Charlie Morrison News

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

Paper Mill Playhouse partners with Jersey Cares as a collection site for their winter coat drive. New and gently used coats can be brought during the run of Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Annie, now through December 31. Collection bins are located in the theater's lobby at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, New Jersey.

For a fourth Christmas season, Big League Productions Inc. will tour their lavish production of A Christmas Story, The Musical to 12 cities, opening in Worcester, MA tonight, November 9, 2017, with engagements to follow in Elmira, NY, Scranton, PA, Newport News, VA, Hartford, CT, Indianapolis, IN, Cincinnati, OH, Rochester, NY, Columbia, SC, Charleston, SC, Jackson, MS, and Austin, TX.

For a fourth Christmas season, Big League Productions Inc. will tour their lavish production of A Christmas Story, The Musical to twelve cities opening in Worcester, MA on November 9, 2017, with engagements to follow in Elmira, NY, Scranton, PA, Newport News, VA, Hartford, CT, Indianapolis, IN, Cincinnati, OH, Rochester, NY, Columbia, SC, Charleston, SC, Jackson, MS, and Austin, TX.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, KINKT BOOTS, THE LITTLE MERMAID, and more!

It's the hard-knock life! Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director), recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, has announced today the cast and creative team of the hit Broadway Tony Award-winning musical Annie, based on Little Orphan Annie, with book by Thomas Meehan, music byCharles Strouse, and lyrics by Martin Charnin, directed by Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee, with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter and musical direction by Jeffrey Saver. Performances begin Wednesday, November 22, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., for a limited run through Sunday, December 31, 2017, at Paper Mill Playhouse (22 Brookside Drive) in Millburn, NJ.

When I last met with these characters 'Under the Sea', I was only starting to cover theatrical events in the Triangle area. Now over three years later, I have more experience, so let's take another dive, shall we? Based on the 1989 Disney animated classic of the same name as well as the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, The Little Mermaid tells the story about a young mermaid who dreams of the world above the sea and gives up her beautiful voice to find her true love.

Okay, let's just get real for a moment: if one approaches this show as an adult and compares it with the canon of theatrical literature, this a production which often falls flat. However, in comparison to average children's entertainment (which is clearly the producers' targeted demographic) it holds up well. Your average elementary aged kid will be thoroughly and utterly charmed. But the parents who brought them? That might be a different story. The performers are all supremely talented, with dozens of Broadway shows to their credit. Even if I felt they might have been instructed to push every moment, they still allow their glorious voices to shine through. While it doesn't run in the same league as the classic Disney films, this production does its job: providing fluffy entertainment for an evening out after school, getting through everything as quickly as possible to make sure the kids get back home in bed to be ready for school tomorrow.

From the songwriting team behind the Tony Award-winning musical "Dear Evan Hansen" and the Academy Award-winning film "La La Land", A Christmas Story, The Musical opens its national tour at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts and runs Thursday, November 9 through Sunday, November 12. Tickets are now on sale for the Broadway show based on the classic 1983 film.

From the songwriting team behind the smash hit Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen and the Academy Award-winning film La La Land, A Christmas Story, The Musical, brings the classic 1983 movie to hilarious life on stage in Cincinnati at the Aronoff Center, December 5 - 10, 2017 as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati 17/18 Season presented by TriHealth.

Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman made their mark with the early Disney musicals, and always included a sense of "home" and "belonging". As much as Disney's The Little Mermaid is a princess-story aimed at the pre-teen audience, it also has a deeper message of being a fish out of water, only in Ariel's case she is a fish in water who doesn't belong.

Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is pleased to announce a special Autism-Friendly performance of its hit musical Mary Poppins today, June 23 at 1:30PM.

Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is pleased to announce a special Autism-Friendly performance of its hit musical Mary Poppins on Friday, June 23 at 1:30PM.

The Paper Mill Playhouse production of Mary Poppins is marvelous. Directed by the theatre's Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee, choreographed by Denis Jones, and with musical direction by Meg Zervoulis, the show delivers an experience that will affirm your love for musical theatre.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director), recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, presents the hit Broadway musical Mary Poppins based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film with original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, book by Julian Fellowes, new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. Bank of America is the Major Sponsor of Mary Poppins.

Paper Mill Playhouse, recipient of the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award, has announced casting for the hit Broadway musical Mary Poppins based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney Film with original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, book by Julian Fellowes, new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. Bank of America is the Major Sponsor of Mary Poppins.

Last night, Ariel and her underwater friends swam into the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for a weeklong stay, appropriately at the Walt Disney Theatre. The limited engagement, which originated at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in November 2016, is a silly dose of fun and nostalgia for theatregoers of all ages. Though there are performances and elements that seem less than fitting for the grand Dr. Phillips stage, the show as a whole ends up being more than the sum of its parts.

Down Where its Wetter

A spectacular new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid kicks off at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, February 22, 2017 for a limited two week run. Featuring the critically acclaimed work of Director Glenn Casale, this beloved tale of a young mermaid's coming-of-age adventure is told like never before. Previously announced casting includes Diana Huey as Ariel and Matthew Kacergis as Prince Eric, with Broadway's Jennifer Allen as Ursula and Steven Blanchard as King Triton. Melvin Abston, Connor Russell and Jamie Torcellini join the cast as Sebastian, Flounder and Scuttle. 

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 75 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2016 Raleigh winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!