Berger News

The hits just keep on coming for SPIDER-MAN, but some help is on the way to the show. The New York Times is reporting and we've confirmed that the show has officially brought on Paul Bogaev, a multi-award winning music director-producer, arranger and composer to work on improving the show's many sound issues, including to 'help improve the performance, vocal and orchestration arrangements, and sound quality of the songs and numbers'. Word has also been coming from multiple sources that it's expected that the production will officially announce another delay later in the week (it's sixth) that might push the official opening as far forward as AFTER this year's Tony Awards. The Times is also reporting that 'Bono and Edge are writing new music for 'Spider-Man' now, but Mr. Miramontez said that Mr. Bogaev's role was far greater than adding that music once it is ready. No significant additions have been made to the score so far.'

Pittsburgh Public Theater welcomes spring with Circle Mirror Transformation, winner of the 2010 Obie Award for Best New American Play.

It's Roger Friedman at Showbiz411 vs. Michael Riedel at the New York Post today. Friedman writes that 'I spoke to Julie Taymor this morning. She was working on some changes with her own co-writer, Glenn Berger. She told me she's had lots of input about changes from friends and colleagues. 'No one has been hired or is being hired,' Taymor said. 'The director they mentioned is a friend of Michael Cohl's. I'm sure he asked his opinion. When a show's in previews, everyone gives their opinion. Try this, that. And the other guy, I've never even heard of him.'

Lahr writes 'Taymor has a dynamic, painterly sense of space; she can marshal all the sensual elements of movement, light, and perspective into amazing stage pictures. (Two minutes after the show had ended, I couldn't recall a line of dialogue, a song lyric, or a melody, but I do remember any number of the show's images.) Before our eyes, for instance, the New York sky line is tipped ninety degrees, so that what begins at street level ends up a bird's-eye view, with buglike yellow cabs skittering below; in another scene, the spider chorines dance before us, with their eight syncopated limbs. In these moments-and there are plenty of them-the audience finds itself exactly where Taymor wants it to be: in a waking dream. The technicians of wonder are the real stars of 'Spider-Man': George Tsypin and his ravishing angular cityscape, with its monumental Cubist and Constructivist touches; Kyle Cooper and his ingenious projection design; Eiko Ishioka and her witty, beautifully made costumes (I loved Swarm, a one-man killer-bee hive, and the Green Goblin's scaly carapace). The stagecraft is about as good as it gets: all 'Spider-Man' needs now is a new book and new songs. Call me, Mister Mercury, this show will never be frozen.'

Michael Riedel reported this morning in the New York Post that SPIDER-MAN producers had reached out to Philip Wm. McKinley to potentially join the production as co-director along with Julie Taymor. In response, a production spokesperson for SPIDER-MAN has issued a statement that 'There is no truth to the rumor of a co-director. The production has not brought anyone on and the original creative team remains firmly in place, with Julie Taymor at the helm.'

Some have compared the situation of SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK to that of a circus, so perhaps it's fitting today that Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post that the production has reached out to Phil McKinley, who has a background directing the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He is also known however, for directing THE BOY FROM OZ on Broadway along with THE DESERT SONG at the New York City Opera, THE MOST HAPPY FELLA and more.

Red Bull Theater (Jesse Berger, Artistic Director) announces that The Witch of Edmonton, directed by Mr. Berger, which begins a limited engagement January 25th at Theater at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) will extend its acclaimed run until February 20th.

Final few performances held for The Witch Of Edmonton, show closes Sunday

It takes a strong creature to go against the cheering masses, to swim against the tide of social expectation, to be an individual and stand up for principle - especially if you're a bull in a ring and there's a red cape nearby.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is proud to announce casting for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Directed by Mark Waldrop, with choreography by Vince Pesce, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will run at the Millburn theater from March 16 through April 10, 2011. Family Week is March 16 to March 20 and during this period, children 18 and under receive half off the regular ticket price (certain restrictions apply). A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is generously supported by a grant from The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was selected by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as part of the American Masterpieces Series in New Jersey. American Masterpieces is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Final few performances held for The Witch Of Edmonton, show closes Sunday

According to a report by Deadline.com, producers of SPIDER-MAN : TURN OFF THE DARK have asked Roberto-Aguirre-Sacasa to rewrite the book to the show. The original book was a collaboration between Julie Taymor and Glen Berger. THis time around, the show will be reworked by a Spidey expert, as Aguirra-Sacasa has written Spider-Man comics for Marvel in the past. Additionally, he penned the book for Dallas Theatre Center's IT'S A PLANE, IT'S SUPERMAN!

The intricate webs of love lost, found, and anticipated will be revealed in Pierrot Productions' presentation of 'A Little Night Music,' the award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical, at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Dates and show times for this elegant bittersweet comedy are Fridays, March 4 and 11 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, March 5 and 12 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, March 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on March 4.

Ayer por la mañana el musical Hair hizo su propia celebración de San Valentín. Esta celebración consistió en un beso multitudinario, de un minuto de duración, enfrente del Teatre Apolo. Las 100 primeras parejas consiguieron una entrada doble para la función de esa misma noche y todas las parejas participantes se llevaron un obsequio a casa.

The Red Bull Theater, those specialists in making Jacobean drama hip without going hipster, have assembled an excellent company for Jesse Berger's vividly realized mounting of the 1621 rarity, The Witch of Edmonton.

UPTOWN NIGHTS AT HARLEM STAGE CABARET CHOCOLAT Sat. Feb. 12 • 7:30 pm • Harlem Stage at Aaron Davis Hall

Reeve Carney performs songs by one iconic rock group every night with SPIDER-MAN, Turn Off the Dark's score being written by U2's Bono and The Edge, but he recently sang another famed group's song when he performed Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' for Rolling Stone. View Carney's performance below!

So what does the SPIDER-MAN cast think of the harsh reviews the show received earlier this week? Click below to hear what Green Goblin Patrick Page had to say on MSNBC's Morning Joe earlier today.

The Edwards Twins bring their Las Vegas #1 impersonation show back to Stoneham. Performances run from March 2-6: Wed. (7:30 pm), Thurs. (7:30 pm), Fri. (8 pm), Sat. (4 pm & 8 pm), Sun. (2 pm).

The Theater Company (TTC) can't stand the 'antici...pation' anymore! Richard O'Brien's THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW opens next week! This is TTC's second time producing this Sci-fi cult hit. Due to popular demand, it is being staged again after several years of their patrons begging for a revival. But don't expect the same production as last time, 'Rocky can be done in many different ways,' notes Producing Artistic Director David Zimmerman, 'and we are bringing a fresh design and look to the show instead of copying the movie or our past production. Director Billy Mitchell has shown in the past that he can relate to an audience and create something different and interesting all at the same time, so I am confident we will not only repeat our success, but sell out this production!'