John Logan News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Sting's 'The Last Ship' and the Broadway In Chicago spring season, 'Oz' in 3D, updates on TV's 'The Sound Of Music' and 'Glee,' plus Groff at Ravinia, 'Lanyard Skynerd' at Martyrs, a road trip 'Ragtime' and more!

Louise Pitre's latest accomplishment is the completion of her one-woman show 'On the Rocks- Stirred Not Shaken.' Her show is an autobiographical musical detailing her life thus far- both the ups and the downs. Pitre, with the help of W. Joseph Matheson, wrote original songs for the show. 'On the Rocks' will run from tonight, September 25-28 at Theatre Passe Murialle.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the upcoming 2014 spring season line-up. Supporting Broadway In Chicago's commitment to Chicagoans seeing shows first, the season features four premieres. Coming to Chicago first is the World Premiere Pre-Broadway production of THE LAST SHIP, the U.S. Tour Premiere of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL and the North American Premiere ofHEARTBEAT OF HOME, as well as the U.S. Tour Premiere of BUYER AND CELLAR as an off-season special. Also included in the season is GHOST THE MUSICAL, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, PETER & THE STARCATCHERand THE WIZARD OF OZ. The 2014 spring off-season includes: ONCE UPON A DREAM STARRING THE RASCALS, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, ALTON BROWN LIVE!, CHICAGO, ROCK OF AGES, ERTH'S DINOSAUR ZOO and MAMMA MIA!.

According to American Theatre magazine, the most performed play in the country the upcoming 2013-2014 season will be David Ives' Venus in Fur, with 22 productions across the country. Venus in Fur opened on Broadway in 2011, starring Hugh Dancy and Nina Arianda in a Tony Award-winning performance.

THE GREAT COMET will now land in Times Square on Friday, September 27th, just a few days later than the intended first performance date of Tuesday, September 24th. NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, which concluded a hit summer engagement downtown on September 2nd, will take up residence in the Theater District, on West 45th Street between Times Square and 8thAvenue, for a 14-week limited run. The delay is due to minor complications in the physical transfer of the show's pop-up supper club venue to midtown. Those issues are now resolved and the production is on-track to begin performances this Friday, September 27th at 8pm. Ticketholders for the cancelled performances on September 24-26 can contact their point of purchase to reschedule for a different performance or receive a refund.

In an interview with Billboard.com today, the legendary musican spoke about his plans for the much-anticipated musical THE LAST SHIP.

Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director of the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre, announces its thrilling new season of plays created by playwrights that include a Pulitzer-Prize winning comedy, a new play that was the Outer Critics Circle's Outstanding, New Play winner, the first play by a Tony Award winner, a 2011 Tony Award nominee for Best Play, plus an ingenious comedy from acclaimed, award-winning playwright Alan Ayckbourn and an intriguing epic by Bertolt Brecht.

The New York Times reports that Sue Mengers will be heading home to Hollywood when Bette Midler brings her solo show I'LL EAT YOU LAST: A CHAT WITH SUE MENGERS to the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles for a three-week run.

Producers Howard & Janet Kagan have confirmed that the complete cast from the hit downtown production of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, will join the show for its Times Square transfer, beginning next Tuesday, September 24th. THE GREAT COMET which concluded a hit summer engagement downtown on September 2nd, will take up residence in the Theater District, on West 45th Street between Times Square and 8thAvenue, for a 14-week limited run. Since its first production at Ars Nova in the fall of 2012, the show has become a sensation, meriting expansion this summer to a 199 seat pop-up supper club built specifically for the production in the Meatpacking District. After playing to packed houses since May, producers Howard & Janet Kagan will bring Dave Malloy's acclaimed electopop opera and its opulent custom venue - Kazino - to the heart of the theater district.

At one point in Red, the brilliant drama which kicks off Penfold Theatre's 2013-2014 season, the eccentric artist Mark Rothko forces his assistant to look at his work with a closer, more critical eye. 'Look at the tension between the blocks of color,' he demands. 'They ebb and flow and shift, gently pulsating.' While it's tough to say whether or not pulsating tension exists in Rothko's paintings (we never see any of them in the show), Penfold's production of Red is full of it. This is one taut, well-crafted drama featuring brilliant performances and pitch-perfect direction.

Brett Sheehy, Melbourne Theatre Company's Artistic Director today revealed his 2014 Season in an evening launch at Hamer Hall.

British actress Billie Piper (Doctor Who,Secret Diary of a Call Girl) has just signed on to star in the highly anticipated SHOWTIME drama series PENNY DREADFUL, which will begin filming this fall for a 2014 premiere on the network.

Tanghalang Pilipino's "Ibalong," a dance-musical reimagining of the Bicolano epic, topped the 1st/2nd-quarter citations of the 2013 Gawad Buhay!, the Philstage Awards for the Performing Arts, with 15 citations in the performance and technical categories.

Penfold Theatre Company has announced its 2013-14 season line-up.

Louise Pitre's latest accomplishment is the completion of her one-woman show 'On the Rocks- Stirred Not Shaken.' Her show is an autobiographical musical detailing her life thus far- both the ups and the downs. Pitre, with the help of W. Joseph Matheson, wrote original songs for the show.

Reeve Carney (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), Rory Kinnear (Skyfall) and Harry Treadaway (The Lone Ranger) are the latest stars to join the cast of the highly anticipated Showtime drama series, PENNY DREADFUL, which will begin filming this fall for a 2014 premiere on the network. They join recently announced Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton and Eva Green. Reeve Carney will play Dorian Grey in a reprisal of Oscar Wilde's supernaturally attractive and decadent young hero. Rory Kinnear will play a mysterious character of haunting intensity. In an exciting new version of Mary Shelley's inspired and obsessed genius, Harry Treadaway will take on the role of Dr. Victor Frankenstein.

Arkansas Repertory Theatre (The Rep), the state's largest nonprofit professional theatre, has announced its 38th MainStage Season. The new season will include vibrant new artistic experiences that exemplify The Rep's mission of producing diverse work of the highest artistic standards for its Arkansas audience.

NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, which concluded a hit summer engagement downtown on September 2nd, will take up residence in the Theater District, on West 45th Street between Times Square and 8thAvenue, for a 14-week limited run beginning September 24th. Since its first production at Ars Nova in the fall of 2012, the show has become a sensation, meriting expansion this summer to a 199 seat pop-up supper club built specifically for the production in the Meatpacking District. After playing to packed houses since May, producers Howard & Janet Kagan will bring Dave Malloy's acclaimed electopop opera and its opulent custom venue - Kazino - to the heart of the theater district.

Ghostlight Records will release the original cast recording of the hit downtown production of Dave Malloy's electropop opera NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 later in 2013. The album was recorded Monday, August 26th at MSR Studios in New York City. The recording - which preserves the entire score on two discs - was produced by Dean Sharenow, Howard and Janet Kagan and Kurt Deutsch. Sign up to pre-order at www.sh-k-boom.com/greatcomet.