'Twist' Songwriter Tena Clark Dishes On Her 'Dessert' Project
Being a Southern belle growing up playing music in New Orleans, famed songwriter Tena Clark was the obvious choice to score the ambitious modern-day Broadway adaptation of the beloved tale of Oliver Twist in Debbie Allen’s new production Twist.
Click here to read more.'TWIST: An American Musical' Extends Through 7/24 at The Pasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that the West Coast premiere of TWIST - An American Musical will extend one week, through July 24, 2011.
Click here to read more."Twist" At The Playhouse Preview
Pasadena - There's a new musical coming to the Pasadena Playhouse, called "Twist - An American Musical," which is an adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic with a contemporary score.
On Thursday Bob Decastro was at the Playhouse and got a preview of the show... check out Bob's video report in the media player.
A profound 'Twist' for Tena Clark
The songwriter drew from her rich and complex experiences in the South in taking on the score to the Depression-era musical based on Dickens' orphan tale.
Tena Clark has written and produced hit songs for Dionne Warwick, LeAnn Rimes and Patti LaBelle, been nominated for a Grammy Award ("Way Up There"), founded a company called DMI Music and Media Solutions, and written jingles for McDonald's.
Pasadena Playhouse Showcases Exciting, Gripping New Performance
PASADENA – From now until July 17, the Pasadena Playhouse is showcasing one of it most successful plays in recent memory, the production of “TWIST – An American Musical” by William F. Brown, Tina Tippit, Tena Clark and Gary Prim. Debbie Allen directs a cast of 31 performers led by Tamyra Gray of American Idol fame.
Click here to read more.Pasadena Playhouse Hosts Homeboy Industries Tonight at TWIST
The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that tickets for TWIST - An American Musical, will be sponsored to host the clients and staff from Homeboy Industries at tonight's performance. As a part of The Pasadena Playhouse's outreach efforts, Homeboy Industries will also be offering their products for sale and providing information about the services and programs they provide.
Click here to read more.Debbie Allen Debuts New Musical ‘Twist’ At The Pasadena Playhouse
She was the source of inspiration for all the misguided teens searching for ‘fame’ and serves as an outlet for children to explore the arts, and as far as we’re concerned, actress/dancer/director Debbie Allen compares to no one else. From portraying the phenomenal dance teacher Lydia Grant on the TV series Fame to her new role as director of TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy and now the new musical Twist, Debbie is an unstoppable force in the arts.
Click here to read more and hear the interview.'Twist' at Pasadena Playhouse stars American Idol’s Tamyra Gray
The West Coast premiere of Twist – An All American Musical directed and choreographed by Debbie Allen (Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner) and starring American Idol’s Tamyra Gray (Rent and Bombay Dreams) begins previews at The Pasadena Playhouse on June 14, 2011. With book by William F. Brown and Tina Tippit, lyrics and music by Tena Clark and music by Gary Prim the show features 31 performers led by Gray and Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award-winner, Dreamgirls).
Click here to read more.Allen offers Dickens with new Twist
Debbie Allen is one busy lady, but she was happy to take the time to talk about her latest endeavor, even though it had to be scheduled during her drive from her Santa Monica home to the Pasadena Playhouse.
"I love that we're in the greater Los Angeles area. It's a hop, skip and a jump from where I live. I've come to the Playhouse to see so many wonderful productions," Allen said.
"Twist" Hits Pasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse has added a new musical to its roster based on the Charles Dickens classic, "Oliver Twist."
The "Twist" is coming to the Pasadena Playhouse.
It's a new musical based on the Charles Dickens classic, "Oliver Twist" and is directed by Debbie Allen.
"Twist" transposes Dickens' story of an orphan boy who falls in with a gang of pickpockets to New Orleans on the eve of the Great Depression, the LA Times reports.
Tamyra with a 'Twist'
Former 'Idol' contestant Tamyra Gray tops a decade of solid roles in 'Twist' at the Pasadena Playhouse. For the past 10 years, the FOX TV ratings juggernaut "American Idol" has been giving breaks to new singing stars, among them Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry. But for every new superstar, plenty of other talented performers have faded back into obscurity (Taylor Hicks, anyone?)
Click here to read more.The Pasadena Playhouse Announces Full Casting For Twist – An American Musical
The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced that full casting is complete for the west coast premiere of the new musical Twist – An American Musical by William F. Brown and Tina Tippit (book), Tena Clark (lyrics and music) and Gary Prim (music). Golden Globe and multi-Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen directs a cast of 31 performers led by Tamyra Gray (“American Idol,” Rent and Bombay Dreams) and Cleavant Derricks (Tony Award-winner, Dreamgirls). The five-week limited engagement performs June 14 – July 17, 2011 with the official press opening on June 26, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).
Click here to read more.Cast Complete for Pasadena's Twist, Starring Cleavant Derricks, Tamyra Gray and Alaman Diadhiou
Tony Award winner Cleavant Derricks and young actor Alaman Diadhiou will join "American Idol" finalist Tamyra Gray in the musical Twist, directed by Golden Globe winner Debbie Allen, which will begin performances June 14 at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Derricks (Dreamgirls) will play Crazah Chesterfield, with the previously announced Gray (Rent, Bombay Dreams) as Della. Diadhiou, who originated the title role in the Alliance Theatre production of Twist in Atlanta last September, will reprise his performance for the Pasadena run. Coco Monroe will appear in the role during select performances.
Tamyra Gray to Star in TWIST at Pasadena Playhouse, 6/14-7/17
The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced today that Tamyra Gray will star as "Della" in the Pasadena premiere of TWIST - An American Musical, based on Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist. This heart-warming family musical features a book by Tony Award-nominee William F. Brown (Broadway's The Wiz - winner of seven Tony Awards) and Tina Tippit, music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winner Tena Clark (Natalie Cole's Still Unforgettable), and music by Gary Prim (songwriter for Dionne Warwick and CeCe Winans).
Click here to read more.BWW Reviews: Twist - an American Musical
Reworking a classic story is not a new concept in the theatre world. Just ask the creators of Wicked or West Side Story. Taking something that audiences are already familiar with and turning it on its ear can be quite a task and is not without its challenges. First, there are the constant comparisons to the source material (or previous adaptations). Next, there is the daunting task to “reinvent” the plot and bring audiences on a fresh and new journey. But with the Alliance Theatre’s premiere of Twist - an American Musical (a modern, American take on Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist) they beat the odds and have created a magical tapestry of music, story and life that, even with a classic tale at its heart, feels like a something completely new.
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