Step It Up And Dance

Preview for Thursday's Step it up and dance.

Mamma Mia!

MAMMA MIA!

WALKS DOWN THE AISLE OF THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC!

THE GLOBAL SMASH HIT WILL PLAY PHILADELPHIA
FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY JULY 15 – 27!

Tickets On Sale Now!


(PHILADELPHIA – April 28, 2008) Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, will make its Academy of Music premiere beginning July 15 – 27. The press opening will be Tuesday, July 15 at 7:30 pm.

Part of the Cadillac Broadway Series, tickets ranging in price from $28 to $82.50 are on sale now. A limited number of premium box seats are available for $100. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (during performances only). Groups of 20 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Tuesday – Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; Sunday evenings at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturdays at 2:00 pm, and Sundays at 1:00 pm.

Seen by over 30 million people around the world, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! is celebrating 6 sold-out years at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway, and is currently playing record-breaking engagements in Las Vegas and on National Tour in the United States. The original West End production has played more than 3,500 performances, an international tour has played in more than 30 foreign cities, and the feature film of MAMMA MIA!, produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman, will be released on July 18, 2008.

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya - from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own.

On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities.

Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” MAMMA MIA! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.

Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal, the creative team responsible for bringing MAMMA MIA! to theatrical life includes some of the most gifted and celebrated talents of musical theatre and opera. With music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, MAMMA MIA! is written by Catherine Johnson and directed by Phyllida Lloyd. MAMMA MIA! has choreography by Anthony Van Laast, production design by Mark Thompson, lighting design by Howard Harrison, sound design by Andrew Bruce and Bobby Aitken, and musical supervision, additional material and arrangements by Martin Koch.

The original cast recording of MAMMA MIA! is available on Decca Broadway.
For information about MAMMA MIA! around the world, go to www.mamma-mia.com


The 2007-08 Cadillac Broadway Series marks the first full season of cooperation between Kimmel Center, Inc. and Shubert Organization, Inc., where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre. In addition to Mamma Mia!, the season also includes: Hairspray (May 2 - 4); Gypsy (May 9-11); David Copperfield: An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion (May 16-17); Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple (June 17- July 13); and Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (Aug.14-31).

All performances of Cadillac Broadway Series are supported by Cadillac, CITI, Target, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Cadillac Broadway Series.

Dancing With The Stars Week 7 Results

Shannon Elizabeth won't have to shed any more tears over "Dancing With the Stars."

The 34-year-old actress, who cried at the judges' harsh remarks last week, was eliminated Tuesday from the ABC dance-off.

"The show has been amazing. I've learned a lot," she said as her professional partner, Derek Hough, stood by her side. "I've made a friend for life, and hopefully a bunch of friends for life, and I'll be here to support everyone as much as I can."

Hough said he "couldn't have asked for more" from a partner.

"She really is a big dork," he said, "but I love that."

Keep Reading

Grammy Winner Mya Breaks Foot; Broadway Debut Postponed

The Broadway debut of Grammy Award winner Mya, who was scheduled to begin performances in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago May 12, has been postponed.

The platinum recording artist has broken her foot, according to a statement released by the producer of Chicago.

Barry Weissler, producer of Chicago, said in the statement, "In the theatre industry, we are sometimes forced to deal with circumstances beyond our control. But speaking for the entire Chicago creative team, we all wish her a speedy recovery, and look forward to experiencing her portrayal of Velma Kelly as soon as possible."

Additional information will be announced as it becomes available

Keep Reading

Robbins Brought Charm, Glamour to N.Y. City Ballet

April 29 (Bloomberg) -- The ringmaster of a mock circus directs 48 little girls from the School of American Ballet who finally spell out JR, the initials of the performance's honoree. Tonight at Lincoln Center's New York State Theater, the New York City Ballet begins a season-long homage to the late Jerome Robbins on the 90th anniversary of his birth. It's an unabashedly show-bizzy gesture for a choreographer who was, in truth, better suited to the Broadway stage than to ballet's.

Think of ``West Side Story,'' the reimagining of the Romeo and Juliet legend as a timely saga of teenage street-gang conflict and young love; the lusty ``Fiddler on the Roof'' and the sheer enchantment of the ``Small House of Uncle Thomas'' ballet from ``The King and I,'' each created for Broadway.

Keep Reading

Dancing With The Stars: Week 7

The guys and gals on Dancing With The Stars really had their work cut out for them this week. Each couple had not one, but two, dances to learn this week: a ballroom dance and a Latin dance. With only three weeks left before the mirror ball trophy is awarded, the pressure of perfection is intense.

Marissa & Tony kicked the show off with en pointe tango that was very classy and cute. It was easily their best dance of the season and the judges thought so as well. They received triple nines for their dramatic tango. Their Latin dance was a rumba and I found it to be very boring. Tony's '70s outfit and the music they danced to didn't help matters either. The judges thought it was a beautiful sweet dance though Len did tell her there was not enough hip action and told them their routine was a bit too careful. They only received a 25 on their rumba bringing their total score of the night to a 52 out of 60.

Cristian & Cheryl's dance for the ballroom round was a Viennese waltz. Dancing to "I'll Make Love To You", I thought their routine was very nice and I loved Cheryl's drop at the end. Bruno told them the dance was a pleasure to watch but Len and Carrie Ann found it lacking. They received a 25 for their Viennese Waltz. Their next dance was a samba and it began really well. However, halfway through Cristian grabbed his left forearm and began rubbing it while she kept on dancing. It only got worse from there. He tried to continue dancing but then missed her grab and then missed her hold at the end causing both of them to fall on the floor. When Tom asked him what was wrong, Cristian told him he believed he pulled a muscle in his arm. He looked to be in a lot of pain and Tom cut to commercial. After a long commercial break, Cristian was in front of the judges with an ice pack on his arm next to Cheryl. The judges thought he was brave for trying to continue on but had to score them based on what they saw. They received triple sevens and wound up with a 46 out of 60 on the night. Cristian then went to the hospital where we later learned from Tom he had a severe muscle cramp. Whew! So, hopefully Cristian will be back next week.

