Andrew Lippa News

North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theatre is taking audiences back to the roaring 1920s with Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Originally performed Off-Broadway in 2000, The Wild Party is based on a long-form poem of the same name by Joseph Moncure March, published in 1928. The plot revolves around unsatisfied lovers Queenie and Burrs, and their subsequent love interests, Black and Kate. It begins as vaudeville couple Queenie and Burrs throw the titular party, as Queenie decides she needs to do something about Burrs' increasingly violent demeanor. The show progresses largely over the course of one roaring party featuring plenty of bathtub gin, a little bit of drugs, some violence for good measure, and plenty of partygoers who aren't sure what they really want.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center has launched an exciting new division of the National Theater Institute, the National Music Theater Institute (NMTI). An unparalleled program, NMTI is for driven students seeking a launching pad into the music theater profession through broad-based, ensemble training. Applications for the inaugural fall 2014 semester are due by March 20.

The 2013/2014 National Tour of the musical The Addams Family, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its McCallum Theatre premiere, as part of the Rabobank Broadway Blockbuster Series, for five performances, tonight, March 14, through Sunday, March 16. The Addams Family, which began performances on Broadway in March 2010 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ran through December 2011, immediately became one of Broadway's biggest hits. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune described the production as 'classic, full-tilt, fast paced, old-fashioned musical comedy!' and John Simon of Bloomberg News called it 'Uproarious! A glitzy-gloomy musical entirely worthy of the macabre drawings by Charles Addams.'

After a sold out presentation at Ars Nova's ANT Fest last June, DEBUTANTE. returns to New York City for its world premiere production. Written by Ryann Weir, created & directed by Annie Tippe and produced by Robb Nanus (Andrew Lippa's I Am Harvey Milk), the production will be staged at the Bernie Wohl Center (647 Columbus Avenue).

Adam Wachter's original musical Tarrytown will get a private industry reading on Monday, March 10th in New York City. Tarrytown is a one act present day musical loosely based on Washington Irving's 'The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.' Wachter has written the book, music & lyrics. Andrew Keenan-Bolger ('Submissions Only') directs.

Nice Swan Theatre Company will be one of the first in the UK to stage the musical version of the cult TV hit The Addams Family.

Students from the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) will perform in four nationally distributed choreography DVDs for the Music Theatre International (MTI) Broadway Junior collection of musicals. The news was announced today by Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) and educational musical theatre consultancy firm iTheatrics. iTheatrics, which is based in New York City, is producing the DVDs, which will feature original choreography by its chief choreographer, Steven G. Kennedy.

Ralph Macchio and Mario Cantone will headline the cast of a special industry reading of A Room of My Own, the anticipated new comedy written and directed by Charles Messina. Mr. Macchio and Mr. Cantone will be joined by a cast that includes Colin Critchley, Gina Ferranti, Kendra Jain, and Johnny Tammaro. The invitation only reading is set for Monday, March 17, 2014 on the Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street).

This March, April and May at 54 BELOW presents a lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

As same-sex marriages soon overtake churches and government halls in England and Wales, so too will British culture invade The Saban Theatre (8440 Wilshire Boulevard) in Beverly Hills as Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) presents 'God Save the Queen(s),' the second show of the Chorus's 35th season, on Saturday March 29, 2014 at 8 p.m. and Sunday March 30, 2014 at 3 p.m.

The Johnny Mercer Foundation and the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University will present the 9th Annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project. The weeklong songwriting workshop for emerging songwriters and writing teams will take place from June 22 through 28, on Northwestern's Evanston campus.

Musical Theatre West just announced yesterday that for its 2014-15 season of shows, they will be presenting the first production of the Broadway musical BIG FISH since its New York debut. The California show will also feature the original Broadway sets and costumes. BIG FISH will run October 31 - November 16, 2014. Based on the film by Tim Burton, the musical features music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by John August.

Broadway Gives Back and Seaview Productions presented the 'Second Annual Broadway Charity Songs' benefit concert on February 24, 2014. 'Broadway Charity Songs' has paired a group of award-winning musical theatre composers with a group outstanding charities and tasked them with composing an original song inspired by the work of that charity. The result is a group of songs gifted to the charities - with the hope that the songs 'go viral' -- increasing awareness for these outstanding organizations. Scroll down to watch all of the performances!

MUSICAL THEATRE WEST is thrilled to announce, in its 62nd consecutive year (making it one of the country's longest-running continuing musical theatre companies), some really 'Big' news for their audiences and subscribers! For their 2014-2015 season of shows, they will be presenting the first production of the Broadway musical, BIG FISH, since its New York debut with the original Broadway sets and costumes! Continuing with its 'Big' Broadway' season are three more smash-hit shows from the Great White Way - LES MISERABLES, SOUTH PACIFIC and SINGIN' IN THE RAIN! In its 62 years of producing extraordinary musical entertainment, there has never been a season this 'Enchanted' or this 'Big!'

Broadway Gives Back and Seaview Productions will present the "Second Annual Broadway Charity Songs" benefit concert. "Broadway Charity Songs" has paired a group of award-winning musical theatre composers with a group outstanding charities and tasked them with composing an original song inspired by the work of that charity. The result is a group of songs gifted to the charities - with the hope that the songs "go viral" -- increasing awareness for these outstanding organizations.

The 2013/2014 National Tour of the musical The Addams Family, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its McCallum Theatre premiere, as part of the Rabobank Broadway Blockbuster Series, for five performances, Friday, March 14, through Sunday, March 16. The Addams Family, which began performances on Broadway in March 2010 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ran through December 2011, immediately became one of Broadway's biggest hits. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune described the production as 'classic, full-tilt, fast paced, old-fashioned musical comedy!' and John Simon of Bloomberg News called it 'Uproarious! A glitzy-gloomy musical entirely worthy of the macabre drawings by Charles Addams.'

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre will present the fourth annual 'Night Of A Thousand Judys' on Monday, June 16. The Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan). Called 'a rambunctious, uproarious, unpredictable all-star concert' by The Wall Street Journal, 'Night Of A Thousand Judys' will honor the iconic Judy Garland with special skits, tributes and songs from her legendary career as movie star, recording artist and stage performer. This show will also help celebrate the landmark 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. There will be a pre-show VIP reception at 6:30 PM and the performance at 8:00 PM. The evening is written and hosted by Justin Sayre, and directed and choreographed by Jason Wise, with special guests to be announced. For more information, visit www.aliforneycenter.org/judys.

Broadway Gives Back and Seaview Productions will present the Second Annual 'Broadway Charity Songs!' 'Broadway Charity Songs' has paired a group of award-winning musical theatre composers with a group outstanding charities and tasked them with composing an original song that the prospective charity could use for fundraising purposes. The result is a group of songs gifted to the charities - with the hope that the songs 'go viral' -- increasing awareness for these outstanding organizations.

The splashy and showy musical adaptation of BIG FISH opened to mixed reviews on Broadway and let its final curtain fall sooner than many expected. The show was poised to be hit; however, with just one listen to Broadway Records' Original Cast Recording of BIG FISH and the faults that brought this giant to its knees begin to become apparent.

On April 17, Andrew Lippa's iconic musical The Wild Party is back and bigger than ever with a special concert at 54 Below. With the help of Charlie Rosen and his 17-piece Broadway Big Band, hearthe show's hits like never before. Join award-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa and some of Broadway's best as they reimagine and rediscover the score that started it all.