Adam Guettel News

As a super-special Spring extension of BroadwayWorld's SOUND OFF column, every day until the Tony Awards on June 12 we will be presenting a spectacular new entry in the SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS series featuring a particularly entertaining, interesting, relevant and exciting Tony Awards-related clip from the last sixty-three years of the ceremonies (and subsequent seasons on Broadway) with a rundown and commentary on the sights, sounds and showmanship on display in each carefully chosen selection - all, of course, coming in anticipation of Broadway's biggest night, which will be broadcast on CBS this year, as always. Once again this year, BroadwayWorld is the official home of the 2011 Tony Awards and we will also be featuring exclusive interviews, articles, photos, video content, interactive features and more in the coming days and weeks leading up to the event so be sure to check back daily for your theatre fix!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its Spring 2011 season with the return of Broadway star AARON LAZAR in his new show 'For Lovers Only' - an evening of romantic love songs - for two nights only, Sunday, June 19 and Monday, June 20. He will be joined by Music Director Jeff Klitz on piano, Bernd Schoenhart on guitar, and special guest vocalist Capathia Jenkins. The show, directed by David Solomon, will feature new arrangements of classic love songs by composers Adam Guettel, Richard Rodgers, Bruno Mars, Jason Robert Brown, Cole Porter, Ashford and Simpson, Stephen Sondheim and others. Both shows are at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities and Executive Producer James A. Blackman III continue their 20th Anniversary Season with Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas' sweeping musical, The Light in the Piazza. Performances begin on Wednesday April 20 (with a gala press opening on Saturday April 23) and will run through Sunday May 8 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced initial details for its 2011 special online Auction in connection with its annual Spring Gala Benefit. Bidding for the auction, which will feature an eclectic array of items and unique opportunities, begins tomorrow, Tuesday, April 26 at 8AM at www.biddingforgood/playwrightshorizons. Online bidding will continue for three weeks through Wednesday, May 18 (with items staggered to close at 8PM and 9PM).

Music-Theatre Group has announced 'Hey, Mary': An Interview with Mary Rodgers (Griffin and the Minor Canon, Once Upon A Mattress, Hey, Love) moderated by her colleague and friend Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group) about her music, her muses, and the fascinating world of musical theatre that she was born into and has helped shape. The not to be missed one-night only talk will take place on Monday, May 16th at 10 Jay Street, 9th Floor in DUMBO at 6:00 p.m.

Music-Theatre Group (Diane Wondisford, Producing Director) has announced "Hey, Mary": An Interview with Mary Rodgers (Griffin and the Minor Canon, Once Upon A Mattress, Hey, Love) moderated by her colleague and friend Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group) about her music, her muses, and the fascinating world of musical theatre that she was born into and has helped shape.

Music-Theatre Group has announced 'Hey, Mary': An Interview with Mary Rodgers (Griffin and the Minor Canon, Once Upon A Mattress, Hey, Love) moderated by her colleague and friend Thomas Schumacher (Producer and President, Disney Theatrical Group) about her music, her muses, and the fascinating world of musical theatre that she was born into and has helped shape. The not to be missed one-night only talk will take place on Monday, May 16th at 10 Jay Street, 9th Floor in DUMBO at 6:00 p.m.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced additional details for a second round of major items for its 2011 special online Auction.

Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities and Executive Producer James A. Blackman III continue their 20th Anniversary Season with Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas' sweeping musical, The Light in the Piazza. Performances end Sunday May 8 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

In a very short time since his Broadway debut roughly ten years ago, Aaron Lazar has crafted a particularly impressive career consisting of a striking series featured and leading roles in everything from LES MISERABLES and A TALE OF TWO CITIES to THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA - and the sensational PBS Live From Lincoln Center telecast of it - to his superb turn as Count Carl Magnus in the recent revival of Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury to, most recently, Lonny Price's rapturously received presentation of Sondheim's COMPANY: IN CONCERT starring Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone at Lincoln Center - which will soon be seen in 500+ movie theaters nationwide starting in June. In this revealing conversation we discuss all of the aforementioned peformances, as well as what we can expect from the forthcoming Clint Eastwood film J. EDGAR starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Josh Lucas, written by Dustin Lance Black, with Lazar in a featured role, as well as his upcoming dates premiering his new show at Feinstein‘s in June. Before all of that, you can catch Aaron live and in person May 2 at the NY Pops Tribute to Bob Hope, which will also feature performances by Kelli O'Hara, Tom Wopat and many more in addition to a special presentation by Angela Lansbury. More information about the event - and tickets - is available here.