Keep Reading

Shimmy Exclusive Interview

Pasha Kovalev



Shimmy: What did you do once you were eliminated from SYTYCD?

Pasha Kovalev: Well, once I was eliminated from SYTYCD I had mixed feelings about it.
First: I really wanted to have one more week of it. Not only because it was a final week but because I really was hooked on the whole process of training and getting ready to perform. Nothing else did exist at that point. The whole world just stopped and we were only about dancing, nothing else. No other concerns, worries, schedules, bills, etc. It all just moved away for a short period during the show. That is what the art is all about, being able to teleport to a different world and just create.
Second: I was tired. It was a long run for me. Weeks and weeks of practicing non stop. I probably got in the best shape of my life. But a lot of pressure, stress and no time to recuperate from it (we didn't have any days off) did take a toll on the body. We all were very very tired. So I was kinda relieved and ready to rest. We still had to practice and get ready for the final show because we had to perform old numbers. We tried to work on them to make it look better then the first time.

So right after the final show was over I took little break for a few days and then we started to get ready for the tour. It wasn't as stressful as the show but it still was physically demanding. Long hours of practice, running through the show over and over again. But it was so much fun, for us just to be all together and enjoy it.

Shimmy: What are you currently doing?

Pasha Kovalev: Now that the show and the tour is far behind I have moved to Los Angeles but am almost never there. I'm Traveling a lot, doing shows and teaching. Busy, busy bee! I guess I needed some changes in my life and the whole show was a turning point.


Shimmy: Tell us about your ballroom background (Where you've trained etc.)


Pasha Kovalev: I was a ballroom dancer since the age of 8. I started back in Russia, in far east region of Siberia. In my home town. My mom once took me to the ballroom dance competition. It was very popular. We had so many dance studios in our town and a few huge dance events every year. So I saw everything what was going on on stage and was mesmerized by it. After the competition I told my mom that I wanted to start dancing and she took me to the biggest dance studio in town. Since then I have followed my dance career first in Russia and now here in US. I've trained with a lot of very well known coaches in the ballroom world. There are not that many books about ballroom technique, mostly you get information from people who have already been on the same road you are traveling. They have learned a lot and now can help you to improve your dancing using their experience and knowledge. I think its a very great way of doing it because you can take the technique, learn and master it and then you can interpret it the way you feel it. Everybody is different and finding your own style is very important, so you have to have a great coach who you trust that can help you to go the right direction.

Shimmy: What do you love and miss most about Russia?

Pasha Kovalev: Most of all I miss all of my friends who are back in Russia and family of course. Otherwise I like everything over here. Lifestyle, community, people, opportunities. So I don't really miss the Russian way of life. The United States is my home now.


Shimmy: What is your favorite ballroom rhythm and why?

Pasha Kovalev: I love Latin part of Ballroom. That includes Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive. Those dances are the ones I professionally competed at. I cant really single one of them out. After 20 years of studying them I learned to love each and every one in a different way. You have playful Samba, flirty Cha-Cha, romantic Rumba, powerful Paso Doble and really fast and energetic Jive. So you find something special in every dance and try to show it to the audience. I think sometimes some of the ballroom dancers make all the dances look very similar and it takes a lot of skill to really make each dance to stand out and look special.

Shimmy: Tell us about your partnership with Anya Garnis.

Pasha Kovalev: I have been dancing with Anya for almost 10 years now. I think its very important to stick with the same partner and make it work. Throughout the training process confrontations may arise and I have seen a lot of ballroom dancers switch partners many times. I guess they try to find somebody better if something is not going the way they want. Sometimes it works but mostly it goes back to the same exact place and they start all over again. I think that Anya is the ultimate partner for me. I think she is the best! We know each other very well. We are a good friends and we have very good professional relationship too.

Shimmy: What other genre did you enjoy dancing most on SYTYCD?

Pasha Kovalev: I really enjoyed the challenge we all faced on SYTYCD. Jazz, Hip hop and Lyrical are foreign to me so it was so much fun to learn it. Especially I enjoyed dancing West Coast Swing and Hip Hop.

Shimmy: What dance from the show (danced by someone else) was your favorite?

Pasha Kovalev: I loved Hok's and Jaymie's "Flower and the Humming Bird", Danny's and Neil's "Two Princes" and Neil's and Sabra's "Sweet Dreams"

Shimmy: If I put your ipod on shuffle who would I be listening to?

Pasha Kovalev: The mix is really crazy. I have so many different things on my iPod. You would find a lot of Brazilian music, Queen, Feist, Damien Rice, Aerosmith.

Shimmy: What are three things you cannot exist without?

Pasha Kovalev: Good books, good food and good company.


Shimmy: If in ten years you aren't dancing, what might you be doing instead?

Pasha Kovalev: You never really know what is going to happen in the future. I see myself staying connected to dancing but I'm open to a lot of new and different things. I'm thinking of maybe going to business school and getting some skills in that area.

CTV Announces Final Three Judges for Canadian So You Think You Can Dance

CTV announced today the additional So You Think You Can Dance Canada judges set to spark dance fever across the country. Making their debut at the Halifax auditions on Monday, May 5 is star choreographer Melissa Williams from Windsor, ON, who has worked with such artists as Prince and Bryan Adams, and special guest judge Dan Karaty from the hit U.S. series So You Think You Can Dance. Calgary native Sean Cheesman, the current host and lead judge of the U.K. dance competition Dirty Dancing: Time of Your Life, will make his debut as a special guest judge in Calgary on Monday, May 12.

Williams, Cheesman and Karaty join the seven previously announced So You Think You Can Dance Canada judges, including permanent judges Tré Armstrong and Jean Marc Genereux; alternating third judges Luther Brown and Blake McGrath, who is also the audition tour choreographer; and special guest judges Rex Harrington, Paul Becker and Mary Murphy. The cast is completed by series host Leah Miller.

Keep Reading...

Belbin and Agosto Leave Longtime Coaches

Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto are leaving their longtime coaches, a month after missing the podium at the world championships for the first time since 2004.

