Tim Rice News

Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP) today announced that The Walt Disney Studios will celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the 1964 classic film, MARY POPPINS, with a 2-disc special edition DVD featuring brand new bonus materials from the hit stage production based on the popular film starring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke and on the P.L. Travers books. To be released on January 27, 2009, the DVD set will feature a new 45-minute documentary, 'Mary Poppins: From Page to Stage' that takes audiences behind the scenes for a close look at the creation of the stage musical produced by DTP and Cameron Mackintosh. Filmed in the UK, France and the United States, the documentary is a series of intimate conversations with many of the stage versions' creators including producers Cameron Macintosh and Thomas Schumacher, composers George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, Richard Sherman, who co-wrote music and lyrics for the original film and set and costume designer Bob Crowley. The documentary also features a roundtable discussion at the world-famous Sardi's restaurant in New York City between Schumacher and actors Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, who originated the roles of Mary Poppins and Bert in the Broadway production. Another extra from the stage version is the musical number 'Step In Time' shot in its entirety onstage at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the show's Broadway home since 2006. The number showcases showstopping technical effects, as Bert and his chimneysweeps dance with Mary and the Banks children over the rooftops of London. The performance features Brown, Lee and the full Broadway company performing the never-before-filmed popular number from the show, also downloadable as an MP3 audio file.

A new gospel version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's ground-breaking score comes to Atlanta... Experience Jesus Christ Superstar as you've never seen it before - as gospel choirs raise the roof off Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

26 Miles, a world premiere by Quiara Alegr?a Hudes (directed by Kent Gash) will be performed at the Alliance Theatre from March 20 to April 12, 2009.

Smart Cookie, by Julia Brownell and directed by Jeremy B. Cohen will be performed at the Alliance Theatre from January 30 - February 22, 2009. The show contains Teenage Sexuality, Thematic Elements (Abortion), and Adult Language (parents: call the box office for specific details). Meet Cookie. In between crafting her impeccable social image, you might catch her at the spa, avoiding carbs at New York?s best restaurants, or giving her husband?s money to the MET. As you can imagine, she?s very busy ? until one day a visit from her prep school son and his foreign exchange girlfriend changes everything. This year?s Kendeda winner is a sly, wicked comedy about the power of surprise to help us become the people we never realized we wanted to be

Based on Cartoon Network's animated television series created by Andre Benjamin and Tommy Lynch and adapted and directed by Rosemary Newcott, Class of 3000 Live will be performed from March 6 to March 29, 2009.

iSondheim: A Musical Revue, a world premiere in honor of America's greatest living composer of musical theatre will run at the Alliance Theatre from April 15 to May 10, 2009.The revue features music and lyrics by Stephan Sondheim, and orchestrations by Michael Starobin. iSondheim is is directed by James Lapine and is based on a concept by David Kernan. Stephen Sondheim?s work revolutionized the Broadway musical with such wide-ranging hits as West Side Story, Gypsy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods. This unique mixed-media musical revue, interspersed with commentary from the legendary composer, was developed by his longtime collaborator James Lapine (last at the Alliance to direct The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee). Be among the first to experience this celebration of the power of creativity in the American musical theatre. The box office is open Monday - Friday from 10 am to 8 pm and Saturday - Sunday 12 pm to 8 pm. For more information call the box office at: 404.733.5000. Now in its 40th season, Atlanta?s nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre, recipient of the 2007 Regional Theatre Tony Award?, is the leading professional resident theatre of the Southeast, creating the powerful experience of shared theatre for diverse people on two stages for youth and adult audiences.

Various reports indicate that the 2009 Reprise Theatre Company season which was to present the world premiere of CHESS with a new book by Tony? winner Richard Maltby, Jr., has cancelled the production. THE FANTASTICKS, a musical they were planning for next season will now take it's place. CHESS was to play May 5th through 17th, 2009. Reprise is getting ready to open the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' it begins performances on Feburary 14th.

Air dates have not yet been set, but Wicked's Idina Menzel and Rent's Adam Pascal will join Great Performances favorite Josh Groban in a spectacular London concert revival of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' 1986 cult musical Chess, this summer on Great Performances (check local listings). Presented by THIRTEEN in 5.1 digital surround sound on PBS HD, and featuring diamond-sharp lyrics by Tim Rice (Evita, The Lion King), the hit-filled production ('One Night in Bangkok,' 'I Know Him So Well,' 'The Anthem') was recorded in performance at Royal Albert Hall. 'A fantastic night' proclaimed musiccomh.com, while thestage.co asked 'Is there an original pop musical stuffed with better melodies?' neatly echoing Time's initial 1988 assessment: 'One of the best rock scores ever produced.' Adding to the excitement is the 50-piece City of London Philharmonic, led by David Firman, and the 100-voice West End Chorus.

