Jack Lechner News

Addition casting and news on The New Group's upcoming production of the musical The Kid has been released.

The New York Times is reporting that Shrek vet Christopher Sieber will star as sex columnist Dan Savage in The New Group's production of The Kid, a new musical based on Dan Savage's book The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant. The production will run as the the third show of The New Group's 2009 - 2010 season, however, no exact production dates have been announced. Additional cast and creative team announcements are also forthcoming.

The New Group is proud to present Conceiving The Kid: Adapting A Book Into A Musical as the next offering in its Sunday evening Dark Nights Series. This one-night-only special event takes place Sunday, November 8 at 8:00 PM.

The New Group is proud to present Conceiving The Kid: Adapting A Book Into A Musical as the next offering in its Sunday evening Dark Nights Series. This one-night-only special event takes place Sunday, November 8 at 8:00 PM.

The New Group's upcoming reading of The Kid, a new musical based on Dan Savage's book The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant (slated as the third show of the company's current 2009-10 season).

The BMI Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to encouraging musical development, presented the 2009 Jerry Bock Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre to lyricist Jack Lechner, composer Andy Monroe and librettist Michael Zam at a luncheon held at the BMI offices.

The New Group, currently represented Off-Broadway by Ian Bruce's play Groundswell, is pleased to announce its upcoming 2009-2010 season. Leading next season with previews beginning in October 2009 is the world premiere of The Starry Messenger by Kenneth Lonergan, featuring Matthew Broderick. The season continues with a major revival of A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard, directed by Ethan Hawke (previews begin January 2010).

The BMI Foundation, Inc. is proud to announce the publication of 'The BMI Workshop Songbook,' a piano/vocal folio featuring 20 new, never-before released songs written by members and alumni of the Tony-honored BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, including Robert Lopez (Avenue Q), Maury Yeston (Nine), Tom Kitt (Next To Normal), Michael John LaChiusa (The Wild Party, Giant), and many more. The songs were chosen for their appeal and usefulness for singers searching for fresh audition, cabaret, and concert material. In addition, Broadway's best and brightest performers, including Christine Ebersole, Neil Patrick Harris and Cheyenne Jackson, can be heard singing each featured title in the songbook on 'The BMI Workshop Songbook Podcast' at www.bmi.com/podcasts/songbook. The songbook is priced at $19.99, and can be purchased at the aforementioned website and Colony Music Center (1619 Broadway NYC).

BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces the biannual Showcase of new songs from Workshop writers.

The 2006 Tony-honored BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Winter Smoker, a semiannual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers.