Arthur Laurents News

Kravis Center to Offer a Nonstop Series of Dazzling Performers & Productions During March & April 2011 Highlights Include the Beach Boys, Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Natalie Cole, Kathy Griffin, Jackie Mason, Itzhak Perlman, Smokey Robinson, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Yanni, Spring Awakening, West Side Story & 18th Annual Reach for the Stars

Fifty years after her legendary Carnegie Hall debut, The New York Pops and Music Director Steven Reineke pay tribute to Hollywood icon Judy Garland on Friday, March 11 at 8:00 PM, with a song-for-song re-creation of the 1961 performance referred to by so many as 'the greatest night in show business history'. Reineke has announced the newest addition to the concert's lineup of stunning artists, acclaimed entertainer - and daughter of Judy Garland - Lorna Luft.

The 2010 Tony winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced today that Nancy Opel has joined the cast of MEMPHIS as 'Mama.' Opel will begin performances on Tuesday, March 15th. Along with Opel, current cast member John Jellison will take over the role of 'Mr. Simmons,' also beginning performances on Tuesday, March 15th. Cass Morgan and Michael McGrath will play their final performances on Sunday, March 13th.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Tracy Aron, announces the complete cast for the new Broadway musical THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, starring two time Tony® Award-winner Donna Murphy, directed by Leonard Foglia. THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE features book & lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.

Up on Amazon.com, Stephen Sondheim's second book, a follow up to his 'Finishing The Hat, is now available for pre-order. Entitled, 'Look, I Made a Hat: Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Wafflings, Diversions and Anecdotes,' Amazon is taking pre-orders here. The book is scheduled for release on October 25, 2011. Here's a first look at the cover!

Music of many generations highlights the 2010-2011 Broadway Across America - Boston season

WEST SIDE STORY was a landmark work when it premiered some fifty odd years ago. There had been ‘serious' musicals before; SHOW BOAT from decades earlier was certainly not a musical comedy. I do believe WEST SIDE STORY was the first successful musical driven by dance. How intoxicating those dance sequences in WEST SIDE STORY remain all these decades later. The dance in WEST SIDE STORY is from the genius of Jerome Robbins. If we are to believe some sources, including the show's original Anita, Chita Rivera, the ‘shark' dances were done by Robbins' assistant, Peter Gennaro.

The Trustees of The Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, Inc. are pleased to announce that THE SUBMISSION by JEFF TALBOTT has been selected for the 2011 LAURENTS / HATCHER FOUNDATION AWARD.

According to the NY Times, Broadway's Arthur Laurents and partner, Tom Hatcher have awarded playwright Jeff Talbott their first Laurents-Hatcher Award. Talbott, an actor who's play THE SUBMISSION will make its off- Broadway debut at MCC Theatre this year, will receive a $150,000 prize.

According to Amazon.com, Stephen Sondheim's second book, a follow up to his 'Finishing The Hat, is now available for pre-order. Entitled, 'Look, I Made a Hat: Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Wafflings, Diversions and Anecdotes,' Amazon is taking pre-orders here. The book is scheduled for release on October 25, 2011.

Based on the Jan De Hartog play, The Fourposter, the story spans fifty years, from 1895 to 1945, as it focuses on the trials and tribulations, laughters and sorrows, and hopes and disappointments experienced by Agnes and Michael Snow throughout their marriage. I DO! I DO! is a remarkably intimate, romantic piece. We are invited into the bedroom of newlyweds Michael & Agnes who anticipate a wonderful blissful life…'Together Forever' as one of the early musical selections would have us believe. As we all know, reality sets in as the young couple struggle to maintain their happiness, passion, devotion and yes even a sense of humor, through all the joys, pains, trials and tribulations that they share in their 50 years of marriage.

The tour of the recent smash hit Broadway production of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Fort Lauderdale. WEST SIDE STORY will open at Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday February 15 for a two-week run through Sunday, February 27. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction has been 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).

The Hollywood Bowl, whose previously announced lineup included the Broadway hit Hairspray and The Sound of Music as well as Michael Feinstein featuring performers such as Dick Van Dyke, Cheyenne Jackson, Vanessa Willians and more, has added two more events: WEST SIDE STORY and composer A.R. Rahman.

WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATRE is Proud To Present I DO! I DO! February 10 - March 20, 2011

Barbra Streisand has confirmed to the LA Times that she will indeed star in a new film version of GYPSY. The news leaked 'a little early, because the deal wasn't finished,' Streisand said. 'I am not sure about directing it. It may just be too much. I know I will be playing the part. It's like a bookend starting with 'Funny Girl.'

The Drama League is pleased to announce that Vanessa Redgrave, Ann Hampton Callaway, Montego Glover and Daniel Reichard will appear at the 27th annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.'

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Tracy Aron, announces additional casting for the new Broadway musical THE PEOPLE IN THE PICUTRE, starring two time Tony® Award-winner Donna Murphy, directed by Leonard Foglia. THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE features book & lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.

The smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is touring North America! 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).

Josh Lamon is truly living his dream. A self-admitted theater geek, Josh has spent the past few years making a name for himself on the boards, most recently in the Broadway cast of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. Originally from San Diego, Josh can currently be seen as crowd favorite Margaret Mead in the First National Tour of the 2009 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, which continues performances at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts through February 6. Josh recently chatted with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos about life on tour and offers some inside dish on his HAIR-raising co-stars.

Fifty years after her legendary Carnegie Hall debut, The New York Pops remembers Hollywood icon Judy Garland with a song-for-song re-creation of the 1961 performance that is referred to by so many as "the greatest night in show business history".