Brooks Atkinson News

During the red carpet premiere for the movie The Butler, Fantasia Barrino, star of the upcoming Broadway production AFTER MIDNIGHT, talked about her return to the Great White Way after her turn in The Color Purple. Watch the interview below!

Producers of the five-time Tony Award-nominated hit musical ROCK OF AGES have announced that Aaron C. Finley will make his Broadway debut in the leading role of Drew beginning tonight, August 9, 2013 at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre (220 W 44thStreet).

Since the early 80's, 1964…THE TRIBUTE has been thrilling audiences all over the globe with what Rolling Stone Magazine has called the 'Best Beatles Tribute on Earth '. 1964 …THE TRIBUTE takes their audiences on a musical journey to an era in rock history that will live in all of our hearts forever. They are hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute in the world. Choosing songs from the pre-Sgt. Pepper era, 1964 astonishingly recreates an early 60's live Beatles concert, with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles, and onstage banter. Over 25 years of researching and performing have made 1964 masters of their craft. Come see why 1964…THE TRIBUTE is the definitive Beatle show! 1964 will perform at bergenPAC today August 8, 2103 at 8:00 p.m.

It is confirmed that ROCK OF AGES will close on 2 November 2013 at the Garrick Theatre, prior to embarking on a UK national tour.

THE FANTASTICKS, the world's longest running musical, will celebrate a record breaking 20,000th New York performance, on Sunday, September 15, 2013, announced producers Catherine Russell and Al Parinello. The milestone will mark the first time a production (on Broadway or off-Broadway) has ever reached 20,000 performances and will be commemorated in a month long celebration that includes performing at Broadway in Bryant Park and Little Italy, and with The Museum of The City of New York's future cyber gallery highlighting the history of the production.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the Broadway cast of The Winslow Boy, starring Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty as 'Desmond Curry', Academy & Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as 'Grace Winslow', Alessandro Nivola as 'Sir Robert Morton' and Tony Award winner Roger Rees as 'Arthur Winslow'.

Back in February, when Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) announced their 2013-2014 season, Bruce Lumpkin, TUTS' Artistic Director, gave BroadwayWorld an exclusive heads up about an exciting development that was occurring within the organization. Now TUTS is ready to announce their exhilarating new project, an invigorating and diverse season of fresh, edgy musical theatre called TUTS Underground. This season will run in The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts' intimate Zilkha Hall and feature innovative modern works. According to Bruce Lumpkin, the intended audience for this line up is "a contemporary minded audience, an audience looking for something new, something different than what's been offered." The inaugural season for TUTS Underground will feature four fresh shows that are "not only new, newly done, but newly done for our audiences here."

As BroadwayWorld reported last week, The Fab Four hit Broadway tonight, July 24, in Let It Be, but the creators of RAIN, a Beatles tribute show that played on Broadway in 2011, have sued LET IT BE producers for copyright infringement. As a part of the lawsuit, the Rain Corpration seeks 50 percent of the show's revenue becuse LET IT BE uses many of the same songs and 'the artwork used as background during the performance of many of those songs are similar or identical.' Then, BroadwayWorld learned from an insider with the West End version of LET IT BE, that the London production is a separate entity and will not be affected by this lawsuit. That same source today sent BroadwayWorld the West End opening program for LET IT BE, which gives credit to RAIN. Scroll down for the program!

Emmy Award-nominated actor Dulé Hill will return to the stage in After Midnight, marking his first appearance in a musical since Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk. With his own unique song and dance style, Hill will serve as 'The Host' of the evening, leading the audience through the heat and glamour of the Harlem Renaissance using the words of Langston Hughes.

Producers of the five-time Tony Award-nominated hit musical ROCK OF AGES have announced that Aaron C. Finley will make his Broadway debut in the leading role of Drew beginning Friday, August 9, 2013 at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre (220 W 44thStreet). Justin Matthew Sargent, who has performed the role since March 2012, will play his final performance on Sunday, July 28 at 7:30pm. During the interim period, the role will be covered by Tony LePage.

Jazz greats and iconic stylists will take New York stages by storm this fall. Details below

Now, BroadwayWorld has learned from an insider with the West End version of LET IT BE, that the London production is a separate entity and will not be affected by this lawsuit. They released the below statement:

The Fab Four hit Broadway this summer in Let It Be, a spectacular concert experience direct from London's West End, where it continues its celebrated open-ended run, featuring 40 of The Beatles' greatest hits. The show begins previews tonight at the St. James Theatre, and according to the New York Times it might not be a smooth road to opening night.

Since the early 80's, 1964…THE TRIBUTE has been thrilling audiences all over the globe with what Rolling Stone Magazine has called the "Best Beatles Tribute on Earth ". 1964 …THE TRIBUTE takes their audiences on a musical journey to an era in rock history that will live in all of our hearts forever. They are hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute in the world. Choosing songs from the pre-Sgt. Pepper era, 1964 astonishingly recreates an early 60's live Beatles concert, with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles, and onstage banter. Over 25 years of researching and performing have made 1964 masters of their craft. Come see why 1964…THE TRIBUTE is the definitive Beatle show! 1964 will perform at bergenPAC on Thursday August 8, 2103 at 8:00 p.m.

Mint Theater today announced the cast for their next production, Philip Goes Forth by George Kelly. Jerry Ruiz (Love Goes to Press, Basilica) directs a cast that includes Cliff Bemis, Teddy Bergman, Bernardo Cubria, Jennifer Harmon, Carole Healey, Christine Toy Johnson, Natalie Kuhn, Brian MacDonald, Jennifer McVey and Rachel Moulton. Philip Goes Forth will have scenic design by Steven C. Kemp, costume design by Carisa Kelly, lighting design by Christian DeAngelis, and sound design by Toby Algya. Performances begin on August 24th and continue through October 20th. Opening Night is set for September 16th at Mint's home (311 West 43rd Street).

The producers of the audience and critics' favorite Peter and the Starcatcher announced today that Steve Rosen, who stepped in to play the role of Black Stache for certain performances during the show's Off-Broadway run at NYTW, will again step into the show, this time to take over the role of Smee, on Monday, July 8. Kevin Del Aguila will play his last performance on Sunday, July 7, before joining the cast of Love's Labours Lost at The Public Theater. Del Aguila returns to Peter and the Starcatcher onAugust 26.

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.

Mint Theater (Jonathan Bank, Artistic Director) today announced a two week extension for for the American Premiere of A Picture of Autumn by N.C. Hunter, directed by Gus Kaikkonen. The Mint production will now run until July 27th at its home (311 West 43rd Street).

Scott Sanders Productions (lead producer) announced today that After Midnight (a new production of Cotton Club Parade, conceived by Jack Viertel, which played two smash-hit, sold-out engagements at City Center) will open on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W 47th Street) this fall. Director/choreographer Warren Carlyle and superstar fashion duo Isabel and Ruben Toledo will join nine-time Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars to bring the lavish shows of the hip Harlem nightclub to a whole new generation of theatergoers. After Midnight will begin preview performances on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an official opening night set for Sunday, November 3, 2013. Group tickets are now available. Casting, musicians and general on sale date will be announced shortly.

Written by Elice and directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Tony Award-nomineeAlex Timbers, Peter and the Starcatcher officially began performances at New World Stages (340 West 50th St.) on Monday, March 18, 2013, after ending its triumphant run on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Sunday, January 20, 2013. The show just celebrated its 100th performance at New World Stages and you can check out phtos below!