Andrew Jackson News

Let's take a trip back in time, shall we? The year was 1993 (or '94, or '95....'96?), I was 7 (or 8, or 9...10?) years old, and my parents took my sister and me to the Three Little Bakers dinner theater in Wilmington, Delaware, where 'Fiddler On The Roof' was playing. Unfortunately, I don't remember much about this experience other than that it was the first time I ever had a Shirley Temple, the waitress made me cry, and the line for the prime rib buffet was very long. This was, however, the first time those famous first strains of Jerry Bock's violin solo entered the back of my brain and psyche, and never left. Over the next several years, Fiddler lightly weaved its way in and out of my life: the occasional off key rendition of 'Sunrise, Sunset' at Jewish Community North, catching the film on AMC, and that community theatre production that my synagogue's men's club brought their families to (ironically enough, the girl playing Hodel ended up being my prom date). While at Juilliard, my best friend, Scott and I saw the 2004 revival together TWICE. Once with Alfred Molina, and another time with Harvey Fierstein and Rosie O'Donnell. For over a decade, it's been part of our rotation of inside jokes to cast Tevye and Golde with obscure and asinine choices of actors, then perform 'Do You Love Me', impersonating said actors (Keanu Reaves as Tevye and Paula Deen as Golde, anyone?). As an American suburban Jewish kid growing up in the late '90s/early 00's, Fiddler was just part of the narrative -- Chinese Food on Christmas.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced casting for its spring musical, Pump Boys and Dinettes. This Tony Award nominee features James Barry (Jim), Gabe Bowling (Jackson), Julie Foldesi (Prudie), Jason Ostrowski (L.M.), Alysha Umphress (Rhetta) and Sam Weber (Eddie).  Pump Boys and Dinettes is conceived and written by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann. Pump Boys and Dinettes will be directed by John Foley with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Pump Boys and Dinettes will run eight times a week at the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from April 6 through May 1, 2016. The official press opening night is Sunday, April 10, at 7:00pm. Paper Mill Playhouse's 2015-2016 Season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank.

The Almeida Theatre announces the cast for the world premiere of Boy, a new play by Leo Butler, directed by Sacha Wares. The cast is Mohammad Amiri, Osmain Baig, Ruby Bridle, Emilio Doorgasingh, Terina Drayton, Aeran Fitzgerald, Frankie Fox, Ellie Mai Gallagher, Bayleigh Gray, Zainab Hasan, Duramaney Kamara, Asiatu Koroma, Wendy Kweh, Lev Litvinov, Georgie Lord, Angel Loren, Teann McDonnell, Eugenie-Alexia Mulumba, Sarah Niles, Demi Papaminas, Imogen Roberts, Abdul Salis, Morgane Tapia,Peter Temple and Matthew Wellard. Boy will run at the Almeida Theatre from 5 April until 28 May, with a Press Night on 12 April.

Victoria Theatre Association has announced the full casting for the Dayton premiere of Premier Health Broadway Series presentation of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY starring Elizabeth Stanley (On the Town, Million Dollar Quartet) as Francesca and Andrew Samonsky (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, South Pacific) as Robert. THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY runs at the Benjamin & Marion Schuster Performing Arts Center, March 15-20. Tickets are on sale now at Ticket Center Stage, located in the WIntergarden of the Schuster Center, by calling 937-228-3630, toll-free 888-228-3630 or online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

AMERICAN PSYCHO, the American premiere of a new musical based on the iconic novel by Bret Easton Ellis, has announced that $19.89 tickets for six select preview performances will go on sale on Saturday, March 5th from 10:00 am - 12 Noon in-person only at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre box office (236 West 45th Street).

The brand new production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, premieres at Atlanta's Fox Theatre this week, March 1-6, 2016, as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2015/2016 season. 

Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel today announced casting for the Encores! production of 1776, the classic Tony Award-winning musical about how the founding fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence and gave birth to a new nation. 1776 will star Terence Archie, John Behlmann, Larry Bull, Nikki Renee Daniels, Andre De Shields, Macintyre Dixon, Santino Fontana, Alexander Gemignani, John Hickok, John Hillner, John Larroquette, Kevin Ligon, John-Michael Lyles, Laird Mackintosh, Michael McCormick, Michael Medeiros, Christiane Noll, Bryce Pinkham, Wayne Pretlow, Tom Alan Robbins, Robert Sella, Ric Stoneback, Jubilant Sykes, Vishal Vaidya, Nicholas Ward, and Jacob Keith Watson. 

