Des McAnuff News

Beatrice and Benedick's merry war of wit and wordplay is fought on the Festival stage with the comedy Much Ado About Nothing. The production, directed by Christopher Newton, starts previews tonight at the Festival Theatre.

Today we are talking to one of the busiest choreographers on Broadway who was recently represented by four shows running on the Great White Way simultaneously (a new record) - the long-running hit JERSEY BOYS, Pulitzer Prize-winner NEXT TO NORMAL, multi-Tony Award-winning MEMPHIS and THE ADDAMS FAMILY. His most recent Broadway credit is the new Alan Menken/Glenn Slater musical adaptation of the 90s hit Steve Martin comedy LEAP OF FAITH featuring Broadway superstar Raul Esparza in the lead. In addition to discussing the unique demands of his involvement with the aforementioned new musicals with a pronounced focus on his current project, Trujillo opens up about the process of collaborating with a director and what musical staging is all about at its core, as well as outlining his experiences working with a number of notable names on his impressive assortment of projects so far and taking a look back at his own career as a performer, having previously appeared in GUYS & DOLLS, FOSSE and the film version of CHICAGO among other illustrious resume entries. Plus, Trujillo shares his infectious enthusiasm and passionate dedication to his art and reveals what he will be taking on next after LEAP OF FAITH's opening night, which is tonight - a tryout tour of a screen-to-stage adaptation of the iconic 80s hit FLASHDANCE and an original dramatic musical included. All of that and much, much more!

The Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning musical JERSEY BOYS will make its much-anticipated return to Providence to play the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 through Sunday, September 2, 2012. Tickets will go on sale Sunday, May 6 at 8am.

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 60th season of theatrical innovation and achievement with the opening of a brand new attraction, the Festival Exhibition. The display, entitled Most Rare Visions: 60 Years of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, will open on April 23. It will feature content from each decade of the Festival's history, including costume pieces, props, set models, rare photographs and footage, interactive displays, and a room with rare artefacts dating back to 1953-1956 (the years of the Festival's original tent).

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 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.

Josh Young, who is starring as 'Judas' in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR after originating the role in both the Startford and La Jolla productions of the show, visited Bravo's 'Watch What Happens Live' last night where he acted as bar tender for guests Ana Gasteyer and Loretta Devine. Check out his appearance below!

In the midst of the second national tour, Broadway's most beloved group of men, JERSEY BOYS, are set to hit the Mahalia Jackson Theatre's stage. The show is slated to run from Jan. 8 through the 27th in 2013. For more information on the JERSEY BOYS national tour, check out the show's official website at www.jerseyboysinfo.com. Tickets to the show's stop in New Orleans are set to go on sale later this year.

In the midst of the second national tour, Broadway's most beloved group of men, JERSEY BOYS, are set to hit the Murat Theatre's stage. The show is slated to run from Jan. 9 through the 27th in 2013. For more information on the JERSEY BOYS national tour, check out the show's official website at www.jerseyboysinfo.com. Tickets to the show's stop in Indianapolis are set to go on sale later this year.

Das gefeierte Ensemble der Rockoper 'Tommy' kommt frisch importiert aus London, dem Geburtsort der britischen Kultband 'The Who'.

Josh Young, who is starring as 'Judas' in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR after originating the role in both the Startford and La Jolla productions of the show, returned to the production on Friday evening, April 13th after successfully battling laryngitis. Audience members there for his return tell us that Young returned to the show feeling healthy and sounding great.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director and 2-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just opened on March 22, 2012 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Earlier today, Paul Nolan performed 'God Bless America' at the Yankees home opener during the seventh-inning stretch. Click here to watch his performance!

Welcome to THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As With Your Favorite Broadway Stars. Want to know what hooked them to a career in the theater? Their dream roles? Their Broadway crushes? Read on! In this next edition, we caught up with Bruce Dow who is starring as the outrageous 'King Herod' in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR- currently playing at the Neil Simon Theatre!

The 'inspiring story of a small-town girl chasing her dream in the big city is told through exhilarating tap dance numbers' in the hit musical 42nd Street. Featuring Cynthia Dale and directed by Gary Griffin, this production begins previews at the Festival Theatre on Thursday, April 12.

Paper Mill Playhouse has just announced that American Idol finalist Syesha Mercado has been cast as Ti Moune in the Millburn, New Jersey, theater's production of Once On This Island (book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty). More than 20 years after its premiere, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens are re-inventing their first musical with Tony-nominated director Thomas Kail (In the Heights, Lombardi, Magic/Bird) and choreographer Bradley Rapier (So You Think You Can Dance). Once On This Island begins performances on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, and runs through Sunday, June 24, 2012. Complete casting will be announced at a later date. Once On This Island is proudly sponsored by Bank of America.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director and 2-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR just opened on March 22, 2012 at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). In the video below, Chilina Kennedy, who plays Mary in the show, chats with NBC New York about making her Broadway debut in the show. Click below to hear what she had to say!

In October of 1971, three days after the original Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar began its week and a half of previews, the title song of what is considered to be the world's first rock opera was heard on American television's highest-rated show.  No, it wasn't The Ed Sullivan Show, which had ended its run earlier in the year, but the controversial new sitcom, All In The Family.

The Daily Mail UK reports that Julian Ovenden will star in a musical version of the film Finding Neverland, which starred Johhny Depp and Kate Winslet and followed the the story of J.M. Barrie's inspiration for his famous children's book, Peter Pan.

Josh Young, who is starring as 'Judas' in Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR after originating the role in both the Startford and La Jolla productions of the show, will be sidelined from the production again, this time for an undetermined period of time, as a bacteria infection which has caused him to miss several performances has worsened into laryngitis. Young, who has received rave reviews across the board for his performance, missed his first shows during previews just prior to opening night on March, 22. While he was back for the opening, he has been in and out of the show since March 29. His role has been played by Jeremy Kushnier and Nick Cartell in his absence.

Actor Paul Nolan is currently making his Broadway debut as 'Jesus' in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. In a recent chat with BWW, the actor shared his thoughts on what it is like to portray the famed biblical character in this iconic rock opera.

Broadway in Indianapolis announces its 2012-13 season. The season will leap into play with the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, an inspirational story, with music by Elton John, of one boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Two other new titles join the series: SISTER ACT, a comedy with glorious music and even greater heart, and Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, which has boldly taken the American musical where it's never gone before. JERSEY BOYS will be making its way back to Indianapolis after an engagement in June of 2010, telling the tale of The Four Seasons' road to stardom. Finally, this series will conclude with WEST SIDE STORY, the story of forbidden love with the legendary score by Bernstein and Sondheim.