Stephen Schwartz News

Drama Desk and Helen Hayes Award winner Jim Brochu ("Zero Hour," "The Big Voice: God or Merman?") will debut his new solo show "Character Man" at the Triad Theatre on Monday, October 1st at 9pm.

The Pennington Players have "Magic to Do" as they present the Tony Award-winning musical "Pippin" at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Performances are Fridays, Sept. 7 and 14 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Sept. 8 and 15 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Sept. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Sept. 7.

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

Yee-haw! It's time to start two-steppin' and boot-scootin' in the aisles, as Signature Theatre kicks off its 2012/13 season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, beginning performances tonight, August 14.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre opens its 48th season with the Tony Award-nominated musical Pippin, which features a score by Grammy-winner Stephen Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson. The Rep's artistic director Eric Rosen will direct the musical, which runs September 14-October 7 in Spencer Theatre.

At this time, Goodspeed Musicals regrets to inform you that, due to her recent injuries on the set of "The Good Wife," Kristin Chenoweth will not be able to attend their gala, as she is at home recuperating. However, the show will go on as planned, with Broadway, film, and television star Alan Cumming accepting the award in her absence and a Special Tribute Performance by Tony- and Grammy-nominated composer Andrew Lippa. They will be joined by Goodspeed alums Kirsten Wyatt (Gooch in Goodspeed's Mame) and Khris Lewin (Goodspeed's My One and Only.)

Revolve Productions presents "PIECES" by Chris Phillips at the 16th New York International Fringe Festival this month. The new play is directed by Brian Zimmer and will be performing at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in the Village at 38 Commerce Street, NYC.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the creative teams selected to be part of the 24th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 11 and Friday, October 12 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Musicals galore fill the schedule of the annual Summer Festival of Shows, August 10-19th, at the Centenary Stage Company Young Performers Workshop (YPW), with a cast of talented young thespians from Morris, Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex counties. The festival will feature the musicals "Over The Moon" by fiction writer Jodi Picoult, Jake Van Leer, and Ellen Wilber; Bob Fosse's "Pippin", Neil Simon's "They're Playing our Song" (with music by the late Marvin Hamlish), "The Roundabout Inn", and The One Act Playhouse. Performances will be held in Little Theatre on the campus of Centenary College at 400 Jefferson Street, Hackettstown, NJ. The YPW is led and directed by Broadway, film and television veteran, Michael Blevins.

Musicals galore fill the schedule of the annual Summer Festival of Shows August 10-19th at the Centenary Young Performers Workshop with a cast of talented young thespians from Morris, Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex counties.

The Diva and the Baritone, stars Metropolitan Opera baritone Theodore Lambrinos and his singing partner and wife, international operatic soprano Hallie Neill. Elliot Finkel, a concert pianist with the chops of a Broadway musical director wrote the arrangements to showcase the couple's amazing vocal talents in a charming mix of Broadway, opera and the best of the Great American songbook.

Signature Theatre will be hosting a special one-night performance and book-signing featuring Broadway star and Helen Hayes Award winner Ed Dixon (Signature's Sunset Boulevard). On Monday, August 27 at 8:00PM, Mr. Dixon will be performing original compositions as well narrate behind-the-scenes stories from his recent memoir Secrets of A Life On Stage…And Off. Copies of the book will be available to purchase, and a book-signing will take place following the performance, which will take place in Signature's intimate ARK Theatre.

Diversionary Theatre announced complete casting for its production of PIPPIN, the extraordinary musical journey with book & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Roger O. Hirson and directed by James Vasquez. Performances begin at Diversionary Theatre (4545 Park Blvd San Diego, CA 92116) on September 6.

Just yesterday BroadwayWorld.com reported the loss of Broadway legend Marvin Hamlisch, and we've been sharing memories from around the theatre industry since. The below piece was written by fellow composer and Dramatists Guild president Stephen Schwartz.