Michael Kerker News

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) announced that open submissions to the Next Link Project, which guarantees production slots in the 2013 Festival, will begin today, September 17th. Registration runs through November 2 and those who submit materials by Friday, October 5 will receive a $20 discount off the standard $75 application fee. The 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival, NYMF's tenth season, will run July 8 - July 28, 2013. For more Next Link Project info and submission guidelines, visit www.nymf.org.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) announced today that open submissions to the Next Link Project, which guarantees production slots in the 2013 Festival, will begin on September 17th. Registration runs through November 2 and those who submit materials by Friday, October 5 will receive a $20 discount off the standard $75 application fee. The 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival, NYMF's tenth season, will run July 8 - July 28, 2013. For more Next Link Project info and submission guidelines, visit www.nymf.org.

Making good on his promise to eventually show up in Orange County to speak about his enduring career in the theater, legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim finally made his long-awaited appearance at the Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa for the landmark event STEPHEN SONDHEIM: IN CONVERSATION on July 13. Back to provide live performances were Christine Ebersole and Brian Stokes-Mitchell, while ASCAP Musical Theater scholar Michael Kerker hosted the talk show/concert hybrid.

The Fourth Bi-Annual conference for musical theatre writers and composers is coming to Los Angeles, today, July 20-July 22 at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood, Calif.

The closing night concert for the 2012 Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project was held on Friday, June 23, 2012. For the seventh year, the Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project hosted the nation's most promising songwriters across all genres including music theatre, pop, jazz, rock, and contemporary pop at Northwestern University. The night before the gala closing concert, the 16 artists showcased their latest creations. See below for photos of the songwriters and guests, including Ann Hampton Callaway and more!

The Fourth Bi-Annual conference for musical theatre writers and composers is coming to Los Angeles, July 20-22 at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood, CA. Confirmed panelists include: Cheri Steinkellner (the Tony Award-nominated writer of Sister Act), Paul Gordon (Tony Award-nominated lyricist/composer of Jane Eyre); Michael Jung (Disney Theatricals); Michael Shapiro (Kensington Entertainment), Michael Kerker (ASCAP Director of Musical Theatre); David Elzer (award-winning producer of The Marvelous Wonderettes); Tim Dang (Producing Artistic Director of East West Players, the nation's premiere Asian American theatre company); Gordon Firemark (CEO of Fierce Theatricals) and more!

Last week, Segerstrom Center for the Arts (formerly the Orange County Performing Arts Center) announced its brand new Cabaret Series for the 2012 - 2013 Season. Once again, familiar Broadway talent will make up most of the Center's impressive Cabaret series, which include Tony Winners Lea Salonga, Betty Buckley, and Barbara Cook. Rounding out the line-up are husband-and-wife Broadway stars Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, and Grammy-nominated artists Michael Feinstein and Jane Monheit (with the John Pizzarelli Quartet).

What a wonderful thing it is to spend an evening in the theatre and have your expectations exceeded. The McCallum Theatre is presenting quite an impressive and varied array of theatrical offerings this spring, but I believe last night's CY COLEMAN'S BROADWAY might have been the unexpected "jewel" in their season. It was truly a valentine to one of Broadway and popular music's most prolific composers and the celebration of a songbook that leaves you wondering - "Did he ever write anything that wasn't a hit"?

The BSO presents A Christmas Carol in Concert, a new twist on Dickens' classic tale performed as a concert with a full symphony orchestra on Friday, December 16th at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 17th at 7:30 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

The BSO presents A Christmas Carol in Concert, a new twist on Dickens' classic tale performed as a concert with a full symphony orchestra on Friday, December 16th at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 17th at 7:30 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

Melissa Manchester and Lucie Arnaz headlined fellow stars at a fabulous evening honoring Marvin Hamlisch at the National Arts Club on Sunday, November 20.

Sometimes even in disappointment, comes something wonderful, which was certainly the case with the magnificent impromptu showcase that occurred at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa on Saturday, October 29. A mixed blessing if there ever was one, the evening's original agenda--a one-on-one candid conversation between ASCAP's Director of Musical Theatre Michael Kerker and legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim--instead morphed into an enchanting 100-minute expanded tribute concert featuring two veteran Broadway powerhouses in their own right: Tony Award winners Christine Ebersole and Brian Stokes-Mitchell. This ad-hoc concert quickly assembled that afternoon ended up being such a magical night, filled with gorgeous, soul-stirring performances, lots of hearty laughs, and even the occasional tear-jerker.

The producers of A Christmas Story, The Musical! congratulate their composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul on receiving the 2011 Songwriter's Fellowship Award.

The producers of A Christmas Story, The Musical! congratulate their composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul on receiving the 2011 Songwriter's Fellowship Award.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.

Unity Center for Practical Spirituality is proud to present an upcoming musical extravaganza: 'Hear Our Song,' to be held at the Norwalk City Hall, Concert Hall at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk, on Friday April 8, 2011 at 8 pm.