Lauren Kennedy News

North Carolina Theatre, the region’s premiere nonprofit professional regional theatre, has announced their 2022-23 season sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield on stage at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh!

The Why I'll Never Make It podcast is going live again at The Green Room 42, this time with Broadway performers Joshua Morgan (Ain't Too Proud, LES MISERABLES) and Janine DiVita (Jagged Little Pit, If/Then).

What do Fiyero, Alfred P. Doolittle, and Carl Hanratty have in common? They were all played by one of the brightest stars of stage and screen, Norbert Leo Butz. He has created some of Broadway's most beloved characters, and now Butz is lending his talents to Give or Take- a new movie that is in theaters now and arrives on DVD & Digital on February 22, 2022.

After their incredible 2021 season, Theatre Raleigh is already gearing up for their 2022 season with the announcement of the Main Stage lineup.

This is the last chance to vote for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Time is running out to vote for for the 2021 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards! The 2021 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021.

Based on Colin Higgins' 1980 Academy Award nominated film of the same name, 9 to 5 follows three female coworkers in the late 1970s. Pushed to the boiling point, they team up to concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy, and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy - giving their boss the boot! While Franklin Hart remains 'otherwise engaged,' the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down.

From October 12th-17th, North Carolina Theatre will be presenting a production of 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, which is located inside Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. The show features a book penned by Patricia Resnick, who was one of the screenwriters behind the original movie, and an original score written by Dolly Parton. North Carolina Theatre's production stars Sara Jean Ford as Judy Bernly (the Jane Fonda role), Lauren Kennedy, the Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Raleigh, as Violet Newstead (the Lily Tomlin role), and Ryah Nixon as Doralee Rhodes (the Dolly Parton role). Not to mention that Raleigh's own Ira David Wood III, the Artistic and Executive Director of Theatre in the Park, will be making a special appearance in the show as the Chairman of the Board. I recently had the great pleasure of interviewing actor Ben Davis, who will be taking on the role of Franklin Hart, Jr. Ben has previously appeared on Broadway in LES MISÉRABLES, LA BOHÈME (which earned him along with his fellow cast members a special Tony Award in 2003), THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, VIOLET, and DEAR EVAN HANSEN.

North Carolina Theatre, the region's premiere nonprofit professional regional theatre, is excited to announce the full cast for 9 to 5 with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, directed by Producing Artistic Director, Eric Woodall.

Continuing their 2021 Summer Series, Theatre Raleigh presents the critically acclaimed musical, Fun Home. Adapted from Alison Bechdel's graphic novel by the same name, Fun Home shares the brutal and honest realities of family, love, and loss. 

The leading ladies of North Carolina Theatre's Production of 9 to 5 will include Ashley Blanchet (Frozen, Beautiful, Annie, and Memphis on Broadway) as Judy, Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot, Les Misérables, Side Show, and Sunset Boulevard on Broadway) as Violet, and Ryah Nixon (9 TO 5: The Musical National Tour) as Doralee.  

Learn more about the production and how to purchase tickets here!

There has never been a better time to hone your skills and practice your craft! On June 27 (12pm ET), Broadway favorite Kara Lindsay will host her very own masterclass right here at BroadwayWorld.

On this day, we're wishing a very Happy Birthday to acclaimed composer Jason Robert Brown!

As the world is beginning to open back up and we reflect on what we have been through and learned since last March, the theatrical art form is here to provide context and curate this time.  Theatre Raleigh is known for professional, high quality and intimate entertainment. And now in a bold move, the theatre has relocated, the company is creating an arts center and is opening back up for business!  

Hadestown and Girl From the North Country have just announced their Broadway return dates! Hadestown will reopen on September 2, with Girl From the North Country coming on October 13. Additionally, Thoughts of a Colored Man is set to come to Broadway on October 31. The production will star Dyllón Burnside, Keith David, Luke James, and more.

Watch the original team of the world premiere production of Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS recently reunited for the 20th year anniversary! The online event featured never-before-told stories and two new performances of the musical's hit songs.

Northlight Theatre will present a special 20th Anniversary reunion event for Northlight Theatre’s world premiere of The Last Five Years. The event features performances and conversation with BJ Jones, playwright Jason Robert Brown, director Daisy Prince, and original cast members Norbert Leo Butz and Lauren Kennedy.

A special solo show has been turned into a special film and Benjamin Rauhala has a lot to say about it... and many other things, as well.

Theatre Raleigh will start their 2021 Season with the crowd pleasing Broadway concert, Oh, What A Night!, and have added to the beginning of the summer is the adaptation of David Cecelski's book, The Fire of Freedom.