Amy Griffin News

Aida is widely considered one of the grandest of grand operas. The task of converting it to a Broadway musical was a daunting one. Book writers Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang took liberties with the original libretto in a manner they believed would make the plot more relatable to the general public - while that is a question of taste, what is could not be changed was the epic size of the story - Pharaohs, Kings, and Princesses implicitly carry a certain about of gravitas. And the WPPAC production delivers in a big - very big way.

Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA is an epic tale of love, loyalty and betrayal, with an exhilarating Tony and Grammy Award winning score by Elton John & Tim Rice. 

The White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC) is proud to announce the cast for Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA, playing October 11-27, 2019.

Written by a father-son team (the perfect combination of doctor and composer), EMERGENCY features book, music and lyrics by Jeff Foy and Jacob Foy and is directed by Jeremy Quinn. In association with Visceral Entertainment, the production recently concluded a three-performance run at Hudson Guild as part of the New York Theater Festival's SummerFest series. Winner of the Ken Davenport Inner Circle Grant and the truly the perfect blend of comedy and the kind of drama that puts life into perspective, EMERGENCY wowed its audiences straight through to a standing ovation, and has undoubtedly left an impression on this critic's mind.

New York Theater Festival's SUMMERFEST presents Emergency, a modern-day medical musical by father-son creative team Jeff and Jacob Foy, featuring a talented cast of Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater performers. Winner of the Ken Davenport Inner Circle Grant, three performances will be staged at the Hudson Guild Theater, 441 West 26th Street in NYC.

According to their website, WPPAC's STAGE 2 'bridges the gap between the WPPAC Educational Department offerings and the Mainstage, giving college and community performers the opportunity to work in a regional theatre setting under the guidance of professional artists.' No such disclaimer is necessary for their new production of Tuck Everlasting, it is every bit as first-rate as their mainstage productions.

The challenge of any theatre company is finding the right actors for each role. In TUCK EVERLASTING, WPPAC believes they have done just that. Therefore, the White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC) Stage 2 program is proud to announce the cast for the Westchester Premiere of TUCK EVERLASTING, playing August 2-11, 2019.

This summer, bring your family to see TUCK EVERLASTING, a heartwarming, evocative musical about living life to the fullest. When Winnie goes looking for adventure and meets a family with a fabulous secret, their chance encounter will change them all forever. The show explores eternal love, never-ending life, and what it means to truly feel alive. Produced by WPPAC's Stage 2 Program, the Westchester premiere of TUCK EVERLASTING the musical will play the WPPAC stage August 2-11.

The 5th longest running musical in Off-Broadway history, NEWSical The Musical, the 2011 winner of the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical,  will be ending its historic run on June 17th.

New York Theater Festival's SUMMERFEST presents Emergency, a modern-day medical musical by father-son creative team Jeff and Jacob Foy, featuring a talented cast of Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater performers. Winner of the Ken Davenport Inner Circle Grant, three performances will be staged at the Hudson Guild Theater, 441 West 26th Street in NYC.

The 5th longest running musical in Off-Broadway history, NEWSical The Musical, the 2011 winner of the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical,  will be ending its historic run on June 17th. 

In the smash hit musical 'The Producers,' veteran producer Max Bialystock explains to his accountant/new producing partner Leo Bloom the step by step instructions of producing a Broadway show. He advised to find the worst play ever written, hire the worst actors in town, find the worst director in town, and finally open on Broadway. Luckily, the Argyle Theatre in Babylon Village did just the opposite. They chose one of the best musicals ever written by Mel Brooks as their season closer, gathered a troop of top notch professionals to perform it, and chose Broadway veteran Evan Pappas, the best in the business, to direct it.

On Jan 26th, 2019 NEWSical The Musical, the 10th longest running Off-Broadway show and 3rd longest running musical revue in NY history, will be celebrating its 3000th performance at Theatre Row.  To celebrate the milestone the show will be receiving a proclamation from Speaker of the City Council, Corey Johnson, as well as a proclamation from the New York State Assembly.

Christmas is almost here so we decided to spread some Christmas cheer with this week's #TBT! So once again our social media manager dove into the BroadwayWorld archives and found the Opening Night video of Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! - The Musical from 2007! Watch the video below as a Patrick Page talks about starring as the famous Christmas grump and [Title of Show]'s Hunter Bell, who made his Broadway debut in the production! Enjoy the throwback video below!

Welcome to the 60s - 1960s era Baltimore, to be exact, where hopes are high and hairstyles are even higher, as Reston Community Players opens its 52nd season with the beloved musical Hairspray. Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with an even bigger heart (and hair) is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national television. Along the way, she finds true love, equality and the chance to be accepted for who she really is. Hairspray runs October 19-November 10, 2018 at Reston Community Center.

'Fun Home' the Tony-winning musical, based on Alison Bechdel's autobiographical graphic novel, is a serious show about a serious topic, showing how members of a dysfunctional family come to terms - sort of - with their sexuality, and their place in the world. Spoiler: some of them deal with it better than others.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at The White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC)'s New York Regional Premiere of FUN HOME, playing through October 28, 2018. Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, FUN HOME's story centers around graphic novelist Alison. When her father dies unexpectedly, Alison dives into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life.

Welcome to the 60s - 1960s era Baltimore, to be exact, where hopes are high and hairstyles are even higher, as Reston Community Players opens its 52nd season with the beloved musical Hairspray. Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with an even bigger heart (and hair) is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national television. Along the way, she finds true love, equality and the chance to be accepted for who she really is. Hairspray runs October 19-November 10, 2018 at Reston Community Center.

The White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC) has announced the cast for the New York Regional Premiere of FUN HOME, playing October 12-28, 2018. Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, FUN HOME's story centers around graphic novelist Alison. When her father dies unexpectedly, Alison dives into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life.

The holiday offering from the exquisite John W. Engeman Theatre of Northport, Long Island, is an excellent production of the classic Tony winning musical Annie. Marking the half-way point of the Engeman's dazzling 11th season, this production is superbly directed by Antoinette DiPietropolo who also serves as Choreographer. Now I know you're probably thinking: Another production of Annie? Well, when you have a cast as remarkable as this, it definitely warrants another visit.