Michael Greif News

Second Stage Theatre, in association with Stacey Mindich Productions, will soon present the new musical, DEAR EVAN HANSEN. The company will include several performers who appeared in the World Premiere production at Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage, featuring Ben Platt as the title character, Evan Hansen, in a performance that was called 'extraordinary, bordering on heroic' by Peter Marks in the Washington Post. Also reprising their performances from the 'splendid' (Marks, Washington Post) cast are Laura Dreyfuss as Zoe, Mike Faist as Connor, Rachel Bay Jones as Heidi, Will Roland as Jared, Jennifer Laura Thompson as Cynthia. New cast members John Dossett (Larry) and Kristolyn Lloyd (Alana) complete the company. The cast just met the press today and you can check out a sneak peek from the special day below. Check back later for complete coverage!

Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Stacey Mindich was presented The Commercial Theater Institute's Robert Whitehead Award for 'outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing' at a reception at Sardi's today, March 15, 2016. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos from the event below!

Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Stacey Mindich will be presented The Commercial Theater Institute's Robert Whitehead Award for 'outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing' at a reception at Sardi's today, March 15, 2016.

YELLOW SOUND LABEL will release the debut American solo album from Drama Desk Award-winning theatre star JOSE LLANA on Friday, May 13. Altitude - based on his acclaimed concert at the Lincoln Center American Songbook Series last year - celebrate his 20 years on Broadway with a savvy collection of songs he performed on and off the main stem, in addition to pop favorites. Tony Award winner Ruthie Ann Miles, his co-star in the Off-Broadway smash Here Lies Love, is featured as special guest. Altitude is produced by Michael Croiter with Kimberly Grigsby serving as Music Director. Pre-order the album at www.YellowSoundLabel.com.

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) concludes its 2015-16 Theater in the Loft series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with a staged reading of BLINK, written by Kate Moira Ryan and directed by Mark Armstrong.

Last night, March 7, New York Theatre Workshop hosted its 2016 Annual Gala at The Edison Ballroom, honoring Heather Randall, Noel E.D. Kirnon, Ivo van Hove and Jan Versweyveld. BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivities below!

The American Academy of Arts and Letters announces that librettist/lyricist Michael Korie will receive the Marc Blitzstein Award for Musical Theater of $10,000. Established in 1965 by friends of the late Academician Marc Blitzstein in his memory, the award is given to a composer, lyricist, or librettist to encourage the creation of works of merit for musical theater and opera. The jurors were John Harbison (chairman), J. D. McClatchy, Shulamit Ran, Augusta Read Thomas, and Yehudi Wyner.

The producers of the RENT 20th Anniversary Tour announced today that single tickets will go on sale on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at the Citi Center box office, through www.citicenter.org  or by calling (866) 348-9738. The tour will play a two week engagement at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre April 11 - 23, 2017.

The Goodman Theatre's buzzy new world premiere WAR PAINT has enlisted one more Tony winner.

?Midtown Direct Rep (MDR) concludes its 2015-16 Theater in the Loft series at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) with a staged reading of BLINK, written by Kate Moira Ryan and directed by Mark Armstrong. The staged reading will be performed for one night only on Sunday, March 20, 2016 at 7pm at SOPAC (One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ, 07079). The reading is $15 and open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at the SOPAC box office, www.sopacnow.org, or by calling 973-313-ARTS (2787). For direct link to purchase tickets, please Click Here.

Signature Theatre presents a special return engagement of Old Hats, created and performed by Bill Irwin and David Shiner, with music and lyrics by and featuring Shaina Taub, directed by Tina Landau. The production officially opened last night, February 18, and will now play an extended run through April 3, 2016 in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out photos below!

Stacey Mindich '86, Tony Award-winning producer and a 1986 alumna of the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, will speak at the Newhouse Convocation Ceremony on Saturday, May 14, at noon in the Carrier Dome.

After a year-long sold out run of Hold On To Your Butts (named a "Critic's Pick" and one of the "Ten Best Comedy Shows of 2014" by Time Out New York), The PIT is proud to announce the return of acclaimed theatrical company Recent Cutbacks with FLY, YOU FOOLS, another LIVE shot-for-shot remake. Three actors and a foley artist band together (in fellowship) to bring you a parody of the first chapter in the most epic fantasy trilogy of all time!

I happened to be in D.C. on November 5, 2013 when IF/THEN opened its preview run. I was fortunate enough to get tickets to opening night.

Original Broadway Cast member Jackie Burns (If/Then, Wicked, Hair), Tamyra Gray (American Idol Season One Finalist, Rent), and Matthew Hydzik (Side Show, West Side Story, Grease) have joined Original Broadway Cast member Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and the rest of the previously announced cast in the National Tour of IF/THEN. The tour is now playing at the Connor Palace Theatre in Cleveland through Sunday, February 21. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the new cast in action below!

The National Tour of IF/THEN, which was named the 'Best Musical of the Year' by New York Magazine, will perform a limited engagement at Detroit's Fisher Theatre, March 29 - April 10, 2016.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz, Executive Director), in association with Stacey Mindich Productions, has announced complete casting and creative team for its upcoming production of the new musical, DEAR EVAN HANSEN.

Tonight, before a gathering of theatre artists and patrons, theatreWashington announced the nominees for the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards, drawn from 202 eligible productions presented in the 2015 calendar year. Scroll down for the full list of nominees!

Original Broadway Cast member Jackie Burns (If/Then, Wicked, Hair), Tamyra Gray (American Idol Season One Finalist, Rent), and Matthew Hydzik (Side Show, West Side Story, Grease), will join Original Broadway Cast member Anthony Rapp (Rent, Six Degrees of Separation, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown) and the rest of the previously announced cast in the National Tour of IF/THEN, playing at the Fabulous Fox Theatre March 15 - 27.

As BroadwayWorld exclusively reported earlier this week,  RENT, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning landmark rock musical written by Jonathan Larson, will return to the road in a 20th Anniversary production that promises to be as impactful and exciting as the original. Now we've got the scoop on how to audition! Joy Dewing Casting will be holding open calls on February 15-16 in NYC and February 17-19 in Nashville. Readers can visit www.joydewingcasting.com for additional information on how to audition.