Benj Pasek News

WaterTower Theatre today announced the cast for the new musical Dogfight, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, book by Peter Duchan, running July 25 - August 17, 2014 at the Addison Theatre Centre. The ensemble cast stars Zak Reynolds at Eddie Birdlace; Juliette Talley as Rose Fenny; Kyle Igneczi as Boland; Matt Ransdell, Jr. as Bernstein; Beth Albright as Marcy/Ensemble; Branden Loera as Fector/Ensemble; Matthew Silar as Gibbs/Ensemble; Joseph Burnam as Stevens/Ensemble; Stephanie Riggs as Mama/Ensemble; Aubrey Ferguson as Ruth Two Bears/Ensemble and Steve Barcus as the Lounge Singer/Ensemble.

11th Hour Theatre Company announces its 2014-2015 season including a world premiere musical as its main stage production, and four musicals in its Next Step Concert Series.

Atlanta's nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre and Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Susan V. Booth are pleased to announce a minor change to the 2014/15 Season lineup for the Alliance Stage. The 46th season includes seven exciting world premieres, including two new American musicals.

The York Theatre Company presents a one-night only benefit concert celebrating up and coming musical theatre writers, with NEO 10 on Monday, June 2, 2014 The York Theatre Company's home at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a champagne and dessert reception to toast the evening.

After an acclaimed 80th theater season, Beck Center for the Arts is proud to announce its 2014-2015 professional theater season, seemingly the most eclectic yet. Known for its uniquely diverse theatrical productions, Beck Center's new season includes five musicals, the fourth Baldwin Wallace Musical Theatre collaboration, two locally-produced premieres, one regional premiere, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama.

After an acclaimed 80th theater season, Beck Center for the Arts is proud to announce its 2014-2015 professional theater season, seemingly the most eclectic yet. Known for its uniquely diverse theatrical productions, Beck Center's new season includes five musicals, the fourth Baldwin Wallace Musical Theatre collaboration, two locally-produced premieres, one regional premiere, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama.

Artistic Director Allen MacInnis and Executive Director Nancy J. Webster are thrilled to announce the line-up for 2014/15 - the 49thseason at Young People's Theatre. This year, YPT is presenting seven outstanding productions, including a world premiere and a Canadian premiere, each exploring the central theme of fairness.

November 21, 1963. On the night before their deployment to Vietnam, three young Marines set out for one final boys' night of debauchery. But when Corporal Eddie Birdlace meets Rose, the unassuming and idealistic waitress he enlists to win a cruel bet, she rewrites the rules of the game and opens his eyes to what really matters in life.

Second Stage Theatre's 35th Anniversary Gala celebration just honored Carole Rothman, Artistic Director of Second StageTheatre, for her 35 years of supporting new works and artistic development in New York City theatre. This year's rock n' roll themed gala was attended by over 250 Second Stage Alumni who have worked at Second Stage Theatre during the past 35 years, from Brooke Adams and Polly Draper who appeared in the very first season, to cast members from the currently running The Substance of Fire and the upcoming American Hero which will make its New York premiere this summer at Second Stage Uptown. Special guests participating in the evening's festivities include Lynn Nottage, Cynthia Nixon, Tony Goldwyn, and more. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special evening below!

With rehearsals for the premiere of YOU BET YOUR LIFE! set to start soon, ROLKSA Productions has announced that a fresh young ensemble has been put together to stage and perform the musical at the National Arts Festival later this year. With the clock ticking until the world premiere, pre-production for this witty and rib-tickling new show has commenced with all players excited to be on board.

As first reported by TVLine.com, AMERICAN IDOL's Top-4 Week is going to take a very IF/THEN look at love with the theme 'Love: Break-Ups and Make-Ups.' So, after last night's elimination of personality vacuum Sam Woolf, IDOL's Final Four; Jena Irene, Caleb Johnson, Jessica Meuse, and Alex Preston, will each take their turns with two songs each that 'celebrate the agony and the ecstasy of music's greatest theme.'

The Fabulous Fox Theatre has announced its stellar 2014-2015 U.S. Bank Broadway Series, featuring the smash hit KINKY BOOTS, winner of six 2013 Tony Awards® including Best Musical. Of the six season ticket package shows, four of them will make their Fox Theatre and St. Louis debuts. Fox Theatre audiences can look forward to the unforgettable songs and sensual dancing featured in DIRTY DANCING - The Classic Story On Stage; the American dream story behind the hits in MOTOWN THE MUSICAL; Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; the enchanting revival of Rogers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA; and the hilarious stage production of A CHRISTMAS STORY.

Dogfight, featuring music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Peter Duchan, is now available for licensing through Music Theatre International. For additional information, visit: http://www.mtishows.com

The red carpet was filled with Broadway stars last night, as they gathered for opening night of Of Mice and Men, featuring James Franco, Chris O'Dowd, and Leighton Meester. BroadwayWorld was on the red carpet at the Longacre Theatre and you can check out photos from the star-studded theatre arrivals below!

All of Broadway's biggest stars converged at the Longacre Theatre last night to celebrate the Broadway opening of Of Mice and Men, directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro and starring James Franco, Chris O'Dowd, and Leighton Meester. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on the red carpet to chat with the evening's biggest guests before the curtain went up, and below, you can check out interviews with Valisia Lekae, Denis O'Hare, James Earl Jones, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul & more!

The Rose Theater's upcoming season invites audiences to gallop off to the Old West, fly away to a distant planet in another dimension and float away holding a magical umbrella. The nine main stage shows promise to transport audiences to new worlds and open their minds to a multitude of experiences.

Tony-nominated songwriters Justin Paul and Benj Pasek and book writer Timothy Allen McDonald , the creative team behind the musical James and the Giant Peach (“JATGP”), are launching a nationwide search to cast a young actor as James (“Participant”) for the musical's official album which will be recorded May 12 and May 13 in New York City. The creators are seeking boys with unchanged voices and excellent singing and acting skills. Online and DVD submissions will be received by iTheatrics who will run the casting call.

Producers Letty Aronson and Julian Schlossberg present the world premiere production of the brand new musical comedy BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, written by Woody Allen and based on the screenplay by Allen and Douglas McGrath for the 1994 film. Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award-winner Susan Stroman, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY officially opens tonight, April 10, 2014 at The St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

Signature Theatre presents the New York premiere of Appropriate, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Liesl Tommy. The production runs now through April 6, 2014 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photo coverage below!

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2014 Jonathan Larson Grants are writing team Sara Cooper (lyricist/bookwriter) & Zach Redler (composer), receiving $12,500 and the Running Deer Residency; and Shaina Taub (composer/lyricist), receiving $12,500. The prestigious grants, totaling $15,000 more than last year's grants, will be presented on Monday, April 7, 2014 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. The event will feature special performances of the recipients' work.