Kevin Earley News

As is frequently noted by lovers of strong book musicals, part of the brilliance of Sherman Edwards (score) and Peter Stone's (book) 1776, their 1969 Broadway tuner about the efforts of John Adams to convince the continental congress to vote for independency from Great Britain, is that the audience walks into the theatre knowing full well how it's going to end, and yet the authors (and history) keep you on The Edge of your seat wondering how the devil it's going to happen. With a unanimous vote necessary ('So that no colony be torn from its mother country without its own consent.') and Pennsylvania's John Dickinson leading the arguments for property-owners whose personal economy is protected by loyalty to the crown and South Carolina's Edward Rutledge keeping the deep south unified in favor of individual states rights that protect their practice of slavery, June of '76 concludes with half the congress against independence.

Paper Mill Playhouse's 1776, Directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, will run at the Millburn theatre from April 15 through May 17, 2009. 1776 was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts. The production officially opens tonight, Sunday, April 19th.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for 1776. Directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, 1776 will run at the Millburn theatre from April 15 through May 17, 2009. 1776 was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts. Press Opening is Sunday, April 19th at 7:30pm

Paper Mill Playhouse's 1776, Directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, will run at the Millburn theatre from April 15 through May 17, 2009. 1776 was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

In addition to previously announced 2009 Summer Season cast members, including Tony winner Beth Leavel, Tony nominee Robert Cuccioli and Broadway veterans Shoshana Bean, Tony Yazbeck, Fred Inkley, Kevin Earley, Jennifer Cody, Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, Matthew Scott and Tim Hartman, Pittsburgh CLO is pleased to welcome the following performers to the Benedum Center stage this summer.

1776 held a press 'meet and greet' rehearsal yesterday at the New 42nd Street Studios in Times Square, BroadwayWorld.com was there to spend the day with the group of 'historical' greats!

'The Leading Men IV,' a benefit concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will be held Monday, May 11, at 7pm at Birdland, 315 W. 44th St. As part of the long-running Broadway at Birdland series, it will feature top singers from Broadway and cabaret.

Pittsburgh CLO's 2009 Summer Season will showcase a mix of Broadway blockbusters, bold new shows and musical theater gems, highlighted by casts featuring some of the most critically-acclaimed and respected actors working in theater today.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for 1776. Directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, 1776 will run at the Millburn theatre from April 15 through May 17, 2009. 1776 was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The 92nd Street Y continues the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists with DAVID ZIPPEL as host and artistic director of It Started with a Dream, February 21-23. Subtitled David Zippel - Lyrics He Wrote, Lyrics He Wishes He Wrote, the Tony award-winning, Oscar-nominated lyricist of City of Angels and Disney's animated Hercules and Mulan, presents highlights from his own scores and shares his inspirations and personal favorites from the American Songbook. The show features an all-Broadway cast, including vocalists KATE BALDWIN (Wonderful Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Full Monty), KEVIN EARLEY (A Tale of Two Cities, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Mis?rables), Tony Award-winner DEBBIE GRAVITTE (Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Chicago, Les Mis?rables), DANNY GURWIN (Little Women, Urinetown, The Full Monty), and Tony Award-winner LILLIAS WHITE (The Life, Dreamgirls, and. the voice of 'Calliope' in Hercules). One of the most acclaimed and sought-after lyricists working today, David Zippel's other credits include the Broadway musical The Goodbye Girl (written with Marvin Hamlisch and Neil Simon), The Woman in White (with Andrew Lloyd Webber, for which Zippel won another Tony nomination) and the musical stage version of Wendy Wasserstein's bestselling children's book, Pamela's First Musical, written with Wasserstein and City of Angels collaborator Cy Coleman. Series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer, in her first season at the helm, notes that this is the first time in over 25 years that L&L will devote an entire show to a contemporary Broadway songwriter at the height of his career--a return to the spirit in which L&L was founded, with the living lyricist as an active participant.

The 92nd Street Y continues its 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists, the Y's legendary American Songbook series, with It Started with a Dream, an evening with David Zippel (Shows: City of Angels, The Goodbye Girl, The Woman in White, Pamela's First Musical. Films: Mulan, Hercules). The 92nd Street Y has made a block of tickets available for BC/EFA supporters. Each ticket purchased through BC/EFA will include an exclusive and intimate post-performance wine and cheese reception with Mr. Zippel and the evening's performers.

The Denver Center Theatre Company has announced casting for the 2009 Colorado New Play Summit readings, which includes top talent from Denver and across the country. The Summit, which will gather theatre enthusiasts and industry professionals in Denver February 12-14, will feature the reading of a new adaptation of the classic musical THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN and readings of four new plays - EVENTIDE, WHEN TANG MET LAIKA, TAKE ME TO THE RIVER and FLOODED. For more information on these shows, please visit www.denvercenter.org.

