Santo Loquasto News

The revival of Meredith Willson's beloved classic, The Music Man is still on schedule to hit Broadway this fall.

Many may think that the heartwarming and brassy American musical comedy of yore with it's hummable tunes will never be seen again. That the days of star driven shows have dried up. The era when the names of Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, or Carol Channing all but guaranteed a hit musical. Now producers are wary of putting all of their eggs in one basket, relying on a star to stick with a show until it recoups it's investment. Happily...... no, joyously...... Broadway producer Scott Rudin was able to engage superstar Bette Midler for a year in the first revival of HELLO DOLLY! ever to happen on Broadway without Carol Channing

Manhattan Theatre Club presented the world premiere of The Perplexed, written by Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, The Assembled Parties). The Perplexed is directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Cake, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife).

HELLO DOLLY first landed on Broadway in 1964, and the current (2017) revival, playing at Providence Performing Arts Center through March 8, won the Tony Award for Best Revival and Best Actress for Bette Midler. While those who have nostalgia for this show will no doubt think it's fun, the uninitiated may find themselves wishing for a few of the less memorable songs to be traded for more robust character development. Not unlike the recent revival of Miss Saigon, which tried to win new audiences by actually casting Asian actors to play Asian roles and by spending a tremendous amount of money on technical wizardry; this revival of Hello Dolly went all out on sets and costumes, presumably to distract from mostly forgettable songs and a book that is bloated, dated and not nearly as charming as it thinks it is.

The Perplexed officially opened last night at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

The Perplexed is now in previews ahead of a March 3rd opening night at MTC at New York City Center – Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

Purchase College, State University of New York's Broadway Technical Theatre History Project, will present the Ninth Annual Broadway technical 'Backstage Legends and Masters Award' to theater legend, William M. (Bill) Mensching on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7 p.m. at The Performing Arts Center on campus, located at 735 Anderson Hill Road in Purchase, NY. This free event will be recorded and archived for future viewing.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today unveiled the 2020/21 season which builds on the company's commitment to create new works, attract the best artists in the world and showcase the company on the international stage. The season features the world premiere of MADDADDAM, a new full-length ballet by the multi-award-winning choreographer Wayne McGregor in collaboration with internationally renowned writer Margaret Atwood. Additional highlights include the North American premiere of Victoria, created by acclaimed choreographer Cathy Marston, and a guest appearance by San Francisco Ballet in its Toronto debut. The National Ballet will tour to London and Ottawa. #2021SeasonNBC

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, The Music Man is coming back to Broadway this fall, starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. The production, directed by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks, with choreography by Tony Award winner Warren Carlyle, will begin performances on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 and officially open on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at the Winter Garden Theatre. Now the show is on the hunt for its Winthrop Paroo. Telsey + Company will hold an open call for 7-10 year-old boys on Sunday, February 16. Click here for more information.

The national tour of HELLO, DOLLY! will play at PPAC Tuesday, March 3 through Sunday, March 8. The National Tour stars Carolee Carmello as a?oeDolly Gallagher Levi.a??

a?oeDolly will never go away again!a?? But that's just it. Dolly has never gone anywhere. So long as there are humans on earth, Hello, Dolly! will continue to live. Somewhere, somehow, the show will always be produced, the songs always sung, the characters always riffed off of. It has left an impact that would be immeasurable. The late Jerry Herman's infectious melodies are so intertwined within the fabric of America that its title song helped Lyndon Johnson become President in 1964. This show is not to be missed!

Meredith Willson's beloved classic, The Music Man starring two-time Tony Award, Grammy Award, and Emmy Award-winning star Hugh Jackman as Harold Hill and two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Marian Paroo, is coming to Broadway. The show will officially open at the Winter Garden Theatre- the current home of Beetlejuice- on October 15, 2020. Previews will begin on September 9.

Celine Dion recently stopped by the National Ballet of Canada's 2019 production of The Nutcracker and posed for photos with some of the cast members.

Performing Arts Fort Worth welcomes the national touring Broadway production of the acclaimed musical HELLO, DOLLY! to Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth January 14-19. The show is a part of Performing Arts Fort Worth's Broadway at the Bass series. Tickets are on sale now!

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada today announced the 2019/20 season lineup of Cannon Dolls for The Nutcracker. 2019 NBA Champion Toronto Raptors' Guard Kyle Lowry makes his debut as a Cannon Doll in The Nutcracker on December 19 at 7:00 pm.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce the full company for the world premiere of The Perplexed, written by Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, The Assembled Parties) and directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Cake, The Assembled Parties, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife).

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the principal casting for The Nutcracker. This season, First Soloist Koto Ishihara makes her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy. The holiday favourite is onstage December 12 - January 4, 2020 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. #TheNutcrackerNBC

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced casting for the world premiere of The Perplexed, written by Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, The Assembled Parties) and directed by MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow (The Cake, The Assembled Parties, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife).

The producers of HELLO, DOLLY!, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival, and Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati presented by TriHealth announced today that single tickets for the National Tour starring Carolee Carmello will go on sale Friday, October 11 at 9:00AM. Tickets will be available at the Aronoff Center box office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, by visiting CincinnatiArts.org, or by calling 513.621.2787. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 513.369.4363.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, and Barry Hughson, Executive Director, today announced that Director of Production James Thornley has stepped down from his position after 30 years with the company. Mr. Thornley will continue to work as a production consultant on Ms. Kain's new Swan Lake which makes its world premiere in June 2020 and will pursue freelance and consulting opportunities.