Arthur Laurents News

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.

Burning Coal Theatre Company announces a new Integrated Acting Class to be taught by Broadway veteran Lori Mahl. The class will run Tuesday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m., January 4 through February 1st, 2011 in Raleigh. Tuition is $100 for the five week class. Please contact Burning Coal at 919-834-4001 or visit us online at www.burningcoal.org for further details and to enroll.

Armed with current sensibilities that earlier versions could only lightly tap, the latest Broadway stage revival of WEST SIDE STORY--its touring version is currently taking up residence at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood for an extended engagement through January 2--truly excels with its fresh new 21st-Century coat of theatrical paint. This moving, energetic reboot is so much more grounded in reality than ever before, creating a vivid and altogether riveting production of one of musical theater's iconic classics.

On Monday, February 7, 2011, The Drama League will present its 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), will honor two-time Tony Award winner and celebrated Broadway actress-singer Patti LuPone.

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!

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim's new book 'Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes' was released on October 26, 2010. The book, which debuted at #11 on the New York Times Book Review Bestseller list, has now made the paper's 100 Notable Books of 2010 list. They write 'Sondheim's analysis of his songs and those of others is both stinging and insightful.'

Ask musical actors/actresses for their choice of favorite Broadway musical of all time and they most often concur, West Side Story. Why? It has phenomenal music by Leonard Bernstein, with concise poetic lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a tight and gripping book by Arthur Laurents, who directed two years ago, and brilliant choreography established in 1957 by Jerome Robbins. It is one of the most powerful love stories ever, next to Romeo and Juliet. With all these elements complementing one another, from the first downbeat of the orchestra and the appearance of the Jets creeping in one by one on a half-lit stage, the show pulls you in and doesn't let you go for its two and a half hours ... and its message of and images of love linger long after.

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.

The WEST SIDE STORY tour is playing at the Pantages Theatre in LA through December 19th.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) hosted its 19th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on Monday, November 22, 2010, honoring Tony Award-winning librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Elf). The evening was directed by Tony-winning director/lyricist/librettist Richard Maltby and the award was presented by Alice Hammerstein Mathias, daughter of Oscar Hammerstein II.

The award winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will honor Tony Award winning librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Elf) with the 19th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on Monday, November 22, 2010.

The tour of the current smash hit Broadway production of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Atlanta. WEST SIDE STORY will play at the Fox Theatre from January 25 -31, 2011 as part of the Broadway Across America - Atlanta 2010-2011 season.

Today we are taking a look at one of the most exciting DVD/Blu-Ray releases of the year - perhaps ever, at least as far as Broadway connoisseurs are concerned. Taped back in mid-March of this year, a week before the actual central celebratory event itself occurred, comes SONDHEIM! The Birthday Concert, which will also be shown next Wednesday on PBS as part of this season's sensational series of GREAT PERFORMANCES at 9 PM on WNET in New York and across the country. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that has been ever-so-lovingly rendered on disc in high definition preserving a heavenly host of the very best Broadway talent one could ever possibly ask to be assembled. SONDHEIM! has it all.

Bells Are Ringing will open the Encores! 2010-11 season on November 18, 2010. With music by Jule Styne and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, the production will run through 21, 2010 at New York City Center. Bells Are Ringing is directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, features music direction by Rob Berman and stars Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents Edward Albee's A DELICATE BALANCE, directed by James Bundy, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, at York Street) October 22-November 13.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the star-studded roster of performers for its 19th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre. The award will be presented to Tony Award-winning librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Elf) on Monday, November 22, 2010. As previously announced, the evening is directed by Tony-winning director/lyricist/librettist Richard Maltby and the award will be presented by Alice Hammerstein Mathias, daughter of Oscar Hammerstein II.

On Thursday, November 11, ELTC, itself, celebrates its now thirty-one years of entertaining audiences in Cape May and throughout the country, and the brave men and women who have served and are serving our country in the armed forces. Titled 'Stage Door Canteen,' ELTC's annual gala will once more take place at Aleathea's Restaurant at the Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean Street, and the restaurant, once again, is graciously supporting the event.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim's new book 'Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes' was released today, October 26, 2010. The book debuted at #11 on the New York Times Book Review Bestseller list this week.

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, Mich. on September 30; and this groundbreaking new production of WEST SIDE STORY will play San Diego CIVIC THEATRE in a Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation on January 4-9, 2011. Tickets go on sale to the general public Sunday November 7 at 10AM!

Tony Award winning star of A CHORUS LINE is regarded internationally as one of Broadway's foremost dancing and singing leading ladies. She began this summer performing in the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and has just completed her first tour of Australia with MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE, before taking it to NY and a sold out crowd at the Laurie Beechman Theater.