James Lapine News

Third Street Theatre has announced that its first production in L.A.'s newest 99-seat Equity Waiver house; their critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS' CHOICE, LA Weekly GO!, Backstage CRITIC'S PICK, Ovation Recommended!) smash-hit production of the Tony award-winning musical FALSETTOS, with book by James Lapine and William Finn, music and lyrics by William Finn, choreography by John Todd, musical direction by Greg Nabours and directed by Richard Israel is EXTENDING AGAIN - through Sunday, November 13 at the THIRD STREET THEATRE, 8115 W. Third Street in West Hollywood!

Two tremendous Tony-winning triple-threats make a grand return to the town that made them household names over thirty years ago in EVITA and set up show shop for two months - yes, Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin are back on Broadway with their new double-showcase concert spectacular, AN EVENING WITH PATTI LUPONE AND MANDY PATINKIN. In honor of these two theatrical heavyweights returning to the Broadway concert stage in this new special limited engagement beginning November 16, today we are shining a bright spotlight on some of Patti and Mandy's most beloved and most electrifying moments in their exceptional careers on stages and on screens large and small - EVITA being the white-hot beginnings of it all. EVITA opened on Broadway back in 1979 under the expert and assured direction of theatrical icon Hal Prince and went on to win 7 Tony Awards, including top honors for LuPone, Patinkin, Prince and the show's authors - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice (the latter of whom won two) - as well as Best Musical. So, with moments from LES MISERABLES, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, GYPSY, THE WILD PARTY and much, much more - in addition to some clips from their concert appearances of more recent vintage, such as when they both appeared in the thrilling SONDHEIM! THE BIRTHDAY CONCERT - today's countdown is sure to perfectly set the stage for the incredible virtuosity to be expected from these titanic talents come Wednesday's first preview (with the show itself running through the holidays until January 13) at the Ethel Barrymore Theater.

The New York Pops orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Steven Reineke, celebrates the holidays with swinging seasonal favorites on December 16 and 17, 2011 at 8:00pm. Reineke has been heralded by The New York Times as 'young and vigorous, with a playful attitude that has been a pops orchestral tradition since the heyday of Arthur Fiedler...a polished, welcoming host.' John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, the couple The New York Times called 'a musical match made in heaven,' will perform with the orchestra in a program featuring festive holiday tunes such as 'We Need a Little Christmas', 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year', 'Go Tell It On the Mountain', 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy', 'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm' and 'Little Bolero Boy'. Essential Voices USA, conducted by Judith Cluman, will also join The New York Pops in the festive concert at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

An impressive ensemble of Broadway leading men and women are traveling to Romania to perform A Medley of Sondheim, a concert presentation of Stephen Sondheim's iconic musical numbers, presented within the framework of the 4th edition of the International Festival for Musical Performing Arts 'Life is Beautiful.'

The annual Primary Stages November Night to Remember Gala, a fundraiser benefiting the extensive artistic development programs offered by the company, was just held at the Edison Ballroom, last night, November 9, 2011. Each year at their annual Gala, Primary Stages honors an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the American theater. This year's gala honored the writers, lyricists, and composers who have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The Honorary Committee of Pulitzer Prize Winners includes Edward Albee, David Auburn, Michael Cristofer, Nilo Cruz, Charles Fuller, Frank Gilroy, Sheldon Harnick, Beth Henley, Tom Kitt, James Lapine, Tracy Letts, David Lindsay-Abaire, Donald Margulies, Marsha Norman, Bruce Norris, Lynn Nottage, Robert Schenkkan, Stephen Sondheim, Alfred Uhry, Paula Vogel, Doug Wright, and Brian Yorkey.

Provincetown Counter Productions will present Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Award winning musical Into the Woods November 23-December 4. Performances will take place Wednesday, Friday-Sunday, November 23, 25-27 at 7pm with matinees at 3pm on Saturday and Sunday, November 26-27 and December 3-4. Susan Grilli directs and Casey Sanderson will provide musical direction. Tickets are priced $16-18 and are available by calling 508.413.1000 or www.counter-productions.org.

Westport Country Playhouse is hosting a Writing Challenge for area students, grades K - 8, in conjunction with its Family Festivities presentation of 'A Season of Miracles' in December, part of the 'Winter at the Playhouse' events.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 11/06 for Milan

Eclipse Theatre today announced the recipient of its Third Annual Corona Award: Erica Daniels, Associate Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company.

After debuting on Broadway in an all-time classic, the musical star has done three world premieres.

Announced earlier this week was news that Lin-Manuel Miranda will star as 'Charlie' in the upcoming Encores! production of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. Merrily has been extended for a two-week run, and will play for 15 performances, February 8-19, 2012 at New York City Center, 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Check out the just-released promo for the show below!

Pioneer, innovator and the voice of an entire new musical theatre generation coming in the dawning of the age of GLEE, Tony Award recipient and Grammy-winning composer, lyricist and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda has merged the worlds of the two most significant of original American art forms - musicals and rap - in such a striking and surprisingly inventive way with his hit musical IN THE HEIGHTS - currently touring the country - and is setting out to do the same with his fresh collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL composer Tom Kitt on their new musical BRING IT ON!, currently in previews out of town in Los Angeles as it eyes New York. In addition to discussing the development of IN THE HEIGHTS and BRING IT ON! in detail, Miranda and I also outline his experience working alongside the two modern-day masters of the musical theatre - Stephen Sondheim and the recently deceased Arthur Laurents - on the Spanish translation and new lyrics for the recent bilingual revival of WEST SIDE STORY - in addition to his forthcoming ALEXANDER HAMILTON project, which Miranda recently performed a medley from for President Obama himself at the White House Poetry Jam. As if all of that were not enough, we also delve into his thought process as he sets out to take on one of Sondheim's most challenging roles in all of musical theatre - that of Charley Kringas in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at Encores!, under the direction of James Lapine. Plus, news on his new feature film THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, as well as recollections of his fondest Broadway shows, scores, cast albums, movie musicals and general musical and theatrical inspirations - and his favorite Shakespeare plays, too - as well as much, much more!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Equity Jeff Awards, Sondheim comes to town, 'Gypsy' and 'The Sound Of Music,' stars of 'The Lawrence Welk Show,' Betty Buckley teaches and 'A Christmas Story' rehearses...and more!

Just announced is news that Lin-Manuel Miranda will star as 'Charlie' in the upcoming Encores! production of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. Merrily has been extended for a two-week run, and will play for 15 performances, February 8-19, 2012 at New York City Center, 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 10/30 for Milan

The Boston College Theatre Department will launch the 30th anniversary season of the University's Robsham Theater Arts Center with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's celebrated musical Into the Woods, which runs October 26-30 on the Robsham Mainstage. The production is directed by guest artist Paul Daigneault, producing artistic director of Boston's SpeakEasy Stage Company and the 2011-2012 Rev. J. Donald Monan S.J. Professor of Theatre Arts at Boston College.

The New York Pops orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Steven Reineke, celebrates the holidays with swinging seasonal favorites on December 16 and 17, 2011 at 8:00pm.

Human Animals presents the World Premiere of POST OFFICE- A new play by David Jenkins. The cast features Bobby Moreno, Anney Giobbe, Eric Hoffman.

The Boston College Theatre Department will launch the 30th anniversary season of the University's Robsham Theater Arts Center with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's celebrated musical Into the Woods, which runs October 26-30 on the Robsham Mainstage. The production is directed by guest artist Paul Daigneault, producing artistic director of Boston's SpeakEasy Stage Company and the 2011-2012 Rev. J. Donald Monan S.J. Professor of Theatre Arts at Boston College.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 10/23 for Milan