5th Avenue Theatre News

According to an Equity casting notice, A Christmas Story, The Musical!, which toured the US last year, will land on Broadway this holiday season, playing November 6- Decmber 30. The production, which begins rehearsals in October, will be directed by John Rando, music direction by Ian Eisendrath and choreography by Warren Carlyle. A Christmas Story features a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Joseph Robinette. (more...)

It’s a brand new season of love this summer when The 5th Avenue Theatre brings a bold and innovative production of RENT to the stage. Fresh from his smash success with First Date, Bill Berry directs this electrifying new staging of Jonathan Larson’s modern rock-opera classic. A cast of Seattle’s young rising theater stars, featuring Daniel Berryman, Aaron C. Finley, Naomi Morgan, Jerick Hoffer, Ryah Nixon, and Andi Alhadeff will take center stage, belting hits including “La Vie Boheme,” “Take Me or Leave Me,” “One Song Glory,” and “Rent.” Based on the Puccini opera La bohème, the hit musical premiered in 1996 to instant acclaim, and swept a host of theater awards — the Tony, the Obie, and the Pulitzer. (more...)

Due to popular demand, Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of Les Misérables returns to Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre for a spectacular two-week engagement, June 27-July 8, 2012. (more...)

Chairman of Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Producer and President of Disney Theatrical Productions, Thomas Schumacher announce two premiere productions of THE LITTLE MERMAID. The Holland production is currently in previews in Groningen and opens on June 16th, 2012 in Rotterdam. The Moscow production of THE LITTLE MERMAID will make its debut on October 6th, 2012. (more...)

The 5th Avenue Awards Honoring High School Musical Theatre will celebrates its tenth anniversary by bringing previous recipients back to the stage to present the next generation of musical theater stars with awards and accolades. The acclaimed program, sponsored by Wells Fargo, is a high school version of the Tony Awards, and allows theater students from across Washington to meet, celebrate, and honor the exceptional musical theater productions presented during the 2011-12 school year. The 5th Avenue Awards will be held at 7:00 PM, Monday, June 4, at The 5th Avenue Theatre. (more...)

Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre presents Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Damn Yankees- the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones. Check out 'Six Months Out of Every Year' below! (more...)

“You gotta have heart!” That’s the central conceit of any production of “Damn Yankees”. Without that heart they might as well be singing about golf. Well luckily the current production at the 5th Avenue Theatre in conjunction with the Paper Mill Playhouse has heart to spare combined with a killer cast and visually spectacular set. (more...)

Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre presents Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Damn Yankees- the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones. (more...)

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer! (more...)

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's epic voyage, The 5th Avenue Theatre presented Titanic: The Concert, April 13-15. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone, Titanic: The Concert was a unique way to celebrate the centennial of one of the most memorable events of the last century. Actors sang with the support of a 25-piece orchestra and the 80 voices of the award-winning Pacific Lutheran University Choral Union. The story of the Titanic came to life through music on The 5th Avenue stage on nights that coincided exactly with the ship's historic journey and tragic end. Go behind the scenes of the concert below! (more...)

Disney’s THE LION KING will make its South American premiere in São Paulo, Brazil. T4F (Time For Fun), will present the production with its opening night on March 7th, 2013 at the Teatro Abril. THE LION KING in São Paulo will mark two firsts: as the largest stage musical ever presented in Brazil and the first time the show has been performed in Portuguese. The Disney and Cameron Mackintosh musical, MARY POPPINS will be produced in Mexico City by OCESA. The production will be performed for the first time in Spanish and will begin performances on November 14th, 2012 at the Telmex Cultural Center, in Mexico City. (more...)

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s epic voyage, The 5th Avenue Theatre presented Titanic: The Concert, April 13-15. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone, Titanic: The Concert was a unique way to celebrate the centennial of one of the most memorable events of the last century. Actors sang with the support of a 25-piece orchestra and the 80 voices of the award-winning Pacific Lutheran University Choral Union. The story of the Titanic came to life through music on The 5th Avenue stage on nights that coincided exactly with the ship’s historic journey and tragic end. Check out photos from the evening below! (more...)

After selling out every performance of its January run, the Balagan Theatre will bring the coming-of-age rock musical, Spring Awakening, back to Seattle in April, with a weekend tour to Mount Vernon in May. Check out the production photographs below. (more...)

Actor Sean Glynn takes a behind the scenes look at Titanic: The Concert rehearsals. Sean talks with fellow actors Kirsten deLohr Helland, Sonya Meyer, and Hugh Hastings about their roles in the show and how excited they are to perform the concert. Check out the video below! (more...)

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of NEWSIES is now available digitally today on Ghostlight Records. The album has debuted at #1 on the iTunes Soundtracks chart and #15 on the iTunes album chart.To purchase the album, visit iTunes here. The recording is set for physical release on May 15th, 2012. The physical release will feature three special bonus tracks including an exclusive version of “Santa Fe” performed by lead Jeremy Jordan accompanied by Alan Menken on piano. The full track listing is below. For more information on the cast recording, visit: http://newsiesthemusical.com/music (more...)

After receiving positives reviews from critics and audiences alike – and selling out every performance of its January run – Balagan Theatre brings the coming-of-age rock musical, Spring Awakening, back to Seattle in April, plus a weekend tour to Mount Vernon in May. (more...)

If you choose to take a date (first or otherwise) to the new World Premiere musical “First Date” currently being presented at ACT and co-produced through ACT and the 5th Avenue Theatre, you may end up getting quite sentimental and mushy towards your date as the evening wears on. Or you may end up breaking up as you laugh a little too hard at some of the baggage of these characters that hits a little too close to home. Either way, you’re bound to have a good time (at least until the fighting begins) at this fun and funny bit of cotton candy. (more...)

5th Avenue held its Spotlight Night for Damn Yankees on March 20. The evening took audiences behind the scenes of the new production of the musical comedy classic Damn Yankees. Featuring musical performances by some of Seattle's best singers and the cast of Damn Yankees, the event explored the stories that inspired the hit musical, including the legend of Faust. The night also took audiences through the careers of Damn Yankees book writer George Abbott and songwriters Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Watch Allen Fitzpatrick and the cast of Damn Yankees sing "Heart" at Spotlight Night in the video below! (more...)

On the April 2nd episode of NBC's musical drama SMASH entitled "Hell on Earth", the team begins their pursuit of a marquee star, as Eileen (Anjelica Huston) charges Tom and Julia (Christian Borle and Debra Messing) with finding a title for the newly reinvigorated musical. Broadway vet Norbert Leo Butz guest stars as himself. (more...)

D3 LED, LLC (D3), the global leader in design, engineering and technology for the LED (light emitting diode) display market, today announced its completion of the first state-of-the-art LED display marquee and digital media system in Broadway theatre history for New Amsterdam Theatre at 214 West 42nd Street in New York City. (more...)