Thomas Meehan News

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' will continue its 21st season of rock theatre March 1-24, 2012 with the American regional premiere of the Broadway rock musical CRY-BABY.

CHAMPS Charter High School of the Arts Performing Arts Academy brings the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical to life. Jump back to 1960s Baltimore, where pleasantly plump Tracy Turnblad has big hair, an even bigger heart, and a huge dream to be a dancer on the Corny Collins Show. Tracy has never been part of the "in" crowd - until she wins the coveted spot and finds herself a teen idol overnight. Tracy becomes a trend setter, using her popularity to help change the show's segregation policy.

With book by three-time Tony Award winner MEL BROOKS and three-time Tony Award winner THOMAS MEEHAN, Music & Lyrics by BROOKS, and Direction and Choreography by five-time Tony Award winner SUSAN STROMAN, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN makes its Sarasota Premiere Thurs. and Fri. March 22 & 23, 2012 @ 8 PM at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Comedian, talk show host, producer and star Rosie O'Donnell has made no secret of her desire to play 'Miss Hannigan' in the upcoming Broadway revival of ANNIE. Now, an insider has told the Huffington Post that she will indeed be returning to Broadway in the revival. The source told HP: 'Ro loves Broadway and is super excited about playing the part. The paperwork hasn't been signed yet but the negotiations are well under way. This is a great role that she will be able to sink her teeth into and will get her back to acting and performing live, which has always been her first love."

HAIRSPRAY, the Tony Award-winning musical, will be presented at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, previewing April 12, opening April 19, and running through June 17, 2012.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) has announced the cast that will lead their production of ANNIE, running March 20 - April 1 at the Hobby Center for The Performing Arts.

Today, multiple outlets reporting on the cancellation of THE ROSIE SHOW on the Oprah Winfrey Network report that when the news was revealed, O'Donnell was in New York, 'taking a meeting for a revival of ANNIE.'

This spring's sparkling, stellar production of Hairspray-the musical tale of one Tracy Turnblad, a "stout" girl who loves to dance and loves people no matter their shape, size, color or way of life-is as entertaining a production of the hit musical as you could ever hope to see. Led by a crazy talented bunch of youthful performers (if this were the 1930s, you can bet your bottom dollar they'd be requisitioning somebody's barn for a colorful musical spectacle) who perform their collective heart out for enthusiastic audiences, the production is satisfying on every level.

The 2012 Actors Studio Drama School Repertory Season performances will take place at The Theater at Dance New Amsterdam, 53 Chambers St., just north of City Hall, Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. from March 28 through April 28. The full schedule and information about plays, actors, directors and playwrights can be found online at www.Pace.edu/ASDSRep

Performing Arts Fort Worth welcomes The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein to Bass Performance Hall on March 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $22 and are on sale NOW!

Performing Arts Fort Worth welcomes The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein to Bass Performance Hall on March 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $22 and are on sale NOW!

CHAMPS Charter High School of the Arts Performing Arts Academy brings the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical to life. Jump back to 1960s Baltimore, where pleasantly plump Tracy Turnblad has big hair, an even bigger heart, and a huge dream to be a dancer on the Corny Collins Show. Tracy has never been part of the "in" crowd - until she wins the coveted spot and finds herself a teen idol overnight. Tracy becomes a trend setter, using her popularity to help change the show's segregation policy.

Telsey + Co., casting office for the new Broadway production of ANNIE, will hold an open call in Chicago on Sunday, March 11, for girls ages 6-12 to audition for the roles of Annie and the orphans. ANNIE, directed by Tony Award-winner James Lapine, will open in fall 2012 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced.

Telsey + Co., casting office for the new Broadway production of ANNIE, will hold an open call in Chicago on Sunday, March 11, for girls ages 6-12 to audition for the roles of Annie and the orphans. ANNIE, directed by Tony Award-winner James Lapine, will open in fall 2012 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced.

Loveland Stage Company presents the regional community theater premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical The Producers, based on the 1968 movie by Mel Brooks.

The New Mel Brooks Musical -Young Frankenstein, a new musical comedy from the creative team of the 12-time Tony Award winning smash, The Producers, is coming to Austin! Young Frankenstein opened on Broadway November 8, 2007 at the Hilton Theatre and began the national tour September, 2009.

Broadway By The Bay, the Peninsula's premier musical theatre company, presents the hilariously entertaining HAIRSPRAY, running Thursday, April 5 through Sunday, April 22, at the company's home, the historic Fox Theatre in Redwood City (2215 Broadway Street, Redwood City). Press night is scheduled for Friday, April 6, 2012 at 8:00. Tickets for HAIRSPRAY range in price from $20 - $48 and are on sale now at Broadway By The Bay Box Office (851 Burlway Road, Suite 300, Burlingame), by phone at 650-579-5565 and on the Web at www.broadwaybythebay.org. Special youth, student, senior and group pricings are available.

Loveland Stage Company presents the regional community theater premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical The Producers, based on the 1968 movie by Mel Brooks.

Goodspeed Musicals just announced that Tony Award-winner Kristin Chenoweth, who appeared as Annie Draper in Goodspeed's production of Strike Up The Band, will be the latest recipient of The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre at its Gala on August 11, 2012. Previous honorees include Julie Andrews, Martin Charnin, Ira Gershwin, Jerry Herman, William Ivey Long, Thomas Meehan, Michael P. Price, Gerald Schoenfeld, Stephen Schwartz, Susan Stroman, Charles Strouse, Tommy Tune and Paul Williams.

5th Avenue Theatre Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong yesterday announced the seven productions making up the celebrated Seattle musical theater's 2012-13 season. The program features a mix of contemporary musicals and timeless classics, plus Seattle's first peek at some of Broadway's greatest new hits.