Doug Wright News

As previously reported, Julian Ovenden will star in a new musical version of the film Finding Neverland, which starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet and followed the the story of J.M. Barrie's inspiration for his famous children's book, Peter Pan.

Chairman of Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Producer and President of Disney Theatrical Productions, Thomas Schumacher announce two premiere productions of THE LITTLE MERMAID. The Holland production is currently in previews in Groningen and opens on June 16th, 2012 in Rotterdam. The Moscow production of THE LITTLE MERMAID will make its debut on October 6th, 2012.

When an auto dealership in Longview, TX launches an endurance contest, ten economically-strapped strangers embark on a journey that puts their hearts, minds and bodies to the test. Find out what the critics thought of the world premiere production below!

HANDS-ON-A-HARDBODY-Opens-at-La-Jolla-Playhouse-20010101 La Jolla Playhouse's world premiere of Hands on a Hardbody, starring Tony Award-nominees Keith Carradine, Hunter Foster and Mary Gordon Murray, as well as Allison Case and more, opens tonight, May 12, and runs through June 17, 2012 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. The commissioned musical has a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife, Creditors), lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity), music by Trey Anastasio (lead singer of the popular band Phish) and Amanda Green, with direction by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and musical staging by Benjamin Millepied (BLACK SWAN).

Stage Entertainment and Disney Theatrical Productions collaborated to create the European premiere of THE LITTLE MERMAID. Creative team includes director Glenn Casale (Beauty and the Beast) and set and costume design by five-time Tony® Award winner, Bob Crowley (Tarzan, Mary Poppins, Aida) who join composer Alan Menken, lyricist Glenn Slater and book writer Doug Wright.

Gulfshore Playhouse announced the final show that will complete their 2012-2013 season: "I Am My Own Wife", the Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Doug Hughes. The Playhouse will present this play that the New York Times called "both moving and intellectually absorbing" January 18-Feb 3, 2013, with a preview performance on January 17th.

To celebrate the centennial year of the Authors League, The Dramatists Guild of America unveils archived audio unheard by the public since its initial recording. Over the next year, In the Room will host some of the most celebrated playwrights, composers and lyricists in the American theatre discussing craft while sharing their influences and experiences creating some of their most celebrated work. Currently featured is a session with Tina Howe and Sarah Ruhl, originally recorded in 2007.

To celebrate the centennial year of the Authors League, The Dramatists Guild of America invites you to join us as we unveil archived audio unheard by the public since their initial recording. Over the next year, In the Room will host some of the most celebrated playwrights, composers and lyricists in the American theatre discussing craft while sharing their influences and experiences creating some of their most celebrated work. Currently featured is a session with Tina Howe and Sarah Ruhl, originally recorded in 2007.

Marc Straus in New York City will open its galleries May 5 - 6 to offer an early look at items featured in 'Paper Trails', a unique auction of manuscripts, sketches, notes and drafts from selected artists that will help support Yaddo's artists' residency program.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announces that digital-marketing pioneer and best-selling author Seth Godin will speak at the 22nd annual TCG National Conference in Boston from June 21 to 23, 2012. This multiday convening will bring 1,000 theater practitioners together from around the world to conclude TCG's year-long 50th anniversary celebration.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Tony nominees celebrate, Broadway sings Adele, the POPS turns 29, and so much more!

Stage Entertainment, in cooperation with Disney Theatrical Productions, will present the Dutch premiere of The Little Mermaid, which premiered on Broadway in 2007. After presenting Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, the Netherlands is the first country to scoop the European premiere of the Disney musical. Disney's The Little Mermaid opens on Saturday May 12, premiering at Martini Plaza in Groningen and then playing larger theaters in the Netherlands. Check out the trailer video below.

La Jolla Playhouse's Hands on a Hardbody will run through June 17, 2012 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. The world-premiere, commissioned musical has a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife, Creditors), lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity), music by Trey Anastasio (lead singer of the popular band Phish) and Amanda Green, with direction by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and musical staging by Benjamin Millepied (BLACK SWAN).

American Theatre magazine, published by Theatre Communications Group (TCG), has released its annual May/June international issue, featuring an in-depth exploration of Canadian theatre. The special section, "Northern Lights: Canadian Theatre Now," introduces readers to the diverse names and places at the forefront of Canadian theatremaking.

La Jolla Playhouse announces its first production of the 2012/13 season: the world-premiere musical Hands on a Hardbody, written by Pulitzer Prize winner and La Jolla Playhouse 2011 Gala Honoree Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife), Amanda Green (Bring It On: The Musical) and Trey Anastasio of the popular band Phish, with direction by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and choreography by Benjamin Millepied (BLACK SWAN), running tonight, April 27 through June 10, 2012 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Hennepin Theatre Trust presents the new theatrical event Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, running May 31-June 16, 2012 at the New Century Theatre. Showcasing funny, heartfelt "mini works" that celebrate the courage to be in a relationship-any relationship, Standing On Ceremony's smart and witty vignettes were penned by playwrights whose credits include two Pulitzer Prizes, four Obies, one Emmy and three Tony nominations. Wendy Knox of Frank Theatre will direct a stellar cast of six Twin Cities actors including Laura Adams, Shawn Hamilton Brown, Aimee K. Bryant, Jim Lichtscheidl and Mark Rhein, with one more actor to be announced soon. With this production, the Trust is working in cooperation with Minnesotans United for All Families, the official statewide campaign working to defeat the constitutional amendment that would exclude gays and lesbians from marriage in Minnesota.

Tonight, April 23, 2012, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at a gala honoring Kenny Leon, Judith O. Rubin, and The Shubert Foundation, at Espace (635 West 42nd Street between 11th and 12th avenues).

Artists Rep will add a short run of Standing On Ceremony to their 11/12 Season with eight performances of plays. This run is a follow up to a one-night event last November where over 30 theatre companies internationally presented the plays in solidarity to increase public awareness about marriage equality. Enthusiastic audiences from that event encouraged Artists Rep to bring the show back. Performances will be offered April 6 through April 21.

La Jolla Playhouse's Hands on a Hardbody will run April 27 - June 17, 2012 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. The world-premiere, commissioned musical has a book by Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife, Creditors), lyrics by Amanda Green (High Fidelity), music by Trey Anastasio (lead singer of the popular band Phish) and Amanda Green, with direction by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow) and musical staging by Benjamin Millepied (BLACK SWAN). Hear from the creative team in the video below!