Michael Bennett News

Audiences of all ages will fall in love with Pittsburgh CLO's production of The Sound of Music, July 19-31 at the Benedum Center. T

Roundabout Theatre Company announced that Kelly Bishop (A Chorus Line, original Broadway company) will assume the role of "Evangeline Harcourt" on Tuesday, August 9th. Original cast member Jessica Walter will play her final performance on Sunday, July 31st which was the original end date of the limited run, now extended through January 8th, 2012. Roundabout Theatre Company presents the 2011 Tony® Award winning Anything Goes, starring 2011 Tony® Award winner Sutton Foster as "Reno Sweeney" and Tony® and Academy® Award winner Joel Grey as "Moonface Martin."

From its first Broadway production with Robert Morse in 1961 to the current version starring Daniel Radcliffe, the Frank Loesser/Abe Burrows musical HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING has been a real audience favorite, winning multiple Tony Awards and even a Pulitzer Prize.

Point Park University's Conservatory Theatre Company will produce five works, including one world premiere, in the 2011-2012 season, which opens October 21, 2011 and runs through April 22, 2012 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse.

From its first Broadway production with Robert Morse in 1961 to the current version starring Daniel Radcliffe, the Frank Loesser/Abe Burrows musical HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING has been a real audience favorite, winning multiple Tony Awards and even a Pulitzer Prize.

A BOOK OF MORMON sweep - Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Score and Best Featured Actress included - with a few unexpected moments along the routine ride was the 2011 Tony Awards in a nutshell - and, if we're putting best things first: it was Neil Patrick Harris and Hugh Jackman that took the prize as Best Actor and Best Featured Actor last night - no question about that. Not only was Harris an assured and energizing presence and great all-around host, he proved that he can roll with the punches no matter what happens - flubs, flop sweat or otherwise. Speaking of which: while Brooke Shields may not be taking home the top prize for her performance this time, certainly the ladies delivered in a big way thanks to the performance of Patina Miller and company from SISTER ACT and Sutton Foster's simply sensational 'Anything Goes'. Additionally, Daniel Radcliffe and newly-minted Tony-winner John Larroquette with the cast of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING generated quite a white hot heat, as did Norbert Leo Butz and Aaron Tveit leading the medley from CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. While MORMON and THE NORMAL HEART gathered the king's ransom of the big awards - with WAR HORSE winning Best Play, Direction and more - some upsets occurred to spice things up and the specialty material for Neil Patrick Harris brought back memories of the Alexander Cohen broadcasts that mark the finest era of the Tony Awards presentation on television. It could have been better, for sure, but it could - and has been - much, much worse. 6.5/10 - to use the SPIDER-MAN joke scale and match NPH's score.

Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY is in over five hundred movie theaters starting on Wednesday and that simple fact is enough to make one want to celebrate with a thousand vodka stingers - and imbibe in the delectable Sondheim zingers. I was lucky enough to see COMPANY last week and I can tell you that not only is it the best live representation of the show that any audience could ask for - Broadway babies, Sondheim neophytes and everything in between and far, far beyond - but a considerable reexamination of the themes, elements, emotions and the steely, chrome machinations ringing within the heartbeat of the show's cynical core. Lonny Price's COMPANY is something unique in modern entertainment, on Broadway, on film or anywhere else - it is multi-dimensional in a revolutionary way that is, frankly, unprecedented. This is Broadway in the 21st century at its best with a cast led by the brightest stars in the Broadway and TV universe on full display for a film audience and if this enterprise is successful, the mind marvels at the endless possibilities this format could afford in the future, both near and far. Yes, this is what you have been waiting for - whoever you are. If you love music, if you love wit, if you love comedy, if you love to laugh and think simultaneously - COMPANY is for you. Yes, this is that kind of review - and, thank goodness it is. It's due all the praise of a birthday boy like Bobby - with a generous dose of icing black as death; or, night. Icing

Nationally recognized comedy stars, A-list music legends, incredible tribute bands, and spectacular family entertainment will join four amazing Broadway musicals next season at Aurora's historic Paramount Theatre, which announced today its full 2011-12, 80th anniversary line-up.

