Jonathan Larson News

Bristol Riverside Theatre kicks off the new year with the world premiere of A Raw Space by Jon Marans on January 31 - February 19. Directed by Susan Atkinson, the ensemble case features BRT's Artistic Director Keith Baker, Madi Distefano, Jack Koenig, and Anette Sanders.

Jeff Madden is best known to Toronto audiences for portraying the lead role of Frankie Valli in the original Canadian cast of Jersey Boys. Now, he's taking on a very different role in Kooman and Dimond's DANI GIRL, opening tonight. Jeff talks to BWW about the challenges associated with the new role, working with Richard Ouzounian and why young people should come see Dani Girl.

Porchlight Music Theatre, American Musicals. Chicago Style, presents the Chicago premiere of John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Doug Peck, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

Utilizing two different casts to tell a story spanning four decades, Triad Stage and NewBridge Bank present the entire New Music trilogy by Reynolds Price, directed by Preston Lane, in a two part extended run-Part I, comprised of the plays, August Snow and Night Dance, and Part II, the final play in the series, Better Days-produced together for only the second time since they were written.

Syndicated morning show LIVE! WITH KELLY! announces the latest lineup of co-hosts who will join host Kelly Ripa during the week of February 27-March 2, 2012, including her co-host for the show's first-ever post-Oscar(R) broadcast with co-host Neil Patrick Harris. The show will be broadcast live on location from the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center

The smash-hit musical Rent is coming to Casa Mañana Theatre March 3 - 11. Tickets are on sale now.

Dani Girl is a new musical by New York writing duo Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, and it opens this weekend in Toronto. The show tells the story of a nine year old girl battling terminal cancer, and explores how she uses music and her imagination to handle her disease. BWW sat down to speak with Gabi Epstein (who plays 'Dani') about what the show means to her, the challenges associated with the difficult subject matter, and having Richard Ouzounian as her director.

Theatreworks USA celebrates its 50th Anniversary tonight at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square North).

Utilizing two different casts to tell a story spanning four decades, Triad Stage and NewBridge Bank present the entire New Music trilogy by Reynolds Price, directed by Preston Lane, in a two part extended run-Part I, comprised of the plays, August Snow and Night Dance, and Part II, the final play in the series, Better Days-produced together for only the second time since they were written.

The songwriting team of Michael Cooper and Hyeyoung Kim have written a short musical that will be presented as part of an evening called "Rites of Passage" at the Prospect Theater Company at the West End Theatre, at the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, February 11- 20.

Producer John Johnson announced today the complete cast for the New York premiere of 35mm A Musical Exhibition, written by Ryan Scott Oliver based on the photography of Matthew Murphy.

The winner of the 2012 Richard Rodgers Awards for Musical Theater was announced today by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, which administers the Rodgers Awards.

On February 13, New York Theatre Barn will present NYTB in the D-Lounge, a monthly concert for emerging musical theatre writers, now in its 5th year, at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The February 2012 installment of NYTB in the D-Lounge introduces to New York audiences Illinois-native, singer-songwriter Kevin Fogarty, who will present selections from his full-length musicals, and showcases Jonathan Larson Award-winner J. Oconer Navarro, who will present the world premiere of songs from two new musicals by himself and collaborators. Performers include Charlie Brady, Joaquina Kalukango, Zonya Love, and more. Executive Producers for NYTB in the D-Lounge are Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum.

Libra Theater Company presented Songs You Should Know, a concert of new and rarely performed songs by some of today's most prolific music theater writers. The concert took place on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 9:30 pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre and BroadwayWorld was there to cover the event! Check out the photos below!

RENT is a rock opera with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera, La Boheme. It tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York's Lower East Side in the thriving days of Bohemian Alphabet City, under the shadow of AIDS. MCC's Act I Musical Productions is presenting the full, uncut version of RENT March 1 - 10, 2012 at MCC's Theatre Outback, 1833 W. Southern Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85202. For ticket information call (480) 461 - 7172 or purchase your tickets online (and pick your own seats) at www.ezticketlive.com/mcc.

Following its limited engagement of Into the Woods and its co-production of The Rocky Horror Show in 2011, Stocking Productions has announced that it will bring RENT to Frederick for the first time for a special Memorial Day weekend presentation at The Way Off Broadway Theatre.

92YTribeca is set to host BEHIND THE MUSIC-AL: TEENAGE DREAMS, moderated by Steve Fickinger, Vice President of Creative Development for Disney Theatrical Group on Wed, Feb 22, 8pm, tickets from $10 adv / $12 door.

Porchlight Music Theatre will present the premiere of BEST MUSICAL! A Completely Improvised Musical Comedy conceived by Matthew Loren Cohen and directed by Amanda Blake Davis, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.