Charles Strouse News

The phenomenally successful 1977 Broadway musical Annie took America by storm and has been filmed twice. After 35 years, and especially now during our country's - what seems to be unending - economic slump, its Depression era optimism holds up better than ever, and in GCT's current well-staged production, there's much to savor.

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning classic musical, will play the legendary Palace Theatre (1567 Broadway at 47th Street) on Broadway. ANNIE will begin previews Wednesday, October 3 and will open Thursday, November 8, 2012.

The 20th Anniversary season of New York City Center's Tony Award-winning Encores! series will open on January 30, 2013 with Fiorello!, the show that launched the series in 1994. The season will continue with It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman, followed by On Your Toes. A Gala Encores! at 20 Celebration on November 12, 2012 will star Tony Award nominees and Encores! alumni Rauil Esparza and Kelli O'Hara.

Bye Bye Birdie-conjuring up memories of Elvis Presley and the fan fervor that greeted a lot of musical acts in the 1950s and '60s-takes center stage at Dickson's Renaissance Center in June as the Renaissance Players present the musical theater classic June 1-17.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced casting for its summer season, which includes six shows, featuring the national tours of Come Fly Away and The Addams Family, and CLO original productions of A Chorus Line, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof and Sunset Boulevard. Notably, A CHORUS LINE brings on board a slew of the show's national tour veterans, ANNIE stars Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF features Broadway's Lewis J. Stadlen, Susan Cella, Hunter Herdlicka, Joel Robertson, Emily Shoolin and Kay Walbye. Liz Callaway and Walter Charles are set to star in SUNSET BOULEVARD.

The Warner Stage Company has announced auditions for ANNIE, a Warner Theatre Main Stage Production directed by Julian Krom with music directoion by David Irvine and choreography by Sharon A. Wilcox, May 20-22.

For the very first time, two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera brings her concert, Chita Rivera: MY BROADWAY, to The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in the intimate setting of The Chase Room and performs songs from her legendary Broadway career. She will perform two shows only at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM. All tickets are $50 (general admission) and can be ordered by calling 1-888-GO-NJPAC or at www.njpac.org. NJPAC is located at 1 Center Street in Newark, N.J.

August Strindberg's Chekhovian comedy, 'Playing With Fire' (Leka med elden, 1893), in a translation by Ulrika Brand that has been newly adapted by Obie-winner Leslie Lee, Executive Director of Negro Ensemble Company, will be presented tonight, May 18 to June 10 with an all-black cast as the inaugural production of August Strindberg Repertory Theatre, directed by Robert Greer. The play, to be staged at New School for Drama, 151 Bank Street (West Village), will be a co-production of August Strindberg Repertory Theatre and Negro Ensemble Company in association with Theater Resources Unlimited.

Nick Jonas - the popular singer/songwriter who is currently starring in the Tony-nominated How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying - will serve as master of ceremonies as hundreds of students from middle and intermediate New York City Public Schools in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Manhattan make their Broadway debut on stage at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44 St.) on Tuesday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m., the culminating event of the 7th annual Shubert Foundation/MTI Broadway JR. Student Program. The students will perform a song from their school's production of a student version of a Broadway musical, including Annie JR., Once on this Island JR., Disney's Aladdin JR., Guys and Dolls JR., Bugsy Malone JR., Meredith Willson's The Music Man JR., Dear Edwina JR., Fame JR., Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka JR., and Thoroughly Modern Millie JR. (A list of schools participating in the May 29 celebration follows.)

The tale of Little Orphan Annie will come to life at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, CA for 30 performances, tonight, May 17 through June 30, 2012. Concurrent with Annie celebrating its 35th anniversary this year as America's most beloved musical, the Glendale Centre Theatre (GCT) also celebrates its 65 th year as the oldest, continuously operating theatre in the United States.

Playhouse on the Square announces its 2012-2013 season of plays and musicals. Reservations and ticket information can be found at http://www.playhouseonthesquare.org/boxoffice/ or by calling (901) 726-4656. The Box Office is located inside Playhouse on the Square at 66 South Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104.

After more than 5,000 auditions in a coast-to-coast search, ANNIE has announced casting for the orphans for the new production of the classic Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. ANNIE will open on Broadway in Fall 2012 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced. The production will be directed by three-time Tony Award winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler.

Polaris Productions, a non-profit children's theatre group will present the classic 1960 Tony Award winning musical Bye Bye Birdie starting tonight, May 10th at Hudson Guild Theatre. LeCee Galmiche Johnson directs a talented cast of young actors ages 4 through 20. Christopher Cooley is Musical Director. See photos of the cast below!

The Warner Stage Company has announced auditions for ANNIE, a Warner Theatre Main Stage Production directed by Julian Krom with music directoion by David Irvine and choreography by Sharon A. Wilcox, May 20-22.

For the very first time, two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera brings her concert, CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY, to The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in the intimate setting of The Chase Room and will perform songs from her legendary Broadway career. She will perform two shows only at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM. All tickets are $50 (general admission) and can be ordered by calling 1-888-GO-NJPAC or at www.njpac.org. NJPAC is located at 1 Center Street in Newark, N.J.

The Boston Youth Moves' Producers' Circle's 2012 Swellegance Gala Benefit will present two-time Tony Award winner CHITA RIVERA performing songs from her legendary Broadway career in her own concert CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street, Boston tonight, May 4, 2012 (8pm).

According to Variety, GLEE and SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK writer is in talks to write a new version of 'Little Shop of Horrors' for Warner Bros. No word yet on According to Variety, GLEE and SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is in talks to write a new version of 'Little Shop of Horrors' for Warner Bros. The 1982 musical (and 1986 film) spawned from the 1960 film of the same name. No word yet on a potential release date.a potential release date.

Dallas Theater Center Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty announced today that DTC Associate Artist Joel Ferrell has been promoted to Associate Artistic Director. In his new position, Ferrell will continue to direct and choreograph plays and musicals at DTC, while also expanding his role as the lead producer of DTC's mainstage productions. Ferrell will work closely with guest directors and designers to oversee productions from the initial creative process, including design and casting, through the productions' rehearsals and performances. Ferrell began working for DTC on a freelance basis in the late 1990s and joined the artistic staff on a full time basis in 2009.

The tale of Little Orphan Annie will come to life at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, CA for 30 performances May 17 through June 30, 2012. Concurrent with Annie celebrating its 35th anniversary this year as America's most beloved musical, the Glendale Centre Theatre (GCT) also celebrates its 65 th year as the oldest, continuously operating theatre in the United States.