Benj Pasek News

It took 30 years for Shawn Moninger, a Unity minister and longtime technical director with four MAC awards, to move out of the booth and onto the stage. His show Because I Can (which has been running monthly at the Metropolitan Room since last November) is more a one-man Off-Broadway comedy show than typical cabaret. Almost without exception, the opening of a cabaret show is the weakest. Performers tend to warm up around the third or fourth number. That was not the case at the February 27 show, or as Moniger put it, 'the Senior Citizen Happy Hour.'

he Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, presents the New Jersey premiere of JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. Based on the book by Roald Dahl, JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, has Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a Book by Timothy Allen McDonald. It was originally produced at Seattle Children's Theater under the director of Linda Hartzell. This production is under the direction of Stephen L. Fredericks, The Growing Stage's Executive Director with musical direction by Stephen Fox and Choreography by Jillian Petrie.

Introducing the latest show-stopping middle-grade adventure about life in and out of the spotlight from Broadway veterans and internet sensations, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead! JACK & LOUISA: Act 2 features two talented tweens whose friendship is destined to take center stage.

One thing I can always count on when I go to a National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Pops concert featuring music of the Great White Way - and perhaps beyond - is that the accomplished musicians and their exceptional conductor Steven Reineke will give it all the energy, vigor and verve it deserves. This was certainly the case on Friday night as the orchestra and guest vocalists Darren Criss and Betsy Wolfe explored a bit of the current Broadway repertoire.

Second Stage Theatre will present the world premiere of Sofia Alvarez's FRIEND ART, directed by Portia Krieger, and the New York premiere of Lucy Teitler's ENGAGEMENTS as part of the company's fourteenth annual SECOND STAGE THEATRE UPTOWN SERIES this summer.

? Flat Rock Playhouse and Studio 52 will present a new musical version of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, Jr. from March 11 through 20 at the Playhouse Downtown. Written in 1961, James and the Giant Peach was the first novel Dahl penned for children before going on to author Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and many others including the film adaptation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. opens its spring season with the musical "James and the Giant Peach, Jr." Performances will be given on weekends March 5 through March 20 in the Lecture Hall of the Administration Building at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd.  The ensemble cast includes 25 student actors from Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard counties.  Tickets are $10 each with special group rates available. Contact the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-2787 (ARTS) or go to the CPM website, www.cpmarts.org, for tickets and information.

Theatre Under The Stars' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) is pleased to announce this year's highly-anticipated summer production at Miller Outdoor Theatre will be James and the Giant Peach, based on the book by British author Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, Matilda). This captivating musical, based on the childhood favorite novel of the same name, is a wildly imaginative twisted tale filled with action-packed adventures, finding its own charming zigzag route to a happy ending after some often humorous struggles.

America has had a long tragic history of sending brave young people off to foreign lands to fight in life-endangering wars, only to see those who have survived come home forever changed. This idea lingers over the new engaging musical DOGFIGHT, now having its Los Angeles/Orange County-area premiere at the Chance Theater in Anaheim through March 6. Adapted from the 1991 Warner Bros. film of the same name and featuring music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Peter Duchan, this 2013 Lucille Lortel Award-winning off-Broadway musical shows how even the most confident, self-assured people can still be severely affected not only physically but also emotionally by the harsh realities of explosive, in-the-trenches combat.

Olathe Civic Theatre Association (OCTA) continues its 2015-16 season with DOGFIGHT, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, book by Peter Duchan, and based on the Warner Bros. film and screenplay by Bob Comfort. The show is directed by Craig Fisher and runs tomorrow, February 19, through March 6, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

FOX's musical movie THE GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH is making progress, having just presented a reading to executives prior to filming. Starring the previously announced Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum and directed by Michael Gracey in his directorial debut, the reading also starred Cynthia Erivo, Keala Settle, Carrie Manolakos, Marcus Paul James, Adam Halpin, Natalie Weiss, Loren Allred, Tamika Lawrence, Alison Luff, and Ben Thompson.

?The Media Theatre has "Dogfight: The Musical" March 9-27. With music and lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul and a book by Peter Duchan, it's based on the 1991 film of the same name. It's the winner of the Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical.

Anaheim's official resident theater company, Chance Theater presents the Los Angeles and Orange County premiere of DOGFIGHT, with book by Peter Duchan, music & lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, directed by Matthew McCray, with music direction by Taylor Stephenson, and choreography by Angeline Mirenda. DOGFIGHT previews now through February 12, with regular performances February 13 through March 6 on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater at Bette Aitken theater arts Center. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

The Dramatists Guild Fund, Dramatists Guild of America, and Program Chairs Michael Korie, Laurence O'Keefe, and Diana Son announce applications for the 2016-17 Dramatists Guild Fellows Program are now open and encourage playwrights, composers and lyricists to apply.

The Fulton Theatre is thrilled to announce a season bursting with dance, iconic musical theatre heroes, and a music legend in its mainstage offering! The Ellen Arnold Groff Studio Series, now in its third season, will offer three selections, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama. The popular family series again will offer four shows that are ideal for the entire family. The 2016/2017 season kicks off with the mainstage series on Tuesday, September 20, 2016, with the triumphant Billy Elliot. 

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz, Executive Director), in association with Stacey Mindich Productions, has announced complete casting and creative team for its upcoming production of the new musical, DEAR EVAN HANSEN.

Tonight, before a gathering of theatre artists and patrons, theatreWashington announced the nominees for the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards, drawn from 202 eligible productions presented in the 2015 calendar year. Scroll down for the full list of nominees!

Anaheim's official resident theater company, Chance Theater is pleased to present the Los Angeles and Orange County premiere of ... Dogfight. Book by Peter Duchan, music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, directed by Matthew McCray, music direction by Taylor Stephenson, and choreographed by Angeline Mirenda. Dogfight will preview from February 5 through February 12, regular performances will begin February 13 and continue through March 6 on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

A staged reading of DOGFIGHT will be held at the Omaha Community Playhouse as part of the Alternative Programming series Monday, Jan. 25, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in OCP's Hawks Mainstage Theatre.

Adventure Theatre MTC (ATMTC) launches its 2016 year with the musical James and the Giant Peach, based on the popular book by Roald Dahl (1916-1990) with a score written by Tony Award nominated duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, A Christmas Story). Sponsored by Geico Insurance, James and the Giant Peach features a talented cast including Helen Hayes Award Nominated Jimmy Mavrikes (First Stage, Bat Boy) and the much-praised Tobias Young (Olney's Guys and Dolls). ATMTC Academy Pre-Professional Company Members, Eli Schulman and Henry Neipoetter, share the role of James. Directed by Helen Hayes Award Recipient and Artistic Director of The Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Michael Baron, the show runs February 14- April 5, 2016. Tickets are $19.50 each and can be purchased online at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org or by calling 301.634.2270.