Oh, boy! Here it is, the show I’ve been dying to see since it rocked me out of my chair while watching the Tony Awards in 2009! “Billy Elliott the Musical” ended up winning 10 Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical.
The play, adapted from the 2000 film “Billy Elliott,” is about an 11-year-old boy who struggles to become a dancer. His father, a coal miner who is out on strike during the 1984-1985 UK miners strike, forbids him to take ballet and encourages him to take boxing lessons. Against the odds, Billy struggles to pursue his dream of becoming a dancer in spit of his father’s wishes.
When Sir Elton John saw the film “Billy Elliott” screened at the Cannes Film Festival, he was so touched by Billy’s struggles–which he has said resembled his own personal struggles growing up–he began writing the music for “Billy Elliott the Musical.”
The musical has been playing in London consistently since 2005, and my mother said the Broadway show she saw was phenomenal.
The national touring company coming to the Fox Theatre played in Miami earlier this month, and the Miami Herald raved about it.
Music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, the show runs at the Fox Theatre through March 18.
Take it from Late Night With David Letterman band leader Paul Shaffer, who had seen “Jersey Boys” three times in its first year alone on Broadway, this is a show not to be missed. Out of all the shows I’ve seen in the past couple of years, there are less than a handful I’d see again this year. But I could not be more thrilled that “Jersey Boys” is coming back to Atlanta’s Fox Theatre.
Originally I was reluctant about seeing this show when I went a couple of years ago. I imagined a sappy, flat, dull script about Frankie Valli and corny songs. But from the moment the lights went up on the cast, I knew it was going to be terrific. The stage and the cast had that rare energy that was electrifying. The play floated seamlessly as it moved from scene to scene with more drama and more obstacles, enveloping me each step of the way. I don’t know when I have cared so much for so many characters.
Whether this cast is going to be as stellar as the one here in Atlanta in 2009, remains to be seen. But I’m getting my tickets now.
You can see my earlier review here.
“Jersey Boys” will play in Atlanta at the Fox Theatre May 22-June 10.
On sale now, ticket prices start at $28 and are available through the Fox Theatre Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, online at BroadwayinAtlanta or by phone at 1-800-982-2787.
- Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess and the Goblin” Photo: Kim Kenney
Atlanta Ballet presents the world premiere of Twyla Tharp’s “The Princess and the Goblin.” But it ain’t all ballet.
Whether you like the ballet or find it boring as hell, this may change your mind. Because Tharp mixes a variety of styles in her humorous choreography, filled with dancers who mock one another with flexed feet, squiggly squirms and, yes, even a slap of krumping.
Tharp has a knack for story telling. Just as her masterpiece and world premiere of “Come Fly With Me” needed no words to tell stories, neither does this fairytale about a princess who discovers the town’s children are being kidnapped by a goblin.
Tharp not only choreographed the show, for six weeks she worked with the dancers, which include members of the Atlanta Ballet, and 11 ballet students ranging in age from 7 to 15. She shaped these dancers like no one else could.
Tharp, 70, is one of the most prominent choreographers of our day. After studying with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham, she joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company before she began her own company, Twyla Tharp Dance, in 1969. She has choreographed for dance companies around the world and five Hollywood movies, and has directed and choreographed four Broadway shows. Her numerous awards include a Tony Award and two Emmy Awards.
Atlanta Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) co-commissioned Tharp to create a world premiere. Both companies shared resources and split costs down the middle. Atlanta Ballet built all the sets and RWB offered the expertise of their costume designer who created the costumes. RWB dance company will premiere the show in October.
Story by George McDonald, conceived, directied and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, music by Richard Burke. Co-porduced by Atlanta Ballet and Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
“The Princess and the Goblin” runs through Feb. 19 at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.