The ice dancers will move to Aston, Pa., to train with Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov, the Olympic gold medalists in 1980. Belbin and Agosto have trained with Igor Shpilband since they started skating together in 1988.

"Detroit will always be like home for us," Agosto said. "But sometimes to grow you need to leave home and explore new opportunities."

Belbin and Agosto are the most successful dance team the United States has ever had. Their silver medal at the 2005 world championships was the first by an American dance duo in 20 years, and they added bronzes in 2006 and 2007. Their silver at the Turin Games was only the second Olympic medal for a U.S. team, and the first since 1976.

They won their fifth straight U.S. title in January, tying a record.

But Belbin and Agosto had a dismal showing at worlds.

Keep Reading...

Dancing With The Stars- Latin Night Is Here!

Latin night rolled onto the stage this week leaving couples no choice but to pull out all the stops.

Karina Smirnoff and Mario were up first.



They visited earlier in the week with Stevie Wonder for a bit of inspiration and it seemed to pay off. The Samba itself wasn't the most spectacular thing on the planet but it was very classic and it pulled a string of 9's.

Pricilla Presley and Louis Van Amstel followed with a slow-slow-draggy Rhumba. She seemed to overthink every step and it really affected the mood of the dance. The 7 from each judge may have been a bit of a gift.

Marissa Jaret Winokur and Tony Dovoloni seem to actually be building a bit more momentum each week. Dark horse in the competition?



I'm not sure that I'd go that far but I will say that their Samba was the best thing they've done to date. Marissa was just fun to watch because she embraced the Samba and held nothing back. They attacked it and were rewarded with a series of 8's.

Cristian de la Fuente and Cheryl Burke get hotter every time they perform. Great lines, great chemistry.



The Rhumba that they did amounted to a good performance but somehow I thought something was missing. I expected it to be hotter. The judges seemed to agree because the scores were a mix of 8's and a 7.

This is the first week where being hearing impaired really wrecked havoc with Marlee Matlin and Fabian Sanchez's performance. Their Samba was a real mess. She stumbled a few times and the timing was off more than it was on, likely because Marlee couldn't hear the beats and rhythm. On a good note, she kept going and proved that if she was actually "on" the music they'd have done really well. Two 7's and an 8 was what they ended up with.

Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas followed that mess with an absolutely amazing Rhumba.



She is definetly not the same woman that skated for eons. Kristi is stepping outside of her normal performer comfort zone and the end result is pretty amazing. This week she just let go and fell completely into the dance. It worked and the payoff was two 10's and a 9.

As much as I've liked Shannon Elizabeth and Derek Hough I wasn't thrilled with their performance this week. I think I couldn't quite get past her Peggy Bundy resemblence and the dance itself just didn't quite capture me. Two 8's and a 7 left them on pretty good footing with the judges though.

Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska closed the show with a Rhumba that proves that huge men can indeed be smooth and light on their feet.



They had great lines, the hip action was good and the chemistry was on. 9's across the board for these two.

Who will go home this week? My money is on either Pricilla or Marlee.

It's Coming!

Pennsylvania Ballet Gears Up for 45th Anniversary Season

Artistic Director Roy Kaiser has announced an ambitious lineup that celebrates classicism and challenges convention.


In the waning days of 1960, the country was poised for a new dawn. There was a renewed fervor for the arts, and building an American ballet tradition was a key facet of the agenda. During a colorful conversation at a cocktail party hosted by Lincoln Kirstein, the co-founder of New York City Ballet, the idea to found a ballet company in Philadelphia was crystallized. "Balanchine said to me 'We must have more ballet companies in this country'," recalls Pennsylvania Ballet's founder Barbara Weisberger. "My reply," she continues, "was 'Mr. B, if you're really serious about this--Philadelphia is the place'."

The ebb and flow of history would follow Pennsylvania Ballet through periods of prosperity and hardship, but the Company's commitment to class and artistry has never wavered. Over the past four and a half decades, the Company has cultivated a diverse repertoire that includes 127 classic and contemporary works, among them 33 jewels from the Balanchine collection.

The 2008-2009 Season marks Pennsylvania Ballet's 45th Anniversary, and Artistic Director Roy Kaiser has announced an ambitious lineup that celebrates classicism and challenges convention--three mixed repertory programs featuring some of ballet's biggest names, two romantic classics that have captivated audiences for centuries, and one dazzling production of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker.

"It's very satisfying to perform classic works from our repertory while bringing new work by emerging international choreographers to audiences in Philadelphia," says Kaiser. "Our dancers have been performing at a high caliber, and I'm confident this season will allow their artistry to shine through."

Keep Reading...

Buddy TV Talks To James Alsop

I'm very good. What were your first impressions of the other dancers when you first met them?

When I first met the other dancers, I kind of was sizing them up. I was like, "Oh, the way so-and-so was dressed, this is probably what kind of dance they do." But I wasn't really seeing it as a competition. I was just trying to find the weakest link, I guess. to see who can be preyed on first.


You seemed to really hit it off with Miguel almost immediately, and it was so sad that they broke you two up.

I know! The sisters need to be reunited. How dare they?


Who were some of the others you liked?

I love Janelle [Ginestra] and I love Tovah [Collins], and I adore Adriana [Falcon]. And Nick [Drago] is the funniest person I've ever met in my life. He was so cool. Absolutely love him. Adriana, Tovah and Janelle, love those girls. I love all of them.


And who were some that you didn't like?

You don't necessarily dislike anyone at first because, I mean, you don't really know them. But of course, we're dancers, so we're catty. [laughs] And just seeing people's work ethic... I love everyone, but as a dancer it's a different story, you know what I mean? I love everyone as a person.


Did you have a hard time learning the Apache dance?

Did I have a hard time learning it? Yeah, because it was my first time seeing it ever. It was my first time ever even hearing of it. So being thrown into that and having to submerge myself into something that I had no idea what it was, was kind of hard. But I think I pulled it off well, but obviously, it wasn't good enough.

Keep Reading...

