Ryan Scott Oliver News

Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena recently joined the cast of Wicked, assuming the roles of Elphaba and Fiyero. They join a cast which includes Katie Rose Clarke as Glinda, Randy Danson as Madame Morrible, Adam Grupper as The Wizard, Catherine Charlebois as Nessarose, F. Michael Haynie as Boq, and John Schiappa as Dr. Dillamond. Check out a first look at the duo in action below!

Beginning performances today, May 28, 2013, Lindsay Mendez will assume the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of WICKED. Ms. Mendez has previously worked with both the composer and director of WICKED, having appeared in the 2011 Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, and, more recently, giving a breakout performance in the world premiere musical, Dogfight, staged by WICKED director Joe Mantello.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, Lindsay Mendez will assume the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of WICKED. Ms. Mendez has previously worked with both the composer and director of WICKED, having appeared in the 2011 Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, and, more recently, giving a breakout performance in the world premiere musical, Dogfight, staged by WICKED director Joe Mantello.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Young Conservatory Director Craig Slaight has announced Darling, A New Musical June 14-29, 2013, at The Theater at the Children's Creativity Museum (221 4th Street, San Francisco). Tickets are $20 and available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or going online to www.act-sf.org/ycshows.

Coming up at 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher is the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more, including: stage and television star Laura Benanti, High Fidelity in Concert, WGBO Jazz Series: Karrin Allyson Quartet, Tony winner Frances Ruffelle, Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band, Sondheim Unplugged and Simply Streisand.

For those craving a show after the show, stop by 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the lineup of special events, concerts, student productions, and free developmental readings for its 10th annual festival. The festival also announced three additional full productions. This year's Festival will begin July 8th and continue through July 28th.

After the tremendous success of Hatched: New Work in New York (2012) and Rated RSO: College Edition (2011), Ryan Scott Oliver and Pace University's Musical Theater Class of 2016 will present a cabaret tonight, May 8th at 9:30pm and 11:30pm at 54 Below. The show, Hatched: Fresh Work. Freshmen., is a presentation of brand new work performed by brand new singers. Scroll down for portraits of the freshmen!

Prospect Theater Company presents its annual gala, 2013's Spring Soiree, in the Harbor View Room at Battery Gardens, a beautiful and unique waterside location nestled at the southernmost corner of Battery Park. This special one-night only event will be held on Monday, May 6 from 6pm - 10:30pm, with an 8pm concert performance, to feature performances by Broadway friends as well as Prospect stars! Guests will be treated to a sneak peek of songs from upcoming 2013 - 2014 Prospect productions, as well as encore performances from previous Prospect shows. The evening's line up of writers includes work by Sam Carner and Derek Gregor, Marisa Michelson and Joshua H. Cohen, Peter Mills, and Ryan Scott Oliver, among others.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond.

After the tremendous success of Hatched: New Work in New York (2012) and Rated RSO: College Edition (2011), Ryan Scott Oliver and Pace University's Musical Theater Class of 2016 will present a cabaret on May 8th at 9:30pm and 11:30pm at 54 Below. The show, Hatched: Fresh Work. Freshmen., is a presentation of brand new work performed by brand new singers. Scroll down for portraits of the freshmen!

Tonight, April 28 at 9:30pm, Krysta Rodriguez (Smash, The Addams Family), Lindsay Mendez (Dogfight, 35mm: A Musical Exhibition), and Barbara Walsh (Company) will join bright new composer and lyricist team Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne at 54 Below.

Prospect Theater Company (Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director / Melissa Huber, Managing Director) presents its annual gala,2013's Spring Soiree, in the Harbor View Room at Battery Gardens, a beautiful and unique waterside location nestled at the southernmost corner of Battery Park.

Beginning performances on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, Lindsay Mendez will assume the role of Elphaba in the Broadway production of WICKED. Ms. Mendez has previously worked with both the composer and director of WICKED, having appeared in the 2011 Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's Godspell, and, more recently, giving a breakout performance in the world premiere musical, Dogfight, staged by WICKED director Joe Mantello.

Our featured composer this week is Ryan Scott Oliver. Here is his song "Halfway" sung by Morgan Karr (Spring Awakening) and Jay Armstrong Johnson (Hands on a Hardbody) at our Cutting-Edge Composers concert at the Canal Room. We asked Ryan where he got the inspiration for the song and this was his reply:

Representing a collision of artistic disciplines, 35MM is a collection of 'snapshot stories' are woven together while the audience is immersed in the photography that inspired it. 35MM brings the connection between pleasures visual and aural into focus, creating an amazing multi-sensory emotional journey.

After the tremendous success of Hatched: New Work in New York (2012) and Rated RSO: College Edition (2011), Ryan Scott Oliver and Pace University's Musical Theater Class of 2016 will present a cabaret on May 8th at 9:30pm and 11:30pm at 54 Below. The show, entitled Hatched, is a presentation of brand new work.

Representing a collision of artistic disciplines, 35MM is a collection of 'snapshot stories' are woven together while the audience is immersed in the photography that inspired it. 35MM brings the connection between pleasures visual and aural into focus, creating an amazing multi-sensory emotional journey.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announces 11 awards granted from their National Fund for New Musicals, a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaborations with writers to create, develop and produce new musicals. Now in its fifth year, the Fund will provide grants totaling $37,000 to 11 organizations across the country.

On April 28 at 9:30pm, Krysta Rodriguez (Smash, The Addams Family), Lindsay Mendez (Dogfight, 35mm: A Musical Exhibition), and Barbara Walsh (Company) will join bright new composer and lyricist team Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne at 54 Below.