Jack Viertel News

Emmy Award-nominated actor Dulé Hill will return to the stage in After Midnight, marking his first appearance in a musical since Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk. With his own unique song and dance style, Hill will serve as 'The Host' of the evening, leading the audience through the heat and glamour of the Harlem Renaissance using the words of Langston Hughes.

After Midnight will reintroduce this exciting tradition by presenting stars of today in limited engagement appearances throughout the musical's run. Grammy Award-winning recording artist Fantasia, who was last seen on Broadway in her stunning and universally praised star turn in The Color Purple, has been confirmed to kick off the excitement as the first such guest star in After Midnight.

After Midnight will reintroduce this exciting tradition by presenting stars of today in limited engagement appearances throughout the musical's run. Grammy Award-winning recording artist Fantasia, who was last seen on Broadway in her stunning and universally praised star turn in The Color Purple, has been confirmed to kick off the excitement as the first such guest star in After Midnight.

Scott Sanders Productions (lead producer) announced today that After Midnight (a new production of Cotton Club Parade, conceived by Jack Viertel, which played two smash-hit, sold-out engagements at City Center) will open on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W 47th Street) this fall. Director/choreographer Warren Carlyle and superstar fashion duo Isabel and Ruben Toledo will join nine-time Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars to bring the lavish shows of the hip Harlem nightclub to a whole new generation of theatergoers. After Midnight will begin preview performances on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013. Group tickets are now available. Casting, musicians and general on sale date will be announced shortly.

Actress and singer Fantasia Barrino announced on The Today Show her plans to join Broadway's Cotton Club Parade this fall. Barrino also just released her fourth studio album, 'Side Effects of You', which debuted at the top of the Billboard's R&B chart. Click below to hear what the American Idol winner had to say!

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran Executive Director) announced that subscriptions to the 2013-2014 season are now on sale. The season will include a revival of the longest-running Broadway musical revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe featuring the musical masterpieces of the legendary team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller; Stoneface, by Vanessa Claire Stewart and starring French Stewart ("3rd Rock From the Sun") which enjoyed a successful run at Sacred Fools Theatre Company this past summer and recently won five LA Weekly Theatre Awards; Above the Fold, a new drama by Bernard Weinraub, about the world of journalism in the digital age, which received a HOTHOUSE at The Playhouse staged reading in 2012; Noel Coward's rarely produced A Song at Twilight, directed by Art Manke, who recently directed The Playhouse's hit revival of Coward's Fallen Angels; and a theatrical surprise production that will be selected and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps, to be announced at a later date. Panto at The Playhouse returns with Lythgoe Family Productions' special musical twist on the classic Aladdin tale with Aladdin and His Winter Wish, which will be offered as a holiday season add-on. The 2013-2014 Season begins September 2013. All renewing subscribers will receive priority access to their current seat locations and new subscribers will receive the best available seats within requested sections.

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) have announced that Thembisile Gxuluwe from West Mifflin Area High School near Pittsburgh has won first place at the 5th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition held on Monday, May 6th at at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). Pablo Lopez from Los Angeles was the runner-up, and an honorable mention went to Branndin Phillips-Laramorefrom Chicago. The event, which was free and open to the public, featured high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

Christine Baranski, Kelli Barrett, Walter Bobbie, Jeremy Cohen, Dalton Harrod, Randy Skinner, Shonn Wiley, Karen Ziemba,New York City Ballet Principaldancer Joaquin De Luz and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Irina Dvorovenko will star in Rodgers and Hart's On Your Toes, the final Encores! presentation of the 2012-13 New York City Center season.

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) have announced that Thembisile Gxuluwe from West Mifflin Area High School near Pittsburgh has won first place at the 5th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition held on Monday, May 6th at at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). Pablo Lopez from Los Angeles was the runner-up, and an honorable mention went to Branndin Phillips-Laramorefrom Chicago. The event, which was free and open to the public, featured high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

Jujamcyn Theaters and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) have announced the 5th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition on Monday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). The event, which is free and open to the public, features high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, written by Christopher Durang, today won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award (NYDCC) for Best Play of the 2012-2013 season. Matilda received the award for Best Musical. The selections were made at the 78th annual voting meeting of the organization today at the offices of Time Out New York in Manhattan.

Jujamcyn Theaters (Jordan Roth, President) and True Colors Theatre Company (Kenny Leon, Co-Founding Artistic Director) have announced the judges for the 5th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition on Monday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). The event, which is free and open to the public, features high school students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh and Seattle performing monologues by the late, legendary American playwright.

Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis will collaborate on A BED AND A CHAIR: A New York Love Story, a new musical event featuring Sondheim's music arranged and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, announced Arlene Shuler, President & CEO of New York City Center. This Encores! Special Event, directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator John Doyle, and conceived by Peter Gethers, Jack Viertel and John Doyle, will run for seven performances, November 13 - 17 at City Center. City Center's annual Gala Benefit will take place on Thursday, November 14 and will include a post-performance dinner at the Plaza Hotel.

Christine Baranski, Kelli Barrett, Walter Bobbie, Jeremy Cohen, Dalton Harrod, Randy Skinner, Shonn Wiley, Karen Ziemba,New York City Ballet Principaldancer Joaquin De Luz and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Irina Dvorovenkowill star in Rodgers and Hart's On Your Toes, the final Encores! presentation of the 2012-13 New York City Center season. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, On Your Toes will have guest music direction by Encores! founding music director Rob Fisher and will play seven performances, from May 8 - 12 at New York City Center, W. 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). The "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" ballet, originally choreographed by George Balanchine, will be staged by Susan Pilarre, who served as a Ballet Mistress of the show's 1983 Broadway Revival.

According to the New York Times, Jack Viertel will soon write a book on 'why some shows succeed and others falter.' The book which will be released by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in winter 2016, is tentatively titled 'The Secret Life of the Broadway Musical: How Broadway Shows are Built.'