J.C. Montgomery News

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed has shifted its spring performance schedule. Instead of opening on April 21, 2016, the show will now open on April 28, with previews beginning on March 15.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, who will star next spring in Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, will take a break from the show next summer. An official show rep commented: 'Due to a pre-existing commitment, Audra McDonald will not appear in Shuffle Along from Tuesday, June 21 to Sunday, September 25, 2016.  Miss McDonald will return to Shuffle Along beginning Tuesday, September 27 and is currently contracted to stay with the production through  Sunday, June 11, 2017.'

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Saturday, September 12 for SHUFFLE ALONG Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, the striking new production that presents both the landmark 1921 musical itself, and additionally details the events that catalyzed the songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, and librettists F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles to create this ground-breaking work. 

NEW DRAMATISTS, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, just honored five-time Tony Award winning director/choreographer Susan Stroman with their 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 65th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute. Among the Stroman collaborators offering tributes was Theatre World Award winning actor Jason Danieley (Next to Normal, Curtains, The Full Monty, Candide) and New York City Ballet's Tiler Peck performing a selection from Little Dancer, Taylor Mac performing a selection from The Last Two People on Earth, Tony nominee Marin Mazzie performing from Bullets Over Broadway; and Contact collaborator John Weidman, Karen Ziemba performing a selection from Crazy For You, and cast members from The Scottsboro Boys: John Cullum, Brandon Victor Dixon, Shavey Brown, Max Kumangai, James T. Lane, Deandre Leatherbury, J.C. Montgomery, Justin Prescott, Clinton Roane, and David Bazemore. The event co-chairs are Letty Aronson, Roy Furman, and Julian Schlossberg.

NEW DRAMATISTS, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, just honored five-time Tony Award winning director/choreographer Susan Stroman with their 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 65th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute. Among the Stroman collaborators offering tributes was Theatre World Award winning actor Jason Danieley (Next to Normal, Curtains, The Full Monty, Candide) and New York City Ballet's Tiler Peck performing a selection from Little Dancer, Taylor Mac performing a selection from The Last Two People on Earth, Tony nominee Marin Mazzie performing from Bullets Over Broadway; and Contact collaborator John Weidman, Karen Ziemba performing a selection from Crazy For You, and cast members from The Scottsboro Boys: John Cullum, Brandon Victor Dixon, Shavey Brown, Max Kumangai, James T. Lane, Deandre Leatherbury, J.C. Montgomery, Justin Prescott, Clinton Roane, and David Bazemore. The event co-chairs are Letty Aronson, Roy Furman, and Julian Schlossberg.

NEW DRAMATISTS,Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, will honor five-time Tony Award winning director/choreographer Susan Stroman with their 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 65th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute. The sold out event will be held tomorrow, today, May 22 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Norbert Leo Butz, who is currently leading BIG FSH at the Neil Simon Theatre, will be out of the show tonight, October 10, due to illness. Butz revealed to BroadwayWolrd's Richard Ridge on Sunday's opening night that he was feeling 'under the weather.' Understudy Ben Crawford will step in for Butz in his absence.

In today's New York Times 'In Performance' video, Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz, who portrays Edward Bloom in the new Broadway musical BIG FISH, sings the number 'Fight the Dragons,' in which he shares his love of telling stories with his young son. Jim Hershman accompanies on guitar. Check it out here!

Directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Andrew Lippa, and a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August, BIG FISH begins performances on Broadway tonight, Thursday, September 5, 2013 and will open Sunday, October 6, 2013 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). A limited number of student rush tickets will be available when the box office opens (10am Monday through Saturday) for that day's performance(s). Tickets are $27 (inclusive of a $2 facility fee) and are only available in person at the Neil Simon box office. You must present a valid student ID. Limit two tickets per person.

Directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Contact, The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family), and a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August (Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Big Fish begins performances tonight, September 5, 2013 and will open Sunday, October 6, 2013 at the Neil Simon Theatre. Below, check out photos and highlights from the show's pre-Broadway run in Chicago!

Jimmy Buffett stopped by NBC's The Today Show this morning in support of his new album 'Songs from St. Nowhere.' Check out the segment below, featuring Buffet's performance of the song 'Too Drunk to Karaoke' - and a shout-out to the Broadway-bound BIG FISH, which he's producing!

On Twitter Watch, Big Fish wrote ' No one got me a fake @BigFishBroadway daffodil today. NOBODY LOVES ME (Which is the name of the show I'm seeing tonight, incidentally.) @mrtylermartins Enjoy the (awesome) show tonight! Take a peek in the planter near the theater entrance on your way out. #GiftsAreFun My suitors can no longer use flowers to woo me because a BROADWAY SHOW trumps all. Thanks, @BigFishBroadway! pic.twitter.com/9wN7021OFd Starring two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Catch Me If You Can) as Edward Bloom, Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin (Giant, Finian's Rainbow) as Sandra Bloom, Tony Award nominee Bobby Steggert (Giant, Ragtime) as Will Bloom, Krystal Joy Brown (Leap Of Faith) as Josephine Bloom, Anthony Pierini (Mary Poppins) and Zachary Unger (Chaplin) alternating as Young Will, and featuring Ryan Andes, Ben Crawford, J. C. Montgomery, Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar, Ciara Renee, Kirsten Scott and Sarrah Strimel, Big Fish has a cast of 27 that includes Preston Truman Boyd, Bree Branker, Alex Brightman, Joshua Buscher, Robin Campbell, Bryn Dowling, Jason Lee Garrett, Leah Hofmann, Synthia Link, Angie Schworer, Lara Seibert, Tally Sessions, Cary Tedder and Ashley Yeater. BIG FISH centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest... and then some! Edward's incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him - most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father's epic tales. Big Fish is about dreaming, loving and living bigger.'

Directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Contact, The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family), and a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August (Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), BIG FISH begins performances on Thursday, September 5, 2013 and will open Sunday, October 6, 2013 at the Neil Simon Theatre. The Neil Simon Theatre box office (250 West 52 Street) will open today, August 8, and Mr. Softee will be on hand to celebrate, handing out free ice cream outside the theatre from 1pm-4pm in honor of the special day.

Directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Contact, The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family), and a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August (Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), BIG FISH begins performances on Thursday, September 5, 2013 and will open Sunday, October 6, 2013 at the Neil Simon Theatre.

BIG FISH, a new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, just had its pre-Broadway world premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street) in a limited 5-week engagement beginning performances on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, opening Friday, April 19, 2013, and playing through today, May 5, 2013.

BIG FISH has its pre-Broadway world premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre in a limited 5-week engagement opening Friday, April 19, 2013, and playing through Sunday, May 5, 2013. Check out the photo below of cast stars with Jimmy Buffett and Frank Marshall!

BIG FISH, a new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, opened in Chicago on April 19 for its pre-Broadway world premiere in a limited 5-week engagement through May 5, 2013.

BIG FISH, a new musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, will have its pre-Broadway world premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street) in a limited 5-week engagement opening tonight, April 19, 2013, and playing through Sunday, May 5, 2013.

BIG FISH has its pre-Broadway world premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street) in a limited 5-week engagement opening Friday, April 19, 2013, and playing through Sunday, May 5, 2013. BroadwayWorld brings you just-released production shots below!