Charles Strouse News

On the heels of the decision to extend Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' production of HAIRSPRAY through May 26, 2012, the theatre has announced the next two Main Stage productions to follow.

Dallas Theater Center announced today the cast and design team of Giant, a co-production with The Public Theater, which runs at the Wyly Theatre Jan. 18 - Feb. 19, 2012.

Producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland, currently represented Off-Broadway with the hit play Freud's Last Session, has assembled a starry cast for today's (November 14th) special invitational presentation of the original new musical AMAZING GRACE, with music & lyrics by Christopher Smith and book by Mr. Smith & Arthur Giron, at the New 42nd Street Studios.

Two-time Tony Award winner CHITA RIVERA will perform songs from her legendary Broadway career with an intimate evening of music in CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts November 10 - 13 for four shows.

Two-time Tony Award winner CHITA RIVERA will perform songs from her legendary Broadway career with an intimate evening of music in CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts November 10 - 13 for four shows.

This holiday season, America's #1 Christmas movie comes to life on stage as a hilarious holiday musical. A Christmas Story, The Musical! features a bright holiday score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Joseph Robinette based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite. Acclaimed director/choreographer Warren Carlyle (Broadway's Finian's Rainbow, Follies at The Kennedy Center, An Evening With Hugh Jackman) will helm the production. Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie in the original 1983 film, serves as a producer for the holiday tour.

Daniel Radcliffe and the stars of Smash were on hand last night, November 6, at the Eighth Annual New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) gala to honor Neil Meron and Craig Zadan for their work in bringing musical theatre to a worldwide, pop-culture audience. Meron and Zadan are represented on Broadway with How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and are currently producing the new NBC television drama Smash about the behind-the-scenes creation of a Broadway musical. Smash premieres on NBC on February 6th. BroadwayWorld was there for the star-studded event honoring the duo and celebrating this year's NYFM productions, and brings you full photo coverage below!

One of the best loved musicals of all time, ANNIE returns to the Fox Theatre January 14 - 22. Boasting one of Broadway's most memorable scores, including "It's the Hard-Knock Life," "Easy Street," "N.Y.C.," and the ever optimistic "Tomorrow," you can bet your bottom dollar that ANNIE will bring a smile to your face. "We are delighted that a whole new generation can experience this classic musical about never giving up hope!" says Christopher B Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars.

Lyric Stage continues its exciting 19th season with the world premiere of the newly revised RAGS, October 28 through November 6 at the Irving Arts Center's Carpenter Performance Hall. This epic and unforgettable musical, set in turn-of-the-century New York at the height of the great wave of Eastern Europeans flooding into America, tells the story of five Jewish immigrants and their struggle to make a better life for themselves. The production runs October 28 through November 6, 2011 and performances are in the Irving Arts Center's Carpenter Performance Hall. Tickets can be Ordered Online by Clicking Here or by calling the box office @ 972-252-2787 .

JASON GRAAE, the L.A. DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD winner and Broadway and cabaret star, opened his acclaimed tribute to Jerry Herman, 'PERFECT HERMANY' at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street, on Tuesday, October 18 at 7 PM. Performances continue through tonight, October 25th at 9:30 PM. There is a $20 cover and two drink minimum. Reservations: (212) 695-6909. The cast of Broadway's FOLLIES recently visited his show, and you can check out photos of Graae with his visitors below!

Only Charles Strouse and Mel Brooks can mix Physics and Football and get musical comedy. Their 1961 show All American takes place at a college known more for its football team than its Physics Department but Dean Hawkes-Bullock (Kate Marilley) changes all that by hiring Professor Fodorski (Matt Wilson) from Vienna.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, opens its 37th season with the Chicago premiere of Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook, music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by David Stern.

Pittsburgh CLO is to announce that the 2012 Summer Season will include the Pittsburgh premiere of Come Fly Away, the new Broadway musical that brings together the legendary vocals of Frank Sinatra and the creative vision of Tony Award®-winner Twyla Tharp.

JASON GRAAE, the L.A. DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD winner and Broadway and cabaret star, opened his acclaimed tribute to Jerry Herman, 'PERFECT HERMANY' at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in West Bank Cafe last night, October 18. Performances run through October 25th.

MARTIN, a new musical by legendary composer/lyricist Charles Strouse and bookwriter Leslie Lee, will be presented Off-Broadway by the Negro Ensemble Company, with performances beginning this Wednesday, October 19th. The limited engagement is set to run through October 30th at the Kraine Theater, 85 East 4th Street (between Second & Third Ave.) Under the direction of Jeffrey B. Moss and choreographed by Barbara Siman, the cast of MARTIN features Gilbert Glenn Brown, Dameka Hayes, Heather Massie, Kyle Minshew, Tony Perry, Raena White, and Curtis Wiley. The Musical Director is Skip Brevis.

JASON GRAAE, the L.A. DRAMA CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD winner and Broadway and cabaret star, opens his acclaimed tribute to Jerry Herman, 'PERFECT HERMANY' at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street, on Tuesday, October 18 at 7 PM.

The sun came out in Thousand Oaks, CA last week as Cabrillo Music Theatre proudly opened its all new production of the hit musical, Annie. ANNIE also marks the return of Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan to the Cabrillo stage, having won a Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for her performance as the Fairy Godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella last season. Annie opened Friday, October 14th and continues through Sunday, October 23rd, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. Broadway World TV's Los Angeles Correspondent/Producer Michael Sterling and Associate Producer Jerry Evans of JLE Media Group Inc., spent a day with Ms. Struthers and the Annie company to talk about the world's beloved musical.