Richard Rodgers News

Rehearsals for RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella will begin Thursday, December 6 with preview performances starting January 25 prior to Opening Night on Sunday, March 3. (The previously announced opening date of February 24 turned out to be Oscar Night.) The box office at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St.) will open Monday, December 17 at 10 a.m.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC, the original classic starring Julie Andrews, brings its special magic to the holiday season when it airs in HDTV with 5.1-channel surround sound as the "ABC Sunday Movie of the Week," DECEMBER 23 (7:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball tonight, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater.

Five-time Grammy winner Carrie Underwood will star in the coveted role of Maria von Trapp in NBC's live broadcast of "The Sound of Music," based on the original Broadway musical, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. The live telecast of "The Sound of Music" will be a three-hour event on a date to be announced near the holidays in 2013.

Today we are talking to a breakout Broadway star who has made a name for himself with memorable turns in this century's revivals of Rodgers & Hammerstein's FLOWER DRUM SONG, Stephen Sondheim's PACIFIC OVERTURES and Stephen Schwartz's GODSPELL on Broadway as well as turns in Schwartz's WICKED and Jonathan Larson's RENT in addition to his lauded work on the brand new Broadway-bound tuner ALLEGIANCE, co-starring Lea Salonga and George Takei - and, of course, his easily identifiable uniform-outfitted Warbler on Fox's hit musical dramedy series GLEE - the passionate and gifted Telly Leung! Besides taking a look back at many of his best-loved and most well-remembered roles to date, in this career-spanning conversation Leung and I also dissect the finer points of his new solo album, I'LL COVER YOU, as we look ahead to the splashy release party on December 2 at 54 Below, and he outlines his initial inspiration for the creation of it and recounts the recording process for the unique genre-crossing release. Plus, Leung generously shares some truly thrilling backstage stories involving luminaries such as Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Neil Patrick Harris and more as well as shares his infectious enthusiasm for future endeavors, near and far - after a well-earned vacation in January, that is. All of that and much, much more awaits!

As The CAP21 Theatre Company celebrates its 20th Anniversary, Executive Artistic Director, Frank Ventura and Artistic Director, Eliza Ventura have announced CAP21's 2013 momentous "20th Anniversary Season". In honor of the milestone anniversary, CAP21 promises to support the development of at least 20 new musicals in the coming year through various programming that the Theatre Company offers.

Maureen McGovern - the two time Grammy Award nominated vocalist and actress - will perform her acclaimed show 'Home For The Holidays' in New York with an exclusive engagement at 54 Below from December 18 to 23. McGovern will present an evening featuring songs of the season, some unexpected, and some traditional "chestnuts." She will be joined by her longtime Musical Director Jeffrey Harris on piano and Jay Leonhart on bass.

The Richard Rodgers Theatre box office (226 West 46th Street) is now open for tickets to Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Scarlett Johansson as Maggie, Ciaran Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Debra Monk as Big Mama, directed by Rob Ashford. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opens Thursday, January 17, 2013. Previews begin Tuesday, December 18. This limited engagement runs for 15 weeks only, through March 30, 2013. The cast met the press yesterday, and you can check out full photo coverage below!

For the holiday season, 42nd Street Moon unwraps the timeless Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart masterpiece, PAL JOEY.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series has announced the return of The Marcy & Zina Show, featuring the dynamic theater songwriters, Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, along with Scott Coulter and a cast of talented friends to sing their songs. The event will take place on Monday, January 7 at 7pm.

The Richard Rodgers Theatre box office (226 West 46th Street) is now open for tickets to Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Scarlett Johansson as Maggie, Ciaran Hinds as Big Daddy, Benjamin Walker as Brick and Debra Monk as Big Mama, directed by Rob Ashford. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opens Thursday, January 17, 2013. Previews begin Tuesday, December 18. This limited engagement runs for 15 weeks only, through March 30, 2013. The cast met the press earlier today, and you can check out a photo preview below. Be sure to check back later for full coverage!

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose...you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.'

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose…you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.' Eric Idle's cheeky lyric, which unfailingly generated knowing guffaws from Broadway audiences, proves to be more than a little grounded in truth, as BROADWAY MUSICALS: A JEWISH LEGACY convincingly attests.

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, producer Marty Richards passed away today after a long battle with cancer. He was 80 years old. We celebrate the life and career of the legend below

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) will present the eighth annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to Sam Willmott. The award, named in honor of the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb, will be presented by David Hyde Pierce tonight, November 26th from 6-8pm at a by-invitation-only ceremony in the Penthouse Lobby of The American Airlines Theater.

Vital Theatre Company's newest smash hit Fancy Nancy The Musical, is moving downtown to Culture Project. Beginning today, November 24th, performances will run every Today at 1:30 pm and every Sunday at 12 noon. Tickets are $29.50. Premium seats are available for $49.50. For reservations, visit www.vitaltheatre.org, call us at (212) 579-0528, or visit McGinn/Cazale box office Mondays-Fridays from 9-5, or visit the Culture Project box office one hour before the show. Culture Project is located downtown at 45 Bleecker St.

Get a first look at Broadway's new production of CINDERELLA as the show's stars Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana and Victoria Clark perform in today's Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

The new family musical special, The Christmas Rose, features a cast of over 400 and stars the multiple Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actress Jane Seymour and legendary Broadway actor and Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams. The Christmas Rose, with music and story by PBS composer Tim Janis, follows a young orphan named Annabelle, played by thirteen year old Bailey Grey, into the desert where she crosses paths with everyone from the three wise men and singing angels to Mary and Joseph, while being pursued by a team of desert bandits. The Christmas Rose is created in association with the Ogunquit Playhouse and is on stage at Carnegie Hall one night only Thursday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling (212) 247-7800 or online at www.carnegiehall.org. In honor of Thanksgiving, a special holiday offer of 30% off all tickets is available starting Friday, November 23 at 11a.m. and ending Monday November 27 at 11:59p.m. by using code GIV15704.

Complete casting has just been announced for the new production of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, which begins performances in January on Broadway. RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA will perform at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St).

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer, has announced that Davis Gaines (LA's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, MTW's MAN OF LA MANCHA & MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT) will make his Los Angeles-area directorial debut for the upcoming MTW production of OKLAHOMA!, which will preview on February 15 and run for 12 performances through March 3, 2013. OKLAHOMA!, as with all Musical Theatre West productions, is created from the ground up at its rehearsal studios in Long Beach using a blend of both professional actors from Broadway, Hollywood and national tours, and the best in local talent.