For those living under a rock or if you happen to have missed my story last fall on Annie casting, the little orphan with big dreams and red hair is coming back to Broadway this fall. Annie begins previews October 3rd at the Palace Theatre and tickets are now on sale.
The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center has announced cast members for the final two shows of the 2012 National Music Theater Conference. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Paulette Haupt, the Conference will continue through July 13 and, for a second consecutive year, will develop four new musicals.
ANNIE, the new production of the classic Tony Award-winning musical, is now on sale. ANNIE, which features a Tony Award-winning score by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin and a Tony Award-winning book by Thomas Meehan, will be directed by three-time Tony Award-winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler. The production begins previews on October 3 at the Palace Theatre (1567 Broadway at 47th Street). Opening night is Thursday, November 8.
LEAP OF FAITH might have taken its final bow back in May, but sources in the cast tell us that an album is in the works. The cast will gather tomorrow, June 13 to record the original cast album. A release date has not yet been announced.
ANNIE, the new production of the classic Tony Award®-winning musical, goes on sale today to American Express cardholders. For tickets, call 877-250-2929 or visit Ticketmaster.com. Tickets will be available to the general public on Monday, June 25. ANNIE will star two-time Tony Award® winner Katie Finneran as Miss Hannigan, Australian star Anthony Warlow making his Broadway debut as Daddy Warbucks and 11-year-old Lilla Crawford as Annie, with Brynn O'Malley (Wicked, Hairspray) as Grace Farrell, Daddy Warbucks' devoted personal secretary, Clarke Thorell (Hairspray, Mamma Mia!) as Rooster Hannigan, Miss Hannigan's ne'er-do-well brother and J. Elaine Marcos (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, A Chorus Line) as Lily St. Regis, Rooster's floozy girlfriend. The orphans are Madi Rae DiPietro as July, Georgi James as Pepper, Junah Jang as Tessie, Tyrah Skye Odoms as Kate, Taylor Richardson as Duffy, Emily Rosenfeld as Molly and Jaidyn Young as standby for the roles of Annie, Pepper, Duffy and July. The production also features Ashley Blanchet, Jane Blass, Jeremy Davis, Merwin Foard, Joel Hatch, Amanda Lea LaVergne, Gavin Lodge, Liz McCartney, Desi Oakley, David Rossetti, Sarah Solie, Dennis Stowe and Ryan VanDenBoom.
Alan Menken has taken to his twitter just now to announce that LEAP OF FAITH will be recording a Broadway cast album sometime soon. No details regarding a label, recording or anticipated release date have been confirmed at present.
LEAP OF FAITH plays its final performance today, May 13, at Broadway's St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street) after the matinee performance. Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH opened on Thursday April 26 and will have played 24 previews and 20 regular performances. Take a look back through video from the show's opening in Los Angeles to its first steps on Broadway, and everything in between, including fan's reactions and an opening-night interview with Raul Esparza!
LEAP OF FAITH plays its final performance today, May 13, at Broadway's St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street) after the matinee performance. Broadway's LEAP OF FAITH opened on Thursday April 26 and will have played 24 previews and 20 regular performances. Take a look back through photos of Raul Esparza and the company on stage, the show's opening night curtain calls and party, its Gypsy Robe Ceremony with Dennis Stowe and more below!
Producers of LEAP OF FAITH announced today that the show will close at Broadway's St. James Theatre this Sunday May 13 after the matinee performance. In a statement, they said "Although we love our show and very much appreciate both our many award nominations and the joy of our audiences, we have not been able to achieve a sustainable level of ticket sales to continue. We thank all those who worked so hard over so many years to bring LEAP OF FAITH to Broadway."
LEAP OF FAITH's Kecia Lewis-Evans will be interviewed on WAMC radio on Tuesday May 8 at 10:35 AM on all Northeast Public Radio frequencies; it also streams live at www.wamc.org.
A long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe is bestowed upon a veteran Broadway chorus member for each opening production. In what has now become a theatrical ritual, originating on Broadway 60 years ago, it was just presented to LEAP OF FAITH 'gypsy' Dennis Stowe.
Watch the CBS Early Show tomorrow, Saturday April 28, in the 8 AM half-hour for a feature on LEAP OF FAITH hosted by correspondent Elaine Quihano. LEAP OF FAITH opened last night at The St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street, with four-time Tony nominee Raúl Esparza leading the company.
LEAP OF FAITH opened on Broadway on April 26th, 2012 with four-time Tony nominee Raúl Esparza leading the company along with Jessica Phillips, Kendra Kassebaum, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Leslie Odom, Jr., Krystal Joy Brown and Talon Ackerman.
BroadwayWorld was on hand to celebrate at the fun-filled after party and chatted with all of the show's stars - in addition to the creative team - throughout the night. Click below to go inside the party!
LEAP OF FAITH opened on Broadway last night, April 26th, with four-time Tony nominee Raúl Esparza leading the company along with Jessica Phillips, Kendra Kassebaum, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Leslie Odom, Jr., Krystal Joy Brown and Talon Ackerman. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the show's celebrity red carpet!
LEAP OF FAITH opened on Broadway last night, April 26th, with four-time Tony nominee Raúl Esparza leading the company along with Jessica Phillips, Kendra Kassebaum, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Leslie Odom, Jr., Krystal Joy Brown and Talon Ackerman. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the cast at the show's opening night party!
Check out the first video highlights from LEAP OF FAITH as four-time Tony nominee Raúl Esparza leads the company along with Jessica Phillips, Kendra Kassebaum, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Leslie Odom, Jr., Krystal Joy Brown and Talon Ackerman. Opening night is tonight, April 26.
Check out the first video highlights from LEAP OF FAITH as four-time Tony nominee Raúl Esparza leads the company along with Jessica Phillips, Kendra Kassebaum, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Leslie Odom, Jr., Krystal Joy Brown and Talon Ackerman. Opening night is Thursday, April 26.