Boston Ballet Season 2011-2012

Last week I wrote about how many fantastic local theater companies there are in Boston in my post, 2011-12 season for local Boston theater companies. This week I wanted to encourage people to consider visiting and supporting the Boston Ballet. Many may not realize this but the Boston Ballet is considered one of the major ballet companies in North America and among the top companies in the world.

Ballet can sometimes be a tough sell for people unfamiliar with it, but it is an amazing dance form that beautifully blends athleticism and art. The Boston Ballet's 2011-2012 season starts in just a few weeks with Romeo & Juliet (Nov. 3-13), followed by The Nutcracker (Nov. 25 - Dec 31).

To see their full season or to purchase tickets visit their website www.bostonballet.org.

2011-2012 season for local Boston theater companies

In September many of Boston's local theater companies begin their 2011-2012 season. Many of these companies provide a more intimate setting than their counterparts in Boston's theater district; and prices for shows are certainly more affordable. Here are a few local theater companies I hope you'll consider supporting.

American Reportory Theater (A.R.T.) is technically in Cambridge and affiliated with Harvard University, but I'd be remiss not to include it. The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess is currently playing and received strong reviews. I've yet to see The Donkey Show in their Oberon theater, which is based on Shakespeare's Midsummer Nights Dream and has performances every Saturday. To see the full 2011-2012 performance calendar or to purchase tickets, visit their website at, www.americanrepertorytheater.org.

Company One is a resident theater company that shares space at the Boston Center for the Arts and is known for embracing innovative and socially provocative performances. Their 13th season will begin in October with In the Red and Brown Water. You can see the rest of their 2011-2012 line up or purchase tickets on their website, www.companyone.org.

Huntington Theatre in residence at Boston University with theater space on Huntington Avenue as well as in the South End at the Calderwood Pavilion has been providing Boston with excellent options to shows in the Theater District. A few years back I was able to see Nathan Lane perform in a production of Butley. Their 2011-2012 season starts in two weeks with Candide. More information about tickets is available on their website, www.huntingtontheatre.org.

Lyric Stage Company of Boston consistently has high quality performances. Last spring their production of Blithe Spirit was one of my favorites. Like many of the smaller theater company's there is not a bad seat in the house so to speak. Their season starts this weekend with Big River. Other notable shows included in their 2011-2012 season include Ain't Misbehavin' and Avenue Q. You can read more and purchase tickets from their website, lyricstage.com.

SpeakEasy Stage is a well-respected local theater company now entering it's 20th season. I have probably seen more productions from the SpeakEasy Stage than any other local theater company. Their 2011 season starts in just a couple weeks with Next Fall a Tony nominee for best play, but I'm intrigued to see their production of Xanadu later in the season. To see the complete line up for their 2011-2012 season and to purchase tickets to upcoming shows at www.speakeasystage.com.

Support Boston's local theater scene and reserve a couple of tickets to a show this September. I promise, you will enjoy yourself.

Free stuff to do in Boston this Friday

Although I'm off to Gotham this weekend, that doesn't mean I'm unaware of all the fun things happening in Boston. If you don't have plans this Friday or if you are tired of doing the same thing, consider one of these options.

Shakespeare on the Common Once again this year, The Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. is providing free performances. This year they are performing All's Well that Ends Well through August 14th down by the bandstand on the Boston Common. Invite that special someone to join you Friday evening under the stars and enjoy some great local theater.

ICA Boston Thanks to the Highland Street Foundation, this Friday (August 5th) Boston's premiere contemporary art museum is free to the public as part of their FREE FUN FRIDAYS series. Be sure to check out their "The Record: Contemporary Art & Vinyl" exhibit. For a small cover charge after taking in the exhibit you can partake in their waterfont dance party "DJs on the harbor: Classic DJ Throwdown".

Of course there are more options such as First Fridays Open Studios, Boston Guerilla Queer Bar which will be overtaking a straight bar in the theater district this month, or joining guys for a drink at Fritz Bar in the South End to watch the Red Sox kick off a hometown series against the Yankees.

Shakespeare on Common starts

Free performances from The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company begins tomorrow, Wednesday, July 27th. Every year The Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. hosts free performances open to the public on the Boston Common. This year's play is All's Well That Ends Well and will run from July 27th thru August 14th. No performances are held on Mondays, from Tuesday through Saturday performances start at 8PM and on Sundays performances start at 7PM.

