Jan Levy Tranen

In A MINISTER'S WIFE, the composer's collaboration with Austin Pendleton (book), and Jan Levy Tranen (lyrics) dilutes his influence on CANDIDA's transcription, relegating the audience to a compendiary version that eliminates, among other elements, Candida's businessman father - a staunch capitalist foil to her socialist husband, the Reverend James Morell. Just as well, I suppose, given the daunting task of mixing up politics with a love triangle.

New musicals are always a risky proposition for any theatre company, but Pallas Theatre Collective is rising to the challenge in a big way with its current production Crazy Mary Lincoln. The show is a product of the company's Table Read series, which puts the writers through a two year process of readings to work on their show before it gets to full production. In this case, the process paid off in spades.

A Poet is a Loathsome Thing...

The poignant and provocative new musical, A Minister's Wife, makes its West Coast premiere at San Jose Rep today, June 20 - July 14, 2013. Based on George Bernard Shaw's well-known play Candida, this musical soars with its emotive and dazzling score by the award-winning composer of Adding Machine, Joshua Schmidt, and its beautiful lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen. The smart script by Austin Pendleton, a Tony-nominated director, actor and playwright, and graceful directing by the originator and award-winning director, Michael Halberstam, shape this musical into an adventurous evening of theatre. The Wall Street Journal says, 'This is the most important new musical since The Light in the Piazza ... to say that you mustn't miss it is to grossly understate the case.'

The poignant and provocative new musical, A Minister's Wife, makes its West Coast premiere at San Jose Rep June 20 - July 14, 2013.

As successful and ground-breaking as My Fair Lady was, there has not been a successful musical adaptation of any of Shaw's other plays…until now. A Minister's Wife, now playing in Austin through a new production by Penfold Theatre, is a delicate, understated, and exceedingly beautiful piece that wonderfully adapts Shaw's play Candida into musical theatre form.

As 2013 begins, there are already several productions that are on BroadwayWorld's radar. Here is a brief list of some of the most highly anticipated productions Austin has to offer in the coming year…

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that PS Classics, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will record the original cast album of its current production of the musical A MINISTER'S WIFE.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Jeff Awards wrap-up, Tony Awards predictions, 'Glee' live, 'Chicago' in Chicago, 'Million Dollar Quartet,' 'A Minister's Wife,' more....

LCT3, Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new artists and developing new audiences, will present the 4000 Miles a new play by Amy Herzog, directed by Daniel Aukin, as the third production of its 2010-2011 season.

Previews begin Monday, June 6th at 8pm, for the LCT3 production of 4000 Miles, a new play by Amy Herzog, directed by Daniel Aukin. LCT3 is Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new artists and developing new audiences. 4000 Miles is the final of three productions during its 2010-2011 season. Opening night is Monday, June 20 at 6:45 pm at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street® project (229 West 42 Street).

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to New York. Our top rated musicals, 'Porgy And Bess,' 'Murder For Two,' 'Something's Afoot,' 'Street Scene,' 'Adding Machine,' 'A Minister's Wife,' more....

Currently in previews, Lincoln Center Theater's production of A MINISTER'S WIFE, a new musical with book by Austin Pendleton, music by Joshua Schmidt and lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen, based on Candida by George Bernard Shaw, conceived and directed by Michael Halberstam, opens Sunday, May 8, at 6:45pm. The cast for A MINISTER'S WIFE features Liz Baltes, Kate Fry, Drew Gehling, Marc Kudisch and Bobby Steggert. Here's a first look at a montage from the production!

It's obvious that Bobby Steggert is beginning to feel very much at home in the bowels of Lincoln Center. He's in the very dressing room that he had less than a year ago when he appeared in their production of A. R. Gurney's delightful play THE GRAND MANNER. Now he's playing Eugene Marchbanks in Joshua Schmidt and Jan Levy Tranen's A MINISTER's WIFE; a musical treatment of George Bernard Shaw's CANDIDA which opened on Sunday, May 8th.

LCT3, Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new artists and developing new audiences, has begun rehearsals for its world premiere of 4000 Miles, a new play by Amy Herzog, directed by Daniel Aukin. Greta Lee and Zoe Winters will join the previously announced Gabriel Ebert and Mary Louise Wilson in the third production of LCT3's 2010-2011 season. 4000 Miles will begin performances Monday, June 6, and run through Saturday, July 2 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street® project (229 West 42 Street). Opening night is Monday, June 20.

Lincoln Center Theater's production of A MINISTER'S WIFE, a new musical with book by Austin Pendleton, music by Joshua Schmidt and lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen, based on Candida by George Bernard Shaw, conceived and directed by Michael Halberstam, opened last night May 8. The cast for A MINISTER'S WIFE features Liz Baltes, Kate Fry, Drew Gehling, Marc Kudisch and Bobby Steggert. BroadwayWorld was on hand to celebrate opening night and brings you photo coverage below!