Howard Ashman News

Inspired by the blockbuster 1960 Roger Corman film, the monster musical hit LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS comes to Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, July 12 through August 19. One of the longest-running musicals Off-Broadway, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS features a score by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney's "The Little Mermaid", "Beauty and The Beast" and "Aladdin"). Theatre at the CenterÂ’s production, boasting glorious refurbishments of the plants from the original New York production, will be directed and choreographed by Stacey Flaster. (more...)

Enchanting audiences of all generations worldwide, Disney's Beauty and the Beast casts its spell in Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater on Navy Pier June 28 to August 26, 2012. Tickets are $18–$25 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40 percent parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com. (more...)

Hennepin Theatre Trust announced today that individual tickets for DisneyÂ’s Beauty and the Beast, the classic musical love story running at Hennepin Theatre TrustÂ’s Orpheum Theatre October 16-21, 2012, will go on sale at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 1, 2012. (more...)

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, the third longest-running show in off-Broadway history, has been extended through May 27 at the Charles Mosesian Theater in Watertown. Like the nefarious, carnivorous plant at the center of its story, LITTLE SHOP is on a long, deliberate path to conquer the worldÂ…of stage and screen. Director/choreographer Russell Garrett and his team of designers have crafted a production that is visually and technically spot on, with Musical Direction by Todd C. Gordon and a cast that is vocally up to the task. (more...)

Dan Domenech and Tony Award-winning actress and Disney Legend Lea Salonga sang “A Whole New World,” Disney’s ALADDIN's theme, at the latter’s live concert recently held at the Tuacahn Ampitheatre, an outdoor performance space nestled in a verdant valley, and surrounded by towering red rock cliffs. (more...)

New Repertory Theatre today announced a one-week extension of the Off-Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. Originally scheduled to close May 20, the production, now running in the Charles Mosesian Theater at the Arsenal Center for the Arts performs through May 27, 2012. (more...)

According to Variety, GLEE and SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK writer is in talks to write a new version of 'Little Shop of Horrors' for Warner Bros. No word yet on According to Variety, GLEE and SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is in talks to write a new version of 'Little Shop of Horrors' for Warner Bros. The 1982 musical (and 1986 film) spawned from the 1960 film of the same name. No word yet on a potential release date.a potential release date. (more...)

Stage Entertainment, in cooperation with Disney Theatrical Productions, will present the Dutch premiere of The Little Mermaid, which premiered on Broadway in 2007. After presenting Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, the Netherlands is the first country to scoop the European premiere of the Disney musical. Disney's The Little Mermaid opens on Saturday May 12, premiering at Martini Plaza in Groningen and then playing larger theaters in the Netherlands. Check out the trailer video below. (more...)

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is coming to Philadelphia as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the Academy of Music for 9 performances on June 4 – 10. The engagement is now set to open on Monday, June 4 (from previously scheduled June 5 opening), with the additional performance added due to overwhelming demand. The press opening is still Tuesday, June 5 at 7:30 pm. (more...)

Kansas City Repertory Theatre, under the artistic leadership of Eric Rosen, closes its 2011-12 season with a professional production of the popular musical Little Shop of Horrors; book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith. Kyle Hatley directs. Little Shop of Horrors runs now through May 20 at the Rep's Copaken Stage. See photos from the production below! (more...)

Martha Wilkinson is a force of nature—onstage, offstage, no matter where she goes, the woman is a force of nature and, throughout her career, she’s taken on some of musical theater’s most coveted roles proving along the way that she can do virtually anything. Now, in Tennessee Repertory Theatre’s staging of Little Shop of Horrors, Wilkinson adds yet another stellar performance to her resume, playing the campy musical’s offbeat heroine with the ease, grace and unerring comic timing that is her stock in trade. In short, Wilkinson’s performance as Audrey, the flower shop girl with a penchant for ending up with the wrong guy, is one of the best we’ve seen of the role and its one that yet again establishes her as Music City’s queen of musical theater. (more...)

Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the internationally renowned, award-winning Broadway musical, will bring its unforgettable characters, and dazzling production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the beloved title song, to the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, July 3-22, 2012. (more...)

For the first time, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, produced by NETworks Presentations, is coming to the State Theatre for 3 performances, Tuesday, May 1 – Thursday, May 3 at 7 PM. (more...)

California Musical Theatre announces the 2012-13 Broadway Sacramento season at Community Center Theater, featuring Tony Award-winning new Broadway musicals as well as heart-warming family favorites. Memphis, which won four 2010 Tony Awards and is still playing on Broadway, kicks off the season, followed by Peter Pan, starring Cathy Rigby, Rock of Ages, DisneyÂ’s Beauty and the Beast, and multi-Tony Award winner Billy Elliot the Musical. The final show of the season is a Broadway Mega-Hit that canÂ’t be revealed until August due to contractual obligations. That show is a brand new production of one of the most beloved and popular Broadway musicals ever, and has been highly praised by critics and audiences alike throughout its wildly successful tour. (more...)

Kansas City Repertory Theatre, under the artistic leadership of Eric Rosen, closes its 2011-12 season with a professional production of the popular musical Little Shop of Horrors; book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken, based on the film by Roger Corman, screenplay by Charles Griffith. Kyle Hatley directs. Little Shop of Horrors runs April 20 – May 20 at the Rep’s Copaken Stage. (more...)

DisneyÂ’s Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Washington, D.C. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at the National Theatre for two weeks only, June 12 through June 24. (more...)

The Farmington Players stage now resembles a Little Shop of Horrors, as one of the longest-running Off-Broadway shows in history comes to the Barn, April 27th-May 19th. Tickets are available at farmingtonplayers.org or at the box office (248) 553-2955. (more...)

Tennessee Repertory Theatre will present the America cult classic musical Little Shop of Horrors, music and lyrics by Alan Menken and book by Howard Ashman. Little Shop of Horrors runs April 28 - May 19 at TPAC’s Johnson Theater (with preview performances April 26 – 27). (more...)

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Broadway In Chicago's upcoming season, "The Boy Scout Musical," "Faustus," a rare "Leader Of The Pack," death of Etel Billig, a Southside "Dreamgirls" and much more.... (more...)

The first ever, full-length Broadway Las Vegas season at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts features eight of BroadwayÂ’s biggest hits, beginning with the world-wide phenomenon WICKED. Other titles in the season include THE ADDAMS FAMILY, BILLY ELLIOT, WEST SIDE STORY, SHREK THE MUSICAL, DisneyÂ’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ANYTHING GOES and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Broadway Las Vegas at The Smith Center will also feature two season specials, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and Green DayÂ’s AMERICAN IDIOT. (more...)