Arthur Laurents News

La Jolla Playhouse is the recipient of three prestigious and highly-competitive grants to support its world-premiere production of The Who & The What, by 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar, directed by Kimberly Senior, running February 11 - March 9 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. The grants include the Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award, as well awards from The Laurents/Hatcher Foundation and The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation Theatre Visions Fund.

Ravinia's 2014 season, dubbed 'Summer of Love/Season of Stars,' was announced today by Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman. Brimming with talent and romance, the festival's 2014 schedule brings some the biggest names in the world of music as well as repertoire that explores the theme of great love in its various manifestations. No fewer than three musical incarnations of the most famous love story of all time, Romeo and Juliet, will be featured, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky's Overture-Fantasy (July 27), a suite from Prokofiev's ballet setting of the story (July 16) and the score of West Side Story as the classic film is shown (July 17-18). In other examples of love, soprano Deborah Voigt describes it as 'Something Wonderful' on a Broadway evening (July 13), the legendary Broadway team of Lerner and Loewe will be celebrated (July 20), and Chanticleer even jabs at the battle of the sexes in an evening titled 'She Said/He Said' (July 6). In fact, love lurks, longs and lingers across genres in most of the more than 130 events that Ravinia will present in 2014, its 110th year and its 78th as the summer residence of the CSO.

Following his acclaimed New York Philharmonic debut on the ASIA / WINTER 2014 tour, jazz pianist Makoto Ozone will join Music Director Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic in a newly added concert Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. The all-American program will include Bernstein's Candide Overture; Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, featuring Mr. Ozone as soloist; Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story; and Gershwin's An American in Paris. The concert will mark Mr. Ozone's U.S. orchestral debut; his appearances with the Philharmonic on the ASIA / WINTER 2014 tour marked his first performances with an American orchestra.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Ring Of Fire' opens, 'Road Show' readies, 'Gypsy' and 'Chicago' thrive, 'Carnival' prepares, 'Queenie Pie' reschedules, Boho brings the Mozart, plus the new musicals 'Period Piece' and 'Shining Lives,' and more!

Fair Lawn Recreation Department's resident theatre company, OLD LIBRARY THEATRE, announces performance dates for Gypsy. The production is directed by Scott Hart with Musical Direction by Anthony Bevilacqua, and Choreography by Amy Shera. Produced by Julie Galorenzo, Assistant Choreography / Producing by Tomas Ruiz, Stage Management by David Mannarino and Assistant Stage Management by Regina Novicky. Starring Fran Leonardis, Erik O'Connell and Maggie Biedenkapp. Featuring Alex Hartman, Maya Karp, Sarah Lepre, Andy Calderone, Sivan Kaynar Kissinger, Evie Turner-Salerno, Tara Kulbatski, Adelaide Prekopa, Zachary Petzinger, Jack McAvoy, Sonny Leonardis, Eric Parkin, Tom Winkler, Kate Revell, Lou Ann Salkin, Luisa Fuentes, Vinnie Plantamura, Clyde Johnson, Anthony Tessitore, Eliza Prekopa, Adriana Gambo, Ilan Fitterman, Ellen Collins and Allison Beckley.

Louise Pitre delivers an iconic performance unlike nothing you've ever seen in Chicago Shakespeare's 'Gypsy'

The Broadway League's Viva Broadway and the United Palace of Cultural Arts in Washington Heights are hosting a conversation with Rita Moreno and a screening of West Side Story. The event will take place as part of 'Sunday Movies at the Palace with Lin-Manuel Miranda' on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at United Palace Theatre on 175th Street and Broadway. Doors open at 4:00pm for a 5:00pm stage show and 5:30pm screening.

Today, the shortlist is announced for the Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography, now in its sixth year -- the contenders are...

Today in 1980, the first Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY opened at the Minskoff Theatre, where it ran for 333 performances. West Side Story is an American musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and conception and choreography by Jerome Robbins. It was inspired by William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Set in New York City in the mid-1950s, the musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. Bernstein's score for the musical has become extremely popular; it includes 'Something's Coming', 'Maria', 'America', 'Somewhere', 'Tonight', 'Jet Song', 'I Feel Pretty', 'A Boy Like That', 'One Hand, One Heart', 'Gee, Officer Krupke' and 'Cool'.

Leslie Uggams will be gracing the stage at Bucks County Playhouse with her concert, AN EVENING WITH LESLIE UGGAMS. Uggams is best known for her role Kizzy in the 1977 mini-series, ROOTS, as well as many stage roles including Georgina in HALLELUJAH, BABY! According to Bucks County Playhouse audiences can expect "a variety of her classic, signature songs in an evening audiences won't forget." I had a chance to speak with Uggams about her concert as well as some of her most memorable roles.

According to the Daily Mail, Kevin Whately and Lara Pulver are in talks to join the cast of GYPSY, led by Imelda Staunton as Rose at the Chichester Festival Theatre this October. Whately would play Herbie, Rose's love interest and manager, and Pulver would star as Louise Hovick, a.k.a. Gypsy Rose Lee. The production will be directed by Jonathan Kent.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater CST) presents Gypsy at CST's Courtyard Theater, running now through March 23), directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin and starring Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre as Rose. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater CST) presents Gypsy at CST's Courtyard Theater, running now through March 23), directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin and starring Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre as Rose. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Matt Shingledecker has been performing most of his life and loving every minute of it. From the time he got his first paying show at age 16, Matt has been hooked. Matt is currently playing Fiyero in the touring company of Wicked and has been loving every minute of it. Broadway World caught up with Matt not too long ago and he shared his feelings about his new role as Fiyero and what led up to this moment.

Merman's Apprentice, a new musical fable with Book and Lyrics by Stephen Cole (Inventing Mary Martin, After the Fair, The Night of the Hunter, The Road to Qatar!) and Music by David Evans (Birds of Paradise, Children's Letters to God) has been chosen to be the opening show as part of London's Landor Theatre's 'From Page to Stage Festival' today, February 11th and 12th at 7:30pm.

The tour smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Calgary! WEST SIDE STORY will open at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium tonight, February 11, 2014.

BrodwayWorld interviews 'The Phantom of the Opera' tour's, Linda Balgord.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater CST) presents an unprecedented pairing of productions that will illuminate the work of composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim: Gypsy (CST's Courtyard Theater, today, February 6-March 23) and Road Show (Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, March 13-May 4), both directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin.

Stage and screen legend Barbra Streisand is set to appear on this Friday's edition of NBC's THE TODAY SHOW, BroadwayWorld has confirmed.

Merman's Apprentice, a new musical fable with Book and Lyrics by Stephen Cole (Inventing Mary Martin, After the Fair, The Night of the Hunter, The Road to Qatar!) and Music by David Evans (Birds of Paradise, Children's Letters to God) has been chosen to be the opening show as part of London's Landor Theatre's 'From Page to Stage Festival' on February 11th and 12th at 7:30pm. There will be an additional presentation for industry professionals on Feb. 13th at 2:30pm at The Concert Artistes' Association at 20 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9HP.