Amy Justman News

The producers of the spectacular new national touring production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA announced today that Cooper Grodin will assume the title role in the musical beginning today, January 9 in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Grodin steps in for Mark Campbell, who is no longer touring with the production due to personal reasons. He joins Julia Udine as 'Christine Daaé,' Ben Jacoby as 'Raoul,' Jacquelynne Fontaine as 'Carlotta Giudicelli,' Craig Bennett as 'Monsieur Firmin,' Edward Staudenmayer as 'Monsieur André,' Linda Balgord as 'Madame Giry,' Frank Viveros as 'Ubaldo Piangi' and Hannah Florence as 'Meg Giry'.

The spectacular new production of Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will make its Twin Cities' premiere tonight, December 13, 2013 through January 5, 2014 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. With newly re-invented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM has been an enormous success since its U.K. unveiling in March 2012.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group present their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, which launched a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. Below, check out a look back at the launch festivities with the cast and crew at the Grand Ballroom of The Biltmore Hotel!

The start of the Friday, November 29th 2013 preview performance of The Phantom of the Opera at the Providence Performing Arts Center was delayed due to a technical malfunction affecting the automated machinery on stage. The mechanism was restored and the performance began one hour late.

The spectacular new production of Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will make its Twin Cities' premiere December 13, 2013 through January 5, 2014 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. With newly re-invented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM has been an enormous success since its U.K. unveiling in March 2012.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group present their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.

On Oct 29, award-winning composer/lyricist Bobby Cronin made his concert debut at 54 Below. The songs performed were selected from his musicals: W2ML (under a Broadway option), Sunset City (Running Deer Theatre Lab 2013), The Concrete Jungle (workshop March 2014), Daybreak (London's Tristan Bates Theatre 2012), and 'Til Death Do Us Part (2012 Alec Baldwin Fellowship Winner).

After many sold-out concerts throughout NYC and London (including Birdland, Joe's Pub, and headlining the Songbook Series at Lincoln Center & St. James Theatre), award-winning composer/lyricist Bobby Cronin made his full-concert 54 Below debut with songs from his musicals: W2ML (under a Broadway option), Sunset City (Running Deer Theatre Lab 2013), The Concrete Jungle (workshop March 2014), Daybreak (London's Tristan Bates Theatre 2012), and 'Til Death Do Us Part (2012 Alec Baldwin Fellowship Winner) on last night, October 29. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the concert event below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

After many sold-out concerts throughout NYC and London (including Birdland, Joe's Pub, and headlining the Songbook Series at Lincoln Center & St. James Theatre), award-winning composer/lyricist Bobby Cronin makes his full-concert 54 Below debut with songs from his musicals: W2ML (under a Broadway option), Sunset City (Running Deer Theatre Lab 2013), The Concrete Jungle (workshop March 2014), Daybreak (London's Tristan Bates Theatre 2012), and 'Til Death Do Us Part (2012 Alec Baldwin Fellowship Winner) on Tuesday, October 29th at 9 PM.

Just last week, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. Meet the cast below!

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group has announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.

Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group just announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.

After many sold-out concerts throughout NYC and London (including Birdland, Joe's Pub, and headlining the Songbook Series at Lincoln Center & St. James Theatre), award-winning composer/lyricist Bobby Cronin makes his full-concert 54 Below debut with songs from his musicals: W2ML (under a Broadway option), Sunset City (Running Deer Theatre Lab 2013), The Concrete Jungle (workshop March 2014), Daybreak (London's Tristan Bates Theatre 2012), and 'Til Death Do Us Part (2012 Alec Baldwin Fellowship Winner) on Tuesday, October 29th at 9 PM.

'The Pines,' the gay summer vacation destination off the coast of Long Island, is usually known more for groovy disco or throbbing dance music than for Opera, but this weekend, that will change when the Fire Island Opera Festival touches down in the whimsical beach community.

“The Pines,” the gay summer vacation destination off the coast of Long Island, is usually known more for groovy disco or throbbing dance music than for Opera, but August 23-25 that will change when the Fire Island Opera Festival touches down in the whimsical beach community.

Tony winner John Rando (Urinetown) will direct two private industry staged readings of Strange Faces, a new musical by Andrea Grody.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced today that due to inclement weather, The Public Theater Gala performance of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE will now happen on the rain date, Tuesday, June 11 at 8:00 p.m. at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. A stand-by line for tomorrow's concert performance will start forming at 6:00 p.m. with any available tickets given out just prior to curtain.

The CSC cast album of PASSION records today, May 13th, for a July 2nd release. The good news is that it will feature the entire cast, including Melissa Errico. Amy Justman has been filling in for Errico on stage.

Broadway veteran Stephen DeRosa currently appearing in HBO's Boardwalk Empire, and Mary Testa, whose Broadway credits include Guys and Dolls, Xanadu, Something Good, 42nd Street, Marie Christine, On the Town, Chicago, The Rink, Marilyn, Barnum and more, will be a part of An Evening of Firsts: Broadway's Finest Spill About Their First Time tonight, April 29th 7PM at Stage 72.