Brian Yorkey News

Drury Lane Theatre will present the regional premiere of the recent Broadway sensation NEXT TO NORMAL, previewing August 15, opening August 22, and running through October 6, 2013. NEXT TO NORMAL stars Jeff Award nominee Susie McMonagle as 'Diana' ('Fantine' in Les Miserables on Broadway and the first National Tours of Billy Elliot and Mamma Mia) and Jeff Award winner Rod Thomas as 'Dan' (Big at Drury Lane Theatre and Little Shop of Horrors at Theatre at the Center).The production is directed by Drury Lane Theatre Artistic Director William Osetek (Drury Lane Theatre's smash hit production of Spamalot and Jeff Award nominee for Best Director and Best Production for Thoroughly Modern Millie.)

Novato Theater Company opens its new season in its brand-new venue with a smashing historical drama, James Goldman's The Lion in Winter, a play full of plots, counterplots and unforgettable characters. Lion is directed by award-winning director Kris Neely and features Craig Christiansen as King Henry II of England and Maxine Sattizahn as Eleanor of Aquitaine. Assistant Director is Michael Walraven. NTC Executive Producer is Janelle Ponte.

This is a show not to be missed! Performances run tonight, July 11-July 27. Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30; with afternoon matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the global leader in music rights management, has announced that the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop is now accepting applications for its first year composer/lyricist class. The August 1, 2013, deadline is quickly approaching and applicants are asked to send in the requested materials as soon as possible. The Workshop begins September 23, 2013, and runs through June 2014. A recipient of the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre Award, the Lehman Engel Musical Workshop consists of approximately 250 composers, lyricists and book writers who are actively writing new works for the musical theatre.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Susie McMonagle and Rod Thomas are set to lead Next to Normal at Drury Lane Oakbrook, running August 15 - October 6, 2013. Also set to star are Skyler Adams, Callie Johnson, Colte Julain and Josh Tolle.

Jonathan Whitton (Bistro & MAC Award Winner, HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH) continues his critically lauded concert residency with guitarist AaRon Jones at Don't Tell Mama. BLACK SHEEP CARNIVAL. BLACK SHEEP CARNVAL will play the Brick Room at Don't Tell Mama every first Monday through 2013 with dates scheduled for today, July 8, August 5, September 2, October 7, November 4, & December 2. All performances are at 7:30PM. Tickets are $10 plus a two-drink minimum.

The first promotional ad for the highly anticipated new musical by the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning team of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, IF/THEN, written explicitly for notable Broadway and GLEE star Idina Menzel has been unveiled.

Cape Rep Theatre presents Summer Starlight: An Evening With Ellen and Dermot Mulroney benefitting Cape Rep Theatre. Cape Rep is honored to have acclaimed film actor Dermot Mulroney and his mother, actress Ellen Mulroney one night only in the reading of a new, short play Peter Pan's Mother written by Christine Emmert, followed by an audience conversation in the intimate 130-seat theatre with Dermot moderated by Improper Bostonian magazine's lead columnist Jonathan Soroff on Monday, July 15 at 6:00 PM.

This is a show not to be missed! Performances run July 11-July 27. Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30; with afternoon matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.

Last week's poll asked which project you're most excited to see on stage. Check out your response below!

Jonathan Whitton (Bistro & MAC Award Winner, HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH) continues his critically lauded concert residency with guitarist Aaron Jones at Don't Tell Mama. BLACK SHEEP CARNIVAL. BLACK SHEEP CARNVAL will play the Brick Room at Don't Tell Mama every first Monday through 2013 with dates scheduled for Monday, July 8, August 5,September 2, October 7, November 4, & December 2. All performances are at 7:30PM. Tickets are $10 plus a two-drink minimum.

New BroadwayWorld.com Poll - Which Disney project are you most excited for?

Last week BroadwayWorld reported that Disney Theatrical Productions has been experimenting with bringing a live stage version of THE MUPPETS to Broadway, but according to the New York Times, that's not the only project in the works. Many other shows based on animated Disney classics are being created for the stage including THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Peter Parnell and direction by Scott Schwartz), for which a table reading was recently held. It was announced several year ago that stage adaptations of DUMBO (direction by Stephen Daldry), and Tim Burton's version of ALICE IN WONDERLAND (direction by Rob Ashford) were in the works, though no new information has been released recently on either project.

Cape Rep Theatre presents 9-Ball, by local playwright, Art Devine (author of Winter Wheat and last season's hit new play, The Bottom of the Sky). It runs tonight, June 20 through July 13, 2013. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7 pm, Todays through Saturdays at 8 pm, Sunday, June 30 at 2 pm. No performances June 25 or July 4. Tickets are $25. Pay-What-You-Can-Night is the first Friday, June 21. Student Rush Tickets also available. Call the Box Office for details. Cape Rep Indoor Theatre. North Side Route 6A E. Brewster. 508.896.1888 or www.caperep.org. Not for children. Parental discretion advised for children ages 13 and over.

Heartbreaking. Gutsy. Intensely riveting. These are some of the words I jotted down in the dark---while simultaneously wiping tears streaming down my face---during the Southern California Regional Premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL, now playing at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts for a limited run ending June 23. The winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this thought-provoking, emotionally-heavy musical play---which features music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey---has now been revived locally in a top-notch, Broadway-caliber staging that truly impresses from beginning to end.

Tony Award-winning Broadway and GLEE star Idina Menzel is currently embarking on a criss-cross-countries tour, playing many acclaimed venues throughout not only North America but also some select dates overseas, as well, and fans now can get a glimpse at her setlist at a recent wildly well-received gig.

This past weekend Southern Rep wrapped their run of NEXT TO NORMAL, a rock musical with music by Tom Kitt and book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. The production was directed by Blake Coheley and featured Leslie Castay as Diana Goodman.

Cape Rep Theatre presents Summer Starlight an Evening with Ellen and Dermot Mulroney benefitting Cape Rep Theatre. Cape Rep is honored to have acclaimed film actor Dermot Mulroney and his mother, actress Ellen Mulroney one night only in the reading of a new, short play Peter Pan's Mother written by Christine Emmert, followed by a conversation with Dermot Mulroney on Monday, July 15 at 6:00 PM.