Bill Berry News

Tony Award-nominated actor Mario Cantone will star in the world premiere production of Bliss at 5th Avenue Theatre.

The 5th Avenue Theatre and the Abingdon Theatre Company, will present a 29 Hour reading of a beautiful new musical, Corner of Bitter & Sweet, book by Lainie Sakakura, music & lyrics by Paul Fujimoto on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 2:30pm Theatre 71 | 152 West 71st Street, NYC.

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced the full cast for its new production of Austen's Pride: A New Musical of Pride and Prejudice, which is now in rehearsals and begins performances in Seattle on October 4, 2019.

Craft Recordings is excited to announce a 25th anniversary reissue of R.E.M.'s acclaimed ninth album, Monster. Remastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, the title will be available on various physical formats, as well as digitally, on November 1. A five-CD, one-Blu-ray deluxe box set will include the original album, a special 2019 remix from Monster producer Scott Litt, a CD of previously unreleased demos from the album and a complete live 1995 performance captured in Chicago. The accompanying Blu-ray will offer Monster in both hi-resolution audio and 5.1 Surround Sound, as well as a host of video content: the 90-minute film Road Movie, which documents R.E.M.'s 1995 tour, and all six music videos from Monster. The collection will be packaged in a five-and-a-half-inch portfolio book, featuring liner notes by journalist Matthew Perpetua—with new insight from band members—and archival photographs. An expanded edition of Monster, offering the original album and the 2019 remixed version, will also be available on two 180-gram vinyl LPs or two CDs, both featuring reimagined cover art by longtime R.E.M. designer Chris Bilheimer. The remastered album will also be available as a standalone 180-gram vinyl LP, with Bilheimer's original Monster art.

This is definitely something that will last: on this day six years ago, the original musical First Date officially opened on Broadway! To celebrate, we're looking back at the show's opening night with Zachary Levi, Krysta Rodriguez, and more. Get a peek at the show's first impression by checking out the video!

The 5th Avenue Theatre is currently bustling with nearly 100 high school students from all over Washington State who are hard at work in the rehearsal hall and backstage for Rising Star Project: West Side Story, which will play for three performances only from July 12 - 13, 2019. Rising Star Project, a 5th Avenue Theatre education program that places musical theater in the hands of tomorrow's artists, innovators, and leaders, allows teenagers to develop professional skills by producing and performing a musical on The 5th's mainstage. This year, which marks the seventh Rising Star Project production, students are in the process of remounting The 5th's professional production of West Side Story (May 31 - June 23, 2019), created by an all-student cast and crew, as well as students working in producing, development, marketing, and casting departments, with guidance and mentorship from The 5th's staff. A complete list of participating students is included at the end of this release.

Overture Center for the Arts announced today the upcoming Playhouse Gallery exhibition by the Wisconsin Humanities Council and Centro Hispano, Immigrant Journeys from South of the Border Mi traves a hasta Wisconsin! will run from Wednesday, July 10-Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019 with reception on Sunday, July 14 from 3-5 p.m. Admission to the gallery and reception are free and open to the public.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature Clay Aiken in GREASE, ROCK OF AGES in LA, Rachel York in 42nd Street & More!

The 5th Avenue Theatre is announcing a change in its 2019/20 season lineup. The world premiere of an original new musical, Bliss, will replace the previously announced Stu for Silverton in early 2020. Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry said, "Even though we do not like to make changes after we have announced our season, we are very proud of the hundreds of thousands of audience members who come to The 5th each year and understand that this is sometimes part of the process of being one of the leading theaters in the country producing new musicals."

West Side Story is running now through June 23 at 5th Avenue Theatre.

