Paul James News

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival opens its 74th year the weekend of February 20-22 and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Elizabethan Stage. In honor of that milestone, OSF is dedicating the 2009 season to principal theatre and scenic designer, Richard L. Hay, acknowledging his creative work that spans more than 50 years at OSF and includes the design of all three theatre spaces, beginning with the current Elizabethan Stage in 1959, half a century ago. 'I am deeply moved as I reflect on the achievement and commitment of our extraordinary theater artist, Richard Hay,' OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch said, 'whose dedication to our artform and to OSF is an inspiration to all of us. The remarkable spaces he designed allow for a connection between actors and audiences that make OSF's theater experience unique and richly satisfying. And he remains an unstoppable creative force, designing scenery for two world premiere adaptations this season: The Servant of Two Masters and Don Quixote.' The 2009 season opens at 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 20, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre on the battlefields of Scotland with William Shakespeare's tragic play, Macbeth, directed by guest artist Gale Edwards. On Saturday, February 21 at 1:30 p.m. in the Angus Bowmer Theatre, theatergoers will have the opportunity to see the rarely produced Death and the King's Horseman,, written by Nigeria's Nobel Laureate playwright Wole Soyinka and directed by Goodman Theatre resident artist Chuck Smith. At 8:00 p.m. that evening, audiences will be treated to Meredith Willson's classic American musical The Music Man, directed by Rauch.

Variety reports the good news that despite the continuing sharp economic downturn in the final quarter, London theater had a record-breaking year in 2008, with attendance for the year totaling 13,807,286, up 1% on the previous record set in 2007. Box office revenue hit 480,563,674 ($658 million), a 3% rise on the 2007 high.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning Six Degrees of Separation, by John Guare (The House of Blue Leaves, Landscape of the Body), directed by Trip Cullman, to run in the Old Globe Theatre January 10 - February 15 (press opening: Thursday, January 15 at 8pm). Broadway veteran Karen Ziemba, who will play 'Ouisa,' won the Tony for the musical Contact and was nominated for her work in Steel Pier, Never Gonna Dance and Curtains!.

Composer and lyricist Scott Alan returned to Birdland on January 12th for a concert featuring a starry line-up of Broadway performers. The January 12th performance featured selections from Alan's debut CD, 'Dreaming Wide Awake' and his recently released CD 'Keys.'

Various online reports are indicating that Tony Winner Lin-Manuel Miranda will play his final performance as 'Usnavi' in his acclaimed Broadway hit, IN THE HEIGHTS on Sunday, February 15th, 2009 at 7pm. IN THE HEIGHTS opened to critical acclaim, going on to win four 2008 Tony Awards (Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations), and garnering a 2008 Grammy Award nomination for the original cast album. In November, 2008, Universal Pictures acquired the rights to produce a feature film based on IN THE HEIGHTS.

Merle Dandridge, Crystal Monee Hall, Megan McGinnis, Carrie Manolakos, Patti Murin and Allie Trimm have been added to a concert celebrating the music and lyrics of Scott Alan at Birdland. The January 12th performance will feature selections from Alan's debut CD, 'Dreaming Wide Awake' and his recently released CD ?Keys.'

Composer and lyricist Scott Alan will return to Birdland on January for a concert featuring a starry line-up of Broadway performers. The January 12th performance will feature selections from Alan's debut CD, 'Dreaming Wide Awake' and his recently released CD 'Keys.' Scheduled to appear at the 7pm concert include: Lisa Brescia, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jenn Colella, Erin Davie, Sutton Foster, Hadley Fraser, Nikki M. James, Marcus Paul James, Kenita Miller, Lauren Thomas, Katie Thompson, Natalie Weiss and The Broadway Boys.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning Six Degrees of Separation, by John Guare (The House of Blue Leaves, Landscape of the Body), directed by Trip Cullman, to run in the Old Globe Theatre January 10 - February 15 (press opening: Thursday, January 15 at 8pm). Broadway veteran Karen Ziemba, who will play 'Ouisa,' won the Tony for the musical Contact and was nominated for her work in Steel Pier, Never Gonna Dance and Curtains!.

Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller and Jill Furman, the lead producers of the 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS, announced today in a statement the recoupment of the show's $10 million investment after running only 10 months (337 performances) since opening on Broadway Sunday, March 9, 2008, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street).

Merle Dandridge, Crystal Monee Hall, Megan McGinnis, Carrie Manolakos, Patti Murin and Allie Trimm have been added to a concert celebrating the music and lyrics of Scott Alan at Birdland. The January 12th performance will feature selections from Alan's debut CD, 'Dreaming Wide Awake' and his recently released CD ?Keys.'

Composer and lyricist Scott Alan will return to Birdland on January for a concert featuring a starry line-up of Broadway performers. The January 12th performance will feature selections from Alan's debut CD, 'Dreaming Wide Awake' and his recently released CD 'Keys.' Scheduled to appear at the 7pm concert include: Lisa Brescia, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jenn Colella, Erin Davie, Sutton Foster, Hadley Fraser, Nikki M. James, Marcus Paul James, Kenita Miller, Lauren Thomas, Katie Thompson, Natalie Weiss and The Broadway Boys.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'Rent Filmed Live on Broadway' to Blu-ray on February 3rd along with the DVD release. The cover art for both the DVD and Blu-ray releases has been revealed.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning Six Degrees of Separation, by John Guare (The House of Blue Leaves, Landscape of the Body), directed by Trip Cullman, to run in the Old Globe Theatre January 10 - February 15 (press opening: Thursday, January 15 at 8pm). Broadway veteran Karen Ziemba, who will play 'Ouisa,' won the Tony for the musical Contact and was nominated for her work in Steel Pier, Never Gonna Dance and Curtains!.

Composer-lyricist Scott Alan's held a very special evening of songs and discussion in celebration of the release of his new CD, Keys: The Music of Scott Alan on Monday, December 1st at the Barnes & Nobleat Lincoln Triangle, 1972 Broadway at 66th Street.

Music and theater related events taking place at Lincoln Triangle Barnes & Noble, 66th St. and Broadway. Our performances are free and open to the public. Seating priority will be given to those who purchase the featured book or CD.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that they will bring 'Rent Filmed Live on Broadway' to Blu-ray on February 3rd along with the DVD release.

Marcy Harriell joins the 2008 Tony Award Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS tonight Tuesday, November 18, taking over the role of Vanessa. Marcy Harriell has starred on Broadway in Rent and Lennon and also in Encores! Kismet.

Composer-lyricist Scott Alan's new CD, Keys: The Music of Scott Alan, is NOW AVAILABLE on CDBaby.com as a CD disc or as a full length mp3.

Marcy Harriell will join the 2008 Tony Award Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS on Tuesday, November 18, taking over the role of Vanessa. Marcy Harriell has starred on Broadway in Rent and Lennon and also in Encores! Kismet.

Broadway's finest made the kick off event an unforgettable night when B'way After Dark opened its doors on August 31st. Hosts, Creator/Executive Producer of the event Rogelio Douglas Jr. of In The Heights, and Co-producer/Public Speaker Shaun Derik set the stage ablaze at Touch NYC. This time around B'way After Dark has a Masquerade theme, just in time for Halloween. With a DJ, live band and performances* by; Tony award nominee Brenda Braxton - (Chicago), Tituss Burgess - (The Little Mermaid), Matt Caplan - (South Pacific), Merle Dandridge - (Spamalot), Marcus Paul James - (Rent/In The Heights), Kelly King, Tracy McDowell - (Rent), Luis Salgado - (In The Heights), Saycon Sengbloh - (The Color Purple), Rhapsody - 'Siren Assassins', & Featuring Mistress Of Ceremonies Britney Houston!!