Allen McDonald News

Atlantic for Kids presents The Big One-Oh!, a world premiere musical

Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has acquired the new musical The Big One-Oh! for its Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) and Broadway Junior libraries of titles. Based on the novel of the same name by Oscar-winning screenwriter, songwriter and novelist Dean Pitchford (Fame, Footloose), The Big One-Oh! is a triumphant new musical about a boy who decides to throw himself the a?oebest birthday party in the history of the worlda?? to celebrate the monumental occasion of turning ten.

New musical Between the Lines will begin performances on Tuesday, April 21, 2020 and officially open in May 2020 at Off-Broadway's Tony Kiser Theater at Second Stage (305 West 43rd Street).

Stages Theatre Company (STC) is excited to launch its Capture the Memories Season of Theatre for Young Audiences with one of Roald Dahl's most heartwarmingly quirky stories, James & the Giant Peach.

Atlantic for Kids presents The Big One-Oh!, a world premiere musical based on the novel by Academy Award Winner Dean Pitchford (Fame, Footloose), with lyrics by Pitchford, music by Tony Award winner Doug Besterman (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and a book by Timothy Allen McDonald (Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach). Directed and choreographed by MK Lawson, The Big One-Oh! opens on Saturday, September 28th at Atlantic Theater Company's Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues) and runs Saturdays and Sundays through October 20th.

Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach is now a musical for the whole family to enjoy! When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach... and launches a journey of enormous proportions.

Firestone Theatre's new season of plays and musicals sets the bar pretty high with a variety of student opportunities and outstanding guest directors.

Eight outstanding educators from schools and performing arts centers around the U.S. will work one-on-one with Broadway greats at the 10th Annual FREDDIE G FELLOWSHIP July 10th - 13th.  The event is underwritten by Freddie ('G') Gershon, Co-Chairman of the global theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI), his wife Myrna and MTI. The four days of classes and activities honor instructors and teachers who are working to make a difference for their students and communities through the process of staging musical theatre productions in their schools and educational theatre groups. In addition to the all-expense paid visit to New York, each of the teachers' schools receives $5,000 from Freddie and Myrna. The teachers are empowered to identify and select how their respective school's theatre program can best utilize the funds.

Stages Theatre Company is invitinsg audiences to enter a world of pure imagination with Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka. Based on the Book 'Charlie and The Chocolate Factory' by Roald Dahl, the scrumptious musical follows the adventures of Charlie Bucket and the other Golden Ticket holders through Willy Wonka's whimsical and mysterious Chocolate Factory filled with Oompa-Loompa, fun, candy and magic around every corner. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film, and new songs by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, the sweet musical adaption of Roald Dahl's timeless story comes to life on our mainstage June 28 through August 4.

Atlantic Theater Company has announced its 2019-2020 season productions.

Theatre Arlington's 47th season has something for everyone! Executive Producer, Steven D. Morris, is thrilled to announce the line-up for the 2019-2020 season. There will be great musical comedies, a fun new holiday show, wonderful family-friendly children's programming and classic plays that need to be seen again. This season Theatre Arlington will continue to work hard to improve the patron's experience and the quality of every production. The Theatre is excited to announce that they will be hiring more professional Equity actors in each production as well as skilled designers and talented live musicians. That's not all Morris is happy to announce - this season will be the inaugural year for a new Cabaret Series which will bring the metroplex's best singers and musicians to Theatre Arlington to perform in an intimate environment.  If it has been awhile since you've visited downtown Arlington, now is the time to find your way and come home to Theatre Arlington!

Beck Center for the Arts, one of the longest-running Youth Theater programs in the country, announces the 2019-20 Youth Theater Season line-up. The 71st anniversary season includes innovative versions of classic tales, and new works from different perspectives and vantage points.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), will host a conversation entitled 'Producing Theatre for an Ageless Audience', moderated by Linda Hartzell, SDC Foundation Trustee and Artistic Director Emerita of Seattle Children's Theatre, with luminary directors Mark Brokaw and Marcia Milgrom Dodge and playwright Timothy Allen McDonald on Monday May, 20, 2019 from 6:00-8:00 PM at SDC, 321 W. 44th St., Suite 804.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), will host a conversation entitled "Producing Theatre for an Ageless Audience', moderated by Linda Hartzell, SDC Foundation Trustee and Artistic Director Emerita of Seattle Children's Theatre, with luminary directors Mark Brokaw and  Marcia Milgrom Dodge and playwright Timothy Allen McDonald on Monday May, 20, 2019 from 6:00-8:00 PM at SDC, 321 W. 44th St., Suite 804.

The Miracle League of CT partners with Playhouse on Park in producing special sensory-friendly performances of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, the final show of Playhouse's 2018-2019 Young Audience Series. All tickets will be specially priced at $5 for this performance only, all seats reserved.  

Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University announces its 2019-2020 Season including Roald Dahl's musical Willy Wonka (October 25-November 24, 2019), Little Women: The Broadway Musical (January 31-February 23, 2020), The Little Prince (April 8-May 24, 2020), and Bud, Not Buddy (April 28-May 24 2020). Subscription packages are now on sale. Visit www.wheelockfamilytheatre.org to view savings options and benefits. Single tickets for the 2019-2020 Season will go on sale September 3, 2019.

Northwestern University's Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts announced today (April 2) that tickets are available online for a new musical based on the life and imagination of Hans Christian Andersen. The announcement comes on Andersen's birthday celebrated worldwide as International Children's Book Day.

August 16th, 2019 kicks off Elm Street Cultural Arts Village's exciting new season for 2019 and 2020 - A Season To Prevail. Associate Artistic Director Siobhan Brumbelow discusses how each production links to the theme of prevailing:

Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University announces Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach featuring words and music by Tony, Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe Award-Winning Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, book by Timothy Allen McDonald, and based on the book by Roald Dahl. The WFT@BU production, directed by Artistic Director Emily Ranii with musical direction by Matt Stern and choreography by Juanita Pearl takes place April 12 through May 12, 2019 at 180 The Riverway, in Boston's Fenway neighborhood. Performances run Fridays at 7:30pm and Saturday/Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets are $20-40 and may be purchased by calling 617-353-3001 or online by visiting https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/dept/1292. Student and group discounts are available and special 1pm performances run during April school vacation week (4/16 -19). ASL and AD performances are May 5 at 2pm and May 10 at 7:30pm.

TexARTS Musical Theatre Academy is pleased to present Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, Jr. with words and music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and book by Timothy Allen McDonald. The production will run April 6-7 & 13-14 at the Kam & James Morris Theatre at TexARTS.