Anthony Rapp News

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the lineup of special events, concerts, student productions, and free developmental readings for its 10th annual festival. The festival also announced three additional full productions. This year's Festival will begin July 8th and continue through July 28th.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents a one-night, 20th anniversary performance of the landmark show THE NIGHT Larry Kramer KISSED ME at 8 pm on Monday, May 20 at the Gerard W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street, NYC). The cast met the press earlier today and you can check out a preview below. Check back later for full coverage!

BroadwayWorld recently got to chat with Claybourne Elder, who plays Michael Victor in the musical, about the show's unique sound, collaborating with his fellow castmates, upcoming projects, and so much more. Elder last appeared at The Public in Road Show and recently appeared on Broadway in Bonnie and Clyde. His additional Off-Broadway credits include One Arm, for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk award.

Rent is Jonathan Larson's musical about a group of friends struggling to make ends meet. In his critically acclaimed show, he tells the story of love, loss, and struggle. Larson tells the story through the experiences and relationships of his colorful and complex characters whom audiences have grown to know and love. In the Lower Ossington Theatre's production of this award winning show, these iconic characters are portrayed to a tee. The production manages to stay true to the legendary show while also taking artistic license. While elements of the show, especially characterization, mirrors the original, the main place where artistic license is taken is with the character of Roger.

ZACH Theatre has announced its 2013-14 season-the second in the acclaimed new Topfer Theatre-with a lineup of six plays and musicals chosen to build on the dynamic and intimate experiences audiences are enjoying in this spectacular first season.

StageLight Entertainment will present A Musical Theater Master Class with Anthony Rapp (Broadway RENT, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown) at The BACCA Center, 149 Wellwood Ave, Lindenhurst NY, on Saturday May 18th at 7pm.

Celebrity Cruises today announced an exclusive partnership with Manhattan's noted '54 Below,' which will bring guests on Celebrity's newly 'Solsticized' Celebrity Summit the rare opportunity to enjoy entertainment by some of Broadway's brightest stars while sailing to the pink-sand paradise of Bermuda. Broadway stars will light up the stage of Celebrity Summit during its Bermuda vacation season from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), NJ, from this Sunday, May 5, through October 2013.

Bay Area Cabaret will conclude its 2012-2013 season by honoring the memory and legendary career of composer Marvin Hamlisch. Selections from his work (A Chorus Line, The Way We Were, They're Playing Our Song) will be performed by special guests including Broadway stars Lisa Vroman (The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd) and Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard), Grammy Award winner Billy Stritch, 2012 Bay Area Teen Idol winner Bobby Conte Thornton, Academy Award-winning songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman, and other guest artists to be announced. Having performed with Bay Area Cabaret for the grand re-opening of the Venetian Room in 2010, Mr. Hamlisch will always hold a special place in Bay Area Cabaret's history. This tribute to his legacy will take place on the late composer's 69th birthday, Sunday, June 2, 2013, at 8pm in the historic Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco (950 Mason Street). Tickets ($75 - $100) are available at www.bayareacabaret.org or by phone at City Box Office (415) 392-4400.

A team of nearly 100 stars from Broadway, film, television, and music will cast, write, compose, direct, rehearse, tech, and perform four original musicals - all in the obscenely short time between an evening meet-and-greet today, April 28 and show time on Monday, April 29 at 8pm. The 24 Hour Company is teaming with the Exchange, an off-Broadway theater company, to create the fifth-ever 24 Hour Musicals. The event benefits the Exchange's summer retreat, The Orchard Project, which kick-starts innovative new theatrical work from around the world.

As part of their Emerging Artist Program, Royal Family Productions will present selections from Jon Lipsky's Walking the Volcano, directed by Rachael Harrington as a benefit on Monday, May 13, 2013 at 8:30PM. Walking the Volcano will take place at the Peter Norton Symphony Space (2537 Broadway). Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by visiting: symphonyspace.org or calling 212-864-5400.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director) and its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series have announced the next three offerings: Analog & Vinyl, License to Marry and MR. Confidential.

Tonight, April 22nd, Our Time - a non-profit organization that has been helping children who stutter for over a decade - will hold its 11th Annual Benefit Gala, Worth the Wait, celebrating the bravery and achievements of young people who stutter as well as those who inspire their success.

A team of nearly 100 stars from Broadway, film, television, and music will cast, write, compose, direct, rehearse, tech, and perform four original musicals - all in the obscenely short time between an evening meet-and-greet on Sunday, April 28 and show time on Monday, April 29 at 8pm. The 24 Hour Company is teaming with the Exchange, an off-Broadway theater company, to create the fifth-ever 24 Hour Musicals. The event benefits the Exchange's summer retreat, The Orchard Project, which kick-starts innovative new theatrical work from around the world.

Each year, United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, nominates artists for its special uAward. This honor recognizes those with outstanding achievements in popularizing the form of solo performance. A resident company at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York City, United Solo has nominated several artists for its special 2013 uAward.

ZACH Theatre - Austin's Theatre and Texas' longest running theatre, in its 80th anniversary season and second season in the new Topfer, presents TOP Concerts at ZACH -a new and exciting musical series featuring top Broadway, film and television stars up close and personal in the intimate Topfer Theatre.

Ghostlight Records has announced the digital release of THE JOE ICONIS ROCK AND ROLL JAMBOREE today, April 16, 2013. The new album is a collection of songs performed by Joe and his merry band of musical theater misfits. Epic theater ballads, simple folk songs, heavy rock rave-ups and bar room sing-alongs coexist in this eclectic, borderline-insane line up of tunes. The album will be available through all digital music outlets.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents a one-night, 20th anniversary performance of the landmark show THE NIGHT LARRY KRAMER KISSED ME at 8 pm on Monday, May 20 at the Gerard W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College (524 West 59th Street, NYC).