Brian Crawley News

Playwrights Horizons presents the New York premiere production of STAGE KISS, a new play marking the eagerly-awaited return of two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl (Dead Man's Cell Phone at PH; The Clean House, In the Next Room...) to the theater company. Directed by Rebecca Taichman (Milk Like Sugar at PH; the current Marie Antoinette, Orlando, The Scene, Luck of the Irish), the production begins previews this evening, February 7 at 8PM with an Opening Night set for Sunday, March 2 at 7PM. The limited engagement will play through Sunday evening, March 23 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.)'s world premiere production of musical WITNESS UGANDA, which begins performances tonight, February 4, is the winner of the 2014 Richard Rodgers Production Award for Musical Theater. The award was announced yesterday by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which administers the Richard Rodgers Awards.

This musical features bluegrass, gospel, country, and rock music. It's like the tomato sauce Prego...'It's all in there.'

The winner of the 2014 Richard Rodgers Production Award for Musical Theater was announced today by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which administers the Richard Rodgers Awards.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) just announced that Colin Donnell (Anything Goes) and Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry (The Scottsboro Boys) will join two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster in a Broadway production of VIOLET, directed by Leigh Silverman.

Sutton Foster won the Tony Award for her leading roles in 'Anything Goes' and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' and starred in the ABC Family TV series 'Bunheads.' This month, she returns to the star-studded lineup of the celebrated Broadway at NOCCA series, on January 27, 2014 at 7:00 PM for one show only, with series host and SiriusXM radio star Seth Rudetsky at piano.

Chance Theater presents the first show of its 16th Anniversary Season - the hilarious modern musical adaptation of Aristophanes' classic comedy, Lysistrata Jones, with music by Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn, and direction by Kari Hayter. Lysistrata Jones will preview from February 7 through 14, open February 15 and continue through March 9 at the new Chance Theater.

Tickets are now on sale for Roundabout Theatre Company's production of VIOLET, starring two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster and directed by Leigh Silverman. To buy tickets, learn more information about VIOLET, and become a Roundabout subscriber, please visit roundabouttheatre.org.

For the past week, BroadwayWorld has been counting down the final days of 2013 with video tributes to our 13 favorite musical moments of this year. Now that the ball has dropped and 2014 has officially arrived, we shift gears and look ahead to what is to come in 2014. Below, we count-up to the 14 theatrical events of 2014 that we are most excited for!

Composer Jeanine Tesori just revealed in an interview with Variety that the upcoming Broadway production will be the one-act, 'retooled and trimmed' version that was presented at Encores in summer 2013. The changes made for that presentation will be 'retained and honed.'

This week we are excited to feature Michael Patrick Walker, composer of the popular musical Altar Boyz, and his song "Someday." 13's Al Calderon, who recently appeared on The X Factor, sang this song at our concert at NYMF.

Due to strong demand, The Public Theater announced a fourth extension for the critically acclaimed world premiere musical FUN HOME, directed by Sam Gold and featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron. Based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, FUN HOME will now run through Sunday, January 12. It was originally scheduled to close on November 3 but has been extended four times due to rave reviews and audience demand. A new block of tickets is on sale now and can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

The Public Theater announced today that Emily Skeggs has joined the company as Medium Alison in the hit musical FUN HOME. Alexandra Socha, who originated the role, has left the show for personal reasons. Directed by Sam Gold and featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, and based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, the critically acclaimed musical has been extended three times due to overwhelming demand. FUN HOME will run through Sunday, December 29 and tickets can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

The Public Theater announced today that PS Classics, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will record and release the original cast recording of the acclaimed Public Theater musical FUN HOME, directed by Sam Gold and featuring music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron. Fox Theatricals and Barbara Whitman are serving as the recording's executive producers. Based on Alison Bechdel's graphic novel, FUN HOME will be recorded on Monday, December 2 and will be released as a single disc on February 18, 2014. FUN HOME received some of the best reviews of the season and was recently extended a third time due to overwhelming demand to Sunday, December 29. Anew block of tickets is on sale now and can be purchased by calling (212) 967-7555, visiting www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

I am thrilled to announce that our third production at the American Airlines Theatre this season will be Violet by Jeanine Tesori andBrian Crawley, directed by Leigh Silverman, and starring Sutton Foster. Leigh and Sutton started work on Violet at City Center as anEncores! Off Center concert, and we will be reuniting the creative team for our production.

It's Official! Sutton Foster is coming BACK to Broadway, as Roundabout Theatre Company has just announced that it will present two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster in a Broadway production of VIOLET (first seen as part of Encores! Off-Center concert series in 2013), directed by Leigh Silverman. Based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, VIOLET features music by Jeanine Tesori and book & lyrics by Brian Crawley. VIOLET will be produced in association with Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, David Mirvish, Barry and Fran Weissler, Elizabeth Armstrong, and Mary Jo and Ted Shen.

Fiddlehead Theatre Company announces two talkbacks during the run of A Little Princess, Fiddlehead's first production as Resident Company at Boston's historic Strand Theatre (543 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA). A Little Princess will run from November 21 -December 8, 2013, and will feature two appearances by the creative team behind A Little Princess: Composer Andrew Lippa will provide a talkback on Friday, November 29 hosted by WGBH's Jared Bowen, and playwright Brian Crawley will take the stage on Friday, December 6. Both sessions are free for ticket-holders, who are invited to stay after the performance to participate in an audience Q&A. These events are perfect for theater students, educators, drama departments, and fans of musical theater. Tickets for A Little Princess are $25-$45 and may be purchased by calling the box office at 617-229-6494 or online at www.fiddleheadtheatre.com. Student, senior and group discounts are available.

Fiddlehead Theatre Company presents A LITTLE PRINCESS a Boston's Strand Theatre from tonight, Nov 21 to Dec 8. A LITTLE PRINCESS is a family friendly musical and something that everyone can enjoy.