Burton Lane News

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the eight musicals selected to be part of the 23rd Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

2010 Jonathan Larson Grant Winners Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond celebrated the release of their new album Out of Our Heads: The Music of Kooman and Dimond yesterday, July 18th with a one night only concert at Birdland, produced by MNA Entertainment Inc. The concert featured Patina Miller (Sister Act), Julia Murney (Wicked, Lennon), Anderson Davis (Les Miserables), Matt Doyle (War Horse, Spring Awakening), Jeremy Jordan (Rock of Ages, West Side Story), Kyle Dean Massey (Next To Normal, Wicked), Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening), Laura Osnes (Anything Goes, South Pacific, Grease), Zak Resnick (Lucky Guy), Jose Llana (Wonderland, Spelling Bee, Rent), Allison Case (Hair, Mamma Mia!) and more. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you concert highlights below!

2010 Jonathan Larson Grant Winners Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond celebrated the release of their new album Out of Our Heads: The Music of Kooman and Dimond yesterday, July 18th with a one night only concert at Birdland, produced by MNA Entertainment Inc. The concert featured Patina Miller (Sister Act), Julia Murney (Wicked, Lennon), Anderson Davis (Les Miserables), Matt Doyle (War Horse, Spring Awakening), Jeremy Jordan (Rock of Ages, West Side Story), Kyle Dean Massey (Next To Normal, Wicked), Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening), Laura Osnes (Anything Goes, South Pacific, Grease), Zak Resnick (Lucky Guy), Jose Llana (Wonderland, Spelling Bee, Rent), Allison Case (Hair, Mamma Mia!) and more. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the concert and brings you photo coverage below!

2010 Jonathan Larson Grant Winners Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond release their new album OUT OF OUR HEADS: The Music of Kooman and Dimond on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and Napster today, June 28, 2011. The album features Tony Award nominees Kerry Butler (Catch Me If You Can, Rock of Ages, Xanadu, Little Shop of Horrors), Christopher Sieber (La Cage aux Folles, Shrek, Spamalot) and Patina Miller (Sister Act), as well as Broadway performers Heidi Blickenstaff (The Addams Family, [title of show], The Little Mermaid), Anderson Davis (Les Miserables), Matt Doyle (War Horse, Bye Bye Birdie, Spring Awakening), Chris Mann (Glee), Kyle Dean Massey (Next To Normal, Xanadu, Wicked), Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening), and Natalie Weiss (Everyday Rapture).

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post will continue its Summer 2011 season with a specially-priced CD release event for Tony Award nominated Broadway star KATE BALDWIN to launch her new PS Classics CD She Loves Him: Live at Feinstein's on Thursday, July 14 at 8:30 PM.

The New York Times reveals today that director Michael Mayer, a consulting producer on the upcoming NBC series, Smash, has invited the creative team involved in crafting SMASH's workshop episodes to his own developmental lab of On A Clear Day You Can See Forever at the Vineyard. According to the report, attendees include 'Mr. Grant, a former writer and producer on the ABC series 'Brothers and Sisters' who is also a playwright and Tony-nominated actor ('Angels in America'); Ms. Reingold, also a playwright ('String Fever') who most recently wrote for HBO's 'In Treatment'; Jason Grote ('Civilization'); and Elisa Zuritsky and Julie Rottenberg, a writing team who worked extensively on HBO's 'Sex and the City.' Head SMASH writer Teresa Rebeck will also be on hand.

Vineyard Theatre will produce a developmental lab of the newly imagined musical ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER - with music by Burton Lane, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, a new book by Peter Parnell based on the original book by Alan Jay Lerner, and reconceived and directed by Michael Mayer - July 25 to July 30 at Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street), it has been announced by Vineyard Theatre artistic directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern.

2010 Jonathan Larson Grant Winners Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond will celebrate the release of their new album Out of Our Heads: The Music of Kooman and Dimond on Monday, July 18th at 7:00pm with a one night only concert at Birdland, the world-class jazz club located at 315 West 44th Street, NYC.

Frank Loesser's 1956 operatic musical, overflowing with melodic tunes and outstanding performances, is a showcase for the ways that a small, intimate stage can add depth and heart to an old chestnut.

Rashidra played a featured role in her 1st show on B'way, and now in her 4th is understudying the lead.

