Michael Barra News

Trade one quaint New England seacoast village for another this fall with the world premiere of Mystic Pizza: A New Musical at Ogunquit Playhouse. From September 1 through October 2, 2021, Ogunquit Playhouse’s 25,000-square-foot, open-air Leary Pavilion will host the new musical based on the beloved 1988 romantic comedy that launched the career of Julia Roberts. Mystic Pizza is produced in association with Lively McCabe Entertainment.

From September 1 through October 2, 2021, Ogunquit Playhouse’s 25,000-square-foot, open-air Leary Pavilion will showcase the new musical based on the beloved 1988 MGM romantic comedy with original story and characters by Amy Holden Jones. Mystic Pizza is produced in association with Lively McCabe Entertainment.

The initial production of the new musical stage adaptation of the 1988 Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) motion picture MYSTIC PIZZA, with story and characters by Amy Holden Jones, will open this summer at the Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. 

Lively McCabe Entertainment and CuzBro Productions – the production company founded by Brian Kelley of the multi-platinum, award-winning duo Florida Georgia Line – will world premiere the musical MAY WE ALL in June 2022 as a special presentation of Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Broadway at TPAC series.

As we find ourselves in the midst of the holiday calendar, a normally busy time for producing organizations across the world feels very different this year.

Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley announced today that they will host a very special 'Free To Be...You and Me' episode of 'Stars In The House' on Friday, June 26 at 8PM ET.

The John W. Engeman Theater announces the cast and creative team for SISTER ACT. Performances begin on Thursday, March 19 and run through Sunday, May 3, 2020.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) will bring the madcap mystery Clue: A New Comedy to the Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square. Performances begin January 25, 2020 and continue through February 23, 2020.

Lively McCabe Entertainment announces a partnership with Brian Kelley -- of the multi-platinum, award-winning duo Florida Georgia Line -- via his CuzBro Productions banner, on the recently announced new musical MAY WE ALL. Kelley and partners Stephen Snedden and Justin Halliwell join previously announced producers, Lively McCabe Entertainment President Michael Barra, and Elyse Cogan, Director, Theatrical for BMG. CuzBro will be actively involved in the creative development of the project, and a developmental production will be staged in Memphis, Tennessee at Playhouse on the Square in the fall of 2020 (dates TBA). The producers are simultaneously pursuing a feature film adaptation of the musical.

Lively McCabe Entertainment announces a partnership with Brian Kelley -- of the multi-platinum, award-winning duo Florida Georgia Line -- via his CuzBro Productions banner, on the recently announced new musical MAY WE ALL. Kelley and partners Stephen Snedden and Justin Halliwell join previously announced producers, Lively McCabe Entertainment President Michael Barra, and Elyse Cogan, Director, Theatrical for BMG. CuzBro will be actively involved in the creative development of the project, and a developmental production will be staged in Memphis, Tennessee at Playhouse on the Square in the fall of 2020 (dates TBA). The producers are simultaneously pursuing a feature film adaptation of the musical.

Last night, Monday, September 9, 2019, The Players honored Tony Award-nominated composer and writer Joe Iconis (Be More Chill) with a Pipe Night, a club tradition that has celebrated significant cultural figures for over a century.

Lively McCabe Entertainment President Michael Barra proudly announces that Allison Bressi has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Theater.  Since April 2019, Ms. Bressi has worked with the production company as a Creative Development Consultant, assisting on the development of select stage musicals.

Lively McCabe Entertainment recently announced Punk Rock Girl, a new musical for the stage featuring a score of popular songs written and made famous by female artists and female-fronted bands including Blondie, Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett, P!nk, Gwen Stefani and more. A new collaboration with BMG and R&H Theatricals, A Concord Music Company, the musical features a book and arrangements by Tony Award-nominee Joe Iconis (Be More Chill). The project will be directed and choreographed by Jennifer Werner (The Black Suits), with co-arrangements and orchestrations by Rob Rokicki (composer/lyricist of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical). Punk Rock Girl will be published and licensed by R&H Theatricals, A Concord Music Company.

The Players announces its next Pipe Night, honoring Tony Award-nominated composer and writer Joe Iconis (Be More Chill). A favorite Players tradition that has celebrated significant cultural figures for over a century, the Pipe Night for Mr. Iconis will be held on Monday, September 9th starting at 6:30 pm at The Players, located at 16 Gramercy Park South. 

If it's possible to be nostalgic for a time and place in which you've never lived, you will experience that feeling in A Bronx Tale.

Performing Arts Fort Worth proudly presents the first national tour of the hit Broadway production, A BRONX TALE, at Bass Performance Hall July 23-28. The show is part of Performing Arts Fort Worth's 2018-2019 Broadway at the Bass series. Tickets start at $44 and are on sale now!

Lively McCabe Entertainment Co-President Michael Barra proudly announces the expansion of their Columbus Circle office with the hiring of two key executives, Darnetha Lincoln M'Baye and Molly Israel Paul. Ms. M'Baye has joined the company as VP, Head of Music and will be responsible for managing the company's content partnerships with the major music publishers, as well as overseeing the packaging of all music intellectual property elements into the company's stage, film, and television development slates. Also joining Lively McCabe this month is Molly Israel Paul, who will serve as Creative Executive, focusing on the development of new plays adapted from existing IP for the company's exclusive HollyWay collection at Dramatists Play Service. Lively McCabe is also pleased to announce that Jen Bender and Allison Bressi will begin working with the company this month as Creative Development Consultants and will each oversee the development of select stage musicals on behalf of the company.

Two iconic stars made a surprise appearance at last night's performance of A Bronx Tale in Boston. The show's creator, Chazz Palminteri, and co-director Robert DeNiro (who also directed, and starred in, the film) took the stage following curtain call to give a speech.

The North American tour of A BRONX TALE doo-wops its way into the Citizens Bank Opera House through April 14th as part of the 2018-2019 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season. It is at once a nostalgic stroll down memory lane with an original rock 'n' roll score, a gritty depiction of urban turf wars, and a well-told story about loyalty, love, and family. Based on Chazz Palminteri's 1989 one-man Off-Broadway play that inspired a 1993 film, the musical reunites the author with his directors, Jerry Zaks and Robert DeNiro, and they are joined by composer Alan Menken, lyricist Glenn Sater, and choreographer Sergio Trujillo. Like other musicals that have come before it (HAIRSPRAY, JERSEY BOYS, WEST SIDE STORY, to mention a few), A BRONX TALE feels familiar as it evokes a time, a place, and a genre that we recognize. It is a good, solid show with great music, performances, and design elements that provides a couple of hours of entertainment and escape.

Lively McCabe Entertainment Co-President Michael Barra proudly announces a slate of three new stage musicals in partnership with licensing agency Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) and music powerhouse BMG. These initial three projects, all which will have premiere productions in 2020 (TBA), will feature select music from the BMG catalog, as part of their previously announced partnership with Lively McCabe.