Alan Zachary News

In what has become an annual ritual, a total of 46 established and emerging writers, composers and lyricists will converge on the Goodspeed campus later this month to participate in the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing 25 new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Into The Woods' finally opens tomorrow! Plus Porchlight's Sondheim season continues, TMTC's 'Allegro' at Ravinia, Laura Osnes is coming to town, 'Galavant' and the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards arrive in early January, followed by 'Tommy' in Aurora, 'First Date' at the Royal George, 'The Full Monty' at Theater Wit and more!

FIRST DATE, Broadway's new musical comedy about the most dangerous human endeavor in existence, the dreaded blind date previews at the Royal George Cabaret, 1641 North Halsted, Chicago previewing on Feb. 5 and opening Feb. 12 for a limited engagement. FIRST DATE features a book by Austin Winsberg ('Gossip Girl') and Music and Lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Secondhand Lions, Twice Charmed).

The Phantom could soon be heading to the small screen.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT opened the first production in its 2014-2015 season with the Tony Award-winning GOOD PEOPLE, written by David Lindsay-Abaire(Rabbit Hole, Fuddy Meers) and directed by Jeff Maynard(Broadway Bound, Boeing-Boeing). GOOD PEOPLE will feature Katie MacNichol, Anne Gee Byrd, Gigi Bermingham,Wyatt Fenner, Sophina Brown and Martin Kildare. Check out the pics from opening night below!

Over the weekend, two dozen thrill-seekers got more than they bargained for at Six Flags. Twenty four guests were trapped for five hours at 75 feet above the ground on the Joker's Jinx roller coaster in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Though all of the guests made it to solid ground physically unscathed, the situation got us thinking about all of the fun to be had at the great theme parks of the world- but at ground level.

The Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC), one of the most acclaimed new play developmental programs in the country, announces its 17th season with an illustrious program of playwrights, new play workshops and special performance events. For the first time, the OPC Summer New Works Festival will take place over two weekends from today, August 2 through 10, 2014 in Ojai, California.

New Musicals Inc. announces the line-up of panelists for the fifth biennial BIZ OF THE MUSICAL THEATRE BIZ CONFERENCE, set for today, July 18 through July 20 in North Hollywood.

New Musicals Inc. announces the line-up of panelists for the fifth biennial BIZ OF THE MUSICAL THEATRE BIZ CONFERENCE, set for July 18-20 in North Hollywood.

The Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC), one of the most acclaimed new play developmental programs in the country, announces its 17th season with an illustrious program of playwrights, new play workshops and special performance events. For the first time, the OPC Summer New Works Festival will take place over two weekends from August 2 through 10, 2014 in Ojai, California.

It's that time of year, and I can't help but wonder if your CD collection and iPod are Tonys ready. This Broadway season has some really interesting contenders in the musical categories, and to get you ready for the big night, I'm recapping the albums you should be listening to (or at the very least pre-ordering).

Vocal Selections are now available for First Date, which features 10 songs: 'First Impressions,' 'I'd Order Love', 'The One', 'Safer', 'Something That Will Last', 'The Things I Never Said' and more. Click here to order now!

Tomorrow is one of the most exciting mornings of the year for any theatre fan. The 2014 Tony Award Nominations will be announced from The Diamond Horseshoe at the Paramount Hotel. The Tony Nominations can be viewed LIVE (8:30am ET) on BroadwayWorld.com. Be sure to follow us throughout the day for reactions from the nominees, analysis and much more. With only hours left until the big moment, catch up on all of this year's eligible shows and how they fared with the critics (including BroadwayWorld's own Michael Dale) in BroadwayWorld's Season Wrap-Up!

Tony Award-winning Rupert Holmes will headline the second annual master class benefit event for the New York-based non-profit theatre company New York Theatre Barn called A Conversation with Rupert Holmes: From Platinum Piña Coladas to Tony-winning Playwright on Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 2pm at the SVA Theatre in New York City. All proceeds will support New York Theatre Barn's convention-defying process for new musical development and its ongoing operations. This event follows on the heels of 2013's sold-out benefit event starring living legend Barry Manilow, and will be hosted by The New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel.

The 2013 Broadway musical FIRST DATE, a hysterical and hopeful musical about the chances we all take to find love, is now available for Professional Theatrical licensing from R&H Theatricals, and its score will be published by Imagem Music, each a division of the Imagem Music Group. The original musical features music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner (Disney's TWICE CHARMED) and a book by Austin Winsberg (TV's "Gossip Girl", "Jake in Progress").

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 50 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2013 Seattle winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, January 5, 2014 - Sunday, January 5, 2014.

FIRST DATE, which opened on August 8, 2013 at Broadway's Longacre Theatre, plays its final performance today, Sunday, January 5, 2014, at 3pm, having played 34 previews and 174 regular performances. First Date, starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, began performances on Broadway on July 9, 2013, and has a book by Austin Winsberg, music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, direction by Bill Berry, musical staging by Josh Rhodes, orchestrations by August Eriksmoen, and musical supervision, vocal and incidental arrangements by Dominick Amendum.

Voting is now underway for Seattle! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Voting is now underway for Seattle! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.