Happiness Photos - Off-Broadway

July might have just begun, but let me tell you things are in full swing here in Sonoma, CA.  Just recently at Transcendence Theatre Company we started a new show, closed the first show with a bang, actively participated in volunteering opportunities, and joined in our local 4th of July celebrations.  But I'll let some of our Transcendence resident artists go into more detail about their personal favorite activities of these past well-lived days.

According to D.H. Lawrence, "We have made a great mess of love since we made an ideal of it." HOW I FELL IN LOVE centers on two lost souls, Nessa and Todd, each haplessly seeking their ideal romantic partner as they stumble into adulthood alone in the City of the Angels. When they accidentally find their way into each other's lives while seeking professional help, they soon discover their individual stories may be more intertwined than they could ever have imagined, leading each to start questioning the meaning of fate, friendship, and true love. Can two people not attracted to each other actually be perfect life partners? With the audience acting as their sounding board, Nessa and Todd's story unfolds amid the many twists and turns in their search for true love and happiness - despite their neuroses!

Based on the Jan De Hartog play, The Fourposter, the story spans fifty years, from 1895 to 1945, as it focuses on the trials and tribulations, laughters and sorrows, and hopes and disappointments experienced by Agnes and Michael Snow throughout their marriage. I DO! I DO! is a remarkably intimate, romantic piece. We are invited into the bedroom of newlyweds Michael & Agnes who anticipate a wonderful blissful life…'Together Forever' as one of the early musical selections would have us believe. As we all know, reality sets in as the young couple struggle to maintain their happiness, passion, devotion and yes even a sense of humor, through all the joys, pains, trials and tribulations that they share in their 50 years of marriage.

Following their successful co-production of Little Shop of Horrors this fall/winter, 11th Hour Theatre Company is pleased to present the Philadelphia Premiere of Rooms: a rock romance. This musical will run April 9-May 2 at the Independence Black Box at the Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street. The show opens on Thursday, April 15. 11th Hour Theatre Company is only the second theatre in the country to be given the rights to present Rooms after its successful Off-Broadway run at New World Stages in 2009.

THE MODERN STAGE presents 'MIRACLE DAY,' a new play written and directed by TOM SIME, Writer in Residence at 45 Bleecker in New York. This romantic comedy-drama is a bittersweet story about extreme happiness-and what comes after.

A STEADY RAIN stars Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig and began previews on Thursday, September 10, 2009 and opens Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) for a strictly limited 12 week engagement through Sunday, December 6, 2009.

Casting has been announced for the all-new production of the Lincoln Center Theater prize-winning musical classic Rodgers and Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC premiering at the Golden Gate Theatre beginning Friday, September 18 through Sunday, October 25, 2009.

Paper Mill Playhouse's 1776, Directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, will run at the Millburn theatre from April 15 through May 17, 2009. 1776 was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

El Grito Del Bronx, written by Migdalia Cruz, directed by Antonio Sonera plays on April 3-25, 2009. An English Language Production.

EL GRITO DEL BRONX, Written by Migdalia Cruz, Directed by Antonio Sonera plays on April 3-25, 2009 An English Language Production.

The Cardinal Group (D.H. Johnson & Richard Pepenella) presents 'Avow' by Bill C. Davis, Off Broadway at the 45th Street Theatre, 354 West 45 Street. Previews begin Thursday, February 19, 2009 and the opening is Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00pm for the limited Off Broadway engagement which takes a timely and poignant look at contemporary religion's role in shaping social issues. The cast for this warm, insightful and balanced meditation about who we are in relationship to the vows we make to the people and institutions in our lives includes Joy Franz, Elizabeth Bove, Jaron Farnham, Christopher Graham, Kate Middleton, Timothy Sekk and Jeremiah Wiggins. It is directed by Jerry Less and the set design is by Stephanie Tucci, costumes by Emily Lippolis, lighting design by Chris Weston. The production is supervised by Mr. Davis.

February 3rd, 2009 was a very special day at the Music Box Theatre because August: Osage County celebrated its 500th performance (that's a lot of drugs, fights, fish and smashed plates!), BroadwayWorld sent in the cameras to capture all the 'family fun'! Original cast members Kimberly Guerrero, Sally Murphy, Troy West and Mariann Mayberry returned to their roles direct from their recent smash-hit limited engagement in London. And, to top things off, Tony winner Elizabeth Ashley joined the cast in the role of 'Mattie Fae'.