Tony Speciale News

The big question surrounding the fate of Harmony: Is Broadway ready for another musical about the turbulent 30s and Nazi occupation of Germany? With The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof (although set in Russia and at an earlier time, it's still about the plight of the Jews) and Cabaret firmly planted in our minds as three of the greatest musicals ever written about the Nazis, do we need one more? Barry Manilow has been trying desperately for over 10 years to get his Harmony, the true story about the Comedian Harmonists, onstage. Now at the Ahmanson through April 13, Harmony is beautifully produced and mounted, exceedingly well-performed and a thoroughly moving story about 6 singers/performers whose careers and lives were interrupted and controlled by Naziism. The answer to the big question is a shaky maybe.

Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's 'Harmony,' a new musical, opened last night, Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and plays through April 13 (Previews began March 4). Directed by Tony Speciale, with music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Sussman, 'Harmony' tells the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in pre-WWII Germany who rose from unemployed street musicians to become world-famous entertainers, selling millions of records, starring in over a dozen films, and selling out the most prestigious concert halls around the world. Yet while The Comedian Harmonists' sophisticated music, paired with hilarious comedy, made them the brightest of stars, the group's mixture of Jews and non-Jews put them on a collision course with history. 'Harmony' is a co-production with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta. Below, check out a look back at the opening night festivities, including the red carpet, curtain call, and after party!

Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's 'Harmony,' a new musical, opens next Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and plays through April 13 (Previews began March 4). Directed by Tony Speciale, with music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Sussman, 'Harmony' tells the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in pre-WWII Germany who rose from unemployed street musicians to become world-famous entertainers, selling millions of records, starring in over a dozen films, and selling out the most prestigious concert halls around the world. Yet while The Comedian Harmonists' sophisticated music, paired with hilarious comedy, made them the brightest of stars, the group's mixture of Jews and non-Jews put them on a collision course with history. 'Harmony' is a co-production with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta. Below, check out a first look at the cast in action!

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, today announced plans for its 2014/2015 Season. The upcoming season for the esteemed off-Broadway company begins in October with Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, directed by Tony Award-winner and CSC Associate Director John Doyle. ALLEGRO marks the second installment of CSC's Musical Theater Initiative, which launched last year with the company's hugely-successful production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Passion, directed by Doyle. Considered one of Richard Rodgers' and Oscar Hammerstein II's most personal and groundbreaking works, ALLEGRO was their third collaboration and first premiered on Broadway in 1947.

In 2013, Leigh Ann Larkin and Shayne Kennon starred in the Atlanta production of Harmony. Today, March 4, they will get to reprise their roles at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in LA.

Rehearsals begin tomorrow, February 11, 2014, for Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's 'Harmony,' A New Musical, which opens March 12, 2014, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and plays through April 13. (Previews begin March 4.)

Full casting is set for Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's "Harmony," a new musical, opening March 12, 2014, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and playing through April 13. (Previews begin March 4).

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will present BRECHT FEST, a special series exploring the songs, poetry and stories of Bertolt Brecht, to be presented on Monday, February 3 and Monday, February 10 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). CSC is currently presenting Brecht's A MAN'S A MAN, directed by Brian Kulick and with a new score and new songs by Tony Award-winning composer Duncan Sheik, continuing the company's exploration of the works of Brecht, which began in 2011 with the sold-out production of Galileo and was followed by last season's The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's long in-development musical HARMONY is set for a Los Angeles production in March and tickets are now available.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) will host a one-night-only staged reading of the hit off-Broadway play, UNNATURAL ACTS, to benefit The Trevor Project on Monday, January 27, 2014. The special event will be held at 7pm at NYTW (79 East Fourth Street, between Bowery & Second Avenue) and will feature the entire original off-Broadway cast. A brief panel discussion to follow.

Votes are cast, polls are closed, and results have been tabulated! This was our BIGGEST year yet! After a record number of voters in over 50 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is VERY excited to announce the 2013 Atlanta Winners! Thanks to all who voted and HUGE congrats to all the winners!

'Harmony', a new musical with music by Barry Manilow Book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman, is being directed by Tony Speciale in a co-production with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta. The show will begin previews at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre on March 4, 2014, with an opening night slated for March 12. The show will run through April 13. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in action below!

Voting is now underway for Atlanta! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Eat a Radish Productions has announced that two of downtown's most audacious playwrights and performers will unite for the off-off Broadway run of DARKLING and HIP, two dark comedies that explore the inside world of the outsider. DARKLING, written and performed by Kim Katzberg, is a far-out, bitingly funny journey through teen angst that will play alongside Nora Woolley's HIP, a heart-wrenching comedy about longing for fame while steeped in the discomfort of self-consciousness. Previews begin today, December 21st at IRT Theater, 154 Christopher St. DARKLING & HIP officially opens on Saturday, January 4th at 7PM. Raquel Cion directs.

Voting is now underway for San Antonio! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Atlanta! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Atlanta! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Eat a Radish Productions has announced that two of downtown's most audacious playwrights and performers will unite for the off-off Broadway run of DARKLING and HIP, two dark comedies that explore the inside world of the outsider. DARKLING, written and performed by Kim Katzberg, is a far-out, bitingly funny journey through teen angst that will play alongside Nora Woolley's HIP, a heart-wrenching comedy about longing for fame while steeped in the discomfort of self-consciousness. Previews begin on Saturday, December 21st at IRT Theater, 154 Christopher St. DARKLING & HIP officially opens on Saturday, January 4th at 7PM. Raquel Cion directs.