Will Rogers News

Alvin and the Chipmunks (and the Chippettes) are up to mischievous fun again in AMC Theatres Replay for Charity program benefiting the Will Rogers Institute.

John Bisom, an actor who performed in many shows at Musical Theatre West over the last fifteen years, passed away March 16 at the age of 47.

John C. Breckenridge, President and CEO of Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), announced today the nominations and presenters for TUTS' tenth annual Tommy Tune Awards which will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Developed by TUTS, the Tommy Tune Awards honor musical theatre excellence at the high school level.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's epic voyage, The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting Titanic: The Concert. With music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and book by Peter Stone, Titanic: The Concert is a unique way to celebrate the centennial of one of the most memorable events of the last century. Actors will sing with the support of a 25-piece orchestra and the 80 voices of the award-winning Pacific Lutheran University Choral Union. The story of the Titanic will come to life through music on The 5th Avenue stage on nights that coincide exactly with the ship's historic journey and tragic end.

Damn Yankees is headed to The 5th Avenue Theatre! This musical comedy is the story of an aging baseball fan who makes a deal with the Devil so his beloved hometown team can beat the Yankees in the race for the pennant. From the songwriting team of The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees is filled with hit songs including "Two Lost Souls" and the sultry favorite, "Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets." The Paper Mill Playhouse production will slide into Seattle this April. The creative team includes direction by Mark S. Hoebee (Paper Mill's Producing Artistic Director), music direction by Ben Whiteley, and choreography by Denis Michael Jones.

Edmund Gaynes, in association with David Gersten, will present Loni Ackerman, Brad Bradley Gene Castle, and Karla Shook in TIN PAN ALLEY (The Original iTunes), which began an open-ended Off-Broadway engagement February 25th at Actors Temple Theater (339 West 47th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues). Opening Night is tonight, March 19th (7pm). TIN PAN ALLEY will run 75 minutes.

BroadwayWorld.com has confirmed the sad news that actor John Bisom took his own life last night in California. The actor had been suffering from health issues recently and many in the theatre community that knew him have reached out to us sharing their sadness.

The Boston Theater Critics Association today announced that legendary song and dance man Tommy Tune will be the recipient of The 30th Anniversary Elliot Norton Lifetime Achievement Award.

Roundabout Theatre Company announced tonight that Stephanie J. Block will return as "Reno Sweeney" to the 2011 Tony® Award winning musical comedy Anything Goes on March 15, 2012, replacing Sutton Foster in the iconic role.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2011-2012 Season of "Magic, Mystery and Music" with the World Premiere of HELLO! MY BABY, a Tin-Pantastic new tuner from the pen of CHERI STEINKELLNER, the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning writer of 'Cheers' and a Tony nominee for Sister Act: The Musical.

Nine-time Tony Award-winner Tommy Tune will perform at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Wed. March 14, 2012 @ 8 PM withSteps in Time: A Broadway Biography in Song and Dance.

The cast features Tony Award nominee Keith Carradine (Nashville, Broadway's The Will Rogers Follies) as "JD Drew," Allison Case (Hair revival on Broadway) as "Kelli Mangrum," Tony Award winner Jarrod Emick (Broadway's Ring of Fire) as "Mike Ferris," Hunter Foster (Playhouse's Little Miss Sunshine; Broadway's Urinetown) as "Benny Perkins," Jay Armstrong Johnson (Broadway's Catch Me If You Can) as "Greg Wilhote," David Larsen (Broadway's Good Vibrations) as "Chris Alvaro," Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone (Legally Blonde national tour) as "Heather Stovall," Mary Gordon Murray (Broadway's Little Me) as "Virginia Drew," Connie Ray (author/performer, Smoke on the Mountain, Broadway's Next Fall) as "Cindy Barnes," Jon Rua (Broadway's In the Heights) as "Jesus Pe?a," Keala Settle (Broadway's Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) as "Norma Valverde," Dale Soules (Grey Gardens) as "Janis Curtis," Jacob Ming Trent (Lincoln Center Theatre's On the Levee) as "Ronald McGowan," Scott Wakefield (Broadway's It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues) as "Frank Nugent" and William Youmans (Playhouse's Dracula, Twelfth Night) as "Don Curtis/Dr. Stokes."

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2011-2012 Season of "Magic, Mystery and Music" with the World Premiere of Hello! My Baby, a new tuner from the pen of Cheri Steinkellner, the Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning writer of 'Cheers' and a Tony nominee for Sister Act: The Musical.

Tony-winner Sutton Foster departed the hit production of ANYTHING GOES last night, March 11th to begin filming ABC Family's new drama series BUNHEADS. Stephanie J. Block returns as 'Reno Sweeney' to the 2011 Tony Award winning musical comedy on March 15, 2012. Check out the new show art featuring the new leading lady below!

Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS -- a critical and popular success when it debuted last fall at Vineyard Theatre -- will transfer to Broadway's Cort Theatre (138 W. 48 St.) with its entire original cast expected to be inteact, including the Tony Award-winning stars Linda Lavin and Dick Latessa, along with Kate Jennings Grant, Brenda Pressley and Gregory Wooddell. Michael Esper is in negotionations to return as well. The Vineyard Theatre production of THE LYONS will be presented on Broadway by producer Kathleen K. Johnson. Mark Brokaw directs.

Edmund Gaynes, in association with David Gersten, will present Loni Ackerman, Brad Bradley Gene Castle, and Karla Shook in TIN PAN ALLEY (The Original iTunes), which began an open-ended Off-Broadway engagement February 25th at Actors Temple Theater (339 West 47th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues). Opening Night is set for March 19th (7pm). TIN PAN ALLEY will run 75 minutes.

Roundabout Theatre Company announced tonight that Stephanie J. Block will return as "Reno Sweeney" to the 2011 Tony® Award winning musical comedy Anything Goes on March 15, 2012, replacing Sutton Foster in the iconic role.

Swashbuckling family fun is back at AMC Theatres with its Replay for Charity program benefiting the Will Rogers Institute. Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Feature, PUSS IN BOOTS 3D returns for two days at select AMC Theatres on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Monday, Feb. 20 at noon.

Mc Coy Rigby Entertainment & Fox Operator Bill Malone of FX Arts have announced the third in its brand new 'Broadway Series' of shows, with the songs of one of the most iconic figures in the history of music, RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH, with musical direction by Jeff Lisenby, choreography by Jane Lanier and directed by and starring from the original New York production, Jason Edwards.

The show is billed as a 'modern day musical love story', and it couldn't be more accurate.