Theater Productions News

My first dose of musical theater was through my uncle’s old screechy phonograph recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s hippie, loud, angst-laden rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” (JCS). The classic stage hit, which was originally a concept album before evolving into a full-blown Broadway musical that follows the passion and death of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, had completed its three-year run on Broadway (1971-1973), and its first commercial movie release (1973) by the time I got to experience JCS’s electrifying, personally-impactful songs in the ‘80s though. So when the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Toronto, Canada announced late last year that its critically-acclaimed, deemed revolutionary production of JCS, directed by Tony winner Des McAnuff, was coming to Broadway, I was delighted to hear the news; and more so when I learned that three Filipino-Canadian musical theater artists – brothers Julius and Jason Sermonia, and Laurin Padolina – are part of the show. (more...)

TADA! YOUTH THEATER, the Drama Desk and Coming Up Taller Award-winning organization, is gearing up for a hot summer in the city. First is the June 2nd kid-fueled Dance-A-Thon, then two 1-Day Camps on June 7 and July 2 and new for 2012 2-week mini camps for ages 4 and 5, as well as, week-long camps for ages 6-14. (more...)

It’s a brand new season of love this summer when The 5th Avenue Theatre brings a bold and innovative production of RENT to the stage. Fresh from his smash success with First Date, Bill Berry directs this electrifying new staging of Jonathan Larson’s modern rock-opera classic. A cast of Seattle’s young rising theater stars, featuring Daniel Berryman, Aaron C. Finley, Naomi Morgan, Jerick Hoffer, Ryah Nixon, and Andi Alhadeff will take center stage, belting hits including “La Vie Boheme,” “Take Me or Leave Me,” “One Song Glory,” and “Rent.” Based on the Puccini opera La bohème, the hit musical premiered in 1996 to instant acclaim, and swept a host of theater awards — the Tony, the Obie, and the Pulitzer. (more...)

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Three shows make a PR appearance at Sidetrack, ATC plans a "Hair" re-do, "Camelot," "Floyd Collins," three new mainstage musicals, a reading, a benefit and more! (more...)

Bloomington Civic Theatre (BCT) is pleased to announce its 2012-2013 season, featuring 5 musicals and three plays. On the Schneider Theater stage, BCT presents 42nd Street, Sunday In The Park With George, Cabaret and On The Town. (more...)

Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) today announced the tap dancing musical 42nd Street. This Bloomington Civic Theatre (BCT) production will run August 17 – September 16, 2012. 42nd Street will be directed and choreographed by Michael Matthew Ferrell, with music direction by Anita Ruth. The cast of 24 includes Larissa Gritti as ‘Peggy’, C. Ryan Shipley as ‘Billy’, Michael Fischetti as ‘Julian Marsh’, and Bonnie Erickson as ‘Dorothy Brock’. (more...)

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe will commemorate its 40th Anniversary with a range of new multi-arts performances, retrospective events and infrastructure upgrades. Beginning with preview events this summer, the CafeÂ’s 40thAnniversary season will showcase the work of dozens of poets, playwrights, actors, musicians, burlesque performers, multimedia artists and educators. (more...)

The first annual Blumenthal Performing Arts High School Musical Theater Awards culminated Sunday, May 20, at a gala award celebration where winners in 13 categories were announced and nominees for Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Musical performed live on stage at the Belk Theater. The Blumey Awards were presented by Wells Fargo. (more...)

From award-winning actor/director Carlo D’Amore, and produced by Live IN Theater, THE LOMBARDI CASE 1975is a thrilling, interactive theatrical adventure, where audience members are transported into the world of the “Hell Precinct” to solve a notorious crime. The experience begins at THE LIVING ROOM, 154 Ludlow St., between Rivington and Stanton Sts., on the Lower East Side, NYC. Subways: F or J, M, Z to Essex Street- Delancey, or the F to 2nd Avenue. www.livingroomny.com. The show runs every Sunday, 2pm, through July 29th, 2012. For tickets ($49) and more information, please visit www.liveintheater.com. (more...)

Opera Theater of Connecticut, the stateÂ’s oldest professional opera company, held its 15th Amici Vocal Competition on Saturday, May 12, 2012, which featured some of the ConnecticutÂ’s finest young opera singers in the intimate setting of the Andrews Memorial Theater in Clinton. (more...)

The Sacramento engagement of WICKED begins performances May 23 and runs through June 17 at Community Center Theater, 1301 L Street. The Sacramento engagement of WICKED features Nicole Parker as Elphaba, Alli Mauzey as Glinda, Liz McCartney as Madame Morrible, PJ Benjamin as The Wizard and Justin Brill as Boq. (more...)

The 5th Avenue Awards Honoring High School Musical Theatre will celebrates its tenth anniversary by bringing previous recipients back to the stage to present the next generation of musical theater stars with awards and accolades. The acclaimed program, sponsored by Wells Fargo, is a high school version of the Tony Awards, and allows theater students from across Washington to meet, celebrate, and honor the exceptional musical Theater Productions presented during the 2011-12 school year. The 5th Avenue Awards will be held at 7:00 PM, Monday, June 4, at The 5th Avenue Theatre. (more...)

Following her holiday show in Provincetown last Christmas, and her debut at the Laurie Beechman Theater in New York City this past February, David Drake’s newest theatrical creation Tawny Heatherton will bring her blonde-swept brand of cheer back to the tip of the Cape for her very first summer-long engagement – with the premiere of TAWNY, TELL ME TRUE at the Crown & Anchor in Provincetown, MA. With onstage musical direction by John Thomas, TAWNY, TELL ME TRUE opens June 17th and performs every Sunday at 10PM thru Sept 2nd in the Crown Cabaret Room of the Crown & Anchor, 247 Commercial Street. Tickets are $25, and can be obtained in-person at the box office, or online at www.onlyatthecrown.com. (Note: *No performance on July 8th.) (more...)

In collaboration with Beck Center for the Arts, art dealer and Travel Art owner Paul Sykes has commissioned another, much larger, outdoor canvas art mural by internationally acclaimed surrealist artist, Natasha Turovsky to be installed Saturday, May 12, 2012 on the west wall of the Beck CenterÂ’s Creative Arts Therapies Building at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. (more...)

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the world premiere of EASTLAND: A NEW MUSICAL, written by Artistic Director Andrew White with music by Ben Sussman and Artistic Associate Andre Pluess and directed by Amanda Dehnert. The production runs June 6 – July 29, 2012 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. (more...)

The Chicago Commercial Collective today announced the return of the Chicago and Broadway hit drama, A Steady Rain, with its original cast and crew to the Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. (more...)

Beck Center for the Arts presents the regional premiere of the award-winning rock musical, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, May 25 through July 1, 2012 in the Studio Theater. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays. There are no Sunday matinee performances for this production. Tickets are now on sale. (more...)

Francesca Zambello, Artistic & General Director of The Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York, will receive an honorary degree from Colgate University on May 20. (more...)

Algonquin Theater Productions, producers of the Off Broadway shows Sessions, The Devil and Billy Markham and An Evening at the Carlyle announces a change in staff. Beginning immediately, Merry Beamer and Debra Whitfield join the current Artistic Director, Tony Sportiello, to form a triumvirate, as the company heads into its eighth year. (more...)

The Public Theater is presenting the world premiere of February House, with music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, beginning today, May 8th in The Public’s Martinson Theater, and running through June 10th. Three stars of the show – composer and lyricist Gabriel Kahane, actress Kacie Sheik, and actor Julian Fleisher have all been tapped by Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater for solo performances this June. (more...)