Ken Davenport News

Gary Busey's One-Man Hamlet (as performed by David Carl) is an absurdist romp through Shakespeare, pop culture, and life in the theatre.

Broadway Producer Ken Davenport (author of the popular blog, The Producer's Perspective) & Davenport Theatrical present the first annual Davenport Songwriting Contest! 10 songs will compete for the title of 'Best Song' and a $500 Grand Prize. All finalists will receive a cash prize of $50. The evening will be hosted by Rock Audition Guru, Sheri Sanders (Rock The Audition). Singers include Hannah Elless (Somewhere In Time, Godspell, The Other Josh Cohen), Ben Fankhauser (Newsies), Craig Waletzko (Guys & Dolls, Young Frankenstein), and Mary Kate Morrissey (Hair).

Original KINKY BOOTS cast member and two-time Tony nominee Stark Sands gives his final performance in the Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, and Jerry Mitchell's Broadway hit, today, Jan. 26. Sands will be suceeded by Andy Kelso as 'Charlie Price' on Jan. 28.

Producers of The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning team of Marsha Norman ('night Mother, The Color Purple) and Jason Robert Brown (The Last Fie Years, Parade), are pleased to announce a general rush.

On Friday, January 24, Broadway producersKen Davenport (Kinky Boots, Macbeth, Godspell) and Michael Jackowitz (How To Succeed in Business..., Seance on a Wet Afternoon) will present private industry presentations of the acclaimed new chamber musical DADDY LONG LEGS in midtown Manhattan.

The original cast recording of the George Street Playhouse's world-premiere production of the new Broadway-bound musical GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER is now available for digital download on iTunes.

Producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig have announced new leads for their smash hit musical Kinky Boots; Andy Kelso, who currently plays 'Harry', will take over the role of 'Charlie Price' on January 28, 2014 following Stark Sands' January 26 departure. Jeanna de Waal will join the cast as 'Lauren,' beginning March 4, 2014 (replacing Annaleigh Ashford, who leaves to join the cast of Showtime's 'Masters of Sex'), and Jake Odmark joins the ensemble in the roles previously played by Andy Kelso. As previously announced, Billy Porter, this year's Tony Award-winner for Best Actor in a Musical, will remain with Kinky Boots.

The Bridges of Madison County begins previews on Friday, January 17, 2014 and opens on Thursday, February 20, 2014, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). The complete casting includes Kelli O'Hara as Francesca Johnson, Steven Pasquale as Robert Kincaid, Hunter Foster as Bud Johnson, Cass Morgan as Marge, Michael X. Martin as Charlie, Caitlin Kinnunen as Carolyn,Derek Klena as Michael, as well as Whitney Bashor, Jennifer Allen, Ephie Aardema, Katie Klaus,Luke Markinovich, Aaron Ramey, Dan Sharkey, Tim Wright, Jessica Vosk, Charlie Franklin, andKevin Kern. The cast is currently in rehearsal, and they sent a special holiday message to fans in the video below!

A pair of tickets to the Broadway transfer of 'The Bridges of Madison County,' a new musical by the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning team of Marsha Norman ('The Secret Garden') and Jason Robert Brown ('The Last Five Years'), opening at Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Thursday, February 20, will be up for bid--via a silent auction--tonight at New York-based advertising and media agencies' fundraiser for typhoon Haiyan victims at the International Center of Photography (43rd Street and Sixth Avenue) from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

The company recently met the press to perform select numbers from the new musical. Below, we bring you the full performance of 'Before and After You,' as performed by Steven Pasquale and Kelli O'Hara.

The company recently met the press to perform select numbers from the new musical. Below, we bring you the full performance of 'Another Life,' as performed by Whitney Bashor and the rest of the cast!

The company recently met the press to perform select numbers from the new musical. Below, we bring you the full performance of 'You're Never Alone,' as performed by Hunter Foster and the rest of the cast!

The company met the press yesterday and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there to chat with the whole gang. Check out what they had to say about the new musical and watch a special performance preview of 'You're Never Alone,' 'Another Life,' and 'Before and After You.'

The company met the press yesterday and you can check out photos from their performance preview of 'You're Never Alone,' 'Another Life,' and 'Before and After You' below!

The Bridges of Madison Countybegins previews on Friday, January 17, 2014 and opens on Thursday, February 20, 2014, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). The complete casting includes Kelli O'Hara as Francesca Johnson, Steven Pasquale as Robert Kincaid, Hunter Foster as Bud Johnson, Cass Morgan as Marge, Michael X. Martin as Charlie, Caitlin Kinnunen as Carolyn, Derek Klena as Michael, as well as Whitney Bashor, Jennifer Allen, Ephie Aardema, Katie Klaus, Luke Markinovich, Aaron Ramey, Dan Sharkey, Tim Wright, Jessica Vosk, Charlie Franklin, and Kevin Kern. The company met the press earlier today and you can check out phtoos from the festivities below!

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Stacey Mindich, and Jerry Frankel just announced the complete cast of The Bridges of Madison County, which begins previews on Friday, January 17, 2014 and opens on Thursday, February 20, 2014, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Rehearsals for the new Broadway musical will begin today, Monday, December 9, 2013.

Billy Porter, this year's Tony Award-winner for Best Actor in a Musical, has extended his contract in Kinky Boots, producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig announced today; Porter will remain with the show at least through July 2014. They also announced that Natalie Joy Johnson (Legally Blonde) will join the cast of the smash hit musical, taking over for Tory Ross on December 23, 2013.

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Stacey Mindich, and Jerry Frankel announced today that The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller, will now hold its opening night on Thursday February 20, 2014, at 8:00 PM at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street).

Broadway Producer Ken Davenport (author of the popular blog, The Producer's Perspective) announces The Davenport Song Writing Contest! 10 songs will be selected from submissions to be featured in a presentation evening and vie for the title of 'Best Song' as chosen by a panel of industry professionals. Finalists will receive a cash prize of $50 and the grand prize winner $500.

The box office of the newly renovated Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) opened yesterday, November 25, 2013, for The Bridges of Madison County, which will begin performances on Friday, January 17, 2014. The opening night is set for Thursday, February 27, 2014. Rehearsals will begin Monday, December 9, 2013. In celebration of the opening, customers who visited the box office between 10AM and 11AM were entered to win a special, grand prize - an original love song, written and performed by Jason Robert Brown. In addition, the first 25 people in line received special The Bridges of Madison County gift bags. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out photos below!