Laurence Olivier News

John Tiffany's production of Once, winner of eight 2012 Tony awards including Best New Musical, will open in the West End in Spring 2013. With book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh, the London production of Once will open at the Phoenix Theatre on 9 April, with previews from 16 March 2013. Currently booking to 30 November 2013, Once will be produced in the West End by Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, Orin Wolf and Michael Rose Limited in association with New York Theatre Workshop. Prior to its West End opening Once will run at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin from 22 February - 9 March 2013.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, producer Marty Richards passed away today after a long battle with cancer. He was 80 years old. We celebrate the life and career of the legend below

The North American tour of Disney's The Lion King broke the SHN Orpheum Theatre box office record (for the highest grossing week of a Broadway engagement), grossing $1,674,059 for eight performances the week ending November 25.

BroadwayWorld.com has confirmed the sad news that producer Marty Richards passed away today after a long battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.

'Inside The Lion King,' the first immersive, pop-up exhibit ever created for a Broadway show, arrives adjacent to Bryant Park, on 42nd Street and Avenue of the Americas, for a limited time to celebrate 15 years of The Lion King in New York City. More than 65 million people have experienced The Lion King, but never before like this. In this free exhibit, fans of all ages will experience and interact with 86 museum-quality artifacts including hand-made puppets, sculpted masks, elaborate artisan costumes and extraordinary sets that have appeared in productions from around the world.

Trevor Nunn directs the Old Vic and Chichester Festival Theatre's production of Kiss Me, Kate, with Music and lyrics by Cole Porter and Book by Sam and Bella Spewack, which is scheduled for London performances from 1 December followed by a Chichester premiere on 27 June 2012. Choreography is provided by Stephen Mear for a cast that includes Alex Bourne, David Burt, Adam Garcia, Clive Rowe and Hannah Waddingham. Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

Sofitel Melbourne on Collins presents ONE AFTERNOON WITH STEPHEN SONDHEIM, today, 23 November at 2 p.m., hosted by ABC CLASSIC FM Mornings Presenter Christopher Lawrence.

Das 11-fach preisgekrönte Broadway-Musical NATÜRLICH BLOND (Originaltitel: LEGALLY BLONDE) feiert am 21. Februar 2013 seine deutschsprachige Erstaufführung im RONACHER. Intendant Christian Struppeck freut sich, die Besetzung der Hauptdarsteller für NATÜRLICH BLOND bekannt geben zu können. Aus über 1.200 Bewerbern haben sich 230 Künstlerinnen alleine für die Hauptrolle der „Elle Woods“ beworben.

Arts Centre Melbourne is offering audiences the chance to ring in the New Year with Joey, everyone's favourite War Horse. A strictly limited number of tickets to War Horse and the Official War Horse Opening Night Party on New Year's Eve are now on sale, offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the Australian premiere of the production. They will then then rub shoulders (or manes) with War Horse cast members, including the life-sized horse puppet Joey, and wine and dine with some of Australia's entertainment royalty at the exclusive after-party.

Internationally acclaimed Companhia de Danca Deborah Colker return to the Barbican with Tatyana, a new piece inspired by Alexander Pushkin's masterpiece Eugene Onegin.

Trevor Nunn will direct the Old Vic and Chichester Festival Theatre's production of KISS ME, KATE, with Music and lyrics by Cole Porter and Book by Sam and Bella Spewack, which is scheduled for London performances from tonight, the 20th of November and a Chichester premiere in June.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today that it will present 15 films in their original 70mm glory, featuring a mix of beloved classics and rarely screened gems, all at the Walter Reade Theater - one of the last remaining cinemas in the country equipped to screen 70mm prints.

Disney Theatrical Productions and Broadway In Detroit announced today that tickets for the long-awaited return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING, playing a limited four-week engagement at the Detroit Opera House, February 13 - March 10, 2013, will go on sale to the public on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the Fisher Theatre box office, the Detroit Opera House box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 1-866-870-2717, and online at www.ticketmaster.com, www.lionking.com or www.broadwayindetroit.com. Tickets start at $25. Additionally, Premium Ticket Packages, which include a prime seat location, a commemorative souvenir program, and parking, are also available. For group sales (20 or more), please email groups@broadwayindetroit.com or call (313) 871-1132. For additional information, call (313) 872-1000 or visit www.broadwayindetroit.com.

Broadway's landmark musical event THE LION KING celebrated its 15th Anniversary Sunday evening with a one-night only celebratory performance benefitting The Actors Fund. Virtually the entire creative team, who collectively won six Tony® Awards for their work on the show, reunited for the sold out performance.

The Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour 55th Anniversary Celebration makes its way to Segerstrom Center for the Arts on January 13 in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The all- star ensemble will perform classic jazz and original compositions by critically acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning artists: bassist and musical director Christian McBride, vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, saxophonist Chris Potter, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Benny Green and drummer Lewis Nash.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, adapted for the stage from the MGM Motion Picture by Jeremy Sams and Ray Broderick with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman will open at Sydney's Capitol Theatre from tonight, 16th of November. The show will be directed in Australia by Roger Hodgman and features sets and costumes by renownEd English designer Anthony Ward.

Disney's landmark musical event, The Lion King, celebrates 15 years on Broadway today, November 13th at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street, New York City). Virtually the entire creative team, who collectively won six Tony Awards for their work on the show, will reunite for a one-night only celebratory performance Sunday, November 18th as a benefit for The Actors Fund.

The New School for Drama has announced that BAFTA Award-winning English playwright, director and screenwriter Sir David Hare will serve as distinguished Artist-in-Residence for one week beginning today, November 12, 2012.