Richard Rodgers News

On Twitter Watch, Ryann Redmond wrote ' If/Then, the upcoming world premiere musical by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning creative team behind Next To Normal, Tom Kitt (music), Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics), and Michael Greif(director), will make its world premiere engagement in Washington, D.C. before moving on to Broadway. If/Then will play Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street) in spring 2014, beginning preview performances on Tuesday, March 4, and officially opening on Thursday, March 27, 2014. Earlier this year, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, in keeping with American Songbook's tradition of honoring great composers and lyricists, welcomed IF/THEN composers Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. The March 1st program featured Kitt & Yorkey, joined by leading lady Idina Menzel, who previewed two songs from the show- 'Here I Go' and 'Learn to Live Without' and you can check out the flashback of our coverage from the special night below! The company of If/Then features Joe Cassidy (Working), Miguel Cervantes (American Idiot, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Curtis Holbrook (West Side Story, Xanadu), Stephanie Klemons (In The Heights), Tyler McGee (Ghost), Ryann Redmond (Bring It On), Joe Aaron Reid (Catch Me If You Can) and Ann Sanders (Leap of Faith) and stars Idina Menzel, LaChanze, Anthony Rapp, James Snyder, Jerry Dixon, Jenn Colella, Jason Tam, and Tamika Lawrence. On the verge of turning 40, Elizabeth (Menzel) moves back to New York City, the ultimate city of possibility, intent on a fresh start - new home, new friends, and hopes for a resurgent career. But even in her carefully planned new life, the smallest decision or most random occurrence will impact her world in ways she never dreamt possible. Set against the ever-shifting landscape of modern day Manhattan, If/Then is a romantic and original new musical about how choice and chance collide and how we learn to love the fallout.'

Magic Theatre welcomes award-winning playwright Victor Lodato and Obie Award-winning composer Polly Pen with the world premiere of their musical Arlington. This unique musical production runs November 13 - December 8, 2013.

Vital Theatre Company and HIT Entertainment are pleased to announce the return of the yuletide hit, Angelina Ballerina The Very Merry Holiday Musical, to the McGinn/Cazale Theatre at 2162 Broadway from November 16th - January 5th, 2014. The show, with book and lyrics by Susan DiLallo, music by Ben Morss, and direction and choreography by Sam Viverito, is based on the famous dancing mouseling and her friends created by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig. Angelina and her friends will return to the Vital stage with a special 'red carpet' press opening on November 16th. Performances continue November 17 through January 5th on Selected Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 pm.

The number-one male jazz singer in the home of the Alamo has been entertaining San Antonio and South Texas audiences and recording critically acclaimed CDs for more than 23 years. Now Ken Slavin will bring his unique sound to the Big Apple when he makes his New York City jazz cabaret debut on Thursday, October 31, at the world-famous Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd Street. Show time is 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25 - with a two-drink minimum - and are available at www.metropolitanroom.com.

Buster Poindexter (aka David Johansen, NY Dolls) plays Cafe Carlyle for the first time. The legendary venue will host the rock icon on Halloween, October 31, at 10:45pm.

The National Tour of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, announces the complete cast for the tour launch at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre this November. The show plays in Charlotte July 15-20, 2014 in Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 10/18/2013.

Over 450 elementary and secondary school students who are either deaf or hard of hearing from 17 schools in the tri-State region, will attended one of the next three Wednesday matinee performances of the hit musical Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella. Three upcoming matinee performances (October 30, November 6 and 13) of the show will be simultaneously sign language interpreted and open captioned by TDF's Accessibility Programs (TAP), which is bringing the students with mild to severe hearing loss to the theatre through their 'Access for Young Audiences' program. Additionally, earlier this month, TAP brought 100 students who are blind or have low vision to the Wednesday matinee performance on October 9, which featured audio description.

Earlier this year, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, in keeping with American Songbook's tradition of honoring great composers and lyricists, welcomed IF/THEN composers Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. The March 1st program featured Kitt & Yorkey, joined by leading lady Idina Menzel, who previewed two songs from the show- 'Here I Go' and 'Learn to Live Without' and you can check out the flashback below!

