Des McAnuff News

My first dose of musical theater was through my uncle's old screechy phonograph recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's hippie, loud, angst-laden rock musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" (JCS). The classic stage hit, which was originally a concept album before evolving into a full-blown Broadway musical that follows the passion and death of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, had completed its three-year run on Broadway (1971-1973), and its first commercial movie release (1973) by the time I got to experience JCS's electrifying, personally-impactful songs in the '80s though. So when the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Toronto, Canada announced late last year that its critically-acclaimed, deemed revolutionary production of JCS, directed by Tony winner Des McAnuff, was coming to Broadway, I was delighted to hear the news; and more so when I learned that three Filipino-Canadian musical theater artists - brothers Julius and Jason Sermonia, and Laurin Padolina - are part of the show.

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival launches its 60th season on Monday, May 28, with a gala performance of Much Ado About Nothing. This is the final season under the artistic directorship of Des McAnuff, and one that promises an array of wonderful theatre for every taste and age group.

Josh Young and the cast of the Tony nominated Broadway musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR performed 'Superstar' on ABC's THE VIEW today. Check out the electric performance below!

The cast of the Tony®-Nominated Broadway revival JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will perform on 'The View' today, May 24th at 11:00 am ET/PT on ABC.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that on May 25, Leo Ash Evens will replace Jonathan Winsby as Phillip in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, due to an injury. Evens will remain with the production through July 1.

The Festival celebrates 60 years of excellence with a special symposium that will feature influential theatre artists and intellectuals in discussion about how Shakespeare's work lends itself to a broad range of media, interpretations and settings. The event will be held at the Studio Theatre on June 2.

The Paley Center will celebrate Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award-winner Christopher Plummer's television work (including Hamlet at Elsinore, Little Moon of Alban, and The Thorn Birds) on May 29 at 6pm.

Casting has been announced for the Atlanta return engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Fox Theatre tonight, May 22-June 10 as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2011-12 season. The cast of JERSEY BOYS will be led by Brandon Andrus (Nick Massi), Colby Foytik (Tommy DeVito), Jason Kappus (Bob Gaudio) and Brad Weinstock (Frankie Valli) as The Four Seasons, with Barry Anderson and Thomas Fiscella.

This weekend, BroadwayWorld will be presenting an illuminating InDepth InterView with legendary composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber all about the enchanting new performance capture film version of his PHANTOM OF THE OPERA sequel, LOVE NEVER DIES. Until that chat, let's take a look back at some of the finest Andrew Lloyd Webber-related performances related to the entertainment dynasty built upon his operatic pop musical version of the classic Gaston Leroux novel that is about to celebrate its 10,000th performance on Broadway later this month, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, as well as its continuation, LOVE NEVER DIES, and the two revivals of his two classic 70s hit stage collaborations with previous InDepth InterView participant Sir Tim Rice coming back to Broadway in a big way - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and EVITA. Plus, a look at the new Simon Phillips-directed production of LOVE NEVER DIES coming to Fathom-equipped movie theaters nationwide on February 28 and March 7, with DVD & Blu-ray after that, as well as the PHANTOM 25 DVD & Blu-ray being released in the US on February 7. It's a busy time of year for phans, clearly! Fetch your favorite mask and check out these four Andrew Lloyd Webber delicacies before they arrive!

JERSEY BOY Michael Lomenda has called Chicago his touring-home for just over a month, but the closest Starbucks to The Bank of America Theater, where the first national touring cast of Jersey Boys is currently playing its 9 week run, has rooted itself firmly in his routine. He also calls a brownstone with fellow cast members in Wrigleyville his place of residence, has mastered the el (and gotten plenty of compliments while doing so), and taken in the city's architectural feats on boat tours.

Als Kind sieht Tommy Walker einen Mord mit an - mit verheerenden Auswirkungen. Durch dieses Trauma wird Tommy blind, taub und stumm. Er wird von vermeintlichen Freunden und sogar seiner Familie uber Jahre misshandelt. Schließlich wird Tommy wie durch ein Wunder zum 'Pinball Wizard' (Flipperkonig) und versammelt bald als Heilsbringer eine große Anhangerschaft um sich. Doch auch als Star nutzt man ihn aus. Als er das erkennt, beschließt er, alles radikal zu andern...

The JERSEY BOYS Chicago cast recently sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem at a White Sox game at Cellular Field.

Having more influence on subsequent seasons than many a Tony Award-winning Best Musical before it or since, the pioneering and trend-setting jukebox Four Seasons biomusical JERSEY BOYS in many ways bucked the trends of previous song-catalog shows by utilizing a dazzling set design, inventive staging and fast-paced direction by Des McAnuff to tell the more-or-less true tale of Frank Valli and the other boys who rose to the top ranks of pop music in the 1960s with their falsetto-outfitted pop anthems and what the price of fame ultimately cost. Not since DREAMGIRLS had a music industry story been told so compellingly and innovatively and the show went on to win four awards that night: Best Actor In A Musical, Best Featured Actor In A Musical, Best Lighting and Best Musical.

The Kentucky Center presents the National Tour of the Broadway hit JERSEY BOYS, playing November 20 through December 2, 2012.

The cast of the Tony®-Nominated Broadway revival JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will perform on 'The View' on Thursday, May 24th at 11:00 am ET/PT on ABC.

The Winspear Opera House presents the National Tour of the Broadway hit JERSEY BOYS, playing June 12 through July 15, 2012. For more information and to buy tickets, check out http://www.attpac.org/index.cfm?pagepath=Tickets&id=29610.

Original Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli recently visited WCBSFM, where he chatted about the Broadway hit JERSEY BOYS making its way to the big screen. While he was there he revealed that the film, set to feature a screenplay by John Logan, will begin filming next year and will be released by the end of 2013. Check out what he had to say about casting the film, the Broadway leading men, and more in the video below!

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

As previously reported, Julian Ovenden will star in a new musical version of the film Finding Neverland, which starred Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet and followed the the story of J.M. Barrie's inspiration for his famous children's book, Peter Pan.

The impact of the influential 1969 rock opera TOMMY by The Who is incalculable insofar as its impact on perceptions of what modern musical storytelling could be and the way it shaped the way theatre music was received by audiences at large, and that is due in no small part to the awe-inspiring attributes of Pete Townshend's seminal, still timeless score. "Pinball Wizard" to "Acid Queen" to "Listening To You" and beyond, the multitude of strong melodies and potent messages in the psychedelic show continue to be compelling and absorbing - and the success of the show has continued beyond its multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway production: GLEE takes on the unforgettable Act One closer tonight, "Pinball Wizard".