Atlanta Ballet Plays Footsie With Hip-Hop

“Big,” the Atlanta Ballet’s new production, features a live performance of the music of Antwan Patton, better known as Big Boi of the famed hip-hop duo OutKast. Clearly the aim is to expand the ballet company’s audience. But it’s far more likely that “big,” which opened on Thursday night at the Fabulous Fox Theater here, will bring ballet audiences to hip-hop. (I, for one, am going to download as many songs by OutKast as possible.)

And that, from a dance point of view, gets to the heart of the problem with the rambunctious, rambling, hugely enjoyable concert that is “big.” As the title indicates, it’s all about Mr. Patton: his inventive, unpredictable music; his smart lyrics; his persona; his stable of artists. And as hard as Lauri Stallings, the ballet company’s resident choreographer, has tried to match his starry presence with a veritable onslaught of kinetic, charged dancing, it’s an unequal alliance. At best, “big” has moments of fascinating intersection between the movement and the firecracker verbal delivery of Mr. Patton’s work. At worst, the dancers simply look like a rather sophisticated back-up troupe.

Keep Reading...

The Color Purple Heads To Philly

BROADWAY’S BEST-LOVED MUSICAL

IS NOW PHILADELPHIA’S BEST LOVED MUSICAL

THE COLOR PURPLE

WILL PLAY THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC JUNE 17 – JULY 13

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!



(April 3, 2008)) – Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders and the producing team of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, are proud to announce that Philadelphia will host the first North American Touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE for 32 performances beginning June 17 – July 13. The press opening is Tuesday, June 17 at 7:30 pm.



Part of the Cadillac Broadway Series, tickets ranging in price from $28 to $87.50 are on sale now. A limited number of premium box seats are available for $100 and $138. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (during performances only). Groups of 20 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Tuesday – Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; Sunday evenings at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturdays at 2:00 pm, Sundays at 1:00 pm, and a matinee Wednesday July 2 at 2:00 pm. No performances are scheduled for Friday, July 4.



Nominated for eleven Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, THE COLOR PURPLE opened on December 1, 2006 at the Broadway Theatre where it ran for over two record-breaking years. It is based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg. It is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who finds the strength to triumph over adversity, and discover her unique voice in the world. With a joyous GRAMMY®-nominated score featuring gospel, jazz, pop and the blues, THE COLOR PURPLE is about hope and the healing power of love.



Michael Kuchwara, the Associated Press described THE COLOR PURPLE as “a Roof-Raising story of triumph.” And Richard Corliss of TIME Magazine said, “[it is] a soaring, epic tale. It made a joyful noise in my heart.” Elysa Gardner from USA Today raved, “Pure heart! It celebrates the inspiring relationships of faith and love, A Broadway hit!”



As on Broadway, the first North American Tour of THE COLOR PURPLE is directed by Gary Griffin. THE COLOR PURPLE features a libretto by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman, music and lyrics by Grammy Award®-winning composers/lyricists Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, and choreography by Donald Byrd. The original creative team of Tony Award®-winner John Lee Beatty (sets), Paul Tazewell (costumes), Tony Award®-winner Brian MacDevitt (lighting), Jon Weston (sound), Jonathan Tunick (orchestrations) and Kevin Stites (Music Supervisor) was reunited for the tour.



The first North American Tour is produced by Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Quincy Jones, Creative Battery, Anna Fantaci & Cheryl Lachowicz, Independent Presenters Network, Lowy Family Group, Stephanie McClelland, Gary Winnick, Jan Kallish, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Bob and Harvey Weinstein, Andrew Asnes & Adam Zotovich and Todd Johnson, and is produced in special association with AEG Live.



The original cast recording is available on EMI/Angel Records, and THE COLOR PURPLE: A Memory Book of the Broadway Musical (Avalon/Carroll & Graf) is available in bookstores now. Ariel Mutual Funds is a proud sponsor of THE COLOR PURPLE.



The 2007-08 Cadillac Broadway Series marks the first full season of cooperation between Kimmel Center, Inc. and Shubert Organization, Inc., where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre. In addition to The Color Purple, the season also includes: Hairspray (May 2-4); Gypsy (May 9-11); David Copperfield: An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion (May 16-17 Mamma Mia! (July 15-27); and Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (Aug.14-31).



All performances of Cadillac Broadway Series are supported by Cadillac, CITI, Target, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Cadillac Broadway Series.

And... We're Back!

We apologize for not updating in over a week. A series of unforseen occurences made it impossible. We apologize to our loyal readers and are grateful for the batch of emails you sent us. Beginning now, Shimmy is back in full swing. Thank you for your patience.

So You Think You Can Dance Canadian Judges Announced

CTV Announces Tré Armstrong and Jean Marc Genereux as So You Think You Can Dance Canada Judges.

Alternating in third judge position are Toronto natives Luther Brown and Blake McGrath — Iconic Rex Harrington to serve as special guest judge — So You Think You Can Dance judge Mary Murphy joins Vancouver auditions as special guest judge
Toronto, ON (April 3, 2008) – These dancing experts are not afraid to tell it like it is! CTV announced today the esteemed judging panel for So You Think You Can Dance Canada. The two permanent judges headlining the team are Toronto’s Tré Armstrong, the contemporary/funk dancer, choreographer and star of the MTV/Paramount dance film How She Move, and Montreal’s Jean Marc Genereux, international ballroom champion and guest judge/choreographer on the U.S. version of So You Think You Can Dance. Luther Brown, the urban choreographer who’s worked with such artists as Sean Combs, Alicia Keys and Brandy, and Blake McGrath, who was a Season 1 finalist on So You Think You Can Dance, will alternate in the third judge seat. Additionally, internationally-renowned Rex Harrington, artist-in-residence for The National Ballet of Canada, will serve as a special guest judge on several occasions. The cast is completed by series host Leah Miler, currently host of the MuchMusic series MuchOnDemand.

Headlining the Vancouver auditions – the first in the five-city, cross-country tour for So You Think You Can Dance Canada – is full-time judge Jean Marc Genereux and guest judge Paul Becker, the rising star choreographer from Victoria who most recently choreographed for The Jonas Brothers tour and Disney’s High School Musical On Stage in Orlando. Additionally, Mary Murphy, from the hit U.S. series So You Think You Can Dance, will join the panel as a special guest judge. Blake McGrath joins the team in Vancouver as the Audition Tour Choreographer. The auditions will take place at The Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts, located at 777 Homer Street, on Monday, April 7 at 9 a.m. Please visit dance.ctv.ca for more audition details. Full-time judge Tré Armstrong will join the audition tour in Halifax (May 5), as she is currently in Australia promoting her film, How She Move.

“Tre, Jean-Marc, Blake, Luther, and Rex – the calibre of the Canadians on So You Think You Can Dance Canada judging panel is indicative of the diverse magnitude of dance talent in this country,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative and Channels, CTV Inc. “As experts in their fields, I’m confident these judges will unearth Canada’s rising and undiscovered dancing talent as they cross the country this spring.”

Below is a list of biographies for the So You Think You Can Dance Canada judging panel. Additional members of the esteemed guest judging panel will be announced soon.

Permanent Judges

About Tré Armstrong

Armstrong’s early technical training in ballet, tap and jazz in dance school is what has helped shape her into who she is today. Armstrong has performed in multiple feature films, award shows, reality-based television shows and all across the United States, Canada, St. Kitts, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Japan. Her choreography credits include A Raisin in the Sun, Repo: The Genetic Opera, Vibe Awards and Canadian Idol. Armstrong has traveled worldwide and taught many dance workshops, seminars and classes in hip-hop and urban dance, as well as “how-to ‘freestyle’” and “TNT” (“Tippin’ N Tré” or dancing in heels). Armstrong was also featured in the internationally-acclaimed documentary Breakin’ In: The Making of a Hip Hop Dancer, which highlighted her as one of Canada’s top rising stars. Her acting debut as Candy in Save the Last Dance 2 had her working closely with Rich and Tone and the Talauega Brothers. You can see Armstrong as Michelle, lead actress in the MTV/Paramount dance feature film How She Move.

About Jean Marc Genereux

Quebec’s Jean Marc Genereux began dancing at age 10 with his partner, and now wife, France Mousseau, and within six years the pair had won every Regional and State Championship. In the early 1980s they began dancing the International style and won over 100 competitions and all the major championships in North America, participating in 10 World Championships as the first representatives for Canada. Genereux and Mousseau turned professional in 1987 and danced in every major city around the world. In 12 years, they won over 200 competitions on three continents. Genereux and Mousseau retired from the competitive scene in 1998; however, the two still travel all over the world to perform in dance shows, as well as judge and choreograph for the elite competitors. Genereux performed in the motion picture Dance With Me, featuring Vanessa L. Williams and Chayanne, and the motion picture Shall We Dance, with Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere. In 2006, Genereux joined the cast of the American version of So You Think You Can Dance as a choreographer.

Alternating Third Judge

About Luther Brown

Luther Brown and his creative, trendsetting, innovative vision has transformed the formerly unknown Toronto urban dance community into a thriving industry. As the founder and owner of Do Dat Entertainment, Brown created an industry – professional urban dance community that linked Toronto to the ever-growing entertainment industry in the United States. Working with artists such as Brandy, Shawn Desman, Alicia Keys, Mario, Kelis, Jully Black, Faith Evans, Olivia, Ray J, Dream, B4-4, Keshia Chante, Glenn Lewis, Choclair and Maestro, has brought him to the forefront, where Brown is respected amongst the top choreographers in the United States and Canada. Over the past five years, he has choreographed an abundance of music videos, many which have gone on to win awards. His recognizable style is evident in videos such as “Talk About Our Love” by Brandy, “Bad Boy” by Keshia Chante, “Shook” by Shawn Desman, and more. Brown has been the creative director for many tours and choreographed various live shows for artists including Gary Beals, Shawn Desman, Keshia Chante and Mario. Brown also creatively directed the RapCity/IllVibe Records Cross Canada Tour, which featured Saukrates and Jully Black.

About Blake McGrath (In addition to Alternate Third Judge, McGrath is also the Audition Tour Choreographer)

As a boy growing up in Toronto, Blake McGrath trained intensively in jazz and ballet, but it was in Toronto’s rave culture that McGrath first started to get noticed as a dancer. Raving led to dance battles, and before long he was winning competitions all across North America. At 18, McGrath headed to Los Angeles and within a year, Britney Spears’ choreographer, Brian Freidman, had hired McGrath on as his assistant. A year after that, McGrath was the first dancer hired for Spears’ Onyx Hotel Tour. McGrath has also danced with Madonna, Ashanti, Pink, Jewel, Destiny’s Child and Aaron Carter. McGrath’s film and television work includes MTV’s DanceLife, Rent, Chicago, Summerland, Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary Special, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Diva Duets. McGrath was a finalist in the first season of So You Think You Can Dance in the United States. Though McGrath recently began to pursue both acting and choreography more aggressively, dance remains his first love, and continues to travel and teach classes all over the world. His first instructional DVD, Dance Driven, was released in May 2006.

Special Guest Judge

About Rex Harrington

Born in Peterborough, Ont., Rex Harrington joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1983, becoming a Principal Dancer with the company in 1988, a position he held until his retirement in 2004. Renowned both in Canada and abroad for his interpretations of classical roles in Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Giselle and The Sleeping Beauty, Harrington’s performances established him as one of the most accomplished and charismatic male dancers of his era. Harrington was a frequent international guest artist with companies such as La Scala Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet and partnered with ballerinas including, Karen Kain, Ekaterina Maximova, Carla Fracci, Evelyn Hart, Alessandra Ferri and Greta Hodgkinson. Harrington was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000 and was given a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2005. In 2006, Harrington was appointed Artist-in-Residence with The National Ballet of Canada.

