Marc Shaiman News

Following a twenty year absence from the New York cabaret scene, Jenifer Lewis returns to the Big Apple for seven performances only at 54 Below. From Broadway's Eubie to Hairspray, television's Jackie's Back to Strong Medicine, and film's What's Love Got to Do With It, Beaches, Cars and The Princess and the Frog, Jenifer Lewis, one of Bette Midler's most infamous Harlettes, is a force of nature whose voice is as distinctive as her take no prisoners sense of humor. Just yesterday, Lewis and Shaiman met the press, and you can check out full photo coverage below!

Following a twenty year absence from the New York cabaret scene, Jenifer Lewis returns to the Big Apple for seven performances only at 54 Below. From Broadway's Eubie to Hairspray, television's Jackie's Back to Strong Medicine, and film's What's Love Got to Do With It, Beaches, Cars and The Princess and the Frog, Jenifer Lewis, one of Bette Midler's most infamous Harlettes, is a force of nature whose voice is as distinctive as her take no prisoners sense of humor. Earlier today, Lewis and Shaiman met the press, and you can check out a photo preview from the festivities below. Be sure to check back later for full coverage!

A packed house of 1,100 audience members at the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford leapt to their feet before the final button of New Bedford Festival Theatre's current production of HAIRSPRAY.

For more than six years on Broadway and in the popular 2007 film adaptation, Hairspray delighted audiences the world over by transporting them to a candy-colored 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out-and change is definitely in the air. Now this throw-back to the classic musicals of yesterday comes to Tuacahn for the very first time, running now through September 4 and September 8 to October 20, 2012 at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah. Get a first look at the production in the photos below.

For more than six years on Broadway and in the popular 2007 film adaptation, Hairspray delighted audiences the world over by transporting them to a candy-colored 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out-and change is definitely in the air. Now this throw-back to the classic musicals of yesterday comes to Tuacahn for the very first time, running now through September 4 and September 8 to October 20, 2012 at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Universal Television released reactions from Emmy Nominees for '30 Rock,' 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,' 'Saturday Night Live' and 'Smash'.

Broadway's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who co-write the music for NBC's hit musical drama SMASH, reacted to this morning's news that they received an Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the show.

Broadway stars and theater-related shows were strongly represented in this year's list of the 2012 Emmy Nominations including Bobby Cannavale, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Modern Family and Christine Baranski - Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Diane Lockhart in The Good Wife.

Joe Iconis is a Tony Award-winning composer in the making, but until he wins that ultimate prize he's making a few stops along the way, like tonight when he and his 'Family' perform a concert of his 'Greatest Hits' at 54 Below.

Seattle Women's Chorus (SWC) kicks off its 2012-2013 Season with their Fall concert, How Sweet the Sound (October 12-20, 2012) in a spectacular new venue, Saint Mark's Cathedral on Capitol Hill. SWC celebrates 10 years of big, bold, beautiful music and their 200+ voices will fill the Cathedral as they pay tribute to the choral tradition and create new rhythms and sounds.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Divas on parade: Menzel, Cook, Hudson, Luker and Mazzie, plus the new year's offerings from Broadway In Chicago and local productions of 'Fame,' 'Little Shop' and more!....

La MaMa concluded its 50th anniversary season with a successful benefit evening highlighted by entertainment and tributes-the La MaMa 50 Big Bash-on Sunday, June 24 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU in Manhattan. The evening was emceed by the inimitable Tony nominee and longtime La MaMa artist Andre DeShields, who joined other performers, including Gavin Creel, Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Adrian Bailey, Everett Quinton, Lady J and Culture Hub, in entertaining the audience of 600-plus with music and dance that celebrated La MaMa's first 50 years, including an excerpt from its recent hit production of Scott Wittman's JUKEBOX JACKIE featuring Cole Escola and Bridget Everett. The evening was directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, who appeared as an actor at La MaMa during the early days of his career. Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, also La MaMa artists, served as the anniversary celebrations' co-chairs. See below for pictures of the BIG BASH's speakers and performers!

Tuacahn's production of Disney's "Aladdin" premiered Monday, June 4, starring Dan Domenech as Aladdin, Haley Carlucci as Princess Jasmine, Edward Juvier as Genie, and Michael G. Hawkins as Jafar. The production runs alternately with Marc Shaiman's "Hairspray" at Tuacahn Amphitheatre, an outdoor performance space nestled in a verdant valley, and surrounded by towering red rock cliffs, until October 19. We have a first look at the production photos below.

According to TVLine, THE ADDAMS FAMILY's Krysta Rodriguez is set to play series regular Ana in Smash Season 2.

Joe's Pub has announced its upcoming performances for July 30-August 6, including Urban Tango Trio, John Bibbs, Greg Diamond, Brazzaville, CMA Songwriter Series, Francesco Tristano, Michel Reis & Aaron Kruzik, Anna Marina, Rob Lewis, Easy Tells, Minerva Lions, Sidi Toure, Nath Ann Carrera and Ryan Raftery. See full details below.

It's 1962 Baltimore, where racial tension and segregation provide a backdrop for teen angst and lots of catchy tunes by Marc Shaiman (lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman) performed to stage-defying choreography by JR Bruno who manages to get some 15 ensemble members bopping around at times without crashing into each other on the small stage.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the Top Ten Hot Topix for the first half of 2012! Is your favorite production on the list?

Today we are taking a look at four sparkling new Blu-ray editions of well-regarded films from the Disney vault by focusing on three titles that are also currently running on Broadway in screen-to-stage adaptations at this very moment - EVITA, NEWSIES and SISTER ACT. The current trend of adapting hit films into musicals for the stage has sporadically proven that some stage adaptations can even be more entertaining onstage, while some recent movie musicals have one-upped their stage roots in a way a few Golden Age adaptations also managed to do. Such is the case with EVITA, NEWSIES, SISTER ACT and SISTER ACT 2 (the latter two both acting as inspiration for the Broadway SISTER ACT musical) - all available for the first time on Blu-ray and each certainly justifying consideration for inclusion in your library if only because each is regarded as a modern-day classic - of sorts - in its own unique and special way. And, without these films, we would never have the current versions of the shows now running on Broadway based upon them (even in the case of a classic like EVITA, whose stage version may have come first, but, as seen and heard in the hit Elena Roger/Ricky Martin/Michael Cerveris revival, now includes the film addition, "You Must Love Me"). Whatever the medium, all of these winning entities offer an entertaining way to beat the heat and celebrate the start of summer in style - with some tunes, old and new, you are not soon to forget.

Tuacahn's production of Disney's "Aladdin," which premiered Monday, June 4, starring Dan Domenech as Aladdin, Haley Carlucci as Princess Jasmine, Edward Juvier as Genie, and Michael G. Hawkins as Jafar, has recently released the show's official TV promo, featuring its lead actors. The production runs alternately with Marc Shaiman's "Hairspray" at Tuacahn Amphitheatre, an outdoor performance space nestled in a verdant valley, and surrounded by towering red rock cliffs, until October 19.

In an interview with Variety, NBC's Robert Greenblatt revealed that he intends to increase the drama and shake up the music featured in the show by recruiting 'up-and-comers' to compose new original music.