David William News

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of $25 orchestra seats will be held daily for WICKED, playing an open-ended engagement at the Orpheum Theatre. Lottery tickets are available for every performance of WICKED beginning Tuesday, January 27 through Saturday, June 27. Each day, 2? hours prior to curtain, ticket buyers can arrive at the Orpheum Theatre box office to have their names placed in the WICKED lottery barrel where thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for these seats. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person, cash only. Each person must have a valid photo I.D. in order to participate. Visit shnsf.com for more information. The city that launched the international smash hit musical will get its very own production when WICKED returns home to San Francisco for a sit-down, open-ended engagement beginning January 27, 2009 at the Orpheum Theatre. This production is a significant homecoming for WICKED, which had its world premiere in San Francisco in 2003 before casting its spell on Broadway, winning 20 major awards, including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards. San Francisco audiences feel a special connection with WICKED. The 2003 world premiere in San Francisco followed a long development process during which the entire creative team and cast immersed themselves in the musical's launch at the Curran Theatre. From these roots in the city by the bay, WICKED has gone on to become a worldwide phenomenon that has since redefined theatrical popular culture.

The critically acclaimed Made Me Nuclear, now in its fifth month, is extending for an additional eight weeks. Charlie Lustman's original pop music operetta about surviving cancer is 'simply irresistible' says the LA Times. This 'feel good cancer musical' (LAT) is an 'inspiring' tale that will 'grab you in a bear hug right away and not let go. 'Touching...life-affirming...his songs are pitched in an intimate, jazzy, bluesy style,' says the LA Weekly. WHO: Written and Performed by Singer/Songwriter Charlie Lustman. Lustman grew up in LA and is a graduate of Berklee College of Music; he spent ten years touring the world performing and released two studio albums in Denmark: The Golden Road, vol.1 and SHAYA. He also wrote and performed live the theme song to the ABC TV program 'The Mike and Maty show.' He is perhaps best known to Los Angeles audiences for his role in rescuing and reopening The Silent Movie Theatre on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles, the last remaining silent cinema in the world, which he turned into a one-of-a-kind successful working revival theatre lauded by film buffs globally. In 2006, after being diagnosed with a rare cancer in his upper jaw he sold the theatre and returned to his first passion -music. Writing and composing throughout his treatment and recovery he produced his third studio album, Made Me Nuclear, arguably the first pop music album about surviving cancer. Released in July 2008 'a-dollar-a-disc' will be donated to The Sarcoma Alliance, the only national organization dedicated to helping those afflicted with this rare disease. Made Me Nuclear, the Operetta, now in its fifth month, is the theatrical adaptation of the album arguably the first pop operetta about surviving cancer. Directed by Chris DeCarlo. DeCarlo has been directing, writing and acting in Los Angeles for over 40 years and is acknowledged for his critically acclaimed crafting of world and American premiere productions by such renowned playwrights as Michel Garneau, Stephen King, Brenda Krantz, Robert B. Parker, Sheila Rae, Annie Reiner, Sammy Shore, Robert Waldman, David Williamson, and Lois Wyse, including five of Playwright Jerry Mayer's plays. He has directed more than 200 plays on three continents, from the Henry Street Settlement Theatre in New York to the Dream Factory in Warwickshire and the gargantuan Hitomi Memorial Hall in Tokyo. As a performer, DeCarlo has created more than 300 roles, with over 10,000 on-stage performances. Over a quarter of a million people have been touched by his award-winning characterization of Yiddish humorist Sholom Aleichem.

Charlie Lustman's original pop music operetta about surviving cancer as he says 'one song at a time', Made Me Nuclear: the Operetta, a guest production at the Santa Monica Playhouse, is extended by popular demand. This show, which is presented by the Sarcoma Alliance will now be performed through January 31, 2009.

Casting has been announced for the much anticipated San Francisco return of the smash hit musical WICKED, which begins Tuesday, January 27, 2009 for an open-ended engagement at the Orpheum Theatre. This production is a significant homecoming for WICKED, which premiered in San Francisco before casting its spell on Broadway, winning 20 major awards, including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards.

The award-winning Broadway musical MARY POPPINS celebrates its two-year anniversary at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street) on Sunday, November 16. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions, the Broadway production has grossed over $100 million to date and will have played 837 performances by Sunday.

