Jonathan Larson News

I'm always cautious in seeing a regional production of Jonathan Larsen's Rent as I have become a Renthead over the years. The thing to remember is art has different interpretations. SoLuna Studio Artistic Director and Owner Karen Braun fantastically directs and choreographs this slightly reimagined take on Mr. Larson's Tony and Pulitzer winning musical. Running through July 27th, some adjustments were made for SoLuna's vision including an unexpected twist the last moment of the show.

RENT gets me every time. Seeing it for the 14th time is just as thrilling, emotional, and epic as the first time I saw it 17 years ago. I can't even put into words why it has such a strong grip on my soul. It's just such a beautiful message of love, hope, community, and life, made all the more poignant by creator Jonathan Larson's untimely passing. Lyric Arts' new production is truly beautiful; the cast is energetic and talented, the sets and costumes have that cool rock show vibe, and the staging is different enough to make it feel fresh and original, but similar enough to the Broadway version to feel familiar to RENTheads like me. RENT is a brilliantly written piece of music-theater, and Lyric Arts has done Jonathan Larson proud. I can think of no higher praise.

A portion of proceeds from SoLuna Studio's upcoming production of RENT will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This brand-new fresh take on the classic Broadway musical will run from today, July 11th - 27th. Performances will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $15 for students and seniors and $20 for adults. Group rates are also available.

Cast members Emma Odell ( Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer OfTheYear [SSSSPOTY] finalist 2009), Kris Olsen ( SSSSPOTY Winner 2012), Corrine Priest (SSSSPOTY Winner 2014) and Jay Worley ( SSSSPOTY finalist 2014) showcase a range of songs from Jonathan Larson (Sunday) and Andrew Lippa ( Marshall Levin) to Alan Chapman (Everybody Wants to be Sondheim) and many more besides in Stephen Sondheim Society's GOD. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

MURDER BALLAD, the new immersive rock musical that enjoyed an acclaimed, sold-out run in New York City will play OBERON (2 Arrow Street, Cambridge MA) this August for a strictly limited engagement.

The Community Theatre of Little Rock is pleased to conclude its 58th Season with our Summer Musical 'RENT' by Jonathan Larson.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) will present The Music Box, An Evening of Lady Composers July 23. Performances will take place at 6 and 9 PM at the Ford Foundation Studio Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center.

As part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Stephen Sondheim Society, we will be paying tribute to Mr Sondheim and his genius, with a collection of material which affectionately celebrates and reflects our love for the great man himself in a brand new show GOD, premiering at London Theatre Workshop for only 6 performances this July.

The Musical Theater Project and Cleveland Public Theatre will present "I Am What I Am: Gays, Lesbians and the American Musical" on Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 2pm and 7pm. Both performances will be held in the Gordon Square Theatre at Cleveland Public Theatre.

Rehearsals are now well underway for GOD, the 20th anniversary celebration show from the Stephen Sondheim Society, which pays tribute to Mr Sondheim and his genius.

A portion of proceeds from SoLuna Studio's upcoming production of RENT will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This brand-new fresh take on the classic Broadway musical will run from July 11th - 27th. Performances will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $15 for students and seniors and $20 for adults. Group rates are also available.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today its selections for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton make up the eight new musicals that will be presented at the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood is proud to welcome Tony Nominee Adam Pascal as guest on Universal Broadcasting Network's internet radio show "Happy Hour with Ben & Alexander" today, July 1st at 6 PST.

Their new production of The Music Man isn't flashy and doesn't do anything radical with Meredith Willson's book and score, and that's the best decision they could have made.

It's a two show day and Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo are at it again! They posted their second warm-up Vine of the day. The song they chose earlier today was Voice Mail # 5 from the hit musical Rent (click here to watch) and yesterday they sang Tune Up #1 (click here to watch). This time, the song of choice is Will I?

Yesterday, Lin-Manuel Miranda posted a Vine of him and Karen Olivo warming up. The song they chose was Tune Up #1 from the hit musical Rent (click here to watch). Today, they decided to post another Vine! This time, the song of choice is Voice Mail # 5 and they are joined by Leslie Odom Jr.. Check below to watch!

While Rent is an explosion of youthful feelings of invincibility, tick, tick… BOOM! is a more introspective work and one of the best musicals to premiere in New York in this century.