Jim Wann News

Ground UP Productions (Kate Middleton, Producing Artistic Director) presents Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park July 8 through 25, 2009 at Manhattan Theatre Source (177 MacDougal Street, between Waverly Pl. and West 8th St.), located in the heart of Greenwich Village.

Ground UP Productions will host the Rooftop Rendezvous, a swanky cocktail party benefiting the critically acclaimed theater company's summer production of Barefoot in the Park. The celebration will be held atop the Scholastic Event Center (557 Broadway at Prince Street) on Friday, June 19, 2009 from 6:00 to 10:00 pm.

The popular Rock ?n' Roll, Country and Blue Grass music revue, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, will preview May 28, open June 4 and run through August 2 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

The popular Rock ?n' Roll, Country and Blue Grass music revue, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, will preview May 28, open June 4 and run through August 2 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

The popular Rock ?n' Roll, Country and Blue Grass music revue, PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, will preview May 28, open June 4 and run through August 2 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, known for producing acclaimed, innovative and classic musicals, announces its exciting 2009 season, featuring five musicals that have never been seen on the Drury Lane stage. Hot off the Broadway stage, the musical comedy 'CURTAINS', directed by William Brown previews March 19, opens March 26 and runs through May 17; the feel-good musical review 'PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES', directed by Shawn Stengel previews May 28, opens June 4 and runs through August 2; the Tony Award-winning musical 'CABARET', directed by Jim Corti previews August 13, opens August 20 and runs through October 11; the delightful Jazz Age musical 'THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE', directed by Artistic Director William Osetek, previews October 22, opens October 29 and runs through December 20; and the beloved musical 'FUNNY GIRL', directed by Gary Griffin, previews December 31, opens January 7 and runs through March 7, 2010.

Ryland Blackinton, guitarist for the alternative rock band Cobra Starship, will join the cast of the World-Premiere play THE OPTIMIST - which the New Yorker called a 'compelling drama' - for the shows final week of performances (Tuesday, April 8 through Saturday, April 12) at the Abingdon Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Mr. Blackinton will be taking over the role of Declan.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) presented one-night-only concert staging of The People vs. Mona, a new 'Musical Mystery Screwball Comedy' by Patricia Miller and Jim Wann on March 31st, 2008

Ground UP Productions presents the World Premiere of the new play The Optimist, by Jason Chimonides and directed by acclaimed director Jace Alexander. Previews of The Optimist begin March 20 prior to an official press opening of March 26 at the Abingdon Theater

LONE STAR LOVE, a new musical comedy starring Academy Award nominee Randy Quaid in his Broadway debut as Colonel John Falstaff, has announced full casting as it begins rehearsals this week for its Seattle engagement at The 5th Avenue Theatre, September 8 - 30. LONE STAR LOVE will open on Broadway on Monday, December 3 at New York's Belasco Theatre; previews will begin Thursday, November 1.

We meet with Jim Wann, the composer/lyricist/co-author of the book, and with director/producer, Kate Middleton. Daniel Bailey accompanies Mariand Torres and Richard Binder in three songs: 'Tippo', 'Lockdown Blues', and Come on Down to Tippo'. This is Jim Wann's first musical since the award-winning Pump Boys and Dinettes, which launched the career of Debra Monk, among others. A little bit love story, a little bit courtroom drama, the musical comedy is set in Tippo, Geroge. It's about the trial of Mona Mae Kitt, who owns a popular hangout in town, and is charged with her husband's murder. If she's convicted, she will have to go to jail, and her attorney has never won a case against the prosecutor -- who is also his fiancee. This production marks its New York premiere. It is playing at the Abingdon Theatre (312 West 36th Street), and opened July 18th.

Ground UP Productions presents the New York premiere of The People vs. Mona, a new Southern murder mystery musical from Jim Wann

Ground UP Productions will present the New York premiere of The People vs. Mona, a new Southern murder mystery musical from Jim Wann (co-conceiver of the Tony Award nominated musical Pump Boys and Dinettes) and Patricia Miller.

Ground UP Productions will host a 'Bluegrass Bash' on Friday, June 22 with food, drink and live performances by The Defibulators, Jim Wann (Tony Award-nominee for Pump Boys & Dinettes), and a musical sneak-peek at the up-coming New York premiere of The People vs. Mona

Ground UP Productions will present the New York premiere of The People vs. Mona, a new Southern murder mystery musical from Jim Wann and Patricia Miller

The Manhattan Theatre Source will serve up a revival of the 1982 hit Pump Boys and Dinettes; the show will begin performances on May 10th for an opening on May 13th