Morgan James News

The critically acclaimed first Off-Broadway revival of the of Closer Than Ever, with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire, will end its extended run with its 150th performance on Sunday evening, November 4, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue) where performances began June 5, 2012.

Internationally recognized performing artist and writer, and UMass Dartmouth professor, Mwalim (Morgan James Peters), received funding from the Healy Fund, Osborne Foundation and New England Foundation for the Arts Native Arts Program to pursue the current phase of his Stone Soup project. Using the Federal Theater project of the 1930's as a model, Mwalim is working in cooperation with the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement at UMass Dartmouth and New African Company in Boston to develop community and regionally based theater productions that engage the community as artists and audiences.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) continues its fall season of monthly networking panels with Two Sides to the Producing Story: Commercial versus Not-for-Profit (Which Side Are You On?), tonight, October 17, 2012 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre's Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 3rd floor, 115 MacDougal Street, NYC. Doors open at 7:00pm for networking and refreshments, panel starts promptly at 7:30pm.

The York Theatre Company has announced the first Off-Broadway revival of the of Closer Than Ever, with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire, will end its extended run with its 150th performance on Sunday evening, November 4, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue) where performances began June 5, 2012.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) and the company of the hit musical Closer Than Ever will join forces to collect donations following each performance through October 21st to benefit The Avon Foundation for Women in conjunction with the Tenth-Annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer at York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Today we are talking to a breathtakingly gifted vocalist who premiered the first single from his brand new solo album COMFORTABLE right here in this very column on BroadwayWorld earlier this week - the one and only Tituss Burgess. In this career-spanning conversation, Burgess and I touch upon many of the Broadway entities which he has played a part in over the last decade or so - THE LITTLE MERMAID, JERSEY BOYS and GOOD VIBRATIONS included - as well as sharing some onset stories involving his stints on NBC's hit comedy 30 ROCK. Most of all, Burgess and I dissect the finer points of his sophomore solo album, COMFORTABLE, and he explains his songwriter process and progress, as well as the many influences and inspirations that have infused this passion project over the course of its years in writing, recording, and, now, finally, releasing. Plus, Burgess looks ahead to the future and clues us in on his late-night concert at New World Stages on Sunday night. All of that and much, much more!

The York Theatre Company in association with Edward Negley, Neil Berg and Adam Friedson, welcomes Marya Grandy (Les Miserables, Damn Yankees) to the cast of Closer Than Ever with Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Music by David Shire, filling in for Jacquelyn Piro Donovan from October 13 - November 4, due to a prior commitment.

York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), will present three offerings in its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series: Harold and Maude (today, October 11), Civil War Stories (October 15), and Leni Riefenstal is Going to Tell You the Truth (October 19).

Tasti D-Lite has named a new flavor, "MISS BYRD'S RED VELVET D-LITE," to honor one of the best reviewed Off-Broadway shows of the year, Closer Than Ever, with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire. Current cast members of The York Theatre Company production, Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, Anika Larsen, and James Moye, were on hand on October 4th at Tasti D-Lite Times Square to introduce the world to the deliciously decadent new treat. This exciting new flavor will be available exclusively at the Times Square location for the entire month of October. Check out photos from the unveiling below!

Tasti D-Lite has named a new flavor, "MISS BYRD'S RED VELVET D-LITE," to honor one of the best reviewed Off-Broadway shows of the year, Closer Than Ever with lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and music by David Shire. Current cast members of The York Theatre Company production, Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, Anika Larsen, James Moye, and Sal Viviano, will be on hand on Thursday, October 4th at 5:00 p.m. at the Times Square Tasti D-Lite (1588 Broadway between 47th & 48th St) to introduce the world to the deliciously decadent new treat. There will also be an in-store raffle to win two tickets to Closer Than Ever and a $25 Tasti Treat Card.

Continuing their "Celebration of Off-Broadway,' The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), will present a staged concert production - similar in style to their acclaimed Musicals in Mufti Series - of the 1966 musical Man with a Load of Mischief, with music by John Clifton, lyrics by Clifton and Ben Tarver, and book by Tarver. Directed by Jenn Thompson with music direction by Bryan Wade, Man with a Load of Mischief will play three performances only, today, October 1 at 3:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, October 2 at 3:00 p.m. at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's. Casting will be announced shortly

All too many of us create an outer persona or "ego self" in order to cope with the fear and anxiety of day to day life. This false identity normalizes these intense emotions, stops us from feeling anything at all, and drives us toward artificial goals of financial status and success. No one understands this better than Gregory Nicholas Malouf, a successful businessman and entrepreneur who became a workaholic at 19, earning triple figures each week, and throwing lavish parties and traveling around the world. He thought he was living the 'perfect life' until at age 50, his world collapsed and he realized he was living a lie.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), has announced full casting for a staged concert production - similar in style to their acclaimed Musicals in Mufti Series - of the 1966 musical Man with a Load of Mischief, with music by John Clifton, lyrics by Clifton and Ben Tarver, and book by Tarver. Directed by Jenn Thompson with music direction by Bryan L. Wade, the cast will feature P.J. Benjamin (Wicked), Naomi Brockwell, Stephen R. Buntrock (A Little Night Music), Rachel de Benedet (Catch Me If You Can), Nancy Johnston (Elf) and Robert Petkoff (Anything Goes).

The York Theatre Company in association with Edward Negley, Neil Berg and Adam Friedson, will welcome James Moye (Dogfight, Million Dollar Quartet) to the cast of Closer Than Ever with Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Music by David Shire, filling in for George Dvorsky from September 25 - October 7, due to a prior commitment.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), in association with Robert D. Wachs (producer of the hit films Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop 2, Coming to America), will mount a lab workshop of the new disco "revue-sical," Last Dance featuring the music of legendary pop master Paul Jabara (Enough is Enough, It's Raining Men, Last Dance, and more) with book by Shaun McKenna (Lord of the Rings, The Musical). Last Dance will play 5 performances tonight, September 20 - 23, 2012 at at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), in association with Robert D. Wachs (producer of the hit films Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop 2, Coming to America), present the developmental lab of the new disco musical, Last Dance, featuring songs by the legendary Academy, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning pop master Paul Jabara (Enough is Enough, It's Raining Men, Last Dance, and more) with book by Shaun McKenna (Lord of the Rings, The Musical).

Last night, September 17, Broadway stars united to sing the songs of a music legend in 'Broadway Sings Michael Jackson' at Le Poisson Rouge. The concert, which featured some of Jackson's biggest hits, was held at 9:30 PM.