Thomas Meehan News

Nick Jonas - the popular singer/songwriter who is currently starring in the Tony-nominated How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying - will serve as master of ceremonies as hundreds of students from middle and intermediate New York City Public Schools in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Manhattan make their Broadway debut on stage at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44 St.) on Tuesday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m., the culminating event of the 7th annual Shubert Foundation/MTI Broadway JR. Student Program. The students will perform a song from their school's production of a student version of a Broadway musical, including Annie JR., Once on this Island JR., Disney's Aladdin JR., Guys and Dolls JR., Bugsy Malone JR., Meredith Willson's The Music Man JR., Dear Edwina JR., Fame JR., Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka JR., and Thoroughly Modern Millie JR. (A list of schools participating in the May 29 celebration follows.)

The tale of Little Orphan Annie will come to life at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, CA for 30 performances, tonight, May 17 through June 30, 2012. Concurrent with Annie celebrating its 35th anniversary this year as America's most beloved musical, the Glendale Centre Theatre (GCT) also celebrates its 65 th year as the oldest, continuously operating theatre in the United States.

The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE...and it's headed to Ottawa May 25 - 26 2012! You'll have a monstrously good time at this spectacular new production, winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award and the Broadway.com Audience Award for BEST MUSICAL! Don't miss the sensational cast delivering all your favorite momentsfrom the classic film, plus brand-new show-stopping numbers for the stage, including 'Transylvania Mania,' 'He Vas My Boyfriend' and “Puttin' on the Ritz.

Playhouse on the Square announces its 2012-2013 season of plays and musicals. Reservations and ticket information can be found at http://www.playhouseonthesquare.org/boxoffice/ or by calling (901) 726-4656. The Box Office is located inside Playhouse on the Square at 66 South Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104.

After more than 5,000 auditions in a coast-to-coast search, ANNIE has announced casting for the orphans for the new production of the classic Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. ANNIE will open on Broadway in Fall 2012 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced. The production will be directed by three-time Tony Award winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler.

It's difficult when you have an iconic show to work with such as "The Producers" currently playing at Village Theatre. The Mel Brooks classic movie turned Mel Brooks mega hit stage musical turned Mel Brooks movie musical is definitely a big piece of musical theater history. Add in huge stars like Gene Wilder, Zero Mostel, Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane to that history and the result of subsequent productions can vary from bland imitation to just plain not in the same league to the other end of the spectrum with spot on awesome, but you'll always kind of compare with the original. Well, luckily the Village production is on that latter end of the spectrum. With their couldn't-be-better-if-they-tried cast they manage an amazing show and even a few departures along the way that only made it stronger.

Luckily (for me and for you, the rest of the audience who may or may not have seen the show in any of its multiple onstage incarnations), director Patrick Kramer, choreographer Kate Adams-Johnson and musical director Randy Craft have fashioned a rendition of Hairspray-that indomitable musical about one determined and ambitious Baltimore teenager in 1962-that fairly snaps, crackles and pops with its fresh delivery, its clever staging and the laudable and thoroughly committed performances of a cast of thousands.

The Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP) will present Hairspray May 25-June 24, 2012.

CHAPLIN, a new musical depicting the life of film icon Charlie Chaplin, with music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis and book by three-time Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Christopher Curtis, will open on Broadway on Monday, September 10, 2012 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). Previews will begin Tuesday, August 21, 2012. Acclaimed director/choreographer Warren Carlyle (Finian's Rainbow, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway) directs and choreographs the production. Casting and additional creative team to be announced soon.

The Warner Stage Company has announced auditions for ANNIE, a Warner Theatre Main Stage Production directed by Julian Krom with music directoion by David Irvine and choreography by Sharon A. Wilcox, May 20-22.

The tale of Little Orphan Annie will come to life at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, CA for 30 performances May 17 through June 30, 2012. Concurrent with Annie celebrating its 35th anniversary this year as America's most beloved musical, the Glendale Centre Theatre (GCT) also celebrates its 65 th year as the oldest, continuously operating theatre in the United States.

The portrayal of Edna by Lawrence B. Munsey is outstanding; more than any other Edna I've seen, Munsey brings out the femininity and vulnerability of the character without sacrificing her drag queen strut at appropriate moments.

Take a behind-the-scenes look at the actors after their opening night, April 19, performance of HAIRSPRAY, which recently opened at the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago. Check out the video below!

After a multi-city coast-to-coast search that spanned nine months and over 5,000 auditions, ANNIE has found its Annie! Eleven-year-old Lilla Crawford will play the title role in the new production of the classic Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical, opening Fall, 2012 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced. The announcement was made on this morning's TODAY show on NBC.

After a multi-city coast-to-coast search that spanned nine months and over 5,000 auditions, ANNIE has found its Annie! Eleven-year-old Lilla Crawford will play the title role in the new production of the classic Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical, opening Fall, 2012 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced. The production will be directed by three-time Tony Award® winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler.

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced at a news conference this morning by Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James. The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall in Manhattan.

Tune in to NBC's "Today" show on Friday, April 27 at 9:30 AM (ET) to find out who will be playing the title role in the eagerly anticipated new production of the Tony Award-winning classic musical, opening in Fall, 2012 on Broadway at a Nederlander theatre to be announced.

Tune in to NBC's "Today" show on Friday, April 27 at 9:30 AM (ET) to find out who will be playing the title role in the eagerly anticipated new production of the Tony Award-winning classic musical, opening in Fall, 2012 on Broadway at a Nederlander theatre to be announced.

HAIRSPRAY, the Tony Award-winning musical, is presented at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, opening April 19 and running through June 17, 2012.

Broadway By The Bay, the Peninsula's premier musical theatre company, has finalized its casting for Hairspray, the first show of its 2012 season. This will be the second year of performances at the company's new home, the historic Fox Theatre in Redwood City and the 47th season in their history. The season will feature three full-scale productions and the return of the hit Broadway By The Year® series. Hairspray runs April 5 - 22 and tickets as well as season subscriptions are available now by calling 650-579-5565 or at www.broadwaybythebay.org.