Brian Yorkey News

As the 21st Century chugs along toward completing its first decade, perhaps Broadway's new role in American theatre with emerge as the place where talented composers and lyricists with interesting projects will premiere their less-inspired shows while their exciting, adventurous and better-written work continues to hide in the under-publicized shadows of Off- and Off-Off Broadway, festivals and the occasional cabaret appearance.  Just as Legally Blonde, the Broadway debut of composer/lyricists Lawrence O'Keefe (Bat Boy, Sarah, Plain and Tall) and Nell Benjamin (Pirates!, Sarah, Plain and Tall) doesn't match the quality of their Off-Broadway and regional work, last season composer Tom Kitt made his first main stem appearance with the catchy-tuned and enjoyable, but not especially notable, High Fidelity while musical theatre lovers in the know were anxiously awaiting a production of Feeling Electric, his substantially superior collaboration with bookwriter/lyricist Brian Yorkey, first seen at the 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Village Theatre is excited to announce that The Importance of Being Earnest will open in Issaquah at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 8:00 PM. A single preview performance will take place the night before, Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 8:00 PM. The show will open in Everett at the Everett Performing Arts Center on Friday, March 6, 2009 at 8:00 PM.

Now in it's sixth incarnation, the New Voices series is a concert showcasing the best of today's most promising young musical theatre composers. An exciting blend of Sondheim and pop/rock, this next generation of composers is turning Broadway on its ear with musicals about grunge bands, electroshock therapy, road trips, and Anna Nicole Smith. Performed by some of Seattle's hottest talent, join us for a break from the holidays for an evening of brand new musical theatre songs. The latest installment will perform December 29 at 8:30pm at the Leo K. Theatre at Seattle Rep.

A musical about depression? Yes. You'll not only enjoy it, you may even learn something.

Students! Come join Arena Stage for a special performance event of Next to Normal on December 22, 2008. Enjoy watching the show with others your age and meeting the cast afterwards!

Tom Kitt (composer) and Brian Yorkey's (Book writer and lyricist) rock musical Next To Normal opened December 10th at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. BroadwayWorld took in a preview performance to bring you exclusive photos of the Arena Stage run!

Tom Kitt (composer) and Brian Yorkey's (Book writer and lyricist) rock musical Next to Normal opens December 10 at Arena Stage in Washington, DC.

Students! Come join Arena Stage for a special performance event of Next to Normal on December 22, 2008. Enjoy watching the show with others your age and meeting the cast afterwards!

Several great performers have joined the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals on October 20 & 21 at New World Stages and more have been added to the benefit concert A Toast for 20! on October 19th at COMIX.

Several great performers have joined the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals on October 20 & 21 at New World Stages and more have been added to the benefit concert A Toast for 20! on October 19th at COMIX.

The previously announced Alice Ripley and J. Robert Spencer will be joined by Adam Chanler-Berat, Jennifer Damiano, Louis Hobson and Aaron Tveit for the upcoming hit musical Next to Normal.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) and Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the directors and casts for the eight musicals being presented at its 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals at New World Stages (340 West 50th St) on Monday, October 20 and Tuesday, October 21, 2008. Also, announced were the line-up for this year's Songwriter Showcase happening during the Festival.

Arena Stage will once again make history with ARENA RESTAGED, a massive, two-year festival celebrating the rich mosaic of our nation's voices.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Roger T. Danforth and Gabriel Shanks, Executive Directors) proudly announces the roster of presenters scheduled to appear for the The 74th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 16, 2008 (noon) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival announces the first 12 new musicals selected for this year's fifth annual New York Musical Theatre Festival, which will run from September 15 through October 5, 2008.

Village Theatre announces the cast for AIDA, the exhilarating pop-rock powerhouse by Elton John and Tim Rice, on stage May 14 - July 6, 2008 in Issaquah and July 11 - 27, 2008 in Everett.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Roger T. Danforth and Gabriel Shanks, Co-Managing Directors) proudly announces nominations for the 2007-08 Drama League Awards, to be awarded at The 74th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 16, 2008 (noon) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street).

Village Theatre brings the 2007-2008 Season to a climactic close with Elton John and Tim Rice's pop-rock musical sensation AIDA.

THE LEAGUE OF OFF-BROADWAY THEATRES AND PRODUCERS today announced the nominations for THE 23rd ANNUAL LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OFF-BROADWAY, which will be presented on Monday, May 5th at the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street).

Second Stage Theatre has announced a one week extension of the new musical Next to Normal, featuring Alice Ripley, Brian d'Arcy James, Adam Chanler-Berat, Jennifer Damiano, Asa Somers, and Aaron Tveit. The musical, which was scheduled to close on Sunday, March 9, will now run through Sunday, March 16.