Pacific Overtures Revival

It wasn’t until later on in theatre history that revivals began including shows that weren’t initially well received or financially successful in their initial engagements. As musical theatre continued to evolve, and more shows entered the canon, a consensus began to grow about shows being worthy of additional exploration even if they hadn’t been hits the first time around. What about musicals that had been ahead of their time, musicals that had fallen prey to circumstances, early works by writers who became successful later on, and of course, shows that found an audience after closing via their cast recordings?

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of a new romantic comedy, “BackTalk,” about first dates and second thoughts, on Monday, February 3, at 7 p.m. The play is written by Rob Ackerman and directed by Jeremy Webb.

This time, the reader question was: Other than Old Friends, what are the other Sondheim revues and what makes them different? This marks the theatre world’s fifth major Sondheim revue and the first since the theatre legend passed away in 2021. 

The Avett Brothers new musical Swept Away begins previews tonight, Tuesday, October 29. The official opening will be on Tuesday, November 19 at the Longacre Theatre. Meet the cast of Swept Away here!

Birdland Jazz Club and Birdland Theater are open this July with a full slate of nightly performances.

This time, the reader question was: With Merrily We Roll Along back on Broadway as a hit, how many musicals are flops in their original Broadway production and then return as smashes?

Merlin was the original Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway. Merlin cast several Stephen Sondheim musicals, including Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, and Pacific Overtures. She also cast Evita and On the Twentieth Century. She was seen on screen in Fame and Law & Order.

Another thrilling and thought-provoking production at The Arden Theatre delivers an evening of something quite different. ASSASSINS is an evening of one of the tightest ensembles of dedicated performers that this reviewer has seen in quite some time.

Arden Theatre Company will open their 2023/24 season with the TONY Award-winning musical, ASSASSINS, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman, based on an idea by Philadelphia writer, composer, and educator, Charles J. Gilbert, Jr. Get more information here!

Discover the latest additions to the cast of THE TWIGGY MUSICAL, including Darren Day and Hannah-Jane Fox. Find out when and where this highly anticipated production will be held, and secure your tickets to experience this sensational musical firsthand. Don't miss out - book your seats now!

Elena Skye will play Twiggy in the world première of Close Up – The Twiggy Musical at The Menier Chocolate Factory.

Back to the Future: The Musical is now playing on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre. Meet the opening night cast of Back to the Future here!

With Marjorie Prime currently running at the company's home base in South London and Funny Girl on Broadway, the Menier Chocolate Factory announced forthcoming programming for 2023. Learn more about the lineup here!

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has announced its 53rd season to be presented October 2023 through June 2024.

The Prince Fellowship, in association with Columbia University School of the Arts, announced that applications are now open for the 2023 Fellowship program.

The full Broadway cast of BACK TO THE FUTURE: The Musical has been revealed! See who is starring, performance dates, and how to purchase tickets!

Amanda Green (Mr. Saturday Night), and composers Jason Robert Brown (The Last Five Years) and Tom Kitt (Almost Famous) will appear in conversation about Stephen Sondheim at the New York Public Library on October 17.

This fall, in collaboration with the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, the Dramatists Guild will present two special programs that celebrate the legacy of acclaimed songwriter (and past Guild Council president) Stephen Sondheim, including his advocacy work on behalf of his fellow writers.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley continues its 51st season with the hit musical Ragtime. This sweeping and stirring musical masterpiece paints a portrait of America at the dawn of the twentieth century, interweaving the lives of three families—an African American family, a Jewish Immigrant family, and a wealthy white family—finding their places and pursuing the American Dream in a rapidly changing world. Featuring a Tony Award-winning book by Pulitzer Prize finalist Terrence McNally (Master Class, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rink) and a Tony Award-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens (Once on This Island, Anastasia, Seussical The Musical), this musical is based on E. L. Doctorow’s best-selling novel of the same name. Ragtime will be presented June 1-26, 2022 (press opening: June 4) at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets (starting at $30) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (877)-662-8978.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC) has announced casting for its new production of A Little Night Music, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Find out who is in the show, the schedule and how to get tickets.

This sweeping and stirring musical masterpiece paints a portrait of America at the dawn of the twentieth century, interweaving the lives of three families—an African American family, a Jewish Immigrant family, and a wealthy white family—finding their places and pursuing the American Dream in a rapidly changing world.

New York City Center President & CEO Arlene Shuler announced today that Encores! Music Director Rob Berman will step down following the 2022 Encores! season at New  York City Center. 

The Broadway community mourns the loss of prolific composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who passed away on November 26, 2021 at age 91. To commemorate his life and work, the Committee of Theatre Owners dimmed the lights of Broadway theatres in New York for one minute today, December 8 at exactly 6:30pm.

 A Little Night Music, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, will be presented in as part of Barrington Stage Company's 2022 season.

In the wake of Stephen Sondheim's passing, there has been an outpouring of grief from the Broadway community and beyond. Read them all here.