Broadway Across America News

The Wicked touring company and Hennepin Theatre Trust are pleased to announce that a day-of-performance lottery for alimited number of orchestra seats will be held prior to each performance of Wicked during the Minneapolis run, September 18-October 27. Two and one-half hours before each show, people who present themselves at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (910 Hennepin Avenue) will have their names placed in a lottery container. Thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This offer is available only in-person at the Orpheum Box Office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID to enter and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets

An all-star cast will take the stage at The 5th Avenue Theatre this fall in the celebrated organization's 15th new musical, Secondhand Lions. Based on the beloved film starring Michael Caine and Robert Duvall, Secondhand Lions springs to musical life in Seattle with a superbly talented cast of Broadway stars and Seattle musical theater actors. Lead by Tony Award nominees Gregg Edelman and Mark Jacoby, this adventure story also features Jason Danieley, Jenny Powers, Kevin Earley, Jared Michael Brown, Kendra Kassebaum, Sophia Anne Caruso, and Justin Huertas. Johnny Rabe, star of Broadway's A Christmas Story, takes center stage as Walter.

Flashdance - The Musical, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will make its Wisconsin premiere at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center Nov. 12-17. Tickets will go on sale Friday, Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. Ticket prices start at $50 and will be available at the Fox Cities P.A.C. ticket office, by visiting foxcitiespac.com, or by calling (800) 982-2787. Group orders a minimum of 10 or more may be placed by calling (920) 730-3786.

STOMP, the international percussion sensation, returns to Salt Lake City at Kingsbury Hall Friday, October 4 through Sunday, October 6. From its beginnings as a street performance in the UK, STOMP has grown into an international sensation over the past 20 years, having performed in more than 50 countries and in front of more than 24 million people.

The Pittsburgh return of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Friday, September 6 at 8:00 p.m., at the Benedum Center, for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, September 29, 2013. 'Sales for Pittsburgh's third return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING are brisk, but tickets can still be purchased, with weeknights having the best availability. By the end of the four-week, 32-performance run of the blockbuster engagement, we expect to host over 80,000 people at the Benedum Center-many who will be dining out, shopping, and booking hotel stays. All together, the economic impact for Downtown Pittsburgh and the Cultural District is expected to be significant,' comments Marc Fleming, Vice President of Marketing and Communications-Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Andrew Lippa, and a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August, BIG FISH begins performances on Broadway tonight, Thursday, September 5, 2013 and will open Sunday, October 6, 2013 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). A limited number of student rush tickets will be available when the box office opens (10am Monday through Saturday) for that day's performance(s). Tickets are $27 (inclusive of a $2 facility fee) and are only available in person at the Neil Simon box office. You must present a valid student ID. Limit two tickets per person.

In March 2011, Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, and Matt Stone's joyfully irreverent, soulfully blasphemous, and wholly scandalous comedy THE BOOK OF MORMON took Broadway by storm, going on to win 9 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Score. The musical quickly developed a ravenous parish of fans that simply couldn't get enough of the bawdy spectacle, and left many around the nation counting the days until the First National Tour kicked off. After a short two-and-a-half year wait, Houston audiences are getting their chance to experience the production, and judging by last night's reaction, we couldn't be more enthusiastic or pleased. Now holding a coveted spot as one of the best musicals I have ever seen, this show was definitely worth the wait!

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODYwith two special events in September. Amanda Green, the show's co-composer and lyricist and book writer Doug Wright, as well as several stars of the show, will appear at an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side (150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues). The event will feature original Broadway cast members Keith Carradine, Keala Settle, Janet Krupin, Corey March, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Jim Newman, Connie Ray, Jon Rua and Dale Soules. The exclusive event will take place tonight, September 4 at 7:00 PM. Call (212) 369-2180 for details.

THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, previously announced the lottery ticket policy for the National Tour, which begins today, September 3 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston and plays a limited two week engagement through Sunday, September 15. In Houston, the production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office before each performance, making a limited number of tickets available at $25 apiece, cash only.

