Santino Fontana News

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include the 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market, Billy Porter's Off-Broadway show WHILE I YET LIVE, Aretha Franklin's visit to ALADDIN, and more!

Bucks County Playhouse Producers Robyn Goodman and Alexander Fraser announce the launch of a musical theatre development program focusing on the importance of lyrics in the creation of new musicals: The Oscar Hammerstein Festival - named in honor of the master writer whose countless accomplishments during his illustrious career include having mentored a young Stephen Sondheim at Hammerstein's Bucks County farm -- is a year-long program that offers expert mentorship to early career composers and lyricists. The Oscar Hammerstein Festival will culminate in a weekend with musical theatre experts, artists, and enthusiasts and various events open to the general public. The Festival will launch this weekend, September 26 - 28, 2014.

New York's funniest show Celebrity Autobiography will welcome to its cast Orange is the New Black co-star Natasha Lyonne, four-time Oscar nominee Marsha Mason, Tate Donovan (24, Damages), Mario Cantone (Sex and the City), Tony Award-nominee Santino Fontana (Act One, Cinderella), comedy legend Alan Zweibel & Drama Desk-winners Eugene Pack & Dayle Reyfel for its October show on Monday, October 20 at 7pm at The Triad (Stage 72 -- 158 West 72nd Street).

Hosted by Ted Chapin and airing on New Jersey's public television NJTV, the American Songbook at NJPAC features live performances of America's finest interpreters of the Great American Songbook. Perfermors include Marilyn Maye, Tommy Tune, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, John Pizzarelli, Nellie McKay and Laura Osnes & Santino Fontana, with John Pizzarelli performing an entire show of songs by the great master himself, Johnny Mercer.

Most playwrights would be happy to have one script of theirs produced in New York in a year. "Theater Boys"--which opens tomorrow, September 21st at the 13th Street Repertory Theater--is the third show by ASCAP award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa to open this year.

One of Broadway's biggest days is just around the corner - the 29th annual Broadway Flea Market is to be held this Sunday, September 21st from 10:00am-7:00pm. To get everyone in the Flea Market spirit, we've compiled highlights of BroadwayWorld coverage spanning the last five years of the event! Scroll down to see five years of Flea Market history in pictures!

Now in previews, the Off-Broadway's newest stage drama STALKING THE BOGEYMAN is set to officially open on Monday, September 29 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Check out a first look below!

It's the biggest, most ambitious undertaking in years for the historic 13th Street Repertory Theater, at 50 West 13th Street, NYC. On September 21st, they'll be launching ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa's new musical comedy "Theater Boys"-and also, during the run, the cast album for the show.

Bucks County Playhouse Producers Robyn Goodman and Alexander Fraser are thrilled to welcome the addition of Broadway's beloved Marin Mazzie to the cast of GETTING TO KNOW YOU: An Enchanted Evening of Oscar Hammerstein II, the Saturday night benefit concert of the inaugural Oscar Hammerstein Festival.

The Off-Broadway premiere of the new stage drama STALKING THE BOGEYMAN at New World Stages (340 W. 50th St.) begins preview performances tonight, September 12, with an official Opening Night on Monday, September 29 (7 p.m.).

The Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is expanding its support of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) by joining a group of prestigious sponsors for the second season of the well received American Songbook at NJPAC. Hosted by Ted Chapin and airing on New Jersey's public television NJTV, the series features live performances of America's finest interpreters of the Great American Songbook on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 7pm and Sunday, September 21 at 3pm. Slated to appear are Marilyn Maye, Tommy Tune, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, John Pizzarelli, Nellie McKay and Laura Osnes & Santino Fontana, with John Pizzarelli performing an entire show of songs by the great master himself, Johnny Mercer.

MIAMI, Sept. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts), the non-profit organization that contributes to the cultural vitality of the nation by supporting the artistic development of talented young artists, is celebrating YoungArts Awareness Day, a nationwide initiative to 'keep arts alive' today, Monday, September 8, 2014. Encouraging everyone who has a creative instinct to take part, YoungArts Awareness Day will feature pop-up performances and events in Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and New York City, and invites artists across the country to create and share their own work or their artistic experiences via social media with the tags #keepartsalive, #youngarts and #youngartsawarenessday.

Next Friday, September 12 marks the start of performances for the new stage drama STALKING THE BOGEYMAN at New World Stages (340 W. 50th St.). The play's official Opening Night is set for Monday, September 29 at 8 p.m. (new curtain time).

New York's funniest show Celebrity Autobiography welcomed to its cast stars of stage & screen Gina Gershon &Mario Cantone (Sex and the City), Tony Award-winner Karen Ziemba (Bullets Over Broadway), Tony-nominated actor Santino Fontana (Act One, Cinderella), actress Lucy DeVito (star of HULU's 'Deadbeat' series) & Drama Desk-winners Eugene Pack & Dayle Reyfel for its August show in NYC on Monday, August 18 at 7pm at Stage 72 (158 West 72nd Street).

Playwright Chip Deffaa says he never dreamed, when his musical play "One Night with Fanny Brice," first opened Off-Broadway at St. Luke's Theater in the 2011-2012 season, that the starring role would someday be played by a teenager. Over the past three years, stars in their 30s, 40s, and 60s have played the show, which transferred in 2013 to the 13th Street Repertory Theater. Chloe Brooks, who now stars in the show, after previously serving as an understudy, is just 17.

Bucks County Playhouse Producers Robyn Goodman and Alexander Fraser announce the launch of a musical theatre development program focusing on the importance of lyrics in the creation of new musicals: The Oscar Hammerstein Festival - named in honor of the master writer whose countless accomplishments during his illustrious career include having mentored a young Stephen Sondheim at Hammerstein's Bucks County farm -- is a year-long program that offers expert mentorship to early career composers and lyricists. The Oscar Hammerstein Festival will culminate in a weekend with musical theatre experts, artists, and enthusiasts and various events open to the general public. The Festival will launch September 26 - 28, 2014.