All's Well That Ends Well is a story of how far one woman will go to win the heart of her beloved. With boundless wit and tenacity Helena pursues the object of her desire, Bertram, from Paris to Florence and through a maze of obstacles.

Will Helena find true love with Bertram? For those familiar with Shakespeare's plays, I think you know already, but come down and see a performance. Support the local art and theater scene by helping to spread the word and planning an evening with friends down on the Common. Local Pizzeria's (e.g. Upper Crust in Beacon Hill) will deliver orders to the show and its easy to smuggle a bottle or two of wine, making an impromptu picnic on the Common.

For more information about the program, The Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. website.

Peter Pansy

Ryan Landry has announced his newest production, Peter Pansy: A musical adventure in faggotry. I have to admit that Landry's musicals tend to be my favorite so I'll be lining up to see this latest production.

Performance information:
Dates May 6th - May 29th
Times Friday & Saturday nights at 8pm
Location 1254 Boylston Street (Machine)
Tickets: $35 general seating / $45 VIP seating
You can purchase tickets to his latest production here.

About Peter Pansy
Peter Pansy is a very mischievous boy who not only has the ability to fly but swishes quite effeminately while doing so! ... Move over Billy Elliot! Living out his never ending childhood on the island of Provincetonia, Peter Pansy is the leader of all things lavender!

When our hero ventures into the "real world" looking for his lost eye shadows he meets the not so darling, Darling children. Wendy - a chronic masturbator, John - a cross dressing academic and Michael - a post pubescent baby. Before you can say Charles Nelson Reilly, Peter gets them all hooked on "Pixie Dust" and up they go... following Peter back to his mythical homeland and a slew of adventures that would make even Michael Jackson spin in his grave!

Patti LuPone in Boston

Tonight, I'm going to see Patti LuPone perform her show The Gypsy in my soul at Symphony Hall. Earlier today a friend offered the extra pair after the couple who originally bought them realized they had a conflict and would not be able to attend. I'm no Broadway aficionado, but Patti LuPone is legendary so I'm looking forward to tonight's performance. Look Mom - I'm trying new things and 'broadening my horizons'.

According to the write-up, Patti LuPone will be accompanied by a 10-piece band and will sing songs from musicals including Gypsy, Anything Goes, and Oliver. I'm sure I won't recognize many of the songs, but I certainly look forward to the performance; hopefully she'll also sing "Don't Cry for me Argentina".

Posting Update
I've just returned from the Patti LuPone show in Boston at Symphony Hall, and I have to say it was BRILLIANT. I really couldn't believe how beautiful she sang and was surprised when the 2 hour show ended. I have a terrible memory so I can't recall all the songs she performed, but if tickets are available in your town - I'd really recommend checking out her show.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company 2011 season presents, All's Well That Ends Well

For years the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has provided free Shakespeare performances on the Boston Common. Although the 2011 performances which are free and open to the public will not begin until the summer, it warms me just to write about this summer tradition.

According to Wikipedia, the play was initially classified as a comedy but is now considered by some as one of his problem plays, so named because it cannot be neatly classified as tragedy or comedy. Inspired by one of Boccaccio's tales from the Decameron, the play centers on Helena, the orphan daughter of a famous physician. This globe-trotting adventure shows how far one woman will go to win the heart of her beloved.

I never read this play and look forward to seeing it this summer. If you are a native and have never been - check this out and support the local arts community. If you are planning to visit Boston this summer and will be in town when this is showing spend an evening under the stars enjoying this free performance. I smuggle in a bottle or two and order a pizza (yes pizzerias deliver to the Common).

Mark your calendars:
Boston Common - Parkman Bandstand
July 27 - August 14
Tuesday - Saturday @ 8pm
Sundays @ 7pm

Pussy on the House

Pardon the title, but if it offends then you know you probably would not enjoy Ryan Landry's campy, in-your-face and outrageous sense of humor. Earlier this month I mentioned that Landry's latest play would be a twisted version of the William's classic, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Tonight I'm heading to the "Ramrod Performing Arts Center" as Landry calls it to see his latest show which opened last night. His performances in recent years have all taken place at the gay nightclub "Machine" which is the downstairs section of Ramrod (Boston's only leather bar). I only share this to provide you with an idea of the setting for his shows. I'm not sure how many shows I've seen from Ryan Landry and The Gold Dust Orphans, but I'm sure I've seen most. He's definitely had his hits and misses over the years, but I never grow tired of his shows or leery of attending. Ryan and his troupe of misfit performers are equal parts outrageous and entertaining and bring so much life and color to Boston's theater scene.