Vancouver Judges

About Paul Becker

Born in Victoria, Paul Becker has become one of the most sought after choreographers in the industry today. Most recently, he has been well noticed for his work with the hit rock group The Jonas Brothers. However that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Becker’s talent and credits. He has choreographed the feature films Hot Rod; Talk To Me starring Don Cheadle; Code Name: The Cleaner starring Cedric the Entertainer; Are We Done Yet starring Ice Cube; The Wicker Man starring Nicolas Cage; Totally Awesome; Are We There Yet; and The Muppets
Wizard of Oz starring Queen Latifah. On TV, Becker is the staff choreographer for Aliens in America, and Showtime’s Masters of Horror. In the theatre world, Becker just choreographed High School Musical on Stage at the Orlando Science Center, as well as The Magicians Nephew. His work will be noticed on Broadway soon, as he is the dance consultant for the Broadway revival of The WIZ. Becker is a true visionary; any project that Becker is a part of, he brings his humor, creativity, and endless persistence to make the creation a dynamic experience.

About Mary Murphy

Mary Murphy is best known as the “Queen of Scream” on the U.S. version of So You Think You Can Dance. Her infectious laugh and “Maryisms” like “Hot Tamale Train” have helped make the show a smash hit around the world. In fact, Murphy recently beat out a star-studded field, including Ryan Seacrest, Carrie Ann Inaba and Donald Trump to claim the “Best Host/Judge” prize at the 2007 Reality TV Awards. Murphy is also an in-demand film and television star; appearing in films like Dance With Me with Vanessa Williams and the thriller Killer Movie with Kaley Cuoco and J.C. Chasez. Murphy has also appeared on television shows like Rachael Ray, The Soup, Chelsea Lately and American Idol, to name a few. Murphy began her career as a professional ballroom dancer. She and her partners compiled an impressive list of accomplishments; including victories at The Austrian National Championships and The U.S. Nine Dance Championships. Beyond her work in Hollywood, Murphy is the Owner and Director of Champion Ballroom Academy in San Diego, CA. She also runs Mary Murphy’s Chance To Dance program, which brings dance to children in underprivileged areas.

The So You Think You Can Dance Canada talent search continues in Halifax (May 5), Calgary (May 12), Montreal (May 27) and Toronto (June 10). Please visit dance.ctv.ca for more audition details.

14th U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships coming to Lake Placid April 9

LAKE PLACID — The 14th annual U.S. Adult Figure Skating Championships will be held April 9 to 12 at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid.

More than 800 adult skaters are expected to compete at the historic Lake Placid Olympic Arena throughout the four-day event. The Skating Club of Lake Placid and the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) will host the event for the fifth time since 1996.

Icenetwork.com, U.S. Figure Skating and MLB Advanced Media’s partnership will provide on-demand video coverage of the event for “Season Pass” subscribers. The site will also feature near-live results, event recaps and photo galleries for subscribers and non-subscribers.

Competitors are divided into five age categories (21-28, 29-35, 36-45, 46-55 and 56+), and two tracks (masters and adult). Events are held in singles, pairs, ice dancing and interpretive. Feature categories include championship masters ladies and men; championship gold ladies and men; championship pairs; and championship ice dancing. Competitors qualifed for these six events through their placements at their respective sectional championships, held March 8 and 9.

The U.S. Adult Championships debuted in 1995 to offer an opportunity to skaters ages 25 and older to compete at the highest level among their peers.

Organizers of the 1995 event in Wilmington, Del., expected 100 competitors, but 421 signed up and competed in 626 starts (competitors often take part in more than one event). By 2000, more than 1,000 starts highlighted the U.S. Adult Championships.

Source

Interview with "Step It Up & Dance"’s Jerry Mitchell

As a choreographer, Broadway and film veteran Jerry Mitchell has guided the dainty footsteps of a dragged-out Harvery Fierstein in Hairspray, a blind Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman, and he’s coached hundreds of hot nearly naked chorus boys and girls in the hugely popular annual New York fundraising spree of exhibitionism and showy sass that is Broadway Bares. He scored a Tony for his work on the 2004 revival of La Cage Aux Folles and he directed and choreographed the current Broadway smash Legally Blonde. But did all that prepare him for taking on Nomi Malone?

This week Mitchell debuts as the co-host, alongside Showgirls survivor Elizabeth Berkley, on the new Bravo reality show Step It Up & Dance. Twelve hot-stepping dancers will compete to score a chunk of prize money, and get recognized by some of the fiercest choreographers working today. And — shocking news! — four of the six male contestants are gay — as is the lovely Mr. Mitchell himself.

All this means it’s time to quiz Mitchell about this latest super-gay Bravo TV series, and whether we can cope with yet another dance-centric reality show. Plus, he also gabs about effeminate dancers, sleeping with cast members (a big no-no!), his favorite divas and, of course, what it’s like to work alongside the world’s most famous (or is that infamous?) showgirl of all.

Keep Reading...

Alvin Ailey on Dancing With The Stars

Leah Miller To Host So You Think You Can Dance Canada

CTV announced today that Leah Miller has been named the host of CTV’s newest original series, So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Currently host of the MuchMusic series MuchOnDemand, Miller’s first assignment is to join the So You Think You Can Dance Canada cross-country audition tour, waltzing into Vancouver on Monday, April 7. Miller will be on the entire audition road trip making stops in Halifax (May 5), Calgary (May 12), Montreal (May 27) and her hometown of Toronto (June 10). For up-to-date audition information, visit the series’ official website, dance.ctv.ca.
Additional cast members will be announced soon.


As the host of So You Think You Can Dance Canada (SYTYCD Canada), Miller will be the eyes and ears of Canadian viewers at each stop on the audition tour. Chatting with competitors and the judges, she will have the inside scoop on Canada’s dancing talent from across the country. Once the series debuts this fall on CTV, Miller will introduce the finalists and interact with the competitors and judges in her role as host of the live episodes.

“Leah’s vibrant charm, previous hosting experience and knowledge of dance makes her an ideal host for this exciting new series,” said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. “Fun, smart and quick on her feet, viewers and competitors will fall in love with her.”

Keep Reading...

Interpretive Something

Remember about 6 months ago when those Filipino prisoners were all over the internet with their dance to Thriller? Well, they have returned with another 80's classic.

Dancing With The Stars Derek Hough Injured, Status Unclear

Dancing with the Stars professional Derek Hough survived elimination with celebrity partner Shannon Elizabeth on Tuesday, however his status for the remainder of the competition is apparently questionable due to an injury he suffered prior to last night's live sixth-season results show broadcast.

