Jon Weston News

With the awards ceremony currently in progress, director/choreographer Rob Ashford has just been announced as the winner of a Creative Arts Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Choreography' for his work on the 'Musicals Are Back' segment of the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

Variety gave a roundup this weekend of the many projects on the currently very hot director, Rob Ashford who's currently working on the upcoming Los Angeles production of Parade, which he will follow with preparations for a Spring debut of the highly anticipated Broadway revival of Promises, Promises.

Due to scheduling requirements in future markets, THE COLOR PURPLE is reducing the Chicago return engagement by eight performances. Theater-goers will be able to see American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino reprise her starring role of Celie at The Arie Crown Theater for one week only, September 2 - 6, 2009.

Due to scheduling requirements in future markets, THE COLOR PURPLE is reducing the Chicago return engagement by eight performances. Theater-goers will be able to see American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino reprise her starring role of Celie at The Arie Crown Theater for one week only, September 2 - 6, 2009.

The producers of THE COLOR PURPLE are proud to announce that American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino will reprise her starring role of Celie for the Chicago Engagement. Returning to its debut home of Chicago, THE COLOR PURPLE will make its home at The Arie Crown Theater for two weeks, September 2 -13, 2009. Tickets

The First Wives Club - A New Musical will extend its run by an additional week due to popular demand. The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Directed by Francesca Zambello with choreography by Lisa Stevens and music direction by Ron Melrose, The First Wives Club will now run through Aug. 30.

American Idol sensation Fantasia Barrino is featured in a new Chicago Sun-Times article. The star of THE COLOR PURPLE national tour made her Broadway debut with the role.

Oprah Winfrey, Scott Sanders and the producing team of the Broadway smash hit THE COLOR PURPLE, The Musical about Love, are proud to announce that THE COLOR PURPLE is returning to Cincinnati September 29-October 3, 2009 as a Fifth Third Bank Broadway Across America special presentation.

'Parade,' which features T.R. Knight playing the historical figure Leo Frank and Lara Pulver reprising her role as his wife, Lucille Frank, started rehearsals this week. The Center Theatre Group's presentation of the Donmar Warehouse production begins previews September 24, 2009, and will open at the Mark Taper Forum on October 4. Performances continue through November 15.

The Kennedy Center today announced a one week and final extension for the touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE. The musical will now run in the Opera House June 30 through August 9, 2009. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the film by Steven Spielberg, Fantasia Barrino reprises her critically acclaimed role as Celie in the Kennedy Center performances of THE COLOR PURPLE.

The First Wives Club - A New Musical will extend its run by an additional week due to popular demand. The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Directed by Francesca Zambello with choreography by Lisa Stevens and music direction by Ron Melrose, The First Wives Club will now run through Aug. 30.

The First Wives Club - A New Musical has extend its run by an additional week due to popular demand. The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Directed by Francesca Zambello with choreography by Lisa Stevens and music direction by Ron Melrose, The First Wives Club will now run through Aug. 30.

The First Wives Club - A New Musical will extend its run by an additional week due to popular demand. The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Directed by Francesca Zambello with choreography by Lisa Stevens and music direction by Ron Melrose, The First Wives Club will now run through Aug. 30.

The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center today announces several additions to the creative team for Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure. According to producer Judith Lisi, president and CEO of TBPAC, Marguerite Derricks will choreograph the production and Ron Melrose will serve as music supervisor and provide vocal and dance arrangements as well as incidental music. Susan Hilferty, Neil Patel and Paul Gallo will design the costumes, sets and lights respectively, while Jon Weston will design the sound and Sven Ortel will design video and projections.

From the genius who created the smash hit, 'Rent,' comes 'tick, tick...BOOM!,' a vital American musical about a young artist on the verge in New York City. Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut, stages this lesser-known work by Jonathan Larson through July 18.

Due to scheduling requirements in future markets, THE COLOR PURPLE is reducing the Chicago return engagement by eight performances. Theater-goers will be able to see American Idol Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino reprise her starring role of Celie at The Arie Crown Theater for one week only, September 2 - 6, 2009.

From the genius who created the smash hit, 'Rent,' comes 'tick, tick...BOOM!,' a vital American musical about a young artist on the verge in New York City. Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut, stages this lesser-known work by Jonathan Larson through July 18.

The Kennedy Center recently announced a one week and final extension for the touring production of THE COLOR PURPLE. The musical will now run in the Opera House June 30 through August 9, 2009. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the film by Steven Spielberg, Fantasia Barrino reprises her critically acclaimed role as Celie in the Kennedy Center performances of THE COLOR PURPLE.

From the genius who created the smash hit, 'Rent,' comes 'tick, tick...BOOM!,' a vital American musical about a young artist on the verge in New York City. Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut, will stage this lesser-known work by Jonathan Larson, June 23 through July 18. The director is Scott Schwartz, who helmed the original off-Broadway production of 'tick, tick... BOOM!,' winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for outstanding musical.

From the genius who created the smash hit, 'Rent,' comes 'tick, tick...BOOM!,' a vital American musical about a young artist on the verge in New York City. Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, Connecticut, will stage this lesser-known work by Jonathan Larson, June 23 through July 18.