Des McAnuff News

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff, opens tonight on Broadway after beginning previews on March 1.

A statement from Young's rep reveals that 'It was extremely unfortunate timing that Josh became sick over the past week. He has been with JCS since its inception in Canada and was saddened that this happened at such a crucial time and rendered him unable to perform. Josh is waiting for his doctor to clear him to rejoin the cast. Nothing brings him more joy than performing the role of Judas with this amazing company of actors and he cannot wait to return to his work'

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 opens March 22, 2012 (previews began March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre. The highly anticipated performance highlights have been released and below, BroadwayWorld brings you a very first look at the show's montage and brand new performance clips!

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 opens March 22, 2012 (previews began March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Check out new, just-released production photos below!

Gary Schellenberger, Member of Parliament for Perth-Wellington, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced an investment that will allow the Stratford Shakespeare Festival to create digital content showcasing the legacy and impact of the Festival over the last sixty years.

La Jolla Playhouse today announced its final production of the 2012/2013 season: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, a world-premiere musical written and directed by Playhouse Director Emeritus Des McAnuff (Jesus Christ Superstar, Jersey Boys), with music and lyrics by The Flaming Lips. The show will run in November/December 2012 (dates TBA) in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

After premiering at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2011, the acclaimed film BARRYMORE starring Academy Award® winner Christopher Plummer, directed & adapted by Érik Canuel, will be shown at select cinemas in Canada beginning in May 2012 and throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and other countries in October 2012.

Tickets will go on sale September 18th at 10am for the Jacksonville 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 Times Union Center's Moran Theater from March 13, 2012 through April 1, 2012 for 24 performances.

Sarofim Hall is set to bring the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons to the stage in JERSEY BOYS. The national tour will stop in Houston from March 13 through 30th.

The Society of London Theatre has today announced the shortlist for the BBC Radio 2 Olivier Audience Award. The public will vote for the overall winner. The shortlisted shows are BILLY ELLIOT, JERSEY BOYS, LES MISÉRABLES and WICKED.

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival held its Annual General Meeting Saturday, celebrating its 2011 season - a season which not only won resounding praise on both sides of the Atlantic, but also ended with a surplus of $52,995.

Dr. Lee Myers and members of the Board of Governors announced that Antoni Cimolino will be the next Artistic Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, following on the tenure of Des McAnuff.

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 opens March 22, 2012 (previews began March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). We are very excited to share a first look at the production photos below!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Jesus is back on Broadway, Raul Esparza feels the spirit, Norm Lewis sings for the Public, and so much more!

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff is the recipient of the National Arts Centre Award of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards in recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments over the past performance year.

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, opens March 22, 2012 at the Neil Simon Theatre. Previews began March 1. Broadway friends welcomed the new production to the block and BroadwayWorld was there for the photo op.

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 opens March 22, 2012 (previews began March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). The cast of Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and director Des McAnuff recently sat down to talk about the production. Check out what they had to say below!

5th Avenue Theatre Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong yesterday announced the seven productions making up the celebrated Seattle musical theater's 2012-13 season. The program features a mix of contemporary musicals and timeless classics, plus Seattle's first peek at some of Broadway's greatest new hits.

Get a sneak peek of The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, which began previews at the Neil Simon Theatre on March 1. Directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR will open on March 22. Watch as the cast rehearses and hear what they have to say about the production below!

Opera San Jose continues its 28th season with Gounod's Romantic-era masterpiece, Faust. Inspired by Goethe's legendary story of the old scholar who sells his soul to the devil for eternal youth, Faust is one of the most performed operas of all time. Opera San Jose founding music director, David Rohrbaugh, conducts with stage direction by Brad Dalton, who recently directed Opera San Jose's company premiere of Mozart's Idomeneo. Faust will be sung in French with English supertitles. Eight performances are scheduled from April 21 through May 6 at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street in downtown San Jose. Tickets are on sale at the Opera San Jose Box Office, by phone at (408) 437-4450 or online at www.operasj.org. Faust is made possible, in part, by a Cultural Affairs Grant from the City of San Jose.