Denis Jones News

Executive Producer Mike Isaacson announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for its 2013 Season, which opens on June 17 with Monty Python's Spamalot. 'This is a phenomenally talented group of artists, and I'm thrilled to be working with all of them. Last season our audience inspired us to take many risks and push ourselves far. These directors and choreographers are already working on ways to top last season's level of excitement and excellence.'

Seattle Theater Writers, a critics' circle of local theater writers and reviewers, today announces the 2012 slate of nominees of the second annual Gypsy Rose Lee Awards, theater awards devoted to recognizing excellence across the economic spectrum of professional Seattle theaters.

I'll admit I was one of the first to roll their eyes in disdain when I heard they made a musical of the Will Ferrell movie "Elf", back in 2010. "Oh Good," I thought, "another overly sweet yet bland movie adaptation designed to get families in the theater and sell merchandise (in this case, elf hats)." And so even more eye rolling occurred when the 5th Avenue Theatre announced they would be putting up a production of it this year. And while the show may be most of those things I mentioned (especially the elf hats) what it isn't is bland. More importantly what the production at the 5th Avenue manages is a super engaging and absolutely adorable evening of elfish fun.

Full casting and the creative team have been announced for the limited, pre-Broadway engagement of NERDS, A New Musical Comedy at North Carolina Theatre's AJ Fletcher Theatre the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, NC. The show will run from January 18, 2013 through February 3, 2013.

North Carolina Theatre's Legally Blonde The Musical is being presented at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium October 9-14, 2012. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Shooting High Productions is producing an AGVA-sanctioned workshop/showcase of the Broadway-bound production of SUGAR BABIES, starring Tony Award winnersMichael McGrathandBeth Leavel tonighht, September 20th.

Starring alongside Tony winners Michael McGrath and Beth Leavel are Brooks Ashmanskas, Richard Bell, Jack Doyle, Marty Passante, Jennifer Cody, Kelley Bradshaw, Mary Callahan, Melissa Jones, Amanda Kloots-Larsen, Brittan Marcin, Beth Nicely, Abbey O'Brien, Jillian Owens, Kristyn Pope, Kimber Stevenson, Scott Brateng, Barry Busby, Sean Quinn & Clifton Samuels.

According to a casting notice on Backstage, Shooting High Productions is casting an AGVA-sanctioned workshop/showcase of the Broadway-bound production of SUGAR BABIES, starring Tony Award winners Michael Mcgrath and Beth Leavel.

The latest extravaganza to grace the stage at The Muny in Forest Park is a hilarious re-working of Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of the Penzance (although some of the tunes are lifted from other works by the pair). PIRATES! (or Gilbert and Sullivan Plundr'd) is a spirited romp with a storyline more akin to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers than the original plot, and lyrics (revised book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin) and rearranged musical arrangements (courtesy of John McDaniel) that will amuse even the staunchest purists among us. This is just plain goofy, pirate-laden fare that owes as much to the recent Pirates of the Caribbean film series as to it does to Gilbert and Sullivan. And that's a good thing, at least it is in this case.

It was announced back in February that Honeymoon in Vegas, a new musical, would open on Broadway in the spring of 2013 following a premiere engagement this November in Toronto. A production source tells BroadwayWorld.com that 'The New York producers have decided not to open the show in Toronto this fall because of scheduling issues. Future plans for the production will be announced soon.'

The Muny presents the sixth show of its 94th season, Pirates! (or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd), through August 5, directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Denis Jones. Conceived by Gordon Greenburg, Nell Benjamin and John McDaniel, Pirates! (or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd) features lyrics by W.S. Gilbert, and music by Arthur Sullivan. Revised book and lyrics are by Nell Benjamin, and music supervision, new arrangements and orchestrations are by John McDaniel. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the show below!

The Muny presents the sixth show of its 94th season, Pirates! (or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd), through August 5, directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Denis Jones. Conceived by Gordon Greenburg, Nell Benjamin and John McDaniel, Pirates! (or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd) features lyrics by W.S. Gilbert, and music by Arthur Sullivan. Revised book and lyrics are by Nell Benjamin, and music supervision, new arrangements and orchestrations are by John McDaniel. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

The Muny has announced principal casting for the sixth show of its 94th season, Pirates! (or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd), July 30 - August 5, directed by Gordon Greenberg and choreographed by Denis Jones. Conceived by Gordon Greenburg, Nell Benjamin and John McDaniel, Pirates! (or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd) features lyrics by W.S. Gilbert, and music by Arthur Sullivan. Revised book and lyrics are by Nell Benjamin, and music supervision, new arrangements and orchestrations are by John McDaniel.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Trevor Project celebrates Susan Sarandon, Woody meets the press, Broadway sings for pride, and so much more!

The Muny features CHICAGO as its second show of its 94th season, running through July 1- directed and choreographed by Denis Jones. Patti Murin and Natascia Diaz star as Roxy Hart and Velma Kelly, joined by Justin Guarini as Billy Flynn. Also appearing are Jackie Hoffman as Mama Morton, Patti Cohenour as Mary Sunshine and Dean Christopher as Amos Hart. Meet the cast of the show in the videos below!

Tonight, John Kander viewed The Muny's CHICAGO, and he was inducted into The Muny's Hall of Fame. Kander and Ebb now join the ranks of Rodgers & Hammerstein, the Gershwins, Lerner and Loewe, and many others; view photos below!

The Muny features CHICAGO as its second show of its 94th season, running June 25 through July 1, directed and choreographed by Denis Jones. Patti Murin and Natascia Diaz star as Roxy Hart and Velma Kelly, joined by Justin Guarini as Billy Flynn. Also appearing are Jackie Hoffman as Mama Morton, Patti Cohenour as Mary Sunshine and Dean Christopher as Amos Hart. View photos from the opening night performance and after party below!

If you've only seen the movie version of CHICAGO, and it's a pretty sexy and sleek story on the big screen, you have to do yourself a favor and check out the current production at the Muny. The Muny has such an expansive stage that some musicals can get lost, but not this one. In this case, CHICAGO seems larger than life, and that's appropriate since the story and characters are so bold and brazen. I highly recommend this show, especially if you haven't seen it on stage before, because it's a terrific production that pulls no punches.

The Muny features CHICAGO as its second show of its 94th season, running June 25 through July 1- directed and choreographed by Denis Jones. Patti Murin and Natascia Diaz star as Roxy Hart and Velma Kelly, joined by Justin Guarini as Billy Flynn. Also appearing are Jackie Hoffman as Mama Morton, Patti Cohenour as Mary Sunshine and Dean Christopher as Amos Hart. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the show below!

The Muny will present its second show of its 94th season, Chicago (June 25 - July 1), directed and choreographed by Denis Jones. Click below to watch videos of Director Denis Jones in discussions with Executive Producer, Mike Isaacson.