Atlanta Ballet Company
Jacob Bush
Rachel Van Buskirk
Peng-Yu Chen
Christian Clark
Pedro Gamino
Heath Gill
Jonah Hooper
Yoomi Kim
Tara Lee
Nadia Mara
Jackie Nash
Brandon Nguyen*
Tommy Panto
Alessa Rogers
Claire Stallman*
Abigail Tan
Jared Tan
Jesse Tyler
John Welker
Christine Winkler
HarryYamakawa*
Lisa Barrieau (Apprentice)
Nayomi Van Brunt (Apprentice)*
Melissa Mitchell (Apprentice)*
Pablo Sanchez (Apprentice)*
Miguel Montoya (Apprentice)
Briley Jozwiak (Fellowship)
Children’s Cast
Stella McFallFlannery BogostSophie Basarrate
Tristan Bogost
Charlotte Brewer
Christina Carlos
Catherine Carlos
Hanae Dillon
Anna Scott Johnson
Pryor Krugman
Joshua Nunamaker
Kevin Silverstein
Cameron Walls
Not only has Horizon Theatre brought back “Avenue Q” for a second time in less than a year, the show has been extended through March 11. If the cast is as good as last year’s, it’s no wonder Atlanta can’t get enough.
A Sesame Street-type irreverent comedy for adults, this is the perfect show for even those who don’t like musical theater.
Whether you’ve seen “Avenue Q” on Broadway or the national touring company that whipped in and out of the Cobb Energy Center a couple of years ago, it’s worth it to see the show at Horizon.
Horizon’s cast, intimate theater setting and palpable energy make the show even better than the national production. The current cast features some of the same performers at Horizon’s original version.
“Avenue Q” is a Tony Award winner for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. Horizon’s production won seven 2011 Suzi Bass Awards, Atlanta’s version of the Tony Awards.
“Avenue Q” runs through March 11 at Horizon Theatre.
“Memphis, the 2010 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical, hits the Fox Theatre this week.
Judging from the bios on the website, this cast is going to be first rate. Members have danced with Ailey II, appeared in Broadway shows, as well as in the Broadway “Memphis” cast, and have performed at Carnegie Hall and with Cirque du Soleil.
Story by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), Tony Award-winning original score by David Bryan (Bon Jovi) and Joe DiPietro, direction by Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).
“Memphis” runs Jan. 31-Feb. 5 at The Fox Theatre.
Jasmine Guy, Geoffrey Darnell Williams, and Keith Randolph Smith. Photo: Greg Moody
The Alliance Theatre is bustin loose and banging heads in “God of Carnage.” A rip, roarin’ drag-out fight ensues between couples who try to act civilly after the Raleigh’s son knocks out two teeth and disfigures the son of the Novaks.
Within this 90-minute play, writer Yasmina Reza takes the Novaks and the Raleighs on a roller coaster wave of emotions, and the cast’s fine actors bring the audience right along with them.
Keith Randolph Smith is hilarious as Michael Novak, who goes from sedate, adoring, obedient husband and son to cynical, unruly lout.
This production has so much going for it–a great script and wonderful acting–but the vomit scene is too much like a Linda Blair cartoon with volcano-erupting vomit. Nonetheless, the cast and script are great. This is a definite go-see-it.
Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, “God of Carnage” runs through Feb. 4 at the Alliance Theatre.
Directed by Kent Gash, “God of Carnage” features Jasmine Guy, Crystal Fox, and Geoffrey Darnell Williams.
“Blast!,” which won the 2001 Tony Award-winner for Best Special Theatrical Event and the 2001 Emmy Award for Best Choreography, will be at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre through Sunday.
Think “Stomp” with martial arts, gymnastics and halftime show-like marching bands.
“Blast!” features 35 brass and percussion players performing classical, blues, jazz, rock ‘n roll, and techno-pop music.
Tickets for evening and matinee shows are available at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Murphey, Benzinger, French, Levison; Photo: Offhand
Anything else, good?
A few jolts of humor, some basic humanitarian points: we should all be equal no matter our creed, sexual orientation, religion or color.
Sorry to say, nothing else here folks.
On stage, there is rarely a true connection between Luke and Adam. Their candle-maker boss, Holly (Jennifer Levison),says lines but fails to connect with anyone.