I used to hate Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim's "West Side Story". My only exposure was the movie and I found the story flat and unconvincing. I mean, an entire song just repeating her name? Geeze, learn how to write a lyric. But then a touring production came through town and they got it. They understood what they were singing about and knew how to convey it. And then I got it too. He only needs the one word because it's all he wants to hear. And I fell in love with the show but only when it's done well. Since then I've seen many productions of varying levels of quality. Now comes the current production from the 5th Avenue Theatre and Spectrum Dance Theatre and while it has some moments and some good dance sequences thanks to choreographer Bob Richards who did his darnedest to reproduce the original Jerome Robbins choreography, it lacks the ability to convey the story and the love thanks to some lackluster lead performances and staging and intent from director Bill Berry that just didn't get it.

Monkey Mind is a family rock musical about a bright, precocious teen driven to thoughts of suicide because of an over active mind. This lesson of life becomes an uplifting and fun experience. Monkey Mind opens June 8th for the Hollywood Fringe Festival at The McCadden Place Theatre at 1157 N. McCadden Place in Hollywood. WriterTerri Weiss sat down recently to discuss the show. 

The 5th Avenue Theatre is thrilled to announce the nominees for the 17th annual 5th Avenue Theatre Awards: Honoring High School Musicals, the highly anticipated award show proudly sponsored by Wells Fargo with additional support from Alaska Airlines. Visit our blog for a complete list of nominees.

This summer, nearly 100 high school students from all over Washington State will convene at The 5th Avenue Theatre for Rising Star Project: West Side Story. This special production is part of The 5th Avenue Theatre's Rising Star Project, a program that places musical theater in the hands of tomorrow's artists, innovators, and leaders. Rising Star Project allows teenagers to develop professional skills by producing and performing a musical on The 5th's mainstage.

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced the full cast for West Side Story, the sweeping musical version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in the turbulent streets of New York City, where a star-crossed love blossoms between rival gangs. William Branner (National Tour: Bat Out Of Hell, Off-Broadway: Kragtar: An American Monster Musical) joins the cast to star as Tony, replacing the previously announced CJ Eldred.

 Monkey Mind is a family rock musical about a bright, precocious teen driven to thoughts of suicide because of an over active mind. This lesson of life becomes an uplifting and fun experience. Monkey Mind opens June for the Hollywood Fringe Festival at The McCadden Place Theatre - 1157 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles, CA 90038.

Craft Recordings is pleased to announce the vinyl reissue ofR.E.M.'s platinum-selling collection, In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003. Available for thefirst time on vinyl in over 15 years, the album includes 18 songs from the Athens, GA alt-rockers, spanning 1988's Green to 2001's Reveal, plus two previously unreleased tracks. The double-LP set—which makes its debut on audiophile-quality, 180-gram vinyl on June 14th—is housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket. In addition to the wide reissue of In Time, a special version—pressed on translucent blue vinyl—will be available exclusively at Barnes & Noble.

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced initial casting for West Side Story, the sweeping tale of young lovers caught between prejudice and warring street gangs in what is one of the most important and powerful musicals of all time.

Since the joint production between the 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT of "Urinetown" was announced I heard far too often from people that they wouldn't want to see that. A stupid musical about pee? "I don't care for shows that are all bathroom humor," I would hear. And I'd have to defend this wonderful show explaining that it's a super funny, well written show, yes with peeing as the basic setting, but that it was so much more as it pokes fun at government corruption and is an homage to famous musicals who came before. I guess Little Sally from "Urinetown" was right that nothing can kill a show faster than bad subject matter or a bad title. But then her stating that is why this self-referential, meta show works so well. It knows it's ridiculous and it embraces it. And the same could be said for this wonderful production that went for every bad joke with brilliant comic timing and then some.

The 5th Avenue Theatre and ACT - A Contemporary Theatre announced today that their co-production of Urinetown has been extended by popular demand, adding five performances through June 2. Urinetown, which is now in performances, is the Tony-nominated, unforgettable piece of theatrical satire that imagines the consequences when the tangle between capitalism and politics gets too complex to unwind. The 5th Avenue Theatre's Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry directs.