Tim Rice News

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh announce NETworks Presentations, LLC will bring the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, Disney'sBeauty and the Beast to Heinz Hall from April 3 through April 8, 2012. This is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

Signature Theatre today announced that Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang will be the Residency One Playwright for the 2012-2013 season at the company's new home, The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between Dyer and 10th Avenues).

Journey to a world of witches, wizards and munchkins in the Yardley Players' production of the musical, "The Wizard of Oz" at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Dates and show times for this enduring classic are through April 1 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

A few days shy of the holiest week of the year for Christians - aptly named Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter (with Holy Thursday and Good Friday, the most sacred events on the calendar coming between) - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal rock opera JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR was resurrected on Broadway by TOMMY and JERSEY BOYS director Des McAnuff - modeled after the hit Stratford Shakespeare Festival production last year and comprised of many of the same cast members, including all three leads - to hails of praise and hosannas, mostly. While JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR itself will always divide audiences and critics alike - and not merely because of its controversial content and its button-pushing treatment of the hallowed tale it tells - the magnetism and sheer power that Lloyd Webber's propulsive, throbbing rock score imbues gives the show an energy, vitality and life rare to find in even the most earnestly effervescent and energetic of comparable entities - the recently revived and similarly-themed GODSPELL in a revival a few blocks away included. Then, there are Tim Rice's lyrics - oh-so-spot-on in 1970, but still biting and edgy today in McAnuff's hi-tech and elaborately presented new Broadway production. Using the book of John as the jumping off point, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ (Paul Nolan) and his subsequent betrayal by Judas (Josh Young) and sentencing to death at the hands of King Herod and Pontius Pilate (Tom Hewitt). The twelve apostles, Mary Magdalene and her female companions, lepers, Pharisees, priests and others populate the grand story told almost entirely through song - the show is 90% music - and Webber and Rice's score never, ever lets up. While this may not be the most faithful rendering as far as the Bible is concerned, nor the most historically accurate, SUPERSTAR is now available to experience for a whole new generation thanks to this new revival and the timing could not be more ideal. The time is ripe for a revival of SUPERSTAR, and, as Andrew Lloyd Webber himself has recently related, this new production of the show is the best ever as far as he is concerned. High praise indeed - coming from no less than the Lord.

Actor Paul Nolan is currently making his Broadway debut as 'Jesus' in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. In a recent chat with BWW, the actor shared his thoughts on what it is like to portray the famed biblical character in this iconic rock opera.

The first ever, full-length Broadway Las Vegas season at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts features eight of Broadway's biggest hits, beginning with the world-wide phenomenon WICKED. Other titles in the season include THE ADDAMS FAMILY, BILLY ELLIOT, WEST SIDE STORY, SHREK THE MUSICAL, Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ANYTHING GOES and CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Broadway Las Vegas at The Smith Center will also feature two season specials, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT.

The Arizona Broadway Theatre has announced its upcoming 2012-2013 season. The season includes OKLAHOMA!, ANNIE, HELLO DOLLY, BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, 9 TO 5, INTO THE WOODS, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, and THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced casting for its production of First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb in the Eisenhower Theater June 8 to July 1, 2012. The musical revue will star Heidi Blickenstaff, James Clow, Alan H. Green, Leslie Kritzer, Patina Miller, and Matthew Scott. Originally produced at Signature Theatre in Virginia and co-conceived by David Loud and Eric Schaeffer, the production features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and will be directed by Eric Schaeffer. Jon Kalbfleisch will conduct the 22-piece Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Press opening night is Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

As part of a 13-city North American tour, British rockers Keane perform onstage at the Merriam Theater on June 16, 2012 at 8 p.m. in support of their fourth album release, Strangeland, to be released May 8 on Cherrytree/Interscope Records.

According to the star's official web site, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. will announce that Grammy® Nominee and R&B superstar Deborah Cox will star as Lucy in the international musical sensation JEKYLL & HYDE that returns to Broadway in April 2013 following a 25-week National Tour. The tour will launch at San Diego's Civic Theatre in San Diego, California on October 2, 2012. Cox will star alongside the previously announced Tony Award Nominee Constantine Maroulis in the title dual role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just opened on Broadway on Thursday, March 22. Check out a new montage with scenes and music from the show below!

Disney Theatrical Productions and Fox Associates announced today that tickets for the long-awaited return engagement of DISNEY'S THE LION KING will go on sale to the public on Saturday, April 14 at 10:00am. St. Louis' most eagerly awaited return will once again leap onto the Fox Theatre stage on Wednesday, August 15 for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, September 2.

The Arvada Center will open the regional premiere of a new restaging of Chess, A Musical directed by Rod A. Lansberry on March 27 running through April 15, 2012 in the Main Stage Theater. Performances are Tuesday - Saturday at 7:30 pm, Wednesday at 1pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. Preview performances are March 23 - 25. Moderated talkbacks with the cast are offered on Friday, April 6 after 7:30 p.m. show and Wednesday, April 11 after 1:00 p.m. show. Ticket prices range from $35 (previews) - $72. Group rates are available. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.arvadacenter.org or call 720-898-7200.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just opened on Broadway on Thursday, March 22 and BroadwayWorld.com is excited to present a first look at the show's thrilling new TV spot which begins airing on Wednesday! Check it out below...

D3 LED, LLC (D3), the global leader in design, engineering and technology for the LED (light emitting diode) display market, today announced its completion of the first state-of-the-art LED display marquee and digital media system in Broadway theatre history for New Amsterdam Theatre at 214 West 42nd Street in New York City.

After years of development, Clyde 'n Bonnie: A Folktale premiered in suburban Atlanta at Aurora Theatre on March 15. Aurora Theatre first encountered the show in 2009 at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, the annual showcase of potential Broadway hits, like the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning Next to Normal. Clyde ‘n Bonnie is the musical brainchild of Broadway stars Hunter Foster and Rick Crom. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the production below!

Musical theatre legend Lloyd Webber has two of his most popular shows returning to Broadway this spring. Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR opened March 22, 2012 at the Neil Simon Theatre. EVITA will open April 5, 2012 at the Marquis Theatre.

A long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe is bestowed upon a veteran Broadway chorus member for each opening production. In what has now become a theatrical ritual, originating on Broadway 60 years ago, the latest recipient was JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR cast member Mark Cassius.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, March 25, 2012 - Sunday, March 25, 2012.