Richard Rodgers News

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 4/6/2012.

The Daily Mail UK reports that Julian Ovenden will star in a musical version of the film Finding Neverland, which starred Johhny Depp and Kate Winslet and followed the the story of J.M. Barrie's inspiration for his famous children's book, Peter Pan.

The Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST) in Charlotte, North Carolina will present the regional premiere of FLOYD COLLINS April 12-May 12, 2012. The musical by playwright Tina Landau and composer Adam Guettel is based on the true story of the heroic, but ultimately unsuccessful, struggle to free explorer Floyd Collins from a Kentucky cave in 1925. The tragedy was covered by newspapers throughout the United States for two weeks, and drew thousands of spectators to the remote rescue site, making it one of the most sensational news events of the early 20th century and inspiring one of the most unusual stage productions ever written.

The new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical SOUTH PACIFIC, based on the 2008 Tony Award® winning Lincoln Center Theater production directed by Bartlett Sher, plays the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Tues. April 3 & Wed. April 4 at 8 PM. Derived from James Michener's Pulitzer Prize winning book Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.

Today in 2008, the first Broadway revival of South Pacific opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, where it ran for 996 performances. South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The musical centers on an American nurse stationed at a U.S. Naval base during World War II who falls in love with an expatriate French plantation owner but struggles to accept his mixed-race children. A second romance concerns a U.S. Lieutenant who falls in love with a young Asian woman. The musical premiered in 1949 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950.

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) presents "Ballerina Assoluta: A Tribute to Natalia Makarova" on Saturday, April 28 at 7:00 PM at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. This evening of dance will illustrate Natalia Makarova's contribution to the art of ballet by presenting some of her most iconic roles performed by today's leading dancers. Performers include Marcelo Gomes (American Ballet Theatre), Natalia Osipova (American Ballet Theatre/Mikhailovsky Theatre St. Petersburg), Sergei Polunin (formally of The Royal Ballet), Tamara Rojo (The Royal Ballet), Yuan Yuan Tan (San Francisco Ballet), Ivan Vasiliev (American Ballet Theatre/Mikhailovsky Theatre St. Petersburg) and Diana Vishneva (American Ballet Theatre/Mariinsky Ballet). Ms. Makarova will narrate the program, reflecting on her experiences as a dancer. In addition, rare photos and archival footage will be shared. Tickets for the performance are $20, $37, $45, $75, $100, $150.

The new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical SOUTH PACIFIC, based on the 2008 Tony Award® winning Lincoln Center Theater production directed by Bartlett Sher, plays the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Tues. April 3 & Wed. April 4 at 8 PM. Derived from James Michener's Pulitzer Prize winning book Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.

Stephen Schwartz, the three-time Academy Award-winning Broadway legend and composer, and Broadway icon Andrea McArdle will appear in Palm Springs on May 19 in "When You Believe: A Conversation With and Tribute To Stephen Schwartz" at the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

With several Tennessee theaters prepping new productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic The Sound of Music over the upcoming months, one would be well-advised to make the trip to Crossville to see director Weslie Webster's (and music director Ron Murphy's) take on the Von Trapp family musical. Webster, one of Cumberland County Playhouse's most accomplished leading ladies, takes the helm of The Sound of Music with clear-headed confidence and commitment, giving the time-honored musical the added gravitas-the dramatic heft-of historical context, which all too often is glossed over and regretfully forgotten in lesser revivals.

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 3/30/2012.

Greg MacKellan and Stephanie Rhoads, artistic and producing directors of 42nd Street Moon, today announced details for the company's 20th Anniversary Season of musical theater: Moon Goes Platinum! It will be celebrated with five diverse comedies - all first-time productions for the organization, including a political comedy, romantic comedy, singing satire, a comedy-drama and a no-holds-barred farce.

Songwriting team Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews have been invited to perform selections from their Richard Rodgers Award winning musical, Witness Uganda at the New York Stock Exchange on March 30th as part of TEDxWallStreet.

Tony-nominated actor Brian Lane Green (Starmites) joins the lineup of Broadway talent performing in the March 30th concert with John Bucchino. In addition to Lane is Broadway funnyman Todd Buonopane (…Spelling Bee) and renowned singer/songwriter Lindy Robbins.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the West Coast Premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, the critically acclaimed musical about an infamous chapter in American history.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's PIPE DREAM will be recorded live at New York City Center's Encores! series this week, and released this Summer on Ghostlight Records. Produced by Rodgers & Hammerstein: AnImagem Company, this preservation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1955 Broadway musical rarity marks the first time an Encores! musical has been recorded live.

Today in 1951, The King and I opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 1246 performances. The King and I is the fifth musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. The story deals with the experiences of the British schoolteacher, who is hired as part of the King's drive to modernize his country. The relationship between the King and Anna is marked by conflict through much of the play, as well as by a love that neither is able to express.

Two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick and three-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara star in NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, featuring music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. The production will begin performances on Broadway today, March 29, 2012 and officially open on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at the Imperial Theatre. Yesterday, NICE WORK's neighbors at PORGY AND BESS welcomed the show to Broadway. Check out photos of four of Broadway's biggest stars, Norm Lewis, Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara and Matthew Broderick bonding below!

Theatre Lawrence has announces its upcoming 2012-2013 season. The season includes 9 TO 5, the SOUND OF MUSIC, and more. Tickets will go on sale in May.

Two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick and three-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara star in NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, featuring music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. The production will begin performances on Broadway tomorrow, Thursday, March 29, 2012 and officially open on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street).