This week’s BEST BETS: March 31st – April 6th finds two new exciting festivals, a classic Jason Robert Brown musical making its way to Broadway, George Clooney on Broadway and a truly terrific absolutely true story about Liza Minnelli.
LIZA: A TRULY TERRIFIC ABSOLUTELY TRUE STORY – American Masters/PBS – Beginning April 1st
You’d have to be a fool to skip this opportunity to see and hear Liza Minnelli talking about her life and career. From being Judy Garland’s daughter to winning an Oscar for Cabaret to appearing in multiple shows on Broadway, Minnelli has had quite the career. Then there’s her personal life.
Amongst her friends and colleagues who appear in this film are Jim Caruso, Darren Criss, Mia Farrow, Michael Feinstein, Joel Grey, George Hamilton, Chita Rivera and Ben Vereen. Bruce Davd Klein wrote, directed and produced the film.
Check local listings are go PBS.Org or use the PBS app to watch Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story.
DENVER JAZZ FESTIVAL – Denver, CO – Multiple Venues – April 3rd – April 6th
Denver joins the list of cities in America that has a jazz festival with its first-ever Denver Jazz Festival.
Amongst the artists performing this year are Isaiah Collier, Bill Frisell, Ghost-Note, Joe Lovano, Dianne Reeves and Omar Sosa. There are 29 shows to choose from over 4 days.
Good luck to the Denver Jazz Festival. Here’s to a smashing success!
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK – Winter Garden Theatre – New York, NY – Opening Night April 3rd – June 8th
Back in the days when the nightly news was the only source of television news, Edward R. Murrow was one of its finest journalists. During the McCarthy era, Murrow confronted Senator Joseph McCarthy in a legendary interview.
George Clooney told the story in his 2005 film Good Night, And Good Luck that he co-wrote with Grant Heslov. The film received six Academy Award nominations and remains one of the best films of that year.
Heslov and Clooney have adapted their film into this play having its world premiere production. Clooney takes on the role of Murrow and Glenn Fleshler takes on the role Clooney played in the film – Fred Friendly. As no actor is listed as playing McCarthy, it is probably fair to assume that the play will, like the film, employ actual footage of the senator from Murrow’s interview with him.
I really loved this movie and can’t wait to see the play. David Cromer (Prayer for the French Republic) directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
LA SEEN FESTIVAL – The Soraya – Northridge, CA – April 6th – April 26th
In Woody Allen’s film Annie Hall, Alvy Singer (Allen) states that he doesn’t want to live in a city (Los Angeles) whose only cultural advantage is “being ability to make a right turn on a red light.”
This new series at The Soraya, LA SEEN, proves, once again, that however funny that line is, it wasn’t true then and it isn’t true now.
The festival opens on April 6th with newly commissioned arrangements by Terence Blanchard of music from his two operas: Champion and Fire Shut Up In My Bones. Blanchard will perform with the E-Collective, Turtle Island Quartet and singers Justin Austin and Adrienne Danrich.
On April 12th conductor Stéphane Denéve leads The Colburn Orchestra in a concert featuring Gershwin’s An American in Paris; Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 in G major.
On April 17th, Adrian Younge celebrates the upcoming release of the third album in his Something About April trilogy. He and his ensemble will perform selections from all three of those albums with full orchestra.
The festival closes on April 26th in a program called LA Dances Graham100. The work of Martha Graham is celebrated in performances by members of her eponymous Dance Company, the Lula Washington Dance Theatre, USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, CSUN Dance and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Dance. There are seven pieces on the program.
For tickets and more information, click on the date above for the individual programs or go HERE for an overview of the full series.
THE LAST FIVE YEARS – Hudson Theatre – New York, NY – Opening Night April 6th – June 22nd
Jason Robert Brown’s two-character musical gets its first Broadway production even though the show debuted in Chicago in 2001. It tells the story of a couple and their relationship. Jamie is an on-the-rise author. Cathy is a struggling actress.
Brown, who wrote the book, lyrics and music, tells the story in a wholly unique way. Jamie’s story starts, as stories usually do, at the beginning of their relationship. Cathy’s story is told in reverse starting with their break-up. They only meet up for two songs in the middle of the show. Everything else is a solo number for the show’s actors.
In this case they are Nick Jonas as Jamie and Tony Award-winner Adrienne Warren as Cathy. Whitney White directs.
The Last Five Years is a terrific musical with great songs that has been loved by musical fans for over 20 years.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
That’s it for Best Bets: March 31st – April 6th. Enjoy your week and go see a show!
Main Photo: Adrian Yonge (Courtesy The Soraya)