Joe DiPietro News

Full casting was announced today for MEMPHIS, an original Broadway musical, opening Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street) following critically-acclaimed and sold-out engagements at La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. Previews begin on Wednesday, September 23, 2009.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ANGRY? 8th July - 16th August Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sat-Sun 3.30pm £18 premium reserved, £15 general unreserved, £12.50 concessions

The 2009 summer season at Totem Pole takes a delightful turn in its fifth offering. The best selling novel, Tuesdays With Morrie, takes to the stage at the Playhouse July 28th. The play is based on the true-life experiences of acclaimed author and sports columnist, Mitch Albom's weekly visits to his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz.

Due to the popularity and complete sell out of Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy's production of 'I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change', we have added two additional performances; July 24th and 25th at 8PM.

The Toxic Avenger is a charming love story and laugh-out-loud musical that has it all -- an unlikely hero, his beautiful girlfriend, a corrupt New Jersey mayor and two guys who play...well, everyone else...bullies, mobsters, old ladies, and stiletto-wearing back-up singers. The show also features the most memorable and unbelievable duet you'll ever see on any New York stage. Audiences from teenagers to senior citizens love this hilarious new hit musical! Easily 1,000 laughs.

Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director of the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, today announced that Signature Theatre is expanding its American Musical Voices Project (AMVP) for a fourth year with the commission and production of a new musical by Adam Guettel for its 2011-2012 season. Also announced as part of The Next Generation segment of the AMVP were two additional musical commissions awarded to Peter Foley and Marisa Michelson as well as honoree grants given to Chris Miller and Scott Davenport Richards for the development of future musical ideas. Signature, with the support of The Shen Family Foundation, has awarded $595,000 to artists in honors and commissions in the past three years. The American Musical Voices Project is the largest single musical theater commissioning and producing initiative at any non-profit theater in America.

Due to the popularity and complete sell out of Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy's production of 'I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change', we have added two additional performances; July 24th and 25th at 8PM.

The 2009 summer season at Totem Pole takes a delightful turn in its fifth offering. The best selling novel, Tuesdays With Morrie, takes to the stage at the Playhouse July 28th. The play is based on the true-life experiences of acclaimed author and sports columnist, Mitch Albom's weekly visits to his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Diana DeGarmo, Season 3 'American Idol' runner-up and Broadway vet is returning to the New York stage where, beginning Friday, August 14th, she will assume the role of Sarah, the sexy, blind librarian in The Toxic Avenger - named the 'Best New Off-Broadway Musical' by the Outer Critics Circle.

Various online sources are revealing that American Idol finalist and Broadway belter Diana DeGarmo will be joining THE TOXIC AVENGER later this summer. While there has been no official word, sources close to the production have announced the news of her upcoming arrival. DeGarmo will replace Celina Carvajal who currently stars in the production, Carvajal was a temporary replacement in the hit musical. Celina Carvajal assumed the role of Sarah, the sexy, blind librarian on Monday, June 15th. Original cast member Sara Chase left the production to create three roles in the musical The First Wives Club which is premiering at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the addition of the world-premiere musical Bonnie & Clyde, to its 2009-10 season, replacing The Big Time. This production features music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!). Bonnie & Clyde will run November 10 - December 20, 2009 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

On Thursday July 9th, the cast of 'THE TOXIC AVENGER' took to the stage in New York City's Union Square as part of the 2009 'Summer in the Square,' a series of events taking place each Thursday through August 13th. The large crowd enjoyed the wonderful weather as they were treated to a few numbers from the award-winning Off-Broadway musical.

On Saturday July 4th, Patricia Schriver, mayor of Lebanon Township, NJ caught the 4PM performance of THE TOXIC AVENGER and then enjoyed a backstage visit with Nancy Opel who portrays BABS BELGOODY, the corrupt mayor of TROMAVILLE, NJ. Two female New Jersey mayors together at last! Check out the patriotic lapel pin that Nancy Opel adorned to her 'Palinesque' costume in honor of Independence Day!

Jean Cheever and Tom Polum, producers of The Toxic Avenger - named the 'Best New Off-Broadway Musical' by the Outer Critics Circle - are pleased to welcome Jonathan Root to the 'Toxie' family. Mr. Root, making his Off-Broadway debut, has assumed the role of White Dude, replacing original cast member Matthew Saldivar.

'Over the River and Through the Woods' continues run at Miners Alley Playhouse.

Due to the popularity and complete sell out of Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy's production of 'I Love You, You're Perfect Now Change', we have added a 7pm show on Sunday, July 19th. All other dates are sold out.

Dancap Productions presents the Canadian Premiere of The Toxic Avenger opening at The Music Hall Halloween 2009.

Superheroes are not infallible it seems, as The Toxic Avenger sustained an injury that caused two performances (July 5th at 7PM and tonight's performance, July 6th at 8pm) to be cancelled.

The producers of 2009's Best New Off-Broadway Musical*, The Toxic Avenger, celebrated the show's 100th performance on Friday, July 3 with a very special Independence Day party after the show. To commemorate the 100th performance (and America going green!), the cast and crew munched on 'toxic' cookies provided by Bobby Cookie and posed for the BroadwayWorld cameras!