Christopher Ashley News

Due to popular demand, La Jolla Playhouse has extended the run of its production of Sideways, by Rex Pickett, directed by Playhouse Director Emeritus Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots). The show will now run in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre through August 25. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Actors Peter Friedman, Bobby Moreno and Kelly McAndrew will participate in staged readings of Grand Concourse by Heidi Schreck (There are No Big Secrets, Creature) at the Cape Cod Theatre Project. Readings are July 18th, 19th, and 20th at 8 p.m. at Falmouth Academy.

Actors Greg Keller, Mia Barron and Kit Flanagan will participate in staged readings of Schooner by Rinne Groff (Compulsion, The Ruby Sunrise) at the Cape Cod Theatre Project, which will open its 19th Season this week.

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.

Last week's poll asked which project you're most excited to see on stage. Check out your response below!

New BroadwayWorld.com Poll - Which Disney project are you most excited for?

Due to popular demand, La Jolla Playhouse announces a week-long extension for the run of its upcoming production of Sideways, by Rex Pickett, directed by Playhouse Director Emeritus Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots). The show will now run in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre July 16 through August 25.

La Jolla Playhouse has announced the casts and creative teams for its upcoming productions of Tribes (June 25 - July 21 in the Mandell Weiss Forum), Sideways (July 16 - August 18 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre) and Neva (June 26 - 30 in the Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre).

The internationally acclaimed drama Neva by Chilean writer Guillermo Calderon wraps up the Studio SCR series at South Coast Repertory this month, with a six-performance run, June 19-23. Tickets are $25-35. More information is available online: www.scr.org.

La Jolla Playhouse is proud to announce its 2013/2014 resident theatre company: Teatro Mascara Magica. Spearheaded by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, the Resident Theatre Program aims to encourage the artistic development of performing arts organizations, while advancing and contributing to the San Diego theatre scene as a whole. The program provides a temporary home each year to one of the many local troupes without a permanent venue.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for His Girl Friday, adapted by John Guare (Six Degrees of Separation, House of Blue Leaves) from the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur play The Front Page and the Columbia Pictures film His Girl Friday. Directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley (Glengarry Glen Ross, Memphis), the production will kick off the 2013/2014 season, running May 28 - June 30 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today that nationally-renowned scenic designer Robert Brill has been named the theatre's inaugural Artist-in-Residence. This new, multi-month residency program, supported in part by a generous donation from Playhouse Director Emeritus Des McAnuff, is designed to give artists the freedom to focus on their ongoing body of work while becoming fully integrated into all aspects of the institution, from the stage to the boardroom to the classroom. In addition to designing the sets for His GirlFriday and Sideways this season, Brill will participate in the Playhouse's artistic planning, education and outreach activities, lead master classes at UC Dan Diego and serve as a community liaison for arts advocacy in San Diego, among other Playhouse activities.

MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical opens in the Ziff Ballet Opera House of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County tonight, May 7 for a limited engagement as part of the Broadway in Miami 2012-2013 subscription season presented by Bank of America. Scroll below for a sneak peek at the touring cast in action!

Music Theatre International (MTI) has announced that Leap of Faith by award-winning composer Alan Menken (Disney's Beauty and The Beast and Little Shop of Horrors), is now available for licensing. The Leap of Faith score is inspired by the sounds of gospel, country, and American roots music. The creative team also includes book writers Janus Cercone and Tony winner Warren Leight (Side Man) and Grammy winning lyricist Glenn Slater (Tangled).

MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical opens in the Ziff Ballet Opera House of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County on May 7 for a limited engagement as part of the Broadway in Miami 2012-2013 subscription season presented by Bank of America. Scroll below for a sneak peek at the touring cast in action!

Artistic Director Hal Brooks has announced the 2013 season for Cape Cod Theatre Project, featuring staged readings of new work by Sharr White, Heidi Schreck, Rinne Groff and JC Lee. They will be joined in Falmouth, Massachusetts by writers-in-residence Jackie Sibblies Drury, Andrew Dolan, Halley Feiffer and Academy Award nominee Lucy Alibar.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for His Girl Friday, adapted by John Guare (Six Degrees of Separation, House of Blue Leaves) from the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur play The Front Page and the Columbia Pictures film His Girl Friday. Directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley (Glengarry Glen Ross, Memphis), the production will kick off the 2013/2014 season, running May 28 - June 30 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Boxed Wine Productions will present Paul Rudnick's cult classic Valhalla to New York audiences. With a cast of six up and coming New York actors, this production will run Thursday, May 2 - Sunday, May 12 at The Secret Theatre. Official Opening Night is set for Thursday, May 2 at 8pm.

Ghostlight Records has announced plans to preserve HANDS ON A HARDBODY with an Original Broadway Cast Recording. The album will be recorded next month and released in June 2013. The show will play its final Broadway performance tonight, April 13, 2013 at 8pm after playing 28 preview and 28 regular performances at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street). HANDS ON A HARDBODY began previews on Saturday, February 23, 2013 and officially opened on Thursday, March 21, 2013.