Dan Elish News

After a sold-out initial run in Thousand Oaks, Panic! Productions is bringing its hit production of Jason Robert Brown's musical '13' to the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood for two performances, today and tomorrow, May 8 and 9.

Today, we begin the 5 SONGS BY... series with multiple Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist and orchestrator Jason Robert Brown who discusses his work on the fan favorite two-character musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS which was recently translated into a successful movie musical iteration earlier this year and is now available on DVD and Blu-ray as well as comments on selections from his stage musicals SONGS FROM A NEW WORLD, PARADE, 13 and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY.

Composer Jason Robert Brown has built quite a catalog of his own songs, having written the music to such Broadway shows as Parade, Honeymoon in Vegas, The Bridges of Madison County, and many more, but now he is branching out into the works of the Piano Man himself. Brown recently released his own covers of songs from Billy Joel's 'The Stranger' album- check them out below! He writes on his official website:

After a sold-out initial run in Thousand Oaks, Panic! Productions is bringing its hit production of Jason Robert Brown's musical "13" to the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood for two performances, May 8 and 9. The high-energy show, with a cast of 19 teens, features music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown, with a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. The production is directed by Broadway and Hollywood veteran Barry Pearl, with choreography by Keenon Hooks and musical direction by Diann Alexander.

MANN... AND WIFE, a new musical by Douglas J. Cohen and Dan Elish based on Elish's novel Nine Wives, will receive its world premiere at Lyric's Plaza Theatre in February of 2016. This musical will continue the new works initiative started in 2014 with TRIANGLE by Tom Mizer, Curtis Moore, and Joshua Scher and continuing in October 2015 with BERNICE BOBS HER HAIR by Adam Gwon and Julia Jordan.

Panic! Productions continues its third season with the musical '13,' tonight, April 10 through 19 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks. The high-energy show, with a cast of 19 teens, features music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown, with a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. The production is directed by Broadway and Hollywood veteran Barry Pearl, with choreography by Keenon Hooks and musical direction by Diann Alexander.

Jason Robert Brown revealed in concert on Friday night at SubCulture in New York City that he is at work on a new musical adaptation of the 1992 Tom Hanks film, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN. No word yet as to when we may hear the Tony Award-winner's score or who else is on the creative team.

Panic! Productions continues its third season with the musical "13," April 10 through 19 at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts in Thousand Oaks. The high-energy show, with a cast of 19 teens, features music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown, with a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. The production is directed by Broadway and Hollywood veteran Barry Pearl, with choreography by Keenon Hooks and musical direction by Diann Alexander.

Jason Robert Brown's 2011 high-powered concert with Tony winner Anika Noni Rose, recorded at New York City's historic Abrons Art Center, is now available to stream or download for $5, the three-time Tony-winning composer announced today on his official website. Click here for the concert!

This January on THIRTEEN and WLIW, three-time Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown makes his broadcast television debut in a high-powered concert with Tony winner Anika Noni Rose. Recorded in 2011 at New York City's historic Abrons Art Center, Brown and Rose and a band of some of Broadway's greatest musicians perform Brown's best-known and most-loved selections from The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World, 13, Wearing Someone Else's Clothes and his new Broadway smash Honeymoon In Vegas! Also tune in to hear the world premiere of four new songs from Brown's forthcoming second solo CD.

This January on THIRTEEN and WLIW, three-time Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown makes his broadcast television debut in a high-powered concert with Tony winner Anika Noni Rose. Recorded in 2011 at New York City's historic Abrons Art Center, Brown and Rose and a band of some of Broadway's greatest musicians perform Brown's best-known and most-loved selections from The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World, 13, Wearing Someone Else's Clothes and his new Broadway smash Honeymoon In Vegas! Also tune in to hear the world premiere of four new songs from Brown's forthcoming second solo CD.

Ghostlight Records will release the two-track single by pop sensation Ariana Grande from the Broadway show 13 - The Musical. Grande made her acting debut in the 2008 Broadway production, which has music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. Fans of the chart-topping singer can hear her earliest recorded work as the songs 'Brand New You' and 'A Little More Homework' are now available together for the first time on iTunes here. A special new lyric video of 'Brand New You' is available on YouTube here. The full original Broadway cast recording of 13 - The Musical, as well as the London cast recording, is available from Ghostlight Records. Since its Broadway premiere, the show has had over a thousand productions around the world and is being developed as a movie musical by CBS Films.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces Northlight's 40th Anniversary Party featuring a performance by Tony Award winner, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown. The event, which will also include a cocktail reception, raffle and auction, will be held at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, tonight, December 11, 2014 at 7:00pm.

The McLean Community Players (MCP) present 13 this winter at McLean's Alden Theatre. Director Kevin Sockwell leads a talented production team in staging this lively, captivating musical that reminds audiences of what it's like to be 13 again. The production runs January 30 - February 15, 2015, with evening performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.

The Kirk Douglas Theatre was originally an historic 1940s Streamlined Moderne-style movie house called the Culver Theater, and it is believed that Kirk Douglas' movie "Spartacus" played there in the early 1960s. In 2003 it was transformed into an intimate 317-seat live theatre venue and named for the theatre's initial major donor: Kirk Douglas. On Tuesday, October 14, 2014, CTG's Kirk Douglas Theatre celebrated its 10th birthday with Anne and Kirk Douglas in attendance.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces Northlight's 40th Anniversary Party featuring a performance by Tony Award winner, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown. The event, which will also include a cocktail reception, raffle and auction, will be held at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, on Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 7:00pm. Tickets are $150, and are available at 847.673.6300 or northlight.org.

Staged! and Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown go way back. For the past three years the company has been delighting musical theatre audiences with top-notch production of the composer's work and has the awards and accolades to show for it. This time, Staged! presents JRB's dark and ambitious musical Parade, today, September 20 through October 12. A dark and compelling look at American justice and racism, Parade won two Tony Awards for its sweeping score and powerful message.

Staged! and Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown go way back. For the past three years the company has been delighting musical theatre audiences with top-notch production of the composer's work and has the awards and accolades to show for it. This time, Staged! presents JRB's dark and ambitious musical Parade, September 20 through October 12. A dark and compelling look at American justice and racism, Parade won two Tony Awards for its sweeping score and powerful message.

TriArts Sharon Playhouse, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Simpkins and Managing Director Justin Ball, presented a developmental production of the new musical Nine Wives from July 24-27 at their Stage 2 space in the Bok Gallery.

Bergen County's inventive youth theater company, Stage Scene & Song Performing Arts (3sPA), through its 2014 Summer Collaborative for teens ages 12-18, is proud to present 13 music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish! 13 is a hilarious pop musical with a big mission: to remind the world that becoming a teenager is not a piece of cake! Turning 13 is more than discovering acne - it's about finding out who you are, finding out what you need, and finding out what's really important. This is a story about Evan Goldman. He turns 13 in just 6 short weeks, a huge milestone in any kid's life. But not so for Evan! A die-hard, native New Yorker, he's just been plucked from the Big Apple and plopped in Appleton, Indiana with his mother. His folks are divorced, the new kids are likely all hicks, and the choice girl is dating the school bully. But he's set on one goal: get all the cool kids in school to come to his Bar Mitzvah, or else spend the rest of his Indiana days banished to the land of the 'honest to goodness' Geeks. Hey, if Moses can part the Red Sea....