John Kander News

First, beginning Monday, June 10, stage and screen veteran Paul C. Vogt makes his CHICAGO debut in the role of Roxie's all-but-invisible husband, 'Mister Cellophane' Amos Hart. Then on Tuesday, June 18, CHICAGO welcomes Drama Desk nominee Alexander Gemignani in the role of 'that silver-tongued Prince of the Courtroom' Billy Flynn.

I hardly know where to begin with this review of the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble's gutsy, stripped-down and yet somehow epic production of “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” the musical by John Kander, Fred Ebb and Terrence McNally that is running at Theatre Wit through June 30, 2013. There, I guess I just began. I'm a jumble of thoughts and feeling right now. Come to think of it, so are the three principal characters.

The Vineyard Theatre, Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director, has just announced the third production of their 2013-2014 season and casting of the world premiere musical THE LANDING.

Today in 1975, Chicago opened at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rogers Theatre), where it ran for 936 performances. Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago, with music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the 'celebrity criminal'. The original cast starred Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly, Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart, Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn and Barney Martin as Amos Hart.

Two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone headlines the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's 2012-13 NJSO POPS season finale in Newark and New Brunswick, tonight, June 1 and tomorrow, June 2.

Leave it to Kander and Ebb to create The Scottsboro Boys, a monstrously humane musical in the guise of a minstrel show. After all, it's what they are most famous for: taking headline news - the darker, the better - and turning it upside down inside out it with an unexpectedly entertaining structure.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Emma Stone was rumored to be in talks to make her Broadway debut in the upcoming revival of CABARET in the role of Sally Bowles. Now according to the New York Times, Stone has pulled out of the upcoming show. Stone's publicist told NYT that she 'has scheduling conflicts with a feature film that prevent her from joining the musical.'

BoHo Theatre will present the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, by John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Terrence McNally, based on the novel by Manuel Puig, as the final production in its 2012/2013 season. The production will run tonight, May 31st through June 30th at Theater Wit in Lakeview.

Florida Studio Theatre presents an exciting new Summer Season - with spirited musical revue The World Goes 'Round, quirky comedy The Underpants and witty new play South Beach Babylon.

'The Scottsboro Boys' opened on May 29th at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center and runs through June 30, 2013.

Dallas Theater Center announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

Beginning on Wednesday June 12th, 2013, Playhouse on Park presents the Tony Award winning musical 'Cabaret' book by Joe Masteroff, Music by John Kander and Lyrics by Fred Ebb. Cabaret is an exciting and fun musical that uniquely explores an era where history was in the making!

'The Scottsboro Boys', featuring Music and Lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb and Book by David Thompson, will be directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman at CTG's Ahmanson Theatre. The show opens tonight, May 29. It will conclude its run on June 30, 2013.

SILENCE! THE MUSICAL will play a special added holiday performance today at the Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square. The show, which normally plays at 5 PM on Sundays, will have two performances today at 2 & 7 PM. Winner of the 2012 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical, SILENCE! is the unauthorized parody of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, with book byHunter Bell, music & lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan, and direction & choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli. After opening initially at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews, the show immediately became a sold-out phenomenon and was selected by Time Magazine as one of the year's Top 5 Musicals.

When the residents of the New Sussex Arms, an Upper West Side retirement hotel, discover it's slated to be sold, they know they have to stop it. But how? They can't afford to buy it. Or can they? They hatch a scheme to steal furs from New York City stores, planning to use the profits to buy it themselves. This final presentation of

Today we are presenting a specially-focused InDepth InterView centering upon Audra McDonald's sensational new solo album, GO BACK HOME, which is available now and will be accompanied by a PBS TV special tonight, featuring the five-time Tony Award-winning performer at her very, very best. McDonald and I parse the finer points of GO BACK HOME, analyzing the song selection process itself as well as the meanings behind the myriad masterful musical moments present on the new release and what inspired her exquisite performances of these songs by Broadway's absolute best. McDonald also shares stories and insights into composers covered on GO BACK HOME, including frequent collaborators Stephen Sondheim, Michael John LaChiusa and Adam Guettel as well as Kander & Ebb, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jule Styne, Comden & Green and many more. In addition to all about GO BACK HOME, McDonald and I also discuss the two brand new compositions on the album originating in the new specially-penned solo musical written expressly for her by LaChiusa, MARLENE DIETRICH'S ABC, and what the future potentially holds for that fascinating stage endeavor and take a look back at her other LaChiusa musicals, MARIE CHRISTINE, SEND (WHO ARE YOU? I LOVE YOU) and specialty material included. Also, McDonald fills us in on her recent and upcoming film appearances, such as last year's RAMPART with Woody Harrelson and the upcoming I FOUGHT THE LAW. Plus, McDonald expresses her enthusiasm for her continuing role as host of LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER, reveals her opinions on the current movie musical renaissance and the popularity of GLEE, as well as clues us in on her iPod favorites, practicing playing the piano to relax and the possibility of even accompanying herself onstage someday, reflections on Laura Nyro and other favorite pop artists, future plans to pursue more Shakespeare onstage (and musings on what parts), the distinct possibility of essaying the title role in GYPSY sometime soon, appearing on the web series IT COULD BE WORSE - and much, much more!

'The Scottsboro Boys' is currently running at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center. Opening night is May 29 and performances run through June 30, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, just honored entertainment lawyer and New Dramatists Chairman of the Board Seth Gelblum with their 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 64th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, earlier today, May 21 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Among those performing tributes were Tony Award nominee Keith Carradine (Hands on a Hardbody, The Will Rogers Follies) and Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change; Jelly's Last Jam). The event co-chairs are Roger Berlind, Roy Furman, and Barry and Fran Weissler. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the festivities below!

'The Scottsboro Boys' begins previews tonight, May 21 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center. Opening night is May 29 and performances run through June 30, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Broadway favorite Audra McDonald is set to release 'Go Back Home', her first solo record in seven years on May 21. BroadwayWorld brings you an exclusive listen to one of the album's tracks, 'Go Back Home' from The Scottsboro Boys with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb.