Randy Adams News

Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) is proud to announce that Bryce Ryness, Eric Ankrim, Kevin Kern and Sydney Shepherd will join stars Zachary Levi ('Chuck,' Tangled,Thor: The Dark World) and Krysta Rodriguez ('Smash,' The Addams Family) in FIRST DATE, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. FIRST DATE begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's LongacreTheatre (220 West 48th Street).

Two of America's top comedy creators, The Second City and Funny Or Die, have collaborated on an exclusive new video course. The pilot program will launch at The Second City Training Center's Hollywood campus (6560 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028) beginning July 2, 2013. Similar programs will be launched at The Second City Training Centers in Chicago and Toronto in the Fall of 2013.

Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) has just announced that leading man Zachary Levi, star of TV's “Chuck,” Disney's feature film Tangled and the upcoming Thor: The Dark World, will make his Broadway debut starring opposite Broadway and television ingénue Krysta Rodriguez (“Smash,” The Addams Family) in FIRST DATE, Broadway's new romantic musical comedy. With a book by Austin Winsberg (“Gossip Girl”), music and lyrics byAlan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed) and musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) FIRST DATE is directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre). Featuring Sara Chase (“Arrested Development,” The Toxic Avenger), Kristoffer Cusick (Wicked, Rent), Blake Hammond (Sister Act, Billy Elliot) and Kate Loprest (“Boardwalk Empire,” Hairspray), the cast of FIRST DATE also includes Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!). FIRST DATE begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013, and opens Thursday, August 8, 2013, at Broadway's Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Additional casting to be announced shortly.

IFC has ordered two original scripted comedy series from Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Ben Stiller and Bob Odenkirk. THE SPOILS OF BABYLON, produced by Funny or Die has received a six-episode order. The sketch comedy series THE BIRTHDAY BOYS will be executive produced by Bob Odenkirk and Ben Stiller.

Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) has just announced FIRST DATE, Broadway's new musical comedy, has set the date to open at The Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street), Sunday, August 4, 2013. With a book by Austin Winsberg (“Gossip Girl”), music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed), choreographed by Josh Rhodes (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella) and directed by Bill Berry (Producing Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre), FIRST DATE begins performances Tuesday, July 9, 2013. Casting will be announced at a later date.

Fuse, the national music television network of The Madison Square Garden Company, announced today that FUNNY OR DIE'S BILLY ON THE STREET will return to Fuse tonight, December 7 at 10pm EST.

Fuse, the national music television network of The Madison Square Garden Company, announced today that FUNNY OR DIE'S BILLY ON THE STREET will return to Fuse on Friday, December 7 at 10pm EST.

At last night's performance, April 4, the cast of MEMPHIS was treated to a special guest in Oprah Winfrey, along with students from her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. After taking in the show, Oprah and the group greeted stars Adam Pascal, Montego Glover, and more backstage. Check out photos from the visit below!

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today that Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff, NAMT members and partners in Junkyard Dog Productions, have made a four-year pledge to support NAMT's National Fund for New Musicals, a program that awards grants to not-for-profit member theatres to support the development of new works. This grant helps match a 5-year leadership pledge made by Stacey Mindich in 2011. Together, these contributions create a solid, vital foundation on which NAMT will build the future of this young program.

Following a successful 23rd Annual Festival of New Musicals held in NYC Oct. 27-28. The National Alliance for Musical Theatre held a party at Southern Hospitality. This year's Festival attaracted over 650 people representing 300 organizations from around the country including Europe attending the eight new musicals that were presented. Over 100 creators, actors and musicians were involved. Check out photos from the big event below!

Shout! Factory and Broadway Worldwide, Inc. today announced a new deal to bring Broadway's 2010 Tony Award®-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS to the home entertainment marketplace in the U.S. and Canada. Under this multi-year agreement, Shout! Factory will be the exclusive home entertainment distributor to release MEMPHIS featuring the original Broadway cast, on Blu-rayTM, DVD and for digital download. This announcement was made by Shout! Factory's founding partners Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos; and Broadway Worldwide's founder and CEO Bruce Brandwen.

President Marilynn Sheldon and the Board of Directors of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today that Betsy King Militello has been appointed the new Executive Director of NAMT and will begin her duties on August 22, 2011.

President Marilynn Sheldon and the Board of Directors of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today that Betsy King Militello has been appointed the new Executive Director of NAMT and will begin her duties on August 22, 2011.

On Monday, June 6, Broadway in Bryant Park presented by 106.7 Life FM hosted a kickoff event to announce the summer line up for 2011. The event featured live performances from the 2010 Tony Award Winning Musical Memphis including hits: 'Music of My Soul', 'Colored Woman', 'Memphis Lives in Me', 'Love Will Stand' and 'Steal You Rock and Roll' from Memphis cast members. Check out photos from the event below!

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU), The Players Theatre and Back Stage present the industry panel From Table Reading to Tony Award: A Long Way to Memphis on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre, 3rd Floor Loft Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

Last night, September 23, the stars of Memphis were honored with a Wall of Fame painting at Tony di Napoli's restaurant to kick off the new Broadway season and celebrate the cast's one year anniversary on Broadway. The painting was created by Dan May. Valerie Smaldone produced and emceed the event, which was hosted by Tony di Napoli's Bruce Dimpflmaier.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU), The Players Theatre and Back Stage present the industry panel From Table Reading to Tony Award: A Long Way to Memphis on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre, 3rd Floor Loft Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street (below W. 3rd Street), NYC.

In the wake of the Broadway triumph of the Tony Award-winning musical hit MEMPHIS, theater bigwigs from across the country gathered at TheatreWorks last weekend to see what new works the nationally acclaimed theater of Silicon Valley is laying its hands on next.

A recent article from Variety talks about the recent box office increase at MEMPHIS, despite star Montego Glover's vacation. Did Michelle Obama's visit coupled with the Tony Award turn around the destiny MEMPHIS?

In a recent article by The Boston Globe, Bill Hanney, the new owner of the North Shore Music Theatre, is enthusiastic about the theatre's future. Despite still being under construction, GYPSY is set to open in 11 days.