Arthur Laurents News

After a passionate reception from critics and audiences, the world premiere of Neurosis: A New Musical has announced a one-week extension at the Merry-Go-Round Downtown, part of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. The show stars Broadway veterans Joseph Medeiros (Wicked, Grease, White Christmas) and Joanne Baum (Bells Are Ringing.

Tony Award winner Karen Olivo, who was most recently seen appearing in the sold out IN THE HEIGHTS reunion concert in New York City, as well as in Manhattan Theatre Club's MURDER BALLAD last fall, has confirmed to The Ledger -- following her 'Starting Over' blog post in March -- that she will not be returning to acting in the forseeable future. Olivo has moved to Madison, WI, to start over.

It's been called one of the best and most beloved musicals of all time, the award-winning West Side Story now comes to the Centenary Stage. This timeless musical launched Stephen Sondheim's Broadway career and with help of other creative geniuses like Jerome Robbins and Leonard Bernstein, it has become a classic in the American theatrical repertoire. The New Jersey Youth Theatre will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of their award-winning production by bringing a new group of talented young-adult actors that Director Cynthia Meryl calls "the future of Broadway" to the Lackland Center to showcase the phenomenal training that NJYT provides. Performances will take place August 2nd - 11th at the Sitnik Theatre in the David and Carol Lackland Center at 715 Grand Avenue in Hackettstown.

Rain will soon shower on the Patchogue stage, as 'Singin' in the Rain' prepares to open at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, today, July 24-Aug. 10.

This fall, Theater League opens another unforgettable season of shows with the 2013-2014 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The series will include Tony-nominated MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the new revival of WEST SIDE STORY, the new musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY and everyone's favorite new classic Mamma Mia! Individual tickets start at $34 and are on sale July 28, 2013.

'Sing out, Louise!!'. This phrase has been part of theatre lexicon for more than 50 years. Almost having become an inside joke, and used by directors, choreographers and actors to coax performers into giving it their all. Throughout GYPSY's storied history, it has been produced numerous times across this country; the 'greatest American musical' is also often referred to as a 'perfect' musical. And Maine State Music Theatre's current production of GYPSY is just that: perfect.

The Board of Trustees of George Street Playhouse have announced the appointment of Kelly Ryman as Managing Director, effective immediately. Ms. Ryman, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Playhouse since September, 2000, had been serving as Acting Managing Director since January 2013.

Broadway actress Michele Ragusa (Young Frankenstein, Urinetown, Ragtime) is no stranger to taking on major roles in the world of musical theater as she did when she took over for Megan Mullally in Young Frankenstein or when she was a replacement in Urinetown covering the roles of Penny and Hope. But now, Ragusa has taken on an iconic role that not only seems to suit her, but one that critics are raving about. The role, made famous by the legendary Ethel Merman is of course Mama Rose in Gypsy. Ragusa is currently playing the 'ultimate show business mother' at The Hangar Theater (which took home 9 awards at the 2012 Broadway World Awards) through this weekend. Scroll down for a first look at her in action!

Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the first production in its new series presenting the 'lost' gems of one particular year in Broadway history, 'Porchlight Revisits...' The inaugural series focuses on the year 1964 and opens with Anyone Can Whistle, book by Arthur Laurents (Gypsy, West Side Story) and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (Follies, Sweeney Todd), starring Rebecca Finnegan, with direction by Christopher Pazdernik and music direction by Aaron Benham. Presented for one night only, Anyone Can Whistle plays Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 8 p.m.

Rain will soon shower on the Patchogue stage, as “Singin' in the Rain” prepares to open at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, July 24-Aug. 10.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, July 14, 2013 - Sunday, July 14, 2013.

Happy Birthday Arthur Laurents! Laurents' first play, Home of the Brave, opened on Broadway in 1945, followed by many others. He wrote his first musical, West Side Story, in 1957, followed by Gypsy and others. His first screenplay was The Snake Pit in 1948, followed by others including Rope, Anastasia, The Way We Were and The Turning Point. His own play, Invitation to a March in 1960, was the first of several he directed. I Can Get It for You Wholesale in 1961 was the first musical he directed, followed by others including La Cage aux Folles and Gypsy with Angela Lansbury, then Tyne Daly and most recently, Patti LuPone. He pased away in May 2011.

Everything's coming up roses July 17, as Maine State Music Theatre continues its 55th season of professional musical theater at the Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin campus in Brunswick, Maine with the smash musical fable, Gypsy. Scroll down for a sneak peek at Mama Rose and Gypsy Rose Lee!

Novato Theater Company opens its new season in its brand-new venue with a smashing historical drama, James Goldman's The Lion in Winter, a play full of plots, counterplots and unforgettable characters. Lion is directed by award-winning director Kris Neely and features Craig Christiansen as King Henry II of England and Maxine Sattizahn as Eleanor of Aquitaine. Assistant Director is Michael Walraven. NTC Executive Producer is Janelle Ponte.

Today Jeanne Pratt AC, Chairman of The Production Company, announces her company's new season.

Fans of the short-lived and relatively obscure Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents musical comedy ANYONE CAN WHISTLE are now witness to a miracle of our very own - the long-awaited JAY Records complete recording of ANYONE CAN WHISTLE has been announced to be completed and a generous thirteen-minute-plus sample from the recording has now, at long, long last been released!

New Jersey Youth Theatre's production of West Side Story is part of Centenary Stage Company's Jammin' in July Summer Concert Series, which will also include An Evening With Groucho, Masters of Motown, and The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra with a Flex Pass available to all FOUR events at $90.00 per person.

Penguin Rep Theatre presents How the World Began, Catherine Trieschmann's thought-provoking new play examining contemporary America where religion, science and irreconcilable beliefs collide, beginning last night, June 28 in Stony Point (Rockland County), New York, directed by Penguin Rep founder and Artistic Director Joe Brancato will direct. Click below to watch interviews with the cast and creative team!

New Jersey Youth Theatre (NJYT) has spent the 25 years producing and mounting professional-level musical theatre productions with casts consisting of children, teenagers, and young adults. In 1997, when the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) opened its doors, New Jersey Youth Theatre took residency in the PAC's Victoria Theatre. Over a period of 15 years, NJYT and NJPAC produced award-winning shows that utilized the talent of over 600 young performers throughout the state. For the first time in 15 years, New Jersey Youth Theatre has separated from NJPAC and has ventured out on its own, returning to its community roots.

Can't get enough of Patti LuPone? A documentary following the legendary performer has just been released on Youtube, titled 'Entrances, Exits, and Everything In Between.' Creator Josh Johnston writes: 'What she and I have collaborated on is our effort to show aspiring performers and fans of the arts what it's like in the shoes of a veteran of the craft: everything from the Sunset lows to the Rainbow Highs of performing, Patti LuPone has seen and lived it all.' Check out the fifth episode below!