by George Patterson, New Orleans
AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN
Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 504.581.5812; cabaretlechatnoir.com.
Francine Segal's Brava Productions presents this Douglas Carter Beane comedy in which she also stars as Alexa Vere de Vere, a cross between Holly Golightly and Sally Bowles, who takes a newly successful (Gay) writer named Evan Wyler on a wild carousel ride for ever more fame and fortune only to have her giddy bee drown in all that promised honey. Others in the cast who play many roles are Kristopher Kael, Bob Edes, Jr., Mary Lee Gibbons and Leah Loftin. David Hoover directs; David Raphel does the scenic design; Su Gonczy, lighting design; and Tony French, costume design. Krewe of Petronius sponsors opening night, May 10. Call 504.525.4498 for tickets. Thurs. - Sat., 8pm, through June 16.
THE BINDLESTIFF FAMILY CIRKUS & AUTONOMADIC BOOKMOBILE ROADSHOW
Shim Sham Club, 615 Toulouse St., 504.565.5400; shimshamclub.com.
This company of six (who may or may not be related) come to town for one performance only. See sideshow stunts! Circus skills! Live music! Daredevil feats! Magic! Novelty Acts! And Much More!! Sat., May 12, 10pm.
BROWN
True Brew Cafe, 200 Julia St., 504.524.8441.
Experience the sell-out improvisational comedy show formerly at Movie Pitchers featuring the quick wits of Andy Hebert, Bill Berry, P. H. Fred, Ken LaFrance, Rene Maxwell, Erika Hamburg and our favorite Sean Patterson. This sextet use audience suggestions to create on-the-spot original sketches, songs and sight gags. You are encouraged to bring a prop to the show and you may even be invited to join the cast for a game of "Feeze Tag." Sat., 11pm.
THE CIVIL WAR
Saenger Theatre, N. Rampart & Canal Sts.; 504.522.5555; groups of 20 or more, 504.569.1520.
Larry Gatlin stars in a newly conceived national tour of composer Frank Wildhorn's folk rock take on the War Between the States, written by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy and directed by Stephen Rayne, with musical staging by Peter Pucci, scenic design by Douglas W. Schmidt; lighting design by Howell Binkley; costume design by Christin Hanak; and projections by Wendall K. Harrington. Tues. - Sat., 8pm, Thurs., Sat. & Sun., 2pm, May 15 - May 20.
KIKI LE BONBON'S CABARET OH-LA-LA
Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 504.944.0771.
The Running With Scissors theatre company that just concluded a successful production of Charles Ludlam's Camille at the un-air-conditioned ARK space has gone from a cesspool on St. Charles Ave. (Audubon Hotel, Texas Chainsaw 90210) to the classy, clean, cool and smokeless Le Chat Noir, also on St. Charles, in six months! This entertainment, attempting to recreate a Paris cabaret circa 1920, features Dorian Rush as Kiki le Bonbon with John d'Addario, Susie K., Jim Jeske, Marcie Hesseling, Laura Freeman, Alana Kumbier, with Flynn DeMarco, Jason Toups, Veronica Oliver & Allyson Garro as the Kiki le Bonbon Dancers. Fri., May 18, 25, June 1 & 8, 11pm.
LATE NITE CATECHISM
Le Petit's Director's Studio, 616 St. Peter St., 504.522.2081; group sales, 504.822.7211.
Theatricks, Inc. and The Directors Studio of Le Petit Theatre present the regional premiere of this off-Broadway comedy hit by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan. Local actress Amanda Hebert (or Adriana Bate) plays the Sister who teaches an adult catechism class to a roomful of "students" (the audience). Sister goes from benevolent instructor to authoritative drill sergeant. Thurs. - Sat., 8pm; Sun., 2pm & 6pm.
LONESOME WEST
FreeportMcMoRan Theatre, Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 504.528.3800; ticketweb.com or 1.800.965.4827.
