Arthur Laurents News

-The Old Globe will host the 2014 Globe Gala on Saturday, July 26 in support of the theatre's education and artistic programs. The annual event will feature a one-night-only performance by Broadway veteran and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy, Into the Woods, NBC's The Sound of Music Live!, 'The Good Wife,' 'Go On'), based on her smash hit New York cabaret (and new CD) In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention. Nina Doede, Deni Jacobs, and Sheryl White serve as Co-Chairs of the 2014 Globe Gala.

WEST SIDE STORY plays at The Morris Performing Arts Center May 9-10, 2014 as part of the 2013-14 Broadway in South Bend Series presented by Broadway Theatre League. 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).

In a revealing new interview, Laura Benanti shares her enthusiasm for participating in the new Encores! production of Frank Loesser's classic musical THE MOST HAPPY FELLA as well as shares memories from her Tony Award-winning role in the most recent Broadway revival of GYPSY.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its great line-up of talent for April 14 - April 20, including: Pat Martino Organ Quartet, Amanda Green's Spring Trunk Show With Jenn Colella, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Greg Naughton, Kathleen Monteleone, Ryann Redmond & Janet Krupin, David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, and more. Details below!

Gulfport Little Theatre is proud to present its spring musical production, Gypsy, by Arthur Laurents, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Gypsy is directed by Bryan VonderBruegge with musical direction by Alan Cahela, choreography by Twyla Boudreaux Moore, and costumes by Kelli Overmyer. The Assistant Director is Mary LaCour and the producer is Miyoshi McGravey. The show runs April 4-13, with curtain at 8pm todays and Saturdays, and matinee performances on Sunday with curtain at 3pm.

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'.

Southwestern University is proud to present Gypsy, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, today, March 26-30, 2014. Gypsy is directed by Rick Roemer. Performances will run at 7:30pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:00pm on Saturday and Sunday at the Alma Thomas Theater. Tickets are $10-20.

Gulfport Little Theatre is proud to present its spring musical production, Gypsy, by Arthur Laurents, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Gypsy is directed by Bryan VonderBruegge with musical direction by Alan Cahela, choreography by Twyla Boudreaux Moore, and costumes by Kelli Overmyer. The Assistant Director is Mary LaCour and the producer is Miyoshi McGravey. The show runs April 4-13, with curtain at 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and matinee performances on Sunday with curtain at 3pm.

According to Deadline, HAIRSPRAY's Adam Shankman has been tapped by HBO to direct and executive produce an upcoming biopic on the 'ultimate stage mother' and subject of Broadway's GYPSY, Rose Hovick.

On Saturday, April 26, TUTS is inviting Houstonians to enter a Prohibition-era speakeasy for their annual fundraising gala. This year's theme is "Broadway Empire.' Headlining the evening's entertainment is Broadway phenomenon and Tony Award winning musical theatre actress Laura Benanti. Recently, I chatted with Laura Benanti about her impressive career and the much-anticipated gala.

With a pulsing persistence of rhythm, a show about rival juvenile street gangs in 1950s New York changed Broadway musical theatre forever. On March 31, the musical masterpiece 'West Side Story' comes to the Spencer to make history once again.

Broadway veteran Karen Olivo has just launch a Kickstarter campiagn to raise funds for her debut solo album, which has a planned release in Fall 2015. Olivo writes: 'I have always wanted to do an album of my own and even began working on one not long ago. Unfortunately, I was unable to complete the process…life happened. After choosing a new direction for my art, I'm back to finish what I started. I can't wait to share it with all of you!' Click here to contribute to the cause!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson announced today eight productions of the upcoming 2014/15 Season, which includes four major Shakespearean titles, plus a sequel to Shakespeare's epic tragedy and a world premiere musical based on a classic novel.

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is returning to Detroit! WEST SIDE STORY will appear at the Fisher Theatre, May 13- 18, 2014.

This just in! New York City Center's acclaimed Encores! Off-Center series, under the artistic direction of Jeanine Tesori, will return this summer for a second season of landmark Off-Broadway musicals. The season opens with Jonathan Larson's tick, tick… BOOM!, June 25 - 28, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo, directed by Oliver Butler, and continues with a one-night only performance of Randy Newman'sFaust: The Concert, with Randy Newman as the Devil, directed by Thomas Kail, on July 1. Pump Boys and Dinettes, withbook, music and lyrics by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann , directed by Lear deBessonet and choreographed by Danny Mefford, wraps up the season, running July 16 - 19. Chris Fenwick is the Encores! Off-Center music director.

As first reported by BWW yesterday, HAMILTON, written by the Tony and Grammy Award-winning composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda, will have its world premiere next January as part of The Public's 2014-15 season at Astor Place. Directed by his In The Heights collaborator Thomas Kail, this new musical features Miranda playing Alexander Hamilton, one of our country's Founding Fathers and the first Secretary of the Treasury. Tax-deductible Public Theater Memberships are available now and guarantee early access to tickets.

Southwestern University is proud to present Gypsy, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, March 26-30, 2014. Gypsy is directed by Rick Roemer. Performances will run at 7:30pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:00pm on Saturday and Sunday at the Alma Thomas Theater. Tickets are $10-20.

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Thousand Oaks. WEST SIDE STORY plays at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza March 11-16, 2014 as part of the 2013-14 Broadway in Thousand Oaks Series. 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).

According to a casting breakdown, THE HAMILTON MIXTAPE, a new musical by Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, will get a New York City workshop this spring. The project will be produced by the Public Theater and will feature direction by Thomas Kail, musical supervision by Alex Lacamoire and choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler.

'West Side Story' takes center stage at The Grand 1894 Opera House Sunday, April 13 for two high-energy performances at 2 and 7 pm. As an updated version of 'Romeo and Juliet', 'West Side Story' tells the heartwarming tale of an unspeakable love between Tony and Maria, whose families are members of two rival gangs. Sponsored in part by The Galveston Daily News, Sunny 99.1, and The William J. and Merri S. Edwards Charitable Gift Fund, West Side Story delivers one of Broadway's best dance-driven musicals.