Ritchie Valens

OUR CLASS, the award-winning play by Polish writer Tadeusz Słobodzianek, will be performed for the first time in New York at Brooklyn Academy of Music. See who is starring and learn how to purchase tickets!

We are the stewards of the music. We are here to keep it alive and share it with as many people as possible,” says actor Jayson Elliott, who plays the Big Bopper in Maine State Music Theatre’s current production of THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY. Elliott joins Diego Guevara, who portrays Ritchie Valens, Angela C. Howell, director/choreographer/music director who also plays Vi Petty, and MSMT Artistic Director, Curt Dale Clark for a conversation about the musical with Broadway World’s Maine Editor, Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold at the second Peek Behind the Curtain series of the season. The record-breaking crowd attending the panel discussion mirrors the sold-out houses THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY has been drawing each night at the Pickard Theatre. They have come to celebrate the rock n’ roll legends and to explore what made Buddy Holly and his early colleagues such phenomena of music history.

What did our critic think of BUDDY THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY at Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire IL? The current production at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is Buddy the Buddy Holly Story. It was the first of the jukebox musicals premiering in 1989.  It’s not just the story of the short-lived life of Buddy Holly but it also tells the story of rock ‘n roll in its infancy and the pioneers who created the sound.

See photos from opening night of BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY at Marriott Theatre.

There are certain moments of history that become emblazoned in our collective human  psyches. Fans of American popular music all remember with a searing certainty the day when Charles Hardin Holley was killed in a plane crash at age twenty-two,  his pioneering meteoric rock ‘n’ roll career brought to a tragic end. But if  Feb 3,1959, was “the day the music died “ - as Don McLean wrote - MSMT’s Buddy Holly STORY turns that trope on its head. The new production, staged by Angela C. Howell makes clear that the legacy of Buddy Holly lives, and if MSMT’s production of the jukebox musical about Holly’s legend and his legacy rocks the Pickard Theater to the rafters with its visceral musical energy, it also speaks volumes about the warmth and heart of the Holly story.

Get a first look at footage of BUDDY - THE Buddy Holly STORY at the Marriott Theatre.

“To do this show, you’ve got to have a bag of tricks. Everybody in the cast has to be multi-instrumentalists, as well as actors and singers.” Actor Jayson Elliott is talking about the complexities of performing THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, which MSMT will present on its main stage beginning June 28. Elliot is reprising his role of J.P. Richardson, known as “The Big Bopper,” and he and MSMT newcomer, Andrew Harvey, who essays the title role, are discussing the intricacies and appeal of this juke box musical and its inspiration, rock and roll legend, Buddy Holly. Harvey  and Elliott have worked together before on this show with director Angela C. Howell at Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Utah, and both actors have considerable experience with their roles.  Elliott says he has played The Big Bopper some twenty times; Harvey has four productions under his belt, and they both note that the MSMT cast of eighteen can cumulatively claim to have performed in some one hundred productions.  Harvey says, “ I have worked with quite a few of these people before, and I am enjoying being together again.  They are all insanely talented musicians – which you have to be in this kind of juke box musical.”

When the cast of “Hadestown” emerge on stage at the National Theatre waving to the waiting audience, they’re received with cheers like old friends. 

Spencer Theater kicks-off its summer season of shows Saturday, June 3 with John Mueller’s “Winter Dance Party”®, the official live and authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper’s final tour.

The smash hit musical celebration of the life of Buddy Holly, BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, arrives at the Marriott Theatre this summer, previewing Wednesday, June 21, opening June 28 at 7:30 p.m. and closing August 13, 2023. 

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has announced the complete principal casts, creative teams, and events planned for the previously announced summer season.

Summer Season 2023 at Spencer Theater is a three-month spread of 13 stage performances and special events featuring top country artists, folk-rock greats and early rock tributes, big band pizazz, a patriotic salute, comedy, children's theatre, fine-dining fun, and so much more with some of the finest stage artists and troupes on the road.

Following sell out performances across Australia and by overwhelming demand, the 50s and 60s song and dance spectacular Shake, Rattle 'n' Roll is touring Australia once again and will play for one performance only in the Thebarton Theatre in Adelaide on Saturday 17 June at 7.30pm.

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of the explosive new musical, La Bamba! The cast will be led by Strictly Come Dancing winner Pasha Kovalev.

Following sell-out seasons across Australia in 2022, SHAKE RATTLE ‘N’ ROLL The Happy Days Tour is back, and it’s more spectacular and ready to rock audiences of all ages!  

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has announced the casts for this summer’s season. See details about the productions, learn who is starring and more!

The world premiere of the explosive new musical, La Bamba! is heading to London's West End this summer.

The UK Tour and lead creative team have been announced for the world premiere of a new musical - La Bamba!

Pieter Toerien presents a brand-new, full-scale stage production of the HIT rock 'n roll jukebox musical, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, LIVE onstage at the Artscape Opera House, from 28 March to 16 April, and The Teatro at Montecasino from 21 April to 28 May.

American rock band Los Lobos will perform at Kean University on Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Wilkins Theatre, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey 07083.