Grammy and Emmy Award winner, Tony Award nominee and multi-platinum recording artist Harry Connick, Jr. will star in a reimagined production of ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER opening fall 2011 on Broadway at a theatre to be announced. The delightful Tony Award nominated score by Burton Lane (music) and Alan Jay Lerner (lyrics) is enhanced by classics from their film scores for On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) and Royal Wedding (1951). With a new book by Peter Parnell based on the original book by Alan Jay Lerner, the musical is reconceived and directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer. Further casting and creative team to be announced shortly.

2010 Jonathan Larson Grant Winners Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond release their new album OUT OF OUR HEADS: The Music of Kooman and Dimond on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and Napster today, June 28, 2011. The album features Tony Award nominees Kerry Butler (Catch Me If You Can, Rock of Ages, Xanadu, Little Shop of Horrors), Christopher Sieber (La Cage aux Folles, Shrek, Spamalot) and Patina Miller (Sister Act), as well as Broadway performers Heidi Blickenstaff (The Addams Family, [title of show], The Little Mermaid), Anderson Davis (Les Miserables), Matt Doyle (War Horse, Bye Bye Birdie, Spring Awakening), Chris Mann (Glee), Kyle Dean Massey (Next To Normal, Xanadu, Wicked), Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening), and Natalie Weiss (Everyday Rapture).

2010 Jonathan Larson Grant Winners Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond have announced the release of their new album OUT OF OUR HEADS: The Music of Kooman and Dimond, featuring Tony Award nominees Kerry Butler (Catch Me If You Can, Rock of Ages, Xanadu, Little Shop of Horrors), Christopher Sieber (La Cage aux Folles, Shrek, Spamalot) and Patina Miller (Sister Act), as well as Broadway performers Heidi Blickenstaff (The Addams Family, [title of show], The Little Mermaid), Anderson Davis (Les Miserables), Matt Doyle (War Horse, Bye Bye Birdie, Spring Awakening), Chris Mann (TV: Glee), Kyle Dean Massey (Next To Normal, Xanadu, Wicked), Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening), and Natalie Weiss (Everyday Rapture). The album will be released digitally on iTunes on Tuesday June 28th, 2011.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post will continue its Summer 2011 season with a specially-priced CD release event for Tony Award nominated Broadway star KATE BALDWIN to launch her new PS Classics CD She Loves Him: Live at Feinstein's on Thursday, July 14 at 8:30 PM.

Kate Baldwin will soon return to Arena Stage to play Marian in The Music Man in Spring 2012. The production will open May 11 and play through July 22 at Fichandler Stage in Mead Center for American Theatre. Additional casting has not yet been announced.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Ray Romano Live for one performance only on Tuesday, June 7 at 8:00 pm, at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA. Ticket sales from Ray Romano Live support Reprise's mission to produce musical theatre of the highest artistic quality and to make this art form accessible to new audiences through education and outreach programs.

2010 Jonathan Larson Grant Winners Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond have announced the release of their new album OUT OF OUR HEADS: The Music of Kooman and Dimond, featuring Tony Award nominees Kerry Butler (Catch Me If You Can, Rock of Ages, Xanadu, Little Shop of Horrors), Christopher Sieber (La Cage aux Folles, Shrek, Spamalot) and Patina Miller (Sister Act), as well as Broadway performers Heidi Blickenstaff (The Addams Family, [title of show], The Little Mermaid), Anderson Davis (Les Miserables), Matt Doyle (War Horse, Bye Bye Birdie, Spring Awakening), Chris Mann (TV: Glee), Kyle Dean Massey (Next To Normal, Xanadu, Wicked), Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening), and Natalie Weiss (Everyday Rapture). The album will be released digitally on iTunes on Tuesday June 28th, 2011.

92nd Street Y has announced the 2011 line-up for Lyrics & LyricistsTM, its celebrated American Songbook series. Deborah Grace Winer will return for her third season as artistic director of the series. Guest artistic directors of the season's individual concerts will be John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, David Loud, Ted Chapin, and Amanda Green; Winer will create one of the season's shows as well.

92nd Street Y has announced the 2011 line-up for Lyrics & LyricistsTM, its celebrated American Songbook series. Deborah Grace Winer will return for her third season as artistic director of the series. Guest artistic directors of the season's individual concerts will be John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, David Loud, Ted Chapin, and Amanda Green; Winer will create one of the season's shows as well.

UnsungMusicalsCo. Inc. (www.UnsungMusicals.org) will present a special exploratory reading of the 1950 musical comedy Arms and the Girl as part of The Archival Project, a UMC initiative aimed at researching, assembling and restoring the material from unpublished and out-of-print musical shows.