David Thompson News

Gary Naylor sees a show that has plenty of great songs and feelgood family fun, but topples into schmaltz showing its 40 years in Act Two.

Two powerhouse American musicals, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY;  two acclaimed contemporary plays, GRAND CONCOURSE and SIGNIFICANT OTHER; and the riotous Broadway comedy HAND TO GOD will each enjoy their New England premiere as part of SpeakEasy Stage Company's 2016-2017 Season, the company's Founder and Producing Artistic Director Paul Daigneault announced today.

The Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, announces a Summer Festival of entertainment for 2016, including three world premieres of plays by Alan Ayckbourn and Torben Betts; the world premiere of a classic family favorite adapted by Vicky Ireland; a major revival of an Ayckbourn classic comedy; and a 25th anniversary production of a musical revue featuring the songs of one of the world's best-loved songwriting duos.

Jack Rosenthal adapted his award winning 1976 TV play (British Academy Best Play Award and Broadcasting Press Guild Best Play Award), for the musical stage with America's Oscar and Tony award composer Jule Styne and lyrics by Oscar and Tony award winner Don Black in BAR MITZVAH BOY.

Michael Weber, artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre, has announced Porchlight Music Theatre's 2016 - 2017 mainstage season which includes In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda's first big hit and winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score, September 9 - October 16, 2016; End of the Rainbow, the Chicago premiere of the Judy Garland bio musical play, a recent smash hit in London and New York, November 4 - December 4, 2016; The Scottsboro Boys, the long-awaited Chicago premiere of the final collaboration of Kander and Ebb concerning one of the most infamous events in American history, February 3 - March 12, 2017; Marry Me a Little, Jeff Award-winning Porchlight Artistic Associate Austin Cook stars in this rarely seen Stephen Sondheim production, April 14 - May 21, 2017.

Japan can't get enough of PRINCE OF BROADWAY (see video below), and that's too bad, because there are just five performances left at Osaka's Umeda Arts Theatre. On opening night, after a solid ten minutes of applause after the final curtain, Prince and the rest of the creative team went out one more time. Despite the show's success overseas, an official announcement has not yet been made regrading a run on Broadway... but that hasn't kept us from wondering. So what's next for PRINCE? We're keeping our appendages crossed for an announcement soon and we'll keep you posted with updates!

Jack Rosenthal adapted his award winning 1976 TV play (British Academy Best Play Award and Broadcasting Press Guild Best Play Award), for the musical stage with America's Oscar and Tony award composer Jule Styne and lyrics by Oscar and Tony award winner Don Black in BAR MITZVAH BOY.

The McCarter Theatre Center's production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol has become a welcome holiday treat for families across the region. This heartwarming and powerfully honest musical adaptation of Dickens' classic novel is a wonderful way to honor tradition while experiencing the joys and warmth of a holiday favorite. A Christmas Carol runs from Dec. 4 through Dec. 27 on the Matthews Stage.

PRINCE OF BROADWAY, a new musical celebrating the extraordinary six-decade Broadway career of producer-director Harold Prince, is now running in Japan. Get a first look below!

THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND draws from the first quarter-century of the Kander & Ebb catalog. Over two dozen love songs, torch songs, and hilarious comic numbers swirl together to create a living tapestry in celebration of two titans of the American Musical Theatre.

Riverdale Repertory Company kicks off the 2015-2016 season of productions at the Riverdale YM-YWHA with THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND, a dazzling revue of songs by the award-winning Broadway songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb.

PRINCE OF BROADWAY, a new musical celebrating the extraordinary six-decade Broadway career of producer-director Harold Prince, plays from tonight, October 23, through November 22, 2015 at Tokyu Theatre Orb in Tokyo, Japan and November 28-December 10, 2015 at Umeda Arts Theatre, Main Hall, in Osaka, Japan.

Catch some of the last minute warmups and preparations as the overture plays in the background.

Today in 2010, The Scottsboro Boys opened at the Lyceum Theatre, where it ran for 49 performances. The Scottsboro Boys is a musical with a book by David Thompson, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Based on the Scottsboro Boys trial, the musical is one of the last collaborations between Kander and Ebb prior to the latter's death. The musical has the framework of a minstrel show, altered to 'create a musical social critique.' Despite closing on Broadway in December 2010, the show received twelve Tony Award nominations in May 2011, but failed to win any.

Barter Theatre unveils the 2016 production schedule with a behind-the-scenes preview of what the next season has in store. Producing Artistic Director Richard Rose announces an exciting season filled with comedy, drama and many world-famous shows patrons will recognize from their silver-screen adaptations.

PRINCE OF BROADWAY's Ramin Karimloo has just shared an inside look at one of his many costumes from the new musical. With a photo of himself in a full Superman outfit, Karimloo writes on Instagram, 'And so there it is. The full get up. Another character I get to have fun with in The Prince of Broadway...' Check out the photo below!

Set designer Beowulf Boritt recently took to Facebook to share more photos of the stars of PRINCE OF BROADWAY on opening night in Japan. Scroll down for a peek a scenes from SWEENEY TODD, FOLLIES, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN and more! Click here for even more of his shots of the cast onstage.

PRINCE OF BROADWAY, a new musical celebrating the extraordinary six-decade Broadway career of producer-director Harold Prince, plays from tonight, October 23, through November 22, 2015 at Tokyu Theatre Orb in Tokyo, Japan and November 28-December 10, 2015 at Umeda Arts Theatre, Main Hall, in Osaka, Japan.

Riverdale Repertory Company kicks off the 2015-2016 season of productions at the Riverdale YM-YWHA with THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND, a dazzling revue of songs by the award-winning Broadway songwriting team of John Kander and Fred Ebb.

Set designer Beowulf Boritt recently took to Facebook to share a first look at the stars of PRINCE OF BROADWAY in costume and onstage in Japan. Scroll down for a peek a scenes from SWEENEY TODD, EVITA, COMPANY, PHANTOM, CABARET, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and more!