Stephen Schwartz News

'Mr. Sorkin's considerable talents are an asset to any project and we regret that he's unable to remain with HOUDINI,' said producers Scott Sanders and David Rockwell, 'However, what Hugh and the creative team continue to create is one of the most exciting projects we've ever been a part of. Our projected arrival on Broadway and additional creative team announcement will be made at a future date.'

Philippine Opera Company's (POC) Young Artists Series: BLACK BOX/A LITTLE NIGHT OF OPERA, a free public performance held last Wednesday at POC's Opera Haus, was packed with a very appreciative audience, and stellar performances from participating artists.

In the video below, go behind the scenes at 'From Broadway With Love'. Click below to watch interviews with composer Frank Wildhorn, co-conceiver and producer Van Dean, Richard Kind and Christine Ebersole, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Phillip Boykin, Marc Shaiman, Nikki Blonsky, Brooke Tansley and many more!

According to Deadline.com, Aaron Sorkin has withdrawn as librettist of the upcoming Broadway production Houdini, starring Hugh Jackman. Sorkin's schedule, including his commitments involving the second season of HBO's 'The Newsroom' and adapting Walter Isaacson's book 'Steve Jobs' for Sony Pictures, would not allow him time to continue work on the musical.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced a wide array of classes and performance opportunities for adults. There is still time to sign up for the diverse adult class Theatre School offerings.

After record breaking runs in 2006, 2008 and 2011 WICKED will return to Ft. Lauderdale this month for a limited 3-week engagement.

'From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook' took place yesterday, January 28, 2013, at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut. The evening was a concert of love and healing for the Newtown community from the composers, musicians and more than 100 stars of Broadway together with over 100 students from several Newtown dance groups and the Newtown High School Chamber Choir. All proceeds and donations go directly to United Way of Western Connecticut's Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

Today we are talking to a phenomenally talented performer who has starred in a string of contemporary musicals, ranging from replacement gigs in the Broadway productions of Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA and Stephen Schwartz's WICKED to creating lead roles in Jim Steinman's DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and Lin-Manuel Miranda's IN THE HEIGHTS, in addition to her memorable contributions to the Laura Nyro revue, ELI'S COMIN', Off-Broadway - the one and only Mandy Gonzalez. Discussing her time spent in many of the aforementioned shows as well as her experiences inhabiting the wildly different characters within each, Gonzalez shares her infectious enthusiasm for performance and her appreciation for having participated in such landmark shows. Most importantly, Gonzalez shares stories from the heated rehearsal rooms backstage at the 24-Hour Musicals celebration and what participating in the event that would form the basis for ONE NIGHT STAND, a documentary film being released in select cities this Wednesday, January 30. Additionally, Gonzalez reflects on her new role as a mom, as well as roles she would enjoy pursuing in the future, onstage and off, as well as her own favorite shows and scores. All of that and much, much more!

'From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook' will take place 7:00 pm tonight, January 28, 2013, at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut. The evening will be a concert of love and healing for the Newtown community from the composers, musicians and more than 100 stars of Broadway together with over 100 students from several Newtown dance groups and the Newtown High School Chamber Choir. All proceeds and donations will go directly to United Way of Western Connecticut's Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

The American Repertory Theater announced today further details for the A.R.T.'s third annual Valentine's Gala to be held at The Hotel Revere, 200 Stuart Street, Boston.

After breaking box office records in 2006 and 2011, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts February 20 - March 17.

Too Marvelous for Words presents some of the much-loved songs of Johnny Mercer - one of America's great lyricists- and captures them at their most intimate. Linda Purl and Lee Lessack return to Three Stages in a powerhouse evening, dedicated to the heartwarming music of Georgia's favorite son. Four-time Academy Award-winning songwriter Johnny Mercer comes to life as the two artists weave heretofore little-known stories with his timeless tunes, including Moon River, Autumn Leaves, Black Magic, My Shining Hour, Come Rain or Come Shine, and more.

'From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook' will take place 7:00 pm on January 28, 2013, at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut. The evening will be a concert of love and healing for the Newtown community from the composers, musicians and more than 100 stars of Broadway together with over 100 students from several Newtown dance groups and the Newtown High School Chamber Choir. All proceeds and donations will go directly to United Way of Western Connecticut's Sandy Hook School Support Fund. In the video below, Connecticut native and Broadway vteran Brooke Tansley gives a special preview of the show, singing 'Someone Like You' from Jekyll & Hyde. Check it out below!

On Monday, January 21, Stephen Wallem, the actor/singer best known for his role as Thor on the Emmy-winning television series "Nurse Jackie" stormed the Broadway at Birdland stage with Schwartz And All, a musical tribute to composer Stephen Schwartz.

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED, which is returning to Broward Center for the Performing Arts with performances from January 30th to February 17th. Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Broward Center box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets.

Beginning this Friday, January 25th, Jeffrey Kuhn will assume the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter's nemesis, Dr. Chilton, in Off-Broadway's smash hit SILENCE! The Musical. Following the announcement that SILENCE! would be ending its long run December 30th, ticket sales unexpectedly soared, shattering all previous box office records held by the show. As a result, the producers determined that the smash hit show would reopen on January 19th. After opening at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews, SILENCE! was extended numerous times by popular demand and transferred theatres twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre which was constructed especially for the show.

When you first meet Calli Armstrong of Beautiful City Theatre (BCT), you are instantly taken with her openness and passion. The arts have been a big part of Armstrong's life for as long as she can remember. She has always been drawn to something in theatre that has to do with self expression and connection with other people. That is one of the reasons she co-founded BCT.