Becoming Dear Evan Hansen
The North American touring production that begins in Denver ‘has a beautiful and generous and important message’ for families, its director says.
A Beginner’s Guide to Newark Slang
Francesco Castelluccio, better known by his stage name, Frankie Valli, was born in the First Ward of Newark, New Jersey in 1934. A working-class neighborhood filled with immigrants, the world in which Frankie Valli grew up would have been a mashup of Italian and American culture. The colorful language that has become synonymous with North […]
The Mob in Denver
The Smaldone family, Denver’s version of the Mafia, was low key, unlike their more high-profile brethren in New York, Chicago and New Jersey. They wore big hats and spiffy suits, but they didn’t race around town in big cars, mowing down rivals. In fact, they weren’t in the Mafia. Isolated far out in Denver, they […]
Who Are The Four Seasons?
Compiled from material by Center Theatre Group How is it possible that The Four Seasons have been part of American culture for four-and-a-half decades, and who they are has remained a mystery? Why is it that we have known their songs by heart while knowing or learning little about the singers? Four Seasons lead singer […]
“No one here is boring:” Actor Profiles from Tootsie
By: Madison Stout Think you know the kooky characters from Tootsie? How about the actors behind the names? The national tour’s cast of Tootsie shared some of their interesting audition experiences and how they relate to the characters they play on stage. See their responses here! Michael Dorsey’s egotistical, stubborn caricature is a stark contrast […]
What Really Happened… Rick Elice Talks About The Jersey Boys Phenomenon
By: Diane Snyder Forget about show-stopping finales. In Jersey Boys, the smash-hit musical about the rise and fall of The Four Seasons, the pinnacle of excitement comes about 45 minutes into the first act. That’s when back-to-back presentations of three of the group’s biggest hits — “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a […]
The Costume Design of Jersey Boys
Music can certainly transport you to a different time and place, but if that time and place is before your time and place, you might need a bit more context. Enter the costume designer. This artist — along with the set, prop and lighting designers among others — helps to take an audience on a […]
A Show for Everybody: Emphasizing friendship, Jersey Boys crosses generations and wins new fans
By: David Freeland Jersey Boys, the Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning Broadway musical about the spectacular rise of pop icons Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, has been seen worldwide by over 24 million people, all of them captivated by the dazzling recreations of classic 1960s hits such as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Can’t […]
The World of Hip Hop: Where in the metro area to learn about hip hop through dance, art and observation
By: Linnea Covington For Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and original star of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, hip hop helped him stand out and propel him into stardom. Not only that, but Hamilton also gave hip hop another way to push to the forefront of American culture. But hip hop is more than just dancing and […]