Arthur Laurents News

PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh - presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Broadway Across America - today unveiled its 'practically perfect' 2010/2011 season. One of the city's premier entertainment series, PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh is generously sponsored by The PNC Foundation. The 2010/2011 season presents an array of must-see musical theater productions presented on the Cultural District's world-class stages.

Highlights Include the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Natalie Cole, Michael Feinstein, Dudu Fisher, Kathy Griffin, Shirley MacLaine, Jackie Mason, Peking Acrobats, Itzhak Perlman, The Temptations & The Four Tops, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, Spring Awakening, Tango Inferno, West Side Story & the World Premiere Screening of Steven Caras: See Them Dance

The Drama League is pleased to announce the complete line-up of performers for the 27th annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.' This year's black-tie event, to be held in the Grand Ballroom at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at 5th Avenue) on Monday, February 7, 2011, will honor two-time Tony Award winner and celebrated Broadway actress-singer Patti LuPone.

J.L. 'Lynn' Singleton, President of the Providence Performing Arts Center, is pleased to announce PPAC's 33rd Anniversary Broadway season. The 2010/2011 Broadway Series will kick off with the SPECTACULAR Rhode Island Premiere of the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR STARRING THE ROCKETTES, and will follow with the return of DISNEY'S THE LION KING, the groundbreaking NEXT TO NORMAL, and the highly-regarded Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC. The INSKIP LEXUS Touring Selections of the 2010/2011 Broadway Series are the inspiring IN THE HEIGHTS and the enthralling new production of WEST SIDE STORY.

The Jets and the Sharks have taken their turf war to the stage of Houston's Hobby Center in the US National Tour of the 2009 Broadway Revival version of West Side Story. West Side Story is a remarkable collaboration of two theatre geniuses: Leonard Bernstein who composed the score and Stephen Sondheim who wrote the lyrics. But this revived production is a sharp departure from the original musical which opened at Broadway's Winter Garden Theatre back in 1957.

Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation, continues its 34th Season of great theatre with a variety of choices for all audiences. We offer the hottest ticket in town to ten of Broadway's best, from classic musicals to rock icons to beloved family fare - not to mention dance!

The New York Times has gotten more information on the story, talking to both Arthur Laurents and to Stephen Sondheim who told them that Warner Brothers and Joel Silver are on board as producers, and that he'd (Laurents) suggested Tom Hanks for Herbie, an idea that he says Barbra Streisand loved. Laurents also says that Streisand is no longer going to direct the film, as she once wanted to but instead will just play the part.

Michael Riedel is reporting in the New York Post today that straight from the mouth of bookwriter Arthur Laurents is word that Barbra Streisand is 'deep in negotiations to direct, produce and star in a movie version of GYPSY' for which Laurents has given her approval. Laurents, who directed Streisand in her first Broadway show, I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE, and who wrote THE WAY WE WERE for her said that he's has long talks with her on the subject, and that 'She had a mother who she always thought was Mama Rose. I don't want to get into the details, but the point is she knows. She's got it in her. She's going to be much more than people expect.'

West Side Story returned to Broadway in a new production directed by its two-time Tony Award winning librettist Arthur Laurents. West Side Story opened at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway) on Thursday, March 19, 2009. Broadway Beat and BWW were there to cover every exciting moment of Opening Night-get ready to 'rumble' with this Sneak Peek!

WEST SIDE STORY will end its Los Angeles engagement on January 2nd, 2011.

J.L. 'Lynn' Singleton, President of the Providence Performing Arts Center, is pleased to announce PPAC's 33rd Anniversary Broadway season. The 2010/2011 Broadway Series will kick off with the SPECTACULAR Rhode Island Premiere of the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR STARRING THE ROCKETTES, and will follow with the return of DISNEY'S THE LION KING, the groundbreaking NEXT TO NORMAL, and the highly-regarded Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC. The INSKIP LEXUS Touring Selections of the 2010/2011 Broadway Series are the inspiring IN THE HEIGHTS and the enthralling new production of WEST SIDE STORY.

BroadwayWorld offers highlights of the several productions which will complete their Broadway runs in January.

More than 50 years ago one musical changed theatre forever. Now it's back on Broadway mesmerizing audiences once again. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. Directed by its two-time Tony Award winning librettist Arthur Laurents, the show remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever. The new Broadway cast album of WEST SIDE STORY recently won the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. The Bernstein and Sondheim score is considered to be one of Broadway's finest and features such classics of the American musical theatre as 'Something's Coming,' 'Tonight,' 'America,' 'I Feel Pretty' and 'Somewhere.'

On Monday, December 20, 2010, the Tony Award-winning production of WEST SIDE STORY becomes the longest running incarnation of the groundbreaking musical, playing its 733 performance surpassing the original production which held the record having played 732 Performances on Broadway.

Here is the second part of our three-part discussion, in which Esparza and I analyze his roles and performances in plays, as well as a thorough discussion of the art of acting - and, additionally, a chat about roles he would like to play in the future, both near and far.

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and International Artists and companies of the highest quality; by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home in which local and regional arts organizations can showcase their work; and by providing economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim will appear Tuesday night, December 14, on Comedy Central's THE COLBERT REPORT to talk about his new book 'Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes' which was released on October 26, 2010. THE COLBERT REPORT airs on Comedy Central at 11:30pm EST, 10:30pm CST.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim will appear Tuesday night, December 14, on Comedy Central's THE COLBERT REPORT to talk about his new book 'Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes' which was released on October 26, 2010. THE COLBERT REPORT airs on Comedy Central at 11:30pm EST, 10:30pm CST.

Now, it's also been picked by the paper amongst the The 10 Best Books of 2010, which honor 5 fiction, and 5 non-fiction titles. About the book, the noted Book Review section writes 'The theater's pre-eminent living songwriter offers a master class in how to write a musical, covering some of the greatest shows, from 'West Side Story' to 'Sweeney Todd.' Sondheim's analysis of his and others' lyrics is insightful and candid, and his anecdotes are telling and often very funny.'

More than fifty years ago one musical changed theater forever. From the first note to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY soars as the greatest love story of all time. The national tour of Broadway's current smash-hit revival kicked off to rave reviews at The Fisher Theatre in Detroit on September 30 and is now touring the country. We've got the first look at video from the show!