Richard Rodgers News

Winner of the 2012 Fred Ebb Award, musical theatre composer/lyricist Sam Willmott will showcase his work with The Songs of Sam Willmott at the York Theatre on Monday, April 8th at 6:30 PM. Presented by the Fred Ebb Foundation in association with the York Theatre Company, the free concert event will feature Tony nominee Tony Sheldon (Priscilla: Queen of the Desert) with Etai BenShlomo (Wicked), Griffin Birney (Fun Home), Alyse Alan Louis (Mamma Mia!), Grace McLean (The Last Goodbye), Matthew Schechter (Mary Poppins), and Sam Teldaldi (Fantasy Football: The Musical). The band includes Gregg Monteith and Peter Sachon. Sam Pinkleton directs with musical direction by Matt Aument. Rachel Sussman produces.

Musicals Tonight! announces its 2013-2014 season, featuring Cole Porter, Marvin Hamlisch, Will Holt, George & Ira Gershwin and Rodgers & Hart.

According to the New York Times, the show might aim for a bigger stage next season- Broadway. Producer Howard Kagan told the New York Times that he is looking into bringing the experience to a Broadway theatre by 'putting a giant platform of tables, banquettes and performing space over the orchestra seats.'

This is the last week to see Tony Award-winner Scarlett Johansson, Ciaran Hinds, Benjamin Walker and Emmy Award-winner Debra Monk in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning classic CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Directed by Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, this limited engagement must end Saturday, March 30. CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF is playing at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street) where it opened January 17 (previews began December 18).

Sitting in a darkened house, listening to the scrape of chairs, the clink of glasses and the rustle of napkins, you forget just how charming 'The Sound of Music' can be. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II could write songs. Not the bland, vaguely pop ditties of today's musical theatre. But tunes that audiences cherish for five decades and counting.

The stars of the hit musical Cinderella -- Laura Osnes (Cinderella) and Santino Fontana (Prince Topher) -- performed 'Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?' live in studio on NBC's the Today Show this morning, March 22. Check out the full performance below!

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 3/22/2013.

Cornish College of the Arts Theater and Performance Production departments present Bat Boy: The Musical, April 10 through 13, at the Playhouse at Seattle Center. The run of the play includes a fundraiser for the Cornish Scholarship Fund, Bat Boy: Backstage Benefit, on April 10.

One of Broadway's legendary romantic musicals, the Pulitzer Prize-winning SOUTH PACIFIC takes the stage at The Marriott Theatre previewing April 3, opening April 10 and running through June 2 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The production is currently in rehearsals, and BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in action below!

The stars of the hit musical Cinderella -- Laura Osnes (Cinderella) and Santino Fontana (Prince Topher) -- will perform a number from the show live in studio on NBC's the Today Show during the morning program's 8 a.m. hour on Friday, March 22.

Today in 2002, Oklahoma! opened at the Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 388 performances. Oklahoma! is the first musical written by the team of composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams. The original Broadway production opened on March 31, 1943. The 2002 revival featured Josefina Gabrielle as Laurey, Shuler Hensley as Jud, Patrick Wilson as Curly and Andrea Martin as Aunt Eller.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguliar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.'

Before Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern, and Richard Rodgers revolutionized the American musical, Broadway was filled with shows comprised of simple, silly characters; fun, up-beat songs; and storylines and plot-twists that rarely made sense. While 'The Drowsy Chaperone' didn't debut until 1998, this fictitous flapper-era farce would have fit in perfectly with the Gershwins' light-hearted 'Girl Crazy' and Cole Porter's joyous, but convoluted 'Anything Goes.' With music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, 'The Drowsy Chaperone,' now playing through April 14th at the Aurora Theatre both faithfully celebrates and hilariously sends-up the musical comedies of this bygone era.

The national tour of Roundabout Theatre Company's ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its Pittsburgh premiere April 16-21, 2013 at Heinz Hall as part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series.

Superman finds his Lois Lane! Joining Edward Watts (Superman) in the New York City Center Encores! production of It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman will be Jenny Powers as Lois Lane and David Pittu as the evil Dr. Sedgwick, along with Erich Bergen, Alli Mauzey, James Saito and Will Swenson. Superman will play at City Center for seven performances, tonight, March 20 - 24, and will be directed by John Rando with choreography by Joshua Bergasse and music direction by Rob Berman.

The company of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella entered the studio yesterday, March 18 to preserve the Original Broadway Cast Recording for Ghostlight Records. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivites and you can check out coverge from inside the recording sessions below!

The company of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella entered the studio yesterday, March 18 to preserve the Original Broadway Cast Recording for Ghostlight Records. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivites and you can check out coverge from the cast arrivals below!

The company of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella entered the studio yesterday, March 18 to preserve the Original Broadway Cast Recording for Ghostlight Records. See some snapshots of the cast in the studio below, and stay tuned for more photos!

The long anticipated cast recording of the Drama Desk award-winning SEE ROCK CITY & OTHER DESTINATIONS has been recorded by Yellow Sound Label, produced by Michael Croiter, to be released in digital and CD formats today, March 19, 2013.