For those who visit Provincetown, this will likely be his summer show so if you don't live in the area but are intrigued, you can always see it if you come out to Ptown.

If you live in Boston - order tickets and plan a night out. Local theater needs your support and its a great way to spend an evening with friends. You can purchase tickets online here.

Ryan Landry announces dates for "Pussy on the House"

Ryan Landry and his Gold Dust Orphans are set to spoof one of my all-time favorite movies in his next play entitled, Pussy on the House.

Landry's plays, which come to life with the help of the Gold Dust Orphans, routinely take American classics and turn them on their head with bawdy banter that pokes fun at stereotypes. When Ryan is at his best, his shows are so funny that you leave with a bellyache from laughing so hard. So rent a copy of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof if you are unfamiliar with the story. Both Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor are so amazingly beautiful in this movie I promise it will hold your attention. Then plan a night out with friends and purchase your tickets early to see Ryan's perverse take on William's classic. You won't be disappointed.

Pussy on the House
February 25 - March 20
Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m.
Sundays at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Ramrod/MACHINE 1254 Boylston Street, Boston
Cost: $35 General Admission / $45 VIP Reserved Seating
Purchase Tickets Here
To provide you with a teaser of what you can expect from Landry, I've included a video clip of the song "SuperEgo Blues" from his 2008 play, Whizzin.

Support your local theater and artists

Ministry of Pleasure blog recently referenced one of my favorite musicals of all-time, Avenue Q. It is no longer on Broadway but continues to tour, and although seeing a broadway show is not quite the same as supporting your local theater scene - I still hope it inspires you to purchase tickets to a local play or musical.

An evening at the Four Seasons

Last night's gala at the Four Seasons was beautiful. I've included a few photographs Sergio snapped on his i-phone. Much thanks to Jeff Smith for inviting us to join him at his table and James, his partner, for being an excellent host introducing us to their friends. It was a fantastic evening from start to finish. Thanks to some aggressive bidding from Sergio we're now the proud owners of a new painting from the Brazilian-born, Boston artist, Fernando de Oliveria.

Jeff's attention to detail was evident through out the program; even down to the exquisite table settings and dramatic centerpieces.

After dinner and the evenings' heroes were recognized the program concluded with a surprise appearance from cast members of Wicked, which is currently in Boston. Elphie and Glinda performed three numbers accompanied by only the baby grand piano at their side. After the performance they were gracious enough to pose with me for a quick picture.
After the event, we went down to the Bristol Lounge, and had a nightcap. Steve A. was good enough to come and join us rather than meeting at Club Cafe.

Free Shakespeare on the Common performances in Boston start next week

The Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. performances of Othello will start one week from tonight on Wednesday, July 28th. More than 75,000 people are expected to attend one of the 16 free performances, which will take place by the Parkman Bandstand on the Common.

The Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. consistently turns out excellent performances for everyone to enjoy and I'm looking forward to see this year's production. Othello is one of my favorite dramas. Its themes of racism, love, jealousy, and betrayal always keep me on the edge of my seat.

I hope even more than the projected 75,000 people come to enjoy an evening of Shakespeare under the stars.  Bostonians are lucky to have so many great cultural events that are free and so accessible.  Just a few weeks ago the Boston Pop's 4th of July Celebration and fireworks garnered national attention.  Now Bostonians can come to the Common to see the Commonwealth Shakespeare Co. performances, which run July 28 - August 15 (Tuesday thru Saturday @ 8pm - Sunday @ 7pm).

Margaret Cho - coming to Boston

Good news for Margaret Cho fans living in Boston. According to her website and local ads that I've seen in the paper, The Cho Dependent Tour will be rolling into Boston this fall on Thursday, October 28th at the Wilbur Theatre.  Tickets go on sale starting this Friday at Ticketmaster.

Blithe Spirit playing at The Lyric Stage Co.

I just purchased tickets from The Lyric Stage Company to see the Noël Coward play, Blithe Spirit on Friday.  According to Wikipedia the play is about an English socialite and novelist who invites an eccentric clairvoyant to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. The scheme backfires and he becomes haunted by the ghost of his annoying first wife who makes continual attempts to disrupt Charles's current marriage to his second wife. Sounds like it is good for a few laughs, right? If you've seen this production or one from another theater company, please let me know what you thought.

