Michael Morpurgo News

Lincoln Center Theater has announced two productions that will open this fall: a 75th Anniversary production of the Clifford Odets' classic GOLDEN BOY, to be directed by Bartlett Sher beginning performances Thursday November 8 and opening Monday, December 3 at a Broadway theatre to be announced; and the New York premiere of VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE a new play by Christopher Durang, to be directed by Nicholas Martin, beginning performances Thursday, October 25 and opening Monday, November 12 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street).

On Tuesday night the all Canadian production of War Horse opened in Toronto, making it the third production of the Tony and Olivier Award winning play worldwide. The show received an immediate and enthusiastic standing ovation from the audience, and proved once again what top notch theatre talent the city of Toronto has to offer.

The National Theatre of Great Britain, National Angels, Bob Boyett and David Mirvish will present the Canadian premiere production of The National Theatre of Great Britain production WAR HORSE.

MULTI-TONY AWARD WINNER "WAR HORSE" ANNOUNCED TO HIGHLIGHT THE FAST-PACED 6-SHOW 2012-13 SUBSCRIPTION SEASON PRESENTED BY BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA - FORT LAUDERDALE AND FLORIDA THEATRICAL ASSOCIATION AT BROWARD CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & PARKER PLAYHOUSE FURTHER POWERED BY FORT LAUDERDALE PREMIERES OF "MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET","SISTER ACT", "AGATHA CHRISTIE'S BBC MURDERS", "FLASHDANCE" AND "THE ADDAMS FAMILY" FORT LAUDERDALE'S MOST POPULAR MUSICAL "WICKED" RETURNS AS A SEASON SPECIAL

The National Theatre's epic WAR HORSE, winner of five 2011 Tony® Awards including Best Play, will come to Chicago this December for a limited three-week engagement from Dec. 18, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2013 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.).

The long-running West End musical Wicked has just announced the third year of its hugely successful Wicked Young Writers' Award. Spearheaded by author of War Horse and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo, the Award recognises excellence in writing, encourages creativity, and helps develop writing talent in young people between 5 and 25 years of age from all backgrounds and areas of the UK.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that the Claire Tow Theater, its newest stage at Lincoln Center and the future home to its programming initiative LCT3, will open in June with the LCT3 world premiere production of SLOWGIRL, a new play by Greg Pierce.

Last week members of the press got a special sneak peek at the cast of the upcoming production of War Horse in Toronto. Held at the rehearsal studio in Liberty Village, many people came out to get a first glimpse at the Canadian 'Joey' and his fellow castmates. It was hard to find a dry eye in the house by the time they were done their run-through, and BWW is thrilled to bring its readers these photos from that special morning.

Masterworks Broadway will release music from the stage version of War Horse, winner of five Tony Awards including Best Play, today. The album contains original music and songs from the acclaimed National Theatre of Great Britain production, which continues its sold out run on Broadway while planning a U.S. tour and Toronto engagement for 2012.

Digital Theatre today (22 February 2012) announces its first 2012 release to watch online or download to the desktop - Michael Morpurgo's award-winning Billy the Kid. Adapted for the stage by Tony Graham, Billy the Kid, is a heart?warming story of football, war and dreams.

Beginning tonight, Thursday, January 12, 2012, Harlan Bengel, Lute Breuer, Hunter Canning, Anthony Cochrane, Andrew Durand, Ben Horner, Leah Hofmann, Tessa Klein, David Lansbury, David Manis, Nat McIntyre, Geoffrey Murphy, Andy Murray, Tommy Schrider, Jack Spann and Katrina Yaukey join the 37 member acting company of the Tony Award winning production of WAR HORSE. The National Theatre of Great Britain's production, presented by Lincoln Center Theater and the National Theatre of Great Britain in association with Bob Boyett, continues its open ended run at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Northern Stage and Live Theatre in Newcastle Upon Tyne are thrilled to announce that they are joining forces to revive Alan Plater's play CLOSE THE COALHOUSE DOOR as a memorial production following his death in 2010. Directed by Samuel West, the production will open at Northern Stage on Wednesday 18 April, with previews from 13 April and will then tour the UK until June.

2011 Peter Brook Empty Space Award winning company (Equity Ensemble Award for Schiller's The Robbers in association with The New Diorama Theatre,) the faction theatre company in association with The New Diorama Theatre, bring the tradition of REP back to London in 2012.

2011 Peter Brook Empty Space Award winning company (Equity Ensemble Award for Schiller's The Robbers in association with The New Diorama Theatre,) The faction theatre company in association with The New Diorama Theatre, bring the tradition of REP back to London in 2012.

2012 is quickly approaching, and in celebration of the new year, BroadwayWorld will celebrate 2011 with lists of our biggest features of the year! Below are BroadwayWorld.com's most popular videos from 2011 (in no particular order)! Catch up below on anything that you might have missed from the past year on BroadwayWorld.com!

Steven Spielberg is adapting War Horse into a feature length film, and though it was set to be released in movie theatres on December 28, the movie will now arrive in theatres on Chrismas Day, December 25, 2011.

Masterworks Broadway will release music from the stage version of War Horse, winner of five Tony Awards including Best Play, on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

WAR HORSE is based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford, with Handspring Puppet Company, and directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, with scenic design by Rae Smith, puppet design, fabrication and direction by Adrian Kohler with Basil Jones for Handspring Puppet Company, lighting by Paule Constable, direction of movement and horse movement by Toby Sedgwick, animation & projection design by 59 Productions, music by Adrian Sutton, songs by John Tams, sound design by Christopher Shutt, and musical direction by Greg Pliska. In the video below, go inside the making on the WAR HORSE Puppets at the Handspring Puppet Company.

Steven Spielberg has adapted War Horse into a feature length film, which is set to be released in movie theatres on December 25.