City Center News

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS and THE CIVILIANS will release the first three premiere albums of The Michael Friedman Collection- available for streaming and download on Friday, October 18. The Great Immensity, The Abominables, and This Beautiful City are all written (or co-written) and directed by Steve Cosson and feature music and lyrics by Michael Friedman. This extraordinary long-term project will eventually comprise the premiere recordings of nine musicals from the beloved late Obie Award-winning songwriter Michael Friedman. The albums will be available at www.ghostlightrecords.com/michaelfriedman.html.

A lyric video produced by White Door Productions in support of the debut single, “Avaline,” by multi talented country, bluegrass, and gospel singer Emily Miller, from West Chester, Ohio was released today on her Facebook artist page and YouTube.  

Songwriter Michael Friedman died in 2017, but his work will live on. According to The New York Times, nine albums of his unreleased work will soon be released.

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly kicks off its highly anticipated 2019-20 season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved classic THE SOUND OF MUSIC. This Tony Award-winning musical sensation will be directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes (Broadway: Bright Star, It Shoulda Been You, First Date, Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella). Rhodes returns to Asolo Rep where he previously directed and choreographed the theatre's record-breaking smash hit production of Evita in 2017 and Guys and Dolls in 2016. 

On Friday, November 8 at 8:00pm, superstar Sutton Foster stars in An Evening with Sutton Foster, headlining the first show of Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and McCarter Theatre Center's new PRINCETON POPS series collaboration.

Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA is an epic tale of love, loyalty and betrayal, with an exhilarating Tony and Grammy Award winning score by Elton John & Tim Rice. 

On Friday, November 8 at 8:00pm, superstar Sutton Foster stars in An Evening with Sutton Foster, headlining the first show of Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and McCarter Theatre Center's new PRINCETON POPS series collaboration. The Tony Award-winning singer, actor, and dancer Sutton Foster performs personal song favorites and Broadway classics including a?oeAnything Goes,a?? a?oeC'est Magnifique,a?? a?oeDown with Love,a?? a?oeI Get a Kick out of You,a?? a?oeSunshine on My Shoulders,a?? a?oeSinging in the Rain,a?? and so much more. The Princeton Symphony Orchestra accompanies Ms. Foster under the baton of John Devlin, former PSO assistant conductor, now music director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. The performance takes place in McCarter's Matthews Theatre.

Alessandra Corona Performing Works returns to the Theatre St. Jean Baptiste with a program of works by four choreographers: Alessandra Corona, Maiya Redding, Isaies Santamaria Perez, and Manuel Vignoulle, Saturday & Sunday, October 26 at 7:30 PM and October 27 at 6:30 PM. 

Quintessential song-and-dance man Tony Yazbeck, a Tony Award nominee for his starring role in the 2014 Broadway revival of On the Town, performs his spellbinding An Evening with Broadway's Tony Yazbeck on Saturday, November 23 at 8 p.m.

Music Theatre Kansas City (MTKC) presents a concert celebration of Broadway in Kansas City, featuring special guest artist Betsy Wolfe on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019 at 8:00pm.

Judith Jamison and members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater appear at TEDx for REVELATIONS FROM OF A LIFETIME IN DANCE.

MTC announces events following select performances of Bella Bella, written and performed by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein

Two years ago, I revisited French Woods Festival of the Arts (which I attended from 1999 to 2002 as a camper/teen actor and then as an assistant director/stage manager) and BroadwayWorld kindly published an article I wrote about the experience. In light of my responsibilities at work (attorney by day, theater critic by night) and at home (including a hyperactive toddler and commuting daily between NY and NJ), I was not planning on visiting again this past summer, but that instantly changed when I learned that the camp was planning on presenting 1776 for the first time in nearly two decades - and with an all-female cast.

The Axelrod's 2019 Gala will star Laura Benanti, who won her Tony Award for her performance as Gypsy Rose Lee in the 2008 revival of Gypsy, starring Patti Lupone and directed by original book writer Arthur Laurents

Alessandra Corona Performing Works returns to the Theatre St. Jean Baptiste with a program of works by four choreographers: Alessandra Corona, Maiya Redding, Isaies Santamaria Perez, and Manuel Vignoulle, Saturday & Sunday, October 26 at 7:30 PM and October 27 at 6:30 PM. Part I of the performance will show works by choreographers Redding, Perez and Corona, each presenting a 10-minute vignette with the possibility of developing a future full production for Corona Performing Works. Part 2 features W2! (Women Too!), choreographed by noted choreographer Manuel Vignouelle.

The Muny has announced that St. Louis native and longtime Muny performer, Alex Prakken will star alongside the previously announced Mikaela Bennett in the eighth installment of its off-season concert series, Muny Magic at The Sheldon, November 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m.

BroadwayWorld has learned that Jason Gotay has joined New York City Center's Gala Presentation of Evita, November 13 - 24. Gotay will bring to life Che Guevara.

Tony Award-winning tap phenomenon Savion Glover (Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, Shuffle Along) makes a highly anticipated return engagement to SOPAC on Saturday, November 9 at 8 p.m.

vArt takes action against climate change! On Thursday, October 17 from 6 - 8 pm, visual artists, poets and performing artists will unite to address climate change during a?oeArt for the Earth,a?? a free multidisciplinary arts event at The Frank in Pembroke Pines, located at 601 City Center Way.