Des McAnuff News

Worldwide, more than 13 million people have seen JERSEY BOYS. And now, the show that made critics and audiences cheer is 'Workin Its Way Back' to Memphis at The Orpheum Theatre on December 4th-16th. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase online at the official Orpheum Theatre website at www.orpheum-memphis.com, The Orpheum Box Office (901-525-3000), the ticket counter at The Booksellers at Laurelwood and all Ticketmaster centers (901-743-ARTS).

La Jolla Playhouse presents Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, a world-premiere musical featuring a story by The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne and Playhouse Director Emeritus Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar), music and lyrics by The Flaming Lips, and direction by Des McAnuff. The show is currently running through December 16, 2012 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

More than 70,000 theatergoers cheered when JERSEY BOYS made its highly successful premiere in Houston in January of 2008. Worldwide, more than 13 million people have seen JERSEY BOYS. And now, the show that made critics and audiences cheer is 'Workin' Its Way Back' to Houston's Hobby Center March 19 - 31. Tickets to the award-winning musical will go on sale to the public Sunday, November 11. Tickets start at $29 and can be purchased by calling (800) 982-ARTS or visiting www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/houston or www.thehobbycenter.org.

Broadway stars Emily Padgett and Matthew Hydzik will star as "Alex" and "Nick" in the world premiere of FLASHDANCE - THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation. Padgett and Hydzik will be joined on stage by the legendary Rachelle Rak in the role of "Tess." Sergio Trujillo, director and choreographer for the production returned to the home of FLASHDANCE and launch of the world premiere, Pittsburgh's Heinz Hall, to announce the lead casting from a press conference. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Kevin McMahon, CEO of Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, were also on hand to welcome the cast and creative team to Pittsburgh and to make a proclamation, naming January 1, 2013 as FLASHDANCE DAY. Celebrating its 30th Anniversary,FLASHDANCE kicks off a national tour January 1-6 at Heinz Hall and continues on to more than 20 cities with additional bookings to be announced:

Overture Center's Broadway at Overture Series presents JERSEY BOYS, playing tonight, November 7 through to Sunday November 25, 2012.

JERSEY BOYS, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, celebrates its 7th Anniversary on Broadway today, Tuesday, November 6. Take a look back at the past 7 years below!

JERSEY BOYS Broadway cast members Matt Bogart (Nick Massi), Drew Gehling (Bob Gaudio), Jeremy Kushnier (Tommy DeVito), and Jarrod Spector (Frankie Valli) performed as part of ABC's 'Day of Giving' on Monday, November 5, 2012. Proceeds from the event benefited the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Check out their appearance below!

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, a world-premiere musical featuring a story by The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne and Playhouse Director Emeritus Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar), music and lyrics by The Flaming Lips, and direction by Des McAnuff. The show will run tonight, November 6 - December 16, 2012 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse announces a special engagement of Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen as part of its cabaret series, running on Friday, March 29, 2013 at 8:00 pm, Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm and Sunday, March 31 at 2:00 pm. The four performances will take place in the Playhouse's specially-designed performance space in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, created by the Playhouse's scene shop artisans for the theatre's 2011, 2012 and 2013 Galas.

Their songs are some of the most iconic in rock and roll history, but their story is largely unknown. Currently showing at the Durham Performing Arts Center, Jersey Boys is the Tony Award winning story of the rise of The Four Seasons. The musical has been playing on Broadway since 2005 and has captured the hearts of Four Seasons fans and entertained a new generation of music lovers.

Warner Brothers has officially backed out of the upcoming film adaptation of JERSEY BOYS, set to be directed by Jon Favreau, Variety reported this evening.

Antoni Cimolino officially becomes Artistic Director today, beginning his mission to establish the Festival as an unrivalled theatrical, intellectual and emotional retreat. As part of this mission, the theatre company is returning to the name Stratford Festival and unveiling a new logo.

2012 Academy Award winner Christopher Plummer recreates his Tony Award winning role in the film adaptation of BARRYMORE, directed & adapted by Érik Canuel, which will be theatrically released jointly by BY Experience and Image Entertainment beginning Thursday, November 15 in New York and Los Angeles. BARRYMORE is based on the play by William Luce.

The national tour of the Tony Award-winning best musical Jersey Boys is starting an engagement at the Durham Performing Arts Center on October 30th. To commemorate the occasion, it was my honor to interview the show's book writer Rick Elice to find out more about this show which has become an international phenomenon.

La Jolla Playhouse presents Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, a world-premiere musical featuring a story by The Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne and Playhouse Director Emeritus Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar), music and lyrics by The Flaming Lips, and direction by Des McAnuff. The show will run November 6 - December 16, 2012 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the rehearsals below.

In this week's edition of 'Regional Highlights of the Week', we bring you the most-read stories for the week of October 15 so sit back, catch up and enjoy all the latest regional features, reviews, interviews and more!

Tony winner Des McAnuff has been the Artictic Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival for five years, where he has helmed countless productions. In the video below, he reflects upon his tenure, which has spanned from 2008-2012.

SHN today announced the 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 San Francisco at the SHN Curran Theatre on March 9, 2013. JERSEY BOYS replaces the previously postponed World Premiere of DINER on the SHN 2012-2013 Season. Tickets for the return of JERSEY BOYS go on sale Friday, October 26 at 10 a.m.

For one night only the smash-hit on Broadway and West End - Rock Opera 'Tommy' plays at the Prince Edward Theatre. This powerful tale of a deaf, mute and blind pinball player who becomes an international messiah bursts onto the stage in this multi-award winning adaptation of the original chart-topping rock album. Featuring the hit songs including Pinball Wizard and See Me, Touch Me. Casting will be announced soon.

Drew Gehling and Jarrod Spector have just returned to the Broadway company of JERSEY BOYS. Spector returned to the role of 'Frankie Valli' on Tuesday, October 2, following the final performance of Tony winner John Lloyd Young on Sunday, September 30. Gehling assumes the role of 'Bob Gaudio' joining Jeremy Kushnier as 'Tommy DeVito' tonight, October 9, following the departure of Quinn VanAntwerp and Andy Karl (respectively) after the Sunday, October 7 performance.