 p.m. »
December 3 at 8 p.m. »
December 5 at 7:30 p.m. »