Whether it’s the fault of the play or the director, something does not gel. Although the play is no masterpiece, by itself it probably isn’t bad. But when you watch it with actors who fail to connect to one another and actually come to life on stage rather than just say lines, it’s hard to tell whether the play could be good.
When Luke (Joe Sykes) winds up in the hospital after a traffic accident, his parents (Arlene and Butch), friends and live-in lover, Adam (Mitchell Anderson), and former lover Brandon (John Benzinger) meet up in the hospital. Scenes flash forward and back from the couple’s first encounter to Luke’s final demise.
I’ve seen staged readings with more life than this production.
“Next Fall” by Geoffrey Nauffts, directed by Kate Warner, runs through Feb. 11 at Actor’s Express.
In March Actor’s Express presents the Atlanta premiere of “The Motherf**ker With the Hat, named “Top Ten of 2011” by the New York Times.
There’s no disputing Megan Gogerty is a talented writer who has written a fresh one-woman show about her life as a mother, daughter and wife. As an actor, however, she has a way to go.
In “Feet First in the Water with a Baby in My Teeth,” Gogerty paints a clear picture of her life as a new mom. Her arm becomes a baby, her baby a butterball turkey, and a step stool becomes a whining toddler who refuses to put on his pants. I see it before my very eyes.
Her writing rings true to life, and she has worked out the moments of the script so that she hits the mark each time. The problem is the mark is off base.
Gogerty tends to emote and push her acting. It’s over the top and not true to life. It appears as if she has mapped out each moment in her script to be carefully acted. She knows how she wants her acting to appear. She pretends to be excited. She pretends to be angry. She pretends to be scared. She asks a question to the audience and pretends not to hear the one person who answers quite loudly.
Gogerty may have lived the script in real life. She doesn’t live it on stage. She acts it on stage. If she could actually scold her child rather than pretend to get mad him, she’d have us with her. You want to be with her, in her world, because her script is novel, funny and interesting.
From the name of her play to the moniker of her son “Turk”—the butterball turkey baby who weighed 10 pounds at birth—Gogerty is a writer through and through.
Naysayers will no doubt write me and defend Gogerty. They’ll say it’s hard to capture an audience in a one-woman show and that her acting is meant to be lively. But truth is truth. That is what makes her script so good. She writes with the kind of deep truth we experience that people pretend not to see–the truth about the pains of raising a baby and not going as far as we would have liked to in our careers.
I believe the stories Gogerty tells no matter how far out they seem. I believe her story about her great-grandmother who worked in the kitchen of a steamboat on the Mississippi River. When a fire struck the boat, even though she was a 16-year-old mother who couldn’t swim, she grabbed her baby, jumped feet first into the water, and dog-paddled a half mile to shore, clutching her baby in her teeth by the diaper. Whether Gogerty’s stories are true, I believe in them because her writing is so descriptive and lively.
Great scripts for one-woman shows are hard to find. And when a great, comedic actress finds this one, it’s going to be one hell of a show.
Synchronicity Theatre presents “Feet First in the Water with a Baby in My Teeth,” written and performed by Megan Gogerty and directed by Alexis Chamow, through Dec. 18 at the Balzer Theater at Herren’s.
Named “Best Comedian of the Year” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and a two-time winner of the International Magic Award for “Best Comedy Magician,” the Amazing Jonathan hits the Punchline today and runs through the weekend.
Like the wacky comic magicians Penn & Teller, the Amazing Jonathan is like no other and has been dubbed one of the funniest comic performers in Las Vegas.
With more than 25 years as a grotesque and gruesome comic magician, Jonathan has performed on “Late Night With David Letterman,” “The Wayne Brady Show,” “The World’s Wildest Magicians” and dozens of other TV shows.
A Las Vegas headliner, the Amazing Jonathan describes himself as the Freddy Krueger of comedy. I couldn’t have said it any better.
The Amazing Jonathan plays The Punchline in Sandy Springs Thursday-Sunday. Tickets are $20 Thursday and $30 Friday-Sunday.
