Deen Van Meer News

In this touring rendition of the P.L. Travers story (on which the 1964 Disney musical starring Julie Andrew and Dick Van Dyke was based), some of the telling in Julian Fellowes book is more "British" - darker -- than we might expect.

Utah native Thayne Jasperson talks about his debut on Broadway as Darcy in NEWSIES, his desire to play Tarzan and how he doesn't want to grow up.

A technically reimagined 'Les Miserables' stormed the stage of San Francisco's Orpheum theatre for its 25th anniversary victory lap, electrifying a wildly enthusiastic audience and keeping them on the edge of their seats for the entire performance.

One of the most popular, highly-regarded stage musicals of all time, LES MISÉRABLES is, to put it simply, a moving, overtly theatrical epic. In this rich-looking--and rich-sounding--tour production, the emotional resonance seems more palpable than ever. The beautifully refreshed 25th Anniversary edition will continue to wow audiences at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts through June 24, with future stops in San Francisco, San Diego and Thousand Oaks, CA this summer.

Jess, a 'So You Think You Can Dance' finalist last year, is a Broadway veteran at 19.

If I said that Newsies hasn't improved any since its premiere engagement at Paper Mill would you roll your eyes and mumble something about how haters are going to hate?

This week has a great show playing at the Bass Concert Hall in Austin, Texas. MARY POPPINS takes the stage and it is non-stop entertainment.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: SEMINAR gets a new cast, HOW TO SUCCEED celebrates first birthday, NEWSIES takes a Broadway bow, and so much more!

Newsies, the new American musical currently in previews at the Nederlander Theatre for a strictly limited performance run following its critically-hailed stint at Paper Mill Playhouse last fall. BroadwayWorld has just gotten our digital ink-stained hands on the first production shouts from Broadway. Check 'em out below!

South Florida theater fans are in for an array of Broadway hits as the awesomely cool, ROCK OF AGES, opens the all musical Broadway in Miami 2012 - 2013 season at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami Dade County. Scheduled to launch the season with a bang, from October 9-14, ROCK OF AGES will be followed by the high-stepping Broadway Musical for the entire family, MARY POPPINS, set to bring in the New Year, January 1-6; the return of the world's greatest musical, LES MISÉRABLES, in a brand new 25th anniversary production, February 26 - March 3; the outlandishly colorful PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT will keep audiences on their feet with its parade of dance-floor favorites, April 2-7; and Best Musical Tony Winner of 2010 MEMPHIS will make its triumphant Miami debut with its explosive dancing and powerhouse songs, May 7-12.

South Florida theater fans are in for an array of Broadway hits as the awesomely cool, ROCK OF AGES, opens the all musical Broadway in Miami 2012 - 2013 season at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami Dade County. Scheduled to launch the season with a bang, from October 9-14, ROCK OF AGES will be followed by the high-stepping Broadway Musical for the entire family, MARY POPPINS, set to bring in the New Year, January 1-6; the return of the world's greatest musical, LES MISÉRABLES, in a brand new 25th anniversary production, February 26 - March 3; the outlandishly colorful PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT will keep audiences on their feet with its parade of dance-floor favorites, April 2-7; and Best Musical Tony Winner of 2010 MEMPHIS will make its triumphant Miami debut with its explosive dancing and powerhouse songs, May 7-12.

The 25th anniversary tour of LES MISÉRABLES brilliantly captures the intense emotion and sublime beauty of its theatrical predecessor.

There's really nothing like the first time you see one of your favorite shows. The first time I saw "Hairspray" I leapt to my feet on the final note. The first time I saw "West Side Story" I was on the edge of my seat for these tragic lovers. And the first time I saw "Les Miserables" I wept through the entire thing. There really is nothing like the first time. And the 5th Avenue's current touring production of "Les Miserables" is really nothing like my first time. With its complete lack of subtlety and heart, the only thing it has going for it is the amazing voices singing these wonderful songs.

There's really nothing like the first time you see one of your favorite shows. The first time I saw "Hairspray" I leapt to my feet on the final note. The first time I saw "West Side Story" I was on the edge of my seat for these tragic lovers. And the first time I saw "Les Miserables" I wept through the entire thing. There really is nothing like the first time. And the 5th Avenue's current touring production of "Les Miserables" is really nothing like my first time. With its complete lack of subtlety and heart, the only thing it has going for it is the amazing voices singing these wonderful songs.

Les Miserables, has returned to Los Angeles in a new, "25th Anniversary" production, currently playing downtown at Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre in a limited run, now through July 31st.

The 25th Anniversary Tour of the Tony winning Les Miserables opened last night at the Broward Center and I am here to report that it is the best time at Les Miz I have ever had.

Cameron Mackintosh's 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables, presented by The Paper Mill Playhouse, has finally hit the friendly American shores after touring Britain, and perhaps symbolic of its Atlantic crossing is the new opening picture devised by co-directors Laurence Conner and James Powell.  Sure, 24601 (a/k/a Jean Valjean) is still a prisoner in chains for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread for his starving sister and her family, but he and his fellow inmates are now rowing oars on a galley ship.  The music (Claude-Michel Schonberg) and words (Herbert Kretzmer, based on the original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel) of this world-famous adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, set against the backdrop of Paris' 1832 student revolution, are unchanged, but the new locale not only starts the evening off with a visually striking image, but signals to the musical's two-and-a-half decades worth of fans that this will not be just another variation of the original Trevor Nunn/John Caird production they are accustomed to.  (A production that can still be enjoyed on the West End.)

While there's certainly plenty to enjoy in the new musical version of Pedro Almodóvar's 1988 film, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown - David Yazbek's jaunty Latin-based score, the winning performances of a star-studded cast (three Tony winners and four other nominees) and the kinetic flashiness of Bartlett Sher's kicky production - the show is also a prime example of how the sum of the pieces can add up to more than the whole when the missing ingredient is a strong book.  Not that the talented Jeffrey Lane doesn't make a game try at it.  Sticking closely to the source, his work is frequently clever and he and Yazbek concoct some quirkily fun musical scenes, but the odds are working against him in this one.

The 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables making its United States premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse prior to a major US National Tour. The all new production of Les Misérables features glorious new staging and spectacular reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.