Donald Ward News

Bill Solly, accomplished composer, lyricist and author peacefully passed away in his home Wednesday, April 8th. Born in 1931 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Solly graduated from McMaster University in 1953 and pioneered the musical theatre division at the Banff School of Fine Arts in Alberta. Living in England for fifteen years, he wrote for many colorful celebrities and had five productions in the West End.

Pandora Productions opens its 2013-14 season on Thursday, September 12, with Boy Meets Boy, a high spirited musical homage to the romantic screwball comedies of the '30s. This story of love triangles, mistaken identities and fast-moving intrigue is set in London during the abdication of King Edward VIII for the notorious Mrs. Simpson. Reporter Casey O' Brien learns of preening groom Clarence who's been jilted at the altar by the mysterious 'English Rose' and becomes obsessed with finding this charming and good looking stranger but instead ends up with a very big surprise.

Pandora Productions kicks off its 2013-14 season in just nine days with Naked Boys Singing!, the needs-no-explanation (but we will: audiences are gonna LOVE IT) musical originally slated for Pandora's '12-'13 season but postponed due to casting issues. But that didn't dissuade us from making this most requested of all time production - a celebration of the male body yet much, much more - happen as the hottest kickoff ever to start the season.

Jermyn Street Theatre presents A UK Premiere of BOY MEETS BOY, A Musical Comedy, with Book by Bill Solly and Donald Ward; Music and lyrics by Bill Solly; Directed by Gene David Kirk; Musical Director, Stefan Bednarczyk; Choreographer, Lee Proud; Designer, Alice Walkling; and Lighting & Sound Design Phil Hewitt. Check out photos from the production inside!

Jermyn Street Theatre presents the UK premiere of the vintage off Broadway musical Boy Meets Boy. The line up comprises Stephen Ashfield, Craig Fletcher, Johnjo Flynn, Ben Kavanagh, Anna Nicholas and Benjamin Bailey, Carly Mackelvie, Gregory Sims, Biancha Szynal, Helen Turner, Jay Webb and ARon Wild.

Jermyn Street Theatre announces the cast for the UK premiere of the vintage off Broadway musical Boy Meets Boy. The line up comprises Stephen Ashfield, Craig Fletcher, Johnjo Flynn, Ben Kavanagh, Anna Nicholas and Benjamin Bailey, Carly Mackelvie, Gregory Sims, Biancha Szynal, Helen Turner, Jay Webb and Aron Wild.

Jermyn Street Theatre presents BOY MEETS BOY, a musical comedy with Music and Lyrics by Bill Solly and Book by Bill Solly and Donald Ward. The show will be directed by Gene David Kirk with musical director Stefan Bednarczyk, choreographer Lee Proud, designer Cherry Truluck and lighting designer Phil Hewitt. BOY MEETS BOY will play 21st November to 20th December with Press Night set for Tuesday, 27 November 2012 at 7.30pm.

Throughout 1936, the world's press and newsreels are abuzz with stories about the World's Most Eligible Bachelor; His Majesty King Edward VIII - By the Grace of God, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, Titular Ruler of one quarter of the world, the King-Emperor is the most eligible man of his day. Dashingly handsome, he is linked romantically to many; his final choice precipitates a constitutional crisis. Mrs Wallis Warfield Simpson, an American divorcee, succeeds where all others have failed. While the United States reels from the Great Depression, Continental Europe is shadowed by the menace of Hitler and the National Socialist party as the storm clouds gather for the maelstrom to come. Meanwhile, society London exists in the twilight of empire, a hedonistic ballroom where party-goers dance away the last years of peace.

Boy Meets Boy is a musical comedy which pays homage to the screwball romantic comedies of 1930s Hollywood, but with a twist. Co-presented by CAPA and Evolution Theatre Company (ETC), the off Broadway hit is being revived in Columbus with the help of the production's original writers, Bill Solly and Donald Ward.

Boy Meets Boy is a musical comedy which pays homage to the screwball romantic comedies of 1930s Hollywood, but with a twist. Co-presented by CAPA and Evolution Theatre Company (ETC), the off Broadway hit is being revived in Columbus with the help of the production's original writers, Bill Solly and Donald Ward.

Boy Meets Boy is a musical comedy which pays homage to the screwball romantic comedies of 1930s Hollywood, but with a twist. Co-presented by CAPA and Evolution Theatre Company (ETC), the off Broadway hit is being revived in Columbus with the help of the production's original writers, Bill Solly and Donald Ward.

The York Theater Company presents the Developmental Reading Series GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK BOOK BY MELBA THOMAS, MUSIC BY DAVID FRIEDMAN, LYRICS BY MURIEL ROBINSON Based on the wonderful short story by Grace Paley, set on Manhattan's lower east side during the era of the Yiddish theatre, Goodbye and Good Luck tells the story of Rosie Lieber, whose life is upended and set on a new track when she loses her job in a sweatshop because she wants to sit by a window. Her search for her 'window' leads to a job as cashier at a famous Second Avenue theatre and a livelong involvement with its charismatic and considerably older star. This is the story of an 'ordinary' girl who makes 'extraordinary' choices that lead to a life full of surprises, twists and turns.

On behalf of the Kleban Foundation, New Dramatists is pleased to announce that the 18th Annual Kleban Award for the most promising musical theater lyricist has gone to DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE.