David Abbinanti News

Drury Lane Theatre kicks off the 2016 - 2017 Season with the world-premiere production of HAZEL, a musical maid in America. 

Drury Lane Theatre kicks off the 2016 - 2017 Season with the world-premiere production of HAZEL, a musical maid in America. BroadwayWorld is excited to confirm the full cast for the production!

On January 21, guests gathered at Drury Lane Theatre for the Opening Night of their newest production, Bye Bye Birdie, directed and choreographed by Tammy Mader. With a cast led by Michelle Aravena as Rosie, Matt Crowle as Conrad's agent, Albert, and Jason Michael Evans as Conrad Birdie, audiences were treated to a throwback of the classic 1950's musical, brought to life again by this energetic and lively ensemble of 31. Check out photos from opening night, below!

Bye Bye Birdie, the four-time Tony Award-winning musical, begins performances at Drury Lane on January 14 to conclude the 2015 - 2016 Season. The funny, irreverent musical takes audiences back to 1959 in quiet Sweet Apple, OH, where rock star Conrad Birdie shakes things up when he arrives to give one lucky teenage girl a special goodbye kiss. With a cast led by 2015 Jeff Award Best Supporting Actor winners Michelle Aravena as Rosie and Matt Crowle as Conrad's agent, Albert, Bye Bye Birdie is directed and choreographed by multiple Jeff Award winner Tammy Mader. Featuring musical theater classics such as "Kids," "Put on a Happy Face," and "A Lot of Livin' to Do," the inspired cast and creative team promise to bring a decidedly fresh touch to the timeless story. 

The Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace will present HAZEL, based on the character from the Saturday Evening Post comic strip, and the 1960's TV comedy series starring Shirley Booth.

It is a thrill to see the musical Saturday Night Fever, based on the movie starring John Travolta, included on The Gateway Theatre's summer roster. The gorgeous Long Island venue has a habit of getting Broadway caliber casts and, to no surprise, this one did not disappoint. The Keith Andrews directed company was absolutely superb as they seamlessly performed the iconic score featuring, as we know, the music from the Bee Gees.

Broadway musical licensor TRW (Theatrical Rights Worldwide) announces the release of the new SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER the Musical. Written for the North American stage by Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti, this definitive new version of the musical features all of the original smash hit songs from The Bee Gees and others, with new music as well.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Broadway stars Orfeh, James Carpinello, Paige Price, Paul Castree and Bryan Batt in a concert version of the show, not seen in NYC since its 2000 Broadway production. The newly adapted Saturday Night Fever will boogie into 54 Below on Monday, August 31, 2015 at 7pm and 9:30pm.

AUBURN, N.Y-The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide, proudly produces the world premiere of the new North American production of SATURDAYNIGHT FEVER.  Performances run from July 22 through through August 12. Based on Nik Cohn's 1975 article 'Tribal Rites of the new Saturday Night' and Norman Wexler's 1977 screenplay it inspired, this iconic time capsule centers around Tony Manero, a Brooklyn youth whose weekend is spent at the local dance hangout. There, he escapes into the admiration of the crowd, a growing relationship and the pulse of the beat that enables him to forget the realities of his life, his dead-end job and his gang of deadbeat friends. This new production delivers all the favorite tunes and dance sequences while bringing out the dimension and layers of the story and the landscape of such an iconic snapshot in American history.  Adapted for the stage by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes, this new North American version features songs by The Bee Gees, is adapted for the stage by Sean Cercone and features additional music and lyrics by David Abbinanti.  

The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide, proudly produces the world premiere of the new North American production of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.  Performances run from July 22 through through August 12. Based on Nik Cohn's 1975 article 'Tribal Rites of the new Saturday Night' and Norman Wexler's 1977 screenplay it inspired, this iconic time capsule centers around Tony Manero, a Brooklyn youth whose weekend is spent at the local dance hangout. There, he escapes into the admiration of the crowd, a growing relationship and the pulse of the beat that enables him to forget the realities of his life, his dead-end job and his gang of deadbeat friends. This new production delivers all the favorite tunes and dance sequences while bringing out the dimension and layers of the story and the landscape of such an iconic snapshot in American history.  Adapted for the stage by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes, this new North American version features songs by The Bee Gees, is adapted for the stage by Sean Cercone and features additional music and lyrics by David Abbinanti.  Check out a first look at highlights below!

Professional theatre is alive and well in Lakeway, TX. After a three-year break from professional productions, TexARTS is proud to present a full season of shows featuring local, regional and national talent in picturesque Hill Country. The season opens to a champagne toast today, Friday, July 17 with the regional premier of 'Ring of Fire.'

The season opens to a champagne toast this Friday, July 17 with the regional premier of 'Ring of Fire.' BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the show below!

Professional theatre is alive and well in Lakeway, TX. After a three-year break from professional productions, TexARTS is proud to present a full season of shows featuring local, regional and national talent in picturesque Hill Country. The season opens to a champagne toast this Friday, July 17 with the regional premier of 'Ring of Fire.'

To kick off its 2015-16 Professional Series, TexARTS celebrates an American music icon with the regional premier of RING OF FIRE: THE JOHNNY CASH MUSICAL SHOW. Starring local music heavyweight and multi-instrumentalist Walt Roberts, RING OF FIRE runs July 17-26 at the Kam and James Morris Theatre.

Theatrical Rights Worldwide wanted a new version of GHOST: THE MUSICAL for regional theatres. Director Marc Robin's initial publicly-presented revisions reveal an entirely new face of Bruce Joel Rubin's stage version of his beloved film. It's spare, clean, and shows signs of major improvement to a flawed musical.

Musical theatre licensor Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) announced a slew of key promotions and new hires today. TRW President & CEO Steve Spiegelinformed his staff at a company gathering at the Tribeca Grill, celebrating his landmark 35th year in the theatrical licensing business. Spiegel recently took 100% ownership of the company which coincided with signing worldwide representation of Broadway's Tony Award-winning Best Musical JERSEY BOYS.

Leading musical theatre licensor Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW), announces exclusive representation for stock and amateur rights for GHOST THE MUSICAL. The show was nominated for three Tony Awards, five Olivier Awards and is still successfully touring North America and the U.K. The musical joins a roster that includes Tony Award-winners MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT and MEMPHIS, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, and THE COLOR PURPLE.