Jonathan Larson News

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.

Prolific Broadway singer/actress Susan Egan will perform a benefit concert on March 1 at Arcadia High School. She talks about the concert and other career tidbits in our chat below.

Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director Jeremy Blocker have announced that Red-Eye to Havre de Grace will begin performances Tuesday, April 22 at 7pm at New York Theatre Workshop, 79 East 4 Street, between Second Avenue and Bowery. Red-Eye to Havre de Grace is by Lucidity Suitcase Intercontinental, created by Thaddeus Phillips, Jeremy Wilhelm, David Wilhelm, Geoff Sobelle, Sophie Bortolussi with Ean Sheehy and music by Wilhelm Bros. & Co. and direction and stage design by Thaddeus Phillips, Opening night is set for Thursday, May 1 at 7pm. Red-Eye to Havre de Grace is scheduled to run through Sunday, June 1, 2014.

R. Erin Craig / La Vie Productions and Kevin Connor in association with Antoinette DiPietropolo and BoCo Student Government present a reading ACADEMY, conceived and developed by Andrew Kato, and written by John Mercurio, on Monday, February 24, 2014 at Boston Conservatory in Boston, MA.

The American Theatre Wing has announced that its annual Gala, to be held on Monday, September 15 at The Plaza Hotel (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South), will honor Dame Angela Lansbury, who has served as Honorary Chairman of the American Theatre Wing Board of Trustees since 2010. CeCe Black, Anki Leeds, and Sir Howard Stringer will serve as Gala co-chairs.

ZACH Theatre announces the next live performance in the TOP Concert Series, ADAM & DAPHNE IN CONCERT. Broadway stars Adam Pascal and Daphne Rubin-Vega - the original 'Roger' and 'Mimi' from Broadway's RENT- come together for a concert performing fresh takes on classic Broadway shows and the music they originated in RENT. Adam and Daphne will perform at the Topfer Theatre for 2 shows only, at 7:00pm and 9:30pm tonight, February 18, 2014.

Peregrine Theatre Ensemble, now in its second year, is thrilled to announce its 2014 season. Continuing their mission to develop works through a dedicated artistic process while reflecting a wide array of theatrical genres, Peregrine will produce two very different shows, Shakespeare's beloved classic Hamlet and the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winning musical RENT. In addition, Peregrine will present an adaptation of Hamlet under their youth and education initiative Whale of a Tale Theatre for Young Audiences. Many of the same actors will participate in both productions, showcasing the versatility and scope of the ensemble.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Broadway veterans Amber Iman (Soul Doctor), Cedric Neal (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, After Midnight), Tamika Sonja Lawrence (If/Then), Clinton Roane (Scottsboro Boys), and Marcus Paul James (Rent, In The Heights) singing a concert of songs by composer/lyricist, Darius Smith at 54 Below, tonight, February 11.

Today we are talking to a legendary leading lady famous for a few of the most iconic roles in some of the most memorable musicals of the 1980s and 1990s as well as a versatile vocalist and concert performer set to make her cabaret debut later this month - the ingratiating and amusing Randy Graff. Looking back at originating the role of Fantine in the original Broadway production of mega-hit mega musical LES MISERABLES and singing the unforgettable 'I Dreamed A Dream' eight times a week (and on the best-selling cast recording) as well as recounting her Tony Award-winning work in the endlessly entertaining Cy Coleman/David Zippel musical comedy CITY OF ANGELS, Graff share stories from behind the scenes and gives us a rare look at theatrical history in the making and her elemental role in both productions. Additionally, Graff opens up about some of her other most fondly remembered work, including her fantastic turn in Ed Kleban's A CLASS ACT, William Finn's FALSETTOS, Cole Porter's HIGH SOCIETY, the stage play and documentary MOON OVER BUFFALO co-starring Carol Burnett, the most recent revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and much more. Most importantly, Graff generously outlines what we can expect from her upcoming solo shows at NYC hotspot 54 Below titled MADE IN BROOKLYN, in what will actually be the stalwart star's solo show premiere. In addition to all of that, Graff also touches upon some of her big screen and small screen work, ranging from LAW & ORDER to RENT, as well as recounts some theatrical tales involving theatre greats such as Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, John Simon and more. All of that and much, much more awaits in this rich resume recounting retrospective with one of Broadway's best!

