Anthony Festa News

MISS SAIGON, the tragic love story of a Vietnamese woman who falls in love with an American GI during the Vietnam War, is certainly not short on drama. Based on Puccini's Madame Butterfly, this retelling focuses both on the love affair between the two main characters, but also the horror of war and desperate hope to better one's circumstances. This is one of the most elaborate sets this reviewer has ever seen, and the drama almost takes a backseat to the phenomenal technical and sound design. This new tour, from the 2017 revival, features some outstanding vocal performances, but also doesn't try to hide away or reconcile previously controversial content.

The North American tour of Miss Saigon launched this week at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI. Check out photos from the red carpet below!

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: the cast recording of Pretty Woman is now available, the National Tour of Miss Saigon launches today, and more!

The national tour of Miss Saigon is preparing to fly into theaters across North America. BroadwayWorld was invited inside the rehearsal room to film a few numbers. Watch below!

The national tour of Miss Saigon has begun its rehearsals. BroadwayWorld caught up with the company as they prepare to bring their moving story to audiences across the country. Watch below!

The national tour of Miss Saigon has begun its rehearsals. The cast and creative team met the press recently, and BroadwayWorld was there! Check out the photos below.

Desperate Measures, the new musical comedy gone wild with music by David Friedman (Listen To My Heart), book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg (Anna Karenina),and directed by Bill Castellino (Cagney, Marry Harry) has announced a new block of tickets, now on sale through October 28 for the open ended run.  

Casting for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schonberg's legendary musical MISS SAIGON-a smash hit in London, Broadway and currently breaking box office records on a national tour in the U.K.-has been announced for its much-anticipated upcoming Chicago engagement at Broadway In Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph) for a limited engagement November 13 through December 8, 2018.

Casting for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schonberg's legendary musical MISS SAIGON-a smash hit in London, Broadway, and currently breaking box office records on a national tour in the U.K.-has been announced for its much-anticipated upcoming North American tour which launches in Providence, RI at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) September 21 - 30, 2018. In Providence, MISS SAIGON is part of the Taco/White Family Foundation Broadway Series.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: stars from Frozen, Aladdin, and The Lion King will perform at today's Broadway in Bryant Park, and more!

Casting for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Boublil and Schonberg's legendary musical MISS SAIGON-a smash hit in London, Broadway and currently breaking box office records on a national tour in the U.K.-has been announced for its much-anticipated upcoming North American tour which launches at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI September 21-30, 2018.

The Original Cast Recording from the hit musical comedy Desperate Measures is available digitally today from Masterworks Broadway, with the CD set for release August 10. With music by David Friedman (Listen to My Heart) and lyrics by Peter Kellogg (Anna Karenina), the album is produced by Robert Sher with liner notes by Peter Filichia. Described by the Huffington Post as 'a good old-fashioned musical comedy... a happy surprise of a show filled with enjoyable songs,' Desperate Measures is currently running at New World Stages in New York City.

The Off Broadway Alliance, an organization of Off-Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing professionals, just presented the 8th Annual Off-Broadway Alliance Awards, honoring commercial and not-for-profit productions that opened Off-Broadway during the 2017-2018 season. Winners included: Desperate Measures (Best New Musical), Transfers (Best New Play), The Government Inspector (Best Revival), KPOP (Best Unique Theatrical Experience), Billy Crudup, Harry Clarke (Best Solo Performance), Polka Dots: The Cool Kids Musical(Best Family Show). 

Desperate Measures is currently playing at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues), and features: Gary Marachek (Eleanor) as Father Morse, Lauren Molina(Rock of Ages) as Bella Rose, Sarah Parnicky (Show Boat at Houston Grand Opera) as Susanna/Sister Mary Jo, Conor Ryan ('Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert') as Johnny Blood, Peter Saide (Skin Tight) as Sheriff Green, and Nick Wyman (Les Miserables) as Governor von Richterhenkenpflichtgetruber with Anthony Festa (Bare at New World Stages), Celia Hottenstein(The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary National Tour) and Tom Souhrada (Kinky Boots).

Desperate Measures is a hilarious new musical that tells the tale of Johnny Blood, a handsome young man whose life is in danger over a saloon brawl. Set in the early 1890's, Johnny must put his fate into the hands of a colorful cast of characters including a wily sheriff, an eccentric priest, a authoritarian governor, a saloon girl gone good, and a nun out of the habit- as they all struggle to decide Johnny's fate.  Laws are broken and hearts are won as they try to find justice in a world that often doesn't seem just. Sound familiar?

Desperate Measures, now playing at New World Stages, opens tomorrow, Wednesday, June 13.

Desperate Measures, a new musical comedy gone wild with music by David Friedman(Listen To My Heart), book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg (Anna Karenina), and directed by Bill Castellino(Cagney, Marry Harry) is one of the most winning off-Broadway shows of the year. TV and current star of Amy and the Orphans, Jamie Brewer, stopped by for a visit with the cast backstage. Check out photos below.

Desperate Measures, a new musical comedy gone wild with music by David Friedman (Listen To My Heart), book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg (Anna Karenina), and directed by Bill Castellino(Cagney, Marry Harry) is one of the most winning off-Broadway shows of the year.

Beginning performances at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues), for an open-ended engagement beginning May 30 with opening night set for June 13, Desperate Measures features: Gary Marachek (Eleanor) as Father Morse, Lauren Molina (Rock of Ages) as Bella Rose, Sarah Parnicky (Show Boat at Houston Grand Opera) as Susanna/Sister Mary Jo, Conor Ryan ('Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert') as Johnny Blood, Peter Saide (Skin Tight) as Sheriff Green, Nick Wyman (Les Miserables) as Governor von Richterhenkenpflichtgetruber and Anthony Festa, Celia Hottenstein, and Tom Souhrada.