Alan Menken News

NEWSIES book writer Harvey Fierstein just posted a clip with behind-the-scenes footage of the musical's Italian cast in rehearsals. Check it out below!

Get glam ALADDIN-style!

Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) is proud to be one of the first regional theatres to present the feel-amazing musical comedy smash SISTER ACT, running tonight, June 24 - July 11, 2015.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus, began rehearsals today (pictured, left) for the world premiere musical Waitress. Based on the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly the new musical has a book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, direction by Diane Paulus, and choreography by Chase Brock.

The Segal Centre for Performing Arts is delighted to announce seven new performances to its world premiere production of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical, based on the novel by Mordecai Richler, with book and lyrics by David Spencer and an original music by eight-time Oscar winning composer Alan Menken.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: The Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre is awarded today, Shakespeare's 'MIDSUMMER' fantasy play hits theaters across the country, and more!

Tragic news broke today that performer Danny McNie has passed away, and his friends have been posting their memories of the actor on social media all day. Broadway actress Eden Espinosa (WICKED) took to Instagram to pay tribute to her friend. Check out the photo below!

BroadwayWorld has learned the sad news that Danny McNie passed away within the last day. His family and friends say they were shocked by his death. To raise money for funeral expenses, the actor's friends have set up a page on GoFundMe.

Disney Theatrical Productions, Shea's Performing Arts Center, and Albert Nocciolino announced today that tickets for the highly anticipated Buffalo engagement of Disney's NEWSIES will go on sale to the public today, June 20th at 10:00 AM. Tickets start at $35.  The Tony Award-winning production will begin performances at Shea's Buffalo Theatre on September 29th for a limited engagement of one week through October 4th as a part of the M&T Bank 2015-16 Broadway Series.   

The Segal Centre will close its blockbuster 2014-2015 Theatre Season with The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical, a world premiere musical adaptation of Mordecai Richler's novel and the feature film by the same name, from June 7-28, 2015. This new production boasts an original musical score by Alan Menken, the legendary Oscar and Tony winning composer of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, with book and lyrics by acclaimed lyricist-librettist David Spencerand direction by American theatre veteran Austin Pendleton. Presented with the generous support of RBC and Muse Entertainment.  Check out highlights below!

Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the production!

The award-winning musical, A Letter to Harvey Milk, based on the short story "A Letter to Harvey Milk" by Leslea Newman,  will enjoy an invite-only industry reading in New York City on Monday, June 22, 2015 at Times Square's Playroom Theatre. A Letter to Harvey Milk, has a book by Jerry James, Cheryl Stern and Laura I. Kramer, lyrics by Ellen M. Schwartz with additional lyrics by Cheryl Stern, and music by Laura I. Kramer, it has been musical directed, arranged and orchestrated by Ned Paul Ginsburg, and the reading will be directed by Evan Pappas (Performer: Parade, My Favorite Year).

The Segal Centre closes its blockbuster 2014-2015 Theatre Season with The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical, a world premiere musical adaptation of Mordecai Richler's novel and the feature film by the same name, through July 12, 2015. This new production boasts an original musical score by Alan Menken, the legendary Oscar and Tony winning composer of Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin, with book and lyrics by acclaimed lyricist-librettist David Spencer and direction by American theatre veteran Austin Pendleton. Presented with the generous support of RBC and Muse Entertainment. The poignant Montreal coming of age story of ambitious scoundrel Duddy Kravitz, Canadian author Mordecai Richler's beloved anti-hero, will premiere as a brand new musical in the city where the story takes place. Let's see what the critcs had to say...

?The Australian cast of Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Les Miserables will perform a charity concert raising money in support of beyondblue on Sunday August 23rd at 8.00 pm at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney. Tickets go on sale on Thursday 25th June via Ticketmaster.

Closing off the Segal Centre's 2014-2015 season, this classic story follows young Duddy Kravitz (Ken James Stewart), a kid who's grown up in the ethnic ghetto of the post-war St. Urbain Street in Montreal. Duddy is eager to escape his dead-end neighborhood and be somebody. After being told by his elderly, Jewish grandfather (Howard Jerome) that "a man without land is nobody," Duddy employs his boyish charms and underhanded nature as he sets his sights on acquiring the land around a lake in the Laurentians.

Thespian Festival 2015 presents the opening show The Music of Menken: Audrey, Ariel, Aladdin…and Alan! An Evening with Alan Menken, a tribute to one of the most celebrated composers of stage and screen. The Music of Menken will take place Monday, June 22, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Lied Center for Performing Arts.

The Hollywood Pantages, a Nederlander Theatre, announced today the addition of eight shows available as options to the already on sale 2015-2016 SEASON. This new lineup of shows includes the return of Six Hollywood Pantages favorites. The Added Optional Shows will include Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, RIVERDANCE - THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR, MAMMA MIA!, ONCE, RAIN - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES & last season's smash hit, KINKY BOOTS.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus, announces the principal casting for the world premiere of Waitress. Based on the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly the new musical has a book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Sara Bareiles, direction by Diane Paulus, and choreography by Chase Brock.