Broadway In Chicago and producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh announced today that tickets for the long-awaited production of MARY POPPINS will go on sale to the public Friday, November 14, 2008 with a special public pre-sale at 8 a.m. at the Cadillac Palace Theatre box office. Telephone ticketing lines, internet (ticketmaster.com), and other box office outlets will have tickets available to the public beginning at 10 a.m. The eagerly anticipated North American National Tour will begin performances at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre March 11, 2009. Original Broadway stars Ashley Brown and Gavin Lee, along with the entire original creative team, will reunite to bring this magical story of the world's most famous nanny to audiences around North America.

Described by the L.A. Times Critics' Choice as, '... perfectly simple -- and simply irresistible,' Charlie Lustman's original pop music operetta about surviving cancer one song at a time has been extended a second time. The new closing date is Saturday, November 29, 2008

People opening up the playbills of the Broadway production of MARY POPPINS will find inside a flyer soliciting them for their possible participation in SUPERNANNY, a reality TV show starring Jo Frost that helps parents deal with their tough-to-handle children.

On October 9th, 2008 Olivier-nominee Scarlett Strallen and ADAM FIORENTINO (in their Broadway debuts as Mary Poppins and Bert, respectively), were welcomed to the company of the award-winning musical Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street). After their debuts the two celebrated at Sardi's Restaurant in New York City.

Wicked, the Broadway smash musical and winner of 20 major awards, including a Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, is based on the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire about two witches in the Land of Oz. Composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz, book writer Winnie Holzman, and producer Marc Platt will discuss the process of adapting the novel to create the stage musical that would become a Broadway blockbuster. David Cote, chief drama critic for Time Out New York, will moderate the discussion. Reservations required. $10 for Museum members, seniors, and students; $15 for non-members.

Wicked at the Apollo Victoria in London celebrated its second anniversary on Saturday, September 27, with the cast and crew thanking the fans for two years of support.

Producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh are pleased to welcome Olivier-nominee Scarlett Strallen and Adam Fiorentino (in their Broadway debuts as Mary Poppins and Bert, respectively), to the company of the award-winning musical MARY POPPINS, beginning tonignt Thursday, October 9 at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street).

Gavin Lee, who originated the role of Bert in the hit Broadway and London productions of MARY POPPINS, and Ashley Brown, who originated the title role on Broadway, both play their final performances today, Sunday October 5th. They will then ready to essay the leading roles on the show's National Tour.

Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaimed 'A WICKED Day in San Francisco,' welcoming the international phenomenon back to the city where it had its world premiere. At a special Homecoming Party in Union Square, WICKED Producer David Stone accepted a proclamation from Luis Cancel, Director of Cultural Affairs for the City and County of San Francisco on behalf of Mayor Newsom. Producer David Stone was in San Francisco for the Homecoming as tickets went on sale for the open-ended engagement of WICKED, which begins performances at the Orpheum Theatre January 27, 2009. He was joined by cast members performing in Union Square for a group of enthusiastic fans.

Individual tickets are now available to all Visa and Visa Signature cardholders through October 19 for MARY POPPINS in Chicago as part of a special pre-sale. Individual tickets which range in price from $23 - $90 will go on-sale to the general public on Friday, November 14 at 10 a.m. The North American Tour of MARY POPPINS will premiere at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) starting March 11, 2009.

Individual tickets are now available to all Visa and Visa Signature cardholders through October 19 for MARY POPPINS in Chicago as part of a special pre-sale. Individual tickets which range in price from $23 - $90 will go on-sale to the general public on Friday, November 14 at 10 a.m. The North American Tour of MARY POPPINS will premiere at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) starting March 11, 2009.

SHN is pleased to announce that tickets for the international phenomenon WICKED go on sale Friday, September 26, 2008 at 10 AM. WICKED returns home to San Francisco for an extended engagement beginning Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at the Orpheum Theatre. In conjunction with tickets going on sale, a very special free fan appreciation homecoming party will take place on Friday, September 26 in Union Square. The event will be hosted by Don Bleu from Star Radio and Jessica Aguirre from NBC TV and will also feature performances from the show.

Producers Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions and Cameron Mackintosh are pleased to welcome Olivier-nominee SCARLETT STRALLEN and ADAM FIORENTINO (in their Broadway debuts as Mary Poppins and Bert, respectively), to the company of the award-winning musical MARY POPPINS, beginning Thursday, October 9 at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street).

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and Thomas Schumacher are pleased to announce that Gavin Lee, who originated the role of Bert in the hit Broadway and London productions of MARY POPPINS, will be joining Ashley Brown, who originated the title role on Broadway, for the show's eagerly anticipated North American National Tour.

Christopher Cazenove and Walter Charles who play Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering in the U.S. Tour of the hit London revival of 'My Fair Lady' discuss this new production, their amazing careers and the legend of this historic show.