Peter Melnick News

Primary Stages has announced that the world premiere of While I Yet Live will begin performances on Wednesday, September 24 at 7PM. Producers have decided to delay the start of previews due to technical issues.

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director, announced the nine musicals and twenty-six writers selected for the 2014 Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, its fourth year of providing working retreats for musical theatre writers. For nine consecutive weeks beginning June 29th, each writing team will have an individual weeklong residency in Rhinebeck, New York to write their musical. They are provided with a private home, transportation, food, and a stipend. All costs are fully funded by donors including The ASCAP Foundation, The Dramatists Guild Fund, and The Noel Coward Foundation. Writers participating this year include Broadway's Mindi Dickstein (Little Women), this year's Kleban Prize winner Nathan Tysen (Burnt Part Boys), and Peter Mills, past winner of the Kleban, Fred Ebb Award, and Richard Rodgers prize. The musicals' subjects cover 19th century nautical mysteries, 20th century fairy tales, a 1970's gay bar, and modern-day meth addicts. Every score is original and styles include 16th century Renaissance, big band, folk, rock, and electronic music.

On April 27, 2014 a private reading of the upcoming musical adaptation of BRAVE NEW WORLD took place in an undisclosed Midtown Manhattan venue.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced complete casting for its production of Side Show that runs in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater from June 14 to July 13, 2014. Side Show features book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger, and is directed by Academy Award winner Bill Condon. Sam Davis will serve as musical director and arranger and will conduct the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. The Kennedy Center production of Side Show is produced in association with La Jolla Playhouse. Press opening night is Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Today, Artistic Director Robert Falls announces that his longtime associate, Producer Steve Scott, will direct Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Christopher Durang's Tony Award-winning, 'deliriously funny, hilariously demented' Broadway hit, in Spring 2015 (dates TBA). A loving send-up of Chekhov's greatest works, Vanya makes its Chicago premiere in the Albert Theatre as part of the Subscription series in the theater's 90th Anniversary 'Season to Celebrate.' (One play is TBA.)

Grammy and Emmy Winner JOHN McDANIEL and Tony Nominee BILL RUSSELL have joined the creative team of BRAVE NEW WORLD: THE MUSICAL, currently in development, as Co-Composer and Lyricist. They join a team that already includes Ben Andron as Book Writer, Jonnie Rockwell as Co-Composer, and Tony Nominated Director, Sheryl Kaller. John McDaniel is also attached as Music Director.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre, the critically-acclaimed company "dedicated to presenting neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit," and named "2012 Company of the Year" by Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal, have announced post performance discussions to follow select performances of its production of Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang. TACT Co-Artistic and Executive Director Scott Alan Evans directs. The show officially opens tonight.

The arts in Philadelphia continue to be fueled by some of the most talented versatile professional actors in the Delaware Valley. I was happy to literally catch up to one of the busiest leading ladies, Jennie Eisenhower, who will soon start rehearsals for her role as Elaine Harper at the Walnut Street Theater's upcoming production of Arsenic and Old Lace.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) announces their 30th Anniversary Season (2014-2015). In their upcoming season, the award-winning company will present three new premieres.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts produces, in association with La Jolla Playhouse, a re-imagining of Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's Side Show. Directed by Academy Award winning director Bill Condon, the musical closes at La Jolla Playhouse tonight, December 17 and will open at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in spring 2014. The musical features book and lyrics by Bill Russelland music by Henry Krieger who will revise the show before its debut at La Jolla.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will produce, in association with La Jolla Playhouse, a re-imagining of Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's Side Show. Directed by Academy Award winning director Bill Condon, the musical will play at La Jolla Playhouse now through December 17 and will open at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in spring 2014. The musical features book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger who will revise the show before its debut at La Jolla. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will produce, in association with La Jolla Playhouse, a re-imagining of Henry Krieger and Bill Russell's Side Show. Directed by Academy Award winning director Bill Condon, the musical will play at La Jolla Playhouse November 5 through December 17 and will play the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in spring 2014, according to an equity casting notice. The musical features book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger who will revise the show before its debut at La Jolla.

Playwright Christopher Durang, who recently won the Tony Award for Best Play, and celebrated playwright John Augustine have been announced as Playwrights in Residence at Texas State University for the 2013-14 season as part of the Bowman Guest Artist Series.

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.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director), in association with Jim Kierstead, as part of its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, continues its summer schedule with the new musical Unexpected Joy, with Book & Lyrics by Bill Russell and Music by Janet Hood. Directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller and with music direction by Jodie Moore, the four-member cast will feature Annie Golden, Emma Hunton, Capathia Jenkins and AnnMarie Milazzo.

Today, May 3rd at 12 noon, Brave New World Enterprises, LLC will present a Special Pre-Broadway Workshop Table Reading of the new musical based on Aldous Huxley's novel, BRAVE NEW WORLD. The presentation, directed by SHERYL KALLER, with musical direction by JOHN McDANIEL, will take place at the Snapple Theatre Center (1627 Broadway) for invited industry audiences only.

On Friday, May 3rd at 12 noon, Brave New World Enterprises, LLC will present a Special Pre-Broadway Workshop Table Reading of the new musical based on Aldous Huxley's novel, BRAVE NEW WORLD. The presentation, directed by SHERYL KALLER, with musical direction by JOHN McDANIEL, will take place at the Snapple Theatre Center (1627 Broadway) for invited industry audiences only.

The Off-Broadway musical The Last Smoker in America is now available for licensing through Samuel French Inc., with the Original Cast Album to be released later this spring.