Des McAnuff News

La Jolla Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for its world-premiere production of Hollywood, by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro (Memphis, Chasing the Song) directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley.

Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre has a high-profile lineup slated for its 50th Anniversary Season.

Just announced, the upcoming National Tour of SOMETHING ROTTEN will officially launch as part of Broadway In Boston's 2016-17 season!

 Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the 3rd ANNUAL NEW WORKS FESTIVAL, April 29 - May 1. THE READINGS ARE FREE. Reserve seats online at www.baystreet.org or by calling the Bay Street Theater Box Office at 631-725-9500, open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 5 pm.

The East Jefferson General Hospital Broadway in New Orleans 2016-17 season was announced today. Presented by the New Orleans Theatre Association, the new season will commence at the historic Saenger Theatre in fall 2016.

Past Washington appearances of note include performing on 'A Capitol Fourth' on PBS-TV in 2009 and at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in 2011.

The American Academy of Arts and Letters announces that librettist/lyricist Michael Korie will receive the Marc Blitzstein Award for Musical Theater of $10,000. Established in 1965 by friends of the late Academician Marc Blitzstein in his memory, the award is given to a composer, lyricist, or librettist to encourage the creation of works of merit for musical theater and opera. The jurors were John Harbison (chairman), J. D. McClatchy, Shulamit Ran, Augusta Read Thomas, and Yehudi Wyner.

Just last night, Roundabout Theatre Company hosted the 50th Anniversary Gala: 'Spring Gala 2016: Celebrating 50 Years of Extraordinary Theatre' in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria (301 Park Avenue, NYC). The evening was a celebration of Roundabout's 50th Anniversary and recognized the accomplishments of six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald and Roundabout's Chairman of the Board Tom Tuft and present them with The Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and you can check out photos from the red carpet below!

Dates have been announced for the Cleveland return engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The musical will make its much-anticipated return to Cleveland to play the State Theatre at Playhouse Square, Sept. 20-25, 2016.  Single tickets go on sale April 29.

Dates have been announced for the Seattle engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing The Paramount Theatre from March 8 - 13, 2016.

Fox's THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW has found its Dr. Everett Scott.

Casting has been announced for the Washington engagement of the Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the National Theatre for three weeks only, April 6 - 24, 2016. The cast of Jersey Boys will be led by Matthew Dailey (Tommy DeVito), Aaron DeJesus (Frankie Valli),Keith Hines (Nick Massi), and Drew Seeley (Bob Gaudio) as The Four Seasons, with Barry Anderson and Thomas Fiscella.

Producers Frank Marshall, Mindy Rich, Anita Waxman, and Beth Williams announced today that the new musical featuring the songs of legendary singer-songwriter-author Jimmy Buffett, with an original story by co-book writers Greg Garcia and Mike O'Malley, will have its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California. Directed by Tony Award® nominee and Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, the strictly limited engagement will kick off the Playhouse's 2017/2018 season, with performances beginning on May 16, 2017, an official opening night of May 28, and will play through June 25, 2017. Tony Award nominee Christopher Ashley will direct the production, which will open on May 16, 2017.

From Tuesday 15 March, there will be four new Seasons joining the cast of JERSEY BOYS at the Piccadilly Theatre ahead of its 8th Anniversary on 18 March.  This is the first time since the show opened in London that all four Seasons have changed. 

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Brian Gallagher & Friends; Ben Vereen at 54 Below; New Musicals at 54: An Americain Boy by Amanda Green & Richard Thomas; Elizabeth A. Davis at 54 Below; and Linda Lavin in 'My First Farewell Concert.'

Theatre Forward and UBS will host the 13th Annual Broadway Roundtable on Friday, January 29th at UBS (1285 Avenue of the Americas) from 12:00pm - 2:00pm.

Tickets are on sale now for the Thousand Oaks premiere engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza February 23-28.

The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys, the story ofFrankie Valli and The Four Seasons, will make its much-anticipated return to the National Theatre for three weeks only, April 6 - 24, 2016, as part of Broadway at the National.

? The legendary Ben Vereen, who recently co-starred with Richard Gere in the film TIME OUT OF MIND, will return to Feinstein's/54 Below (254 W 54th St, Cellar, New York, NY 10019) with his acclaimed one man show, STEPPIN' OUT WITH BEN VEREEN, January 25 through 30.

?For veteran Broadway actor Donnie Kehr, JERSEY BOYS has been an interesting and enviable ride. He appeared in the very first production of the show in La Jolla, under the direction of Des McAnuff, where he originated the role of Gyp DeCarlo.