Michael A. Kerker News

On Sunday, March 26, 2023, Encompass New Opera Theatre (Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director), The Board of Trustees and The Encompass Honorary Gala Chair, Sheldon Harnick will pay tribute to Tony Award Winning Songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and Legendary Cabaret and Concert Artist -- Marilyn Maye with a star- studded musical salute.

On Sunday, March 20, 2022, Encompass New Opera Theatre, The Board of Trustees and The Encompass Honorary Gala Chairs, Sheldon Harnick and Maury Yeston will pay tribute to Legendary Theatrical Icon and Tony Award-winning luminaries, CHITA RIVERA and DANNY BURSTEIN, with a star-studded musical salute.

The 2020 ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop is now accepting applications through March 2, 2020 for its Los Angeles and New York programs. The acclaimed workshops give participating composers and lyricists the rare chance to present selections from original, musical works-in-progress for professional critique. The Los Angeles workshop, presented in partnership with Universal Theatrical Group (UTG) and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis), returns to The Wallis's Beverly Hills campus on April 6 & 7, marking the fifth consecutive year of the creative collaboration.

On Sunday, January 26, 2020, Encompass New Opera Theatre (Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director), The Board of Trustees and The Encompass Honorary Gala Chair, Sheldon Harnick will pay tribute to Academy Award and Tony Award-winning luminaries, ESTELLE PARSONS and MAURY YESTON, with a star-studded musical salute. The elegant evening - hosted by Midge Woolsey of Thirteen/WNET and WQXR Radio - will feature recollections and tributes by well-known Musical Theatre and Opera personalities and friends. Dazzling musical entertainment will feature stars of stage and screen.

On Sunday, March 31st, Encompass New Opera Theatre (Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director), The Board of Trustees and The Encompass Honorary Gala Chairs, Sheldon Harnick and Maury Yeston will pay tribute to Tony Award-winning luminaries, LAURA BENANTI AND BARTLETT SHER, with a star-studded musical salute.

The 2019 ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop, in partnership with Universal Theatrical Group (UTG) and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis), returns to The Wallis' Beverly Hills campus in May marking the fourth consecutive year for this creative collaboration. The acclaimed workshop series gives participating composers and lyricists the rare opportunity to present selections from original musical works-in-progress for professional critique.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts proudly presents Pasek And Paul: Up Close and Personal with Special Guests, an exclusive one-night-only event featuring the acclaimed Tony Award-winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul on January 7, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Jerry Herman lives a few miles away in Miami and had to cancel a surprise appearance last night but his glorious music and lyrics, sung by some of the best voices in show business filled the air in this great venue in the City of Aventura. Klea Blackhurst, Scott Coulter, Jason Graae, and Debbie Gravitte some of Broadway's most acclaimed artist were the cast in 'Jerry Herman, The Broadway Legacy Concert' produced by ASCAP's Michael A. Kerker. Jerry may not have given the audience a surprise Valentine's Day visit but they will long remember Jason Graae singing 'I Won't Send You Roses' from Mack & Mabel.

On Sunday, November 19th, Encompass New Opera Theatre, The Board of Trustees and The Encompass Honorary Gala Chairs, Alan Alda, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, and Maury Yeston paid tribute to Broadway's sparkling luminary, Christine Ebersole, with a star-studded musical salute. BroadwayWorld has photos from the evening below!

Aspiring musical theatre composers have the chance of a lifetime to work on their creation with Oscar-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz at one of the upcoming 2018 ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshops.

On Sunday, November 19th, Encompass New Opera Theatre (Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director), The Board of Trustees and The Encompass Honorary Gala Chairs, Alan Alda, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, and Maury Yeston will pay tribute to Broadway's sparkling luminary, CHRISTINE EBERSOLE, with a star-studded musical salute.

On Friday, February 3 at 7:30pm, ASCAP Artistic Director and Tony, Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt) was joined by Broadway guest stars for An Evening with Stephen Schwartz: Music & Broadway Memories. 

The 2017 ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop, in Partnership with DreamWorks Animation and The Wallis, is now accepting applications for the 2017 edition of the popular workshop series that gives selected composers and lyricists the opportunity to present selections from original musical works in progress for professional critique. The workshop will take place on February 1 & 2, 2017. 

The 2017 ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop, in Partnership with DreamWorks Animation and The Wallis, is now accepting applications for the 2017 edition of the popular workshop series that gives selected composers and lyricists the opportunity to present selections from original musical works in progress for professional critique. The workshop will take place on February 1 & 2, 2017. 

Encompass New Opera Theatre and Gala Honorary Chairs Zoe Caldwell, Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, and Maury Yeston will honor legendary songwriting team LYNN AHRENS and STEPHEN FLAHERTY and playwright TERRENCE MCNALLY (Ragtime, Chita Rivera: A Dancer's Life, A Man of No Importance, and their upcoming Broadway musical, Anastasia) with a star-studded musical salute on Sunday, October 23.

The early registration deadline for the sixth biennial Biz of the Musical Theatre Biz Conference is coming up on June 1.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts announces a new partnership with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and DreamWorks Studios to present the highly successful annual program

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts announces a new partnership with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and DreamWorks Studios to present the highly successful annual program, The ASCAP Foundation Musical Theatre Workshop. Now in its 23rd year under the leadership of Artistic Director Stephen Schwartz, the workshop -- giving selected composers and lyricists the opportunity to present selections from original musical works in progress for professional critique -- will take place at The Wallis in Beverly Hills from Feb. 16-18, 2016, with submissions now being accepted. The application deadline is Dec. 16, 2015. 

Encompass New Opera Theatre held a gala to honor legendary Broadway performer BARBARA COOK and lyricist LEE ADAMS (Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Applause) with a star-studded musical salute on Sunday, October 25. BroadwayWorld has photos from the evening below!