Arthur Laurents News

In April 2014, Artistic Director Vincent J. Cardinal announced that Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Leslie Uggams would be starring as Rose in Connecticut Repertory Theatre's (CRT) production of GYPSY: A Musical Fable July 10-20. This announcement quickly spread through social media circles and the theatre community and set off a firestorm of discussion on message boards and Twitter about casting an African American actress in this iconic role.

When it comes to contemporary classics in American musical theatre, just the sheer mention of Leonard Bernstein's WEST SIDE STORY is enough to get any fan of the medium listening. His clever orchestrations, drive and ambition, and unique construction made the show a hallmark of the genre that is still adored and studied today.

Tony winner Karen Olivo, who announced last spring that she'd be leaving New York City behind for a quieter life in Wisconsin, will return to the stage in this production. Before rehearsals began, Olivo took the time to update BroadwayWorld about preparing for the show, her new life outside of New York, and so much more. Check out the full interview below!

Having previously wowed audiences around the world, Sheffield Theatres is delighted to welcome classic Broadway musical West Side Story to the Lyceum stage this summer from Tuesday 1 July to Saturday 12 July.

This week, THEATER TALK welcomes authors with two unique takes on American culture - James Shapiro, Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, whose new book is Shakespeare in America, an anthology of writing about the Bard's impact on U.S. history; and Carolyn Quinn, author of Mama Rose's Turn: The True Story of America's Most Notorious Stage Mother, whose book illuminates the life of the character central to one of America's greatest musicals, Gypsy.

Auch in diesem Sommer kann man Musicals wieder auf Freilichtbuhnen in ganz Deutschland erleben, von Klassikern wie Anatevka und My Fair Lady, uber Sunset Bouledvard und Kiss Me, Kate, bis hin zu deutschen Eigenproduktionen wie Maria, Ihm Schmeckt's Nicht und Heiße Ecke. Hier nun ein Überblick uber 20 großere Festivals und Produktionen in Deutschland, der Schweiz und Österreich.

Penguin Rep Theatre presents the New York premiere of Sex and Education, a comedy by Lissa Levin, directed by Joe Brancato, and starring award-winning actress Lizbeth Mackay, from June 27 through July 20 in Stony Point, New York.

The Peccadillo Theater Company presents Penguin Rep's production of DROP DEAD PERFECT, a new comedy starring the legendary Everett Quinton at the Theatre at St. Clements (423 W 46th St - between 9th and 10th Avenue) beginning Tuesday, July 15th, with opening set for Sunday, July 20th at 7PM.

Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) and the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) will release a new live recording of the first-ever concert performances of Leonard Bernstein's complete score for the musical West Side Story featuring a stellar Broadway cast including Cheyenne Jackson and Alexandra Silber, and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, today, June 10, 2014.

Today we continue the 2014 edition of our annual BroadwayWorld feature series spotlighting the very best Tony Awards-related moments of all time with a special focus on one of the biggest battles for Best Musical with LA CAGE AUX FOLLES versus SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE.

York Little Theatre will present GYPSY June 20-22 and 26-29 in the Studio. GYPSY takes place during the colorful life of the theatre in the 1920's. The musical tells the backstage tale of vaudeville entertainer turned burlesque stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and her overbearing mother, Rose. Rose battles directors, theatre owners and hotel managers in her efforts to push her two daughters toward stardom during the dying days of vaudeville.

In April 2014, Artistic Director Vincent J. Cardinal announced that Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Leslie Uggams would be starring as Rose in Connecticut Repertory Theatre's (CRT) production of GYPSY: A Musical Fable July 10-20. This announcement quickly spread through social media circles and the theatre community and set off a firestorm of discussion on message boards and Twitter about casting an African American actress in this iconic role.

West Side Story returned to the storied National Theatre on Tuesday night with an energetic revival that contains all the elements of what made this show a beloved classic.

The record-breaking UK national tour of 'WEST SIDE STORY' is now entering the final three months of its year-long tour. There are just eight stops left until the tour ends at the Theatre Royal Norwich on 13 September 2014.

West Side Story returns to its theatrical home at the National Theatre for one week only, today, June 3 through 8. The landmark American musical made its world premiere at the National in 1957 prior to heading to Broadway, as did its revival in 2008, and now the North American tour of this celebrated story concludes in Washington at the place where it all began.

They love, they fight, they make up, they care for each other - it's a marriage. The award winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company presents "The First Fifty Years," a dramatic-comedy that shows the ups and downs of a marriage in seven scenes, each during a pivotal anniversary. Beginning right after their honeymoon in 1872, seven years after the end of the Civil War, the play marks the lives of Anne and Martin Wells up to their golden anniversary at the beginning of the Roaring '20s, in 1922.

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Concord, NH. WEST SIDE STORY appears for one night only at the Capitol Center for the Arts tonight, May 27, at 7:30pm. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction is recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award-nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).

Tony Winner Laura Benanti has signed with top talent agency CAA.

The National Theatre announced today that lottery tickets for West Side Story will be made available for each performance June 3 through 8.

Today in 1959, Gypsy opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 702 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'.