Al Larson News

High schools in Connecticut and Pennsylvania made national news this year when their principals canceled productions of 'controversial' musicals Rent and Spamalot. Now the National Coalition Against Censorship is honoring those who stood up for the shows' performances on their list of Top 40 Free Speech Defenders of 2014.

Back in December 2013, BroadwayWorld chronicled the long battle for thespians at Connecticut's Trumbull High School to produce their production of RENT, which was halted by school administrators when first-year principal Marc Guarino and the school board decided to cancel the Trumbull High Thespian Society's planned production of Jonathan Larson's hit rock opera. Well, the show did go on as planned last month, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below! Plus, Al Larson visited the show on opening night. Scroll down for photos!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: KINKY BOOTS celebrates one year on Broadway today, THE REALISTIC JONESES opens on Sunday and more!

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced that its 2013 Spring Gala, honoring Artistic Director James C. Nicola in celebration of 25 years of service to the organization, takes place tonight, Monday, May 20 at Tribeca Rooftop.

Presented by The Royal Underground Theatre Company, RENT has been extended through May 21 at Hudson Backstage Theatre - 6539 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90038. Directed by Jerianne Banson, featuring Jason Aaronson, Kate Alden, Benjamin Alicea, Enrico Banson, Barry Brisco, Deosick Burney, Valerie Charles, Cy Creamer, Nathan Crocker, Ali Eagle, Jason Esposito, Leigh Golden, Amelia Harris, Timothy Hearl, Rashonda Johnson, Matt Pick, Charlie Rayshad, Jepoy Ramos, Tiffany Van Cott, and Ana Villafane.

The American Theatre Wing Presented the 2010 Jonathan Larson® Grants on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the American Airlines Theatre in New York City. This year, Peter Lerman, Daniel Maté, and songwriting team Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (book & lyrics) were selected to receive the prestigious grants, totaling $10,000. The evening included special performances of the recipients' work by Brian d'Arcy James and Kerry Butler. Brad Bass, John Eric Parker, and Ephraim Sykes from Memphis performed a rarely heard Jonathan Larson song. BroadwayWorld was there for the ceremony.

American Theatre Wing presented the 2009 Jonathan Larson Grants on Tuesday, March 17 at Touch 240 West 52nd Street, NYC (Between Broadway and 8th Avenue).

The American Theatre Wing today announced the recipients of the 2009 Jonathan Larson? Grants. The grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, help to continue Tony Award-winning composer Jonathan Larson's dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality.