Des McAnuff News

Broadway's hottest musical JERSEY BOYS will be featured on WNBC's 'LX-TV' on Tuesday, August 3 at 5:00pm. Host Maria Sansone speaks with the stars of the hit musical: Sebastian Arcelus, Matt Bogart, Dominic Nolfi and Jarrod Spector, and even learns to 'Walk Like A Man.'

The latest to produce a full production of the rock opera THE WHO'S TOMMY is The Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills, the little store-front black box theater that, over the years, have managed to do quite a lot with its small space. In this fast-paced, tightly-directed new revival, THE WHO'S TOMMY-with sold out performances extended through August 15-hits with the ferocity of a full-on rock concert and features a confident, spirited cast. And, in somewhat of a nice surprise, the show utilizes newer technology unseen (or unaffordable) in many smaller theaters.

Audiences will be whisked away to 1960s Baltimore when Pittsburgh CLO presents Hairspray July 20 - August 1 at the Benedum Center. Adapted for the stage from John Water's 1988 film, Hairspray ran on Broadway for over six years and has since become a toe-tapping hit all over the world.

Broadway actress and jazz vocalist Luba Mason will be taking on the role of Mrs. Young from the 1998 Broadway production of The Capeman. This concert version, directed by Tony Award nominee Diane Paulus, will play the Delacorte Theater for three shows only. Mason has appeared on Broadway as Velma Kelly in Chicago (with Brooke Shields), Hedy LaRue in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (opposite Matthew Broderick), and Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde.

Tony Award nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime) will direct Tony Award nominee Xanthe Elbrick (Coram Boy) in the world premiere production of Venus Flytrap by Anthony Dodge.

ReVision Theatre of Asbury Park again lives up to its' name with the announcement of an eclectic multi-cultural cast for their highly anticipated production of THE WHO'S TOMMY that runs from July 8-25 at The Carousel House on the boardwalk in Asbury Park produced in association with Theatre C.

JERSEY BOYS, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning international hit musical, will complete its record-breaking run in Melbourne, Australia at the Princess Theatre on July 25, and will open in Sydney at the Theatre Royal on September 18, 2010 (previews begin September 3).

Tickets will go on sale Monday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m. for the Des Moines premiere engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, July 7-25, 2010.

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has announced the addition of a 12th production to its 2011 playbill. Seana McKenna will present her one-woman show SHAKESPEARE'S WILL at the Studio Theatre.

The New South Wales Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay, announced today that in 2011, Sydney (Australia) will host the World Premiere of a new musical, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO starring Anthony Warlow. One of the most breathtaking love stories ever told, this exciting new production will be directed by Broadway's Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Tommy), with music composed by Lucy Simon (The Secret Garden), lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers and book by Michael Weller. Produced by John Frost and Anita Waxman, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO will play an exclusive eight week engagement at the Lyric Theatre, Star City from February 11, 2011, before an Australian tour.

Audiences will be whisked away to 1960s Baltimore when Pittsburgh CLO presents Hairspray July 20 - August 1 at the Benedum Center. Adapted for the stage from John Water's 1988 film, Hairspray ran on Broadway for over six years and has since become a toe-tapping hit all over the world.

Bay Street Theatre has announced its scheduled performers for its summer Comedy Club series. Among others, David Alan Grier is set to appear on July 19.

Elle Woods has arrived in Manila! Atlantis Productions' staging of the Broadway musical LEGALLY BLONDE opened on June 25th starring Philippine pop singer and recording artist Nikki Gil in the title role.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents its 6th annual First Look Repertory of New Work-three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory playing October 27 - November 14, 2010 in Steppenwolf's Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted St. The 2010 festival will also include three free readings by emerging playwrights presented November 5-7, 2010. Tickets for all productions are currently on-sale.

Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer - all stars from the original cast of Broadway's Jersey Boys - are fighting back against Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and the producers of Jersey Boys - Dodger Theatricals, Ltd. and Jersey Boys Broadway L.P. - in an effort to defend their right to continue to thrill audiences with concerts that are, and always have been, purely an evening of music from multiple iconic groups of the 1960s, and of reminiscences of their Broadway experiences.

Bay Street Theatre has announced its scheduled performers for its summer Comedy Club series. Among others, David Alan Grier is set to appear on July 19.

Luba Mason, Broadway Actress, Jazz Vocalist and wife of Latin superstar Ruben Blades, will return to her role of Mrs. Kresynski in Paul Simon's 'THE CAPEMAN' being staged at The Delacorte Theater in Central Park August 14th-16th. Mason returns to the role hot on the heels of the release of her critically-acclaimed CD, KRAZY LOVE, and accompanying tour.

ReVision Theatre of Asbury Park again lives up to its' name with the announcement of an eclectic multi-cultural cast for their highly anticipated production of THE WHO'S TOMMY that runs from July 8-25 at The Carousel House on the boardwalk in Asbury Park produced in association with Theatre C.

Audiences will be whisked away to 1960s Baltimore when Pittsburgh CLO presents Hairspray July 20 - August 1 at the Benedum Center. Adapted for the stage from John Water's 1988 film, Hairspray ran on Broadway for over six years and has since become a toe-tapping hit all over the world.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced the selections for its 22nd Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place on Thursday, October 21 and Friday, October 22, 2010 in New York City.