Arthur Laurents News

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of West Side Story is coming to the McCallum Theatre for five performances, Thursday, March 7, through Sunday, March 10. This production is part of the Rabobank Broadway Blockbuster series. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction is recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz and The Life).

Staller Center's 2013 Gala will feature Tony Award winners Brian Stokes Mitchell and Laura Benanti singing Broadway songs and standards at Stony Brook University's Staller Center. The Gala takes place on Main Stage on Saturday, March 2 at 8:00 pm.

On April 24, American Theater Group, New Jersey's newest professional theater company, will present, direct from its success at the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival, Jonathan Brielle's new musical Himself and Nora at its new home, Hamilton Stage in Rahway, New Jersey.

BB Promotion in collaboration with Sundance Productions Inc., NY and Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group have announced the return of the international sell out hit "WEST SIDE STORY", with a national tour opening at the Liverpool Empire on Tuesday 24 September 2013, following the previously announced season at Sadler's Wells, which runs from Wednesday 7 August - Sunday 22 September 2013.

Today in 1980, the first Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY opened at the Minskoff Theatre, where it ran for 333 performances. West Side Story is an American musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and conception and choreography by Jerome Robbins. It was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Set in New York City in the mid-1950s, the musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes 'Something's Coming', 'Maria', 'America', 'Somewhere', 'Tonight', 'Jet Song', 'I Feel Pretty', 'A Boy Like That', 'One Hand, One Heart', 'Gee, Officer Krupke' and 'Cool'.

The legendary theatrical composer and lyricist took to the Susquehanna University stage to present his own inside history of American musical theatre and its creators and stars

Once in a generation, if we are lucky, an extraordinary talent like no other arises - one who can ceaselessly, effortlessly caress the loftiest heights of comedy and drama onstage (and sometimes onscreen), while, simultaneously, imbuing musical theatre roles with the same skill set, plus a powerhouse, quintessentially unique and resplendent vocal instrument; and, of course, that indescribable 'it' factor, too - such is the tale of Broadway's grand dame, Patti LuPone. Ms. LuPone is a part of that great pantheon of leading ladies of lore led by Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters - that is, musical theatre royalty. Taking a look back at many moments in her long and varied career thus far, LuPone candidly opines about a vast array of topics and opens up about many of the remarkable figures who have played roles in her astounding time spent on Broadway, in Hollywood and on TV - among them: Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, Steven Spielberg, David Mamet, Ryan Murphy and many more. Most importantly, LuPone discusses various aspects of her ever-expanding new solo show upon which her sensational live album, FAR AWAY PLACES, is based - the songs, the stories, the themes, the collaborators and her future plans for the piece (such as her series of 54 Below shows coming up in February). Additionally, LuPone addresses appearing on GLEE, reflects on working with Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham on PARKER, shares her thoughts on her favorite films of the year, expounds upon what roles she would like to pursue and teases about her concert with David Yazbek and the debut of her new Carnegie Hall concert as well as a return to London where she made her mark with her Olivier-winning original Fantine in LES MISERABLES - all of that and much, much more!

Alison Fraser will lead the reading of Wendy Beckett's Off-Broadway - bound production of LOVE THERAPY. This new play, directed by Evan Bergman is the fourth in a series of Ms. Beckett's plays that will be brought across the pacific from Australia by Pascal Productions. The reading takes place on Sunday, February 3rd at 3PM at TACT Studios (900 Broadway at 20th Street - Suite 905) and is open to the public by reservation only. For tickets, please contact adamgm@kefproductions.com. Additional casting is soon to be announced.

According to the New York Times, the Trustees of The Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, Inc. have announced that "A Kid Like Jake" has been selected for the 2013 LAURENTS / HATCHER FOUNDATION AWARD. The foundation will provide a $50,000 cash award to playwright Daniel Pearleand a grant of $100,000 to go directly towards the production costs of the play's premiere at LCT3 in June.

"Let us entertain you!" That's just what the award-winning J*Company Youth Theatre, a program of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, is getting ready to do as they prepare to stage the third show in their musical theatre line up for its 20th Anniversary Season tribute to Barbra Streisand.

Broadway Across Canada, the Nation's top presenter of touring theatrical productions,has announced its landmark 2013/2014 season of Broadway engagements at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. 2013/2014 Broadway Across Canada season subscriptions are available to the general public on February 25, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. exclusively through Broadway Across Canada, call toll-free at 1.866.532.7469 or visit www.BroadwayAcrossCanada.ca. Current Broadway Across Canada - Calgary subscribers have first access to 2013/2014 season packages and are able to renew their seats beginning January 21, 2013.

The Hangar Theatre has announced the company's 39th Mainstage Season, which includes two beloved American classics and two regional premieres of cutting-edge new works fresh from Broadway and Off-Broadway. The 2013 season will kick off this summer with the classic American comedy Last of the Red Hot Lovers (June 13 - 29), followed by one of the greatest musicals of all time,Gypsy (July 4 - 20). Next is the regional premiere of 4000 Miles (July 25 - August 3), a highly acclaimed new play, followed by the regional premiere of the Tony- and Pulitzer-winning play Clybourne Park (August 8 - 17). For subscription or ticket information, please call the Hangar Theatre Business Office at 607.273.8588 or visit the company's website at www.HangarTheatre.org.

Presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth, the tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Fort Worth. WEST SIDE STORY will open at Bass Performance Hall tonight, January 15 and run through January 20. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction is recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Boise. WEST SIDE STORY will open at the Morrison Center on March 25, 2013 for four performances. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction is recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).

Can't get enough of Patti LuPone? A documentary following the legendary performer has just been released on Youtube, titled 'Entrances, Exits, and Everything In Between.' Creator Josh Johnston writes: 'What she and I have collaborated on is our effort to show aspiring performers and fans of the arts what it's like in the shoes of a veteran of the craft: everything from the Sunset lows to the Rainbow Highs of performing, Patti LuPone has seen and lived it all.' Check out the third episode below!

For nearly four decades (1957-1994), Martha Swope was America's pre-eminent photographer of theater and dance, her discerning eye chronicling hundreds of classical ballets, modern dance, and Broadway performances and performers. But she also went behind-the-scenes, documenting what audiences never get to experience-the creative collaborations that make the magic on stage possible: rehearsals.

Presented by Performing Arts Fort Worth, the tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Fort Worth. WEST SIDE STORY will open at Bass Performance Hall on January 15 and run through January 20. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction is recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).

Broadway favorite Lin-Manuel Miranda is currently being represented on Broadway with Bring It On- for which he is the co-composer and lyricist. In this second part of a two part interview, Richard chats with Miranda about working on Encores! MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, creating his newest project THE HAMILTON MIXTAPE, and so much more. Click below to watch PART 2!

Broadway favorite Lin-Manuel Miranda is currently being represented on Broadway with Bring It On- for which he is the co-composer and lyricist. In this first part of a two part interview, Richard chats with Miranda about collaborating on the new musical, his new gig on 'Do No Harm,' bringing a Spanish twist to West Side Story, and so much more. Click below to watch PART 1 and check back later for PART 2!