John Kander News

Phone rings. Door chimes. In comes Company, one of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim's most beloved musicals, produced at Signature Theatre for the first time in twenty years and directed by Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. The cast of fourteen, led by Matthew Scott (First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb; Side By Side By Sondheim) in the role of Bobby, features many of Signature's most well-known stars in an enchanting, deeply funny exploration of love and marriage.

'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.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, has announced that they will honor entertainment lawyer and New Dramatists Chairman of the Board Seth Gelblum with their 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 64th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, to be held today, May 21 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Among those performing tributes will be 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.

Theater Latte Da announced yesterday that a season of four adventures in musical storytelling and the continuation of a major new work development program will comprise its 16th Season. Slated for production are Steerage Song at The Lab Theater (September 25 - October 20, 2013), All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 at the Pantages Theatre (December 19-22, 2013), Cabaret at the Pantages Theatre (January 15 - February 9, 2014), and Our Town at The Lab Theater (March 12 - April 6, 2014). In spring 2014, the company will bring back NEXT: New Musicals in the Making, their program to develop new works for the musical theater canon.

Off-Broadway's sellout sensation SILENCE! THE MUSICAL will celebrate its 500th performance at the 2 PM matinee today, May 18th at the Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square.

Today we are talking to a five-time Tony Award-winning director/choreographer celebrated for her stupendous work on CRAZY FOR YOU, THE PRODUCERS, CONTACT, THE FROGS, THOU SHALT NOT, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and many more - the master musicals director Susan Stroman. In discussing a vast array of topics, Stroman and I touch upon many of her past projects as well as look ahead to her current and future endeavors - that is: the forthcoming Broadway bow of the new musical BIG FISH, starring Norbert Leo Butz, as well as the world premiere of Ahrens & Flaherty's LITTLE DANCER next year. Most importantly, Stroman shines a light on her enduring artistic partnership with Mel Brooks in bringing to life the screen-to-stage musical adaptations of both THE PRODUCERS and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, with BLAZING SADDLES on the way - their rich collaboration also being highlighted in this week's AMERICAN MASTERS tribute to Mel Brooks on PBS. Additionally, Stroman reflects on some of her lesser-known entities and casts a light on some of her foremost influences as well as candidly discusses her specialty work for a bevy of major stars - such as at SONDHEIM: A CELEBRATION AT CARNEGIE HALL in 1992 - and the finer points of working with Stephen Sondheim and Nathan Lane on Sondheim's most recent original Broadway musical, THE FROGS. Plus, Stroman shares first details of her upcoming collaboration with comedy master Woody Allen on the musical stage adaptation of Allen's Academy Award-winning BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and also offers the 411 on the upcoming Los Angeles and West End productions of Kander & Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS - including the real-life role the musical has played in the pardoning of the originally accused nine just last month. Stroman also comments on her work with Hal Prince on the career revue PRINCE OF BROADWAY, opening in Japan in 2015, and also touches upon her ongoing desire to pursue a film adaptation of her multi-Tony Award-winning and genre-redefining 2000 Best Musical, CONTACT. All of that and much, much awaits in this wide-ranging conversation!

Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist and rock icon Pete Townshend attended the revival production of his seminal rock opera TOMMY at the Stratford Festival in Canada last night and joined the cast onstage for the curtain call.

Off-Broadway's SILENCE! THE MUSICAL will celebrate its 500th performance at the 2 PM matinee this Saturday, May 18th at the Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square. Winner of the 2012 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical, SILENCE! THE MUSICAL is the unauthorized parody of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, with book by Hunter Bell, music & lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan, and direction & choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli.

A dazzling new production of the long-running Broadway revival CHICAGO directed and choreographed by Broadway veteran Gerry McIntyre opens Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston's 45th anniversary season June 13-23. Starring Broadway's Angie Schworer as Roxie Hart, Sara Gettelfinger as Velma Kelly, and Rick Pessagno as Billy Flynn, CHICAGO gets Reagle's spectacular summer season off to a bang with all-new staging and exciting choreography in the style of Bob Fosse.

Chicago/book by Fred Ebb & Bob Fosse/music by John Kander; lyrics by Fred Ebb/directed & choreographed by Ray Limon/Welk Theatre, San Diego/through June 2

According to The Stage, original Broadway cast members Colman Domingo and Forrest McClendon will reprise their roles of Mr Bones and Mr Tambo respectively, in The Scottsboro Boys at the Young Vic this Fall. The production is set to run October 18 through November 23.

Joey and Lee's Cabaret Awesome at Upstairs at Vitello's will present entertainer NEILE ADAMS in her new 60-minute cabaret show, "One Hell of a Ride," directed by Ted Sprague, with Andy Howe serving as Musical Director and Pianist, Karl Vincent on Bass and Steve Pemberton on Drums. The show will be presented for One Night Only on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. at Upstairs at Vitello's located in Vitello's Restaurant; 4349 Tujunga Avenue; Studio City, CA 91604.

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak have announced BrightSide Theatre's 3rdSeason - 2013-2014 - 'Life, Love & Laughter' ' Moonlight and Magnolias, Bleacher Bums, and Cabaret. 'These three pieces of theatre entertain the audience as we look at life through the lens of love and laughter,' explains Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak. 'From the love of the movies, to the love of the game, to those who love inside the cabaret, we hope you will join us for our 3rd season and share in the love and laughter that surround these characters' lives.'