Universal Pictures News

Twelve year old Harrison Dowzell from Nottinghamshire has become the thirtieth boy to play the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End. Check out the production photographs of Dowzell in action below. (more...)

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED, which is returning to the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center with performances from May 30 – June 24. Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, located in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center, will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form, if chosen, when purchasing tickets. (more...)

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films, Old Vic Productions and NETworks Presentations, LLC bring the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center from June 19 to June 24. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical has earned critical acclaim around the world and was the winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards including Best Musical. (more...)

The company of the first North American tour of WICKED welcomes PJ Benjamin as The Wizard on Tuesday, May 8 and Nicole Parker as Elphaba on Friday, May 18 in Denver, CO. (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...)

WICKED will go on sale to the public on Saturday, May 19 at 7 a.m.; tickets will be exclusively available at the box office from 7 to 10 a.m. on-site at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts at 361 Symphony Park Avenue in Las Vegas. Beginning at 10 a.m., any remaining tickets will be available for purchase online at www.TheSmithCenter.com or by phone at 702-749-2000. There is an 8-ticket limit per patron. (more...)

Following the partnership on Ron HowardÂ’s RUSH, also to be released through Cross CreekÂ’s distribution deal with Universal Pictures, the first film being produced and financed under this new far reaching arrangement is the thriller A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES starring Liam Neeson (TAKEN). (more...)

Producers of the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Gore VidalÂ’s THE BEST MAN have announced that the critically-acclaimed production, which was originally scheduled to play through July 8, 2012, has been extended a second time, now through Sunday, September 9, 2012. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. (more...)

Universal Pictures Stage Productions/Glenn Ross, Beacon Communications/Armyan Bernstein and Charlie Lyons and Executive Producers Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson announced today that the new musical comedy Bring It On: The Musical will open on Broadway on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at The St. James Theatre (246 W. 44th Street) direct from a 13-city National Tour, for a 12-week limited engagement through Sunday, October 7, 2012. Previews are set to begin Thursday, July 12, 2012 at 8pm. (more...)

BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL is headed to Broadway following a tour that began in 2011, reports the New York Times. The show will play Broadway's St. James Theater, beginning previews on July 12th, opening August 1st and running through October 7th. (more...)

Billy Elliot the Musical, now in its eighth year, will release a further 640,000 tickets this week, taking booking at the Victoria Palace Theatre to 21 December 2013. Check out the production photographs below. (more...)

Twelve year old Harrison Dowzell from Nottinghamshire is to become the thirtieth boy to play the title role of Billy Elliot in the West End. Harrison, who joins the cast of Billy Elliot the Musical today, 14 May 2012, will alternate the role of Billy with Harris Beattie (13 year old from Aberdeen, Scotland), Kaine Ward (13 years old from Hertfordshire), Ryan Collinson (13 years old from Southport) and Adam Vesperman (13 years old from Seattle, Washington, USA) He will be the 65th boy to play the role worldwide, including Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot in the award-winning film. (more...)

WICKED, the most anticipated musical production of the 2012-2013 season will go on sale to the public on Saturday, May 19 at 7 a.m.; tickets will be exclusively available at the box office from 7 to 10 a.m. on-site at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts at 361 Symphony Park Avenue in Las Vegas. Beginning at 10 a.m., any remaining tickets will be available for purchase online at www.TheSmithCenter.com or by phone at 702-749-2000. There is an 8-ticket limit per patron. (more...)

According to a report by Deadline.com, Universal Pictures has picked up an as-yet untitled musical comedy by Michael Mitnick, libretto writer for Broadway's musical adaptation of Animal House, currently in the works. (more...)

Producers of the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Gore VidalÂ’s THE BEST MAN have announced that the production has officially been extended through Sunday, July 22, 2012. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. (more...)

THIS IS 40 is coming to theaters on December 21st 2012 from Universal Pictures. The comedy drama is written and directed by Judd Apatow and star Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Megan Fox, Jason Segel, Melissa McCarthy and Charlyne Yi. The film is the highly anticipated sequel to the comedy 'Knocked Up'. (more...)

Universal's Superstar Parade and Cinematic Spectacular - 100 Years of Movie Memories officially opens today at Universal Orlando Resort – bringing two brand-new kinds of entertainment experiences to Universal's guests. (more...)

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak today unveiled the AcademyÂ’s new screening venue and announced its summer series, "Oscars Outdoors," which will kick off on Friday, June 15 and run through Saturday, August 18. (more...)

J*Company Artistic Director, Joey Landwehr, has invited three local theatre professionals to appear in a cameo role in the final production in J*Company Youth Theatre’s La Jolla Playhouse Tribute Season. XANADU –The Musical (Seriously), will feature Pat Launer, Theater Critic/Arts Writer, (Sunday, May 13th at 4:30 pm), Rob Hopper, National Youth Arts Director, (Sunday, May 13, at 1:00 pm), and Monica Handler Penner, J*Company Executive Producer (Saturday, May 5th at 8:00 pm). (more...)

Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht announced the straight-to-series greenlight of BLACK SAILS (working title) from executive producer Michael Bay. The new STARZ Original series is expected to air in 2014. (more...)