Diane Paulus News

Broadway's biggest stars gathered at the Circle in the Square Theatre yesterday for opening night of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, starring five-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald and directed by Lonny Price. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the star-studded red carpet below!

The Independent Reviewers of New England congratulate the entire greater Boston theater community on another successful year of stellar productions. The 18th Annual IRNE Awards was held on Monday, April 7, with awards in 54 categories in writing, acting, design in all disciplines, and directing.

JJJ Productions in Association with Culture Project and Aaron Grant Theatrical, Inc have announced that the world premiere of THE ANTHEM, an original musical lovingly inspired by the classic Ayn Rand Novella, 'Anthem', with a book by Gary Morgenstein, music by Jonnie Rockwell and lyrics by Erik Ransom will begin previews on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, Off-Broadway at Culture Project's Lynn Redgrave Theatre on 45 Bleecker Street. This musical helmed by Rachel Klein officially opens on Thursday, May 29, 2014. Spiderman's JASON GOTAY, Spring Awakening's REMY ZAKEN and RANDY JONES of The Village People lead a cast of theatrical favorites in this rollicking sci-fi musical, featuring an expansive aerial and circus environment, about a revolt of the young against an evil state.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will play the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a limited engagement from today, April 8 - 20, 2014.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director; presents the last production of its 2013/14 Season, THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Aaron Posnerand Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music byTom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus. Scroll down for a first look at the production!

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were established hit makers when they teamed up to make a musical about cowboys and farmers. What follows was a miracle-Oklahoma!, then Carousel and South Pacific; the list of extraordinary hits goes on. Tonight, April 5 and April 6 and 7 get to know these legends even better at Getting to Know You: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lyrics & Lyricists first look at the two songwriters as a team. Guest artistic director, writer and host Ted Chapin, head of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, shares an insider's perspective on the pair, gleaned from his years with the Rodgers and Hammerstein families; joined by vocalists Lewis Cleale, Mandy Gonzalez, Jonathan Groff, Rebecca Luker, and Phillipa Soo.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts presents the world premiere of THE TEMPEST, produced by the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at The Smith Center in Las Vegas today, April 5-13, 2014. The Smith Center's first ever co-production, THE TEMPEST is adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus. THE TEMPEST will perform at The Smith Center's Donald W. Reynolds Symphony Park in a 500-seat climate controlled tent before moving to Cambridge, MA to begin performances at A.R.T.

Looking much like an opening night, numerous boldfaced names were in attendance last week at a workshop for FINDING NEVERLAND, directed by Diane Paulas and starring Matthew Morrison and Laura Michelle Kelly. It'll premiere at begins performances in July 2014 at the Loeb Drama Center at The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University. Featuring new songs by Gary Barlow and Eliot Kennedy, NEVERLAND previously held a workshop on August 26th, featuring Kelly, Jason Alexander, Brian d'Arcy James and Kathleen Chalfant. The new musical FINDING NEVERLAND premiered in Leicester on September 22., led by Julian Ovenden and Rosalie Craig. Adapted from the much-loved Oscar-winning Miramax film, FINDING NEVERLAND, this exquisite new production was brought to the Leicester stage by celebrated Oscar and Tony Award-winner Harvey Weinstein, with direction and choreography by Olivier and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford (Anna Christie at Donmar Warehouse), a book by Allan Knee (Little Women on Broadway), and music and lyrics by Tony Award nominees Scott Frankel and Michael Korie. Escape to a wonderful world of enchantment with this musical tale of the life of playwright J.M. Barrie, and the inspiration behind his classic book, The Adventures of Peter Pan. With his last play a failure, James Barrie is crippled by writer's block and success seems like a far-away land. But then a chance encounter with widow Sylvia Llewellyn Davies and her four young sons sends his heart and imagination soaring, and their friendship gives birth to a magical tale that will live forever.

Mandy Gonzalez, star of Broadway's Wicked, In the Heights, Lennon and more, invites you to join her for an unforgettable evening of great music and hilarity, all revolving around love and its crazy themes and variations. Expect hit tunes like 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' 'Breathe' (and, yes, 'Defying Gravity') as well as a catalogue of songs from musical greats like Elvis, Edie, Liza, Lennon, Aretha, Tina and a whole host of others.

Kyle Dean Massey (Next to Normal, Wicked) and Ciara Renee (Big Fish) assumed the roles of 'Pippin' and 'Leading Player' respectively in the Tony Award-winning musical Pippin last night, Tuesday, April 1, 2014. Matthew James Thomas and Tony Award winner Patina Miller gave their final performances on Sunday, March 30. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from their first curtain call!

Kyle Dean Massey (Next to Normal, Wicked) and Ciara Renee (Big Fish) assume the roles of 'Pippin' and 'Leading Player' respectively in the Tony Award-winning Pippin today, Tuesday, April 1, 2014. Matthew James Thomas and Tony Award winner Patina Miller gave their final performances on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at Massey and Renee in action!

Last night at New York City's Pierre Hotel, the National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) honored Tony and Emmy Award Winning singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth, and the Edgerton Foundation for their leadership in the arts at the NCTF 2014 Chairman's Awards Gala. The evening included a special performance by Tony Award Winner Jefferson Mays and Bryce Pinkham, stars of the current hit musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder; an excerpt from the highly acclaimed show Witness Uganda, currently at A.R.T. (an NCTF member theatre); and an appearance by legendary comedian Lily Tomlin, currently on tour with a solo show. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photo coverage below!

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director, presents the last production of its 2013/14 Season, THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus.

PNC Bank is the new title sponsor of Blumenthal Performing Arts' flagship series next season. The 2014-2015 blockbuster Broadway season is titled PNC Broadway Lights and is made possible with support from PNC Bank.

Tonight, March 29 at 8:00pm The FUDGE Theatre Company (Founding Artistic Director, Joey DeMita) will open their 13th Anniversary Season's Premiere Production of Steven Bergman & Christopher-Michael DiGrazia's musical interpretation of the London media frenzy that fueled the story of a series of five butchered prostitutes into a bonfire that is still burning today, one hundred and twenty six years later.

Live From Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series presents 2013 Tony Award winner Patina Miller's highly-anticipated concert tonight on PBS. Miller is both a fresh new face and a performer at the very top of her game. Her first concert special features music ranging from classic R&B to Broadway's best.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Kyle Dean Massey(Next to Normal, Wicked) and Ciara Renee (Big Fish) will assume the roles of 'Pippin' and 'Leading Player' (respectively) in the Tony-winning Pippin beginning Tuesday, April 1, 2014. Matthew James Thomas and Tony Award winner Patina Miller will play their final performance on Sunday, March 30, 2014. Below, BroadwayWorld bid adieu to the show's extraordinary leads, Miller and Thomas, with a flashback of their time spent with the production. Check out photos and videos from their Pippin journey below!

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a look ar opening night of LES MIS, a peek into a recent workshop led by Jonathan Gorff, coverage of of KING LEAR starring Michael Pennington, and more!

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were established hit makers when they teamed up to make a musical about cowboys and farmers. What follows was a miracle-Oklahoma!, then Carousel and South Pacific; the list of extraordinary hits goes on. On April 5, 6 and 7 get to know these legends even better at Getting to Know You: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lyrics & Lyricists first look at the two songwriters as a team. Guest artistic director, writer and host Ted Chapin, head of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, shares an insider's perspective on the pair, gleaned from his years with the Rodgers and Hammerstein families; joined by vocalists Lewis Cleale, Mandy Gonzalez, Jonathan Groff, Rebecca Luker, and Phillipa Soo.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: VIOLET and HEDWIG begin performances, and IF/THEN opens on Broadway!