Christopher Gattelli News

The La Jolla Playhouse is presenting a world premiere musical based on the 2006 Academy Award winning film "Little Miss Sunshine". And while the show had its shining moments and a cast that matched the subtlety and charm of the original sleeper hit, on the whole it needs a bit of a jump start if it's going to make it down the road to Broadway.

The 2011 Garland Award recipients were announced today, honoring the best of Los Angeles theatre. Under the voting system each Garland winner was named on at least three critics' 'Best of 2010' lists. Each critic listed up to five nominees for each category except performance, up to 10 nominees for performance in musical productions and 10 for straight plays. Here are the critics' lists, minus the winners. The critics who voted are Jeff Favre, Hoyt Hilsman, Travis Holder, Eric Marchese, Dany Margolies, Dink O'Neal, Melinda Schupmann, Madeleine Shaner, Les Spindle, Neal Weaver, and Jennie Webb. Back Stage thanks them, as we hope you will when you see them this year, for their perpetual devotion to Southland theater large and small.

The La Jolla Playhouse is presenting a world premiere musical based on the 2006 Academy Award winning film "Little Miss Sunshine". And while the show had its shining moments and a cast that matched the subtlety and charm of the original sleeper hit, on the whole it needs a bit of a jump start if it's going to make it down the road to Broadway.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced The Old Globe's presentation of a developmental workshop of Allegiance - A New American Musical. Created by Jay Kuo (music, lyrics and book) and Lorenzo Thione (book), the original musical tells the story of a Japanese American family forced into an internment camp during World War II. Directed by Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz, West End premiere of Ragtime) with musical direction and arrangements by Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Company) and choreography by Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown), the industry-only workshop will take place in New York City on July 27 and 28. Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Misérables), television and film icon George Takei ('Star Trek,' 'Heroes') and Telly Leung ('Glee,' Rent) have all participated in past workshops and are expected to return to their roles in July. The creative team includes Donyale Werle (scenic design) and David Zinn (costume design).

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced The Old Globe's presentation of a developmental workshop of Allegiance - A New American Musical.

The breathtaking Lincoln Center Theater production which reinvented this classic musical, won 7 Tony Awards, sold out on Broadway for 2 years and is currently selling out across America, will next premiere in the UK at the Barbican Theatre from 12 August 2011 to 1 October 2011 at the Barbican Theatre.

Bob Boyett and NETworks Presentations announce casting for the National Tour of The Lincoln Center Theater Production of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's prize-winning musical SOUTH PACIFIC, directed by Bartlett Sher playing PlayhouseSquare in Cleveland; February 1 - 13, 2011.

Lincoln Center Theater's production of the new musical WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar, with a book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher opened on November 4 at The Belasco Theatre on Broadway 111 West 44 Street and Broadway Beat was there to talk to the cast!

BroadwayWorld offers highlights of the several productions which will complete their Broadway runs in January.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of André Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that its production of WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, the new musical based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar with book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher, will end its run this Sunday, January 2 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44 Street). The musical, which was originally scheduled to run through Sunday, January 23, will have played 30 previews and 69 performances.

Tour of Tony-winning Lincoln Center Production at the Kennedy Center Until January 16, 2011

J.L. 'Lynn' Singleton, President of the Providence Performing Arts Center, is pleased to announce that Smithfield-based Navigant Credit Union is the new sponsor of The Lincoln Center Production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, which makes its Providence debut at PPAC, playing December 7 - 12, 2010, as part of the Broadway Series.

J.L. 'Lynn' Singleton, President of the Providence Performing Arts Center, is pleased to announce that Smithfield-based Navigant Credit Union is the new sponsor of The Lincoln Center Production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, which makes its Providence debut at PPAC, playing December 7 - 12, 2010, as part of the Broadway Series.

Critically Acclaimed and Tony Award winner, Laura Benanti is currently starring in WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. BroadwayWorld sat down with Laura as she was getting ready for an evening performance to speak candidly about playing Candela, working with Barlett Sher, her back injury (and the gossip that followed), how to get her to sing on your answering machine, and more! Click now to watch this entertaining interview!

Bob Boyett and NETworks Presentations announce casting for the National Tour of The Lincoln Center Theater Production of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's prize-winning musical SOUTH PACIFIC, directed by Bartlett Sher playing Philadelphia's Academy of Music Nov. 23 - 28. The press opening is Tues. Nov. 23 at 7:30 pm.

Bob Boyett and NETworks Presentations announce casting for the National Tour of The Lincoln Center Theater Production of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's prize-winning musical SOUTH PACIFIC, directed by Bartlett Sher playing Philadelphia's Academy of Music Nov. 23 - 28. The press opening is Tues. Nov. 23 at 7:30 pm.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin recently announced that Amy Corcoran will direct the Company's production of the award-winning Annie Baker play, Circle Mirror Transformation. The comedy runs November 4-21, 2010 in the Studio Theatre at the Addison Theatre Centre. WaterTower Theatre will celebrate its 15th anniversary with its 2010-2011 season.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), announces Director Ciarán O'Reilly (Irish Repertory Theatre's THE EMPEROR JONES) and Choreographer Byron Easley (urbanStages' LANGSTON IN HARLEM) as winners of the Joe A. Callaway Award for the 2009-2010 Theatre Season, presented in a ceremony on Monday, November 15 in Manhattan.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Directors; Howard Sherman, Executive Director) today announced that the 2010-2011 season of their "Working in the Theatre" series will kick off with The Vocabulary of Dance: Choreographers 2010.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced casting details for Circle Mirror Transformation which will be performed in the Studio Theatre, November 4 - 21, 2010. The cast features Lynn Blackburn as Theresa, Kayla Carlyle as Lauren, Lisa Hassler as Marty, Bill Jenkins as James and Ted Wold as Schultz.