Mark Simon News

According to various sources, casting director Mark B Simon, known for his work on the original productions of Parade, The Last 5 Years, and many more, has passed away.

Watch the original team of the world premiere production of Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS recently reunited for the 20th year anniversary! The online event featured never-before-told stories and two new performances of the musical's hit songs.

Northlight Theatre will present a special 20th Anniversary reunion event for Northlight Theatre’s world premiere of The Last Five Years. The event features performances and conversation with BJ Jones, playwright Jason Robert Brown, director Daisy Prince, and original cast members Norbert Leo Butz and Lauren Kennedy.

James Calleri, Erica Jensen, and Paul Davis announced today that Calleri Casting is being renamed Calleri Jensen Davis, to better reflect the equal partnership that has been central to their 14-time Artios Award-winning company’s success over these past 15 years.

Although the show only ran for 105 performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs theater in 2008, the legacy of the show still lives on today. Enough so, that Netflix is in the process of adapting the show for the screen.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that talent agent Joel R. Carlton, 52, passed away on February 12, 2020 in New York City. He lived with glioblastoma multiforme for two and a half years. 

Casting Directors Geoff Josselson, C.S.A., and Katja Zarolinski, C.S.A., announced today the launch of JZ Casting, a New York-based casting office, with over 25 years of combined experience in the entertainment industry. Their new offices are located at 226 West 37th Street, Suite 604.

Teamwork Arts' Jazz India Circuit is back with its 2019 edition featuring path-breaking contemporary jazz musicians from India and around the world

Music Director Designate Jaap van Zweden will conduct the New York Philharmonic in a program pairing the New York Premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner John Luther Adams's Dark Waves with Act I of Wagner's Die Walk re (in concert), with soprano Heidi Melton as Sieglinde, tenor Simon O'Neill as Siegmund (in his New York Philharmonic debut), and bass John Relyea as Hunding.

If you are a Friar you receive an "Opening Act" email that introduces you to a new member. Sadly, you also get a "Final Curtain" email when a member leaves the stage. In true theater tradition an "After Party" was held for one of the clubs esteemed members in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room last night. It was organized by Actors Fund President and CEO Joseph Benincasa to remember Irv Welzer, a beloved member of the club. With song and story a few of Irv's fellow Friars reminisced. Mayor David Dinkins, Danny Aiello, Bernadette Peters, Dominic Chianese, Mark Simone, Robert Creighton,Carol Skarimbas,Will & Anthony Nunziata, and Stewie Stone all participated in this party, which celebrated a much loved member of the theatre community.

The Guthrie Theater previously announced that its outgoing Director Joe Dowling, the longest tenured artistic director in Guthrie history, will appear for an In Conversation moderated by New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel tonight, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. on the Wurtele Thrust Stage.

Hollywood heavy hitters Ed Asner, Armand Assante and James Wilder were the bold faced names at the 2015 Garden State Film Festival closing ceremonies, but a pair of New Jersey-based actresses brought down the house.

The Guthrie Theater today announced that its outgoing Director Joe Dowling, the longest tenured artistic director in Guthrie history, will appear for an In Conversation moderated by New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel on Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. on the Wurtele Thrust Stage.

Michael Sterling (Creator/Executive Producer) and Barbara Van Orden (Sponsor/Co-Executive Producer) proudly presented the critically acclaimed and highly anticipated LA's Next Great Stage Star competitions. The 2015 season began this weekend with its launch last Sunday, January 5th, in North Hollywood, CA. at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal. Scroll down for photos!

Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in the greater Los Angeles area, has set Sunday, December 14, 2014 as auditions for its 9th consecutive year of LA's Next Great Stage Star, it was announced today by Executive Producer Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling Publicity and Production in Los Angeles, CA.

The Music Center celebrated 12 teen performing artists and four teen visual artists at The Music Center's 26th Annual Spotlight Awards during a finale performance on Saturday, April 26, 2014, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Hosted by Oscar-nominated actor, musician and author, John Lithgow, the awards show culminated The Music Center's year-long free recognition and scholarship program for Southern California high school performing and visual artists. A first place and runner-up were named in each of eight categories, including ballet, non-classical dance, classical voice, non-classical voice, classical instrumental, jazz instrumental, two-dimensional art (works of art with height and weight, but no depth, using drawing, painting, computer generated or mixed media) and photography (black/white, color and digital). This year's top performing and visual artists were awarded more than $100,000 in cash scholarships with $5,000 for students selected as first place finalists and $4,000 for runners-up in each category; five honorable mentions in each category received $250.

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre, emerged victorious Sunday, February 16th as LA's Next Great Stage Star® 2014 produced and presented by Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal, the most critically acclaimed concert supper club in the greater Los Angeles area.

And the winner of the 8th annual LA'S NEXT GREAT STAGE STAR talent competition is Jennifer Kranz, a senior at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles majoring in Theatre and minoring in Musical Theatre. On Sunday, Feb 16th, Ms. Kranz and 19 other talented young professionals sang their hearts out for the coveted prize. As winner, Ms. Kranz awarded a cash prize of $1000; an upcoming paid headlining concert engagement at Sterling's Upstairs; a vocal demo recording session from Tom Griep's Audition Trax; a photo session with Isaac James Creative; and is already in the process of scheduling meetings to be signed and represented by one of the lucrative competition's Equity Agent/Judges as the first step toward a professional career in musical theatre, television and film. Scroll down for photos from the competition!

The 2014 season continues this weekend after its launch last Sunday, January 5th, in North Hollywood, CA. at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal.