Alan Menken News

Disney Theatrical Productions and Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta announced today that tickets for the highly anticipated Atlanta engagement of Disney's NEWSIES will go on sale to the public on Sunday, October 19 at 10 a.m. The Tony Award-winning production will begin performances at the Fox Theatre on Tuesday, January 20 for a limited one week engagement through Sunday, January 25 as part of the 2014/2015 Broadway in Atlanta series.

I HEAR VOICES: SONGS FOR PSYCHOSIS, a benefit concert with proceeds going to Medicinal Missions, produced by Kevin Field and Adam Kern with music direction by Kevin Field and Bryan Blaskie, is set for tonight, September 30, 2014 at 8:00 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM at Rockwell Table and Stage.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the award-winning worldwide smash hit Broadway musical, is returning to Seattle as part of the KeyBank Broadway at The Paramount series. Produced by NETworks Presentations, this elaborate theatrical production will come to life on stage at The Paramount Theatre from October 21 - 26, 2014. For information on the production, visit www.BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com.

Disney Theatrical Productions and Shiki Theatre Company just announced the first international production of Disney's Aladdin, the smash Broadway musical comedy. Performances will begin in May 2015 at The Dentsu Shiki Theatre Umi in Tokyo.

The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey is proud to open its 2014 - 2015 season with Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID. This production runs October 3rd through the 26th with performances Friday evenings at 7:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4:00 PM.

D23 spoke with star of La Jolla Playhouse's upcoming produciton of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, Patrick Page, about why he was drawn to the project and the role of 'Frollo' and what to expect from the premiere. Scroll down for some excerpts from the interview!

According to Deadline, Rutger Hauer (Floris) has signed on for a recurring role in ABC's new musical fairytale comedy series GALAVANT.

Due to popular demand, La Jolla Playhouse announces a week-long extension for its U.S. premiere production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, featuring a score by the multiple Academy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning team of composer Alan Menken (Newsies, Little Shop of Horrors) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), book by Peter Parnell (The West Wing, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) and direction by Scott Schwartz (Playhouse's Jane Eyre, Broadway's Golda's Balcony). Produced in association with Paper Mill Playhouse, by special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions, The Hunchback of Notre Dame will now run October 26 - December 14, 2014 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Today, Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director of Encompass New Opera Theatre and Gala Honorary Chairs Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Tony Kushner and Maury Yeston announced the October 26th star-studded musical salute honoring two luminaries of the American musical theater -- Tony and Academy Award-winning legend Joel Grey and celebrated, award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori.

Disney Theatrical Productions will present the eagerly anticipated North American tour of Broadway's Tony® Award-winning smash hit musical, Disney's NEWSIES. Rehearsals began on Wednesday, September 3 in New York City in preparation for the first performance on Saturday, October 11 in Schenectady, NY at Proctors. During its first year of touring in the 2014-15 season, the production will play 25 cities, over 43 weeks. The production features Dan DeLuca as 'Jack Kelly', Steve Blanchard as 'Joseph Pulitzer', Stephanie Styles as 'Katherine', Angela Grovey as 'Medda Larkin', Jacob Kemp as 'Davey', Zachary Sayle as 'Crutchie', and Vincent Crocilla and Anthony Rosenthal alternating the role of 'Les.' The company just met the press and BroadwayWorld was there for the big day. Go inside rehearsal with Richard Ridge below!

This week, the cast of Newsies on Tour took time out from their busy schedule to answer questions from fans. Check out the video below!

The LEGENDARY Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, was in the house last night at Disney's hit production of ALADDIN on Broadway and after the show posed with the excited cast -- and BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the magic moment (no lamp required!).

The married, song-writing duo Laura and Dan Curtis has had an exciting past year of work, which isn't slowing down anytime soon. The couple has a concert coming up at the Royal Albert Hall on October 14th, which will feature the music from the popular album, LOVE ON 42ND STREET (For tickets, click here.) Laura and Dan took the time to chat with BroadwayWorld this weekend about their upcoming concert, the amazing work they've done over the past year, and their exciting plans for the future. Read the full interview below, and find access to several video links!

Primary Stages in association with Susan Dietz (Fela!, Mothers and Sons), presents the world premiere of While I Yet Live by the Tony-winning star of Kinky Boots and Angels in America, Billy Porter, and directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller (Mothers and Sons, Next Fall, Adrift in Macao). While I Yet Live plays a limited, six-week engagement, tonight, September 24, through October 31 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 West 42nd Street). Opening night is Sunday, October 12 at 5PM.

Primary Stages has announced that the world premiere of While I Yet Live will begin performances on Wednesday, September 24 at 7PM. Producers have decided to delay the start of previews due to technical issues.

Cabaret at The Merc in association with Temecula Presents have announced a one-night-only Broadway concert by Academy Award-winning composer, Stephen Schwartz. On Monday, September 22nd at 7:30pm, Stephen Schwartz, the songwriter behind such Broadway hits as Wicked, Godspell and Pippin, will take the Old Town Temecula Theater Stage for the first time, joined by an all-star cast of Broadway performers!

I HEAR VOICES: SONGS FOR PSYCHOSIS, a benefit concert with proceeds going to Medicinal Missions, produced by Kevin Field and Adam Kern with music direction by Kevin Field and Bryan Blaskie, is set for Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 8:00 PM.

SHN has announced a first for the Broadway industry - A Bobblehead Giveaway in conjunction with the San Francisco engagement of NEWSIES, coming to the SHN Orpheum Theatre February 17 - March 15, 2015.

La popular actriz estadounidense Whoopi Goldberg asistirá al estreno del musical 'Sister Act' en el Teatre Tívoli de Barcelona el próximo 24 de octubre, según ha confirmado Julia Gómez Cora, presidenta de Stage Entertainment. Goldberg protagonizó la película de 1992 en la que se basa el musical, y además ha sido productora de todos los montajes internacionales que se han hecho del mismo desde su estreno en Londres en 2009.