Jonathan Larson News

JP Productions today announces the lead casting details for their forthcoming UK tour of the smash-hit Tony Award winning Broadway musical 'Rent'.

Conceived by Jonathan Larson, Murder Ballad is the story of a twisted love triangle. With a book by Blackburn Prize Winner Susan Smith and music and lyrics by rock singer Julia Nash, Murder Ballad is an electrifying story that captivates audiences through perfectly executed songs.

The New York based award-winning songwriting duo Kooman & Dimond teams up with Alberto Belli, the director of the viral sensation 'For your Consideration' to premiere 'Someday Soon,' a clever, light-hearted musical about the adventures and obstacles of graduating in today's failing economy. Check out 'Someday Soon' below!

Award winning theatre companies Rescue Agreement and CAP21 are proud to announce their Co-Production, If [or When] the Roof Falls In, premiering this month at CAP21 in New York City. This 1.5 hour theatrical experience uses cutting edge technology and explores the delicate balance between holding on to your past and shaping your future. Set in 'The Library' at CAP21's intimate 78-seat black box, If [or When] the Roof Falls In plays tonight, June 3 - 29, 2013 at 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays-Saturdays.

Bay Area Cabaret will conclude its 2012-2013 season by honoring the memory and legendary career of composer Marvin Hamlisch. Selections from his work (A Chorus Line, The Way We Were, They're Playing Our Song) will be performed by special guests including Broadway stars Lisa Vroman (The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd) and Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard), Grammy Award winner Billy Stritch, 2012 Bay Area Teen Idol winner Bobby Conte Thornton, Academy Award-winning songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and other guest artists to be announced. Having performed with Bay Area Cabaret for the grand re-opening of the Venetian Room in 2010, Mr. Hamlisch will always hold a special place in Bay Area Cabaret's history. This tribute to his legacy will take place on the late composer's 69th birthday, tonight, June 2, 2013, at 8pm in the historic Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco (950 Mason Street). Tickets ($75 - $100) are available at www.bayareacabaret.org or by phone at City Box Office (415) 392-4400.

The Eklektix Theatre Company is celebrating a year of producing theatre in Houston with a concert production of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater's SPRING AWAKENING. A fully staged version of the musical was their inaugural venture in Houston, so this production which only runs for two performances is a big celebration of themselves and all forms of independent theatre in the greater Houston area. In fact, following the performance Executive Artistic Director, Bryan-Keyth Wilson made a curtain speech imploring the audience to support his colleagues and peers at Bayou City Theatrics, Stark Naked Theatre Company, and others.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, is proud to announce the June performances for BSC's second season at Mr. Finn's Cabaret, located on the lower level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on a triple-threat Tony-winning talent famous for originating starring roles in two Broadway mega-hits, RENT and WICKED - Idina Menzel!

Dallas Theater Center announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tonys Meet & Greet on May 1, 2013, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, nominees for Best Score for A Christmas Story. Check out what they had to say below!

The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity presents Walden, a story-theatre style musical adaptation of Thoreau's best seller, featuring his work on the underground railroad and his star-crossed romance. Six performances for Walden will be held at the Robert Moss Theatre, 440 Lafayette Street, NYC from today, May 29-June 15 as part of The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. The Festivity will take place May 29th through June 23rd at Gene Frankel and Robert Moss Theatres in New York City.

Yellow Sound Label's world premiere recording of MURDER BALLAD, the critically acclaimed new musical by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash, directed by Trip Cullman, will be released today, May 28. The album, Produced by Michael Croiter, will be available on Amazon, iTunes, and elsewhere music is sold. For additional information and to pre-order the world premiere cast recording, visit: www.yellowsoundlabel.com

Terry Martin, WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director, announced this evening the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at a special VIP Sneak Preview held at the Addison Theatre Centre.

New Line Theatre, "the bad boy of musical theatre," announces its 23rd season of adult, alternative musical theatre, including the regional premiere of the new musical thriller NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, running Oct. 10-Nov. 2, 2013; the Pulitzer Prize winning rock opera RENT, running March 6-29, 2014; and the regional premiere, straight from Broadway, of the new rock musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY, running May 29-June 21, 2014.

The old adage that the show must go on was put to the test at Hudson Theatre during the opening night performance of Jonathan Larson's musical RENT presented by the 2Cents Theatre Group. Not only did the air conditioning go out, the sound equipment was on the blink! Even so, the produciton still packs a punch.

MURDER BALLAD, the critically acclaimed new musical which has been nominated for Best Musical by the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Lortel Awards, will run through Sunday, September 29 at the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street). Murder Ballad opened last night at the Union Square Theatre, featuring John Ellison Conlee, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Caissie Levy, and Will Swenson. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the after party and you can check out interviews with the cast below!

The Song 'Ordinary Day' is by extraordinary writers Paul Loesel (Music) and Scott Burkell (book and lyrics). We are thrilled to share their Cutting-Edge Composers video starring Donna Vivino (Wicked), Eric Michael Krop (Godspell), Blake Daniel (Spring Awakening), and Maddy Trumble (Mary Poppins)!

MURDER BALLAD, the critically acclaimed new musical which has been nominated for Best Musical by the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Lortel Awards, will run through Sunday, September 29 at the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street). Below you can check out photos of cast member Will Swenson in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride below!

2Cents Theatre Group has announced its production of Rent, Jonathan Larson's legendary Broadway smash hit, which is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Directed by Kristen Boule, with musical direction by Morgan Fitch, Rent is set to open today, May 24. Private Eyes by Steven Dietz, directed by Shaunessy Quinn, opens on Thursday, May 30, and it will run in repertory with Rent, through June 30 at the Hudson Theatre Mainstage in Hollywood.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) hosted its 2013 Spring Gala, honoring Artistic Director James C. Nicola in celebration of 25 years of service to the organization, last week at Tribeca Rooftop. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big event below!