Benj Pasek News

Rachel Bay Jones, who originated the role of Heidi in Broadway's Dear Evan Hansen, will play her final performance today, August 5.

Dear Evan Hansen will hold an open casting call for the upcoming Toronto run. The production begins performances in March 2019 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach is a musical for the whole family to enjoy! Featuring a wickedly tuneful score by the Tony Award-nominated team of Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen and A Christmas Story the Musical) and a curiously quirky book by Timothy Allen McDonald, critics rave: James and the Giant Peach is a 'masterpeach!'

Broadway veteran Lisa Brescia will join the company of the Tony Award-winning musical as 'Heidi Hansen,' marking her return to Broadway after more than a decade. Brescia begins performances on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 succeeding Rachel Bay Jones, who plays her final performance on August 5, 2018.

Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach will be performed by Northern Stage Summer Musical Theater Intensive students at the Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction, VT, July 25-29.

This morning, Samira Wiley ('The Handmaid's Tale,' 'Orange Is the New Black') and Ryan Eggold ('New Amsterdam,' 'BlackKklansman') announced the nominations for the 70TH PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS from the WOLFTheatre at the Television Academy's Saban Media Center.

A fresh face is joining the cast of Dear Evan Hansen this summer! Newcomer Mallory Bechtel will make her Broadway debut, taking over the role of Zoe Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen beginning Tuesday, July 31. Laura Dreyfuss will play her final performance this Sunday evening (July 15) at an added Actors Fund Performance. Olivia Puckett will take over the role of Zoe Murphy from July 17-29.

A fresh face is joining the cast of Dear Evan Hansen this summer! Newcomer Mallory Bechtel will make her Broadway debut, taking over the role of Zoe Murphy in Dear Evan Hansen beginning Tuesday, July 31. Laura Dreyfuss will play her final performance this Sunday evening (July 15) at an added Actors Fund Performance. Olivia Puckett will take over the role of Zoe Murphy from July 17-29.

Junior Players is excited to announce that it will kick off its new summer collaboration with the University of Texas at Dallas with a brand-new production of the hit musical Dogfight in the University Theater at the University of Texas at Dallas (800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080). The show will run July 12 - 15, 2018 and will be directed by Kelsey Leigh Ervi, with music direction by Mark Mullino and choreography by Micki Saba.

In today's theater, singers and actors are called upon to learn music quickly and accurately, and fluency in the written language of music is an enormous advantage in their always-competitive field. In MUSIC ESSENTIALS FOR SINGERS AND ACTORS: FUNDAMENTALS OF NOTATION, SIGHT SINGING, AND MUSIC THEORY (Hal Leonard Books; September 5, 2018; $34.99), award-winning composer and music director Andrew Gerle offers a music theory text focused exclusively on topics and techniques of practical and artistic value for singers. Drawing on his years of experience, Gerle shows readers how to use music theory to think like a composer, analyzing musical choices for dramatic clues to inspire more detailed and powerful performances.

Eight outstanding educators from schools and performing arts centers around the U.S. will work one-on-one with Broadway greats at the 9th Annual FREDDIE G FELLOWSHIP July 11th - 14th. The event has once again been underwritten by Myrna and Freddie ("G") Gershon, Co-Chairman of the global theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI). The four days of classes and activities honor instructors and teachers who are working to make a difference for their students and communities through the process of staging musical theatre productions in their schools and educational theatre groups. In addition to the all-expense paid visit to New York, each of the teachers' schools receives $5,000 from Freddie and Myrna. The teachers are empowered to identify and select how their respective school's theatre program can best utilize the funds.

Joining forces with the University of Texas at Dallas, Junior Players will soon raise the curtain on a their first summer production: the hit musical DOGFIGHT. The show will run July 12 - 15, 2018 and will be directed by Kelsey Leigh Ervi, with music direction by Mark Mullino and choreography by Micki Saba.

The cast and creatives of Dear Evan Hansen sat down with CBS recently to talk about the show's ever-important message surrounding mental illness, depression, and suicide.

Casting is now complete for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Annie. The new cast members are Roger Bart as Daniel 'Rooster' Hannigan, Kaylin Hedges as Annie, Ali Stroker as 'Star-to-Be,' Amir Talai as Bert Healy, Marlow Barkley as Kate, Amadi Chapata as Pepper, Noe Lynds as July, Rae Martinez as Tessie, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja as Molly, and Olivia Zenetzis as Duffy.

We recently caught up with Lauren Ward and Nathan Amzi while on a break from rehearsals for Prom Queen, a new musical based on the true story of Canadian teen Marc Hall who took his Catholic school board to court when they wouldn't let him attend prom with his boyfriend. The show will receive a workshop presentation at The Other Palace on 2 July.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in the Berkshires (Pittsfield, MA) under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, is pleased to announce additional casting for the 2018 Season.

The first installation of the Contemporary Dance Series, curated by Tiffany Rea-Fisher (which runs Fridays from June 22-July 20 at 6pm) kicked-off with a strong start on the debut evening with performances from Harlem School of the Arts, AThomasProject, Eryc Taylor Dance and Graham 2.

Junior Players is excited to announce that it will kick off its new summer collaboration with the University of Texas at Dallas with a brand-new production of the hit musical Dogfight in the University Theater at the University of Texas at Dallas (800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080). The show will run July 12 - 15, 2018 and will be directed by Kelsey Leigh Ervi, with music direction by Mark Mullino and choreography by Micki Saba.

According to Variety, Rachel Bay Jones, currently appearing in Dear Evan Hansen in the role that earned her a Tony Award, will depart the production on August 5th. Her replacement will be announced.