Bill T. Jones News

The only negative thing I'll say about Fela!, the Off-Broadway docu-musical inspired by the life of Nigerian political activist and musical revolutionary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, is that it never engaged this martini-swilling Manhattanite who entered the theatre unschooled in the culture and politics of the protagonist's homeland. The professionalism, exuberance and entertainment value of the piece is undeniable and I imagine many of my dear readers would have a terrific time visiting 37 Arts these days. But unless you're going in with a full knowledge of and an emotional attachment to its controversial subject, you may find, save for a well done moment late in the game, there is little dramatic pull to the proceedings to sustain interest for its two and a half hours. An audience full of fans of this internationally known artist who died in 1997 might understandably be thrilled by Fela! but while its potent message of the power of music to combat oppression is certainly universal, it took a review of the text's stage directions and a bit of Googling for this neophyte to get a fuller picture of the life and culture on display.

A celebration art and social activism begin on October 17th when the Stella Adler Studio of Acting kicks off its third annual Harold Clurman Festival of the Arts.

The world premiere of Fela!, a new musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti, will play the final performance of its extended run Sunday, October 5th at 37 Arts (450 West 37th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues.

Spring Awakening cast members Hunter Parrish, Gerard Canonico, Blake Daniel, Amanda Castanos, Jenna Ushkowitz and Eryn Murman are currently featured on a special 'Rock the Vote' PSA.

The Talking Band will present the New York Premiere of FLIP SIDE, written by Ellen Maddow and directed by Paul Zimet, Friday, September 26 - October 19, 2008 at The Connelly Theatre (220 East 4th Street).

For a limited member of BroadwayWorld.com can save on tickets costs for select performances of A Quarreling Pair at BAM. Use promotional code 10131 at BAM.org to receive a 25% discount.

Broadway fans are invited to SIRIUS Live on Broadway with host Seth Rudetsky at the Broadway Concierge & Ticket Center each Wednesday at 12 noon ET to watch interviews and performances with their favorite Broadway stars such as Tony Award®-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth and Xanadu star Cheyenne Jackson and cast members from popular Broadway shows [title of show], Avenue Q, Grease and Spring Awakening. Coming up - Wednesday, September 24th at 12:00PM, Seth welcomes Gerard Canonico (Moritz) and Emma Hunton (Ilse) from Broadway's Spring Awakening.

The Harold Clurman Festival of the Arts will kick off with a symposium discussing Art and Social Activism: Spotlight on Africa with participants Nima, Elbagir, Mira Sorvino, Winter Miller, Melissa Fitzgerald, John Prendergast and others.

Broadway fans are invited to SIRIUS Live on Broadway with host Seth Rudetsky at the Broadway Concierge & Ticket Center each Wednesday at 12 noon ET to watch interviews and performances with their favorite Broadway stars such as Tony Award®-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth and Xanadu star Cheyenne Jackson and cast members from popular Broadway shows [title of show], Avenue Q, Grease and Spring Awakening. Coming up - Wednesday, September 24th at 12:00PM, Seth welcomes Gerard Canonico (Moritz) and Emma Hunton (Ilse) from Broadway's Spring Awakening.

SPRING AWAKENING, the smash hit rock musical and winner of eight 2007 Tony Awards including Best Musical is now playing San Francisco's Curran Theatre through Sunday, Oct. 12. $40 RUSH tickets will be available for all performances except Saturday evening. These special RUSH tickets can be purchased on the day of performance only and are available when the box office opens at either the Curran Theatre Box Office (445 Geary Street) or the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (1192 Market Street at 8th). The rush tickets are available to anyone, with a limit of two tickets per person. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. Some restrictions may apply and tickets are subject to availability. This offer is not valid on previously purchased tickets.

A composer, performer, violinist, and band leader, Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) seamlessly blends classical music, funk, rock, and hip-hop into a unique musical vision.

Spring Awakening: In The Flesh , arrives in bookstores this month and to celebrate the arrival, the books author David Cote was joined by the show's Tony Award-Winners Steven Sater (Book & Lyrics) and Duncan Sheik (Music) on Monday, September 15 and had an informative 'conversation' - on the show, the music and its long-running success at The Barnes & Noble Store at the Lincoln Triangle (1972 Broadway @ 66th Street). In addition, cast members from Spring Awakening including Hunter Parrish and Alexandra Socha performed select numbers from the show. Following the presentation the cast and creative team signed copies of the new book, and the Spring Awakening original cast recording.

Spring Awakening continues its record-breaking run at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230 West 49th Street. The production welcomed several new cast members, including 'WEEDS' star Hunter Parrish. The musical, with music by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater is choreographed by Bill T. Jones and directed by Michael Mayer. Winner of 8 2007 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Spring Awakening is the groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and rock & roll, celebrating the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood.

Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay announced today that, due to overwhelming popular demand, the world premiere of Fela!, a new musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has extended its run through Saturday, October 4 at 37 Arts (450 West 37th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues

BroadwayWorld.com recently held a special contest and gave one lucky Spring Awakening fan the opportunity to interview Hunter Parrish. The winning contestant was picked to have a q&a with Hunter live via telephone, well, that is what the contest originally announced, but we had something much more fun in the works, thanks to the very helpful Spring Awakening production offices we had the winner, Linda Buchwald see the show and meet Hunter in person to conduct the interview!

SHN is pleased to announce the national tour of 'Spring Awakening,' winner of eight 2007 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will launch at San Francisco's Curran Theatre in the fall of 2008.

Nearly one hundred years after German playwright Frank Wedekind's death, his daring 1891 play, Spring Awakening, was adapted by playwright-poet Steven Sater, scored by pop singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik, and guided by visionary director Michael Mayer.

Ruth & Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay present the world premiere of Fela!, a new musical based on the life of groundbreaking African composer, performer and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

Spring Awakening, Broadway's groundbreaking Grammy winning musical hit, breaks ground again as the first Broadway show ever invited by iTunes to record a 'LIVE from SoHo' concert, joining an illustrious list of 'LIVE from SoHo' artists including; Maroon 5, Linkin Park, Counting Crows, Taylor Swift and The Decemberists. The live concert event was recorded at NYC's Apple Store/Soho on August 8 and features John Gallagher Jr., Hunter Parrish, Lauren Pritchard, Alexandra Socha, and Duncan Sheik.

There was a bit more to applaud during the curtain call at Spring Awakening after the August 21st performance, audience member James Beneduce, of Eastern Long Island, took to the stage and asked Jennifer Li, a huge Spring Awakening fan to be his wife. The onstage proposal--which had been arranged by a few phone calls to the show's management--was announced by Spring Awakening star Hunter Parrish.