Michael Cahill's Beefield Productions presents the second of Martin McDonagh's Leenane trilogy after scoring with the first, Beauty Queen of Leenane, last year. The story of two brothers (Robert Montgomery and Michael Cahill) living alone in their father's house after his recent death who find it impossible to exist without the most massive and violent disputes over the most mundane and innocent of topics, Variety called it no less than "the funniest, most mature and most dramatically satisfying play of the trilogy." Also in the cast are Bob Scully and Kara Hadigan, with Janet Shea directing. Fri. & Sat., 8pm, Sun., 2pm, May 18 - June 3.
MICHAEL FLATLEY'S LORD OF THE DANCE
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, MS, 888.566.7469.
Michael Flatley, the original American star of Ireland's Riverdance, has created another such revue utilizing a cast of 40 dancers illustrating the battle between the Dark Lord and the Lord of the Dance, through a combination of tap, ballet and jazz techniques presented with an Irish flair. Michael Flatley, creator of Lord of the Dance, will function as artistic director for the run of the show. Tues. & Sat., 7 & 9:30pm; Wed. & Thurs., 8pm; and, Sun., 3 & 7pm.
PLAZA SUITE
Carlone's Dinner Theatre, 100 N. Labarre Rd. (at Causeway), 504.838.9906.
C. Patrick Gendusa directs this Neil Simon classic comprised of three one acts all taking place in a suite at N.Y.'s tony hotel. Nigel Mist and Suzaune Yee McKamey portray the three couples, supported by Alex Beaudry and Michael Miller. Buffet from 6:30pm, Fri. & Sat., show at 8pm; buffet from noon, Sun., show at 2pm, through June 10.
PURLIE
Ty Tracy Theatre, Gallier Hall, 545 St. Charles Ave., 504.565.7860.
Ty Tracy directs the NORD spring production of this musical adaptation of Ossie Davis's play, Purlie Victorious, with music by Gary Geld, lyrics by Peter Udell and a book by Mr. Davis. Leo Jones plays Purlie Victorious and also choreographs and provides vocal direction. Donovon Roark is orchestra director; Bob Bruce, costume designer; and, Phil Wagar, sets and lighting designer. Besides a large Gospel chorus, the principals are Carmen White, Sandra Richards, Phillip Watson, Bob Gault, Michael Santora, Lawana Menendez & Gabrielle Porter. May 10, 11, 18 & 25, 8pm; May 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27, 4pm.
RESURRECTION SYMPHONY
Orpheum Theatre, 129 University Place, 504.523.6530; www.lpomusic.com.
The final concert of the season is also a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the twentieth for the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, with Klauspeter Seibel conducting Mahler's Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection." Soprano Amy Burton, mezzo soprano Makiko Marumi and the Symphony Chorus of New Orleans will be featured. Thurs., May 17, 7:30pm; Sat., May 19, 8pm.
ROBBER BRIDEGROOM
Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 345 Minor St., Kenner, LA, 504.468.7221.
The final musical of the season, produced by Charlie Ward and directed by Chip Steltz, with choreography by Lynne Lawrence, is based on a novella by Eudora Welty (who based her story on a Grimm's Fairy Tale of the same name) with a book and lyrics by Alfred Uhry with music by Robert Waldman. This unpretentious bluegrass musical tale about country life along the late 18th century Natchez Trace, told Story Theatre style, features Carlin Benz as Jamie Lockhart, the Robber Bridegroom, with Chrissy Garrett as his would-be bride, Rosamund. Others in the cast are Rick Esposito, Dave Hamby, Joanne Mehrtens, Gary Rucker and Kalon Thibodeaux. Lancer Spellerberg does the sets; Daniel Zimmer, the lights; Julie Winn, the costumes; and Gloria Fallo, the musical direction. Fri. & Sat., 8pm; Sun., 2pm, through May 27. Optional buffet served from 6pm Fri. & Sat., noon, Sun.
ROMEO AND JULIET
Thrust Theater, University of New Orleans Performing Arts Bldg., 504.280-SHOW.
