Transport Group News

LYSISTRATA JONES closed its doors on last week, but its leading lady was again on a basketball court the very next day - performing the national anthem for the NY Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Check it out below!

When it was announced that Transport Group's compact production of bookwriter Douglas Carter Beane and composer/lyricist Lewis Flinn's giddily fun and sexy musical combo of Aristophanes and college hoops, Lysistrata Jones, was moving to Broadway, there was some understandable concern about the Off-Broadway production - originally staged on a gym's half-court - being able to fill out the much larger space.  Not to worry.  It turns out LJ was just aching for some much-needed elbow room to really fly.  At the Walter Kerr, the production values have been expanded to enhance the freestyle romp without overwhelming it, the performances have grown with Broadway-sized confidence and the show is funnier and more delightful than ever.

Transport Group has announced that its production of Queen of the Mist, words and music by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa, directed by four-time Drama Desk Award nominee Jack Cummings III, will be recorded by Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records on January 3, 2012.

Did the show 'score' with the critics? Let's find out!

Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders have announced additional casting and the creative team for the new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA, opening April 5, 2012 at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). Previews begin Monday, March 12, 2012. Joining the previously announced stars of EVITA - world renowned music artist Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger in her Broadway debut as Eva Peron and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Peron - are Max Von Essen as Magaldi, Rachel Potter as the Mistress, and Christina DeCicco as the alternate/standby for Eva Peron. Alternate performances to be announced.

Transport Group,'s 2011 Gimme A Break! benefit honored playwright Douglas Carter Beane and composer/lyricist Lewis Flinn last night, December 5 at the Asia Society and Museum. Gimme A Break! began with a cocktail reception followed by a performance featuring Broadway stars sharing their 'big break' experiences through stories and songs. Beane and Flinn received the Transporting American Theatre Award for their outstanding contributions to American theatre. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage of the event below!

Playwright Douglas Carter Beane, represented on Broadway currently by both SISTER ACT and LYSISTRATA JONES tells the Associated Press today about his upcoming projects, and noted that 'In the pipeline for the next Broadway season is a play - 'The Nance' with Nathan Lane - and another, still hush-hush musical.'

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theatre company, has announced that its 2011 Gimme A Break! benefit will honor playwright Douglas Carter Beane and composer/lyricist Lewis Flinn on Monday, December 5 at 6:30pm, at the Asia Society and Museum, 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theater company, has announced that its acclaimed production of Queen of the Mist, words and music by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa, directed by four-time Drama Desk Award nominee Jack Cummings III, will be taped for the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Theatre on Film and Tape Archive on December 1.

Bick Goss and Frank Evans, Producing Artistic Directors, and Stephen Hanks, Board President of Musical Mondays Theater Lab, Inc. have announced that the organization's second new musical preview of the fall 2011-2012 season will be the premiere of SPOOLIE GIRL on Thursday, November 17th at 6:30 PM at the Jerry Orbach Theater in the Snapple Theater Center, 210 West 50th Street.

In a special limited engagement, Signature Theatre presents the world premiere musical A Second Chance, featuring a book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen. Directed by Jonathan Butterell (Signature's Giant), A Second Chance fuses jazz and musical theater stylings, with musical direction by Zak Sandler.

Broadway Rhythm and Booze, a cabaret series created as a platform to highlight the soulful talents of the Broadway community, will take place on Monday, November 14th at Houndstooth Pub; 520 8th Avenue (between 36th and 37th) doors open at 7pm, performance begins at 8pm.

The Drama Desk and the Fordham University Theatre Program will present a special panel discussion at 6:30 PM on Sunday, November 13th, titled 'Anatomy of a Breakout,' reflecting the remarkable trend of breakthrough productions and breakout performances on the New York stage.

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theatre company, has announced that the world premiere of Queen of the Mist, words and music by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa, directed by four-time Drama Desk Award nominee Jack Cummings III, will play a two-week extension through Sunday, December 4 at The Gym at Judson Memorial Church, 243 Thompson Street at Washington Square South. The musical was originally scheduled to close Sunday, November 20.

Though heavily speculated since the circulation of Broadway audition notices, the New York Times has just released the news that Douglas Carter Beane's LYSISTRATA JONES will indeed head to Broadway in the fall, beginning previews at the Walter Kerr Theatre November 12, 2011 in anticipation of a December 14 opening. The production last played the basketball court of the Judson Memorial Church Gymnasium off-Broadway in Washington Square, opening on June 5. The production was presented by the Transport Group Theatre Company. The new musical features a book by Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn and will be directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges. The New York Times reports that capitalization is set at 6M for the new Broadway incarnation. Most of the off-Broadway cast wil transfer with the show.

After debuting on Broadway in an all-time classic, the musical star has done three world premieres.