Nancy Opel News

Performances officially began on June 28 for the star-studded New York City Center Encores! production of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim's beloved musical, Into the Woods, at the St. James Theatre. The cast  took their first bows in front of a sold-out audience and BroadwayWorld was there. Check out the photos here!

Into the Woods just celebrated its first Broadway preview at the St. James Theatre, starring Sara Bareilles, Patina Miller, Gavin Creel, Joshua Henry and more. Check out video footage from inside the big night!

The New York City Center Encores! production of James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s beloved musical, Into the Woods, will provide a digital lottery for every performance in partnership with Lucky Seat for $50 per ticket.

Today's top stories include the winners of the 66th annual Drama Desk Awards, which were won by Company, Six, and more! Check out the full list below! Plus, Come From Away has set its closing date, additional casting announced for the Broadway transfer of Into The Woods, and more!

Additional casting has been announced for the New York City Center Encores! production of Into the Woods, for the strictly limited, 8-week engagement on Broadway. Find out the complete cast and how to get tickets.

Chad Austin and JV Mercanti have launched a new collaborative company The 29 Hour Venture with the aim to provide an artistic space for writers to hear their work -- at whatever stage of the process  – produced with the utmost professionalism.

What's brewing at ATC is nothing short of providential. JUSTICE feels profoundly earnest in its development, and even as the piece is rendered concert-style we're left with a fierce sensation that Arizona's regional theater company has struck gold, albeit mining is still in progress. If Broadway is in the cards, don't be surprised and remember where it all started.

There's a lavish public appetite for musicals these days. Chalk it up, perhaps, to a creative vengeance after a stifling pandemic. In any case, it's great news to theater artists with a bent for collaboration. And when a musical takes on the urgency of the moment, the creator's inspiration becomes a genuine point of interest.

Arizona Theatre Company's latest production captures an intimate snapshot of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O'Connor at the height of their power in an exciting world premiere.

Charles Dicken's beloved holiday chestnut is the ultimate feel-good vehicle beautifully staged in this 5-time Tony Award winning production sure to pack em in at the Golden Gate Theatre. The feel-good theme of second chances in life that lead to happy endings resonates strongly in the timeless story of a Ebeneezer Scrooge's transformation from cold, bitter miser to generous, giddy philanthropist.

Production photos are now available of the San Francisco company of the Tony Award-winning production of A Christmas Carol led by Obie Award winner Francois Battiste (Ebenezer Scrooge); beloved Broadway veteran Nancy Opel (Ghost of Christmas Past); and award-winning actor, writer, and producer Amber Iman (Ghost of Christmas Present/Mrs. Fezziwig).

BroadwayWorld talks to award-winning choreographer and director Doug Varone about his company's upcoming program in San Jose, which includes 'Somewhere,' his take on the iconic score from 'West Side Story.' They also discuss Varone's choreography for two musicals that have become cult classics - 'The Triumph of Love' and 'Murder Ballad.'

Songs of the Serpent: Introducing songs from Medusa, a New Pop Opera, will have its world premier presentation on Wednesday, October 27th at 8:30pm, with an after party to follow. Secret location details to be revealed upon reservation.

Casting has been announced today for the San Francisco production of the Tony-winning production of A Christmas Carol with Broadway veteran Nancy Opel (Ghost of Christmas Past) and award-winning actor, writer, and producer Amber Iman (Ghost of Christmas Present/Mrs. Fezziwig) joining the previously announced Francois Battiste (Ebenezer Scrooge).

New City Music Theatre, formerly Cleveland Musical Theatre, held the first production under its new name and reinvigorated mission on Thursday, August 26 when it presented Jason Robert Brown’s seminal work Songs for a New World. Reimagined through a contemporary storytelling lens and performed by an expanded, star-studded cast including Liz Calloway, Jason Gotay, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Mary Kate Morrissey, and Ximone Rose, among others, at Radial Park at Halletts Point in Queens.

New City Music Theatre will welcome celebrated singer and Tony nominee Liz Callaway to the cast of their one-night only production of Songs for a New World. Callaway joins a host of Broadway and rising stars for the exclusive event at Radial Park at Halletts Point in Astoria, Queens on Thursday, August 26 at 7:30pm.

Last seen in the title role of Aladdin, Telly Leung (he/him) lends his talents to “The World Was Dancing” for the evening. Another Aladdin alum, Michael James Scott (he/him) will take on the soaring, penultimate number “Flying Home” before returning to the New Amsterdam this fall. Following her recent turn in the Broadway company of Wicked, Tony nominee Nancy Opel (she/her) will show off her comedic chops in “Just One Step,” while Bre Jackson (The Color Purple, The Book of Mormon; she/her) gives voice to “The Flagmaker, 1775.”

With the upcoming first anniversary of the Beirut explosion on August 4th, 2020, Abingdon Theatre Company is shedding light on the art that has been created as a result of this tragedy. It Cries Too Loudly explores the overlap between joy and tragedy in her tumultuous home country and the experience of being an emigre.

Exciting talent continues to join the cast of The Suffragist. Broadway veterans Cathryn Wake and Joel Waggoner bring years of experience in music, each with impressive Broadway credits - Wake (Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812) and Waggoner (School of Rock; Be More Chill).

The fundraiser raised over $452,000 to date --- making this a record breaking event as the highest-grossing gala in the history of George Street Playhouse.