Andrew Ryan News

Broadway Sessions celebrates Syracuse U  this week, 5/17.

Broadway Sessions celebrates Syracuse U  this week, 5/17.

Tonight Leicester Comedy Festival hosted its annual award ceremony at The Haymarket Theatre (Leicester) honouring the comedians, venues and promoters that make the festival one of the largest and most successful in Europe. The ceremony was hosted by Mark Dolan and attended by Nicholas Parsons who collected the Legend of Comedy Award.  Previous legends have included Victoria Wood, Barry Cryer, Rik Mayall, Ken Dodd and Sir Norman Wisdom.

Direct from the pen of the bestselling author and acclaimed screenwriter Anthony Horowitz, Angela Browne and Tabs Productions present a mind-bending psychological thriller at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre this March.

Blurring the lines between jazz, classical, and folk music, this spectacularly virtuosic trio returns to Bainbridge to light their special brand of musical fireworks. 9 Horses is in concert one night only at BPA. Don't miss the Bainbridge stop on their national tour!

Blurring the lines between jazz, classical, and folk music, this spectacularly virtuosic trio returns to Bainbridge to light their special brand of musical fireworks. 9 Horses is in concert one night only at BPA. Don't miss the Bainbridge stop on their national tour!

'People will say we're in love' with this wild western cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved Oklahoma! Having directed last summer's hit Bye Bye Birdie Jenn Thompson returns to The Goodspeed to take on the show that changed American musicals forever. For the first time at Goodspeed, this country classic will welcome city slickers, cowboys and everyone in between! So kick up your boots and join us for this lively and legendary musical which runs July 14-September 23 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn [Official Press Opening will be August 2, 2017].

Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce that the first show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 97th season, their smash-hit, critically-acclaimed musical, HAIRSPRAY, book by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, musical direction by Michael Ferrara, directed and choreographed by Paula Hammons Sloan is EXTENDING through SATURDAY, AUGUST 5th at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

BWW speaks to Andrew Ryan about his 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe show Did You Get Here Alright?

GOOD MORNING, LAGUNA BEACH!  Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce the first show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 98th season with the effervescent musical, HAIRSPRAY, book by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, musical direction by Michael Ferrara and directed and choreographed by Paula Hammons Sloan. 'We are opening our season with just the perfect show for a Laguna Beach Summer,' comments Laguna Playhouse Executive Director Ellen Richard.  Adds Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham 'We welcome Paula Hammons Sloan and the 'nicest kids in town' back to our stage for this nostalgic musical confection. Talent abounds on our stage this Summer!'  HAIRSPRAY will begin previews on Wednesday, July 5; will open on Sunday, July 9 at 5:30pm and will run through Sunday, July 30, 2017 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

'People will say we're in love' with this wild western cast of Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved Oklahoma! Having directed last summer's hit Bye Bye Birdie Jenn Thompson returns to The Goodspeed to take on the show that changed American musicals forever. For the first time at Goodspeed, this country classic will welcome city slickers, cowboys and everyone in between! So kick up your boots and join us for this lively and legendary musical which runs July 14-September 23 at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn [Official Press Opening will be August 2, 2017].

The Syracuse University (SU) Department of Drama is performing the powerful and engaging music of German composer Kurt Weill in its production of Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill: A Musical Voyage at the Storch Theatre at Syracuse Stage. The entertaining production, directed by Syracuse University faculty member David Lowenstein, sets course from 1930s Berlin to 1950s America, the time in which Weill's avant-garde style and gorgeous music gained international fame.

The powerful music of German composer Kurt Weill comes to life in 'Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill: A Musical Voyage' performed by the Syracuse University Department of Drama.

Table Pounding Music is proud to present two benefit concerts for the American Civil Liberties Union, produced by Grammy-nominated clarinetist David Krakauer, pianist-composer Kathleen Tagg and Table Pounding Music on Saturday, April 15th at 7:30pm and Sunday, September 24th at 6pm. This all-star group of virtuosic, boundary-pushing New York City musicians share two common attributes: a quest for pushing outside the box in their respective genres, exploring what it means to be a musician from multiple different angles; and a desire to use their artistic voices to raise funds for the protection of civil liberties. One hundred percent of the artist fees will be donated to the ACLU. The concerts will take place at Symphony Space. Please see the lineup and further details below. A selection of tracks will be available to download for purchase and these revenues will also benefit the ACLU.

Sirena Huang (age 22 from the United States) has been named the First Prize Winner of the inaugural Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition. As first prize winner, Sirena Huang, receives a cash prize of $30,000 as well as a new violin, crafted by celebrated violin makers Feng Jiang, Jeffrey Phillips, Andrew Ryan and John Young; a Silver-mounted bow from Eric Lane; a coveted Musafia Case donated by Reuning and Son Violins, Inc.; a signed copy of "The American Violin" provided by Tucker Densley, Christopher Germain, Philip J. Kass, Darcy Kuronen, John Montgomery and P. Dameron Midgett, IV; and a $250 gift certificate given by International Violin Company. Additionally, the first prize winner will receive public relations and artist management support, with future performances with the following orchestras and festivals: Atlantic Classical Orchestra, Fort Pierce, FL; Bach, Beethoven and Brahms Society, Brookline, MA; Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne, FL; Music in the Mountains, Durango, CO; and Newport Music Festival, Newport, RI, among others

If there is one sure sign that Christmas has truly arrived, it's the inescapable onslaught of the pantomime season. Theatres across the country ring to the shouts of 'he's behind you', the boos and hisses, and the singalong family favourites. Often acclaimed as the UK's biggest pantomime, Birmingham Hippodrome present a first class production every single year, and 2016 is no exception. The magical pantomime adventure Dick Whittington stars John Barrowman as the eponymous hero, alongside Steve McFadden (King Rat), Jodie Prenger (Fairy Bowbells) and The Krankies. 

To celebrate the opening of Dick Whittington in Birmingham, principal cast members JOHN BARROWMAN, STEVE MCFADDEN, THE KRANKIES, JODIE PRENGER, MATT SLACK, ANDREW RYAN and DANIELLE HOPE took to the Birmingham Hippodrome stage for a fairy-tale appearance earlier this afternoon in countdown to the opening performance at 2.30pm on Monday 19 December. Scroll down for photos!

With panto season just around the corner, Birmingham Hippodrome has today announced details of a new fundraising campaign which aims to raise over £12,000 to help support its growing programme of Relaxed Performances for audiences with special access needs and complex learning disabilities in 2017.

With less than one month to go until the opening of Birmingham's favourite pantomime, Qdos Entertainment and Birmingham Hippodrome are delighted to announce that West End actress and singer DANIELLE HOPE will join JOHN BARROWMAN, STEVE MCFADDEN, THE KRANKIES, JODIE PRENGER and MATT SLACK in this year's magical, festive production of Dick Whittington from Mon 19 Dec 2016 - Sun 29 Jan 2017. 

Soap star royalty arrived in Birmingham this week as Britain's favourite soap baddie, Steve McFadden paid an exclusive visit to the city's premiere theatre in countdown to the arrival of Birmingham's biggest panto!