James Sampliner News

JULIE REIBER – the singer and actress currently playing Marion in Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Broadway at the Palace Theater – will release her debut solo album on Tuesday, April 24. Love Travels is a mix of her original tunes, musical theatre favorites by such composers as Jason Robert Brown ("Still Hurting"), Adam Guettel ("Through The Mountain") and Stephen Schwartz (the special bonus track "Defying Gravity") – each with a special twist – and reinventions of Reiber’s favorite artists including Stevie Wonder ("Knocks Me Off My Feet"), Chaka Khan ("Stay"), John Mayer ("Back To You") and Joni Mitchell ("Little Green"). She will celebrate this new recording with a concert at Rockwood Music Hall the following night, Wednesday April 25. The $20 ticket price includes a signed CD. Love Travels will also be available via iTunes, CDBaby.com, Amazon.com and JulieReiber.com (more...)

Lincoln Center’s acclaimed series American Songbook has returned to the Allen Room for its fourteenth season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 16 nights the series is exploring the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today’s most dynamic songwriting. (more...)

The Broadway aimed musical adaption of the 90's cult classic Jawbreaker will receive an industry reading in Manhattan on October 13th under the direction of Gabriel Barre. With a book by Darren Stein (writer and director of the film) and a score by Jeffrey Thomson and Jordan Mann (Jonathan Larson award winners), the cast includes Diana DeGarmo (Hair, Hairspray), Joanna Glushak (Les Miserables, Urinetown), Van Hughes (American Idiot, 9 to 5, Hairspray), Tracy McDowell (Rent), Ryah Nixon, Marty Thomas (Wicked, Xanadu) and Libby Winters (American Idiot). (more...)

The Broadway aimed musical adaption of the 90's cult classic Jawbreaker will receive an industry reading in Manhattan on October 13th under the direction of Gabriel Barre. With a book by Darren Stein (writer and director of the film) and a score by Jeffrey Thomson and Jordan Mann (Jonathan Larson award winners), the cast includes Diana DeGarmo (Hair, Hairspray), Joanna Glushak (Les Miserables, Urinetown), Van Hughes (American Idiot, 9 to 5, Hairspray), Tracy McDowell (Rent), Ryah Nixon, Marty Thomas (Wicked, Xanadu) and Libby Winters (American Idiot). (more...)

La Jolla Playhouse's Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman, will close on August 28. (more...)

La Jolla Playhouse presents a new adaptation of Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman, who will also direct the Playhouse’s 2011/12 world premiere of Milk Like Sugar. (more...)

Due to popular demand, La Jolla Playhouse today announced a one-week extension for Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman. (more...)

La Jolla Playhouse presents a new adaptation of Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman, who will also direct the Playhouse’s 2011/12 world premiere of Milk Like Sugar. (more...)

La Jolla Playhouse presents a new adaptation of Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman, who will also direct The Playhouse's 2011/12 world premiere of Milk Like Sugar. A co-production with Princeton's McCarter Theatre Center, Sleeping Beauty Wakes runs July 19 - August 21 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. Tickets are available at www.LaJollaPlayhouse.org or by calling the box office at (858) 550-1010. Sleeping Beauty Wakes is sponsored by U.S. Bank and ResMed Inc. (more...)

McCarter Theatre is proud to announce complete casting and creative team for Sleeping Beauty Wakes, a new musical featuring a book by Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily. The production closesJune 5 and is directed by Rebecca Taichman, who delighted McCarter audiences with her 2009 production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Following the McCarter run, the production will move to La Jolla Playhouse. (more...)

La Jolla Playhouse presents a new adaptation of Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman, who will also direct the Playhouse’s 2011/12 world premiere of Milk Like Sugar. (more...)

McCarter Theatre presents Sleeping Beauty Wakes, a new musical featuring a book by Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily. The production, which runs through June 5, is directed by Rebecca Taichman, who delighted McCarter audiences with her 2009 production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The show had its opening night Friday, May 6. Following the McCarter run, the production will move to La Jolla Playhouse. Check out a sneak peek of the show below! (more...)

McCarter Theatre presents Sleeping Beauty Wakes, a new musical featuring a book by Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily. The production, which opened April 29 and runs through June 5, is directed by Rebecca Taichman, who delighted McCarter audiences with her 2009 production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Opening Night was Friday, May 6. Following the McCarter run, the production will move to La Jolla Playhouse. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a look at Sleeping Beauty Wakes on stage! (more...)

McCarter Theatre is proud to announce complete casting and creative team for Sleeping Beauty Wakes, a new musical featuring a book by Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (more...)

McCarter Theatre is proud to announce complete casting and creative team for Sleeping Beauty Wakes, a new musical featuring a book by Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily. The production, which runs from April 29 through June 5, will be directed by Rebecca Taichman, who delighted McCarter audiences with her 2009 production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Opening Night is set for Friday, May 6. Following the McCarter run, the production will move to La Jolla Playhouse. (more...)

McCarter Theatre is proud to announce complete casting and creative team for Sleeping Beauty Wakes, a new musical featuring a book by Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), and a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (more...)

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the remaining performers for its second show of their season, SWEET SOUL MUSIC, which will include Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (Broadway: The Color Purple, The Scottsboro Boys), & Leslie Odom, Jr. (Broadway: Rent, Jersey Boys, Regional: Leap of Faith opposite Brooke Shields), with the previously announced American Idol star Frenchie Davis, performing the music of RAY CHARLES, MARVIN GAYE and GLADYS KNIGHT, and their own selections, under the musical direction of Todd Schroeder, in a one night only concert - SWEET SOUL MUSIC. SWEET SOUL MUSIC will perform on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at 7:30PM at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada. (more...)

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the remaining performers for its second show of their season, SWEET SOUL MUSIC, which will include Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (Broadway: The Color Purple, The Scottsboro Boys), & Leslie Odom, Jr. (Broadway: Rent, Jersey Boys, Regional: Leap of Faith opposite Brooke Shields), with the previously announced American Idol star Frenchie Davis, performing the music of RAY CHARLES, MARVIN GAYE and GLADYS KNIGHT, and their own selections, under the musical direction of Todd Schroeder, in a one night only concert – SWEET SOUL MUSIC. (more...)

An all-star lineup of Broadway stars performed at the concert of music from Jawbreaker, a new musical based on the cult-classic film, on Sunday, December 12th, 2010 at 9pm at the Canal Room in New York City. The cast included Shoshana Bean (Wicked), Morgan James (Addams Family), Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia), Deborah S. Craig (Spelling Bee), Tracie Thoms (Cold Case, Rent), Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked), and Alexa Green (Wicked). (more...)

Tracie Thoms (Cold Case, Rent), Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked), and Alexa Green (Wicked) have been added to the all-star lineup of Broadway stars performing at the upcoming concert of music from Jawbreaker, a new musical based on the cult-classic film, on Sunday, December 12th, 2010 at 9pm at the Canal Room in New York City. They join the previously announced cast, which includes Shoshana Bean (Wicked), Morgan James (Addams Family), Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia), and Deborah S. Craig (Spelling Bee). (more...)