Natalie Venetia News

CATCO (Columbus, OH), in association with Andy Sandberg (HAIR), presents the world premiere of the musical, THE LAST SMOKER IN AMERICA, with book and lyrics by Tony Nominee Bill Russell (SIDE SHOW) and music by Drama Desk Nominee Peter Melnick (ADRIFT IN MACAO) under the direction of Andy Sandberg, with choreography by Tony Award nominee AC Ciulla (FOOTLOOSE), music supervision by Fred Lassen and music direction by Andrew Resnick. The four-member cast features Natalie Venetia Belcon as Phyllis, Katy Blake as Pam, John Bolton as Ernie, and Teddy Toye as Jimmy.

CATCO (Columbus, OH), in association with Andy Sandberg (Hair), has announced full casting for the world premiere of the musical, The Last Smoker in America, with book and lyrics by Tony Nominee Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Drama Desk Nominee Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao) under the direction of Andy Sandberg, with choreography by Tony Award nominee AC Ciulla (Footloose), music supervision by Fred Lassen and music direction by Andrew Resnick.

CATCO (Columbus, OH), in association with Andy Sandberg (Hair), has announced full casting for the world premiere of the musical, The Last Smoker in America, with book and lyrics by Tony Nominee Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Drama Desk Nominee Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao) under the direction of Andy Sandberg, with choreography by Tony Award nominee AC Ciulla (Footloose), music supervision by Fred Lassen and music direction by Andrew Resnick.

Primary Stages Marvin and Anne Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA) has announced casting for its inaugural ESPA*Drills Readings, a new play development program enabling four ESPA playwrights the opportunity to workshop their plays at Primary Stages and present full readings at 59E59 Theaters.

Primary Stages Marvin and Anne Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA) has announced casting for its inaugural ESPA*Drills Readings, a new play development program enabling four ESPA playwrights the opportunity to workshop their plays at Primary Stages and present full readings at 59E59 Theaters.

As BroadwayWorld has reported, Diff'rent Strokes actor Gary Coleman died of a brain hemorrhage on May 28, 2010 at a medical facility in Utah after suffering a head injury. UsWeekly.com is reporting today that Coleman bumped his head after falling from exhaustion. Coleman's friend, Jeremy Spence, tells Us Weekly that Coleman slipped after returning home from a draining routine dialysis session on Wednesday, May 26 (he had gotten them three times weekly due to a dual kidney transplant as a child), causing an inch-long gash on his head. Coleman's wife, Shannon Price, immediately called an ambulence.

According to the New York Times, the show's creative team has made the decision to keep 'Gary' on AVENUE Q. Instead of completely eliminating him, small tweaks will be made throughout the musical. For example, Gary now refers to himself as a 'child star' rather than a 'former child star'.

In light of the death this afternoon of actor Gary Coleman, Avenue Q Co-Creator Jeff Marx has spoken to Entertainment Weekly about the loss of the actor, as well as future changes they would instill in the script - in which Gary Coleman is depiced as one of the show's characters.

In light of the death this afternoon of actor Gary Coleman, the musical AVENUE Q --in which Gary Coleman is depicted as one of the show's characters -- have issued the following statement.

Gary Coleman, most famous for his portrayal of Arnold Jackson on the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, died of a brain hemorrhage today at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center near his home in Utah. After suffering a head injury at his home on Wednesday, May 26, he was placed on life support, however, his condition deteriorated rapidly.

Andy Sandberg (Hair), in association with CATCO (Columbus, OH), will present a New York staged reading of the new musical The Last Smoker in America, with book and lyrics by Tony Nominee Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Drama Desk Nominee Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao), in anticipation of the world premiere in Ohio this fall.

Andy Sandberg (Hair), in association with CATCO (Columbus, OH), will present a New York staged reading of the new musical The Last Smoker in America, with book and lyrics by Tony Nominee Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Drama Desk Nominee Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao), in anticipation of the world premiere in Ohio this fall.

Les Miserables at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables led the pack with a dozen nominations. Broadsword at Miami's Mad Cat Theatre Company and Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them at Plantation's Mosaic Theatre tied with five nods each as the most recognized plays for the annual honors to be held on Monday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale.

2009 could go down as the year of the musical with seven of the top 10 nominated shows edging out the edgier dramas for the 34th annual Carbonell Awards nominations celebrating the best shows and performances in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer, Aida, Catch Me If You Can) is set to make her first New York appearance with her band at Joe's Pub on Monday November 16th at 9:30pm.

Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer, Aida, Catch Me If You Can) is set to make her first New York appearance with her band at Joe's Pub on Monday November 16th at 9:30pm.

Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer, Aida, Catch Me If You Can) is set to make her first New York appearance with her band at Joe's Pub on Monday November 16th at 9:30pm.

Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer, Aida, Catch Me If You Can) is set to make her first New York appearance with her band at Joe's Pub on Monday November 16th at 9:30pm.

Due to popular demand, the following shows have added additional performances: F#@KING UP EVERYTHING - Sat, Oct 17 at 11pm SING, BUT DON'T TELL - Sun, Oct 18 at 3pm

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Andy Sandberg (Hair) present The Last Smoker in America with Book & Lyrics by Bill Russell (Side Show, Tony Award Nominee), and Music by Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao, Drama Desk Nominee).