The Wagner College Theatre has announced that the winner of this year's Stanley Drama Award is Jennifer Maisel of Los Angeles for her play, "Out of Orbit." Two finalists for this year's award were also announced: Chelsea Sutton of North Hollywood, Cal., for "The Dead Woman," and Sam Byron of New York City for "Gordy Crashes."

The Kennedy Center presents the world premiere production of Orphie and the Book of Heroes in the Family Theater, today, February 8 - 23, 2014.

Renowned Broadway star Frenchie Davis, seen in RENT on Broadway, American Idol and The Voice, stars in her very own Cabaret Show at The Metropolitan Room.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the charming Shakespearean comedy Much Ado About Nothing, February 21 through March 8, 2014.

ZACH Theatre announces the next live performance in the TOP Concert Series, ADAM & DAPHNE IN CONCERT. Broadway stars Adam Pascal and Daphne Rubin-Vega - the original 'Roger' and 'Mimi' from Broadway's RENT- come together for a concert performing fresh takes on classic Broadway shows and the music they originated in RENT. Adam and Daphne will perform at the Topfer Theatre for 2 shows only, at 7:00pm and 9:30pm on Tuesday, February 18, 2014.

Performances are March 12-April 6, 2014. Press opening is Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, IL. Show times are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are only $36.90 to $49.90. To purchase, go to ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 2 hours prior to evening performances. Note: RENT is rated R for strong adult language and themes. Not recommended for audiences under 17.

Stageworks Media will present an industry reading of Cyrano de Burger Shack, A New High School Musical written by award-winning playwright Jeremy Desmon and directed by Jeremy Dobrish, which will take place on Friday, February 7th at 1:00 pm at 54Below (254 West 54th Street, NYC). Featured in the cast of Cyrano de Burger Shack are F. Michael Haynie (Wicked) as Cyrano, Julia Mattison (Godspell) as Roxanne, and Michael Campayno (Sound of Music Live) as Christian, as well as Ashley Kate Adams (La Cage aux Folles), Trista Dollison (Avenue Q), Rebecca LaChance (Beautiful), Ellyn Marie Marsh (Kinky Boots), Shina Ann Morris (Cinderella), Jeremy Morse (Papermill's Oliver!), and Alex Wyse (Lysistrata Jones). The music director /arranger is Meg Zervoulis.

Prospect Theater Company will present the New York premiere of Jasper in Deadland, a new musical with book by Hunter Foster and Ryan Scott Oliver, and music and lyrics by Oliver. Performances are March 16 through April 13 at the West End Theatre in the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew. A press opening is scheduled for March 26 at 7:30pm.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.)'s world premiere production of musical WITNESS UGANDA, which begins performances tonight, February 4, is the winner of the 2014 Richard Rodgers Production Award for Musical Theater. The award was announced yesterday by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which administers the Richard Rodgers Awards.

On January 28, 2013 more than 100 Broadway stars joined with over 300 students from several Newton dance groups, the Sandy Hook Elementary School 3rd and 4th grades (2012/2013 school year), and the Newton High School Chamber Choir (2012/2013 school year) to present FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR SANDY HOOK. The event was a heartfelt concert of healing, and today Broadway Records is releasing a two-CD recording of the concert. Also, Broadway Records is donating 100% of its profits from the CD, DVD (also released today), and Blu-Ray (releasing February 18th) to support the Newtown-Sandy Hook community via the Newton-Sandy Hook Community Foundation.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University presents the world premiere production of Witness Uganda, created by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie and Music Director, Remy Kurs. The production begins performances at the Loeb Drama Center at 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge tonight, February 4, and will run through March 16.