Theater & Arts category, Page 26
Stopped cold: ‘Frozen’ musical on Broadway will not reopen
NEW YORK — The big budget musical “Frozen” will not reopen when Broadway theaters restart, marking the first time an established show has been felled by the coronavirus pandemic. Until now, only shows that were waiting to officially open have announced postponements or cancellations. Disney still has “The Lion King”...
Broadway shutdown extended until at least Labor Day
The shutdown on Broadway due to coronavirus concerns has been extended again — until at least early September. Although an exact date for performances to resume has yet to be determined, Broadway producers are now offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for shows through Sept. 6. “While all Broadway...
Roy Horn, dark-haired half of flamboyant illusionists Siegfried & Roy, dies of complications related to coronavirus
Roy Horn, the dark-haired half of Siegfried & Roy, the flamboyant, German-born illusionists whose lavish stage productions and trademark disappearing white tigers and lions made them one of the biggest draws on the Las Vegas Strip, died Friday. He was 75. Horn, who suffered a severe wound to his neck...
Mountain Playhouse cancels its upcoming productions
Mountain Playhouse in Jennerstown, Somerset County, has canceled its upcoming summer and fall productions. “Unfortunately, it has become clear to the staff and board of directors that due to the ongoing concerns regarding (covid-19), the Mountain Playhouse cannot produce our 2020 season as planned,” said Patricia Carnevali, executive director and...
Adapting: Dance students, teachers adjust to life during coronavirus pandemicVideo
Editor’s note: Adapting is a regular series spotlighting the ways the global coronavirus pandemic is changing the everyday lives of people in Western Pennsylvania. Nine months ago, Isabel Ganovsky and her fellow senior dance majors at North Carolina’s Elon University started planning their senior thesis project. “We chose to create...
Gemini Children’s Theater offers online ‘Wonderland’ video, activitiesVideo
Children can go through the looking glass with Gemini Children’s Theater for an online “Alice in Wonderland” adventure. The McKees Rocks-based theater has posted a video and series of activities based on Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s story. Suggested for children ages 3 and up, the video fearturing members of the...
Pittsburgh CLO cancels entire summer season of musicals
Pittsburgh CLO canceled all of its summer season of musicals. The decision was made as a result of uncertainties and risks related to the covid-19 pandemic, according to Executive Producer and CEO Van Kaplan. The season was set to open June 2 with national tours of “The SpongeBob Musical” and...
Brian Dennehy, Tony-winning stage, screen actor, dies at 81
NEW YORK— Brian Dennehy, the burly actor who started in films as a macho heavy and later in his career won plaudits for his stage work in plays by William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov, Eugene O’Neill and Arthur Miller, has died. He was 81. Dennehy died Wednesday night of natural causes...
Kids can join theater’s ‘Pirates of the Mon’ online adventuresVideo
Children are invited to set sail from home with Gemini Children’s Theater for an action-packed “Pirates of the Mon” adventure. The McKees Rocks-based theater has posted a video in which Allegheny Annie and Captain Schnook board the Black and Gold Pearl in search of the Triangle Treasure. In order to...
‘Penn State Presents’ airs nightly livestream featuring alumni, students
John Simpkins, head of musical theater at Penn State University, was not happy at having to cancel the performances theater students would have put on this spring due to the coronavirus pandemic. In an effort to continue bringing Nittany Lion students’ talents to the public, Simpkins is hosting “Penn State...
How do Broadway stars cope with silent theaters? They singVideo
The coronavirus silenced Broadway. It could not silence two of its rising stars. Samantha Pauly and Brittney Mack, who play two wives of Henry VIII in the musical “Six,” have turned their disappointment at having their musical on hold by doing what they do best — singing for an audience,...
‘Hamilton’ cast reunites to sing for young fanVideo
Poor 9-year-old Aubrey’s dream of seeing “Hamilton” was dashed by coronavirus. But thanks to social media and some kind hearts, the young fan got something far, far better. By now, you’ve likely heard about John Krasinski’s “Some Good News,” a low-budget, weekly show on YouTube that shares only positive, feel-good...
