Stephen Schwartz News

TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, has announced the line-up for its 2010-2011 season. Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and Managing Director Phil Santora announced a 41st season that will include three world premieres (bringing the company's total to 56); three regional premieres including the newest play by the author of AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, Broadway's quirky hit musical about writers writing a quirky hit musical and a spell-binding mystery about a Japanese-American veteran charged with murder; and two Broadway favorites. The company will once again lead off with an extensive New Works Festival.

The company of the second North American tour of WICKED welcomes David Nathan Perlow as Fiyero on Monday, December 27 in Indianapolis, IN.

Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre presents the timely musical WORKING.

In a conversation encapsulating everything from Albee and WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF to Aristophanes and Virginia Woolf herself - and even a little Stephen King - this concluding portion of this exclusive interview with this remarkably gifted actor ends with a look ahead to LEAP OF FAITH. Plus, what's on his iPod, what books he's reading, and a whole lot more!

Beginning performances on Tuesday, February 1, 2011, TEAL WICKS will assume the role of Elphaba in the Broadway company of WICKED. Ms. Wicks is making her Broadway debut after playing the role of Elphaba in both the San Francisco and Los Angeles productions of WICKED. Additionally, Next to Normal's KYLE DEAN MASSEY will return to the Broadway company of WICKED in the role of Fiyero on Tuesday, January 25.

Tonight is the annual ASTEP benefit concert at 7 PM on at Joe‘s Pub, so be sure catch Raul Esparza as the host of NEW YORK CITY CHRISTMAS, directed by Lynne Shankel, to benefit Actors Striving To End Poverty. Information available here!

Next to Normal's BRIAN JUSTIN CRUM makes his solo show debut at Joe's Pub! Come experience one of Broadway's most exciting and versatile tenors as he pushes all the boundaries in his new show, titled Nowhere Near Normal.

For the second year in a row the Tony nominated and Emmy-winning Liz Callaway headlines New Year's Eve at the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street.

Upright Cabaret is thrilled to announce the performers for their second 'American Icons' concert at the Scherr Forum Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Thousand Oaks. Grammy Award-nominee and American Idol finalist Frenchie Davis (American Idol Season 2, Broadway: RENT, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', DREAMGIRLS), Ty Taylor (CBS' Rockstar INXS, Broadway: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, CATS, GREASE; PIPPIN at the Mark Taper Forum, CHESS at Reprise Theatre Company, front man of raw soul band 'Vintage Trouble') and Von Smith (American Idol Season 8) as Upright Cabaret expands their unique, one-of-a-kind cabaret experience to Thousand Oaks!

Honoring the 50-year anniversary of Harper Lee's landmark book, 'TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD' inaugurates The Production Company's new The Lex Theatre

AMERICAN OPERA PROJECTS (AOP) is excited to collaborate with acclaimed Turkish-American Composer Kamran Ince on his latest work and operatic 'first', Judgment of Midas.

Theo Bikel and the Los Angeles theatrical community joined Tony Award Winner John Lloyd Young along with Musical Director Michael Orland as they took center stage for the Actors Fund concert series entitled MUSICAL MONDAYS, a series of Cabaret events in the lobby of the historic Pantages Theatre on December 13th.

Stage and screen legend, Theodore Bikel, was on hand to introduce his colleague, friend and Tony Award Winner John Lloyd Young to the Los Angeles theatrical community for the Actors Fund concert series entitled MUSICAL MONDAYS, held in the lobby of the historic Pantages Theatre, where WESTSIDE STORY is currently playing.

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for WICKED, which will be performing from December 15 through January 1 at the Murat Theatre at Old National Centre.

Manhattan Theatre Club will present its annual Winter Benefit, an evening of cocktails and dinner followed by a special one-night-only cabaret-style show featuring some of the biggest stars of musical theatre on Monday, January 24, 2011 at The Plaza (58th Street & Fifth Avenue).

Join host, Theo Bikel and the Los Angeles theatrical community as Tony Award Winner John Lloyd Young along with Musical Director Michael Orland take center stage for the Actors Fund concert series entitled MUSICAL MONDAYS, a series of Cabaret events in the lobby of the historic Pantages Theatre. Produced by John Bowab and Martin Wiviott, the intimate concerts has featured some of theatre's finest performers including Brian Stokes Mitchell, Melissa Manchester, Peter Gallagher, Valarie Pettiford, Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Sam Harris and Stephen Schwartz. Proceeds from this evenings benefit will go towards The Actors Fund's comprehensive programs and services.

ADAM RIEGLER (THE ADDAMS FAMILY, SHREK) has been added to the lineup of Broadway performers featured in The Kellen and Joe Christmastime Show, an evening of Yuletide cheer and original music from the new songwriting team, JOE KINOSIAN and KELLEN BLAIR (MURDER FOR TWO), at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 9:30PM.

JOE KINOSIAN and KELLEN BLAIR (MURDER FOR TWO) will herald in the holiday season with The Kellen and Joe Christmastime Show, an evening of festive Yuletide cheer and original music from the Kinosian/Blair songbook, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 9:30PM.

Broadway In Chicago and the producers of WORKING are pleased to announce that tickets for the upcoming production of the new musical will go on sale on Friday, December 10 at 10:00 a.m. WORKING begins previews on February 15, 2011 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut).

Over the course of our ninety minute conversation earlier this week, Tony-winning Broadway star Alice Ripley was kind enough to open up about her role in the phenomenon of the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical NEXT TO NORMAL, which is now kicking off a US Tour beginning in Los Angeles, as well as offer thoughts on many of her significant stage roles that she has taken on over the course of her impressive and varied career. Pete Townshend and THE WHO'S TOMMY to Andrew Lloyd Webber and SUNSET BOULEVARD and TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, to Sondheim with COMPANY (as the greatest Amy of all time), and even a turn in ROCKY HORROR; Alice Ripley has seemingly done it all, and her passion, dedication and insight into her craft are amply evident in both her studied performances on stage as well as in discussing the art of acting in musical theatre in conversation and what she has taken as her inspirations to play Diana Goodman, ranging from Albee to O'Neill to actors like Cynthia Nixon, Toni Collette and more. In this portion of her most comprehensive interview to date, BroadwayWorld is proud to present Part I of InDepth InterView: Alice Ripley.