Stephen Flaherty News

In the latest edition of Opera News, Michael Portantiere asks Stephen Schwartz, Adam Guettel, Jason Robert Brown, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael John LaChiusa, Stephen Flaherty and Stew for their opinions on the difference between opera and musical theatre.

Featuring a legendary score by Leonard Bernstein, Candide has become a beloved musical with a huge cult-like following of admirers. Part sophisticated operetta, part wacky screwball comedy with shades of Monty Python, this funny, irreverent satire is the perfect musical expression of Voltaire's tongue-in-cheek send-up of optimistic philosophies.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, in association with TPTE LLC, will present the New York premiere of TO PAINT THE EARTH, music by Jonathan Portera and words by Daniel Frederick Levin, directed by Michael Bush (Stormy Weather, Based on a Totally True Story), as part of the 5th Annual NY Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Performances will run September 22nd-Oct 1st.

4th Wall Theatre, a non union professional theatre in Bloomfield, NJ is presenting the New Jersey premier of 'Dessa Rose' which had its New York premier in 2005 at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre. The show will be directed by 4th Wall Artistic Director, Gregory G. Allen. 'We are thrilled to present this hard-hitting musical and to have Greg Allen at the helm' says 4th Wall Executive Director, Gwen Ricks-Spencer.

Porchlight Music Theatre will present the beloved musical satire Candide at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont. The witty operetta based on the 1759 French masterpiece by Voltaire previews September 13, opens Sunday, September 14 at 2:30 p.m. and runs through November 2, 2008.

The Carlyle Hotel (James McBride, Managing Director) welcomes the return of John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey, the gifted husband-and-wife team, as they open the fall entertainment season in the legendary Café Carlyle. Beginning Tuesday, September 9th and playing through Saturday, November 1st, Mr. & Mrs. Pizzarelli, who made their debut engagement in May 2007, will once again grace the stage to present an entertaining evening of romantic ballads and swinging jazz tunes, including songs from each of their latest recordings: 'With A Song in My Heart' (Telarc, 2008), Mr. Pizzarelli's tribute to composer Richard Rodgers, and 'A Kiss to Build a Dream On' (Arbors Records, 2008), a sophisticated collection of 15 of Ms. Molaskey's favorite tunes. Mr. Pizzarelli (guitar and vocals) will lead a quartet consisting of younger brother Martin Pizzarelli (bass), Larry Fuller (piano) and Tony Tedesco (drums).

Northlight Theatre opens its 2008-2009 Season with the Chicago Premiere of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, in a fresh adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Jessica Thebus. The production runs September 17-October 26, 2008, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical Once on This Island, opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3. Bradley Rapier, founder of the Groovaloos, choreographs and Darryl Archibald is the music director. Reprise Theater Company is led by Artistic Director Jason Alexander and Producing Director Susan Dietz.

Northlight Theatre opens its 2008-2009 Season with the Chicago Premiere of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, in a fresh adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher, directed by Jessica Thebus. The production runs September 17-October 26, 2008, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces new casting for Broadway: Three Generations, a three act evening featuring condensed versions of Girl Crazy, Bye Bye Birdie, and Side Show.

Bristol Riverside Theatre welcomes Donald Byrd, acclaimed choreographer of Broadway's The Color Purple for its 2008-2009 Season.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents PASSION PLAY by Pulitzer Prize nominee and MacArthur Foundation Fellowship recipient Sarah Ruhl, directed by OBIE Award-winner Mark Wing-Davey at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven), September 19-October 11 only. Opening Night is Thursday, September 25

Cape Rep stages Ragtime, the musical by Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens in its Indoor Theater.

Cape Rep has announced the final addition to its critically acclaimed 2008 Season. dirty BLONDE by Claudia Shear will open in Cape Rep's Indoor Theatre on September 18 for a run through October 19.

Join ColeBeanBay Theatre this Sunday as they present A Night of Music.

Cape Rep will stage Ragtime, the musical by Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens in its Indoor Theater on 3299 Rte. 6A in East Brewster.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3.