Lindsay Mendez News

Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic musical Carousel, under the direction of three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien and choreography by Justin Peck, opens officially Thursday, April 12. Check out photos of the cast in action below!

The Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF) today announced that Tony Award-winning performers Ben Platt (DEAR EVAN HANSEN), Rachel Bay Jones (DEAR EVAN HANSEN) and Laura Benanti (GYPSY); Tony, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken; multiple Grammy and Academy Award-winning songwriter Kristen Anderson-Lopez (FROZEN, COCO) and double E.G.O.T.-winning songwriter Robert Lopez (FROZEN, COCO, AVENUE Q, BOOK OF MORMON); along with acclaimed soprano Renee Fleming (currently appearing on Broadway in CAROUSEL), will take the stage at the Hudson Theatre to toast the life and work of one of American theatre's greatest living composers, Stephen Schwartz, on Monday, April 23, 2018 at 7pm EST. The star-filled concert, sponsored in part by the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and the Hudson Theatre, will showcase and shine a spotlight on Schwartz's beloved songs, stories, and legacy in celebration of his 70th Birthday.

Very Intense Productions presents Songs from THREE POINTS OF CONTACT, a new musical by Ryan Scott Oliver. The evening will be presented at 54 Below (254 West 54th Street, NYC), on Monday, April 30 at 7:00pm and 9:30pm. Marshall Pailet (Baghdaddy) directs.

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - has announced the winners of their first annual vocal competition, "NextGen: Finding The Voices of Tomorrow." The First Place female winner is Nia Savoy (Howard University) and the First Place male winner is Evan LaChance (The Catholic University of America).

Jelani Alladin (Kristoff), Greg Hildreth (Olaf), John Riddle (Hans) and the entire cast of the new Broadway hit Frozen surprised the sold-out house at the St. James Theatre this afternoon with a tribute to Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic musical Oklahoma!, which opened at the St. James Theatre 75 years ago today, on March 31, 1943.

Enjoy a dazzling romp through Broadway musicals and the great dance numbers that made musical theatre history when Dancin' Broadway comes to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 28 at 8 pm. Tickets are $29=$69.

Kenneth Lonergan's Lobby Hero, directed by Trip Cullman and starring Michael Cera, Chris Evans, Brian Tyree Henry, and Bel Powley, officially opened last night, Monday, March 26, at the newly renovated Hayes Theater. BroadwayWorld is taking you on the red carpet as the cast and fellow actors arrived on opening night! Check out the photos below!

NEXTGEN BROADWAY, the premiere performing group from David Green's Musical Theatre University in Southern California have recorded an anthem to support the efforts of March for Our Lives, the organization which supports the end of gun violence in schools, following the tragic event at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14. A FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES was recorded as a way for students to utilize their voices to add to the call for action to end gun violence in our nation and our nation's schools. You can Link To LISTEN TO THE SONG here.

The Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF) will toast the life and work of one of American theatre's greatest writers, Stephen Schwartz, on Monday April 23rd at 7PM EST at the Hudson Theatre (141 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036). The star-filled concert, sponsored in part by the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) and the Hudson Theatre, will showcase and shine a spotlight on Schwartz's beloved songs, stories, and legacy in celebration of his 70th Birthday.

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will conclude their star-studded third season with Let's Misbehave: Cole Porter After Dark at the Orchestra's new home, Arena Stage at The Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth Street SW) on Saturday, May 19 at 8:00 PM. Let's Misbehave will feature guest stars Betty Who (the pop star making her orchestra debut), Liz Callaway (Tony Award nominee, voice of Disney's Princess Jasmine and Anastasia), Ali Ewoldt ((Phantom of the Opera on Broadway), Helen Hayes Awards Winner), Vishal Vaidya (Groundhog Day on Broadway), and Mo Rocca ('CBS Sunday Morning,' NPR's 'Wait Wait…Don't Tell Me!'). Conductor Luke Frazier will lead a 20-piece orchestra in an evening directed by Kelly Crandall d'Amboise. Tickets are on sale now at www.TheAmericanPops.org.

Carousel is headed back to Broadway and its cast leaves nothing to be desired; get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!

On Monday, February 19, the Theater People podcast welcomes Broadway favorite Adam Kantor back to the podcast. Kantor, currently co-starring as Telephone Guy in the critically acclaimed new musical THE BAND'S VISIT shares stories of how he won the role, working with the creative team on creating the role, and perfecting his character's haunting and beautiful song 'Answer Me.'

On Monday, February 5 Theater People podcast welcomes Tony winner Lea Salonga. For the episode, Salonga Talks about taking on the role of Erzule, The Goddess of Love in Michael Arden's Broadway revival of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, which is currently playing at The Circle in the Square theater on Broadway.

