Michele Ragusa News

One of the unique and cherished aspects of the musical theatre is how the preceding plot and character development can allow a musical moment to achieve ethereal heights that establish a triumvirate of joyful feeling between audience, performer and character. Take, for example, Amalia Balash's dizzying high note at the end of 'Vanilla Ice Cream,' which is not just a showy moment for the actress playing the role, but a release of amazed emotions caused by a simple act of kindness. Or the wacky exuberance of the impromptu tango that follows Eliza Doolittle's mastery of the proper pronunciation of an Iberian precipitation phenomenon.

Eric Rosen kicks off his second season as Kansas City Rep's artistic director with an audacious production of Into the Woods ( September 18 - October 4).

Eric Rosen kicks off his second season as Kansas City Rep?s artistic director with an audacious production of INTO THE WOODS (September 18 - October 4). The Tony Award-winning musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine will be staged by Broadway director Moisés Kaufman, who will take the audience on a wild trip into the darker side of the woods, where they will experience a different version of familiar fairy tale characters. Choreography is by Daniel Pelzig. The show will also feature extensive puppetry created by Kansas City?s puppet master Paul Mesner.

Eric Rosen, artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre, opens the Rep's 2009-10 season with the Tony Award-winning musical Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. Broadway director Moisés Kaufman will direct.

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's masterpiece Into the Woods opens in previews at Kansas City Repertory Theatre September 11. Opening night is September 18; the show closes October 4. Tony Award nominee Moisés Kaufman directs.

Eric Rosen, artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre, opens the Rep's 2009-10 season with the Tony Award-winning musical Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. Broadway director Moisés Kaufman will direct.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Sunday, June 21, 2009.

The first annual Born for Broadway will be held Monday, June 22nd at 8:00 p.m. at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, New York. Directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, currently directing 'Ragtime' at the Kennedy Center with musical direction by Larry Yurman ('Grey Gardens'), Born for Broadway is a one-night celebrity cabaret, featuring both established Tony Award Winning Broadway performers as well as undiscovered talent.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to present The Full Monty at the Millburn theatre from June 10 through July 12, 2009. The Full Monty will be directed by Mark S. Hoebee and choreographed by Denis Jones.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to present The Full Monty at the Millburn theatre from June 10 through July 12, 2009. The Full Monty will be directed by Mark S. Hoebee and choreographed by Denis Jones.

The first annual Born for Broadway will be held Monday, June 22nd at 8:00 p.m. at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, New York. Directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, currently directing 'Ragtime' at the Kennedy Center with musical direction by Larry Yurman ('Grey Gardens'), Born for Broadway is a one-night celebrity cabaret, featuring both established Tony Award Winning Broadway performers as well as undiscovered talent.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for The Full Monty. Directed by Mark S. Hoebee and choreographed by Denis Jones, The Full Monty will run at the Millburn theatre from June 10 through July 12, 2009.

Pittsburgh Public Theater turns up the heat with The World Goes 'Round, a song & dance revue of music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, the team who wrote hits such as 'All That Jazz,' 'Cabaret,' and 'New York, New York.' Directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge and featuring a cast of five plus six musicians, The World Goes 'Round runs March 5 - April 5, 2009 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District.

Pittsburgh Public Theater turns up the heat with The World Goes 'Round, a song & dance revue of music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, the team who wrote hits such as 'All That Jazz,' 'Cabaret,' and 'New York, New York.' Directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge and featuring a cast of five plus six musicians, The World Goes 'Round runs March 5 - April 5, 2009 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District.

Young Frankenstein will close on Broadway on Janury 4, 2009. The announcement was made by Producer Robert F.X. Sillerman. The show opened in November 2007 at the Hilton Theatre.

Michele Ragusa, who is currently starring in Young Frankenstein as Elizabeth, will debut her collection of handmade hats at The Farmhouse Store in Westfield NJ on Monday, December 8th. There will be a wine & cheese reception. The event is open to the public, the time for the event is 6pm to 8pm.

The New York Times reports that Young Frankenstein will close on Broadway on Janury 4, 2009. The announcement was made by Producer Robert F.X. Sillerman. The show opened in November 2007 at the Hilton Theatre.

Cory English begins as the new Igor in Mel Brooks' award-winning Young Frankenstein this Tuesday, November 25th, at Broadway's Hilton Theatre (213 W 42nd St), joining current cast members Roger Bart, Shuler Hensley, Beth Leavel, Fred Applegate, Michele Ragusa, and Kelly Sullivan. Young Frankenstein's original Igor, Christopher Fitzgerald - Tony nominated for his performance - completes his run Sunday, November, 23rd.

Today's Page Six in the Sunday New York Post reports that Mel Brooks asked 'Tropic Thunder' star Jack Black to join the Broadway cast of his 'Young Frankenstein,' when the comic actor asked which role - Igor or Dr. Frankenstein? Brooks said 'either one,' but Black politely declined according to the Page Six columnist.

Robert F.X. Sillerman and Mel Brooks and the company of The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, a new musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award winning smash The Producers, recently celebrated their one year anniversary. The show opened on Broadway November 8th 2007 at the Hilton Theatre (213 W 42nd St). Previews began October 11th 2007