Eric Schaeffer News

PS Classics is set to release the new cast recording for the revival of FOLLIES on November 29. To pre-order the double-disc album online at $14.95, visit www.psclassics.com. According to PS Classics.com, the album will feature 33-34 songs with some dialogue lead-ins, scenes, and speeches.

It's time to let your hair down and dance the night away! The 1960's are coming back to Washington as the Broadway sensation Hairspray will begin performances at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre on November 21st - just in time for the holidays. Directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, the production will star national radio host Robert Aubry Davis (WETA's 'Around Town' and Sirius/XM Radio), making his musical theater stage debut in the iconic role of Edna Turnblad. The impressive cast of DC favorites is headlined by Carolyn Cole (Tracy Turnblad), Nova Y. Payton (Motormouth Mable), Sherri L. Edelen (Velma Von Tussle), Patrick Thomas Cragin (Link Larkin), and Harry A. Winter (Wilbur Turnblad). Hairspray will play at Signature's MAX Theatre from November 21, 2011 through January 29, 2012. Tickets are now on sale.

The Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor esteemed stage actress Patti LuPone with the company's third Stephen Sondheim Award. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, will be presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit on April 16, 2012 at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer said, 'I am thrilled that Patti LuPone will be this year's recipient of the Stephen Sondheim Award. With her wonderful performances in Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Company, Passion, and more - she has had an amazing connection to Steve's words and music. It's wonderful to add her name to the distinguished honorees Angela Lansbury and Bernadette Peters. We look forward to saluting Patti and her extraordinary talents in April.'

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the hit musical now playing at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), will welcome Eric Stang to the role of Jerry Lee Lewis starting Monday, October 17.

For its 22nd season, Signature Theatre is celebrating their signature composer Stephen Sondheim by presenting his very first musical, Saturday Night (1953) as a concert event for four performances only on Saturday, October 29th (2pm and 8pm) and Sunday, October 30th (2pm and 7pm). This rarely performed hidden gem from America's foremost musical theater composer features a book by Julius and Philip Epstein, with music and lyrics - unperformed in full until 1997 - by Sondheim. This special limited engagement will be directed by Signature's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Side by Side by Sondheim, The Hollow) and the Music Director is Jon Kalbfleisch. Limited seating is still available, with single ticket prices at $41 each. Saturday Night will play in Signature's MAX Theatre.

Million Dollar Quartet, now in its third year, continues performances through December 31, 2011 as new cast members Brandon Bennett (Elvis Presley), Heather Marie Marsden (Dyanne) Brad Ber (Jay Perkins/Bass player) and Dan Leali (Fluke/Drummer) join Gabe Bowling (Carl Perkins), Lance Lipinsky (Jerry Lee Lewis), Sean Sullivan (Johnny Cash) and Tim Decker (Sam Phillips) for the hit show. The Tony-nominated musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together legendary rock ‘n' roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, celebrates its long run in Chicago, a multiple Tony-nominated New York run, a long-running London production and a national tour beginning in October 2011.

The national tour of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the Tony Award®-winning new musical inspired by the electrifying true story of four rock ‘n' roll icons will open the national tour at PlayhouseSquare October 11 through October 23 as a part of the KeyBank Broadway Series

Sweet Tea will play close in Signature's intimate ARK Theatre on October 9, 2011.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will play its final performance at London's Noël Coward Theatre on Saturday 14 January 2012 whilst producers make plans for a major tour of the UK and Ireland. The London production has already been seen by over 200,000 people, played over 250 performances and grossed in excess of £5 million at the Box Office since its West End premiere.

According to Whatsonstage.com, the West End production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will close on January 14, 2012. Since its West End premiere, on 28 February 2011, this 'feel-good crowd-pleaser' (The Times) has been seen by over 100,000 people and grossed in excess of £3 million at the Box Office.

Join the party! Tease it up. Throw on your best A-line and go-go boots...or that shagadelic wide tie - and put on your dancin' shoes. On Saturday, November 5th at 8:00pm, Signature Theatre will be transforming their theater into a Hairspray-style dance party with ‘The Big Hair Ball.'

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the hit musical now playing at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), announced today that Eric Stang will assume the role of Jerry Lee Lewis starting Monday, October 17.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announces the national tour of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the Tony Award®-winning new musical inspired by the true story of four rock 'n' roll icons will make its Pittsburgh premiere November 1-6, 2011, at the Benedum Center, as part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

Million Dollar Quartet's Victoria Matlock ('Dyanne') will be interviewed on WAMC radio's 'The Roundtable' tomorrow, Tuesday, October 4th at 11:10AM.

The Broadway cast of FOLLIES will be heading to the recording studio this week, and PS Classics is set to release the new cast recording for the revival on November 29. To pre-order the double-disc album online at $14.95, visit www.psclassics.com.

In a special limited engagement, Signature Theatre presents the world premiere musical A Second Chance, featuring a book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen. Directed by Jonathan Butterell (Signature's Giant), A Second Chance fuses jazz and musical theater stylings, with musical direction by Zak Sandler.

The Kennedy Center's critically acclaimed revival of James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece FOLLIES joined the million dollar club, grossing $1,122,778 million in the week ending September 25th. This is also the highest weekly gross for any Broadway musical production featuring both music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The production, which opened to rave reviews on September 12, 2011, is currently playing a limited engagement through January 22, 2012 at the Marquis Theatre.

The new musical A Letter to Harvey Milk, based on the short story by Lesléa Newman will enjoy an invite-only staged reading in New York on Monday, September 26 & Tuesday, September 27, 2011.

Performances began on Sunday, August 7th for James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's FOLLIES, directed by Eric Schaeffer, with choreography by Warren Carlyle and music direction by James Moore.