Deen Van Meer News

Some questionable casting choices and a book by Chad Beguelin that's filled with a little too many eyeroll worthy anachronistic jokes, aside, the touring production has a few elements that make a trip to the Kennedy Center worth it.

Which Broadway shows are the longest running of all time? Which current Broadway productions have a chance of breaking the top ten? We've got the full list!

The cold never bothered Broadway anyway! Frozen is now playing at the historic St. James Theatre, where it opened on Thursday, March 22, 2018 and has been in the top 10 best-selling shows every week, establishing itself as the biggest musical hit of its season. Having grossed more than any new Broadway musical since Hamilton and set four St. James Theatre house records in less than a year, Frozen has been seen by nearly 1M people since its Denver pre-Broadway engagement. As the summer days heat up, we're cooling down by getting to know the current 2019 cast!

ALADDIN is a vibrant kaleidoscope of extravagant costumes, choreography, and vocal performances. An entertaining musical comedy jam-packed with a cast of over 30 members, there is always something to marvel at throughout the show for children and adults alike. It's glitz, dynamic, and sure to entertain. Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw with orchestrations by Danny Troob, this show packs an impressive punch when it comes to presentational musical numbers.

Broadway's award-winning musical THE PROM will launch a National Tour in Providence, Rhode Island at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in February 2021.

Tony Awards have announced the line-up of performances that will be performed live at the 2019 Tony Awards, on stage from Radio City Music Hall, Sunday, June 9th

Anybody want a drink? The Tonys are, at their core, underneath all the madness, stress, and anxiety, a celebration of the theatre community. What does every great celebration need? Some killer cocktails of course! Spice up your Tonys viewing party or simply make an evening of your watch with some of our recipes themed after this year's shows!

'I guess I want you to play the most beautiful music ever written and dedicate it to us,' a hopeful romantic requests of the radio station he's phoned from his date's apartment.

We've got an all new look at the North American tour of Disney's Aladdin, featuring new tour cast members Major Attaway (Genie), Kaena Kekoa (Jasmine), Ben Chavez (Omar) and Colt Prattes (Kassim), along with original tour cast members Clinton Greenspan (Aladdin) and Zach Bencal (Babkak).

Set your DVRs, because ABC's The View has announced that on Friday, May 31 there will be a performance by the cast of Broadway's Tony®-nominated The Prom!

There's a scene in poet-turned-playwright Aziza Barnes' fast and furiously funny debut stage piece, BLKS, where the main characters, a trio of black Brooklyn women in their 20s 'out on a mission to resurrect our fly back' find themselves at the corner of Prince Street and Broadway, where the N,R subway station entrance displays the faces of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin in an ad for their Netflix comedy series, 'Grace and Frankie,' a show about two women who are there for each other during life's rough patches. In another time, the station might have shown an ad for 'Girls' or 'Sex and The City,' or any other such high-profile program where the default setting for the women who stick together is white.

According to Genie, 'Agrabah has more glitz and glamour than any other fictional city in the world.' He's not lying. Aladdin is a veritable dreamscape of color, light, and shimmering costumes. The animated movie has been brought to life on the stage by six-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz and two-time Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes. Familiar songs from Tony and Grammy-award winners Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Chad Beguelin feed the nostalgia from the highest grossing film of 1992 while adding new material to complement the transition to a live audience.

The Chita Rivera Awards, taking place at The NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts this Sunday, May 19, announces presenters for the evening. Presenters include Chita Rivera, Andy Blankenbuehler, Camille A. Brown, Ariana DeBose, Luann de Lesseps, Micaela Diamond, Damon J. Gillespie, Savion Glover, Marilu Henner, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Tiler Peck, Lee Roy Reams, Michael Riedel, Ethan Slater, Mary Testa and Richard Thomas.

Get your DVRs ready - on Monday, May 20, the cast of Broadway's The Prom is set to perform on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!

The anxiously-anticipated arrival of Aladdin is finally here! The national tour stops in Sacramento through June 2 and brings with it the songs that you know and love from the 1992 animated movie, along with new numbers written specifically for the stage musical. After its debut on Broadway in 2014, it was nominated for 5 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Broadway World Sacramento was able to speak with Reggie DeLeon, who originated the role of Iago on the national tour and has returned after a brief hiatus. Reggie is well-known for his recurring role as Shep in the Pup Star films. He can also be seen on 'MOM' (Paul), 'Superior Donuts' (Zale), and 'Melissa & Joey' (Wyatt).

Get a first look below at the new Broadway production of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, starring Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon, directed by Arin Arbus.

Disney's The Lion King at the Adrienne Arsht Center was packed with excitement even before the first song was sung. People flocked to the Arsht Center because of what a Disney musical promises: larger than life characters, lavish costumes, out of this world set design and stories we adore. The Lion King delivers in every aspect. Honestly, what is there not to love? It is still my favorite of all Disney musicals closely tied with Beauty and the Beast because of its ionic status. Lions, Tigers and... Elephants. The opening number, 'Circle of Life', has all the WOW factor I remember when I first watched it years ago. Watching beautifully elaborate costumes, puppetry, makeup and all the spectacle is what you come to expect from Disney's The Lion King. Once the huge elephant was making its way from the house to the stage you can hear audible gasps from the audience from adults and children alike. The Serengeti came alive all around us.

MCC Theater announces the extension of the New York Premiere production of BLKS, written by Aziza Barnes, and directed by Robert O'Hara. Previously scheduled for a limited run through May 26, BLKS will now play through Sunday, June 2 at the The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space

Disney's THE LION KING is celebrating a sold-out engagement, which concluded on Sunday, May 5 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. The triumphant two-week premiere engagement, which played 16 performances from April 24 through May 5, grossed more than $2.5 million at the box office and entertained more than 32,000 theatergoers.

Nostalgia. The dictionary defines it as a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with a happy personal association. For me, nothing defines it better than the words 'The Lion King'. I still remember how I felt the first time I saw Mufasa hanging on to the cliff for dear life or hearing the words 'Hakuna Matata'. The iconic movie is clearly a part of my childhood memories. I watched over and over again my favorite Disney film on my family's VCR player. I also clearly remember the madness and sheer joy it brought to Broadway when I was just a little girl. That same little girl within me that still loves everything Disney (as a true Floridian does) can't wait to see Disney's The Lion King at The Adrienne Arsht Center, May 8 through the 26. Disney's The Lion King is making its triumphant return to the Arsht Center! With all the magic found in the film, the musical out does itself. Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist.