Andrew Lippa News

AUBREY DAN, President, Dancap Productions Inc., today announced Dancap's 2011Subscription Series featuring the Canadian premiere of five new musicals direct from Broadway,and the return of The Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC.

SHINE! The Horatio Alger Musical with a Book by Richard Seff; Music by Roger Dean Anderson and Lyrics by Lee Goldsmith is being presented by Other Side Productions (Peter Mercurio, Chuck Blasius - Co-Artistic Directors) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street. The director is Peter Flynn and the choreographer is Devanand Janki. With a highly melodic, hummable and bouncy score with bright lyrics, "SHINE the Horatio Alger Musical", has tons of period atmosphere, nostalgic charm, comedy and entertainment. It is a hope and dreams musical with a touch of "Annie", a smidgen of "Oliver", a dash of "Tintypes" as well as a smattering of musical joys that will delight! A multi-talented cast of 18 makes this one of the largest of the festival productions. Performances will be: Thurs. 10/7 at 8pm; Sat. 10/9 at 5pm; Mon. 10/11, at 9pm; Fri. 10/15, at 1pm; Sat. 10/16, at 9pm and Sun. 10/17 at 3pm.

Sonlight Productions presents the Kansas City professional premiere of Andrew Lippa's john & jen at the Fishtank Performance Studio featuring Price Messick and Molly Denninghoff, Directed by Nathan Norcross.

In 1998, Idina Menzel made her Cincinnati debut performing with the Lilith Fair tour and promoting her first solo album, 'Still I Can't Be Still.' This past weekend, she returned to Cincinnati for another debut. This time, she opened the new season of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. And she started the season off with an unforgettable bang.

Sonlight Productions presents the Kansas City professional premiere of Andrew Lippa's john & jen at the Fishtank Performance Studio featuring Price Messick and Molly Denninghoff, Directed by Nathan Norcross.

Theatre and TV stars are coming out to support Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS at the 24TH ANNUAL Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction to be held on Sunday, September 26 from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM in Shubert Alley (Shubert Alley & West 44th Street). BroadwayWorld.com will be there as always streaming live video throughout the day including the grand auction and more! Come say hi if you're in the area and check back here for the video!

As previously reported, Nederlander Sales & Patron Services, Camp Broadway®, Broadwayworld.com and Planet Hollywood presented the 2nd annual Educators Expo on Monday, September 20 at the Minskoff Theatre. The At This Stage Education Expo showcased the wide variety of educational programs being offered by Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, Times Square area attractions and other industry service organizations. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

Act II Playhouse opens its 12th season of live theatre in Ambler with the Philadelphia premiere of john & jen, written by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald. This original chamber musical about family connections - which recalls the 'Forrest Gump' era - will be on stage Sept. 21-Oct. 17; Opening Night is on Friday, Sept. 24.

Bobby Cronin is a fast-rising, hard-working ASCAP PLUS Award winning composer/writer who '...thinks big. In all ways. Writing in a contemporary musical theatre vein, the songs are passionate and powerful in a take-no-prisoners way that will knock your socks off.' -- Rob Lester, Cabaret Exchange.

TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, has announced the line-up for its 2010-2011 season. Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and Managing Director Phil Santora announced a 41st season that will include three world premieres (bringing the company's total to 56); three regional premieres including the newest play by the author of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, Broadway's quirky hit musical about writers writing a quirky hit musical and a spell-binding mystery about a Japanese-American veteran charged with murder; and two Broadway favorites. The company will once again lead off with an extensive New Works Festival.

As previously reported, Nederlander Sales & Patron Services, Camp Broadway®, Broadwayworld.com and Planet Hollywood are presenting the 2nd annual Educators Expo on Monday, September 20, 3pm - 7 pm, at the Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45th Street. The At This Stage Education Expo will showcase the wide variety of educational programs being offered by Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, Times Square area attractions and other industry service organizations. K-12 teachers, Parent/Teachers Association members, Scout Troop leaders and other youth focused organization administrators are invited to attend free by emailing rsvpnyc@nederlander.com.

In celebration of Westport Country Playhouse 80th season, an audience of over 500 attended the historic theater's annual fundraising gala, 'The Magical Music of Stephen Schwartz,' honoring the musical theater composer, on Monday evening, September 13. Gala proceeds will support artistic and education programs of the Playhouse - with a special focus this year on the Woodward Internship program.

Some of Broadway's best and brightest talents will perform in a one-night-only salute to theater and film composer Stephen Schwartz at Westport Country Playhouse's 2010 Annual Gala on Monday, September 13.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is proud to announce several special events that will take place alongside the Festival's 30 new musical productions, including an opening night gala celebration and master class with Baz Luhrmann and the 2010 NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation Competition.

Broadway star Julia Murney will be joining the Houston Symphony for a special concert series called 'Broadway Rocks!' on September 3, 4, and 5. Three additional vocalists will join Ms. Murney and will be announced at a later date. They will be backed by the Gay Men's Chorus of Houston to perform show stopping numbers from the latest generation of Broadway musicals like Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Lion King, RENT, and more.

On September 3, 4, and 5, the sounds and glamour of Broadway will take over Jones Hall! The Houston Symphony and Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski kick-off their Cynthia Woods Mitchell POPS at Jones Hallseries with a spectacular musical showcase called Broadway Rocks!

Everyday Rapture's Natalie Weiss will make her Los Angeles debut on September 3rd at Barre Vermont - formerly Upright Cabaret. Audiences at the 9pm concert can expect a mix of musical theatre and pop standards, including ‘The Spark of Creation,' ‘House of Love,' Ironic' among others. Weiss will be joined by a few special guests who will be announced shortly.

Broadway star Julia Murney will be joining the Houston Symphony for a special concert series called 'Broadway Rocks!' on September 3, 4, and 5. Three additional vocalists will join Ms. Murney and will be announced at a later date. They will be backed by the Gay Men's Chorus of Houston to perform show stopping numbers from the latest generation of Broadway musicals like Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Lion King, RENT, and more.

Westport Country Playhouse's 80th anniversary gala on Monday evening, September 13, honoring Stephen Schwartz has been re-imagined with the influence of Lead Corporate Sponsor, Virgin Atlantic Airways, based in Norwalk.

In September, DC area theatres are filled with almost a dozen musical productions opening -- classics, family shows, and many wonderful plays being performed on our over 200 theatre venues. The humidity is finally melting away, and it's a perfect time to welcome the cooler weather and the colors of the Fall by making a trip to the Nation's Capital and catching a show or two or three. There are family shows with canines and rabbits, a Labor Day weekend theatre festival that's FREE, a new jazz musical with some of the area's most talented singers, and bugs and ants that swing on trapezes. Mr. Ripley is finally coming to town, while I'm hoping that all will be well at Shakespeare Theatre. Someone is trying to deal with a very troubling inch, a Bar-Mitzvah boy has to deal with his crazy family, spelling champions battle it out, and a beagle pilot takes flight. There's so much to choose from, so read on and see what's playing in September in this monumental town. Happy New Year to all my fellow Jewish lovers of the theatre!