Dean Pitchford News

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that they will team with director Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz, West End production of Ragtime) to develop the little seen but widely known musical Carrie for an upcoming season.

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, production for the highly anticipated remake of Footloose is now in production in anticipation of an April 2011 release date. MacDowell will join Julianne Hough, Kenny Worlmald, Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell star in the film. ETOnline recently visited the Footloose set to catch up with star Julianne Hough. Click below for the spot!

The New York Times now has further details, including word that the Stafford Arima directed production is aiming for Off Broadway, produced by MCC and to play the Lucille Lortel Theater. Seller and McCollum are no longer involved with the production which has said to be further revamped, including the removal of the ACT II opener - Out for Blood. Click here for the full scoop!

This afternoon I had the pleasure of speaking to Lesley Gore, the iconic 60s pop star and legendary recording artist of 'It's My Party', 'You Don't Own Me' and more, who will be appearing in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET for one night only on Friday night, September 24, 2010. In our discussion we touched upon the work her brother Michael Gore , the accomplished Oscar-winning songwriter best known for FAME and FOOTLOOSE, has been doing on his 1980s musical version of the Stephen King novel and Brian De Palma film CARRIE. Gore exclusively confirms to BroadwayWorld that plans are indeed afoot to bring CARRIE back to Broadway in a big, beautiful, brilliant new way with a slew of new songs! Be sure to check out the complete SOUND OFF SPECIAL INTERVIEW with Lesley Gore coming later this month!

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, producers Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, resurrected the infamous flop musical CARRIE for an Equity reading that had a notoriously short 3 night, 5 performance run on Broadway in 1988. The reading took place on November 20, 2009. The hope is to bring 'Carrie' and her supernatural powers back to the Broadway stage.

According to EW.com, Andie MacDowell is set to play Vi, in the highly anticipated Footloose remake. MacDoweel will join Julianne Hough, Kenny Worlmald, and Dennis Quaid, who will play MacDowell's husband-Reverend Moore. The movie is set to hit theatres in April of 2011, and production will begin in the near future.

Adam Goodman, President of Paramount Pictures Film Group, announced on Tuesday the completion of principle casting on writer / director Craig Brewer's 'Footloose'. Following an extensive worldwide search, newcomer Kenny Wormald will play the highly coveted role of ‘Ren', opposite previously announced star Julianne Hough as ‘Ariel'. Dennis Quaid also joins the cast in the role of ‘Reverend Moore', along with Miles Teller as ‘Willard'.

Adam Goodman, President of Paramount Pictures Film Group, announced today the completion of principle casting on writer / director Craig Brewer's 'Footloose'. Following an extensive worldwide search, newcomer Kenny Wormald will play the highly coveted role of ‘Ren', opposite previously announced star Julianne Hough as ‘Ariel'. Dennis Quaid also joins the cast in the role of ‘Reverend Moore', along with Miles Teller as ‘Willard'.

Broadway and Off-Broadway producer Ken Davenport (author of the popular blog, www.TheProducersPerspective.com) will present the second offering of THE DAVENPORT DEVELOPMENTAL READING SERIES, four readings of new works (plays and/or musicals), on Monday, June 14th at the Mint Theater (311 West 43rd Street/3rd floor): Steven Owad's Heartland, directed by Stafford Arima.

Broadway and Off-Broadway producer Ken Davenport (author of the popular blog, www.TheProducersPerspective.com) will present the second offering of THE DAVENPORT DEVELOPMENTAL READING SERIES, four readings of new works (plays and/or musicals), on Monday, June 14th at the Mint Theater (311 West 43rd Street/3rd floor): Steven Owad's Heartland, directed by Stafford Arima.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) will present its eleventh annual All-City Musical, FAME The Musical to crown the District's 2009-10 series of All-City Arts Programming. The production features the talents of over fifty CMSD students from across the District and will take place on the stage of the Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare, June 4 - 6, 2010.

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) will present its eleventh annual All-City Musical, FAME The Musical to crown the District's 2009-10 series of All-City Arts Programming. The production features the talents of over fifty CMSD students from across the District and will take place on the stage of the Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare, June 4 - 6, 2010.

Today, Seth Deconstructs EVE WAS WEAK from CARRIE. Seth writes ' - Score by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford. Linzi Hateley is Carrie, Betty Buckley is Margaret. BRAVA!!!!!!!!'

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) will present its eleventh annual All-City Musical, FAME The Musical to crown the District's 2009-10 series of All-City Arts Programming. The production features the talents of over fifty CMSD students from across the District and will take place on the stage of the Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare, June 4 - 6, 2010.

Variety is reporting that the new film version of 'Footloose' has secured a new director. Craig Brewer will helm the film, which will work from his rewritten script. Chace Crawford is no longer attached to the project due to scheduling conflicts with the CW's 'Gossip Girl.'

GPR Records, the new CD label specializing in Broadway, classical, spoken word and children's music, is sponsoring a poetry contest that will take place on Twitter, called TwItsPoetic, to celebrate National Poetry Month and the release of their first CD Poetic License: 100 Poems by 100 Performers.

GPR Records' first release will be 'Poetic License' featuring 100 poems read by 100 performers of the stage and screen. The CD will be released on April 2nd in celebration of National Poetry Month and will be available on Amazon.com and on itunes. There has never been a spoken word recording that has included so many performers reading such a wide variety of poetry, each selection a personal choice of the performer. GPR Records is presenting this collection in hopes of inspiring audiences with a new appreciation of the spoken word.

GPR Records' first release will be 'Poetic License' featuring 100 poems read by 100 performers of the stage and screen. The CD will be released on April 2nd in celebration of National Poetry Month and will be available on Amazon.com and on itunes. There has never been a spoken word recording that has included so many performers reading such a wide variety of poetry, each selection a personal choice of the performer. GPR Records is presenting this collection in hopes of inspiring audiences with a new appreciation of the spoken word.

GPR Records' first release will be 'Poetic License' featuring 100 poems read by 100 performers of the stage and screen. The CD will be released on April 2nd in celebration of National Poetry Month and will be available on Amazon.com and on itunes. There has never been a spoken word recording that has included so many performers reading such a wide variety of poetry, each selection a personal choice of the performer. GPR Records is presenting this collection in hopes of inspiring audiences with a new appreciation of the spoken word.

GPR Records' first release will be 'Poetic License' featuring 100 poems read by 100 performers of the stage and screen. The CD will be released on April 2nd in celebration of National Poetry Month and will be available on Amazon.com and on itunes. There has never been a spoken word recording that has included so many performers reading such a wide variety of poetry, each selection a personal choice of the performer. GPR Records is presenting this collection in hopes of inspiring audiences with a new appreciation of the spoken word.