Ragtime 2012 - Articles Page 14

Join us for Songs From Central Avenue Breakdown and Beyond!, a fundraiser for our upcoming twin productions at the Daegu International Music Festival & the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival. The fundraiser takes place this Monday, June 4th at 7PM at The Laurie Beechman Theatre in the West Bank Café (407 W. 42nd Street, NYC 10036). For reservations call, 212.695.6909. Tickets are $25 with a $15 food and drink minimum.

Playing in repertory now through - 8 September 2012, Timothy Sheader directs RAGTIME, a contemporary musical based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow; Olivier Award nominated Javier De Frutos is choreographing. Matthew Dunster is directing Shakespeare's most magical of plays A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM from tonight, 2 June - 5 September 2012.

West End stars Dave Willetts (Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Cats, Ragtime, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) and Marti Webb (Blood Brothers, Tell Me On a Sunday, Evita, Cats) will join forces to headline the legendary Broadway musical 42nd Street as it embarks on a national tour of the UK from today, 1st June 2012, playing 23 venues to the end of the year.

It's the homecoming of an Off-Broadway classic! York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will present the first New York City revival of the classic Off-Broadway hit Closer Than Ever with Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Music by David Shire. Performances begin Tuesday, June 5, 2012 for a limited run through July 14, 2012 at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

The Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) in New Hope, Pennsylvania, has announced the casting for its first production of the summer, Rodgers & Hammerstein's A Grand Night for Singing. The cast will feature a line-up of some of Broadway's most seasoned performers including Courtney Balan (Broadway: [title of show], Cry-Baby), Ron Bohmer (Broadway: Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime), Greg Bosworth (Atlanta: Xanadu, Clyde and Bonnie: A Folktale), Erin Davie (Broadway: A Little Night Music, Grey Gardens), and Kenita R. Miller (Broadway: Xanadu, The Color Purple). Performances begin Monday, July 2 at 8:00 p.m.

Goodspeed Musicals will welcome Carousel to the main stage this summer. The classic Golden Age musical will run from July 13 - September 23 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Carousel and will celebrate an official opening night on August 1, 2012.

Kids Week has revealed a record line-up of 38 shows offering free tickets and activities for children as part of the Kids Week initiative from 1 until 31 August 2012, in an announcement highly anticipated by children and families across London and the UK.

Today we are kicking off the 2012 InDepth InterView Tony Awards Series with the director/choreographer of the hottest hit of the 2011-2012 theatrical season, NEWSIES, that was recently awarded with a boatload of Tony Award nominations, in addition to a short-running show that has a very vocal group of advocates and supporters that also received a handful of Tony noms, BONNIE & CLYDE - the passionate and visionary Jeff Calhoun. Discussing all aspects of his mega-hit with Disney's NEWSIES and his success d'estime with Frank Wildhorn's BONNIE & CLYDE, as well as all about his years spent developing both, Calhoun illustrates his process and sheds some light on many aspects of the creation of the wildly different vehicles, as well as his opinions on the theatrical environment of today. Additionally, Calhoun outlines his experiences working with NEWIES and BONNIE & CLYDE breakout stars Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes - both Tony nominees - as well as his many years spent as an associate choreographer for legendary Tony-winning master director Tommy Tune creating many remarkable musicals such as GRAND HOTEL and THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES. Plus, Calhoun conveys his infectious enthusiasm for his craft and discusses what drives him to create while also sharing his humbled appreciation for the recognition of both his new musicals this season by the Tony Award committee and reflecting on his vast multitude of experiences in the theatre so far in his career - everything from starring in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS and MY ONE & ONLY on Broadway to choreographing THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES and BUSKER ALLEY with Tommy Tune and transitioning into directing/choreographing with the hit revivals of GREASE, BIG RIVER, PIPPIN, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (with Graciele Daniele), BELLS ARE RINGING, as well as GREY GARDENS and the rest. All of that and much, much more in this career-spanning conversation with one of Broadway's best!

Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) today announced the tap dancing musical 42nd Street. This Bloomington Civic Theatre (BCT) production will run August 17 - September 16, 2012. 42nd Street will be directed and choreographed by Michael Matthew Ferrell, with music direction by Anita Ruth. The cast of 24 includes Larissa Gritti as 'Peggy', C. Ryan Shipley as 'Billy', Michael Fischetti as 'Julian Marsh', and Bonnie Erickson as 'Dorothy Brock'.

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation presented its annual Born for Broadway benefit, which will take place at the American Airlines Theatre, last night, May 21, 2012. Tony nominated director Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime) directed alongside Lawrence Yurman (On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, Grey Gardens), who musical directed. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the red carpet and brings you photo coverage below.

Today we continue the 2012 Tony Awards Clip Countdown - culminating in the final entry on June 10, aka Tony Sunday - with a focus on two tremendous theatrical talents who have crossed over from Broadway fame to international acclaim on Fox's hit musical dramedy series GLEE, which ends its third season tonight: HAIRSPRAY's Matthew Morrison and SPRING AWAKENING's Lea Michele.

