Independent Presenters Network News

The Independent Presenters Network is delighted to announce that casting for the 2014 national tour of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT is complete. Directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler, the new tour will launch at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH, on March 4, 2014.

The producers of the Tony Award winning PIPPIN just announced that Kyle Dean Massey (Next to Normal, Wicked) and Ciara Renee (Big Fish) will assume the roles of "Pippin" and "Leading Player" (respectively) in the production beginning Tuesday, April 1, 2014. Matthew James Thomas and Tony Award winner Patina Miller will play their final performance on Sunday, March 30, 2014. PIPPIN is now playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller, opened last night, February 20, 2014, at 8:00 PM at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Four-time Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara reunites with Bartlett Sher, the Tony- winning director of South Pacific and The Light in the Piazza, for a stunning new musical by the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning team of Marsha Norman and Jason Robert Brown. O'Hara is joined onstage by Steven Pasquale('Rescue Me', reasons to be pretty). BroadwayWorld was backstage with the cast last night and you can check out the opening night cake below!

The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller, opens tonight, February 20, 2014, at 8:00 PM at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Robert James Waller, author of the novel on which the musical is based, visited the show last night and was invited up on stage at the end of the performance. Below, check out photos from the special curtain call and check back tonight for a full review roundup!

The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller, opens tonight, February 20, 2014, at 8:00 PM at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street).

Richard (Rich) Baker, President of Fox Associates in St. Louis, will take the helm as President and Chief Executive Officer of Starlight Theatre Association beginning in March. Baker will oversee all of Starlight's operations and programming including the not-for-profit's Broadway and Concert series, extensive education programs, and all development activities for the 64 year-old performing arts organization.

Pittsburgh CLO presents the WORLD PREMIERE of the hysterical original musical comedy Judge Jackie Justice, which will run tonight, January 31 through April 27 at the CLO Cabaret.

The Independent Presenters Network has announced that casting for the 2014 national tour of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT is complete. Directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler, the new tour will launch at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH, on March 4, 2014.

Original KINKY BOOTS cast member and two-time Tony nominee Stark Sands gives his final performance in the Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, and Jerry Mitchell's Broadway hit, today, Jan. 26. Sands will be suceeded by Andy Kelso as 'Charlie Price' on Jan. 28.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) has announced that the first North American tour of the new stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz will play March 4 - 16 at Hobby Center's Sarofim Hall. Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy and her little dog Toto, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their hearts' desires. Watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West and her winged monkeys as you rediscover the real story of Oz in this fantastic musical treat for the whole family.

Producers of The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning team of Marsha Norman ('night Mother, The Color Purple) and Jason Robert Brown (The Last Fie Years, Parade), are pleased to announce a general rush.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that individual tickets for JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT go on-sale Friday, January 17, 2014 at 10:00 AM. JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT will play Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) March 18 - 30, 2014.

Des Moines Performing Arts today announced that Jeff Chelesvig, the organization's president and CEO, was re-elected to The Broadway League's Board of Governors and Executive Committee. In both appointments, Chelesvig will help The Broadway League achieve its mission to foster increased interest in Broadway, as well as support the creation of profitable theatrical productions.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) announced today that St. Luke's Health System (SLHS) will serve as the 2014-2015 season sponsor. When TUTS' 47th season begins in September 2014, it will mark the sixth consecutive year for St. Luke's as the season sponsor.

Producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig have announced new leads for their smash hit musical Kinky Boots; Andy Kelso, who currently plays 'Harry', will take over the role of 'Charlie Price' on January 28, 2014 following Stark Sands' January 26 departure. Jeanna de Waal will join the cast as 'Lauren,' beginning March 4, 2014 (replacing Annaleigh Ashford, who leaves to join the cast of Showtime's 'Masters of Sex'), and Jake Odmark joins the ensemble in the roles previously played by Andy Kelso. As previously announced, Billy Porter, this year's Tony Award-winner for Best Actor in a Musical, will remain with Kinky Boots.

The Bridges of Madison County begins previews on Friday, January 17, 2014 and opens on Thursday, February 20, 2014, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). The complete casting includes Kelli O'Hara as Francesca Johnson, Steven Pasquale as Robert Kincaid, Hunter Foster as Bud Johnson, Cass Morgan as Marge, Michael X. Martin as Charlie, Caitlin Kinnunen as Carolyn,Derek Klena as Michael, as well as Whitney Bashor, Jennifer Allen, Ephie Aardema, Katie Klaus,Luke Markinovich, Aaron Ramey, Dan Sharkey, Tim Wright, Jessica Vosk, Charlie Franklin, andKevin Kern. The cast is currently in rehearsal, and they sent a special holiday message to fans in the video below!

A pair of tickets to the Broadway transfer of 'The Bridges of Madison County,' a new musical by the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning team of Marsha Norman ('The Secret Garden') and Jason Robert Brown ('The Last Five Years'), opening at Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Thursday, February 20, will be up for bid--via a silent auction--tonight at New York-based advertising and media agencies' fundraiser for typhoon Haiyan victims at the International Center of Photography (43rd Street and Sixth Avenue) from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

The company recently met the press to perform select numbers from the new musical. Below, we bring you the full performance of 'Before and After You,' as performed by Steven Pasquale and Kelli O'Hara.

The company recently met the press to perform select numbers from the new musical. Below, we bring you the full performance of 'Another Life,' as performed by Whitney Bashor and the rest of the cast!

The company recently met the press to perform select numbers from the new musical. Below, we bring you the full performance of 'You're Never Alone,' as performed by Hunter Foster and the rest of the cast!