Goodspeed Opera House News

The Harbor Lights Theater Company, led by Executive Artistic Director Tamara Jenkins and Associate Artistic Director Jay Montgomery, is presenting It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, by Joe Landry, for the holiday season.

It's back - the funny, smart, and irreverent musical Nerds! Philadelphia Theatre Company revisits the musical satire Nerds with book and lyrics by Jordan Allen-Dutton and Erik Weiner, music by Hal Goldberg, and a brand new cast and creative team. Directed by Casey Hushion with choreography by Joshua Bergasse, the ensemble features Stanley Bahorek, Matt Bradley, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Benny Elledge, Lexy Fridell, Raymond J. Lee, Alyse Alan Louis, Robert Morrison, Kevin Pariseau, Catherine Ricafort, and Blake Segal.

This winter The 5th Avenue Theatre presents a singing and dancing spectacular not to be missed: Lionel Bart's beloved classic, Oliver!, the holiday treat that will have audiences saying "Please sir, I want some more." The iconic musical returns to the celebrated 5th Avenue stage for the first time in 20 years, and will feature stunning costumes, dazzling sets, and a massive local cast of 66 (including 36 youngsters), singing and dancing their way through the streets and alleys of Victorian London. Based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver! is filled with memorable tunes including "Who Will Buy?", "I'd Do Anything," and "As Long As He Needs Me." Oliver! features direction by David Armstrong and will starDavid Pichette as Fagin, Grayson Smith as the Artful Dodger, Hans Altwies as Bill Sikes, and Merideth Kaye Clark as Nancy. Oliver Twist will be played by Jack Fleischmann and Mark Jeffrey James Weber at alternating performances.

On December 19 and 20, 2013 at 8:00 PM, The New York Pops will present an evening full of holiday cheer at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage with Ashley Brown and Essential Voices USA. Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke - described by The New York Times as a "polished, welcoming host" who is "young and vigorous, with a playful attitude" - will lead the orchestra and guest artist Ashley Brown in a festive concert featuring traditional favorites and new holiday hits.

White Plains Performing Arts Center will host its star-studded 10th Anniversary Gala tonight, November 2nd, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Join these outstanding artists of stage and screen in an intimate venue for an unforgettable evening of your favorite theatrical moments from WPPAC's past productions and a sample of the upcoming season.

We have no tricks, but definitely a treat for you this week: a song from Sean Mahoney and Creighton Irons' musical Factory Girls! Brooke Sunny Moriber is on lead vocals, while Alison Cusano, Kate Ferber and Molly Hager sing backup in this video loaded with girl power from our CEC concert at the Canal Room.

White Plains Performing Arts Center will host its star-studded 10th Anniversary Gala on November 2nd, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Join these outstanding artists of stage and screen in an intimate venue for an unforgettable evening of your favorite theatrical moments from WPPAC's past productions and a sample of the upcoming season.

Goodspeed Musicals has put together an incredible cast for Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook a heartwarming, multi-decade musical about the tribulations and triumphs of love featuring Stephen Schwartz's beloved songs from his most popular Broadway musicals including Pippin, Wicked and Godspell. This captivating new work conceived by Michael Scheman and book writer David Stern will run now through November 17 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. ­- Goodspeed's home for developing fresh, innovative, and original new musicals. Below, check out photos from the opening night party!

Tickets are now on sale for the fourth annual 'A Swinging Birdland Christmas' celebration at Birdland Jazz Club. To celebrate the holidays, Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch will perform swinging arrangements of beloved seasonal specials like 'Christmas Waltz,' Kay Thompson's 'Holiday Season,' 'Sleigh Ride,' and 'I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm' among other favorites. The singers will be joined by Steve Doyle on bass and Carmen Intorre on drums.

Bay Street Theatre has announced that Scott Schwartz, a leading voice of the next generation of American theater, has joined Bay Street as its new Artistic Director. Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane hosted the welcome party at a private club in New York City to celebrate his arrival and to introduce him to Bay Street Theatre patrons and members of the Broadway community of actors, directors and producers. Scroll down for photos!

Goodspeed Musicals transports audiences to beautiful Napa Valley with its production of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella. This all-new production of the beloved musical that Goodspeed sent to Broadway in 1991 will run through December 1 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the production below!

Goodspeed Musicals will be holding auditions for instrumentalists on Saturday, November 23rd at the McMillian Rehearsal Studio, in East Haddam, CT. The goal of these auditions is to develop more depth for the Norma Terris Theatre pit. Appointments are being made for bass, guitar, percussion, reed doublers (flute, clarinet & saxophones), trumpet, trombone, violin, cello, French horn and harp players.

Just last week, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. Meet the cast below!

Bay Street Theatre has announced that Scott Schwartz, a leading voice of the next generation of American theater, has joined Bay Street as its new Artistic Director. A special welcome party was hosted last evening by Bonnie Comley and Stewart Lane at a private club in New York City to celebrate his arrival and to introduce him to Bay Street Theatre patrons and members of the Broadway community of actors, directors and producers. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Experience the passion of Paris as Louise Pitre marks the 50th anniversary of the passing of legendary French chanteuse, Edith Piaf, with an evening of songs from France's favorite composers, at The Cabaret at the Columbia Club, October 11 & 12, 2013.

Goodspeed Musicals has put together an incredible cast for Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook a heartwarming, multi-decade musical about the tribulations and triumphs of love featuringStephen Schwartz's beloved songs from his most popular Broadway musicals including Pippin, Wicked and Godspell. This captivating new work conceived by Michael Scheman and book writer David Stern will run fromOctober 24 to November 17 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. ­- Goodspeed's home for developing fresh, innovative, and original new musicals. Snapshots is sponsored by Essex Savings Bank. Below, check out photos from the cast's first read through as featured on Goodspeed's Facebook page.

Join Pleasant Valley Productions for a celebration of two of the greatest musical theatre composers of all time, Stephen Sondheim and Stephen Schwartz. This special evening will feature Broadway and Paper Mill Playhouse star; West Orange native, Kelli Rabke Agresta, with additional performances by Alexander Diaz, Marcelo Leal, Uton Onyejekwe, Ashley Retamar, Laura Rondinella, Christina Ryan, and Todd Shumpert.

Producers Whoopi Goldberg, Stage Entertainment and Troika Entertainment have announced that the North American Tour of the five-time Tony Award nominated musical SISTER ACT will begin its second year of performances. The tour opened on October 2, 2012 at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre and is still rocking the rafters across the country. SISTER ACT opened to stellar reviews and continues to receive them across the country.

A special open captioned performance of Miss Saigon has been announced for tonight at 7:30 pm. Seats are being held in an area of the main floor for this performance for those who are in need of this service. Tickets for this reserved section may be purchase in person at the Fisher Theatre Box Office or by phone at 313-872-1000, ext. 0.