Arthur Laurents News

"There's a quote from Thornton Wilder that I love. He writes, 'Anyone can make a comedy which is cruel; it is very hard to make a comedy which is kind. To give a fellow feeling between young and old - that's art. HELLO, DOLLY! is one of those old gems. It has some of the best of the best material in all of musical theatre." Actor Matt Gibson is enthusing about his upcoming performances as Cornelius Hackl in Maine State Music Theatre's HELLO, DOLLY!, which runs from July 17 - August 3 at the Pickard Theater in Brunswick. "He might be my favorite character in the traditional canon," Gibson says of the innocent young man from Yonkers. Gibson has played the part twice before at the Virginia Music Theatre and Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatres, and he is thrilled to revisit the role in Maine, where he is just finishing a run of TREASURE ISLAND, playing the ill-fated sailor, Mr. O'Brien.

Today's top stories: a flood at The Lion King results in costume adjustments, and more!

The Emmy Award-winning creator of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Gilmore Girls, Amy Sherman-Palladino has announced that she is writing the script for the GYPSY remake. She revealed the news on ALL OF IT with Alison Stewart, a WNYC radio show.

WEST SIDE STORY opens on July 11 at Garden Grove's historic GEM THEATRE presented by the award-winning One More Productions - one of Southern California's leading musical theater companies.

BroadwayWorld has learned that the previously announce revival of beloved musical West Side Story will begin previews on Dec. 10, 2019 and open February 6th at the Broadway Theatre.

West Side Story screenwriter, Tony Kushner, paid a visit to the barrio to hang with composer and Piraguiro, Lin-Manuel Miranda, on the set of In the Heights.

Something great is coming! Stephen Spielberg's film adaptation of the classic musical West Side Story has officially started filming and is set to release at the end of next year! The cast, led by Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, just got a surprise visitor on set- lyricist Stephen Sondheim!

Regarded by many theater professionals as the greatest musical ever created, GYPSY is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters' success… while secretly yearning for her own. Set all across America in the 1920's, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born, Arthur Laurents' landmark show explores the world of two-bit show business with brass, humor, heart, and sophistication.  

North Texas Performing Arts Repertory Theatre is proud to announce their cast and crew for the iconic, Tony-winning Broadway musical 'West Side Story.'

Gypsy, starring Olivier Award-winner Imelda Staunton as Rose, is streaming now through July 31 on Great Performances on PBS.

5- STAR THEATRICALS concludes its 2018-2019 season with one of the legendary love stories of the musical theatre, WEST SIDE STORY, book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo, choreography by Karl Warden and directed by Larry Raben.  WEST SIDE STORY opens on Friday, July 26, 2019 and runs through Sunday, August 4, 2019 at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.  

Something great is coming! Stephen Spielberg's film adaptation of the classic musical West Side Story has officially started filming and is set to release at the end of next year! To get you all ready to see the Jets and Sharks on the big screen, we've gathered all the info you need to know about the movie, from the casting to a peek at the film's Maria, Rachel Zegler! Check it all out!

Milwaukee Repertory Theater kicks off the 201920 Season with a record-breaking on-sale for the iconic American musical West Side Story based on a conception of Jerome Robbins with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The Monday, June 24, 2019 on-sale event resulted in nearly $300,000 in sales, making it the highest grossing on-sale for a musical in the Quadracci Powerhouse, beating out last year's record holder In The Heights. Several performances are nearly sold out and several performances only have individual seats left. Best availability is Sunday-Thursday the first two weeks of the run. West Side Story runs September 17 - October 27, 2019 in the Quadracci Powerhouse. Purchase tickets at www.MilwaukeeRep.com, by calling the Ticket Office at 414-224-9490 or in person at 108 E. Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee.

It's the story of the quintessential stage mother, her dreams for herself and her daughters, and the daughter who dared live her own dream. 'GYPSY: A Musical Fable' will close out the Castle Craig Players 26th Anniversary Season, running July 26-August 10 at their intimate cabaret venue in Meriden.

A.D. Players at The George is less than 2 weeks away from opening the largest show it has ever produced. West Side Story is filling the theater with music, dance and the hope of love this summer.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater kicks off the 201920 Season with the iconic American musical West Side Story based on a conception of Jerome Robbins with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.  This passionate adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is filled with some of the most unforgettable songs including "Maria," "Tonight, "I Feel Pretty" and "America" telling the greatest love story ever told in a larger-than-life musical.  Buy tickets during the One Day Sale on Monday, June 24 and save 25% off adult tickets when using promotional code WSS. 

Omaha's South High Magnet School with Rebecca Noble, curriculum specialist for Visual Performing Arts, has once again tackled a big story requiring cast diversity with abilities in dance, vocal, and acting.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature Clay Aiken in GREASE, ROCK OF AGES in LA, Rachel York in 42nd Street & More!

West Side Story is running now through June 23 at 5th Avenue Theatre.

I used to hate Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim's "West Side Story". My only exposure was the movie and I found the story flat and unconvincing. I mean, an entire song just repeating her name? Geeze, learn how to write a lyric. But then a touring production came through town and they got it. They understood what they were singing about and knew how to convey it. And then I got it too. He only needs the one word because it's all he wants to hear. And I fell in love with the show but only when it's done well. Since then I've seen many productions of varying levels of quality. Now comes the current production from the 5th Avenue Theatre and Spectrum Dance Theatre and while it has some moments and some good dance sequences thanks to choreographer Bob Richards who did his darnedest to reproduce the original Jerome Robbins choreography, it lacks the ability to convey the story and the love thanks to some lackluster lead performances and staging and intent from director Bill Berry that just didn't get it.