Allison Strong News

VOLLEYGIRLS, the breakout hit from the 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), adds The New World Stages Development Prize Award to their list of accomplishments. VOLLEYGIRLS, produced by NYMF, MONICA RAYMUND of SISU THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, and JACOB HARVEY of CAVE 76 PRODUCTIONS, performed to sold-out houses for nine performances in the 10th Anniversary Season of NYMF at the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre (The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street, NY, NY 10036) in July.

On December 22 (11:30pm), 54 Below will welcome past American Idiots, New York's Indie Rock Band Hey Guy, Montclair State Musical theater Alumni, and more for SPREAD THE CHEER, LET'S GIVE THIS YEAR- a concert to benefit the American Red Cross and disaster relief in the Phillipines.

Tonight, November 24, 2013, VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert presents the Canadian Premiere of Benjamin Britten's GLORIANA. The work premiered in London at Covent Garden in 1953 and was written in celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a monarch now in the 50th year of her reign.

Toronto, 5 November 2013…On Sunday, November 24, 2013, VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert presents the Canadian Premiere of Benjamin Britten's GLORIANA. The work premiered in London at Covent Garden in 1953 and was written in celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a monarch now in the 50th year of her reign. “We are very excited about this performance” said General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin. “It is rare that we have the opportunity to present the Canadian premiere of a major work by a legendary composer from our own era to our public. I'm sure Toronto's opera lovers will be curious and thrilled by this magnificent work.”

I recently had the honor and privilege to sit down and chat with Allison DeBona of Ballet West and the CW's Breaking Pointe. I found Allison very easy to talk with and I learned a lot about her life, dancing and yes, her relationship with Rex Tilton. And Rex eventually opened up a bit too.

Artists for World Peace presents its third annual Broadway fundraiser. The evening will feature some of Broadway's top performers including: Stephen Carrasco (Kinky Boots, Ghost, Billy Elliot); Natalie Gallo (Jersey Boys); Liana Hunt (Newsies); Clarke Thorell (Annie, Hairspray, Titanic); Josephine Roberts (Rock of Ages); Ian Paget (Soul doctor, Leap of Faith); Ryan Worsing (Chicago, Shrek, White Xmas); Dierdre Friel (Leap of Faith); Sharone Sayegh (Mamma Mia!); Sean Alan Krill (On a Clear Day, Mamma Mia!); Blake Whyte (Wicked, Mamma Mia!); Larkin Bogin (Wicked, American Idiot);

UP Comedy Club is known for bringing the best stand-up comedy talent in the country to Chicago. This fall's line-up features many of the best known names in comedy today, including Greg Proops, Dave Foley, Tony Rock, Moshe Kasher, Carmen Lynch, Ian Bagg, Maz Jobrani, D.L. Hughley, Christopher Titus, Kyle Kinane and Loni Love. Each show includes a feature stand-up comic and a local emcee that hosts the evening. Additional special events scheduled for September include "Hollywood Said No!" with David Cross, Bob Odenkirk & Brian Posehn, and "Risk! Live" hosted by Kevin Allison. Dinner will be available before and during the show.

UP Comedy Club is known for bringing the best stand-up comedy talent in the country to Chicago. This fall's line-up features many of the best known names in comedy today, including Greg Proops, Dave Foley, Tony Rock, Moshe Kasher, Carmen Lynch, Ian Bagg, Maz Jobrani, D.L. Hughley, Christopher Titus, Kyle Kinane and Loni Love. Each show includes a feature stand-up comic and a local emcee that hosts the evening. Additional special events scheduled for September include “Hollywood Said No!” with David Cross, Bob Odenkirk & Brian Posehn, and “Risk! Live” hosted by Kevin Allison. Dinner will be available before and during the show.

Pen Parentis has a grand season opener planned, and all avid readers as well as novice and professional writers 21+ are invited to attend! On Tuesday, September 10th, 2013, at the ever-elegant Andaz Wall Street (75 Wall at Water Street) at 7:00 pm, Pen Parentis opens its tenth season of Literary Salons—still free and open to the public. Four authors will be reading from new works, mingling over happy hour wine and beer, and signing books that are available for purchase from Bluestockings Books.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the winners of the NYMF 2013 Awards for Excellence and celebrated its closing night yesterday, July 28, 2013. Scroll down for photos of the winners and the closing festivities!

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the winners of the NYMF 2013 Awards for Excellence. Awards are voted on by the NYMF jury.

Newly announced for the evening are Charl Brown (Tony nomination, Motown The Musical); Lauren Molina (Rock of Ages, Sweeney Todd); and Andrew Lippa, Tony- and Grammy-nominated composer and librettist of The Addams Family, The Wild Party, and Big Fish, opening on Broadway in October.

The 2013 Festival opened earlier this week and BroadwayWorld wants to keep you in the loop on highlights of this season. Check out some of the most buzzed-about productions below!

Last week, NYMF presented a special preview of the 2013 featuring musical selections from: Julian Po, The Water Dream, Mother Divine, Marry Harry, Crossing Swords, Legacy Falls, Standby, Volleygirls and Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue Presents The Brontes. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photo coverage from the special event below!

From today, June 23 to June 29, 14 emerging professional songwriters will participate in The Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project at Northwestern University -- an intensive weeklong program on the Evanston campus that has produced 2013 Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (nominated for 'A Christmas Story, The Musical'), Fred Ebb Award-winner Sam Willmot, and Latin Grammy Award-winners Obed Bermudez and Jennifer Pena.

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, MONICA RAYMUND of SISU THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, and CAVE 76 PRODUCTIONS are pleased to announce the world premiere production of VOLLEYGIRLS, with book by Rob Ackerman (Tabletop - 2001 Drama Desk), lyrics by Sam Forman (book for F#%king Up Everything), music by Eli Bolin (I Sing, Roller Boogie TV: Sesame Street), musical supervision by Matt Castle, choreographed by Ryan Kasprzak (TV: Smash Tour: Billy Elliot), musical direction by Mike Pettry and directed by Neil Patrick Stewart (LA theatre: The Elephant Man - Ovation Award nominations). VOLLEYGIRLS will play a limited engagement at Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street, NY, NY 10036). Performances begin Monday, July 15 and continue through Saturday, July 27. Opening Night is Monday, July 15 (9 p.m.).

From June 23 to June 29, 14 emerging professional songwriters will participate in The Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project at Northwestern University -- an intensive weeklong program on the Evanston campus that has produced 2013 Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (nominated for 'A Christmas Story, The Musical'), Fred Ebb Award-winner Sam Willmot, and Latin Grammy Award-winners Obed Bermudez and Jennifer Pena.