The Great American Trailer Park Musical

Tonight I'm off to see The Great American Trailer Park Musical from the SpeakEasy Stage Co. at the Calderwood Pavilion.  According to the website, the show is about agoraphobia, adultery, spray cheese, road kill, hysterical pregnancy, kleptomania, flan and disco. When Pippi, a stripper on the run, comes between Dr. Phil-loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her toll-collector husband, neighbors Betty, Lin and Pickles team up to save their friend's marriage.

Sound like something you would enjoy? Grab tickets online here or call the Boston Theatre Scene box office at 617-933-8600, but do it quickly as the show is only here until Sunday, May 30th.

"The Gulls" opening weekend

This is the opening weekend for Ryan Landry and the Gold Dust Orphans' latest show, The Gulls. Although I've yet to see the play - you can be sure that they will have an interesting (and thoroughly modern take on) Hitchcock's "The Birds".  

If you happen to catch the show at the "Ramrod Performing Arts Center", I'd love to hear from you.  In recent years' Ryan and his troupe have become a tour de force in local theater showcasing their creativity and ability to push the envelope.  If you've never been to one of the Gold Dust Orphans shows, check it out.

More about the Gold Dust Orphans here.
Tickets are $35 - $45 and can be purchased online here.

The Boston Conservatory

The city of Boston conjures different images for everyone, but eventually education and more specifically colleges and universities come to mind.  I have no idea, but I would guess there is not another city with as many institutions of higher education. Even someone like me who has lived in or near Boston for most of my life can not keep track of all the schools that call Boston home.

Last week I was sipping drinks with friends at Rocca when I was chatted up by two guys sitting next to me (make that yet another example of myth busting Boston's cold reputation).  As it turns out these friendly guys work at The Boston Conservatory.  Now I'm familiar with several of Boston's higher education institutions that are dedicated to The Arts, but this was one I was not.

Both guys rolled their eyes when I admitted this and suggested I check out the school's website which I did today. The school is located in the Fenway and has all sorts of interesting programs the public (THAT's YOU) can attend at little or no cost.  Ever the one to identify Free Stuff to do in town, I thought I'd give The Boston Conservatory a huge shout out. You can check out their event calendar here.

Entertaining Mr. Sloane

Tonight I'm off to see my first show of the year, Entertaining Mr. Sloane at the Boston Center for the Arts. The play was written by the English playwright Joe Orton back in 1964. 

About the show:
The charming, enigmatic Mr. Sloane arrives to rent a room from Kath, a lonely, delusional landlady, in the junkyard house she shares with her declining father. A handsome opportunist, Sloane quickly ingratiates himself, entering into seductions offered by both Kath, and her estranged brother Ed, who soon employs Sloane as his driver.  Sloane's past misdeeds and dueling affections within the family soon collide, leading to a desperate act that proves the limit of his charms, and reveals the ruthless and cunning strategies that Sloane's 'victims' will engage in to preserve their unique arrangement.

Should be interesting and I'm hoping it will prove to distract me from the work which has dominated my attention now for too long.  I hope you have a nice weekend filled with pleasant distractions too.

Boston's Paramount Theatre opens Saturday

The Paramount Theatre which first opened in 1932 as a movie house will re-open this Saturday according to an article in today's Boston Globe "Paramount Theatre regains its grandeur". 

According to the article, the renovation which has been years in the making, has a 7,000-bulb marquee that will light up Washington Street, and a new LED wall next door is being programmed as a video art installation.

The Boston Globe includes a pretty cool 1:00 minute video showcasing the LED Wall which is worth watching.

It is hard to imagine that this nearly 600-seat theater and just two doors down the beautiful Opera House have been so meticulously restored in what was once Boston's red-light district known to locals as The Combat Zone.

Photo by Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe

The lion sings tonight

On Monday, March 1st at 7:00pm the cast of Disney's Lion King will be performing at Club Cafe in Boston. Tickets cost $25.00 and all proceeds will go to benefit The AIDS Action Committee of MA.  You can purchase tickets online HERE.

Rumor has it that Verna Turbulence (drag queen extraordinaire) will be hosting the program "The Lion Sings Tonight" so in addition to raising money for a very worthwhile charity, having fun singing along (or like me just listening), and laughing at Verna's course sense of humor - it is sure to be far more interesting than your typical Monday night.  Fight off the winter blues by warming up with friends at the Club Cafe benefit for the AIDS Action Committee of MA.