Brian Usifer News

As it approaches its much-anticipated Australian premiere in Sydney in July, Frozen is thrilled to announce the two exceptional performers that have been cast in the lead roles of Elsa and Anna.

According to a report in Variety, The Heart of Rock and Roll, is still beating. The new musical inspired by the music of Huey Lewis and The News, is still aiming for a Broadway bow.

Arendelle will soon welcome new royalty! BroadwayWorld has just learned that Ciara Renée, McKenzie Kurtz and Ryan McCartan will soon join the cast of Broadway's Frozen as Elsa, Anna, and Hans. All three will play their first performance on February 18. They take over the roles from original company members Caissie Levy and Patti Murin and Joe Carroll.

This winter and spring, Joe's Pub a?" a program and venue of The Public Theater a?" is honoring new voices in musical theater through a variety of shows. From Broadway performers in concert to new musicals presented in the concert setting, there's something for every fan of musicals happening this season. Audiences are invited to celebrate the art of musical theater in non-conventional yet intimate ways with returning artists and new faces alike at Joe's Pub.

Check out Joe's Pub lineup for the Under the Radar festival featuring new and experimental work from Rizo (fka Lady Rizo), Lucy McComick, Daniel J. Watts, and Ryan J. Haddad. Rounding out the week is Kittel & Co, Ethan Lipton & His Orchestra, Jean-Michel Blais, Rev Billy, a very fun showcase from DANCE NOW, Nellie McKay, Aditya Prakash, Damien Sneed, William Prince, Xenia França, Luis Enrique and, as always, a ton more.

Lively McCabe Entertainment announces a partnership with Brian Kelley -- of the multi-platinum, award-winning duo Florida Georgia Line -- via his CuzBro Productions banner, on the recently announced new musical MAY WE ALL. Kelley and partners Stephen Snedden and Justin Halliwell join previously announced producers, Lively McCabe Entertainment President Michael Barra, and Elyse Cogan, Director, Theatrical for BMG. CuzBro will be actively involved in the creative development of the project, and a developmental production will be staged in Memphis, Tennessee at Playhouse on the Square in the fall of 2020 (dates TBA). The producers are simultaneously pursuing a feature film adaptation of the musical.

Lively McCabe Entertainment announces a partnership with Brian Kelley -- of the multi-platinum, award-winning duo Florida Georgia Line -- via his CuzBro Productions banner, on the recently announced new musical MAY WE ALL. Kelley and partners Stephen Snedden and Justin Halliwell join previously announced producers, Lively McCabe Entertainment President Michael Barra, and Elyse Cogan, Director, Theatrical for BMG. CuzBro will be actively involved in the creative development of the project, and a developmental production will be staged in Memphis, Tennessee at Playhouse on the Square in the fall of 2020 (dates TBA). The producers are simultaneously pursuing a feature film adaptation of the musical.

We asked BroadwayWorld readers to give us their most burning questions about theatre's inner workings, and we received a question asking about what out-of-town tryouts are heading to the stage in the coming months. So we've put together a look to productions from around the country, from Atlanta to Chicago to San Diego and more! Check out our guide to get a peek at upcoming shows including Six, Almost Famous, Becoming Nancy, and more!

It was announced today that the new musical Swept Away, featuring the music of The Avett Brothers, will have its world premiere at Berkeley Rep as part of their 2019-20 season, beginning performances in June 2020. Swept Away is produced by Berkeley Rep by special arrangement with Matthew Masten and Sean Hudock.

Frozen is celebrating the first day of summer, today, Friday, June 21, with the release of three brand new music videos featuring the current stars of the hit Broadway musical, including the first recorded performance by Ryann Redmond as Olaf, the first female to portray the beloved snowman in any production of Frozen.

It was announced today that the new musical Swept Away, featuring the music of The Avett Brothers, will have its world premiere at Berkeley Rep as part of their 2019-20 season, beginning performances in June 2020. Swept Away is produced by Berkeley Rep by special arrangement with Matthew Masten and Sean Hudock.

As Frozen celebrates its first smash year on Broadway on March 22nd, Disney Theatrical Productions has announced that the show will have three international productions, joining the previously announced North American tour launching this fall.

From the producers of The Lion King and Aladdin, Disney's Frozen, the Tony -nominated Best Musical, will play an exclusive 11-week premiere engagement at Broadway In Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph) beginning October 21, 2020, with performances playing through January 3, 2021.

Today, the producers of The Heart of Rock and Roll, the electrifying new musical inspired by the music of Huey Lewis and The News, announced that they are moving forward with their four-week work session on Monday, February 25, as scheduled. The work session will culminate in three invitation-only presentations taking place on Thursday, March 21 and Friday, March 22. The work session is the first to move forward under the newly negotiated AEA agreement.

From the producers of The Lion King and Aladdin, Disney's Frozen, the Tony-nominated Best Musical, will play a premiere engagement at the Civic Center Music Hall in the spring of 2021, with performance dates to be announced at a later time.

La Vie Productions in association with Playwrights Horizons will present a private industry reading of Into the Wild, a new musical featuring a book and lyrics by Janet Allard and music and lyrics by Niko Tsakalakos, today, Friday, February 8, 2019 in NYC. Inspired by the book "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer and the photographic history of Chris McCandless' journey as shown in The McCandless Foundation's published work "Back to the Wild," the industry presentation will be directed by Lila Neugebauer with musical supervision/ arrangements by Brian Usifer.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) announced today that Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play, "Daddy") and Heidi Schreck (the Broadway-bound What the Constitution Means to Me), the playwrights behind NYTW's two sold-out fall productions, will co-host the NYTW 2019 Gala celebrating 40 Years of New York Theatre Workshop and honoring Founding Trustee Stephen Graham.

Just last night, New York Stage and Film held its annual Winter Gala, featuring performances and appearances by Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Robin Baitz, Tony Award nominee Santino Fontana, David Forman, Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr, Grammy Award nominee Rob Hyman, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Mozhan Marno, Bonnie Milligan, Manu Narayan, Josh Radnor, Dee Roscioli, Academy Award and Tony Award winner John Patrick Shanley, Grammy Award and Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik, and Obie Award winner Lucy Thurber. Brian Usifer served as Musical Director.

New York Stage and Film is thrilled to announce that its annual Winter Gala will feature performances and appearances by Tony Award nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist Jon Robin Baitz, Tony Award nominee Santino Fontana, David Forman, Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr, Grammy Award nominee Rob Hyman, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Mozhan Marno, Bonnie Milligan, Manu Narayan, Josh Radnor, Dee Roscioli, Academy Award  and Tony Award winner John Patrick Shanley, Grammy Award and Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik, and Obie Award  winner Lucy Thurber. Brian Usifer serves as Musical Director.

New York Theatre Workshop's 2019 Gala will celebrate 40 Years of New York Theatre Workshop and honor Founding Trustee Stephen Graham.