Natalie Venetia News

Musician/composer/lyricist Michael Patrick Walker is world premiering a new musical Dog and Pony at the Old Globe in San Diego. Walker is best known as one of the composers of the hit musical Altar Boyz. He was nominated for a 2005 Lucille Lortel Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical and for two 2005 Drama Desk Awards for Best Music and for Best Lyrics for Altar Boyz. The show also won the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical. In our chat, Walker talks in depth about Dog and Pony and working with the cast and creative team at the Old Globe.

From the controversial and crass to the inspiring and romantic, the past decade's Tony winners for Best Musical delighted us then and continue to captivate us as they play in productions across the country and around the world. And what better way to refresh and prep for this year's big award than to relive the stand-outs from the last 10 years on Broadway? Scroll down to learn more about the winners since 2004, and be sure to tell us which musical gets your pick for 2014!

An industry reading of Neurosis: A New Musical will be presented today and tomorrow, October 24-25 at Ripley-Grier Studios.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced final casting for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

An industry reading of Neurosis: A New Musical will be presented October 24-25 at Ripley-Grier Studios. Neurosis features a book by Allan Rice, music by Ben Green, and lyrics by Greg Edwards. Rice has written for television shows including "The New Adventures of Old Christine" on CBS and the upcoming Kelsey Grammer-Martin Lawrence Project on FX. Green is a veteran of Hasty Pudding Theatricals and a frequent orchestrator for Laurence O'Keefe (Heathers, Sarah Plain and Tall). Edwards, a two-time finalist for the Fred Ebb Award, has collaborated with Marvin Hamlisch and Arthur Laurents.

Big Vision Empty Wallet has announced the cast for the reading of Alex Rubin's 'First Love,' co-produced as the last of three plays Aaron Grant Theatrical is presenting this summer, as part of a new developmental reading series.

With book and lyrics by Bill Russel, music by Peter Menick, and direction by Andy Sandberg, Off-Broadway's THE LAST SMOKER IN AMERICA is full of laughs and wit. The show's recording is representative of it's crude, witty, and laugh out loud nature. It features tracks one after the other that will have you chuckling but also tapping your toes.

During a break from their busy rehearsal schedule some members of the cast of The Muny's SHREK THE MUSICAL had a great time playing the '5 Questions' game. Check out some of their answers below!

The Muny is currently presenting its second show of its fantastic 95th Season, Dreamworks Shrek The Musical, directed by John Tartaglia and choreographed by Vince Pesce. Stephen Wallem joins Julia Murney who plays Princess Fiona, Rob McClure as Lord Farquaad, Michael James Scott as Donkey, and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Dragon. This is director John Tartaglia's Muny directorial debut, after his critically-acclaimed performance as the Genie in last year's production of Disney's Aladdin. Below, check out photos of the cast and creative team on opening night!

The Muny is currently presenting its second show of its fantastic 95th Season, Dreamworks Shrek The Musical, directed by John Tartaglia and choreographed by Vince Pesce. Stephen Wallem joins Julia Murney who plays Princess Fiona, Rob McClure as Lord Farquaad, Michael James Scott as Donkey, and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Dragon. This is director John Tartaglia's Muny directorial debut, after his critically-acclaimed performance as the Genie in last year's production of Disney's Aladdin. Below, check out photos of the cast and creative team on opening night!

The Muny is currently presenting its second show of its fantastic 95th Season, Dreamworks Shrek The Musical, directed by John Tartaglia and choreographed by Vince Pesce. Stephen Wallem joins Julia Murney who plays Princess Fiona, Rob McClure as Lord Farquaad, Michael James Scott as Donkey, and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Dragon. This is director John Tartaglia's Muny directorial debut, after his critically-acclaimed performance as the Genie in last year's production of Disney's Aladdin. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Meet Michael James Scott, playing 'Donkey' in The Muny's production of SHREK THE MUSICAL! In the video interview below, Scott discusses his experience with THE BOOK OF MORMON, his bonding time with the SHREK cast, where he got his start and a hilarious backstage story from his time at the Muny!

The Muny is currently presenting its second show of its fantastic 95th Season, Dreamworks Shrek The Musical, directed by John Tartaglia and choreographed by Vince Pesce. Stephen Wallem joins Julia Murney who plays Princess Fiona, Rob McClure as Lord Farquaad, Michael James Scott as Donkey, and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Dragon. This is director John Tartaglia's Muny directorial debut, after his critically-acclaimed performance as the Genie in last year's production of Disney's Aladdin. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights below!

The original animated film Shrek was a kind of adult fairytale, though it was obviously aimed squarely at the youth market as well, successfully spawning a franchise with sequels and merchandising galore. So, it should come as no surprise that Dreamworks would opt to try their luck on stage with a musical version of their blockbuster hit. Happily, like the original, it's a cute and amusing production that will play equally well to children and their parents, who will certainly appreciate some of the more grown-up humor. Jeanine Tesori's score serves the play well, and is undeniably tuneful in execution, but the real treat here is David Lindsay-Abaire's clever book and lyrics, which peppers the dialogue and songs with a remarkable amount of wit. The current production of SHREK THE MUSICAL, which is playing at The Muny at Forest Park, is a cleverly mounted and thoroughly enjoyable show.

Yellow Sound Label (Michael Croiter) announces the release of the Original Cast Album for The Last Smoker in America today, June 25, 2013. The album, produced and engineered by Joel Moss and distributed by Yellow Sound Label, will be available on Amazon, iTunes, and elsewhere where music is sold. For additional information, visit www.YellowSoundLabel.com.

Yellow Sound Label (Michael Croiter) announced today that the Original Cast Album for The Last Smoker in America will be released on June 25, 2013. The album, produced and engineered by Joel Moss and distributed by Yellow Sound Label, will be available on Amazon, iTunes, and elsewhere where music is sold. BroadwayWorld has photos of the cast and creative team in the recording studio below!

Yellow Sound Label (Michael Croiter) announced today that the Original Cast Album for The Last Smoker in America will be released on June 25, 2013. The album, produced and engineered by Joel Moss and distributed by Yellow Sound Label, will be available on Amazon, iTunes, and elsewhere where music is sold. For additional information and to pre-order the Original Cast Album, visit www.YellowSoundLabel.com.

UnsungMusicalsCo. (UMC), in a collaboration with the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, will record three songs from the little-known 1947 musical comedy Barefoot Boy With Cheek featuring performances by Jenn Colella (Chaplin, Closer Than Ever), Max von Essen(Evita, Death Takes a Holiday) and Robert Lenzi (South Pacific, Hello Again). UMC's recordings will be released for free digital download on the New York Public Library's website as part of its Musical of the Month blog series, which recently featured UMC's reconstruction of the Barefoot Boy libretto. The musical has never received a cast album.

The Muny announced two principal casting changes for the 2013 season. Stephen Wallem will play the title role in Shrek, and Dee Hoty will play the Reverend Mother Mary Regina in Nunsense Muny Style!

The Muny announced principal casting for the second show of its fantastic 95th Season, Dreamworks Shrek The Musical, directed by John Tartaglia and choreographed by Vince Pesce. Shrek is sponsored by US Bank.