Arthur Laurents News

Jonathan Kent's critically acclaimed production of Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton as the indomitable Rose today announces an extension to the run at the Savoy Theatre with booking now to 28 November 2015. Kent's production originally opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre in October last year with the West End transfer opening last week when the production received a second set of five star reviews.

Ready or not, here comes Imelda! Gypsy's long overdue to the West End is a no-holds-barred triumph, with a talented cast led by powerhouse Imelda Staunton, immaculate direction and precise design. It is hard to imagine theatre better than this.

Gypsy is a 1959 musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Gypsy is loosely based on the 1954 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist, and focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with 'the ultimate show business mother.' It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The character of Louise is based on Lee, and the character of June is based on Lee's sister, the actress June Havoc.

Gypsy opened in the West End last night, Tuesday 15 April 2015 at the Savoy Theatre, London. Directed by Jonathan Kent with book by Arthur Laurents, Gypsy has music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, choreography by Stephen Mear, designs by Anthony Ward, musical direction and orchestration by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Groothuis.

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, based on a concept by Jerome Robbins with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, directed and choreographed by Barry McNabb and musical direction by Ryan Edward Wise. The show runs now through July 5th, 2015 and officially opens tonight, April 16th, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

The first production to be seen in London for forty years in a strictly limited season, GYPSY opens at the Savoy Theatre tonight 15 April 2015. Imelda Staunton, who stars as the indomitable Momma Rose in the West End transfer of Jonathan Kent's production of GYPSY, is joined by Lara Pulver and Gemma Sutton, who reprise the roles of Louise and June respectively in the five star Chichester Festival Theatre production, while Peter Davison joins the cast to play Herbie.

Today we are shining a spotlight on some rarely discussed and unusual connections between the world of William Shakespeare and theatrical pop culture at large. Given the wide breadth of material contained within the canon of the Bard, it is certainly no understatement to claim that the connections are virtually endless between many modern tropes, terms, themes and ideas that derive in his classic plays - whether they be tragedies, comedies, histories or latter plays - yet the intriguing aspects of many of the lesser-known theatrical connections between Shakespeare and modern theatre are illuminating and fascinating to unearth. Ranging from the influence of Shakespeare on some of our greatest musical theatre masters - Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and William Finn included - through to the inspiration behind both Broadway's most lucrative production in history (THE LION KING) and the longest-running show in NYC to date (THE FANTASTICKS), the impact of Shakespeare on Broadway is impossible to accurately calculate - and, now, with the lovable and hilarious Shakespeare paean SOMETHING ROTTEN! poised to open later this month, the Bard is about to get a fresh jolt of electricity, buzz and excitement from the theatre community at large. Fear no more, indeed.

Imelda Staunton, who stars as the indomitable Momma Rose in the West End transfer of Jonathan Kent's production of Gypsy, is joined by Lara Pulver and Gemma Sutton who reprise the roles of Louise and June respectively in the five star Chichester Festival Theatre production, while Peter Davison joins the cast to play Herbie.

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, based on a concept by Jerome Robbins with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, directed and choreographed by Barry McNabb and musical direction by Ryan Edward Wise. The show runs now through July 5th, 2015 and officially opens on April 16th, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

Today we are revisiting a famed and fabulous Stephen Sondheim flop.

A signature feature of the National Theater Institute, weekly Theater Labs challenge students to put all the skills gained in classes into practice. When given just 15 hours to stage a scene, students learn to trust their creative instincts. Under the mentorship of a professional director, NTI students gain practical experience with a wealth of classical and contemporary texts as well as have the opportunity to work as actor, director, designer, and/or dramaturge each week.

Derek Hough shared in his weekly blog on TVGuide.com that his co-star in Radio City's Spring Spectacular, Laura Benanti is currently out of the show due to sickness.

George Street Playhouse is proud to announce that Karen Olivo, winner of the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Anita in the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story, will perform on the theatre's mainstage in a special event tonight, April 2, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.

Playwright Jonathan Tolins uses Barbra Streisand's book My Passion for Design as a jumping off point for his hilarious one man show BUYER & CELLAR. It's a fun-filled romp that fans of the lady with the magnificent voice, and questionable temperament, will find absolutely delightful. Even if you're not a fan, you'll enjoy this peek inside the peculiarities that are a part of this showbiz icon's lifestyle. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis has fashioned a very enjoyable production that has been so popular that the run has been extended twice. See it for yourself and you'll know why. It's an amusing and often belly laugh inducing work that you should make every effort to check out!

Broadway finds Main Street! Star of the Day launches an all-new 2015 Broadway Musical Series at McCoole's Arts & Events Place beginning with the popular Gypsy.

42nd Street Moon presents the first post-Broadway prouction of NICK & NORA at The Eureka Theatre, San Francisco, CA, from tonight, April 1-19, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

Today in 2008, the fourth Broadway revival of Gypsy opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 332 performances. Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including 'Small World,' 'Everything's Coming up Roses', 'Some People', 'Let Me Entertain You', and 'Rose's Turn'.

The new West End GYPSY cast recording, featuring Imelda Staunton and Lara Pulver, will hit shelves sooner than most expected.

Opening this weekend at City Lights, M. Butterfly weaves realism, ritual, and vivid theatricality into a haunting tale of a French diplomat who thinks he's found the ideal woman. It's a story that all started with real-life events.

Lakewood Theatre Company will begin its 63rd season with six productions on its Mainstage and three productions on its Side Door stage beginning July 10, 2015.