Bob Wankel News

The Broadway League has announced that Thomas Schumacher, President & Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions, was elected as Chairman of the Board of The Broadway League today.

Gary Barlow and Tim Firth's new British musical, The Girls, based on the true story, the film and the award-winning play by Tim Firth, Calendar Girls, opened in London's West End at the Phoenix Theatre. The West End premiere follows sold-out runs at the Grand Theatre Leeds and the Lowry Salford late 2015/early 2016. In the West End, the producers have made a commitment to there being no 'premium-rated' seats, no booking fees and reduced price previews.

Dress Circle Publishing will celebrate their new book THE UNTOLD STORIES OF BROADWAY, VOLUME 3 - the latest in a series by acclaimed historian and producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper - with a special event at The Drama Book Shop (250 West 4oth Street in Manhattan) today, December 1 at 5:30 PM.

Dress Circle Publishing will celebrate their new book THE UNTOLD STORIES OF BROADWAY, VOLUME 3 - the latest in a series by acclaimed historian and producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper - with a special event at The Drama Book Shop (250 West 4oth Street in Manhattan) on Thursday, December 1 at 5:30 PM.

Just last night, the American Theatre Wing honored legendary Tony Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson at its annual gala at The Plaza Hotel (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South). Tony Award winners Cynthia Erivo and Adriane Lenox, as well as Tony Award nominees Danielle Brooks and Saycon Sengbloh performed for the special night.

Producer Scott Rudin announced today that, on the heels of winning four Tony Awards including Best Play, The Humans will move into Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) to extend its limited run. The Humans will play its first performance in its new home on Tuesday, August 9. It will play its final performance at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Sunday, July 24, and then take a two-week hiatus to allow for the move. As previously announced, the Hayes is set to undergo significant renovations beginning in August.

The Tony Awards Nominations Announcement was hosted by former co-stars of Broadway's THE BOOK OF MORMON earlier this week: past Tony Award-winner Nikki M. James and past Tony-nominee and Grammy Award-winner Andrew Rannells. BroadwayWorld is taking you inside the special morning below!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Get on your feet for Gloria Estefan's new musical, opening tonight on Broadway!

The New York Landmarks Conservancy will host its 22nd Living Landmarks Celebration today, November 5, 2015 at The Plaza at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, New York City. BroadwayWorld has learned that among this year's honorees are Broadway impresarios Phil Smith and Bob Wankel. Not only that, but special presenters also include Bernadette Peters and Joel Grey, with Brian Stokes Mitchell slated to perform.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy will host its 22nd Living Landmarks Celebration on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at The Plaza at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, New York City. BroadwayWorld has learned that among this year's honorees are Broadway impresarios Phil Smith and Bob Wankel. Not only that, but special presenters also include Bernadette Peters and Joel Grey, with Brian Stokes Mitchell slated to perform.

Acclaimed Director James Lapine was honored with the 2015 "Mr. Abbott" Award for the outstanding artistry and creativity of his forty-year (and counting) career on Monday October 19th.

Broadway continues its 2014-2015 season momentum. In addition to the 17 shows that have already opened this season -- joining the 18 long-running shows currently playing on the boards -- to date, 19 more shows have announced opening dates this spring with more expected to announce.

The Shubert Organization has signed a three-year development/production deal with producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, it was announced today by Shubert Chairman, Philip J. Smith, and Shubert President, Robert E. Wankel.

Cameron Mackintosh announced today that his acclaimed new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece LES MISERABLES will return to the Imperial Theatre, the show's home on Broadway for nearly 13 years and 5244 performances. Previews for the new production of LES MISERABLES will begin Saturday, March 1 with an official opening night Sunday, March 23. The original New York production of LES MISERABLES premiered first at the Broadway Theatre on March 12, 1987, later moving to the Imperial on October 17, 1990, where it played until May 18, 2003, for a total Broadway run of 6680 performances. The casting process for the new production has begun and will be completed later this summer.

Jeffrey Finn, Tony Award nominated Broadway producer, was just presented The Commercial Theater Institute's Robert Whitehead Award for 'outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing' at a reception at Sardi's Restaurant yesterday, March 6. Check out photos from the ceremony below!

Cameron Mackintosh announced today that his acclaimed new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece LES MISERABLES will come to Broadway in March, 2014 at a Shubert theater to be announced. This newly re-imagined LES MISERABLES is breaking box-office records across the country and around the world and inspired filmmakers to make the immensely successful movie which has been nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture and has won 3 Golden Globes including Best Picture, as well as 4 BAFTA's. The new production has been a sell-out since launching a U.S. national tour in November 2010, having already played in 64 cities throughout North America, grossing more than $130 million. International productions of the new LES MISERABLES have met with equal success and acclaim in the U.K, France, Spain and Korea. New productions are scheduled to open in the coming months in Japan, Canada, Australia and Brazil.

Five time Tony® award-winning Broadway producer, Jon B. Platt, will be presented The Commercial Theater Institute's Robert Whitehead Award for "outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing" at a reception at Sardi's on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. David Stone, Stuart Thompson, and Bob Wankel will present the award.

Five time Tony® award-winning Broadway producer, Jon B. Platt, will be presented The Commercial Theater Institute's Robert Whitehead Award for "outstanding achievement in commercial theatre producing" at a reception at Sardi's on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. David Stone, Stuart Thompson, and Bob Wankel will present the award.

Broadway continues its 2011-2012 season momentum. In addition to the 19 shows that have already opened this season - joining the 17 long-running shows currently playing on the boards - over 16 more shows have announced opening dates this spring, with more expected to announce.