The Lakefront Players in association with New Orleans Classic Theatre presents Shakespeare's tragedy directed by Bert Pigg with Justin Scalise and Billy Slaughter alternating in the roles of Romeo and Mercutio, "as Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud did in their landmark 1935 production" says the press release. Jennifer Carriere plays Juliet. Thurs., Fri. & Sat., 8pm, Sun., 2pm, through May 27.
UNCLE GUNJIRO'S GIRLFRIEND
Freeport-McMoRan Theatre, Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 504.528.3800; cacno.org.
From the CAC Web site: "In Uncle Gunjiro's Girlfriend, multimedia artist Brenda Wong Aoki tells the story of her actual granduncle Gunjiro Aoki, the son of a high-ranking Samurai, and his love, Gladys Emery. The collaborative work exposes their struggle to marry and explores the legacies of shame and prejudice in her family and greater society. Uniting myth, street lore and reality, the piece synthesizes traditional Japanese Theater and modern dance with a live original jazz score by composer Mark Izu, all framed by Nina Mullen's montage of archival footage, headlines and photographs." May 11 & 12, 8pm.
SPRING SYMPHONY
Orpheum Theatre, 129 University Place, 504.523.6530; www.lpomusic.com.
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of maestro Klauspeter Seibel, presents a concert including Bezet's Symphony ion C, Saint-Saens' Violin Concerto No. 3, featuring violinist Elmar Oliveira, and Schumann's Symphony No. 1 ("Spring").Thurs., May 10, 7:30pm & Sat., May 12, 8pm.
IN THE WINGS
BETTY BUCKLEY IN CONCERT
Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, 616 St. Peter St., 504.522.2081.
Broadway Diva Betty Buckley, the original Grizabella in Cats who introduced America to Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Memory,"was the original Norma Desmond in Webber's subsequent Sunset Boulevard, starred in The Mystery of Edwin Drood and has done a slew of cabaret shows, been featured in TV and the movies, will sing a one night concert to benefit the theatre which will include songs by Kurt Weill, Joni Mitchell, Gershwin, James Taylor, Sondheim, Amanda Broom and others. Tickets are $100 and include a post-performance dessert party and a silent auction. Sun., June 17, 8pm.
COMPANIA NACIONAL de DANZA
Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts, 504.522.0996.
In its first U.S. tour since 1994, Nacho Duato, the Artistic Director of the National Dance Company of Spain, brings his inventive choreography, described as poetry in motion, which mixes modern and ballet idioms in a liquid flow of movement, to New Orleans, for one night only. Sat., June 9, 8pm.
SWELLEGANT ELEGANCE
UNO's Performing Arts Center Recital Hall, UNO Campus, 504.524.9595; 504.943.9875; or 504.529.2052; nogmc.com.
The New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus presents this musical revue of the life and music of Cole Porter which features arrangements of your favoirite Porter hits such as "Anything Goes," "My Heart Belongs To Daddy," "Miss Otis Regrets," "Night And Day," "(Find Me A) Primative Man," and many more. Sat., June 9, 8pm; Sun., June 10, 3pm.
TWO TRAINS RUNNING
Anthony Bean Community Theater & Acting School, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave., 504.862.PLAY; anthonybeantheater.com.
Anthony Bean directs August Wilson's first post-civil right play, set in 1969, which examines the uneasy social climate that caused the civic unrest precipitated by the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.The cast boast N.O. Councilman Oliver Thomas and Director of Human Services Dr. Morris Jeff, Jr., with Gwendolyn Foxworth, Wilbert Williams, Jr., Tim Bellow, Loren Blanchard and Will Cavett. Thurs. - Sat., 8pm; Sun., 3pm, June 8 - July 1.
Brought to you by
Over 3.5 MILLION hits per month & 375,000 unique visitors per month
828-A Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70116-3137, USA
PH 1.504.522.8047 FAX 1.504.522.0907