Alan Menken News

Eloquence without the elegance is how I'd describe Michael Stuhlbarg's scruffy, hyperactive and somewhat nerdy take on the title role in director Oskar Eustis' amusing hodgepodge of a production of Hamlet. Though perfectly placid for the first several minutes of his performance, silently contemplating his father's death and his uncle's marriage to his newly widowed mother at a downstage eternal flame that perpetually flickers its symbolism throughout the evening, he's soon wildly wringing his hands with nervous excitement, flailing his arms about in range and stomping his feet to the floor like the kind of actor he'll later be warning his players not to be. In fact, it's not until the prince starts feigning madness that he begins resembling a grown-up. It's not an interpretation that will tug at your soul, but it'll damn well get your attention without taxing your brain.

The 2008 Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) Awards show was a night full of musical highlights and heavyweights as SHOF Chairman/CEO Hal David and President Linda Moran helped induct songwriting heavyweights including Desmond Child, Albert Hammond, Loretta Lynn, Alan Menken and John Sebastian into its hallowed Hall, and saluted honorees Paul Anka, Anne Murray, John Rzeznik and Milt Okun for their contributions to popular music.

Gateway Playhouse, Long Island's premiere professional Equity musical theatre, continues its 59th season with the multiple award winning, Disney's Beauty and the Beast' at the Patchogue Theatre, 71 E. Main Street, Patchogue, on July 9-26. In its premiere professional production on Long Island, it is directed by Dom Ruggiero and choreographey by Michelle Webber with Jeff Hoffman as musical director.

Big wins for 'In The Heights', Patti LuPone, Paulo Szot, South Pacific, August: Osage County, and much more!

It's finally here! The jam-packed end-of-season roundup of CDs from our very own Naomi Plume (so big, it had to be put into two parts)...The good, the bad, the ugly...or to quote from the ad for the upcoming musical A TALE OF A TWO CITIES... 'it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' We're so glad that we got to use that line first! So enjoy this very special two-parter - happy reading, happy listening, happy buying (or not) and good luck to everyone at the TONY Awards on Sunday night from all of us at BroadwayWorld.com.

On June 8th, 2008 Paper Mill Playhouse opened its mainstage production of Little Shop of Horrors, a musical written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The musical is based on Roger Corman's 1960 sci-fi comedy and includes several show-stopping numbers including 'Skid Row (Downtown),' 'Somewhere That's Green,' and 'Suddenly Seymour,' as well as the title song. Little Shop of Horrors will run at the Millburn theatre from June 4 through July 6, 2008.

BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces the biannual Showcase of new songs from Workshop writers.

When Jared Gertner played The Lion in his high-school's 1996 production of 'The Wiz,' he won a Rising Star Award from Paper Mill Playhouse. Twelve years later, Jared returns to Millburn to finally step into the leading-man's shoes as the lovable geek Seymour in 'Little Shop of Horrors.' Just goes to show, ya never know!

On Saturday, June 7, ABC's 'Wonderful World of Disney' presents a special broadcast of Disney Pixar's FINDING NEMO, the Academy Award-winning film (Best Animated Feature, 2003). During the broadcast, Mark Indelicato of the hit ABC television series 'UGLY BETTY' goes back stage at Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID with star Sierra Boggess to discuss her iconic role as Ariel, in the beloved new Broadway musical.

Sierra Boggess, 'Ariel' in Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID, will perform on 'Live with Regis & Kelly' on Monday, June 9th between 9am - 10am.

Theatre Aspen is pleased to announce that casting is complete for its 2008 summer season.

Kate Shindle will perform at Birdland, Monday, June 2, 2008 at 7:00p.m., as part of the long-running, Nightlife Award-winning concert series Broadway at Birdland.

The 'Wicked' and 'Pippin' composer gets an award and performs with Debbie Gravitte, Liz Callaway and Scott Coulter.

Top Broadway performers to sing highlights from the latest scores by Larson Award winners Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk - Sunday, June 1st.

Xanadu's Tony nominee for Best Actress, Kerry Butler, will appear at the Virgin Megastore Times Square on Wednesday, May 28th, at 5:00 PM, in celebration of her debut solo album FAITH, TRUST & PIXIE DUST, released May 13th on PS Classics.

Xanadu's Tony nominee for Best Actress, Kerry Butler, will appear at the Virgin Megastore Times Square on Wednesday, May 28th, at 5:00 PM, in celebration of her debut solo album FAITH, TRUST & PIXIE DUST, released May 13th on PS Classics.

Raúl Esparza burst onto Broadway with his 2000 debut as Riff-Raff in the cult hit revival of The Rocky Horror Show, but he quickly made the trip from Transsexual, Transylvania to become what many consider to be the best actor of his generation. Broadway audiences found him definitively interpreting the music of Stephen Sondheim in his Tony nominated role of Bobby in Company. He chatted with BroadwayWorld.com about being nominated for a 2008 Tony Award for his work in Harold Pinter's classic play The Homecoming.

Former New York Times Theatre Critic, and current OpEd Columnist Frank Rich has signed on as a creative consultant to HBO, it was announced today by Richard Plepler, co-president, and Michael Lombardo, president programming group and west coast operations.

John Treacy Egan, currently starring as Chef Louis in Disney's 'The Little Mermaid', will perform at Barnes & Noble as part of their 'Any Wednesday' series on Wednesday, May 28th at 6pm.

TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, opens its 39th season with the dazzling West Coast Premiere of Snapshots, the latest musical from legendary Broadway (Wicked) and Hollywood (Enchanted) composer Stephen Schwartz.