Des McAnuff News

Piotr Beczala will sing the title role in Gounod's Faust for the first time at the Met beginning March 21, opposite Marina Poplavskaya as Marguerite, a role she sang in the 2011 premiere of Des McAnuff's production. Alain Altinoglu, who led Faust at the Met last season, returns to conduct the opera, which also stars John Relyea as the diabolical Mephistopheles, Alexey Markov as Valentin, and Julie Boulianne as Siebel.

The Stratford Festival held its annual general meeting on Saturday, celebrating the successes of its landmark 60th season, under the joint leadership of Artistic Director Des McAnuff and General Director Antoni Cimolino. This was Mr. McAnuff's final season as Artistic Director. Mr. Cimolino has now assumed that role, with Anita Gaffney becoming Executive Director.

The smash hit musical JERSEY BOYS reaches a very special landmark this month, when it will be celebrating its fifth London birthday at the Prince Edward Theatre on Tuesday 26 March, having opened in London in 2008. JERSEY BOYS has now been seen by over 4 million people worldwide and is firmly established as one of the West End's longest running and most popular shows.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's (CCM) year-long Kurt Weill Festival resumes this month with a dynamic new production of the iconic musical The Threepenny Opera. Composed by Kurt Weill with book and lyrics by dramatist Bertolt Brecht (adapted into English by Marc Blitzstein), The Threepenny Opera weaves the riveting tale of notorious bandit and womanizer Macheath ('Mack the Knife') and his seedy companions in London's underworld. Weill's innovative score invented a new form of musical theatre, leading the way for such shows as Chicago and Cabaret.

FLASHDANCE-THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will perform at the Majestic Theatre for eight performances June 18-23. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, March 1.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's (CCM) year-long Kurt Weill Festival resumes this month with a dynamic new production of the iconic musical The Threepenny Opera. Composed by Kurt Weill with book and lyrics by dramatist Bertolt Brecht (adapted into English by Marc Blitzstein), The Threepenny Opera weaves the riveting tale of notorious bandit and womanizer Macheath ('Mack the Knife') and his seedy companions in London's underworld. Weill's innovative score invented a new form of musical theatre, leading the way for such shows as Chicago and Cabaret.

The Tony Award winning Broadway show, Jersey Boys will premier at Hershey Theatre from Tuesday, March 26 through Sunday, March 3.

On April 24, American Theater Group, New Jersey's newest professional theater company, will present, direct from its success at the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival, Jonathan Brielle's new musical Himself and Nora at its new home, Hamilton Stage in Rahway, New Jersey.

La Jolla Playhouse announces a fifth production for its 2013/14 season: the world premiere of The Tallest Tree, a new play with music written and performed by Daniel Beaty (Emergency, Through the Night), directed by Moises Kaufman (I Am My Own Wife, The Laramie Project). A co-production with Kansas City Repertory Theatre, The Tallest Tree will run in the Playhouse's Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre October 9 - November 3, 2013. The piece is produced in association with Tectonic Theater Project.

The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical Jersey Boys last night played its 3,000th performance on Broadway. Jersey Boys is the 18th longest-running show in Broadway history, having surpassed the record previously held by Hello, Dolly!. Check out photos from the celebration below!

FLASHDANCE - THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will make its Segerstrom Center premiere May 7 - 19, 2013.

The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS will play its 3,000th performance on Broadway today, Thursday, February 7. JERSEY BOYS is the 18th longest-running show in Broadway history, having surpassed the record previously held by Hello, Dolly!.

Stage Entertainment in the Netherlands has issued a casting call for a Dutch version of JERSEY BOYS, the hit musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. JERSEY BOYS will open in the Beatrix Theatre in September 2013.

'Mr. Sorkin's considerable talents are an asset to any project and we regret that he's unable to remain with HOUDINI,' said producers Scott Sanders and David Rockwell, 'However, what Hugh and the creative team continue to create is one of the most exciting projects we've ever been a part of. Our projected arrival on Broadway and additional creative team announcement will be made at a future date.'

According to Deadline.com, Aaron Sorkin has withdrawn as librettist of the upcoming Broadway production Houdini, starring Hugh Jackman. Sorkin's schedule, including his commitments involving the second season of HBO's 'The Newsroom' and adapting Walter Isaacson's book 'Steve Jobs' for Sony Pictures, would not allow him time to continue work on the musical.

Los Angeles' premier cabaret room, The Catalina Jazz Club, hosts cabaret artist Karen Gedissman for a special performance tonight, January 27th at 7pm.

The producers of JERSEY BOYS are pleased to announce that Andy Karl will be returning to the Broadway company on Tuesday, February 12. Karl assumes the role of ‘Tommy DeVito' following the departure of current star Jeremy Kushnier after the Sunday, February 10 performance.

Los Angeles' premier cabaret room, The Catalina Jazz Club, hosts cabaret artist Karen Gedissman for a special performance on Sunday, January 27th at 7pm.

The former Rockette has done everything from Berlin to Sondheim to Wildhorn on Bway, as well as 'Rock of Ages' and 'Chorus Line'.

JERSEY BOYS, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, is pleased to announce the return of John Lloyd Young who won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Frankie Valli in the original Broadway cast. Young will again perform the role of Frankie Valli on Broadway beginning Friday, January 11 for a limited engagement.