Andy Christopher News

The Ivoryton Playhouse opens its 2019 season with a dazzling parade of hits by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David in the musical comedy BURT & ME by Larry McKenna. This coming-of-age story is narrated by Joe who tells the story of his obsession with the music of Burt Bacharach alongside his high school romance with Lacey. The old story of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again, develops a new life in this nostalgic paean to the music and culture of America in the seventies.

The Ivoryton Playhouse opens its 2019 season with a dazzling parade of hits by the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David in the musical comedy BURT & ME by Larry McKenna. This coming-of-age story is narrated by Joe who tells the story of his obsession with the music of Burt Bacharach alongside his high school romance with Lacey. The old story of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again, develops a new life in this nostalgic paean to the music and culture of America in the seventies.

The legendary Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to announce a sensational lineup of shows for audiences in 2019. For the first time in over a decade the Playhouse will stage a non-musical play in addition to five musicals, including the return of the multi-Tony Award-winning, international sensation Jersey Boys; the quintessential tap dancing extravaganza 42nd Street; and the iconic and powerful jazz musical Cabaret. The play that will ignite the stage with murder and mystery is the beloved Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express. Closing out the season is a hilarious musical comedy that will be announced soon and a Tony Award-winning, smash hit musical which will be announced in May.

Following the record-breaking box-office success of "Million Dollar Quartet," Bucks County Playhouse will present for the third time its signature production of "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" beginning Friday, February 8 through Sunday, March 3. The Playhouse's Executive Producer Robyn Goodman, Producing Director Alexander Fraser and Producers Stephen Kocis and Joshua Fiedler announced final casting for the production, that will once again be directed by Hunter Foster (BCP's "Million Dollar Quartet" and "42nd Street"), and choreographed by Lorin Latarro (Broadway's "Waitress"), both of whom are also Bucks County Playhouse Artistic Associates.

Maine seems to be enjoying a theatrical renaissance with large and small companies vigorously engaged in producing a wide range of repertoire throughout the state. Several of the leading professional theatres have become destinations in and of themselves - (witness the inclusion of Maine State Music Theatre and Ogunquit Playhouse in Scott Andrews' upcoming book, Vacationland) - while venerable community groups continue to raise the bar for their work. I am privileged to get to sample these performances as Broadway World's Maine editor and to be able to compare many of them favorably with shows I see across the country, in New York and London. These are my personal choices of the best in Maine for 2018, grouped by theatre company and show. MAINE STATE MUSIC THEATRE delivered a 60th anniversary season that redefined the meaning and substance of 'gala.'

The multi-Tony Award-winning, international sensation that took Broadway and the world by storm, makes its Northeast premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse, on stage through October 28. Get a first look at the cast in action below!

The multi-Tony Award-winning, international sensation that took Broadway and the world by storm, makes its Northeast premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse, on stage through October 28. Get a first look at the cast in action below!

The rise of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is played out in Jersey Boys.

The multi-Tony Award-winning, international sensation that took Broadway and the world by storm, makes its Northeast premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse, on stage through October 28. Get a first look at the cast in action below!

The multi-Tony Award-winning, international sensation makes its Northeast premiere at the Ogunquit Playhouse, on stage September 5 through October 28. Jersey Boys takes audiences on an exhilarating journey behind the music of mega-stars Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

The Arts and Education Council (A&E) will celebrate the region's vibrant arts community when a diverse lineup of entertainment takes the stage at the 27th annual St. Louis Arts Awards on January 22 at the Chase Park Plaza. With acts ranging from jazz violin to dance to musical theater, the 2018 awards will have something for everyone in the audience to enjoy.

Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents a 75th Anniversary concert of Irving Berlin's This is the Army on Veterans Day, November 11 at 9:30 PM. Irving Berlin's This is the Army - performed for the first time since World War II - weaves songs from the musical with a behind-the-curtain story of the soldiers involved.

This November, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents a 75th Anniversary concert of Irving Berlin's This is the Army on Veterans Day, November 11 at 9:30 PM. Irving Berlin's This is the Army - performed for the first time since World War II - weaves songs from the musical with a behind-the-curtain story of the soldiers involved.

BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY is the multi- award winning, worldwide smash hit musical celebration of the life and tragic death of Buddy Holly who shot to stardom in 1957. This rockin' musical plays June 27-July 9.

Working up your strategy for how to win the Hamilton? lottery? Fantasizing over the cute puppy you saw at Broadway Barks? Didn't have time check in on all of the latest Broadway news? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.' Highlights from this week include a first look at THE WILD PARTY, AMAZING GRACE and Benedict Cumberbatch and so much more!

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Rhode Island, Westchester, Chicago and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include GYPSY in Rhode Island, GODSPELL in Westchester, and GRAND CONCOURSE in Chicago, just to name a few.

I think that nearly every review of the MUNY's extraordinary production of BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY will probably make mention of Don McLean's song 'American Pie', which is lyrically centered around the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of three of music's rising stars one very cold day in February of 1959. In fact, 'the day the music died' has become a rather morbid catchphrase of sorts that has been utilized far too often by the media whenever an iconic musician passes on. I also believe I'm not alone in my assessment that this early'jukebox' musical is an absolutely terrific show that's immensely entertaining. I not only highly recommend this excellent show, but am branding it as a must see production!

The Muny presents Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story through July 20 at Forest Park. Written by Alan Janes, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story is directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, choreographed byJosh Walden and music directed by Michael Horsley. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside the opening night cast party!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Sutton Foster gets wild at Encores! tonight, Jennifer Holliday heads to Texas, and Broadway remembers Roger Rees!