Enchanting audiences of all generations worldwide, Disney's Beauty and the Beast casts its spell in Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater on Navy Pier June 28 to August 26, 2012. Tickets are $18-$25 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40 percent parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.

The 2012 season at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre includes productions of RAGTIME and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Playing in repertory from tonight, 18 May through 8 September 2012, Timothy Sheader directs RAGTIME, a contemporary musical based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow; Olivier Award nominated Javier De Frutos is choreographing.

The Shaw Festival is proud to announce the winner of its highly successful online contest, Get Ready to Rag! Twenty-four year old pianist Lee Cohen was selected for his energetic and skilful rendition of 'Magnetic Rag'. Contest judge Paul Sportelli said of Cohen's performance, "Lee is a terrific pianist, and he has a great feel and facility for ragtime. His 'Magnetic Rag' crackles with energy!"

West End stars Dave Willetts (Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Cats, Ragtime, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) and Marti Webb (Blood Brothers, Tell Me On a Sunday, Evita, Cats) will join forces to headline the legendary Broadway musical 42nd Street as it embarks on a national tour of the UK from 1st June 2012, playing 23 venues to the end of the year.

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tony Brunch on May 2, 2012, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Norm Lewis, nominee for Best Actor in a Musical for Porgy and Bess.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents [title of show] with music and lyric by Jeff Bowen and the book by Hunter Bell, directed by Peter Amster. The production runs tonight, May 4 - June 10, 2012 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd. The press opening is on Friday, May 11, 2012. Tickets for [title of show],$25-60, are available by phone at 847.673.6300, or online at northlight.org. Young Adult tickets (25 and under) are $10 (one per person with valid ID).

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tony Brunch on May 2, 2012, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. We begin with Audra McDonald, nominated for Best Actress in a Musical for The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.

It's back on! REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel (and later turned into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock) which was postponed earlier this year, will now open on Broadway Sunday, November 18 at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Previews will begin Tuesday, October 30. REBECCA will be produced by Ben Sprecher and Louise Forlenza; with The Shubert Organization, DC Tours Pty Ltd, Manderley Partners, Julian Spencer, Paul Abrams, Tony Fusco, Nanda Anand, Peter Bogyo, Peter Bezemes and Dennis Grimaldi, in association with David Mirvish, Stage Entertainment and Larry Feinman and by special arrangement with Vereinigte Bühnen Wien GmbH. The executive producer is Marshall B. Purdy.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell previously announced the casting and creative teams for the three plays featured next season on The Shaw's Festival Theatre stage. In making the announcement, Ms. Maxwell noted: 'I am so inspired by the range of talent we've assembled to make up our 2012 Ensemble. This extraordinary group of artists will bring to life the vivid contemporary ideas of each and every playwright whose work we are proudly presenting.'

This week the 2012 Tony Awards Nominations were announced! I always get up early to watch the nominations on NY1; but my favorite part of the noms is the day after, when the nominees meet the press. Here are excerpts from my favorite nominee reactions in recent years.

"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" joins "The 39 Steps," "No Time for Sergeants," "Ragtime," and "Tarzan: The Musical" to the Hale Centre Theatre 2013 season. The West Valley, Utah, company is the highest attended theater in the 7,000-member American Association of Community Theatre.

Surflight Theatre, under the leadership of award-winning Broadway Producers Timothy Laczynski (The Pee-wee Herman Show, A Christmas Story), Executive Producer and Roy Miller (West Side Story, The Drowsy Chaperone, Ragtime, and the upcoming new musical Animal House) Artistic Director, kicks off its 63rdAnniversary Season of 'Broadway at the Beach' with the Surflight Premiere of The Rat Pack Revue from tonight, April 18 through May 6, 2012.

Paper Mill Playhouse just announced full casting for the Millburn, New Jersey, theater's production of Once On This Island (book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty). More than 20 years after its premiere, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens are re-inventing their first musical with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (In the Heights, Lombardi, Magic/Bird), choreographer Bradley Rapier (So You Think You Can Dance, Jesus Christ Superstar) and new orchestrations by music director Lynne Shankel (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Altar Boyz). Once On This Island begins performances on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2012. Once On This Island is proudly sponsored by Bank of America. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, June 3, 2012.

The Camp Broadway Kids, which is comprised of 58 theatre-loving kids, ages 12-16, are set to perform in the New York Pops 29th Birthday Gala titled 'Journey On' at Carnegie Hall on Monday, April 30. Under the direction of Camp Broadway's Artistic Director,Tony Parise (Broadway credits include Me and My Girl and 42nd Street), the cast, which was selected from a nation-wide pool of over 500 auditionees, will perform alongside Broadway stars during musical numbers honoring the work of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning and Oscar-nominated songwriting team of such renowned Broadway musicals as Ragtime, Once On This Island, Seussical, My Favorite Year, A Man of No Importance, The Glorious Ones and the feature film Anastasia.