The 22-year-old professional -- who is participating in his second Dancing with the Stars' installment -- injured his neck while rehearsing a group number yesterday afternoon, OK! Weekly reported.

"He hurt his neck in rehearsals for the Kyle Minogue number and went to the hospital," Elizabeth told OK!. "He popped something. He has to be on painkillers. They say he's going to be okay but it's going to take some time to heal.

Keep Reading...

Hamill honored at FSH's 'Skating with the Stars'

Figure Skating in Harlem (FSH) celebrated all things skating with their mega-watt, celebrity-studded gala "Skating with the Stars, Under the Stars" at Trump Wollman Rink in New York City's Central Park on Monday night. Intermittent showers did not dampen the spirit of the young FSH skaters, who were even able to skate with U.S. and Olympic champions.
The skating stars who participated were five-time U.S. ice dancing champions Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto (2004-08), two-time U.S. men's champion Evan Lysacek (2007-08), 2007 U.S. ladies champion Kimberly Meissner, 2006 U.S. ladies champion Sasha Cohen, three-time U.S. men's champion Johnny Weir (2004-06), 1992 Olympic gold medalist Viktor Petrenko, 2002 Olympic gold medalist and two-time U.S. silver medalist Sarah Hughes, 2001 U.S. men's champion Timothy Goebel, three-time U.S. pairs champions Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman (2000-02 -- Ina also won in 1997 and '98 with Jason Dungjen), six-time Canadian ladies champion Jennifer Robinson and the guest of honor -- skating legend Dorothy Hamill.

Keep Reading...

Kristi Yamaguchi & Mark Ballas' Top Tango

Step It Up & Dance Begins Tomorrow on Bravo

Bravo’s new creative dance competition series "Step It Up & Dance" will showcase what it takes to make it big in the cutthroat dance industry as the 12 finalists compete in weekly challenges in a variety of dance styles to get the final "call back" and the chance to become the ultimate dancer, winning $100,000. Celebrated actress and dancer Elizabeth Berkley will host the series and Emmy Award nominee and Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell ("Hairspray," Legally Blonde") will mentor the dancers. In addition, world-renowned director and choreographer Vincent Paterson (Madonna's "Blond Ambition" Tour, Michael Jackson's "Bad" Tour, and choreographer Nancy O'Meara ("Hannah Montana," "High School Musical Tour"), will serve as judges for the competition.

"Step It Up & Dance" premieres on Bravo on Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 11 PM ET/PT, immediately following the live season finale of “Make Me A Supermodel.”

Preview Here:

Bourne to Stage New Dance Version of Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray

Matthew Bourne's New Adventures will present Dorian Gray — freely adapted from Oscar Wilde's gothic masterpiece — which will preview at Plymouth's Theatre Royal Aug. 14-16 before opening at this year's Edinburgh International Festival on Aug. 22, where it will play at the King's Theatre through Aug. 30.

The production will then come to London's Sadler's Wells for a Sept. 2-14 run before touring to Norwich's Theatre Royal (Sept. 16-20) and Newcastle's Theatre Royal (Sept. 23-27).

Bourne will devise, direct and choreograph the new show, which will feature music by Terry Davies and designs by usual collaborator Lez Brotherston. Davies, Brotherston and lighting designer Paul Constable all previously worked with Bourne on his Olivier Award-winning production of Play without Words. The new work has been commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival in association with Sadler's Wells. It is Bourne's first new work for the company in nearly three years.

Keep Reading...

Dancing With The Stars- Week 3 results

Tonight’s Dancing with the Stars may not have been fooling when they sent Steve “The Gutte” Guttenberg packing, but they did pull a fast one on viewers. Did they fool you?

As part of the results show hijinx, Dancing ran an April Fool’s segment highlighting the “stress-relieving activities” that the celebrity dancers supposedly like to enjoy on their down-time.

During this taped segment, Jason Taylor claimed to be an ardent ship-in-a-bottle builder. “It can be a little tricky at times, but when you finish one there’s a real sense of accomplishment,” he said. Marlee Matlin professed to work as a volunteer police officer for the narcotics squad. Shannon Elizabeth claimed to be the president of the MacGyver fan club. Kristi Yamaguchi supposedly competes not only on the ice, but in hot dog eating contests. “So far I’ve won the regional and sectional hot dog eating contests – now I’m preparing for the nationals,” she boasted. Priscilla Presley upheld that she works for a psychic hotline. For Marissa Jaret Winokur, apparently, life’s all about surfing. “For me, catching that big wave is what life is all about,” she said. Steve Guttenberg declared his hobby to be freestyle rapping, with a “street name” of The Guttemeister General. Cristian de la Fuente, the big softie, claimed to be totally devoted to his beloved pet otter.

Keep Reading...

Dancing With The Stars Pro Baby News

Tony Dovolani and his Dancing with the Stars sixth-season celebrity partner Marissa Jaret Winokur apparently have something in common.

Dovolani and his wife Lina are expecting twins, the 34-year-old Dancing with the Stars professional told People in a Tuesday report. The news comes less than two weeks after Winokur revealed she's expecting her first child via a surrogate.

"Everything is great [with Lina's pregnancy]," Dovolani told People.
Dovolani isn't a stranger to parenting, as he and Lina already have 2-year-old daughter Luana.

"Kids are a blessing and give your life purpose," he told People.

Keep Reading...

Alvin Ailey alums finally make Bay Area debut

It's about time. This Saturday, Complexions Contemporary Ballet is finally making its Bay Area debut. The company is 14 and travels all over the globe, from Israel to New Zealand. Founded by former members of Albert Ailey American Dance Theater Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, the company started out small, primarily with duets Rhoden created for himself and Richardson. In the Bay Area, Rhoden's work has been seen most often during the Ailey company's yearly gigs. In 2002, the Oakland Ballet (then under the leadership of Karen Brown) debuted his Glory Fugue to much acclaim. Meanwhile, Richardson, a principal guest artist of American Ballet Theater, is mesmerizing in whatever capacity he chooses to perform. In the Bay Area he is best known for the title role in San Francisco Ballet's filming of Othello. Today, Rhoden is a hot item in musical theater, film, video, and jazz, as well as ballet and modern dance.

