James Gardiner News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'On Your Feet!' and 'City Of Angels' rake in the reviews, while Bette plays the UC. Kristin and Idina plan concerts here, outdoor movies light up the summer, and the 'Beautiful' tour and 'Charlie Brown' are slated for Christmas. By summer's end: 'The Boy From Oz,' 'Glory Days' and 'Triassic Parq!'

Men under the age of 25 are hardly the demographic for attending Broadway musicals, let alone writing one, but Nick Blaemire and James Gardiner did just that when their musical Glory Days ran on Broadway in May 2008.

Today in 2008, Glory Days opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where it ran for one performance. Glory Days is a musical with music and lyrics by Nick Blaemire and a book by James Gardiner about four high school friends reuniting a year after graduation. The musical premiered at the Signature Theatre, a professional regional theatre in Arlington, Virginia, from January 15 through February 17, 2008, where it was directed by Eric D. Schaeffer, the Artistic Director of the theatre, with musical staging by assistant director Matthew Gardiner. The producers cited 'low advance sales' in announcing the show's closing.

On the heels of Kander and Pierce's KID VICTORY comes Blaemire's SOON. Much like KID VICTORY, this premiere production is bit quirky, wholly original, daring, and seeks to advance our understanding of what we know musical theatre to be.

The Tony-winning Signature Theatre, which has been working for several years with Arlington County and its lenders to develop a sustainable operating model, has successfully reached a deal that will help the company continue to produce great work.

On October 20, 2014, Florence Lacey (Broadway's Follies, Evita and Signature's Sunset Boulevard), Megan Lawrence (Broadway's Hair and Signature's Cabaret), Jacquelyn Piro Donovan (Broadway's Les Miserables and Signature's The Witches of Eastwick), Natascia Diaz (Broadway's Man of La Mancha and Signature's The Threepenny Opera) and Nick Blaemire (Broadway's Godspell and Signature's Glory Days) performed alongside 75 Signature Theatre artists and an 18-piece orchestra as Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre celebrated its 25th Anniversary. With performances from 27 shows over the last 25 years, including Sweeney Todd, The Rhythm Club, Urinetown, The Boy Detective Fails, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Dreamgirls, Chess, and many more. Scroll down for photos!

Writer, director, and actor James Gardiner directs a short film musical WARNING: Take Only as Directed, presented by Adventure Theatre MTC.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Remembering Bernie Yvon and honoring Bebe Neuwirth. And the show goes on with Route 66's Alanis Morissette tribute, 'Cats' at the Paramount, Bailiwick's 'Wild Party' and BoHo's 'Parade,' music improv at MCL Chicago, the new Refuge Theatre Project, and Chicagoans on tour with 'Sister Act!'

The newly formed Refuge Theatre Project, a company dedicated to the performance of ensemble based musical theatre, has announced its first season of two musicals, both to be performed at the Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., in Wicker Park. The musicals,Next Thing You Know by Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham and Glory Days by James Gardiner and Nick Blaemire, will be previewed by Refuge ensemble members at a fund-raising concert to be held in The Cab at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont on Sunday, September 28th at 7 pm.

'We're opening doors, singing 'Here we are'!' So sing the three fast friends of Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, and that was the message of Washington-area (and Sondheim specialist) Signature Theatre to the overflowing crowd of thousands last weekend at their Open House celebrating the 25th Anniversary Season.

On Monday, August 18, the third annual Summer Hummer, a bawdy, naughty burlesque bonanza of more than 60 stars of the Washington stage, will again raise funds to benefit Taking Care of Our Own, a program of theatreWashington.

Today in 2008, Glory Days opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where it ran for one performance. Glory Days is a musical with music and lyrics by Nick Blaemire and a book by James Gardiner about four high school friends reuniting a year after graduation. The musical premiered at the Signature Theatre, a professional regional theatre in Arlington, Virginia, from January 15 through February 17, 2008, where it was directed by Eric D. Schaeffer, the Artistic Director of the theatre, with musical staging by assistant director Matthew Gardiner. The producers cited 'low advance sales' in announcing the show's closing.

Washington theatre celebrated its highest honors for achievement at the 30th Annual Helen Hayes Awards tonight, April 21, 2014 at the National Building Museum. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

This musical features bluegrass, gospel, country, and rock music. It's like the tomato sauce Prego...'It's all in there.'

The Ford's Theatre 2013-2014 season continues with the musical Violet, directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies), now through February 23, 2014. Violet features a dynamic score of bluegrass, gospel, country and rock music by four-time Tony Award-nominated composerJeanine Tesori (the recent Fun Home; Broadway's Caroline, or Change;Thoroughly Modern Millie; Shrek the Musical). The Ford's production stars a first-class Washington cast led by Erin Driscoll in the title role. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Tonight, a crowd of almost 200 theatre professionals, supporters, and members of the media gathered on the stage of the National Theatre to hear the names of the nominees for the 30th Annual Helen Hayes Awards.

Voting is now underway for Washington, DC! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Washington, DC! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

The Ford's Theatre 2013-2014 season continues with the musical Violet, directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun (Broadway'sNewsies), January 24-February 23, 2014. Violet features a dynamic score of bluegrass, gospel, country and rock music by four-time Tony Award-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori (the recent Fun Home; Broadway's Caroline, or Change;Thoroughly Modern Millie; Shrek the Musical). The Ford's production stars a first-class Washington cast led by Erin Driscoll in the title role.

Voting is now underway for Washington, DC! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.