Arthur Laurents News

Let us entertain you with one of America's most beloved classic musicals! March brings the dazzling stage hit Gypsy to the Maltz Jupiter Theatre's stage. Inspired by the memoirs of the legendary burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee, this story follows the dreams and efforts of a powerhouse stage mother to get her two daughters into show business. Scroll down for a first look at Vicki Lewis and more in action!

The New York Times today announced that Jesse Green has been named co-chief theater critic.

Joe Brancato was a high school English and drama teacher in 1977 when he peered into an abandoned 1880's hay barn in Stony Point, New York, and visualized his future: a theatre of his own.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston announces 5 of 7 plays for its 2017-18 Season, Spiro Veloudos's 20th Season as Producing Artistic Director.   

Powerful, poignant and timely as ever, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fourth show of its 2016-2017 season, the most acclaimed musical of all time, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, music by Leonard Bernstein with musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by John Todd and directed by Ovation award-winner Richard Israel.

Theater Works 2017-18 season sees the return of lauded composers, masterful writers and classic tales come to life.

Let us entertain you with one of America's most beloved classic musicals!

On this day in 1999, Richard Chamberlain and Laura Benanti joined the cast of the Broadway revival of The Sound of Music as the new Captain Von Trapp and Maria Rainer, succeeding Michael Siberry and Rebecca Luker in the roles. The two continued in the roles through the production's closing on June 20. 1999, after 533 performances.

As the world prepares for the Centennial of legendary American composer Leonard Bernstein this August, La Mirada Theatre and VPAC present perhaps his greatest musical and one of the most memorable love stories of all time, WEST SIDE STORY. Director Richard Israel shares his vision for the production, as powerful, poignant, and timely as ever, with the thrilling Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim score including "Tonight," "Maria," "America" and the classic "Somewhere" remaining one of the best ever written. In it, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is transported to modern-day New York City with two lovers, Tony and Maria, caught between warring street gangs; the Italian-American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. Their struggle to survive in a world of hate, violence, and prejudice is one of the most innovative, heart-wrenching and relevant musical dramas of our time.

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts is excited to present West Side Story, April 4-16.

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport has announced its 2017-2018 Season.

Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates Black History Month with THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH, starring singer and actress Miche Braden of the original Off-Broadway production (named one of the 10 Best Off-Broadway productions of the year by the N.Y. Daily Times). Described by CBC as a, "bawdy, bluesy, boozy rollicking night out at the theatre," the show follows the life, loves and career of blues and jazz singer Bessie Smith, called the "Empress of the Blues." 

Jakarta Performing Arts Community presents WEST SIDE STORY, May 12-14, 2017.

WEST SIDE STORY is historically one of the most important of American musicals, with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Its conception as a heavy dance piece came from original choreographer and director Jerome Robbins and is loosely based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The show also marked Sondheim's Broadway debut. With its dark subject matter, focusing on social problems, and sophisticated score, the show was a turning point in American Musical Theatre. Bernstein's score includes 'Something's Coming', 'Maria', 'Somewhere', 'Tonight', 'I Feel Pretty', and 'One Hand, One Heart', all of which have become part of the Great American Songbook. The original production was nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Musical in 1957. It was turned into a film in 1961, ultimately winning ten Oscars, including Best Picture.

Grant Almirall, star of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, joins the superb cast of the Fugard Theatre's smash hit musical, WEST SIDE STORY, at the Joburg Theatre until 5 March 2017.

George Street Playhouse has announced that its Annual Gala Benefit - a one-of-a-kind evening featuring stars of Broadway, film and television - will take place Sunday, April 2, 2017, 5 pm, at The Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick. This year, George Street Playhouse honors one of its own as David Saint will receive the Arthur Laurents Award for Distinguished Artistic Achievement in celebration of his 20th season as the Playhouse's Artistic Director.

The sun will come out today because the Tony Award winning composer of Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, Annie, and countless others, Charles Strouse is back to discuss his life after being anointed Broadway's Golden Boy (pun, intended).

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will celebrate Black History Month with the rarely produced HALLELUJAH, BABY!. The one-night-only concert event took place at Glendale's historic Alex Theatre yesterday, February 12, 2017 at 7:00 PM with original cast members Frieda Payne and Robert Hooks in attendance. Scroll down for photos!

The Fugard Theatre's grand-scale, smash hit, all South African production of WEST SIDE STORY is currently running at the Joburg Theatre's Mandela Theatre in Johannesburg, presented by Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre.

Anyone Can Whistle is a rare combination of a well-deserved flop and a must-see show. Swallow the myriad flaws, and its an entertaining, sharp and eerily prophetic show.