James Lapine News

Hailed by New York Times as a "classically trained diva who can stretch from Broadway pop-soul to Opera", N'Kenge was recently seen in the Broadway Musical "Sondheim on Sondheim" as the standby for Vanessa Williams, Leslie Kritzer and Erin Mackey which was directed by James Lapine at the Roundabout Theater's Studio 54.

As part of its 2010-11 mainstage season, HERE proudly presents Soul Leaves Her Body, by filmmaker and video artist Peter Flaherty and dance theater artist Jennie MaryTai Liu.

New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT), which has supported the advancement of women in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years, will present their 30th annual Muse Awards at a gala luncheon to be held Wednesday, December 8th at the New York Hilton.

Today we are taking a look at one of the most exciting DVD/Blu-Ray releases of the year - perhaps ever, at least as far as Broadway connoisseurs are concerned. Taped back in mid-March of this year, a week before the actual central celebratory event itself occurred, comes SONDHEIM! The Birthday Concert, which will also be shown next Wednesday on PBS as part of this season's sensational series of GREAT PERFORMANCES at 9 PM on WNET in New York and across the country. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that has been ever-so-lovingly rendered on disc in high definition preserving a heavenly host of the very best Broadway talent one could ever possibly ask to be assembled. SONDHEIM! has it all.

This weekend I spoke to multi-Academy Award-winning composer and Broadway tunesmith Alan Menken about everything from his early stage work with lyricist and director Howard Ashman on LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS to their tenure virtually re-inventing the movie musical with their string of stirring scores for Disney animated films starting with THE LITTLE MERMAID in 1989, through to BEAUTY & THE BEAST, ALADDIN and, following Ashman's death, working with Stephen Schwartz on THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, POCAHANTAS and, most recently, ENCHANTED. Menken has also participated in adapting almost all of those projects to the stage in the intervening years, oftentimes composing several new songs. His newest stage projects to reach Broadway will be this season's SISTER ACT and the recent out of town tryout eyeing Broadway, LEAP OF FAITH. In this exciting conversation, we touch upon nearly all of these projects, plus discuss casting possibilities for his new Broadway shows and the projects on the horizon - among them, stage adaptations of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, NEWSIES and ALADDIN - and, at some point soon, ENCHANTED 2! Plus, will Angela Lansbury reunite with her BEAUTY & THE BEAST Academy Award-garnering collaborator to do SISTER ACT on Broadway? Over the course of our discussion, the Mouse Maestro - this melodic mastermind known as Menken - proved himself to be as easily enjoyable and affably likeable as his many multi-award-winning melodies for those marvelous film and stage musicals - for many of us born in the eighties, our very first introduction to musical theatre.

Clubbed Thumb (Maria Striar, Producing Artistic Director; Diana Maxine Konopka, Associate Director) and Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) today announced the launch of SuperLab, an innovative new play development program. A series of collaboratively curated play laboratories, SuperLab will support the creation of bold, risk-taking new works by living American playwrights. Supported by funds granted to Clubbed Thumb by Metlife/Theatre Communications Group's A-ha! Program, created to foster creative thinking and action among its member theaters, these two like-minded companies will join forces to produce a six-play development lab. Clubbed Thumb and Playwrights Horizons, who share a commitment to advancing distinctive new voices, will bridge a gap between downtown and uptown theater sensibilities, methodologies and artist rosters, expanding the range of experience and opportunity for all.

Clubbed Thumb (Maria Striar, Producing Artistic Director; Diana Maxine Konopka, Associate Director) and Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) today announced the launch of SuperLab, an innovative new play development program. A series of collaboratively curated play laboratories, SuperLab will support the creation of bold, risk-taking new works by living American playwrights. Supported by funds granted to Clubbed Thumb by Metlife/Theatre Communications Group's A-ha! Program, created to foster creative thinking and action among its member theaters, these two like- minded companies will join forces to produce a six-play development lab. Clubbed Thumb and Playwrights Horizons, who share a commitment to advancing distinctive new voices, will bridge a gap between downtown and uptown theater sensibilities, methodologies and artist rosters, expanding the range of experience and opportunity for all.

Philadelphia Theatre Company spells F-U-N when it opens its 35th Anniversary mainstage season with the multiple Tony Award winner The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, and conceived by Rebecca Feldman, running November 12-December 12 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

As part of its 2010-11 mainstage season, HERE proudly presents Soul Leaves Her Body, by filmmaker and video artist Peter Flaherty and dance theater artist Jennie MaryTai Liu.

As part of its 2010-11 mainstage season, HERE proudly presents Soul Leaves Her Body, by filmmaker and video artist Peter Flaherty and dance theater artist Jennie MaryTai Liu.