From her creation of the pivotal roles of Susan in Marvin Hamlisch & Craig Carnelia's simply smashing (if underappreciated) SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS and Clara in Adam Guettel & Craig Lucas's five-time Tony-winning THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, to her effortless essaying of two of the most beloved female roles in the musical theater canon, opposite two of the biggest leading men on Broadway - THE PAJAMA GAME with Harry Connick, Jr. and SOUTH PACIFIC with Matthew Morrison (and Paulo Szot) - in addition to her work in Frank Wildhorn's JEKYLL & HYDE and DRACULA, Stephen Sondheim's FOLLIES and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, along with her stunning studio albums - all of these are just some of the reasons why Kelli O'Hara is in a very special class of performers. In this all-encompassing conversation we discuss all of the aforementioned shows, as well as working with all of her fabulous co-stars and collaborators, and we also take a look at her recording studio work with Harry Connick, Jr. and take a look ahead to her sophomore solo album, ALWAYS which will be released on June 3. Plus, we have first news on her new roles in the musical versions of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, written by Jason Robert Brown, and FINDING NEVERLAND by Scott Frankel. We even have dish on working with Liza Minnelli and shooting SEX & THE CITY 2! This is all coming in anticipation of the tribute to Bob Hope at the NY Pops gala on May 2, which will also feature performances by Tom Wopat and Aaron Lazar - both of whom we will continue our SPOTLIGHT ON NY POPS series with later on this weekend. Don't miss them or a special presentation by theatre legend Angela Lansbury! Further information about the NY POPS event - including tickets - is available here.

In celebration of their brand new recording, Quiet Please, renowned musician Steven Blier and celebrated vocalist Darius de Haas will present a special concert, featuring selections from the CD. The one night only event will take place on Thursday, April 28th at 8pm in the Merkin Concert Hall, located within The Kaufman Center (129 West 67th St.). Tickets, ($22 for orchestra, $18 for balcony, $11 for student/senior), can be obtained by calling 212 501 3330, or by visiting www.kaufman-center.org.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced initial details for its 2011 special online Auction in connection with its annual Spring Gala Benefit. Bidding for the auction, which will feature an eclectic array of items and unique opportunities, begins tomorrow, Tuesday, April 26 at 8AM at www.biddingforgood/playwrightshorizons. Online bidding will continue for three weeks through Wednesday, May 18 (with items staggered to close at 8PM and 9PM).

New York City Opera's General Manager and Artistic Director George Steel will moderate an in-depth roundtable discussion on what defines the opera and musical theater genres at the Gershwin Theatre on the set of Stephen Schwartz's acclaimed Broadway production WICKED. He will be joined by a panel of distinguished composers and playwrights including Stephen Schwartz, Rufus Wainwright (composer and performer), Adam Guettel (composer of FLOYD COLLINS and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA), John Kander (composer of CABARET and CHICAGO) and David Henry Hwang (librettist for operas such as ALICE IN WONDERLAND and THE FLY, playwright of M. BUTTERFLY, book for FLOWER DRUM SONG, TARZAN and AIDA on Broadway). The discussion precedes the New York premiere of Schwartz's first opera SEANCE on a WET AFTERNOON, opening at New York City Opera on Tuesday, April 19.

The Village Gate's Old Fashioned Piano Party will be featuring the songs of Richard Rodgers, Mary Rodgers, and Adam Guettel. With special guests from the NY Theatre scene soon to be announced.

Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities and Executive Producer James A. Blackman III continue their 20th Anniversary Season with Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas' sweeping musical, The Light in the Piazza. Performances begin on Wednesday April 20 (with a gala press opening on Saturday April 23) and will run through Sunday May 8 at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

The Playwrights Horizons World Premiere production of GO BACK TO WHERE YOU ARE, a new play by five-time Obie Award winner David Greenspan (author/performer of She Stoops to Comedy, performer in The Wax and director of Kate's Diary, all at PH; Coraline; Some Men; The Argument; The Myopia; The Boys in the Band) is set to open Tuesday, April 12 at 7:30 PM at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater

The Village Gate's Old Fashioned Piano Party will be featuring the songs of Richard Rodgers, Mary Rodgers, and Adam Guettel. With special guests from the NY Theatre scene soon to be announced.

New York City Opera's General Manager and Artistic Director George Steel will moderate an in-depth roundtable discussion on what defines the opera and musical theater genres at the Gershwin Theatre on the set of Stephen Schwartz's acclaimed Broadway production Wicked. He will be joined by a panel of distinguished composers and playwrights including Stephen Schwartz, Rufus Wainwright (composer and performer), Adam Guettel (composer of Floyd Collins and The Light in the Piazza), John Kander (composer of Cabaret and Chicago) and David Henry Hwang (librettist for operas such as Alice in Wonderland and The Fly, playwright of M. Butterfly, book for Flower Drum Song, Tarzan and Aida on Broadway). The discussion, which will take place on April 10, precedes the New York premiere of Schwartz's first opera Séance on a Wet Afternoon, opening at New York City Opera on Tuesday, April 19.

SOUTH PACIFIC star Kelli O'Hara will release her second solo album under the Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight label. The album, entitled Always, features 13 tracks consisting of a collection of Broadway favorites from MY FAIR LADY and SOUTH PACIFIC, as well as songs by Irving Berlin and Ricky Ian Gordon among others. The album is set to be release May 31, 2011.