Entr'Acte Theatrix is offering a Special ‘Buy one ticket, get the second one at half price' Father's Day sale for both the 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 19th performances of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Those tickets are only available by calling or visiting the theatre's box office (561-241-7432). Patrons should mention special code HTSFD.

The original production of A CHORUS LINE grew out of workshops organized by director/choreographer Michael Bennett where dancers and performers discussed the various joys and hardships of a life spent pursuing the stage as an occupation. James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante pieced together these elements to form a compelling story focusing on the anxieties facing a group of dancers auditioning to be in the chorus of a Broadway show, while Marvin Hamlisch (music) and Edward Kleban put their tales to a catchy score that's still decidedly hummable. Stages St. Louis opens their 25th season with this timeless masterpiece, and it's a dazzling production filled with wonderful performances, nurtured by the excellent work of director Michael Hamilton and choreographer Kim Shriver, who neatly recreate the original magic.

There comes a moment, very early on in Kate Adams-Johnson's A Chorus Line (which opened last night at The Keeton Theatre) in which, one by one, each of the actors is caught in the spotlight, with some portentous musical underscoring that heightens the emotional impact of the moment. But what's really telling about that sequence of illumination is how evocatively it telegraphs the stories of each of the actors in the cast. You can tell, almost imperceptibly, what it is that separates the pretenders from the contenders...

In the cast, there's a blend familiar faces from local theater productions and a whole slew of newcomers. During the run-up to the show's June 9 opening night, we've introduced you to members of Kate's cast - and next up is Mallory Gleason, who plays Cassie...

As we inch closer and closer to the Broadway's biggest night on Sunday, today we have the choreographic centerpiece of our extensive Tony Award countdown with a focus on the genius of Michael Bennett. While we have already featured his shows COMPANY, FOLLIES, A CHORUS LINE and DREAMGIRLS - and even took a look at the recent smash hit revival of PROMISES, PROMISES starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth - today's triple dose of clips (with a few surprises) is undoubtedly as close as one can get to theatrical crack cocaine: "Turkey Lurkey Time" from the original Broadway production of PROMISES, PROMISES, "Fifty Percent" from BALLROOM performed by Dorothy Loudon and - one of the most elaborate numbers in Tony Awards history - "Always Mademoiselle" from COCO starring Katharine Hepburn. So, see some of the reasons why these are the best of the best of Bennett and, therefore, the best of the best of Broadway right here!

The Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to announce that star of film, television and stage, the renowned Michelle Lee will headline in the East Coast Premiere of the new Roger Bean musical Summer of Love, on stage June 22 through July 16! Michele Lee has starred on Broadway, in feature and television films and recorded and performed with legends of the entertainment industry.

Before the presentation of the first of the final 7 of our Tony Awards clips beginning tomorrow, today we have one of the true standouts of Tony Awards lore, and one of those clips to show the theatrically uninitiated who ask you, "What are the Tony Awards anyway?" Well, honey, this is the Tony Awards. Furthermore, this is the Tony Awards at their very best - and most moving and most theatrical - DREAMGIRLS. Here is the Michael Bennett-directed original cast in a medley specifically devised by Bennett for the Tony Awards telecast - just as he had done for the sequences from A CHORUS LINE featured on the 1976 Tony Awards, choreographing the camera shots and cuts to, and on, the quick - and the original Broadway cast led by that year's Tony-winners Jennifer Holliday and Sheryl Lee Ralph alongside Loretta Devine and Obba Babatunde. There had never been a score or a show quite like DREAMGIRLS on Broadway before and there has not been one yet since - unless the blatant homages in last year's Best Musical MEMPHIS somehow count as soul and originality. This is soul. This is originality. This is genius. And, this is the Tony Awards at their utmost best.

Entr'Acte Theatrix is offering a Special ‘Buy one ticket, get the second one at half price' Father's Day sale for both the 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 19th performances of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Those tickets are only available by calling or visiting the theatre's box office (561-241-7432). Patrons should mention special code HTSFD.