Celebrating 35 years of bringing award-winning musical theater to Chicagoland, the Marriott Theatre will open its 2009 Season with the mega-hit musical JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Perfect for the whole family, JOSEPH previews begin February 18th ; the show opens on February 25th ; and runs through May 10th at Marriott Theatre. Multi-Jeff Award winner Marc Robin will choreograph and direct this must-see production. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's most playful, joyous and feel-good musical, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, is a 'colorful' retelling of the Biblical life of Joseph and his amazing abilities. The story will take you on a fantastic journey of song and dance; from country and calypso, to musical theater and doo wop! Director Marc Robin says, 'I love the celebration of the story. I connect with the amazing energy that is present in the heart of this piece'. An audience favorite and worldwide phenomenon for more than forty years, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT will be presented in brilliant 'Technicolor' on the Marriott stage. The irresistible score includes Broadway favorites Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door, and Go, Go, Go Joseph.

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls and renowned actor Brian Dennehy bring their artistic partnership to new heights with Eugene O'Neill's haunting drama, Desire Under the Elms-marking their fifth collaboration on O'Neill's work over two decades. Falls' cast includes stage and screen stars Carla Gugino (Entourage, Spy Kids, Sin City) Pablo Schreiber (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Awake and Sing!), Boris McGiver (The Wire) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac).

In conjunction with the second edition of his hit book How Does the Show Go On?, Broadway producer Thomas Schumacher will give the keynote address at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta. The national festival dedicated togroups working with elementary and middle school aged young people, runs January 16 -18, 2009.Schumacher's presentation (on Sunday, January 18) will, much like his book, enlightenmore than 1,500 theater lovers about what goes into putting on a Broadway show.

The full cast and creative team details for The Alliance Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL was recently announced. Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL, a reconceived version of the Tim Rice-Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will be directed by Susan V. Booth and is set to run January 14-February 22, with an opening on January 21.

In conjunction with the second edition of his hit book How Does the Show Go On?, Broadway producer Thomas Schumacher will give the keynote address at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta. The national festival dedicated togroups working with elementary and middle school aged young people, runs January 16 -18, 2009.Schumacher's presentation (on Sunday, January 18) will, much like his book, enlightenmore than 1,500 theater lovers about what goes into putting on a Broadway show.

Gareth Gates will be on holiday and therefore not appearing in Joseph on the following dates: Monday 25 May - Wednesday 3 June inclusive (back in the show Thursday 4 June) Thursday 9 - Saturday 11 July inclusive (back in the show Monday 13 July) During these periods the role of Joseph will be played by Ricky Rojas. Born in Santiago, Chile, Ricky emigrated to Australia with his parents at the age of five.

A new gospel version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's ground-breaking score comes to Atlanta... Experience Jesus Christ Superstar as you've never seen it before - as gospel choirs raise the roof off Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

Playwright Julia Brownell's Smart Cookie is a wickedly funny comedy about how a shocking surprise helps a wealthy Manhattan socialite become the woman she never realized she wanted to be. The clear favorite of the 2008 Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition judges, this World Premiere play combines laugh-out-loud humor with a provocative story about social image and the powers that can change a person's attitudes.

Casting is announced today for the Seattle engagement of Disney's THE LION KING. Seattle's most eagerly awaited stage production ever will leap onto the Paramount Theatre stage from Wednesday, February 11 through Sunday, March 15. The media opening night is Friday, February 13 at 8 pm. This Seattle engagement is one of seven current productions running worldwide along with New York, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Paris and Fukuoka.

Kerry Ellis is to hang up her broomstick and swap her career-changing, award-winning role as green witch Elphaba in the hit musical 'Wicked' for a series of intimate shows celebrating the very best British music from the worlds of theatre, film and pop.

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls and renowned actor Brian Dennehy bring their artistic partnership to new heights with Eugene O'Neill's haunting drama, Desire Under the Elms?marking their fifth collaboration on O'Neill's work over two decades. Falls' cast includes stage and screen stars Carla Gugino (Entourage, Spy Kids, Sin City) Pablo Schreiber (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Awake and Sing!), Boris McGiver (The Wire) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac). The centerpiece production of Goodman Theatre's two-month 'A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century,' Desire Under the Elms appears January 17 ? February 22 in the Goodman's 856-seat Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 - 82.

The full cast and creative team details for The Alliance Theatre production of Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL was recently announced. Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL, a reconceived version of the Tim Rice-Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will be directed by Susan V. Booth and is set to run January 14-February 22, with an opening on January 21.