The producers of the Tony Award winning new Broadway production of PIPPIN have just announced that two-time Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber (La Cage aux Folles, Shrek The Musical) will play the role of 'Charles' on Sunday, September 1 through Wednesday, September 4 and Sunday, September 15 through Wednesday, September 25 while three-time Tony Award nominee Terrence Mann is on vacation. Mr. Mann returns to the role full-time on Thursday, September 26. PIPPIN is now playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is pleased to announce the 2013-2014 Know The Show Before You Go program schedule for the 2103-2014 PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh Series. Know The Show Before You Go is hosted by Christopher Rawson, senior theater critic for KDKA-TV and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Ticket holders are invited to join Mr. Rawson and cast/company members at the Trust Arts Education Center (805-807 Liberty Avenue, 15222) on select evenings prior to PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh performances. Know The Show Before You Go provides educational and background information on each of the Broadway performances, aiming to further deepen each patron's theatrical experience. PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh is a presentation of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Broadway Across America and the Pittsburgh Symphony.

Producers Letty Aronson and Julian Schlossberg just announced that tickets for the world premiere production of BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, the new musical written byWoody Allen based on the screenplay by Allen and Douglas McGrath of the 1994 film, and directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, will go on sale thisSaturday, August 31, 2013.

The producers of the Broadway hit PIPPIN are pleased to congratulate two-time Tony Award winner Andrea Martin who will depart the production following the Sunday, September 22nd performance to lead the cast of the new Global TV series 'Working the Engels,' which will film in Toronto. A replacement for the role of 'Berthe' in PIPPIN will be announced soon. The show is currently playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

Wicked, the smash hit musical, makes its much-anticipated return to Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre, Wednesday, Sept. 18-Sunday, Oct. 27, 2013. This fourth Minneapolis engagement follows extremely popular runs in 2006, 2008 and 2010. Based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire about the untold story of the witches of Oz, Wicked is the winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony Awards. Wicked is a special addition to Hennepin Theatre Trust's 2013/14 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season. Tickets are on sale now. For more information or to buy tickets, call 1.800.982.2787 or visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

Perhaps the defining characteristic of Soho Rep, under the artistic direction of Sarah Benson, is the institution's commitment to artists creating surprisingly big theatrical events in its very small space on Walker Street. Soho Rep's 2013-14 season, announced today, provides ample evidence of that commitment, comprising two shows that are among the biggest the organization has ever produced: the New York premiere of David Adjmi's Marie Antoinette, directed by Rebecca Taichman and featuring Marin Ireland (Blasted); and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' An Octoroon, directed by Benson.

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODYwith two special events in September. Amanda Green, the show's co-composer and lyricist and book writer Doug Wright, as well as several stars of the show, will appear at an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side (150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues). The event will feature original Broadway cast members Keith Carradine, Keala Settle, Janet Krupin, Corey March, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Jim Newman, Connie Ray, Jon Rua and Dale Soules.

Very Intense Productions and Your Theatrics | Jeremy Youett and Jacob Harvey present RSO FEST, a series of concerts showcasing three new musicals by composer Ryan Scott Oliver. RSO FEST will launch at New York's premier Supper Club, 54 Below (254 West 54th Street, NYC), on Monday, October 7 with the 35mm: A Musical Exhibition (produced in association with Tony Award-winning producer John Johnson), followed by Darling (produced in association with Grammy Award-winner Kurt Deutsch and Sh-k-boom) on Monday, November 4, and then Jasper In Deadland (produced in association with Prospect Theater Company) completing the trilogy on Monday November 18.

For much of the month of August, Tovah Feldshuh (Irena's Vow, Golda's Balcony) has played the role of 'Berthe', filling in while two-time Tony Award winner Andrea Martin was on vacation. Martin returns to the role full-time tonight, August 27. PIPPIN is now playing at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street).

Ghostlight Records will present the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY both in stores and via online outlets today, August 27.

New casting has been announced for the National Tour of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the Broadway musical inspired by the electrifying true story of four rock 'n' roll icons, which is entering its third smash year on the road. The tour will make over 75 stops next year, including the State Theatre in Easton on January 22nd at 7PM.