WPA Theatre News

Ghostlight Records has released the premiere cast recording of the musical Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater - based on the recent production by the New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center musical theater series - in digital and physical formats today, Friday, July 28.

Ghostlight Records will release the premiere cast recording of the musical Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater - based on the recent production by the New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center musical theater series - in digital and physical formats today, July 28.

Ghostlight Records will release the premiere cast recording of the musical Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater - based on the recent production by the New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center musical theater series - in digital and physical formats on Friday, July 28. The album is available for pre-order starting today, Friday, July 7.

Victoria Theatre Association's Premier Health Broadway Series will present Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, the under-the-sea spectacle swimming into the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center Aug. 8-13, 2017. Tickets for the timeless fairytale go on sale Wednesday, June 21.

Pittsburgh CLO has joined forces with Kansas City Starlight to produce a 21-week tour of Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, coming to the Benedum Center June 14-25.

On June 13th at 6:00pm, The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), a not-for-profit organization promoting visibility and increased opportunities for women in the field, will lead their 5th Annual Equality March through Times Square to advocate for equal representation and pay for women in theatre, Women Stage The World.

When Dawn Wells last appeared at the Alhambra Theatre, ticket started at $7.50, the Alhambra Dinner Theater served a buffet and she was directed by George Ballis.  That was in 1974 and Ms. Wells played the lead in Neil Simon's Barefoot in the Park.  On May 24, 2017, Ms. Wells will once again star at the Alhambra, this time in the Tod Booth-directed show, Steel Magnolias in what is now the Alhambra Theatre & Dining, celebrating its 50th anniversary season and is the longest running professional dinner theater in America.

The Muny announced today 21 principal cast members for its 99th season. Full company casting will be announced throughout April. The 2017 Muny season opens with Jesus Christ Superstar followed by Disney's The Little Mermaid and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The season continues with the premiere of All Shook Up! and a newly re- envisioned The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Season 99 closes with A Chorus Line and the much- anticipated Muny debut of Newsies.

???????Political intrigue takes center stage at Actors' Playhouse in the Tony Award-winning drama All The Way by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan.

Richmond Triangle Players celebrates the end of the year in style with An Intimate New Year's Eve with Emily Skinner, today, December 31. 

Richmond Triangle Players celebrates the end of the year in style with An Intimate New Year's Eve with Emily Skinner, on Saturday, December 31. 

Ghostlight Records has announced plans to record the first-ever cast album of the musical Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, based on the recent production by the New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center musical theater series. 

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD is a musical theatre piece by Jason Robert Brown. Originally produced Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1995, this was Jason Robert Brown's first produced show. It is neither a book musical or a revue and has been called a 'song cycle', which was put together out of songs he had written for other venues and events. I was very much struck by the fact that many of these songs sounded like they could fit into his latter shows such as 'The Last Five Years' or 'Parade'. In the final analysis, calling this a musical is a stretch. What it all boils down to is a series of songs very loosely connected by the theme: 'the moment of decision.'

Blue Saint Productions delivers another beautifully crafted, passionate rollercoaster of emotions with SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD.

Gloucester Stage Company continues its 37th season of professional theater on Cape Ann with a limited run of Jason Robert Brown's Songs For A New World from August 4 through August 27 at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. Songs For A New World with music and lyrics by three time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown is a stirring musical journey examining the moments of decision and difficult choices faced in everyday life. Known for such Broadway hits as Parade, The Bridges of Madison County, Honeymoon in Vegas, and The Last Five Years, Mr. Brown artfully blends pop, jazz and gospel in solos and ensemble styles to create this inspiring song cycle.  Directed by Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Robert Walsh, the production features five singers including Tony Award nominee Barbara Walsh, Broadway veterans Rockport's Wendy Waring and Jack Donahue, Berklee College of Music graduate Chris Pittman and  Brandeis' Nyah Macklin, all four in their Gloucester Stage debut. According to Director and GSC Artistic Director Walsh, "Songs For A New World is an enthralling evening of storytelling through song and movement reminiscent of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. We are so fortunate to have such a talented group of actor-singers to bring this work to our audience. It's a particular treat to work with my cousin Barbara again after so many years!  Wendy, Jack, Chris and Nyah are also incredibly fun, hugely talented and all working together in such a fun way - it's a thrill!'

Renowned Harpist Richard Spendio has agreed to appear as a guest artist for Summer Soul Sounds. He joins Mary Elizabeth Micari, an ordained minister and Reiki master, who has gathered a group of vibrant musicians to create an afternoon of sound and music healing.

Renowned harpist, Richard Spendio, has agreed to appear as a guest artist for Summer Soul Sounds: Music for the Mind, Body, & Spirit at the 13th Street Repertory Theater on August 14th. He joins Mary Elizabeth Micari, an ordained minister and Reiki master, who has gathered a group of vibrant musicians to create an afternoon of sound and music healing.

After making waves across the country, cult musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors returns home to Sydney next week for its penultimate season. With a slew of recently announced Helpmann Award nominations including Best Male Actor in a Musical, Best Female Actor in a Musical, Best Director of a Musical and Best Choreography in a Musical, this production has received rave reviews in every major Australian capital city. Starring Brent Hill and Esther Hannaford, the production lands at Sydney's Roslyn Packer Theatre for 12 days only before concluding its run in Perth.

This upcoming Monday, June 27th, an exciting concert will be held at 54 Below...an 'unprecedented evening' that will bring original LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS performers together, spanning from the original production to the more-recent Broadway revival. Three of the performers: Jennifer Leigh Warren (Original 'Crystal'), Nikki Rene (Off-Bway 'Chiffon'), and Sheila Kay Davis (Original 'Ronnette') spoke with BroadwayWorld about their experiences, their favorite memories from the production, and what they are most looking forward to for Monday night's concert.

On June 15th at 6pm, The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), a not-for-profit organization promoting visibility and increased opportunities for women in the field, led an equality march through Times Square to advocate for equal representation of women in theatre, the fourth annual Women Stage The World.