Ben Fankhauser News

Audiences have a final chance to 'Seize the Day!' - tickets are now available for 'Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical!,' playing in U.S. movie theaters for three days only on Thursday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday February 18 at 12:55 p.m. and Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. (all local times). Leading up to the movie event, the team is giving fans tons of behind-the-scenes moments. Below, check out Tommy Bracco - the original 'Spot Conlon' - re-living his experience in the recording studio with the company of NEWSIES!

Below, check out a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the show entitled 'Making of the NEWSIES Movie Event: Return to Rehearsals' and check out a first listen to an all-new song performed by 'Crutchie's Andrew Kennan-Bolger!

Audiences have a final chance to 'Seize the Day!' - tickets are now available for 'Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical!,' playing in U.S. movie theaters for three days only on Thursday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday February 18 at 12:55 p.m. and Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. (all local times). Captured live at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre earlier this year, the event features Jeremy Jordan, who currently stars in the television series 'Supergirl,' reprising the role he created as 'Jack Kelly.' Fathom Events partners with Disney Theatrical Productions to bring this spectacular stage show to the big screen, including special behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and creators.

El próximo 9 de marzo la red CINESA proyectará NEWSIES, el musical Disney compuesto por Alan Menken, en toda España

The Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will make its Miami premiere at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County for one week, February 14 - 19, 2017. Produced by Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including "I Feel the Earth Move," "One Fine Day," "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," "You've Got A Friend" and the title song.

When BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL opens on January 17 at Hartford's Bushnell Theatre, audiences will discover that though they may think they know the songs of Carole King, there is such a rich story behind those familiar lyrics and catchy melodies. BEAUTIFUL tells the true story of King's rise to stardom and illustrates how she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. Taking the stage in BEAUTIFUL playing Shirley, the lead singer of the Shirelles is Salisha Thomas who I had the pleasure of speaking with and learning about her experience with this remarkable show about a remarkable woman.

I felt the earth move under my feet when the audience of over 1000 people jumped to their feet to give the cast of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL a standing ovation, accompanied by thunderous applause. The Wharton Center showing was absolutely fabulous! Sunday night is the final performance of this amazing show.

Thomas Schumacher, Jeff Calhoun, Christopher Gattelli, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Zina Goldrich, Marcy Heisler, Arielle Jacobs, Curt Hansen, Luca Padovan, and New York Times best-selling authors Jodi Picoult and Mary Pope Osborne are some of the talent confirmed for the 2017 iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival Atlanta (#JTF17, #JTFATL) happening January 13-15, 2017 in Atlanta, GA.

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2016 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed. (alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed) (artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories) No set, costume, technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.

What's Coming Up in Connecticut Theater? January's TOP PICKS by @LaurenYarger

Thomas Schumacher, Jeff Calhoun, Christopher Gattelli, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, Zina Goldrich, Marcy Heisler, Arielle Jacobs, Curt Hansen, Luca Padovan, and New York Times best-selling authors Jodi Picoult and Mary Pope Osborne are some of the talent confirmed for the 2017 iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival Atlanta (#JTF17, #JTFATL) happening January 13-15, 2017 in Atlanta, GA.

Audiences have a final chance to “Seize the Day!” – tickets are now available for “Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical!,” playing in U.S. movie theaters for three days only on Thursday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday February 18 at 12:55 p.m. and Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. (all local times).

Thanks to @BwayAmerica for sharing Julia Knitel as Carole King with Phoenix @ASUGammage. #SomeKindOfWonderful

Hot off the press! As BroadwayWorld reported exclusively in July, Newsies is coming to the big screen! Disney Theatrical Productions and Fathom Events announced today that the Tony Award-winning musical NEWSIES will make its worldwide cinema debut on February 16, 18 and 22, 2017, starring Jeremy Jordan, reprising his Tony Award-nominated performance as 'Jack Kelly.'

The national tour of BEAUTIFUL is the first Broadway show to play at the brand-new Eccles Theater, and it is a more than worthy tenant. In fact, the high quality of the production is ample proof of the embarrassment of riches the theater is sure to attract.

The major problem I have seen with jukebox musicals is they may have the music to entertain with a nostalgic value but not the book. Then there's the pitfall of the music itself being so focused on one artist that, unless you're a die-hard fan, you can get bored ('Jersey Boys' falls into both traps for me). But sometimes there are shows like 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical' currently performing at the Paramount Theatre that manage to hurtle both obstacles with seeming ease. Yes, the songs are all there but as we're looking at the career of a songwriter as well as performer we get a very diverse sound. Plus the book goes well beyond 'and then I did this song, and then I did that song' with a thoroughly engaging story making this one of those rare jukebox musicals that works on every level.

Even without eye-popping special effects, a gimmicky storyline, or those oft-used literary or cinematic source materials, some stage musicals just manage to entertain by sheer likability alone. A big warm hug of a show that's brimming with lots of surprisingly snappy wit and, arguably, some of the previous century's most melodious pop hits, BEAUTIFUL---the Broadway stage musical based on the life of treasured Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Carole King---is a show that certainly lives up to its title. This charming, swiftly-paced bio-musical's first national tour continues performances at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through October 16.

The National Tour of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning hit musical BEAUTIFUL - THE Carole King MUSICAL welcomes Julia Knitel (Carole King) and Erika Olson (Cynthia Weil) beginning tonight, September 13 in San Francisco, CA.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing are pleased to announce that the National Tour of this Broadway sensation will star Julia Knitel (Carole King) and Erika Olson (Cynthia Weil), who will be joining a company featuring Liam Tobin (Gerry Goffin) and Ben Fankhauser (Barry Mann), with Curt Bouril (Don Kirshner) and Suzanne Grodner (Genie Klein). For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit TheSmithCenter.com.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing have announced the National Tour of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning hit musical BEAUTIFUL - THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL will welcome Julia Knitel (Carole King) and Erika Olson (Cynthia Weil) beginning September 13 in San Francisco, CA.