Jerry Mitchell News

Today in 1971, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown opened at the John Golden Theatre, where it ran for 32 performances. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts. Directed by Joseph Hardy and with choreography by Patricia Birch, the 1971 cast included Grant Cowan as Snoopy and Dean Stolber as Charlie Brown.

It's a hot time for theatre in Chicago! Pre-Broadway engagements, remounts, premieres, and more fill the stages this summer and here are BroadwayWorld's top picks for the ones to look out for!

Chicago Tribune theater critic Chris Jones recently sat down with Gloria and Emilio Estefan to discuss On Your Feet, a new musical based on the life story of the seven-time GRAMMY winning international superstar.

STARS IN THE ALLEY, presented by United Airlines, was held earlier today, May 27th in Shubert Alley, between Broadway and 8th Avenue and 44th and 45th Streets. Hosted by HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH's Darren Criss, Broadway's best turned out for the annual performance - including Kinky Boots' Mia Gentile, who performed 'The History of Wrong Guys'!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Once' and 'On Your Feet!' arrive, Kooman and Dimond try one out, 'Loving Repeating' returns, 'The Fantasticks' grows its orchestra, local 'Spider Woman' and 'Idiot' productions, two new works about the deaths of pop musicians, and the real-life death of PJ Paparelli.

Tom Viola, Executive Director of BC/EFA, recently joined the cast of KINKY BOOTS in presenting Cyndi Lauper with a "big check" representing the $150,000 donated to TRUE COLORS FUND by BC/EFA from over $1.2 million in resources raised by the show since opening in April 2013. Scroll down for photos!

On Monday, May 25th the Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori. In the interview, she talks of the five-year journey that she took alongside lyricist and book writer Lisa Kron adapting Alison Bechdel's celebrated graphic memior. After a ground breaking Off-Broadway run, the musical is now Tony-nominated and playing at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theater. Tesori and Kron have been nominated together for this year's Best Original Score award; should they win, the pair would become the first all-female writing team in Tony history to take home that the prize.

Tim Firth and Geoff Deane first picked up the true story of W J Brooks and Co., a fifth generation Northamptonshire shoe factory that survived the 1990's by switching from classic brogues to footwear for drag queens after cheap imports flooded the market. The 2005 film Kinky Boots starred Joel Edgerton as factory owner Charlie Price.

The Shubert Organization and Career Transition For Dancers along with the host committee: Andy Blankenbuehler, Graciela Daniele, Mercedes Ellington, Donna McKechnie, Jerry Mitchell, & Chita Rivera welcomed The Broadway Dance Community for a Buffet Dinner & Between-Shows-Get-Together at Sardi's, Eugenia Room (234 West 44th Street) on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 (5:00pm-7:00pm).  This event is generously underwritten by The Shubert Organization.  Past client Andy Blankenbuehler (award-winning choreographer of the hit musical 'Hamilton') addressed the group on his relation with the organziation and how beneficial they have been for him and thousands of others.

Every year, since its creation 16 years ago, THE COLUMN Awards in Dallas, TX has donated to BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS. They hold the distinct honor of being the ONLY awards organization in the United States that uses their awards gala as a fundraiser for BC/EFA.

On Your Feet! - the new Broadway musical based on the life story of seven-time GRAMMY winning international superstar Gloria Estefan, who has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, and her husband, 19 time GRAMMY winning legendary producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan - will come to New York later this year. In anticipation, the show has unveiled a new web series, detailing the production's behind the scenes journey. Check out the latest episode below, featuring Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell's take on directing the musical!

BroadwayWorld has just learned that the Phantom will soon return to America in the continuation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's most beloved musical. Love Never Dies is set to tour North America in 2017. This is the highly acclaimed follow up musical to the 1986 love story The Phantom of the Opera set against the spellbinding backdrop of Coney Island. A German production is also set to open in Hamburg this fall.  Casting has not yet been announced.

On Monday, May 18th, the Theater People Podcast welcomes IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU star Lisa Howard. Lisa made her Broadway debut as Rona Lisa Peretti in the 2006 Tony nominated production of 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. From there she has been seen on Broadway in SOUTH PACIFIC, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, and 9 TO 5. In IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, Howard has received glowing notices and a Drama Desk Award nomination for her turn as Jenny, older sister of the Bride who's gone out of her way to plan the perfect wedding. Despite acting alongside Broadway favorites like Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, and Sierra Boggess, much has been made of IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU being a star making vehicle for Howard. 

On Monday, May 11 the Theater People podcast welcomes 2015 Tony-nominee, Tony Yazbeck. Currently starring in the critically acclaimed and Tony nominated Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN, Tony opens up about how the role first came to him for the 2008 Encores production, his experience with the pre-Broadway run at Barrington Stage, and how, as a true triple threat, he was particularly suited to play the role on Broadway.

New KINKY BOOTS metch!

KINKY BOOTS, the smash-hit musical that brings together four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Tony Award-winner for Best Score for KINKY BOOTS), performs at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) June 9-14, 2015. KINKY BOOTS is part of the Taco/ White Family Foundation Broadway Series.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opened to critical acclaim in the West End last April. It's taken a while to cross the pond having opened on Broadway over a decade ago but now UK-wide audiences are at last able to enjoy this production, having opened at the New Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham last night. The entire team of staff need to be commended on creating a wonderful experience before you even stepped in to the theatre. With French-speaking staff to martinis, they went the extra mile which should be recognised.

The Ambassador Theatre Group (Jersey Boys, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, West Side Story) and Jerry Mitchell Productions present the national tour of the critically acclaimed Best New Musical of 2014, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, opening at the New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham today 5 May 2015.

Today we are talking to a two-time Tony Award-winning star of stage and screen who is recognized around the world for her many notable film and television appearances in addition to a lifetime in the theatre - the elegant and charming Swoosie Kurtz. In addition to discussing some of the most compelling theatre-related stories in her fascinating and extensive new memoir PART SWAN, PART GOOSE, Kurtz also sheds new light on her legendary collaboration with iconic director/choreographer Michael Bennett on his final project, SCANDAL, as well as looks back at her onstage collaboration with Marvin Hamlisch and Nora Ephron on the play with music IMAGINARY FRIENDS - and much, much more!