Jonathan Larson News

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Early in February, I got my hands on the FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR SANDY HOOK album. I was moved and impressed with how heartfelt the concert was. The outpouring of love from the Broadway community to the town of Sandy Hook, Connecticut was and still is monumental. In addition to releasing the CD and digital albums of the concert, Broadway Records released a DVD and Blu-Ray of the performance. Like the CD and digital albums, 100% of its profits from the DVD and Blu-Ray are going to support the Newtown-Sandy Hook community via the Newton-Sandy Hook Community Foundation.

Birdland Jazz Club is thrilled to announce their outstanding line-up of amazing talent for the month of April 2014. Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2014 Jonathan Larson Grants are writing team Sara Cooper (lyricist/bookwriter) & Zach Redler (composer), receiving $12,500 and the Running Deer Residency; and Shaina Taub (composer/lyricist), receiving $12,500. The prestigious grants, totaling $15,000 more than last year's grants, will be presented on Monday, April 7, 2014 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. The event will feature special performances of the recipients' work.

Craving a show after the show? 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, is expanding its popular late-night series with fresh faces and hot new performances to keep the party buzzing into the wee hours. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th St., 54 BELOW welcomes you to loosen your tie and embrace the night at its upcoming events:

TUTS Underground unveils the cast for the sizzling and explosive musical Murder Ballad. The steamy quartet of actors includes Steel Burkhardt, Patrick McRoberts, Lauren Molina and Kristin Warren. Fresh off its New York City run, Murder Ballad makes its national regional premiere at Hobby Center's Zilkha Hall April 17 - 27.

Presented by Bum Chic Productions, an exciting young cast of singer-actors from across Canada will give the Toronto debut of Party Worth Crashing, a concert of contemporary musical theatre songs by Kerrigan and Lowdermilk on March 23, 2014.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Cats,' 'Evita' and 'Joseph' all appear, Broadway In Chicago brings new shows and old friends, the 'Annie' film, 'Rent' and next year at the Paramount, two versions of JRB's first show, and Davenport's dishes out the talent.

LANCE HORNE - the Emmy Award winning composer, musician, vocalist and producer - will make his Birdland debut with a special concert on Monday, March 31 at 7:00 PM with special guests Alan Cumming, Alice Ripley and Rachel Dratch.

If you think you've seen RENT before, you really haven't. The touring companies with adults in the lead roles never really worked for me. They all seemed too old and mature to be portraying what is basically a 'coming of age' story. That's where New Line Theatre's current production really gets it right, and why you have to check it out immediately. A very talented, enthusiastic, and youthful cast brings Jonathan Larson's (book, music and lyrics) work to life in vibrant, intimate fashion that makes you actually care about these characters and their situation. This is a must-see show, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

The cast and creative team of the hit Off-Broadway musical Murder For Two are teaming up with some of New York's brightest up and coming composers and BroadwayWorld.com every Monday night for their spring concert series, Murderous Musical Mondays. Composer Ryan Scott Oliver will launch the series on Monday, March 24th, 2014, immediately following the 7pm performance of Murder For Two at New World Stages (Stage 5 - 340 West 50th Street).

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, March 9, 2014 - Sunday, March 9, 2014.

This just in! New York City Center's acclaimed Encores! Off-Center series, under the artistic direction of Jeanine Tesori, will return this summer for a second season of landmark Off-Broadway musicals. The season opens with Jonathan Larson's tick, tick… BOOM!, June 25 - 28, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo, directed by Oliver Butler, and continues with a one-night only performance of Randy Newman'sFaust: The Concert, with Randy Newman as the Devil, directed by Thomas Kail, on July 1. Pump Boys and Dinettes, withbook, music and lyrics by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann , directed by Lear deBessonet and choreographed by Danny Mefford, wraps up the season, running July 16 - 19. Chris Fenwick is the Encores! Off-Center music director.

New Line continues its 23rd season with Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize winning, long-running rock opera RENT. This cheerfully transgressive, 1990s rock/pop riff on the classic story, set in New York City's East Village, is best described in its creator's own words: "In these dangerous times, where it seems the world is ripping apart at the seams, we can all learn how to survive from those who stare death squarely in the face every day and we should reach out to each other and bond as a community, rather than hide from the terrors of life at the end of the millennium." BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Diversionary Theatre and Martinis Above Fourth | Table & Stage in beautiful Hillcrest are excited to announce a new collaboration in 2014, presenting for the first time ever performances of Diversionary's adventurous Cabaret series in San Diego's premier Dinner Theatre!

The Billie Holiday Theatre continues its 42nd Season Generations United with the World Premiere of Maid's Door by Writers Guild Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Cheryl L. Davis; the show will be directed by the Theatre's Artistic Director Jackie Alexander. Opening Night will be Thursday, March 6; and the show will run through Sunday, March 30. Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 8pm with matinees on Saturday at 3pm and Sunday at 4pm. All tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.thebillieholiday.org or by calling the box office at 718-636-0918 or 0919. A discounted rate of $15 is available for Children 15 and younger, Seniors, and Students with a valid ID.

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre, ' continues its 23rd season of adult, alternative musicaltheatre with an all-new, re-imagined production of the Pulitzer Prize winning contemporary classic, the iconic rock opera RENT, running tonight, March 6-29, 2014.

The Pride Foundation has teamed up with Stage Coach Theatre to bring a beautiful mix of stories and struggles that can happen in the lives of LGBTQ community, via the musical RENT. With the 'Religious Rights' bill in the Idaho State Senate (currently on hold and also known as 'Anti-Gay Bill') this show is even more important to produce now as ever.

RENT: The Musical at Stage Coach Theatre opens tonight, February 28th and will run, February 28, March 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22.