Andrew Lippa News

Casting has been announced for the new musicals in development at Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Music Theater Conference later this month. Among the actors premiering new work are Adam Chanler-Berat, Erin Davie, Colin Hanlon, Kevin Mambo, Matt Von Roderick, Christina Sajous, and Remy Zaken.

The American Music Theatre Project At Northwestern University presents its 2016-2017 season, featuring new musicals from award-winning writers Adam Gwon, Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham, and Michael Mahler.

The cast of the new Off-Broadway revival of the hit musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown set down tracks for the new cast recording on Monday, June 13, 2016 at Avatar Studios. Broadway Records will release the 2016 Off-Broadway cast recording, now available for pre-order at broadwayrecords.com and Amazon, and will be available on iTunes and other retailers on September 16, 2016. Check out photos below!

Sound Theatre Company continues its tenth anniversary season with Stephen Adly Guirgis' expressionistic courtroom fantasy The Last Days of Judas Iscariot.  The Last Days of Judas Iscariot dramatizes a court case to decide the ultimate fate of Judas Iscariot which utilizes flashbacks, testimonials, and interrogations of such witnesses as Mother Teresa, Caiaphas, Saint Monica, Sigmund Freud, and Satan, among others.  The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is a hilarious, poignant, thought-provoking work by Pulitzer-prize winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Contains mature language.

The YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE announces the creative teams and casting for the two original book musicals, Blessing, music and lyrics by Andrew R. Butler and book by Andrew Farmer, and The White City, music by Avi Amon and book and lyrics by Julia Gytri, which will be developed in an intensive two-week summer lab at Yale School of Drama, June 13-25.

Just last night, Andy Blankenbuehler won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Choreography for Hamilton. His other Broadway credits include In the Heights (Tony, Outer Critics, Drama Desk Awards), Bring It On, 9 to 5, The People in the Picture, The Apple Tree, Annie. Check out what he had to say about his big win below!

Andy Blankenbuehler has won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Choreography for HAMILTON.

Big Fish - The Musical weaves together the tall tales and adventures of Edward Bloom.

11th Hour Theatre Company finishes its Next Step Concert Series with Andrew Lippa and John August's musical retelling of the wildly popular Daniel Wallace novel and Tim Burton movie, Big Fish. This concert performance runs June 18-20 at the Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street. Tickets cost $11-30 and are available online at www.11thhourtheatrecompany.org or by phone 267-987-9865.

COMING SOON: Hayes Theatre Company's Second Half Of 2016

When SPAMALOT opened on Broadway in 2005, I wasn't much of a Monty Python fan, but the buzz around town convinced me to go see the show before it eventually won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical. And even though a few jokes (and a cow) seemed to fly right over my head, when the British shtick met the high kicks and glitz, I caught myself laughing until I cried. The star-studded cast at Casa Manana, appearing only though June 12th, might miss a beat here or there throughout the evening, but they are so energetic and enthusiastic that the opening night audience couldn't help but love them.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) has announced that Vincent J. Cardinal, Connecticut Repertory Theatre Artistic Director and Head of the Department of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut will step down from his position at the end of July. Cardinal, who is departing at the conclusion of the popular 2016 Nutmeg Summer Series, will become the Arthur and Martha Hearron Endowed Professor of Musical Theatre, Chair of the Department of Musical Theatre and Professor of Music, School of Music Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan.

? Everyman Theatre is pleased to announce Noah Himmelstein as its first Associate Artistic Director. In this newly created position, Mr. Himmelstein will work closely with the creative team, shaping programming and expanding the organization's artistic reach in the region. Mr. Himmelstein's new role will officially begin on September 1, 2016.

Charles M. Schulz's classic 'inner child' characters are played by children in the York's sunny and sweet production.

The York Theatre Company, in association with Van Dean, Tony Heyes/Mia Moravis, Sister Productions/Jose Perez and Jamie deRoy presents YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, with book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner and additional material by Andrew Lippa and Michael Mayer. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

Today in 1971, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown opened at the John Golden Theatre, where it ran for 32 performances. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts. Directed by Joseph Hardy and with choreography by Patricia Birch, the 1971 cast included Grant Cowan as Snoopy and Dean Stolber as Charlie Brown.

Chicago's Sarah Siddons Society recently announced winners of their prestigious annual Actor of the Year Award to be presented on May 16, 2016 at Northwestern University's Pick Staiger Concert Hall. One of Broadway's most popular performers, Brian D'Arcy James, was the recipient. The event was co-sponsored by Northwestern's School of Communication, Barbara O'Keefe, Dean.

Alex Scolari always knew she wanted to perform. From the age of 5 she was performing in musical theatre productions in her community just outside Los Angeles. At the age of 9, she was competitively competing in dance with The Millennium Dance Complex's Junior Dance Company.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Interim Executive Director; David McCoy, Chairman of the Board), in association with Van Dean, Tony Heyes/Mia Moravis, Jose-Manuel Perez/Sister Productions and Jamie deRoy, announced today that the cast of the new Off-Broadway revival of the hit musical YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN will head into the studio to set down tracks for the new cast recording on Monday, June 13, 2016. Broadway Records will release the 2016 Off-Broadway cast recording, now available for pre-order at http://www.broadwayrecords.com and Amazon, and will be available on iTunes and other retailers on September 16, 2016.

A chance meeting at an opening night party changed the career of a young actor.