Beth Leavel News

Recently, Upright's Chris Isaacson attended the opening night of 'Minsky's' at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Broadway Artists Alliance, the dynamic not-for-profit educational organization that is quickly gaining a reputation for ensuring the future of great Broadway talent by bringing together Broadway artists and promising young performers, presented their annual Winter Musical Theatre Workshop February 14th through 16th. Michael Cerveris, currently starring in Hedda Gabler, surprised the students with a visit. Seth Rudetsky moderated the Q&A.

Broadway Artists Alliance, the dynamic not-for-profit educational organization that is quickly gaining a reputation for ensuring the future of great Broadway talent by bringing together Broadway artists and promising young performers, will present their annual Winter Musical Theatre Workshop February 14th through 16th. Their roster of Broadway special guest instructors is impressive and diverse, ranging from Constantine Maroulis to returning guest Lauren Kennedy.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) is pleased to announce another all-star line-up for the company's annual gala, to be held Monday, March 9, 2009 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

Associated Press Theatre writer Michael Kuchwara is reporting that 'Minsky's,' the musical tale of Depression era burlesque that just opened last week in Los Angeles, is set for a summer or fall Broadway bow, according to its producers.

'MINKSY'S' book writer Bob Martin is featured on Toronto's TheStar.com chatted about his work on the new musical 'Minsky's', Bob Martin created and starred on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone.

Minsky's opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews began January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, Applause) and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead (Jelly's Last Jam and Triumph of Love), Minsky's is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Drowsy Chaperone).

'Minsky's' opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews began January 21).

'Minsky's' opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews began January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse ('Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Annie,' 'Applause') and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead ('Jelly's Last Jam' and 'Triumph of Love'), 'Minsky's' is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone')

Minsky's is the second new musical playing the Ahmanson this season, boasting a book by Bob Martin and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, who both crafted the U.S. premiere of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone at the Ahmanson in 2005. Composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie) will join lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Triumph of Love) on the musical, which begins performances January 21 through March 1, 2009.

Young Frankenstein will close on Broadway on Janury 4, 2009. The announcement was made by Producer Robert F.X. Sillerman. The show opened in November 2007 at the Hilton Theatre.

Minsky's is a big, racy, new musical comedy set in a time when entertainment was about legs and laughs, and you had to push the limits to keep the customers buying tickets. A rollicking backstage story, set in Prohibition Era New York City. Tony Award winning costume designer Gregg Barnes talked about his creations for MINSKY'S on the show's official site in a wonderful audio/video essay that we are excited to bring you here on BWW TV!

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. brought SHREK THE MUSICAL to the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway @ 53rd St) last night Sunday, December 14, 2008. Preview performances began on Saturday, November 8, 2008. The big green musical celebrated in full Broadway style and BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to bring you the starry arrivals for Shrek's big night!

Former SNL genius, Celebrity Autobiography mainstay and gifted comic actress Rachel Dratch is a member of the cast of the currently in rehearsal musical Minsky's, she reveals her joy of working with composer Charles Strouse and her hope of it continuing to Broadway in the future to NYMag.com's Diana Scholl.

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for the world premiere of 'Minsky's,' which opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews begin January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse ('Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Annie,' 'Applause') and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead ('Jelly's Last Jam' and 'Triumph of Love'), 'Minsky's' is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone').

Minsky's is the second new musical playing the Ahmanson this season, boasting a book by Bob Martin and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, who both crafted the U.S. premiere of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone at the Ahmanson in 2005. Composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie) will join lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Triumph of Love) on the musical, which begins performances January 21 through March 1, 2009.

Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS, a new musical stage reinvention of the cherished classic film, arrived on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre for 65 performances only - guaranteeing New York a very 'white' Christmas! BroadwayWorld.com sent our cameras on their 'merry' way to join in on all the holiday fun of Opening Night!

The New York Times reports that Young Frankenstein will close on Broadway on Janury 4, 2009. The announcement was made by Producer Robert F.X. Sillerman. The show opened in November 2007 at the Hilton Theatre.

Cory English begins as the new Igor in Mel Brooks' award-winning Young Frankenstein this Tuesday, November 25th, at Broadway's Hilton Theatre (213 W 42nd St), joining current cast members Roger Bart, Shuler Hensley, Beth Leavel, Fred Applegate, Michele Ragusa, and Kelly Sullivan. Young Frankenstein's original Igor, Christopher Fitzgerald - Tony nominated for his performance - completes his run Sunday, November, 23rd.

Today's Page Six in the Sunday New York Post reports that Mel Brooks asked 'Tropic Thunder' star Jack Black to join the Broadway cast of his 'Young Frankenstein,' when the comic actor asked which role - Igor or Dr. Frankenstein? Brooks said 'either one,' but Black politely declined according to the Page Six columnist.