Attention ticket stub collectors! The 92nd Street Y has a special deal for theater-going packrats. Bring in a Playbill or ticket stub from any Broadway or off-Broadway production and get a 50% discount for the upcoming Lyrics & LyricistsTM show, featuring host/artistic director DAVID ZIPPEL and an all-Broadway cast. This offer is good for performances on Sun, Feb 22 at 3 & 8 pm and Mon, Feb 23 at 2 & 8 pm. Full price tickets are $60 and $50; pay $30 or $25 with your Playbill or ticket stub. Tickets must be purchased in person at the 92nd Street Y Box Office at Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street. Patrons must bring their Playbill or ticket stub to the box office when they pick up their tickets. There is a maximum of four tickets per person. This offer is not available online or on the phone.

Upon the January 27th Finale of six, sold-out nights of competition among 18 contestants at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA, the vivacious Theresa Anne Swain was named LA's Next Great Stage Star 2009. The annual talent search has become the most high profile stage competition in Los Angeles since its inception in 2006. Ms. Swain was awarded a $1000 cash prize, an equally lucrative, paid headlining engagement at Sterling's Upstairs. As the event's Gold Sponsor, the Sheraton Universal Hotel, located adjacent to Universal Studios, will provide the talented redhead with dinner for two at the hotel's noted 'California's Restaurant,' and an overnight stay in a beautifully appointed suite to coincide with her return to Sterling's on a date to be announced prior to May, 2009.

The Denver Center Theatre Company has announced casting for the 2009 Colorado New Play Summit readings, which includes top talent from Denver and across the country. The Summit, which will gather theatre enthusiasts and industry professionals in Denver February 12-14, will feature the reading of a new adaptation of the classic musical THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN and readings of four new plays - EVENTIDE, WHEN TANG MET LAIKA, TAKE ME TO THE RIVER and FLOODED. For more information on these shows, please visit www.denvercenter.org.

The 92nd Street Y continues the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists with DAVID ZIPPEL as host and artistic director of It Started with a Dream, February 21-23. Subtitled David Zippel - Lyrics He Wrote, Lyrics He Wishes He Wrote, the Tony award-winning, Oscar-nominated lyricist of City of Angels and Disney's animated Hercules and Mulan, presents highlights from his own scores and shares his inspirations and personal favorites from the American Songbook. The show features an all-Broadway cast, including vocalists KATE BALDWIN (Wonderful Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Full Monty), KEVIN EARLEY (A Tale of Two Cities, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Mis?rables), Tony Award-winner DEBBIE GRAVITTE (Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Chicago, Les Mis?rables), DANNY GURWIN (Little Women, Urinetown, The Full Monty), and Tony Award-winner LILLIAS WHITE (The Life, Dreamgirls, and. the voice of 'Calliope' in Hercules). One of the most acclaimed and sought-after lyricists working today, David Zippel's other credits include the Broadway musical The Goodbye Girl (written with Marvin Hamlisch and Neil Simon), The Woman in White (with Andrew Lloyd Webber, for which Zippel won another Tony nomination) and the musical stage version of Wendy Wasserstein's bestselling children's book, Pamela's First Musical, written with Wasserstein and City of Angels collaborator Cy Coleman. Series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer, in her first season at the helm, notes that this is the first time in over 25 years that L&L will devote an entire show to a contemporary Broadway songwriter at the height of his career--a return to the spirit in which L&L was founded, with the living lyricist as an active participant.

The special guest are list has been announced for James Barbour'S HOLIDAY CONCERT at Sardi's (234 West 44th Street - between Broadway & Eighth Avenue). The series of evenings begins tonight, December 20th. The starry list is as follows, Brandi Burkhardt (December 20), Natalie Toro (December 23), Derek Keeling and Kate Shindle (December 24), Jodi Graham (December 26), Deborah Gibson (December 27), Marla Schaffel (December 30), Marc Kudisch (January 2), Natalie Toro and Kevin Earley (January 3), and film and stage star Jack Noseworthy (January 4). The Concert is at 8:30 pm. THE HOLIDAY CONCERT will play at Sardi's through Sunday, January 4th where it intends to become an annual event. It is being presented by Treehouse Entertainment, Inc. and Roberta Nusim for TMA (Theatrical Marketing Associates).

The special guest are list has been announced foor James Barbour'S HOLIDAY CONCERT at Sardi's (234 West 44th Street - between Broadway & Eighth Avenue). The starry list is as follows, Brandi Burkhardt (December 20), Natalie Toro (December 23), Derek Keeling and Kate Shindle (December 24), Jodi Graham (December 26), Deborah Gibson (December 27), Marla Schaffel (December 30), Marc Kudisch (January 2), Natalie Toro and Kevin Earley (January 3), and film and stage star Jack Noseworthy (January 4). The Concert is at 8:30 pm. THE HOLIDAY CONCERT will play at Sardi's through Sunday, January 4th where it intends to become an annual event. It is being presented by Treehouse Entertainment, Inc. and Roberta Nusim for TMA (Theatrical Marketing Associates).

POZ's 'Bacharch to the Future' Fundraiser brought music and promise to the New World Stages on Monday, December 1, 2008, World AIDS Day. The premier performance of Bacharach to the Future, a fund-raiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, honored music legend Burt Bacharach, the composer of 'That's What Friends Are For,' the pioneering recording that benefited The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985.

POZ's 'Bacharach to the Future' Fundraiser comes to New World Stages in New York on Monday, December 1, 2008, World AIDS Day. Members of BroadwayWorld can purchase tickets to 'Bacharach to the Future' for $41.50.