A. Shapiro News

Sarasota Jewish Theatre (SJT) announces that, due to “Fully Committed” by Becky Mode being nearly sold out three weeks prior to opening, they have added a twilight matinée performance to the schedule on February 4 at 5:30 p.m.

The Foundation for New American Musicals (FNAM) has announced the presentation of MUSI-CAL at the Bourbon Room in Hollywood on Monday, June 5th.

 Carrie St. Louis will star as Elle Woods in the Kansas City Starlight Production of LEGALLY BLONDE. The production will be Directed and Choreographed by Nikki Snelson, who originated the role of Brooke Wyndham in the Original Broadway production of Legally Blonde. St. Louis most recently starred in the off-Broadway hit TITANIQUE, as well as starring roles in Kinky Boots, Wicked, and Rock of Ages on Broadway. 

The Foundation for New American Musicals will present MUSI-CAL at the Bourbon Room in Hollywood on Monday March 13th.

The Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book &  Arts Festival, presented by the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston (the J), is celebrating its 50th year as one of Houston's leading cultural and literary events.

Full confession: I was not jumping up and down to see another production of Cabaret. Chalk it up to Cabaret being the show that wouldn't die when I was in college - cast as a chorus member, it was a grueling rehearsal period and extended run, then we won American College Theater Festival for our region and had to come back early from winter break to recreate it, it literally went on for a good two thirds of my sophomore year. Some of the songs can give me PTSD. True fact.

Winners of the prestigious international Search for New Musicals for 2021 were announced today at New Musicals Inc. in Los Angeles.

The story of Godspell is the Gospel According to St. Matthew and consists of Jesus sharing parables with his disciples, and his disciples emulating those parables through song. It's got a hippie/early 70s quality, via the crazy costumes and the peace/love at its core. The Tri-M ensemble embraces the joy of the piece - special standouts include Julie Anne Shapiro singing Bless the Lord, accompanist and Music Director Kathlene Ritch singing On the Willows and the ensemble number It's All for the Best. Evan Aguilar is also engaging and is the glue that holds the company together as Jesus.

Learn about each of the new trustees, who bring the total up to 30, led by Ania Czekaj-Farber of Westport, chair.

So what does one do when one is a nightclub artist stuck in lockdown with no artistic outlet? Create an online show, of course! These people are the BROADWAY WORLD AWARD nominees for BEST PRODUCER OF A VIRTUAL PROGRAM - a new category for a new day.

When the COVID-19 pandemic ended plans for a live theatrical premiere of Michael Gordon Shapiro's new musical in Hollywood this past June, the production team brainstormed about how they could still share their work.

Broadway and Los Angeles artists join forces in an online workshop of the new musical adventure, the family-friendly GIDEON AND THE BLUNDERSNORP in which Gideon is a stableboy who dreams of being a knight, despite belonging to the wrong social class. Alanna is a young viscountess trapped in the system of royal succession. Together they team up to escape bandits, navigate a treacherous forest, and confront the vicious Blundersnorp, whose dream is simply to eat everyone. Ita??s a musical about aspiration, adventure, and escaping societya??s expectations. (And fighting giant monsters.)

Bombshell (Original Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack) is available today via Warner Records. The Lionsgate film starring Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie and more of Hollywood's biggest stars hits theaters in New York and Los Angeles today before opening wide on December 20. 

Roundabout Theatre Company and Columbia University School of the Arts have announced the winners of Columbia@Roundabout's 2019 New Play Reading Series. As part of the collaborative partnership between Roundabout Theatre Company and Columbia University, the reading series awards three playwrights from the current MFA program and recent alumni with a cash prize as well as a reading in Roundabout's Rehearsal Hall, followed by a post-reading reception. Five finalists have also received cash prizes in recognition of their exceptional work. No other collaborative partnership in the New York area brings together an esteemed Ivy League MFA program with a Tony Award-winning, not-for-profit theatre. The reading series is made possible by a grant from The Tow Foundation.   

The award-winning musical The Bully Problem has been the talk of Hollywood Fringe this June. Now, the world premiere work written and composed by Michael Gordon Shapiro and produced by New Musicals Inc. is officially a Pick of the Fringe!

Fresh off showcasing at the prestigious ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, acclaimed composer Michael Gordon Shapiro's captivating, award-winning musical THE BULLY PROBLEM is thrilling Fringe audiences with its sweet, poignant, and action-packed musical about bullying, standing up for yourself…and robots. Performed by an ensemble of actors who know how to truly support each other and work together from moment-to-moment, there is no doubt in my mind the production will be one of the biggest Fringe hits this month.

The Bully Problem opens this Friday, June 14 , 2019 at the The Broadwater - Main Stage. In this award-winning musical from Michael Gordon Shapiro, impassioned nerds face a slew of school bullies head on, with the help of a mostly-functional android.

This Thursday, June 6th, The Bully Problem will begin previews at the The Broadwater - Main Stage. Brilliant nerds take on a slew of bullies with the help of a mostly-functional android in this award-winning musical from Michael Shapiro.

The award-winning musical The Bully Problem is coming to Hollywood Fringe, playing in June at The Broadwater - Main Stage, produced by New Musicals Inc.