Christopher Ashley News

Heidi Blickenstaff (Broadway's Something Rotten!) and Emma Hunton (Broadway's Spring Awakening) are set to star as mother and daughter in the world premiere production of the new musical Freaky Friday at Signature Theatre. The musical, based on the beloved 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and hit Disney films and developed by Disney Theatrical Productions expressly for licensing to theatres, features a book byBridget Carpenter, music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey. This premiere production will be directed byChristopher Ashley with choreography by Sergio Trujillo. Freaky Friday will run from October 4 - November 13 in Signature Theatre's MAX Theatre. Further casting and creative team members will be announced in the coming months.

Ford's Theatre Society today announced the Ford's Theatre cast for the new musical Come From Away, directed by Christopher Ashley. The production features: Geno Carr (Old Globe's Allegiance), Jenn Colella (Broadway's If/Then); Joel Hatch (Broadway's Annie); Rodney Hicks (Broadway's The Scottsboro Boys); Kendra Kassebaum (Broadway's Wicked); Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan (Round House's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof); Chad Kimball (Broadway's Memphis); Lee MacDougall (Wizard of Oz National Tour); Caesar Samayoa (Broadway's Sister Act); Q. Smith (Broadway's Mary Poppins); Sharon Wheatley (Broadway's Avenue Q); and Astrid Van Wieren (Mama Mia National Tour).

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its world-premiere production of The Last Tiger in Haiti, by UC San Diego MFA playwriting alumnus Jeff Augustin, directed by UC San Diego MFA directing alumnus Joshua Kahan Brody. A co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Last Tiger in Haiti runs June 28 - July 24 (press opening: Friday, July 8 at 8:00pm). Tickets are available at LaJollaPlayhouse.org or by calling (858) 550-1010.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston's 2015-16 season closes with an acclaimed new play (partly inspired by the theatricality of Nicholas Nickleby) that uses ingenious stagecraft, the talents of a dozen of our favorite actors, and the limitless possibilities of your imagination to create theatrical magic.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the world premiere of HOLLYWOOD by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro (Memphis, Chasing the Song) and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. Starring Harriet Harris, Patrick Kerr, Kate Rockwell and more, HOLLYWOOD runs through June 12 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre, with an official opening on May 18. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston's 2015-16 season closes with an acclaimed new play (partly inspired by the theatricality of Nicholas Nickleby) that uses ingenious stagecraft, the talents of a dozen of our favorite actors, and the limitless possibilities of your imagination to create theatrical magic.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society announced the release of a Diversity and Inclusion Statement of Commitment at Monday's semi-annual membership meeting.

Brooklyn's acclaimed Brave New World Repertory Theatre will present the world premiere of THE IMMORTALS, a trilogy of one-act plays by legendary Brooklyn playwright Charles L. Mee, presented over three weeks, May 11-26 at Glasshouse, a unique art/performance space in Williamsburg, including five free performances open to the public.

La Jolla Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for its world-premiere production of Hollywood, by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro (Memphis, Chasing the Song) directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley.

The staff, board, and community of Diversionary Theatre, America's third oldest LGBT theatre, are hosting a very special Gala event, 'DARING DECADENCE: Celebrating 30 Years of Diversionary Theatre,' on Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Shiley Suite at the San Diego Central Library (330 Park Blvd).

Today in 2005, All Shook Up opened at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for 213 performances.All Shook Up is a jukebox musical with Elvis Presley music, with a book by Joe DiPietro. The story is based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Directed by Christopher Ashley, with choreography by Ken Roberson, the original Broadway cast included Cheyenne Jackson (Chad), Jenn Gambatese (Natalie Haller/'Ed'), and Jonathan Hadary (Jim Haller).

After a landmark year which yielded an unprecedented Centennial Season and the coveted Regional Theatre Tony Award®, Cleveland Play House (CPH) is following up on the heels of the past year's success with a dynamic, stimulating and engaging 2016-17 Season.  CPH staff, led by Artistic Director Laura Kepley, announced the titles of the new season today on the Allen Theatre stage to a full house.  The theme of this season is "moving forward" and audiences will have plenty to look forward to with a season that encompasses history, mystery, comedy, drama and even a brand new Disney musical.  CPH's 101st Season would not be possible without CPH's generous sponsors, donors, patrons, and community partners.

Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault today announced the Ford's Theatre 2016-2017 season will begin with the new musical Come From Away directed by Christopher Ashley. Productions include Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? directed by Aaron Posner and featuring Holly Twyford as Martha; the musical Ragtime, directed by Peter Flynn and featuring an all-local cast including Kevin McAllister, Tracy Lynn Olivera and Nova Y. Payton; and the 35th-annual production of Washington's holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol. Political comedian Mark Russell will return for a one-night-only performance during the height of election season.

The staff, board, and community of Diversionary Theatre, America's third oldest LGBT theatre, are hosting a very special Gala event: Daring Decadence: Celebrating 30 Years of Diversionary Theatre on Friday, April 1, 2016 at the Shiley Suite at the San Diego Central Library (330 Park Blvd).

Producers Frank Marshall, Mindy Rich, Anita Waxman, and Beth Williams announced today that the new musical featuring the songs of legendary singer-songwriter-author Jimmy Buffett, with an original story by co-book writers Greg Garcia and Mike O'Malley, will have its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California. Directed by Tony Award® nominee and Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, the strictly limited engagement will kick off the Playhouse's 2017/2018 season, with performances beginning on May 16, 2017, an official opening night of May 28, and will play through June 25, 2017. Tony Award nominee Christopher Ashley will direct the production, which will open on May 16, 2017.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: LES MIZ gets a new Fantine, SMOKEFALL begins off-Broadway, and A BRONX TALE starts up in New Jersey!

Broadway-bound new musical, Come From Away, presented by Seattle Repertory Theatre, wins four Gypsys, tying with another new musical, Lizard Boy, also produced by Seattle Repertory Theatreand also with four Gypsys, a company that has been known for years as a powerhouse dramatic straight-play playhouse! 

On the heels of the news that Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's new musical adaptation of FREAKY FRIDAY will hit the stage in Washington, D.C. this fall, theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) just announced it has secured worldwide licensing rights for the show and will allow professional -- and eventually amateur theatres -- to produce the musical after its debut.