Results tagged “jamessugg”

Cherry Bomb, the title of 1812 Productions' current production is intentionally self-descriptive: the show chronicles the very real Vaudeville career of the Cherry sisters—who, in every performance, bombed. And yet for a while, these teetotaling, uppity Midwesterners sold out some of America's largest theatres. People came from miles away to see just how bad the Cherry Sisters could be. And the answer was: pretty damned bad. Clearly, this story had great potential for the kind of comic fodder that 1812 thrives on—potential that Jennifer Childs (book and lyrics) and James Sugg (music) were well aware of.

, Pig Iron Theatre Company's fundraiser, only happens once per year, so we're not going to trouble you with a full review that might make your mouth water and your jealousy rise. If you weren't there, try to make it next year. That's all.

Last year's For the Love of Pig Iron benefit show, "PIG FEAT!" was one of the best performances we saw all year. This one-night-only variety show featured drag acts, dancing, music, and the most spirited, competitive, live auction we've ever seen. We knew we'd be back in 2008.

A whole slew of new listings now that the new year has begun. We couldn't fit them all here, so be sure you follow the jump to see what else is opening in the Greater Philadelphia region. Now, on with the listings!

One of the most common, and legitimate, criticisms of the music of Stephen Sondheim by performers and critics alike is that he's not tuneful enough. "Hummable," I think is the word most often used by these critics.

, Pig Iron Theatre Company's latest original work, which deals simultaneously with Chekhovian theory and contemporary neuroscience. (Don't worry, it's not as boring or serious as it sounds.)

Chekhov Lizardbrain Ticket Giveaway
3/19/07-3/23/07

(James Sugg) (Future performances).

The Sea: The Sea is a "rock opera" about a young man going to sea, and his subsequent life as a sailor. Like the rock operas that have preceeded it (e.g. Tommy & The Wall) The Sea is composed of individual songs telling individual stories, which work together to tell a larger tale, as opposed to the traditional opera form where the narrative is presented through sung dialog. In this case, the songs are presented as chapters to the story, each when named by the description of what is to happen therein.

Waiting to hear award show results? They might not be the Oscars, but the Barrymore Awards, Philadelphia theatre’s answer to the Tonys, were announced last Monday. Both Philadelphia Theatre Company and the Arden did remarkably well this year, each scooping an Outstanding Production award. PTC won Outstanding Production of a Play for their touching rendition of Take Me Out, the Broadway smash about a gay baseball player’s coming out (and did we mention everyone gets naked? Here’s hoping for a revival); the Arden won Outstanding Production of a Musical for the darkly comic Sweeney Todd. Terry Nolan also picked up best direction for Sweeney. Maria Mileaf had a surprising win over Jim Christy, director of Take Me Out, for her direction of The Story, a tale of race and journalism at PTC. Jim probably wasn’t too miffed, though – he picked up a lifetime achievement award.