Westmoreland Night of the Stars musical showcase postponed
Westmoreland Night of the Stars, the annual showcase of area school musicals, has been postponed. The 24th annual performances were originally scheduled to take place May 6-7 in The Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Organizers have yet to decide whether the showcase can be held at a later date or if...
Learn about Irish playwrights via PICT free webinar series
The lives of influential Irish playwrights will be explored in a five-week interactive online webinar series presented by PICT Classic Theatre. “The Irishing of English Theatre” will begin at 2 p.m. Fridays beginning April 3, and will be presented by Alan Stanford, artistic and executive director of the Pittsburgh-based theater...
Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks needs cast for fall play
“Cymbeline” has been chosen as the 16th-season production for Pittsburgh Shakespeare in the Parks. The play will run in various parks on Saturday and Sunday afternoons each weekend in September. Early evening shows also are planned for Sept. 11 and 18 at Schenley Plaza in Oakland. The tragedy is set...
Tony Awards postponed indefinitely due to coronavirus
The 74th Tony Awards have been postponed indefinitely due to the novel coronavirus. The Broadway-lauding ceremony was scheduled to air on CBS, broadcasting live on June 7 from Radio City Music Hall in New York City. It was announced Wednesday that the event will be postponed and rescheduled at a...
Ligonier Valley’s ‘Oz’ adds extra song, roles to familiar musical fantasyVideo
Editor’s note: Due to the coronovirus pandemic, high school musicals have been postponed. Ligonier Valley High School’s musical production of “The Wizard of Oz” will offer plenty of familiar reference points for those who have grown up cherishing the classic MGM film of L. Frank Baum’s fantasy. “We’re doing the...
Summer theaters making adjustments for coronavirus restrictions
“The show must go on” — the phrase is said to have originated with 19th-century circuses, where audiences were to be kept calm and entertained at any cost, even if a performer was injured or a wild animal escaped. The saying was adopted by theater groups, who likewise would improvise...
20/20 Performing Arts founders talk theater, inspirationVideo
Two Penn-Trafford High School alums have a “perfect vision” of how to share their love of theater with young performers. Madison Nick and Jonathan Heinbaugh, both of Penn Township, are co-founders of 20/20 Performing Arts, a new school that focuses on providing acting classes, workshops and summer camps to students...
Saint Vincent Summer Theatre cancels season
Saint Vincent College has canceled the 2020 season of Saint Vincent Summer Theatre, citing travel and other gathering restrictions associated with covid-19. Plans were for the season to open May 21 with “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” “This is certainly a difficult and unfortunate decision as Saint Vincent Summer Theatre has been...
‘Mamma Mia’ comes to Jeannette High School stageVideo
Editor’s note: Due to the coronovirus pandemic, high school musicals have been postponed. It looks fun — Jeannette seniors Jada Bass, Kiara Frederick and Jenna Painter sing and dance together on stage to ABBA’s hit “Dancing Queen.” But perfecting the steps and lines has taken months for the trio who...
Broadway shuts its doors over ongoing coronavirus concerns
NEW YORK — New York’s governor ordered all Broadway theaters to shut their doors in the face of ongoing coronavirus concerns, plunging into darkness one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions and causing turmoil in the run-up to the Tony Awards. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday banned gatherings of...
‘Hunchback’ coming to Greensburg Salem Middle SchoolVideo
It’s not easy playing The Hunchback of Notre Dame, according to Greensburg Salem Middle School student Loyal Wesley Heverly. “One of the hard parts about Quasimodo is, I just have to bend down all the time, and it hurts my back,” joked Heverly, 13, who has the title role in...
Norwin goes ‘under the sea’ for spring musicalVideo
Editor’s note: The Norwin High School production of “The Little Mermaid” has not been canceled. During this unprecedented time, the production has been postponed until medical professionals and government officials deem it safe for public schools to reconvene. New performance dates will be released. All current ticket holders will then...
Catch a one-of-a-kind retelling of Shakespeare at the Geyer
Seeing Actors and Artists of Fayette County’s production of “The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged” is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No, really, it’s a one-time, never-see-it-like-this-again show. Director Andrew Johnson of Donora said that’s because the play written by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield that parodies the plays of...
