Martin Charnin News

The power may have been lost at McKinley High on FOX's hit musical dramedy series Glee last night, but there was no shortage of mega-wattage musical magnificence to set the night alight anyway - particularly for the Broadway babies among us, given the major tributes to A CHORUS LINE and ANNIE. Yes, indeed, 'Lights Out' was Glee at its very best. Oh, yeah - and Frida Romero, too (you read that name right)!

The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) in collaboration with Producer Eva Price and the Broadway revival of the Tony Award winning musical Annie announced a new collaboration to raise awareness and funds for arts education programs for underserved students throughout New York City.

Atlanta Lyric Theatre will present its 34th season of musicals. 2013-14 will be its most spectacular season to date! With five fantastic shows - Mel Brooks' hysterical Tony Award-winning The Producers; Frank Loesser's classic Broadway musical Guys and Dolls; the song and dance extravaganza Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies; everyone's favorite little orphan Annie the Musical; and the irreverently funny musings of Monty Python's Spamalot - the Lyric looks forward to continuing to deliver unforgettable theatrical experiences to its patrons. Additionally, The Lyric will re-mount the successful holiday production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas as an add-on to the season.

The Drama League (Executive Director, Gabriel Shanks) has announced the 2013 Drama League Awards Nominees for Distinguished Play, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and Distinguished Performance Award. The nominations were announced at a ceremony hosted by Patina Miller and Michael Urie this morning at Sardi's Restaurant which were streamed live online at www.BroadwayWorld.com.

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, will be celebrating 'World Book Night' on Tuesday, April 23. All Annie audience members at the Tuesday performance will receive a paperback book, courtesy of World Book Night, for them to pass on to a reluctant reader or a reader in need.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, April 21, 2013 - Sunday, April 21, 2013.

Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, who stars in the hit FOX television show 'Glee' as ruthless cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester and who will soon make her Broadway debut as tyrannical orphanage matron Miss Hannigan in Annie, will be a guest on 'Ellen' today, April 22. In the New York area, 'Ellen' airs at 4:00 PM on WNBC-TV Channel 4. Check local listings.

Southern Rep Theatre concludes its 26th Season Mainstage Series with NEXT TO NORMAL with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. Directed by Blake Coheley and musical direction by Jefferson Turner. Featuring: Leslie Castay, Richard Hutton, Madison Kerth, Clint Johnson, Matthew Thompson and Michael Krikorian.

Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, who stars in the hit FOX television show "Glee" as ruthless cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester and who will soon make her Broadway debut as tyrannical orphanage matron Miss Hannigan in ANNIE, will be a guest on "Ellen" on Monday, April 22. In the New York area, "Ellen" airs at 4:00 PM on WNBC-TV Channel 4. Check local listings.

FOX confirms exclusively to BroadwayWorld that Jane Lynch will be performing ANNIE's iconic Miss Hannigan anthem 'Little Girls' on next week's episode of the hit musical dramedy series, 'Lights Out'.

Today in 1977, Annie opened at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre), where it ran for 2377 performances. Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical's songs 'Tomorrow' and 'It's the Hard-Knock Life' are among its most popular musical numbers.

Jana Robbins and Better World Productions present staged readings of ROBIN HOOD - The Final Adventure (Book by Thomas Meehan, Music by Peter Sipos, Lyrics by Martin Charnin) on Friday, May 3rd and Monday, May 6th in New York City. The industry-only staged readings are open by invitation only. ROBIN HOOD - The Final Adventure is an exciting new musical filled with drama, intrigue, suspense and a whole lot of laughter.

Southern Rep Theatre announces the cast for NEXT TO NORMAL with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. Directed by Blake Coheley and musical direction by Jefferson Turner.

Just yesterday, Broadway's Annie, Lilla Crawford, celebrated her 12th birthday at Times Square's new Cake Boss Cafe, inspired by the hit TLC show, 'Cake Boss'. In attendance to celebrate Lilla's birthday were her fellow young Broadway stars Alex Drier (The Assembled Party, Billy Elliot), Lewis Grasso (Newsies, Ragtime), Jack Broderick (Billy Elliot, Matilda), Ava DiMary (Billy Elliot, Matilda), Emma Howard (Matilda), Sadie Sink (ANNIE, Tuck Everlasting), and many more. BroadwayWord brings you full coverage from the celebration below!

Today in 1997, Annie opened at the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre), where it ran for 239 performances. Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years, setting a record for the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre). It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical's songs 'Tomorrow' and 'It's the Hard-Knock Life' are among its most popular musical numbers.

Just yesterday, Broadway's Annie, Lilla Crawford, celebrated her 12th birthday at Times Square's new Cake Boss Cafe, inspired by the hit TLC show, 'Cake Boss'. In attendance to celebrate Lilla's birthday were her fellow young Broadway stars Alex Drier (The Assembled Party, Billy Elliot), Lewis Grasso (Newsies, Ragtime), Jack Broderick (Billy Elliot, Matilda), Ava DiMary (Billy Elliot, Matilda), Emma Howard (Matilda), Sadie Sink (ANNIE, Tuck Everlasting), and many more. BroadwayWord brings you photos from the celebration below!

The Broadway League has awarded coveted New York Education Grants to the Broadway productions of Annie by Martin Charnin, Charles Strouse and Thomas Meehan, and Kinky Boots by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper. Each production receives a $5,000 grant towards its 2013 educational initiatives. The grants aid the growth and development of theatre education in the city as they encourage Broadway productions to create more opportunities for young people and to exchange ideas about education.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, who stars in the hit FOX television show 'Glee' as ruthless cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, will take on another great tyrannical role as evil orphanage matron Miss Hannigan in the new Broadway production of Annie at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway between 46th and 47th Streets). Lynch, a stage veteran of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company and The Second City, will be making her Broadway debut. She will play Miss Hannigan for eight weeks only, from Thursday, May 16 through Sunday, July 14. In the video below, Lynch chats with Howard Bragman on 'Gwissues' about her upcoming Broadway debut. Jump to the 9 minute mark to hear what she has to say!

Justin Timberlake may soon be putting on his suit and tie and heading to a mansion on New York's Fifth Avenue. According to the New York Post, the singer is being considered for the lead role of Daddy Warbucks in Sony Pictures' upcoming film adaptation of ANNIE.