Joseph W. Polisi, President of The Juilliard School, today announced the creation of the Kovner Fellowship Program at Juilliard that will be endowed with a gift of $60 million - the largest single one-time gift to the School - from Bruce and Suzie Kovner, long-time supporters of the School. Providing full tuition, and living expenses, the Fellowships recognize the excellence of Juilliard's classical music students and enhance the School's 100+ year tradition of attracting and developing the most talented musicians in the world.

THE UNTOLD STORIES OF BROADWAY: Tales from the World's Most Famous Theaters, Volume 1 (Dress Circle Publishing. 350 pages, $19.99) by author and musical theater historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper is the first book to recount the backstage drama of Broadway's greatest shows at eight iconic theaters. Using firsthand accounts from some of the biggest names in Broadway history, the book provides a look behind the curtains of the Al Hirschfield, August Wilson, Lyceum, Mark Hellinger, Marquis, Neil Simon, Richard Rodgers, and Winter Garden Theaters.

UPSTAIRS LANDING PRODUCTIONS continues season two of "Standing By with Caskey Hunsader" on October 15th at www.standingbytv.com/cinderella. Ensemble member Linda Mugleston and Swing Adam Jepsen discuss the challenge of bing an understudy for the Broadway production of Cinderella now playing at the Broadway Theatre.

The Music Theatre Company (TMTC), Highland Park's critically-acclaimed Equity theatre, has announced its 2013-2014 season. The programming will feature a world premiere dance musical created and choreographed by Artistic Director Jessica Redish in June of 2014 and two musicals in the company's Chamber Musicals Series: Triumph of Love and Do I Hear a Waltz?.

American Stage Theatre Company's 'After Hours' Series continue with five events, Hawk and Wayne's It's a Living!, What is Art?, The Vagina Monologues, Cole Porter & Friends, and Longtime Companion in November. We have everything from cabaret music to a benefit series for a S.A.T.P fundraiser!

On October 12th, noted arranger and producer, Fred Barton, whose work is heard regularly in concert halls around the country, celebrated composer Richard Rodgers on the Schimmel stage. Fred Barton, his 12-piece orchestra and star-studded cast of performers are back to celebrate the legendary Richard Rodgers! The extraordinary icon's career spanned six decades, during which he composed 40 Broadway musicals. Fred's tribute to the versatility of Richard Rodgers will prove a revelation to those familiar with his biggest hits: Oklahoma!, South Pacific, Carousel, and The Sound of Music. You'll hear Richard Rodgers from his razz-ma-tazz roots to his later masterworks, created with a number of star lyricists. Join us as we journey from Broadway to Hollywood and back, celebrating the incredible music and tales of Richard Rodgers!

Amas Musical Theatre will present three free staged readings of 'Bleeding Love, a post-apocalyptic new musical comedy', book by Jason Schafer, music by Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, lyrics by Harris Doran, directed by Michael Bush. The readings will take place tonight, October 15th at 3:00pm and 7:00pm, and Wednesday, October 16th at 1pm at The Theatre at the 14th Street Y, 314 East 14th Street.

Signature Theatre has announced the pairing of one of the theatre's most celebrated friends with the upcoming 2013/14 season's newest play. Shakespeare Theatre Company Artistic Director Michael Kahn returns to Signature this fall for the first time in nearly twenty years to direct the world premiere of Pride in the Falls of Autrey Mill, the new play by Paul Downs Colaizzo.

Casting has been announced for the national tour of 'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,' winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, which will open at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on April 23 and play through June 1, 2014. (Preview on April 22.) The tour, accompanied by a 23-piece orchestra, is set to launch at San Francisco's Golden Gate Theatre this November.

A free musical web series about teenage gay bullying, THE HINTERLANDS, was conceived by the writing team of Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen (Cloaked, The Yellow Wood). Created as a response to the flood of suicides by bullied LGBTQ youth, THE HINTERLANDS will be available online beginning October 28, 2013.

TMTC's Mainstage production will be the world premiere of artistic director Jessica Redish's WITHOUT CONVERSATION: A NEW DANCE MUSICAL, which kicks off in June 2014.