Andrew Lippa News

The Broadway musical BIG FISH will play its final performance on Sunday, December 29, 2013, after 34 previews and 98 regular performances at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52 Street). BIG FISH began performances on Thursday, September 5, 2013, and opened on Sunday, October 6, 2013.

Representing the Over 25s, Rachel Potter performed a stirring rendition of Martina McBride's 'Anyway' on last night's X FACTOR.

Kate Baldwin just visited 'Good Day NY' where she performed 'I Don't Need a Roof' accompanied by Andrew Lippa. Check out her full appearance below!

Firehouse Theatre Project revives the jazz and gin-soaked Roaring Twenties with Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Directed by Jase Smith (POP!, The Rocky Horror Show, RENT) with choreography by Starrene Foster (POP!, Spring Awakening), The Wild Party plays at Firehouse Theatre November 21 - December 28, 2013, with its November 22nd Opening Night already sold out!

On a night of classic Motown songs on last night's THE X FACTOR, Broadway vet Rachel Potter took it way back with her performance of the Isley Brothers' 'This Old Heart Of Mine.' Check out the performance below!

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of the Tony Award-winning musical, Fiddler on the Roof, at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street on Friday, November 22 with a preview on Thursday, November 21.

Directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Contact, The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family), and a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August (Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Big Fish is currently playing at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Check out a just-released television spot for the musical below!

THE LANDING -- which marks John Kander's first full new theatre collaboration with another writer since the passing of his long-time collaborator Fred Ebb in 2004 --opened on October 23rd at Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) and runs through November 24. In the video below, David Hyde Piece, Julia Murney and more chat about the new show!

There were several empty seats at TexARTS last night as Broadway veteran Darcie Roberts took the stage for her first cabaret performance ever. I'm guessing the empty seats were partly because theater lovers in Austin proper may not know of the Lakeway based TexARTS and because Austinites may not be familiar with Ms. Roberts. Austin theatergoers need to familiarize themselves with both.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist celebrated for his many impressive musical theatre scores since his astonishing debut in the 1990s with SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD and PARADE, the one and only Jason Robert Brown. Discussing the finer points of the vastly different scores for his two new stage musicals premiering this year, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, Brown paints a vivid portrait of his composing process in creating both the serious romantic drama and bubbly musical comedy, respectively. Additionally, Brown outlines his experiences collaborating with theatre legends Harold Prince and Alfred Uhry on his first big Broadway musical, PARADE, and also reflects on the subsequent successful national tour which he himself conducted. Most importantly, Brown sheds some light on the sparkling new cast recording of his recent self-directed revival of his two-character cult mainstay THE LAST FIVE YEARS and how the last ten years have shaded his perspective on the piece, particularly as anticipation builds for the release of the highly anticipated feature film adaptation starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, directed by Richard LaGravenese and set for release next year, which Brown confirms he has completed his scoring duties on this month and offers an enticing endorsement of the indie movie musical. All of that, a discussion of his solo album and specialty material penned over the years, astute observations on his sporadic collaborations with wife, songwriter and fellow InDepth InterView participant Georgia Stitt as well as much, much more in this quick catch-up chat with one of Broadway's busiest musical craftsmen.

The Muny just announced the 2014 summer season, its 96th sensational summer in Forest Park. The exciting line-up includes 4 Muny premieres. The seven shows are: The Addams Family; Billy Elliott the Musical; Grease; Hello, Dolly!; The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess; Seussical the Musical and Tarzan. For more information call (314) 361-1900 or visit muny.org.

The 2013/2014 National Tour of the new musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Thousand Oaks premiereDec. 3-8 at The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza as part of the 2013-14 Broadway in Thousand Oaks Series.

On Monday, October 29, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Birdland's 'extreme' open mic, was proud to present a new monthly segment called MENTOR MONDAYS, which pairs up-and-coming singers and composers with established artists to create a featured performance for the historic Birdland stage. For the premiere segment, producer Trevor McQueen paired composer Eric Dietz, a recent Carnegie Mellon University graduate with one of the current stars of Big Fish, Kirsten Scott. Scott premiered a new Dietz composition called 'No Good,' with Matt Aument at the piano. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Tony Award-winning actors Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher, Spamalot) and Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone, Elf), Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), and Broadway stars Heidi Blickenstaff ([title of show], The Little Mermaid) and Derek Klena (Wicked, Dogfight) are all scheduled to take part in the developmental reading. Dog and Pony will receive its World Premiere at The Old Globe next spring, running May 28 - June 29, 2014; casting for that production will be announced at a later time.

'You Are Here,' a track from the brand new San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Original Cast Recording of I Am Harvey Milk, is now available to listen to free of charge via SoundCloud.com. The complete album can be ordered via www.iamharveymilk.com/recording or downloaded via iTunes. Check out Andrew Lippa perform the song below!

Broadway vet Rachel Potter is currently a contestant on FOX's THE X FACTOR. On last night's first live show, the singer hoped to hold on to her spot on mentor Kelly Rowland's "Over 25s" team with her version of Lee Ann Womack's moving ballad "I Hope You Dance".

In the video below, hear from five-time Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman about the many unique styles of dance in BIG FISH on Broadway!

At age 27, Christopher Massimine is the youngest theater executive to oversee the production activities within a major multi-million dollar theatrical organization. Previously holding the position of Marketing Communications Director at The National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene, he has now assumed the role as Producing Director where he will act as Supervising Producer on Folksbiene's forthcoming musical production LIES MY FATHER TOLD ME, a critical success in Canada making its American debut at Baruch Performing Arts Center on November 10 and running through December 15.

Review Roundup: THE LANDING...All The Reviews!

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) Artistic Director, Dr. Timothy Seelig, announced that the original cast recording of I Am Harvey Milk, released this week, has already reached the #2 position on the iTunes classical music chart. The world premiere of the choral work, I Am Harvey Milk, concluded the Chorus's 35th anniversary season at Its Harvey Milk 2013 concert. The recording is the culmination of SFGMC's 35-year history, which began at the candlelight vigil for slain Supervisor Harvey Milk. With music and words by Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa (Big Fish, The Addams Family, The Wild Party), I Am Harvey Milk features Lippa as Harvey Milk, Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy, NBC's "Go On") as the Soprano Soloist and Noah Marlowe (Mary Poppins, Fun Home) as young Harvey, along with the 300 men of the Chorus. Recorded live during the world premiere at Nourse Theatre in San Francisco, the recording is mixed by multi-Grammy award-winner, Leslie Ann Jones at Skywalker Ranch. The album can be ordered via www.iamharveymilk.com/recording or downloaded via iTunes.