Keep Reading...

The Riches of the Kirov

New York balletomanes are in for a royal treat when the Kirov Ballet performs at New York City Center from April 1 through 20.


The grand scale of this event is merely hinted at in the statistics: 100 dancers from this 200-year old St. Petersburg, Russia-based company performing 19 works in six different programs. Some of the finest ballet dancers today will be performing during this substantial run, including Diana Vishneva, Andrian Fadeev, Uliana Lopatkina, Leonid Sarafanov, Alina Somova, Danila Korsuntsev, and Igor Kolb. The company's artistic director is Maestro Valery Gergiev, and Makhar Vaziev is the director of the ballet. The April 1-20 season is presented by Ardani Artists in association with City Center.


Naturally, the Kirov Ballet--a descendant of the Russian Imperial Ballet, and known in its homeland as the Ballet Company of the Mariinsky Theatre of St. Petersburg--will perform beloved classics and excerpts from full-length ballets, including Raymonda, Scheherazade, Le Corsaire (all three of which will use sets reflecting their respective sections' full productions), Le Spectre de la Rose, Chopiniana, La Bayadere (The Kingdom of the Shadows), and The Dying Swan, as well as pas de deux from Don Quixote, Diana and Acteon, Paquita, and more.

Keep Reading...

GYPSY Arrives at Academy of Music in May

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES

WHEN TONY AWARD®-WINNING GYPSY ENTERTAINS AT ACADEMY OF MUSIC

MAY 9 – 11



TICKETS ON SALE NOW!



It's the story of the quintessential stage mother, her dreams for herself and her daughters, and the daughter who dared live her own dream. One of the greatest musicals of all time, GYPSY entertains one and all, making its Philadelphia premiere at the Academy of Music on May 9 – 11.



Part of the Cadillac Broadway Series, tickets ranging in price from $28 to $67.50 are on sale now. A limited number of premium box seats are available for $100. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (during performances only). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Friday and Saturday evenings (May 9 & 10) at 8:00 pm; Sunday evening (May 11) at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm.



Based on the memoirs of entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee, GYPSY tells the story of Rose, an overbearing stage mother who is determined to make her girls the stars of vaudeville. Rose overwhelmingly favors her younger daughter, June, who headlines the act, while Louise is relegated to the chorus. Rose’s attention eventually turns to her older daughter, but it is Louise herself who discovers her own talent, and becomes a bigger star than Rose ever dreamed possible.



Set against the freewheeling days of vaudeville and burlesque, GYPSY explores ambition, jealousy, family relationships, and the bittersweet loss of innocence.



GYPSY was written by three virtuosos of American musical theater: Arthur Laurents (book), Jule Styne (music), and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics). The original production, starring Ethel Merman as Mama Rose and directed by Jerome Robbins, was an instant hit when it opened at the Broadway Theatre in 1959. Subsequent revivals garnered a total of three Tony Awards® and featured such talents as Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly and Bernadette Peters in the role of Mama Rose.



GYPSY features some of the biggest songs in Broadway history, including Everything’s Coming Up Roses, Rose’s Turn, Some People, and Together, Wherever We Go.



GYPSY is produced by Phoenix Entertainment. The director is Sam Viverito, with Michael Borth as musical director. The creative team includes Michael Hotopp (scenic design), Charlie Morrison (lighting design), and Craig Cassidy (sound design).



Now entering its ninth year of operations, Phoenix Entertainment is an international theatrical producing and management enterprise founded by long time colleagues Stephen Kane and Michael McFadden. Over two decades of theatrical success and industry partnership have resulted in the Phoenix team delivering thousands of performances of more than 70 live productions on four continents.



The 2007-2008 Cadillac Broadway Series marks the first full season of cooperation between Kimmel Center, Inc. and Shubert Organization, Inc., where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre. In addition to Gypsy, the 2007-2008 season includes: Hairspray (May 2 – 4); David Copperfield: An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion (May 16-17); Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple (June 17 – July 13); Mamma Mia! (July 15-27); and Monty Python’s SPAMALOT (Aug 14 – 31

Dancing With The Stars- Week 3

Despite the departure of PENN JILLETTE and MONICA SELES last week, host TOM BERGERON never announced which of the other "Dancing with the Stars" couples had been low scorers and who might be in jeopardy. So the nervous energy was high when the competitors took to the ballroom floor for Monday night's competition, dancing either the jive or the tango, and the battle for the disco-ball trophy is on!

Getting the joint jumping with the jive were MARLEE MATLIN and FABIAN SANCHEZ. Head judge LEN GOODMAN praised, "You never cease to amaze me. The jive is a difficult dance. To dance it without hearing, I think [you] did a great job." BRUNO TONIOLI agreed, saying, "You are an incredible performer. You connect with the audience. You lost the timing a few times, but a good job." CARRIE ANN INABA stated, "You have good chemistry. What I noticed this time is your hands. Watch your hands. They are a little pancake-y." The couple scored 21 out of 30 points.

STEVE GUTTENBERG and ANNA TREBUNSKAYA, who had been sick with a virus all week, took to the floor to tango. For Carrie Ann, it was their best dance so far: "You were completely determined. It was sharp and snappy, but it could use more dynamics," she opined. Len felt, "You captured the flavor of the dance. A much improved performance." Bruno cryptically commented, "Manly and madly did the trick for you." Steve and Anna were awarded 21 points.

Next to jive were CRISTIAN DE LA FUENTE and two-time "DWTS" champ CHERYL BURKE. Bruno exclaimed, "Are you on rocket fuel tonight? You are definitely having a good time. That is what this show is all about. Deliver you did. Your best yet." Len agreed it was their best dance so far, and Carrie Ann commented, "I really think you have a great shot at this. You improve every week by miles -- but watch your arm." Cristian and Cheryl earned 25 out of 30 points.

Keep Reading...