Today we are talking to one of the brightest stars in all of Oz - Australia, that is - the dashing leading man and internationally renowned solo recording artist David Campbell! In this enthusiastic and ingratiating interview, Campbell talks about his life on the stage - having starred in SUNSET BOULEVARD, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, URINETOWN, SHOUT! and many hit musicals in his homeland - as well his extensive recording and concert tour career, with a special focus on this week's US release of his stellar show tune album ON BROADWAY which features the world premiere recording of one of the best Broadway eleven o'clock numbers of the last twenty years - maybe ever - coming from the forthcoming Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman score for CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (which opens on Broadway near the end of this season). Plus, he addresses the rumors of taking on the role of The Phantom in the Australian premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's LOVE NEVER DIES and gives us an update on his upcoming US concert appearances. Check out our chat, then be sure to pick up ON BROADWAY which is in stores and on iTunes now! He may sing 'Goodbye' like nobody‘s business, but we are just saying hello to the charismatic David Campbell.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, November 2, ETAI BENSHLOMO will assume the role of Boq and TOM FLYNN will assume the role of Dr. Dillamond in the musical blockbuster WICKED.

Into The Woods- A Barn Junior production…for 7th - 12th grade students. Featuring high school and middle school from around the Kansas City Metro area. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim

Acclaimed theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced the initial line-up of performers participating in the popular return of its unique benefit event STORIES ON 5 STORIES on Monday evening, November 1.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Tracy Aron, announced that two time Tony® Award-winner Donna Murphy will star in the new Broadway musical THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, directed by Leonard Foglia. THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE features book & lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.

Today, we are talking to the international TV icon herself - most recently having conquered Sirius satellite radio - the incomparable comedienne, actress, activist, filmmaker, producer, writer and stage performer Rosie O'Donnell. In this BWW WORLD EXCLUSIVE InDepth InterView we discuss her upcoming comedy show at Town Hall as part of the New York Comedy Festival coming up this Friday, November 4th, as well as the first news about her new daytime hour-long television discussion show on Oprah's OWN Network beginning in September of next year, plus plans for a New York art gallery showing of her art in 2011 and hopes to return to Broadway in James Lapine's thirtieth anniversary revival of the beloved musical ANNIE - making a girlhood dream come true. All this, and a top-to-bottom discussion of all things Broadway - from Rosie's Theater Kids and their self-written musical MY LIFE that just premiered at NYMF, to her own favorite shows, songs, scores, divas and Broadway performance highlights from her own talk show, to TABOO and her theories on what makes Broadway an American institution. Plus, the first news of her role on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM Season Eight! Over the course of our engaging and enlivening conversation Rosie proved she is the Queen of Nice in addition to being that unparalleled queen of Broadway patronage. See why - and much, much more - here.

Today, we are talking to the international TV icon herself - most recently having conquered Sirius satellite radio - the incomparable comedienne, actress, activist, filmmaker, producer, writer and stage performer Rosie O'Donnell. In this BWW WORLD EXCLUSIVE InDepth InterView we discuss her upcoming comedy show at Town Hall as part of the New York Comedy Festival coming up this Friday, November 4th, as well as the first news about her new daytime hour-long television discussion show on Oprah's OWN Network beginning in September of next year, plus plans for a New York art gallery showing of her art in 2011 and hopes to return to Broadway in James Lapine's thirtieth anniversary revival of the beloved musical ANNIE - making a girlhood dream come true. All this, and a top-to-bottom discussion of all things Broadway - from Rosie's Theater Kids and their self-written musical MY LIFE that just premiered at NYMF, to her own favorite shows, songs, scores, divas and Broadway performance highlights from her own talk show, to TABOO and her theories on what makes Broadway an American institution. Plus, the first news of her role on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM Season Eight! Over the course of our engaging and enlivening conversation Rosie proved she is the Queen of Nice in addition to being that unparalleled queen of Broadway patronage. See why - and much, much more - here.

To help celebrate its 10th Anniversary, New Village Arts Theatre is producing its first musical. Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's INTO THE WOODS is one of the most cherished musicals of our generation, and the production will be led by one of the hottest directors in San Diego, James Vasquez.

New Village Arts, Carlsbad's award-winning, professional theatre is very proud to announce its Tenth Season. This will be NVA's biggest season ever, with eight full productions, NVA's first musical and two local premieres. Over the past nine seasons, NVA has established itself as one of the most important mid-sized theatres in San Diego, producing over 40 highly acclaimed productions, including a world-premiere holiday show, multiple regional and local premieres, unforgettable American and world classics, the intense work of Sam Shepard and the popular FREE Shakespeare in the Park. New Village Arts honors that history in Season 10 and introduces some exciting new traditions for North County, by selecting shows that honor the history of the company, recognize the amazing current growth and give an intriguing glimpse into the future. All of the plays take us on an adventure - into growing up, learning about love and loss and celebrating the power of the human soul.

Into The Woods- A Barn Junior production…for 7th - 12th grade students. Featuring high school and middle school from around the Kansas City Metro area. Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim