Arthur Laurents News

Broadway legend Carol Channing is fond of telling the story about a group of Russian diplomats who came to see the original production of Hello, Dolly! in 1964. Although they spoke virtually no English, they sat through the show and visited with the star in her dressing room afterwards. Talking through an interpreter, they told her that they loved the musical because it was filled with so much optimism. Although they couldn't understand the lyrics, the ebullience of Jerry Herman's music allowed them to experience and enjoy what producer David Merrick touted as 'the world's happiest musical'.

Tony-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda and internet sensation 'Miranda Sings' have taken on 'The Word Of Your Body' from Spring Awakening in a new YouTube video....that you need to see to believe.

Dayton Playhouse will close the 2009/2010 Mainstage Season, Gypsy on May 23. Gypsy is the classic tale of the infamous Gypsy Rose Lee adapted from her 1957 autobiography. The Gypsy libretto is by Arthur Laurents with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and music by Jule Styne. The Dayton production is directed for the Playhouse by Brian Sharp with musical direction from Ron Kindell, choreography by Chris Erk, lights by Anita Bachmann, sound by Tony Fende, costumes by Marilyn Johnson, stage management by Wade Hamilton and set design by Chris Harmon.

The Farmington Players Present GYPSY April 30 through May 22 at the Barn Theatre. The production is directed by Jason Wilhoite, with musical direction by Rachel Rose and choreography by Allison Soranno.

Commonwealth Youthchoirs has announced that Broadway star Alison Fraser and opera star Lauren Flanigan, will appear as guest artists at its 6th Annual Gala Concert at the Kimmel Center on June 6, 2010.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes Penguin Rep Theatre, in association with Chase Mishkin, to AMERICAS OFF BROADWAY with the New York City premiere of FREED, written by Charles Smith and directed by Joe Brancato. FREED begins previews on Friday, June 11 for a limited engagement through Saturday, July 3.

The producers of WEST SIDE STORY announced today that Tony Award- winner Karen Olivo will be out of the Broadway musical as she sustained a broken foot at the 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, May 8. Ms. Olivo's doctors estimate that she will be out of the show for 6-8 weeks. In the interim WEST SIDE STORY cast member Natalie Cortez will take over the role of "Anita."

Like the episodes preceding it in the second half of the season, this week's episode of GLEE has a theme: finding one's voice. ‘Laryngitis' revolves around Puck's attempts to regain popularity after a trip to the skin doctor forces him to part with his signature mohawk, which in turn leads to his being deposited in a dumpster by the school's geeks, Rachel Berry's tonsillitis, and Kurt's attempts to connect with his father. Ultimately, though, ‘Laryngitis' left me wishing the writers would come down with a case of the illness themselves (I realize the tie-in is forced, but so is most of the show's writing).

Audience reports from this Saturday night's WEST SIDE STORY noted that Karen Olivo fell during the show's late in ACT 2 'drugstore scene' and limped off stage at the conclusion of the scene, not to return for the curtain call.

Broadway/L.A. has announced that Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Tony Award®-winning creator, composer-lyricist and original star of Broadway's 2008's Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS will reprise the lead role of ‘Usnavi' when the show has its Southern California premiere engagement at the historic Pantages Theater in Los Angeles from June 22nd through July 11th. The gala opening night is Wednesday, June 23rd, following one lower-priced preview on Tuesday, June 22nd.

Broadway legend and Tony winner Patti LuPone will bring her triumphant one-woman Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda to McCarter Theatre on Saturday, May 8. The evening is a high-spirited tour of songs and roles that she 'could have played, should have played, did play and will play' with selections from Hair, Bye Bye Birdie, Funny Girl, West Side Story, Peter Pan, Evita, Anything Goes, and more.

Dayton Playhouse is delighted to present the final production of our 2009/2010 Mainstage Season, Gypsy - opening May 7, 2010 and running through May 23.

Dayton Playhouse is delighted to present the final production of our 2009/2010 Mainstage Season, Gypsy - opening May 7, 2010 and running through May 23.

Today, in honor of the DVD release of Rob Marshall's film version of the 1982 Tony-winning Best Musical NINE, Maury Yeston was gracious and generous enough to grant me a few hours in which I could ask him intimate questions about his life, career and the future of theatre itself. Not one to mince words, Yeston is a veritable font of knowledge and it became clear during the interview that he may be as gifted and talented in his educational and mentorship skills as he is as a two-time Tony-winning composer and lyricist. His stage musicals include two Tony-winning Best Musicals, NINE and TITANIC, as well as: IN THE BEGINNING, GRAND HOTEL, PHANTOM, and the forthcoming DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, as well as a full-length ballet of TOM SAWYER premiering later this year. From the handwritten letter sent by Katharine Hepburn to Frederico Fellini after seeing the workshop of NINE thirty years ago to this very day when NINE hits DVD, we will take a look at this magnanimous maestro's starry career in this inaugural InDepth InterView. Enjoy!

Tony Award winner Karen Olivo (West Side Story), most recently seen in a guest-starring role on NBC's 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent,' has been cast in the recurring role of Giada Cabrini in the critically-acclaimed CBS television series, 'The Good Wife.' Starring as Giada Cabrini, Olivo plays a law student who is interning with Will Gardner (Josh Charles), to whom she's clearly attracted.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced details for a second round of major items for their special online Auction in connection with its annual Spring Gala Benefit 'In Quarter Time'.

Patti LuPone, the winner of three Drama Desk Awards as Outstanding Actress in A Musical for her performances in Evita (1980), Anything Goes 1988) and Gypsy (2008), will host this year's 55th Annual Drama Desk Awards ceremony on Sunday, May 23, 2010, at 9 PM, it was announced today by Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the annual awards show, and William Wolf, President of the Drama Desk.

The Brazilian production of GYPSY is, for sure, the highest point a Broadway musical ever achieved in Brazil.

Broadway/San Diego ~ A Nederlander Presentation, continues its 34th Season of great theatre with a variety of choices for all audiences. We offer the hottest ticket in town to ten of Broadway's best, from classic musicals to rock icons to beloved family fare - not to mention dance!

The Farmington Players Present GYPSY April 30 through May 22 at the Barn Theatre. The production is directed by Jason Wilhoite, with musical direction by Rachel Rose and choreography by Allison Soranno.