Christopher Ashley News

On a unusually cloudy day in Southern California, Chris and Shane made their way down I-5 to the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, CA for the West Coast premiere of XANADU, the musical. The Upright Boys caught up with Broadway alums Elizabeth Stanley and Max von Essen as they prepared to step into the roles of Kira and Sonny.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to present Broadway's surprise hit musical XANADU at Chicago's Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place beginning Friday, January 16, 2009. The press opening is Wednesday, January 28, 2009. Individual and group tickets are currently on sale for this fabulously fun, out-of-this-world musical confection.

It's XanaDU Year's Eve! La Jolla Playhouse hosts a special New Year's Eve event to celebrate the run of its musical comedy Xanadu and the beginning of a new year on December 31, 2008. Roll into 2009 with this performance and dance party from 9:00pm to 1:00am in the Mandell Weiss Theatre and the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre at La Jolla Playhouse.

On Monday, February 2, 2009, Tony and Drama League Award winners Christine Ebersole and Donna Murphy will host The Drama League's annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.'

Rehearsals began last week for XANADU at La Jolla Playhouse in anticipation of its West Coast debut on November 23, 2008 directed by Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. Xanadu's cast joins the creative team of the surprise hit Broadway musical at the Playhouse before embarking on a national tour. Xanadu will have its first performance November 11, 2008 and run through December 31 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Rehearsals began last week for XANADU at La Jolla Playhouse in anticipation of its West Coast debut on November 23, 2008 directed by Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. Xanadu's cast joins the creative team of the surprise hit Broadway musical at the Playhouse before embarking on a national tour. Xanadu will have its first performance November 11, 2008 and run through December 31 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse Board Chair Ralph Bryan announced today that BHK Arts Consultants, Inc. has been contracted to conduct a nationwide search for a new Managing Director. La Jolla Playhouse plans to make its decision in early 2009 and have the Managing Director start shortly thereafter.

The cast and creative team have been assembled for the gritty, provocative 1930s drama Tobacco Road, which ran on Broadway from December 4, 1933 to May 31,1941, the longest Broadway run ever at the time. Today, 75 years since it opened, it remains the second-longest running drama in Broadway history, second only to Life with Father. It plays September 30 through October 26, 2008 in the Mandell Weiss Forum at La Jolla Playhouse.

On Friday, October 24, 2008 La Jolla Playhouse hosts Moon over Morocco, a gala benefit featuring the Tony-nominated star of Xanadu on Broadway, Kerry Butler. The annual gala will take place in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre at La Jolla Playhouse.

Heiress Productions presents the New York premiere of THREE MOVEMENTS by Martin Zimmerman from October 17 - 26 at the Studio Theatre, Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd Street, NYC). Tickets are $18 and are available at www.ticketcentral.com or by phone at 212-279-4200.

Rehearsals began last week for XANADU at La Jolla Playhouse in anticipation of its West Coast debut on November 23, 2008 directed by Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. Xanadu's cast joins the creative team of the surprise hit Broadway musical at the Playhouse before embarking on a national tour. Xanadu will have its first performance November 11, 2008 and run through December 31 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse is offering Pay What You Can rates for three performances of the currently running comedy, The Third Story. Patrons may purchase tickets for any amount they can afford, starting at a minimum of one dollar for the matinees on Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19 and for the evening of Sunday, October 19.

Heiress Productions presents the New York premiere of THREE MOVEMENTS by Martin Zimmerman from October 17 - 26 at the Studio Theatre, Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd Street, NYC). Tickets are $18 and are available at www.ticketcentral.com or by phone at 212-279-4200.

The cast and creative team have been assembled for the gritty, provocative 1930s drama Tobacco Road, which ran on Broadway from December 4, 1933 to May 31,1941, the longest Broadway run ever at the time. Today, 75 years since it opened, it remains the second-longest running drama in Broadway history, second only to Life with Father. It plays September 30 through October 26, 2008 in the Mandell Weiss Forum at La Jolla Playhouse.

On Friday, October 24, 2008 La Jolla Playhouse hosts Moon over Morocco, a gala benefit featuring the Tony-nominated star of Xanadu on Broadway, Kerry Butler. The annual gala will take place in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre at La Jolla Playhouse.

XANADU in Chicago will star Elizabeth Stanley as 'Kira' (played in the film version by Olivia Newton-John), Max Von Essen as 'Sonny,' Sharon Wilkins and Joanna Glushak as the evil Muses 'Melpomene' and 'Calliope,' respectively, and Larry Marshal as 'Danny' (played in the film version by Gene Kelly). XANADU's cast also features Tallia Brinson, Amy Goldberger, Vince Rodriguez III, Jason Michael Snow, Kristofer Stock, JB Wing and Chicagoland-natives Julius Thomas III and Tiffany Topol.

XANADU, Broadway's surprise musical hit, has moved up the date of its closing to Sunday, September 28. The show is playing at the Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 West 44th Street.

Casting is announced for the anticipated Chicago and Midwest premiere of the surprise hit Broadway musical XANADU at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place. Performances are scheduled to begin January 16, 2009 and individual tickets are now on sale.

XANADU, Broadway's surprise musical hit, has announced a closing date of Sunday, October 12. The show is playing at the Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 West 44th Street and will have played 49 previews and 528 performances.

La Jolla Playhouse Board Chair Ralph Bryan announced today that Steven Libman, Managing Director, is stepping down to pursue an expanding consulting practice. Mr. Libman was appointed Managing Director in June 2005.The organization will initiate a nationwide search for Mr. Libman's successor immediately. Joan Cumming, Director of Communications, will serve as Interim Managing Director. Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley will continue with his current responsibilities.