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Today, in honor of this week's eagerly awaited announcement that the next live musical event to be presented on NBC will be the classic 1954 PETER PAN, we take a look at some of the highlights from the high-flying history of the family-friendly musical.
Roy Sexton's first book Reel Roy Reviews, Vol. 1: Keepin' It Real is set for release on the Open Books imprint February 28, 2014. Sexton, a resident of Saline/Ann Arbor, launched his entertainment blog of the same name (www.reelroyreviews.com) on Independence Day in 2012 and, nearly two years later, is a published author.
On the heels of an announcement yesterday by NBC that their next live musical would be PETER PAN, speculation has already started on who will play the leads.
Breaking news from the Television Critics Association, NBC has just revealed their next mega-TV musical, executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron - PETER PAN! The broadcast has been scheduled for December 4, 2014.
UnsungMusicalsCo. (UMC) just announced its 2014 season, which will launch on April 5 at 8pm with Unsung Carolyn Leigh, a special evening produced forLincoln Center's American Songbook at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse. Starring Obie Award winner Donna Bullock (Ragtime, A Class Act), Rachel de Benedet(Catch Me if You Can), Drew Gehling (Jersey Boys, On a Clear Day), Autumn Hurlbert (Legally Blonde), Drama Desk nominee Jenny Powers (Donnybrook!,Happiness), Megan Sikora (Curtains) and Max von Essen (Evita), the concert, showcasing songs by the Tony- and Grammy-nominated lyricist of Peter Pan and Little Me, is created and directed by Ben West (The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad, Make Mine Manhattan). Tickets, priced $30-$50, are now on sale.
New York City Center's 2013-14 season continues with a lineup of dance, theater and music, featuring Tony Award-winning actors, world-class dance, and world premiere theater.
Robert Creighton, David Garrison, Harriet Harris, Judy Kaye, Lewis J. Stadlen, Lee Wilkof, Tony Yazbeck and Rachel York will join Christian Borle in Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh¹s Little Me, the opening production of New York City Center¹s 2014 Encores! season, running for seven performances, February 5 - 9. The show will be directed by John Rando with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Joshua Bergasse.
Last night I had the pleasure of speaking to two of the hottest producers in Hollywood and on Broadway all about their recent smash hit December with the ratings bonanza of NBC's live presentation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC as well as the three-network tent-pole two-night TV event, BONNIE & CLYDE - the peerless Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Discussing all aspects of the unprecedented live presentation, Zadan and Meron outline the process of bringing the gigantic production to the small screen and grant us a vivid look behind the scenes of the big show. Additionally, Zadan and Meron comment on the social media frenzy that occurred during the 25+ million-viewed telecast as well as their reaction to criticism of country music superstar Carrie Underwood in the starring role, as well as their longstanding relationship with NBC in general. Plus, Zadan and Meron also clue us in on what elements they seek out in special events such as this as we look ahead to next year's confirmed major live musical - whatever could it be?! Besides all about THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Zadan and Meron also offer us the 411 on a number of other projects immediately upcoming in 2014 and far beyond, with a special focus on their just-announced Harvey Weinstein collaboration on a feature film version of Stephen Schwartz's beloved PIPPIN, as well as first news on a forthcoming original Beach Boys jukebox musical currently in development and preliminary information on the pilot for a new musical series inspired by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren titled SONGBYRD, set to shoot in January. All of that, reflections on last year's sensational Academy Awards broadcast hosted by the controversial Seth MacFarlane and a look ahead to this year's Zadan & Meron-produced Oscars show - set to be hosted by daytime queen Ellen Degeneres - as well as stories from their early years producing cabaret showcases and penning books on theatre as well as much, much more in this all-encompassing conversation with the most important men in movie musicals.
Anyone who's seen a production of Peter Pan, or at least one of the televised versions starring Mary Martin or Cathy Rigby, knows that there's a moment late in the evening in which Peter turns to the audience and begs everyone to clap their hands if they believe in fairies. It's a moment that easily measures the success of the production. If the show isn't connecting with the audience, Peter's pleas are met with a smattering of golf claps. But at the Georgetown Palace, that iconic moment is met with deafening applause and cheers.
Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has acquired the rights to license one of Broadway's most iconic and beloved musicals,PETER PAN.
Today in 1991, the second Broadway revival of Peter Pan opened at the MInskoff Theatre, where it ran for 48 performances. Peter Pan is a musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and Barrie's own novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Mark 'Moose' Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The original 1954 Broadway production, starring Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook, earned Tony Awards for both stars.
Peter Pan with Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green and Music by Mark Charlap and Jule Styne -- a musical based on the play by James M. Barrie -- will run tongiht, November 22, 2013 - January 5, 2014 at Playhouse on the Square. Special holiday schedule applies. Evening performances begin at 7:00 PM. Matinees begin at 2:00 PM.
Jonathan Burke (A Christmas Story), Amy Hohn (November), Chris LeBeau, Kilty Reidy (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Cary Shields (Taboo, Rent) have joined the cast of UnsungMusicalsCo.'s (UMC) concert presentation of Caesar's Wife.
Now in its 16th season, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook will continue to expand its scope celebrating the best in American singing and songwriting. New this year, the opening night concert will befree, in the David Rubenstein Atrium, on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. 'Live From Lincoln Center,' the Emmy Award-winning program broadcast nationally on PBS stations, will shoot four of the first week's American Songbook concerts in The Allen Room: by James Naughton, Lawrence Brownlee, Jason Isbell, and Patina Miller. These performances will be broadcast nationally beginning in Spring 2014. In addition, American Songbook concerts taking place in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center will be live-streamed via http://watch.lincolncenter.org.
Peter Pan with Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green and Music by Mark Charlap and Jule Styne -- a musical based on the play by James M. Barrie -- will run November 22, 2013 - January 5, 2014 at Playhouse on the Square. Special holiday schedule applies. Evening performances begin at 7:00 PM. Matinees begin at 2:00 PM.
UnsungMusicalsCo. (UMC) will present a one-night-only concert of Caesar's Wife featuring the world premiere of an original score written circa 1969 by Tony Award nominee Carolyn Leigh (Peter Pan, Little Me, Gatsby) and Grammy Award nominee Lee Pockriss (Gatsby, Ernest in Love). Conceived and directed by Ben West (The Fig Leaves Are Falling, At Home Abroad), this new behind-the-scenes look at the unfinished musical will play Peter Norton Symphony Space on Monday, November 18 at 7:30 PM.
Tony Award-winning actors Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher, Spamalot) and Beth Leavel (The Drowsy Chaperone, Elf), Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde), and Broadway stars Heidi Blickenstaff ([title of show], The Little Mermaid) and Derek Klena (Wicked, Dogfight) are all scheduled to take part in the developmental reading. Dog and Pony will receive its World Premiere at The Old Globe next spring, running May 28 - June 29, 2014; casting for that production will be announced at a later time.
Now in its 16th season, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook will continue to expand its scope celebrating the best in American singing and songwriting. New this year, the opening night concert will befree, in the David Rubenstein Atrium, on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. 'Live From Lincoln Center,' the Emmy Award-winning program broadcast nationally on PBS stations, will shoot four of the first week's American Songbook concerts in The Allen Room: by James Naughton, Lawrence Brownlee, Jason Isbell, and Patina Miller. These performances will be broadcast nationally beginning in Spring 2014. In addition, American Songbook concerts taking place in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln Center will be live-streamed via http://watch.lincolncenter.org.
Baby Jane Dexter's new show, More Rules of the Road,debuts at Metropolitan Room for six performances only beginning Friday, November 22 and running on Fridays, a Saturday and one Thursday through December 27
Broadway Close Up takes you behind the scenes of musicals old and new with eye-opening interviews and inspiring performances by some of Broadway's greatest talents. The 2013 performances kick off with the annual Bound for Broadway show hosted by Liz Callaway and continues with Tony-nominated lyricist Amanda Green, an evening with the fascinating women from the musicals of Cy Coleman, and an enchanting exploration of duets, trios, quartets and ensemble numbers by Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein and Irving Berlin among others.
