Broadway Across America News

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.

Tickets will go on sale Sunday, August 18 at 12:00 pm for Milwaukee's return engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Marcus Center on October 16-27, 2013

The Tony Award winning Best Revival of a Musical PIPPIN will help kick off "Back to School" shopping at Bloomingdale's (1000 3rd Ave, NYC) with a special event on Thursday, August 8th from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. In addition to unveiling four PIPPIN-themed window displays on 3rdAvenue featuring costumes from the show, cast members will be on hand at 5:30 p.m. to perform a few song selections. The event will also boast fun circus-themed activities for the whole family including face painting, juggling and various contests. Bloomingdale's shoppers who spend $350 or more in women's fashion will receive a voucher, good for two tickets, to see PIPPIN on Broadway, while supplies last.

Joe's Pub at The Public is calling all bros on Thursday, August 22, 7pm. After sold-out shows at Caroline's On Broadway and 92YTribeca, Ewalt and Walker's Bromance in Concert is ready to rock Joe's Pub like a girl gone wild on spring break.

LES MISERABLES, Cameron Mackintosh's new 25th anniversary production of the world's longest running musical, runs at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis for one week only, today, July 30-August 4, 2013.

Flexible ticket packages are on sale now, allowing patrons to customize their own season at their desired price level by choosing three or more shows from among eleven productions including Wicked, 700 Sundays, We Will Rock You, The Phantom of the Opera, Cabaret, Evita, Mamma Mia!, Peter and the Starcatcher, Once, Sister Act and Ghost The Musical.

Directed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Contact, The Producers, The Scottsboro Boys), with music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony Award nominee Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family), and a book by Grammy and BAFTA Award nominee John August (Frankenweenie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), BIG FISH begins performances on Thursday, September 5, 2013 and will open Sunday, October 6, 2013 at the Neil Simon Theatre.

The first national tour of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL is coming to ASU Gammage in Tempe, from September 17-22. PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL will star Wade McCollum ('Tick/Mitzi'), Scott Willis ('Bernadette') and Bryan West('Adam/Felicia') as the trio of friends, on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. Joe Hart stars as 'Bob.' Single tickets are on sale now.

Prospect Theater Company will present the world premiere production of TAMAR OF THE RIVER, a new music theater work with music and book by Marisa Michelson and book and lyrics by Joshua H. Cohen. Directed by Daniel Goldstein (Godspell) and choreographed by Yin Mei, TAMAR OF THE RIVER will be the first production available through Prospect's new Membership Program.

I was a freshman at Sam Houston State University when I first read Gregory Maguire's riveting and racy novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. That same year, on October 30, 2003 WICKED opened on Broadway at the Gershwin Theatre. I was first bewitched by WICKED when the Original Broadway Cast Album was released on December 16, 2003. In October 2005, I saw the miraculous show for the first time when the First National Tour landed in Houston. Now, WICKED is retuning to Houston for the fourth time and the musical's Broadway production will turn 10 years old this year. It is currently the 12th Longest Running Show in Broadway history. WICKED, with its multiple productions all over the world, is a musical phenomenon that enchants audiences everywhere it goes.

Hennepin Theatre Trust announced today that single tickets for the spectacular new production of Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, running December 13, 2013 through January 5, 2014 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre, go on sale at 9 a.m. today, July 12. From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., tickets will only be available in person at the State Theatre Box Office. Beginning at 10 a.m., tickets will also be available online at www.HennepinTheatreTrust.org, by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center.

Due to a change in the national touring schedule the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center announces that THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA performance dates will move to June 11-22, 2014. The production remains part of the 2013-14 Kimberly-Clark Broadway Across America - Fox Cities Series having originally been scheduled January 8-19, 2014. The two-week run will include 16 performances including matinees on Saturday, Sunday and Thursday, June 12. Season Ticket Holder Week will be June 11-17.

Omaha Performing Arts will again present Jazz on the Green at Midtown Crossing this summer. The free outdoor concert series will run six consecutive Thursdays, from today, July 11 to August 15, 2013, and is located in the idyllic Turner Park in the heart of Midtown Crossing. Starting this year, concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. on the new permanent stage of The Pavilion at Turner Park; the lawn is open beginning at 5 p.m.

WICKED, the musical that reminds us that so much happened before Dorothy dropped in OZ, is visiting Houston's Hobby Center for the Performing Arts for the fourth time this summer. There is no denying that excitement is growing in Houston. Billboards for the show line our highways, commercials play on our TVs and radios, and everyone is buzzing about the much-loved musical. Recently, I chatted with Alex Wyse, who joined the cast as Boq on June 6, 2013. He took a few minutes out of his busy tour and performance schedule to chat with me about WICKED and his incredible career.

Ghostlight Records will present the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY both in stores and via online outlets on August 27. The musical features a book by Doug Wright (Pulitzer Prize winner, I Am My Own Wife), lyrics by Amanda Green (Bring It On: The Musical), and music byTrey Anastasio (Phish) and Amanda Green. The show was nominated for three 2013 Tony Awards, including "Best Original Score," and nine 2013 Drama Desk Awards, including "Outstanding Musical," "Outstanding Music" and "Outstanding Lyrics." The album features "The Tryers," a special bonus song that was cut from the show. To pre-order the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/handsonahardbody.html.

The Marcus Center is honored to present the Starry Nights Orchestra along with the Florentine Opera Company and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra for a one night only, free program tonight, July 2 at 7:00 pm at Marcus Center's Peck Pavilion.

Tickets for Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' MAMMA MIA!, the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA are on sale now. Performances begin on Thursday, October 3 and run through Wednesday, October 9 at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center.

Les Miserables, Cameron Mackintosh's new 25th anniversary production of the world's longest running musical, runs at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis for one week only, July 30-August 4, 2013.

Queen Theatrical Productions, Tribeca Theatrical Productions, Phil McIntyre Entertainment and NETworks Presentations are pleased to announce the first North American tour of the worldwide smash hit musical, Queen and Ben Elton's We Will Rock You. The 'rock theatrical', built around 24 of Queen's biggest hits, will launch its national tour in Baltimore, MD, at the Hippodrome Theatre, October 15-20, 2013.

Hennepin Theatre Trust announced today that single tickets for the spectacular new production of Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, running December 13, 2013 through January 5, 2014 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre, go on sale at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 12. From 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., tickets will only be available in person at the State Theatre Box Office. Beginning at 10 a.m., tickets will also be available online at www.HennepinTheatreTrust.org, by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center.