Ann Reinking News

Olympics Gold Medallist Robin Cousins stars on the West End stage as Billy Flynn in the musical CHICAGO at the Garrick Theatre from tonight, 17 July, 10 days ahead of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. He will be in the show until 8 September, the day before the final day of the Paralympics.

According to the Daily Mail, Chicago will close at the West End's Garrick Theatre after a 15-year revival run on September 1, 2012.

Yee-haw! It's time to start two-steppin' and boot-scootin' in the aisles, as Signature Theatre kicks off its 2012/13 season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, beginning performances on Tuesday, August 14.

Virginia's Signature Theatre is heating up once again this summer with their annual Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret, a series featuring a number of red hot acts from some of our favorite DC and Broadway performers from tonight, July 11th through July 28th.

Virginia's Signature Theatre is heating up once again this summer with their annual Sizzlin' Summer Cabaret, a series featuring a number of red hot acts from some of our favorite DC and Broadway performers from July 11th through July 28th.

With less than a month to go until the Team GB Synchronised Swimming Team take the plunge in London 2012, its mentor and Olympic gold medallist, Robin Cousins, starts rehearsals for his own starring role as Billy Flynn in CHICAGO at the Garrick Theatre, which he'll be performing for a limited season from 17 July.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning legend famous for his performances starring in the original Broadway productions of PIPPIN and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, as well as his celebrated turns in stage and screen projects as diverse as ALL THAT JAZZ, SWEET CHARITY, CHICAGO, FOSSE, WICKED, GRIND, ROOTS, I'M NOT RAPPAPORT, GOLDEN BOY, IDLEWILD, FUNNY LADY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and many more - the simply incredible Ben Vereen. Discussing many of his most fondly remembered roles and recounting his experiences working with many legendary directors and collaborators - Bob Fosse, Hal Prince, Tom O'Horgan, Herbert Ross, Ann Reinking, Dan Sullivan, Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli and many more among them - Vereen paints a vivid picture of a bygone Broadway and reminisces about many of the most significant theatrical creators of the past fifty years and his roles in their stage and film projects. Additionally, Vereen fills us in on what we can expect from his upcoming solo spotlight show - a career retrospective - that will be kicking off at 54 Below on July 10 for a two-week engagement before an even larger, Broadway-bound mounting later this year at Princeton. Also, Vereen elaborates on the causes closest to his heart, shares thoughts on GLEE and SMASH, future plans and much, much more!

Continuing in its ongoing efforts of supporting new musical theater works, Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director of Signature Theatre, announced today that the Tony Award®-winning theatre is commissioning two new musicals under Signature's American Musical Voices Project (AMVP): The Next Generation. Composers Joshua Rosenblum (Einstein's Dreams, Fermat's Last Tango) and Josh Schmidt (Adding Machine, A Minister's Wife) will be creating new musicals for future seasons at Signature. In December of 2011, Mr. Rosenblum and Mr. Schmidt were awarded "honoree grants" and shared selections from projects in development at a special performance held at Signature Theatre.

With only one day to go before the big day on CBS at 8 PM tomorrow, today we are shining a spotlight on a currently-running Broadway musical that has recently become the longest-running American musical in Broadway history - beating even the champ, A CHORUS LINE - John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's landmark 1920s vaudeville satire CHICAGO.

On Tuesday, July 10, 2012, the acclaimed record-breaking revival of the Tony Award-winning musical CHICAGO welcomes Japanese superstar Ryoko Yonekura in her Broadway stage debut as merry murderess Roxie Hart. She will play an exclusive one-week engagement through Sunday, July 15 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.).

The Fountain Theatre's acclaimed Forever Flamenco! series presents Arte y Pureza Flamenco Company in "Quien Yo Soy" ("This Is Me"), fusing flamenco and jazz at The Fountain Theatre tonight, May 27 at 8 pm. Forever Flamenco! is produced by Deborah Lawlor, who created the esteemed Flamenco program at the Fountain more than 20 years ago and has established it as the foremost venue of Flamenco in Los Angeles.

The 20th Anniversary season of New York City Center's Tony Award-winning Encores! series will open on January 30, 2013 with Fiorello!, the show that launched the series in 1994. The season will continue with It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman, followed by On Your Toes. A Gala Encores! at 20 Celebration on November 12, 2012 will star Tony Award nominees and Encores! alumni Rauil Esparza and Kelli O'Hara.

The six-time Tony-winning 1996 Revival of CHICAGO is still earning cheers and packing in audiences both on Broadway (now in its 16th year!) and its still-running national tour--the latter of which has shimmied its way back to L.A. for a return engagement at the Pantages Theatre through May 27. This time, supermodel Christie Brinkley is on board as Roxie Hart. Though it's quite hard not to ignore our lead star's weaker chops, you will no doubt be floored by the incredible, top-notch talent that hovers all around her.

Life is imitating art for leading man Raza Jaffrey, as CHICAGO producer, Barry Weissler spotted him in the new Steven Spielberg TV series Smash, and immediately offered him the role of Billy Flynn in the West End production of the musical. He just began his run in CHICAGO at the Garrick Theatre and will continue through July 14, playing the role between David Bedella, and Olympian Robin Cousins, who joins on 17 July.

Life is imitating art for leading man Raza Jaffrey, as CHICAGO producer, Barry Weissler spotted him in the new Steven Spielberg TV series Smash, and immediately offered him the role of Billy Flynn in the West End production of the musical. He stars in CHICAGO at the Garrick Theatre from tonight, 16 May to 14 July, playing the role between present Billy, David Bedella, who left the cast on 12 May, and Olympian Robin Cousins, who joins on 17 July.

The Fountain Theatre's acclaimed Forever Flamenco! series presents Arte y Pureza Flamenco Company in "Quien Yo Soy" ("This Is Me"), fusing flamenco and jazz at The Fountain Theatre on Sunday, May 27 at 8 pm. Forever Flamenco! is produced by Deborah Lawlor, who created the esteemed Flamenco program at the Fountain more than 20 years ago and has established it as the foremost venue of Flamenco in Los Angeles.

The critically acclaimed Kander & Ebb musical CHICAGO is back in San Diego with Christie Brinkley as Roxie Hart! CHICAGO is playing at the San Diego Civic Theatre through Sunday, May 13th.

After her critically-acclaimed debut as Roxie Hart on Broadway and in London's West End, Christie Brinkley will make her Broadway tour debut this spring as she reprises her killer role in the six-time Tony Award-winning musical smash hit CHICAGO. Also joining the cast is star of 'Seinfeld' and 'Family Feud', John O'Hurley as Billy Flynn. This killer show will play at the San Diego Civic Theatre tonight, May 8 through May 13, 2012. Tickets are available now.

Signature Theatre closes out its 2011/12 season sporting funky legwarmers and wielding neon glow sticks with the Washington premiere of the musical comedy hit Xanadu. Beginning performances tonight, May 6th, Xanadu will be transforming Signature's MAX Theatre into one big disco-ball heaven - complete with satin shorts and roller skates! Nominated for four Tony Awards® (including "Best Musical"), the musical features a Book by Douglas Carter Beane, with Music and Lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. Xanadu will play at Signature from tonight, May 6, 2012 through July 1, 2012. Tickets are now on sale.

Princeton's own Bebe Neuwirth headlines McCarter Theatre Center's Annual Gala Benefit tonight, May 5, 2012.