Maestro LUKE FRAZIER and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - has teamed up with Washington, DC chapter of The National Society of Arts and Letters for their first annual vocal competition, "NextGen: Finding The Voices of Tomorrow."  The final round audition will take place on Friday, March 23 at 8:00 PM in Washington, DC at Arena Stage in The Kreeger Theater. Judges for competition will include Baayork Lee (Tony winning Broadway Legend), Jim Caruso (Birdland Jazz Club), Kelly d'Amboise (Signature Theater and APO Resident Director), and Robert Pullen (Emmy-nominated Producer and owner of Nouveau Productions). Tickets - which are $20 for adults and $10 for students - will be on sale Friday, February 2. Please visit www.TheAmericanPops.org.

Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) Musical Theatre Conservatory students collaborate with Broadway actress and singer Megan McGinnis for the school's annual Performing with the Pros. During this exceptional, cabaret-style performance, McGinnis and OCSA students take the audience on a journey through the star's personal and professional life experiences through music. McGinnis is best known for her roles as Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and Eponine in the first Broadway revival of Les Mis rables. Other theater credits include: Daddy Long Legs (off-Broadway), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Little Women and many others. Performing with the Pros is open to the public and takes place Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2-3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Margaret A. Webb Theatre. Tickets are $26 online, $27 at the door, and can be purchased at boxoffice.ocsarts.net. In years past, Performing with the Pros has featured various Broadway actors, including Eden Espinosa ( Wicked, Rent ), Ali Stroker ( Spring Awakening ) and OCSA alumnae Susan Egan ( Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cabaret ), Krysta Rodriguez ( The Addams Family, Spring Awakening, In the Heights ) and Lindsay Mendez ( Wicked, Godspell, Carousel ). Performing with the Pros, which has been an annual event at OCSA for more than a decade, gives students the opportunity to work side-by-side with industry professionals who can provide them with invaluable training and learning experiences. The students and McGinnis will endure a fast-paced, intensive four-week rehearsal process to prepare them for the performance. Performing with the Pros allows students to envision the path to success, offering them a very special glimpse into the possibility of their own future as professional performers, placing their dreams within reach, says Karen Rymar, assistant director of the Musical Theatre Conservatory. McGinnis has an interesting history with OCSA. As a teenager, she had many friends who attended the arts high school, including Scott Barnhardt, who is the school's Musical Theatre Conservatory Director. She also made a short documentary about the school in college. Performing with the Pros is part of OCSA's Master Artist Series, which is generously sponsored by Maureen and Michal Mekjian, the McBeth Foundation, the Samueli Foundation, the Elerding Foundation, Harriet and Sandy Sandhu, the O.L. Halsell Foundation, the William Gillespie Foundation and the Kimmel Foundation. About Orange County School of the Arts: The nationally recognized Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) provides a creative, challenging and nurturing environment that offers bright and talented students unparalleled preparation for higher education and a profession in the arts. Established in 1987, the school currently serves nearly 2,200 gifted students in grades seven through 12. In addition to a rigorous academic program, OCSA offers students the opportunity to focus on one of the 14 arts conservatories offered. OCSA has been named as one of California's Gold Ribbon Schools for 2017 and is an Arts Schools Network 2017-2019 Exemplary School. OCSA is consistently named one of America's Best High Schools by U.S. News & World Report, recognized in Newsweek magazine's annual list of America's Best 2,000 Public High Schools in the Nation, and ranked as one of the Best Charter High Schools in California by Niche. OCSA is the only specialized arts program of its kind in the region to offer tuition-free academic and arts instruction to students from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. The nonprofit public charter school relies solely on private donations, totaling $8.5 million annually, to fund the pre-professional arts training programs. For additional information, visit www.ocsarts.net.

92Y announces Ted Chapin, President & Chief Creative Officer of Rodgers & Hammerstein, will serve in the newly created role of Producer of Lyrics & Lyricists, beginning next season. For nearly five decades, L&L has been at the forefront of exploring and sharing the best of the American Songbook, and this opens a new chapter.

On Monday, January 8, Theater People podcast welcome's back Broadway favorite Telly Leung. For the episode, Leung discusses recently winning the title role in Disney's ALADDIN on Broadway. He also shares stories from his recent work on IN TRANSIT and ALLEGIANCE.

The box office of the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street) opens today at 10 a.m. for Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic musical Carousel. Simultaneously, a cast of 39 assembles for the first day of rehearsal under the direction of three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien and choreography by Justin Peck for this most deeply anticipated production of the new season which begins preview performances on Wednesday, February 28 and officially opens on Thursday, April 12.

Maestro Luke Frazier and The American Pops Orchestra - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will continue their star-studded third season with Around the World in 80 Days, the world premiere of a new family-oriented musical written by Claybourne Elder ('Gossip Girl,' Broadway's Sunday in the Park...) and directed by Kelly Crandall d'Amboise.

As 2017 comes to a close, BroadwayWorld takes you back through this year's top curtain call moments. From the opening nights of every new show this year, to the anniversary performance of The Lion King which featured a performance by Elton John, check out photos of these curtain call moments to remember!