David Libby News

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals has assembled five exciting teams to transform their diverse season of musicals from page to stage.

Don't miss your chance to get the best seats at the greatest values for each of the five fantastic musicals during Goodspeed Musicals' upcoming 2016 season.

Flat Rock Playhouse's presentation of CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ world premiere chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland. This exciting new musical explores her extraordinary journey from vaudeville to Hollywood to stardom which culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ. The production runs now through December 19, 2015 at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Opening night is tonight, December 2, 2015.

Flat Rock Playhouse's presentation of CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ world premiere chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland. This exciting new musical explores her extraordinary journey from vaudeville to Hollywood to stardom which culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ. The production runs now through December 19, 2015 at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Click below to watch highlights from the show!

Flat Rock Playhouse's presentation of CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ world premiere chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland. This exciting new musical explores her extraordinary journey from vaudeville to Hollywood to stardom which culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ. The production runs now through December 19, 2015 at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Flat Rock Playhouse's presentation of CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ world premiere will chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland. This exciting new musical explores her extraordinary journey from vaudeville to Hollywood to stardom which culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ. The production will run from November 27 through December 19, 2015 at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Below, BroadwayWorld has a new portrait of actress Ruby Rakos in character as Judy, with Michael Wartella as Mickey Rooney!

Rehearsals are underway for Flat Rock Playhouse's presentation of CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ world premiere, which chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland. This exciting new musical explores her extraordinary journey from vaudeville to Hollywood to stardom which culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ. The production will run from November 27 through December 19, 2015 at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Below, BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at actress Ruby Rakos in character as Judy!

Flat Rock Playhouse's presentation of CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ world premiere will chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland. This exciting new musical explores her extraordinary journey from vaudeville to Hollywood to stardom which culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ. The production will run from November 27 through December 19, 2015 at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Below, BroadwayWorld has a new portrait of actress Ruby Rakos in character as Judy, with Michael Wartella as Mickey Rooney!

Rehearsals are underway for Flat Rock Playhouse's presentation of CHASING RAINBOWS: THE ROAD TO OZ world premiere, which chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland. This exciting new musical explores her extraordinary journey from vaudeville to Hollywood to stardom which culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ. The production will run from November 27 through December 19, 2015 at Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Below, BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at actress Ruby Rakos in character as Judy!

For the first time in its 53 year history, two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals is offering a Two Theatre - Five Show Package. Today Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed's Executive Director, announced the five fantastic shows set for 2016.

Sarah Jebian* presents her acclaimed cabaret act, Taking Flight: Songs of Hope, which combines her long-time love of music with her passion for social equality. Created and performed by Jebian, with piano accompaniment by David Libby, and directed by Robb Hillman and David McMullin, Taking Flight will be performed on Friday, June 26 at 7:30pm, Saturday, June 27th at 8pm, Wednesday, July 1 at 4:30pm, Monday, July 6th at 7pm and Tuesday, July 7th at 6pm in the Downstairs Theatre at The Paradise Factory, located at 64 East 4th Street as part of the 2015 Planet Connections Theatre Festivity.

Flat Rock Playhouse announced today that they have been chosen by the new musical Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz to be the Developmental House for its world premiere.  Conceived and produced by New York City based producer Tina Marie Casamento Libby, Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz is a Broadway bound musical that chronicles the life of a young Judy Garland and explores the extraordinary journey to stardom that culminated in one of the most popular films of all time, The Wizard of Oz.  Developed at Goodspeed Musicals Johnny Mercer Colony in Connecticut, a NYC table read and a thirteen day developmental workshop at Belmont University in Nashville soon followed. A very successful AEA Staged Reading of this musical was also produced at New World Stages in New York City in September 2014.  After the Flat Rock Playhouse production, Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz will then transfer to another leading regional theatre for a pre-Broadway try out before its New York City bow. 

BroadwayDemo, the NYC-based vocal demo recording service and online showcase for musical theatre performers, launched a new website that makes membership available to any performer wishing to join, regardless of their location. Visitors to the site can now purchase a membership (free trial available), then log in to their Performer Page to upload vocal demo mp3s, performance videos, headshots, resume, and production photos. Members are also featured in BroadwayDemo's Performer Showcase, a talent resource used by casting professionals in NYC and throughout the country.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, featuring Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin, BACKSTAGE, Tony nominee Sally Mayes and award-winning jazz singer/songwriter Mark Winkler, award-winning singer Amber Martin, Sondheim Unplugged, musical legend Darlene Love, The Broadway Boys, Broadway star Morgan James and Night of Stars!

Check out these two videos PlaidBird Productions have released to promote "Bird Amongst the Blossom- A Tribute to the First Blossom Dearie Songbook" downstairs at Cornelia Street Cafe on Friday March 23, 2012 at 6pm.

The National Music Theater Conference, led by artistic director Paulette Haupt, enters its final week, and will present final readings of two new musicals, Suprema, with Book and lyrics by Jordan Harrison, Music and Lyrics by Daniel Zaitchik; and The Shadow Sparrow, with Book by Anton Dudley, Lyrics by Charlie Sohne, and Music by Keith Gordon.

The National Music Theater Conference, led by artistic director Paulette Haupt, will present three shows this week, Son of a Gun, with Book by Chris Cragin, Music and Lyrics by Don Chaffer, with additional music by Lori Chaffer; The Shadow Sparrow, with Book by Anton Dudley, Lyrics by Charlie Sohne, and Music by Keith Gordon; and Suprema, Book and Lyrics by Jordan Harrison, and Music and Lyrics by Daniel Zaitchik.

Paulette Haupt, Artistic Director of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Music Theater Conference, today announced directors for music theater selections previously announced: