Rockford University

BroadwayWorld sat down with Director Jessa Blackthorne to discuss DISASTER! THE MUSICAL at West Hudson Arts & Theatre Company.

New York City's Institute for American Musical Theatre has announced plans for a unique 2-year 'Creators' program. Built and run by award winning lyricist-librettist Sam Carner (Island Song, Unlock'd), the new intensive and highly collaborative training will be guided by a faculty including composer-lyricist Adam Gwon (Ordinary Days, Scotland PA, String), composer-lyricist Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop, Teeth, White Girl in Danger), composer Anna K. Jacobs (Pop, Teeth), director Lonny Price (A Class Act, Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened, Company, Sweeney Todd), composer Derek Gregor (Island Song, Unlock'd), music supervisor Brad Haak (Mary Poppins, Daddy Long Legs), director Marlo Hunter (American Reject, Saved By the Bell: the Musical), musical director Andy Collopy (Lightning Thief), and other Broadway professionals still being confirmed.

'Forbidden' is certainly a fitting adjective for Roxy's Downtown current production entitled Forbidden Broadway. If you simply look up the word 'forbidden' in the dictionary, you will find its meaning to be prohibited, not allowed or even banned. It's a clever little title to describe this Off-Broadway parody rated PG-13 which spoofs many lyrics and shows such as Mamma Mia, Cats, and even Hairspray which would send original playwrights and performing artists rolling in their graves with laughter. Opening originally in 1982 by parodist Gerard Alessandrini, the show has gone under many revisions to include even newer musicals. Starring Julia Faust, John Keckeisen, Seth Knowles, Shaun-Michael Morse, Patty Reeder, and Christine Tasheff, Forbidden Broadway runs from now until August 24 at the 1930s cabaret venue in downtown Wichita.

This cast has found where they belong! Mean Girls is well into their second year on Broadway and we're taking a look at the current class at North Shore High School. This cast has found where they belong! Mean Girls is well into their second year on Broadway and we're taking a look at the current class at North Shore High School.

After the lauded World Premiere of The Boy Who Danced On Air, Diversionary is proud to produce the World Premiere of another groundbreaking new musical.

Playwrights Welcome, the nationwide free ticketing initiative created by Samuel French for Dramatists Guild of America members, is thrilled to announce that over 100 theaters have joined the program. These Participating Theaters, located in 26 states, have joined Playwrights Welcome to invest in the success and artistic health of our industry writers, and by extension, the vibrancy of the American theatre.

Fledgling Theatre Company, under the Artistic Direction of Matthew Dalton Lynch has announced dates for the New York Premiere of Ted Bacino and Rufus Cadigan's THE SHAKESPEARE CONSPIRACY, a new play (based on Mr. Bacino's book of the same title) that explores the greatest literary deception of all time. The production is directed by Jeremy Karafin and will run April 20th - May 5th in the Studio Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). The official opening will be on Tuesday, April 27 at 7:30PM. It will run as part of the first annual BATTLE OF THE BARDS: THE CHRISTOPHER MARLOWE FESTIVAL, a new six week festival that features two original plays about William Shakespeare & Christopher Marlowe and chronicles the life that Marlowe would have lived as a fugitive, hiding not only his gay sexuality, but also his identity as the actual author of Shakespeare's works.