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

In anticipation of the 88th Academy Awards, EL REY NETWORK provides movie fans with an inside look at the men behind three of this year's nominated films and film franchises with back-to-back installments of EL REY NETWORK PRESENTS: THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR, today, Sunday, February 28 at 4:30pm ET/PT until 8:30pm ET/PT.

Television and theater actor Jeff Hiller will lead a free acting masterclass on Sunday, February 28th sponsored by the non-for-profit group BROADWAY SINGS FOR PRIDE (www.BroadwaySingsForPride.com) and Sound of Port Richmond on Staten Island.  This special masterclass will take place at Wagner College at 2:00pm-3:30pm.  The event is primarily open to Sound of Port RIchmond and Wagner College alumni.

Ghostlight Records has released the original cast recording of the world premiere musical FIRST DAUGHTER SUITE -- written by Michael John LaChiusa and directed by Kirsten Sanderson -- in digital formats today, February 26. The physical CD will be online and in stores on Frida­­y, April 1.

The Fabulous Fox Theatre has announced the full casting for the St. Louis premiere of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY starring Elizabeth Stanley (On the Town, Million Dollar Quartet) as Francesca and Andrew Samonsky (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, South Pacific) as Robert.

Primary Stages and Rhoda R. Herrick in association with Hartford Stage, presents THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN, a New York premiere by Dan O'Brien (The Voyage of the Carcass, Soho Playhouse) and directed by Jo Bonney (Father Comes Home from the Wars..., Lost Girls).Featuring Michael Crane (Gloria, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) and Tony Award nominee Michael Cumpsty ('Boardwalk Empire,' Machinal, End of the Rainbow, 42nd Street), the limited engagement runs now through March 20, 2016 at Primary Stages at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Opening night is tonight, February 23 at 8PM.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

AMERICAN PSYCHO, the American premiere of a new musical based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis -- which celebrates the 25th anniversary of its publication this March -- has just begun rehearsals for Broadway. The new musical will begin performances at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) on Thursday, March 24, 2016. The Opening Night is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, 2016. BroadwayWorld sat in on rehearsal last week for a sneak peek and you can check out all of 'You Are What You Wear', as performed by  Helene York, Morgan Weed and company, below!

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced details for the second annual WOMEN IN THEATRE series. The event is presented under the auspices of Women of WaterTower Theatre (WOW!) and it is co-chaired by Karol Omlor and Andrea Redmon. This is the second lecture in the series (the first was held last year and featured female directors), and it will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm (with a post-lecture reception in the lobby with the artists). The event will be held in the Main Space at WaterTower Theatre. The lecture will be moderated by the Dallas Observer's Arts and Culture Editor Lauren Smart, and features Pam Dougherty, Jenny Ledel, Denise Lee, Sarah Elizabeth Smith and Wendy Welch.

America has had a long tragic history of sending brave young people off to foreign lands to fight in life-endangering wars, only to see those who have survived come home forever changed. This idea lingers over the new engaging musical DOGFIGHT, now having its Los Angeles/Orange County-area premiere at the Chance Theater in Anaheim through March 6. Adapted from the 1991 Warner Bros. film of the same name and featuring music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Peter Duchan, this 2013 Lucille Lortel Award-winning off-Broadway musical shows how even the most confident, self-assured people can still be severely affected not only physically but also emotionally by the harsh realities of explosive, in-the-trenches combat.

AMERICAN PSYCHO, the American premiere of a new musical based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis -- which celebrates the 25th anniversary of its publication this March -- has just begun rehearsals for Broadway. The new musical will begin performances at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) on Thursday, March 24, 2016. The Opening Night is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, 2016. BroadwayWorld sat in on rehearsal last week for a sneak peek and you can check out all of 'Cards', as performed by Benjamin Walker and company, below!

AMERICAN PSYCHO, the American premiere of a new musical based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis -- which celebrates the 25th anniversary of its publication this March -- has just begun rehearsals for Broadway. The new musical will begin performances at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) on Thursday, March 24, 2016. The Opening Night is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, 2016. BroadwayWorld sat in on rehearsal last week for a sneak peek and you can check out all of 'A Girl Before', as performed by Jennifer Damiano, below!

AMERICAN PSYCHO, the American premiere of a new musical based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis -- which celebrates the 25th anniversary of its publication this March -- has just begun rehearsals for Broadway. The new musical will begin performances at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) on Thursday, March 24, 2016. The Opening Night is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, 2016. BroadwayWorld sat in on rehearsal last week for a sneak peek and you can check out all of 'Selling Out' below!