Michael John LaChiusa News

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Two starts on January 26th with a tribute to arguably the greatest songwriting team in American Songbook history: the brothers George and Ira Gershwin. Conductor, arranger and pianist (as well as Artistic Director of the Gershwin centenary) Rob Fisher will lead Victoria Clark (Tony winner for Light in the Piazza) and Norm Lewis (Les Miserables, The Little Mermaid) in a night of gorgeous Gershwin. On January 27th singer/songwriter Shara Worden (from the group My Brightest Diamond) performs her unique blend of vocal music that has her pegged as a star to watch. Week Two closes out with gritty veteran John Doe singing 'real' country, with all its understated empathy and rough poetry. Pfizer is a proud sponsor of Lincoln Center's American Songbook 2011.

In this special edition of FLASH FRIDAY we are taking a look at a number of TV appearances by Tony-winning Broadway star and this week's InDepth InterView participant Alice Ripley in celebration of the tour of the Pulizter prize-winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL kicking off in Los Angeles starring the incandescent original Broadway leading lady herself. SUNSET BLVD, SIDE SHOW, LES MIZ, LITTLE FISH and NEXT TO NORMAL are just a few of the many marvelous faces of the multi-talented Alice Ripley.

TRANSPORT GROUP has once again partnered with Charity Folks for its highly anticipated annual BROADWAY HOLIDAY AUCTON. Every bid and purchase supports TRANSPORT GROUP in its mission to stage new works and reimagines revivals by American writers. Since its founding in 2001 by Jack Cummings III and Robyn Hussa, TRANSPORT GROUP has staged thirteen productions: seven plays and six musicals, including six world premieres and seven revivals. and have done outreach projects to disadvantaged communities.

Transport Group (TG), the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and 2007 and 2010 OBIE Awards, has announced that it will present the New York premiere of Lysistrata Jones, a new musical by Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, Little Dog Laughed) and composer-lyricist Lewis Flinn (Divine Sister) on the basketball court of the Judson Memorial Church gymnasium. Dan Knechtges (Xanadu, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) will direct and choreograph. Previews begin May 2011 with an opening date to be announced.

Tony Award-winning actress, singer, and songwriter Idina Menzel, star of Broadway's Wicked and the original stage production of Rent, will make her New York Philharmonic debut Saturday, February 5, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. The concert, a benefit for the New York Philharmonic, will be conducted by multi-award-winning conductor/composer Marvin Hamlisch. Ms. Menzel - who appeared in the hit television show Glee - will perform a repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent), as well as selections from her album of original songs, I Stand.

Transport Group, the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, has announced that its 2010 Gimme A Break! benefit will honor playwright A. R. Gurney and columnist Liz Smith on Monday, December 6 at 6:30pm, at the Asia Society and Museum, 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street.

On Friday, November 5, NEXT TO NORMAL star Jason Danieley unveiled his caricature at Sardi's. Danieley is currently starring on Broadway as Dan in the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical. He takes the stage every night alongside Broadway veteran and real life spouse Marin Mazzie. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce a second season of shows at the theatre and the performers for its first show of the season!

Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel - the Tony Award-winning Elphaba from international blockbuster Wicked - performs together with a full symphony orchestra for one night only November 7 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center November in Segerstrom Hall. With a diverse repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) as well as songs from her album I Stand, Menzel demonstrates why she is one of the great vocal performers of our time.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Tracy Aron, announced that two time Tony® Award-winner Donna Murphy will star in the new Broadway musical THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, directed by Leonard Foglia. THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE features book & lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced complete casting for the World Premiere of A SMALL FIRE, a new play by Obie Award winner Adam Bock (The Drunken City at PH, The Receptionist, The Thugs, Swimming in the Shallows).

Composer-in-Residence Andrew Lippa and the head of the Musical Theatre department (and Broadway alum) Kaitlin Hopkins took some time to speak to BroadwayWorld about their upcoming collaboration. In addition to Lippa's presence at Texas State next week (during which he will be working on his new musical, The Man In The Ceiling), TSU's Musical Theatre students will be doing a production of Lippa's The Wild Party in Spring 2011. Read on to see what Lippa and Hopkins had to say about this exciting venture!

Scott Siegel has announced via his blog that he will present Marc Kudisch in concert at The Town Hall on January 15, 2011 at 8:00pm. The concert is entitled The Lower Depths: A Concert In Defense of the Baritone Voice.

Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel - the Tony Award-winning Elphaba from international blockbuster Wicked - performs together with a full symphony orchestra for one night only November 7 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center November in Segerstrom Hall. With a diverse repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) as well as songs from her album I Stand, Menzel demonstrates why she is one of the great vocal performers of our time.

Bobby Cronin is a fast-rising, hard-working ASCAP PLUS Award winning composer/writer who '...thinks big. In all ways. Writing in a contemporary musical theatre vein, the songs are passionate and powerful in a take-no-prisoners way that will knock your socks off.' -- Rob Lester, Cabaret Exchange.

The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince, returning to the Benedum Center, August 25-September 19, 2010, has announced casting for the production's farewell Pittsburgh engagement.

Tony Award-winning actress Idina Menzel opens the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra season with three performances September 24th through September 26th. Ms. Menzel will perform a diverse repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) as well as songs from her album, I Stand.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE, September 17-October 9, at the University Theatre (222 York Street).

Last week I conducted an illuminating InDepth InterView with legendary producer and director Harold Prince in which we discussed his singular career, having won more Tony Awards than any other person on the planet for his near one-hundred productions since his start as George Abbott's assistant producer over fifty years ago. He produced such landmark musicals as DAMN YANKEES, THE PAJAMA GAME and WEST SIDE STORY in the 1950s and then went on to become a director in his own right with Kander & Ebb's FLORA, THE RED MENANCE (Liza Minnelli's Broadway debut), CABARET into the Sondheim series of masterpieces in the 1970s - COMPANY, FOLLIES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, PACIFIC OVERTURES, SWEENEY TODD - bridging into his two biggest commercial successes, the Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals EVITA and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Celebrating its 23rd year on Broadway in January, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is the most successful entertainment of all time, more than any other musical, television show or even feature film in history. It's a juggernaut like no other and the mystery, magic and majesty that had made the show such a rousing success is thanks to the masterful eye-of-all-eyes, the true master director of the American Theatre, Harold Prince. But, will he be doing the sequel?

NEXT TO NORMAL stars, and real-life married couple, Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley are offering a pair of VIP tickets to the show and a backstage meet and greet for the highest bidding fan via CharityBuzz to benefit Rosie's Broadway Kids. Bidding is now open, currently at $350. The estimated value is listed at $1,500. Bidding closes on September 29, 2010. Click here to bid on a chance to meet Mazzie and Danieley following a performance of NEXT TO NORMAL and support Rosie's Broadway Kids!