Rachel Sheinkin News

The only thing RIDICULOUS about this annual event is that Tony Award winner Bill Finn only does it once a year. I remember observing a session of his Music Theater class at NYU when Professor Finn had an extraordinary group of singers perform his students final exams. The unconventional Mr. Finn had instructed his class to write songs based upon unorthodox, outlandish, zany and sometimes kinky subject matter. The result was hilarious, witty, intelligent and downright entertaining. Mr. Finn is the Artistic Head of Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab, and his NYU classroom modus operandi has become an annual 'show' at this Berkshire institution. Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist William Finn (Falsettos, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) narrates this fresh, fun introduction to new voices in musical theatre. Direction is by Drama League Directors Project Musical Directing Fellow Shakina Nayfack (Assistant Director BSC's The Game and Mormons, Mothers and Monsters).

Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab (under the direction of Artistic Head of the MTL William Finn, Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson) presents the sixth edition of Songs by Ridiculously Talented Composers and Lyricists You Probably Don't Know But Should... will play Friday, September 2 and Saturday, September 3 at 8pm at Barrington Stage, 30 Union Street.

Westport Country Playhouse will present the enchanting musical, 'Skippyjon Jones,' on Sunday, September 25, at 1 and 4 p.m.

La Jolla Playhouse's Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman, will close on August 28.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is now playing at Cyrano's Off-Center Playhouse through August 27, 2011.

Bergen County Players will kick off its 2011-12 season with the multiple Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Directed with a palpable sense of style and tongue-in-cheek respect for the musical's unique cast of characters by Brandy Austin, with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Boiler Room Theatre delivers yet another musical theater classic to the stage, reaffirming the company's dominance in that particular theatrical genre. You have a musical you want to see onstage? Tell the BRT folks and they'll deliver the kind of production you have dreamed about and longed for - and they'll do it with a cast of local performers who are guaranteed to knock your socks off! And with music direction by Jamey Green and choreography by Lauri Gregoire, both of whom are BRT resident artists, you'll be assured of a huge hit.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, is proud to present the Berkshire County premiere of My Name Is Asher Lev, based on the acclaimed novel by Chaim Potok.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, is proud to present Broadway's Rachel York and Graham Rowat in a new production of the musical The Game. Production dates are through August 28 with a press opening on Wednesday, August 17 at 7pm at BSC Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. Check out photos from the production below!

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) announced today the establishment of The Donna Perret Rosen Award, an annual cash prize to be awarded to a promising composer/lyricist. The $10,000 award was established at the off-Broadway company's annual gala to honor Second Stage Theatre trustee Donna Perret Rosen in recognition of her long-standing commitment to young artists and new works. The award will be chosen by Tony Award-winners James Lapine, Susan Stroman, and Jack Viertel. The first 'Donna Award' will be awarded in 2012.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, is proud to present Broadway's Rachel York and Graham Rowat in a new production of the musical The Game. Production dates are August 11 through 28 with a press opening on Wednesday, August 17 at 7pm at BSC Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, is proud to present the Berkshire County premiere of My Name Is Asher Lev, based on the acclaimed novel by Chaim Potok.

Due to popular demand, La Jolla Playhouse today announced a one-week extension for Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman.

In Sleeping Beauty Wakes, a young beauty is brought to a sleep disorder clinic, and soon all the patients find themselves sharing a familiar dream. The show reunites two members of the acclaimed rock trio GrooveLily - Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda - with Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin, who last collaborated on the inventive holiday tale Striking 12.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is now playing at Cyrano's Off-Center Playhouse through August 27, 2011.

Due to popular demand, La Jolla Playhouse today announced a one-week extension for Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents The Best of Enemies, a world premiere by the author of BSC's longest-running hit play, Freud's Last Session.

Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab, under the leadership of Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist William Finn, Musical Theatre Lab Artistic Producer, Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, presents the world premiere of Mormons, Mothers and Monsters, a quirky new musical with book and lyrics by Sam Salmond and music by Will Aronson.

Long considered one of America's premier community theater groups, Bergen County Players (BCP) is proud to announce for 2011-12 another ambitious, passionate and playful year of audience-pleasing musicals and innovative plays for its 79th consecutive season.

La Jolla Playhouse presents a new adaptation of Sleeping Beauty Wakes, book by Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), with a score by composer Brendan Milburn and lyricist Valerie Vigoda, both of the acclaimed trio GrooveLily (Striking 12, Long Story Short), and directed by Rebecca Taichman, who will also direct the Playhouse's 2011/12 world premiere of Milk Like Sugar.