Jennifer Damiano News

Today's edition of 'SPIDER-MAN Swings Off Broadway' focuses on the show's beginnings, recalling Spidey's journey from its inception in April 2007, until previews began at the Foxwoods Theater on November 28, 2010. For over three years, rumors circulated about the comic book hero's trip to Broadway, and after a major cast shuffle and a few initial production delays, the first version of the musical at last performed for Broadway audiences.

Janine Sobeck, dramaturg for Utah Repertory Theater's upcoming production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's CAROUSEL, has a number of impressive credits to her name, including working on the pre-Broadway engagement of NEXT TO NORMAL at Arena Stage. She graciously spoke with BroadwayWorld to discuss her career and share her insights about CAROUSEL.

The Public Theater's new Public Lab musical VENICE, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock, directed by Eric Rosen, will end its extended run today, June 30th, 2013. Venice began performances on May 28th and was originally scheduled to close on June 23rd. Broadwayworld brings takes you through VENICE's journey off-Broadway below!

The argument for using the pop music method of 'slant rhyming' (frowned on by musical theatre lyricists as 'false rhyming' or using 'sound-a-likes') is that by not limiting lyricists to using perfect rhymes it greatly expands the number of ideas that can be expressed.  If that's so, the number of slant rhymes used in Venice, the new hip-hop/rock musical riff on Shakespeare's Othello, could potentially contain enough ideas to fill up a First Folio.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Broadway celebrates its biggest night, the Public brings back PENZANCE, CINDERELLA gets a cast album and so much more!

?Let's see what the critics had to say...

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) recently announced a one week extension today for the new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice began performances on Tuesday, May 28 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, June 23. It will now run an additional week through Sunday, June 30. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

The Public Theater presents the new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, and additional music by Curtis Moore. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice will run in The Public's Anspacher Theater through Sunday, June 23, with an official press opening tonight, June 13.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) recently announced a one week extension today for the new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice began performances on Tuesday, May 28 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, June 23. It will now run an additional week through Sunday, June 30. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of te cast in action below!

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced a one week extension today for the new Public Lab musical VENICE, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, VENICE began performances on Tuesday, May 28 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, June 23. It will now run an additional week through Sunday, June 30.

The Public Theater's new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, and additional music by Curtis Moore begins performances today. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice will run in The Public's Anspacher Theater beginning on Tuesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 23, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 13.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin previews for the new Public Lab musical VENICE, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, VENICE will run through Sunday, June 23 in The Public's Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 13.

On Monday, May 13 Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for Theatre honored Ruth and Stephen Hendel and Ming Cho Lee at their Gala Evening. The evening was held at the Angel Orensanz Foundation (172 Norfolk Street) in New York City, cocktails started at 6pm and dinner started at 7pm. Jessica Hecht was the emcee of the evening; the Gala co-chairs were playwright Lydia R. Diamond and interior designer Jasmine M. Keller. The Gala honorary chairs were Anne Kaufman, Obie award-winning director; Nelle Nugent, Broadway producer; Judith O. Rubin, chairman of the board of Playwrights Horizons; and Liz Smith, gossip columnist. The event hosted 200 guests and surpassed its financial goal. Scroll down for photos from the gala!

The Public Theater will present the new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice will run Tuesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 23 in The Public's Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 13. BroadwayWorld visited the cast and creative team in rehearsal and you can catch a performance preview and a special interview with Claybourne Elder, who plays 'Michael Victor', below!

The Public Theater will present the new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice will run Tuesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 23 in The Public's Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 13. BroadwayWorld visited the cast and creative team in rehearsal and you can catch a performance preview and a special interview with Haaz Sleiman, who plays 'Venice Monroe', below!

The Public Theater will present the new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice will run Tuesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 23 in The Public's Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 13. BroadwayWorld visited the cast and creative team in rehearsal and you can catch a performance preview and a special interview with Jennifer Damiano, who plays 'Willow Turner', below!

The Public Theater will present the new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice will run Tuesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 23 in The Public's Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 13. BroadwayWorld visited the cast and creative team in rehearsal and you can catch a performance preview and a special interview with Leslie Odom, Jr., who plays 'Markos Monroe', below!

The Public Theater will present the new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice will run Tuesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 23 in The Public's Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 13. BroadwayWorld visited the cast and creative team in rehearsal and you can catch a performance preview and interviews with the creative team below!

The Public Theater will present the new Public Lab musical VENICE, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, VENICE will run Tuesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 23 in The Public's Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 13. On Saturday, May 13 at Joe's Pub, the cast performed a sneak peek of songs from the musical and you can check out photos from the concert below!