Des McAnuff News

According to published reports, 'Tommy' director Ken Russell died in his sleep yesterday, November 27. He was 84 years old.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 11/27 for Toronto

In celebration of the Washington, D.C., return engagement of JERSEY BOYS, theater and music fans are invited to tune in to WJLA/ABC7 on Sunday, November 27, at 1 p.m. ET for the premiere of an all-new documentary television special "Oh, What A Night! The Story of JERSEY BOYS."

In celebration of the Washington, D.C., return engagement of JERSEY BOYS, theater and music fans are invited to tune in to WJLA/ABC7 on Sunday, November 27, at 1 p.m. ET for the premiere of an all-new documentary television special "Oh, What A Night! The Story of JERSEY BOYS."

Few singers bring Méphistophélès to life like bass René Pape, who reprises his portrayal of the charming devil at the Metropolitan Opera in a November 29-January 19 run of Gounod's Faust, staged by Des McAnuff.

JERSEY BOYS First National Tour cast member Mauricio Perez will be a special guest at tomorrow night's CNN-televised GOP debates from Washington, DC, airing Tuesday, November 22 at 8:00pm ET on CNN. He will sing the national anthem for the candidates, Wolf Blitzer, the audience that has gathered at DAR Constitution Hall, and an estimated national audience of 5 million.

John Neville, a celebrated member of Canada's theatre community (and the theatre community worldwide) passed away on November 19th from Alzheimer's Disease at the age of 86. In this special post, BWW looks back over Mr. Neville's career in pictures.

It was with great sadness that the Stratford Shakespeare Festival learned of the death of John Neville.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 11/20 for Toronto

Having successfully completed three years as an Original Cast Member/Assistant Dance Captain for the 2010 Tony Winner for 'Best Musical,' Memphis, Ms. Figgins now performs, ChocoLove Voices, Sunday, November 20th, 2011, 7:00 PM at The Triad Theatre.

Three of the opera world's leading stars-Jonas Kaufmann, Marina Poplavskaya, and René Pape-will take the principal roles in a new production of Gounod's Faust, directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff in his Met debut.

Noted thespian and master theatre and film director Kenneth Branagh has found himself at a career peak in 2011, excelling in both entertainment arenas with his striking, visionary blockbuster THOR being one of the year's biggest hits as well as his simply incredible portrayal of Laurence Olivier in the new film MY WEEK WITH MARILYN generating considerable Oscar buzz. Sharing his cordial and candid insights on a number of topics ranging from his beginnings in Shakespeare to his directing and acting in a string of Shakespearean stage plays and films - his iconic films of HENRY V and HAMLET among them - Branagh also illustrates his impressions of fellow acting titans such as Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir John Gielgud, Ralph Fiennes, Dame Judi Dench, Simon Callow and many more. Plus, he shares his deep affection for the most famous musical theatre Shakespeare adaptation of all time - the classic WEST SIDE STORY; based on ROMEO & JULIET - as well as his love of the work of Stephen Sondheim as a composer/lyricist in his own right. Plus, news on his desire to do Broadway in the future, as well as all about Branagh's new lead role in the Belfast-to-West End transfer of THE PAINKILLER - and much, much more!

Casting has been announced for the Philadelphia return engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. JERSEY BOYS will launch a new Second National Tour at the Forrest Theatre on Dec. 6 - Jan. 14. The official press opening will be Friday, Dec. 9 at 8:00 pm

Tickets to The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff, go on sale to Audience Rewards members beginning today, Monday, November 14 through Sunday, November 27.

On Monday, November 14 the stars of Broadway's JERSEY BOYS will perform at the lighting of the UNICEF Snowflake at a special ceremony in front of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, singing selections from the newly released holiday album, 'Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boys Christmas.'

Upcoming MTI Shows - 11/13 for Toronto

On Monday, November 14 the stars of Broadway's JERSEY BOYS will perform at the lighting of the UNICEF Snowflake at a special ceremony in front of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, singing selections from the newly released holiday album, 'Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boys Christmas.'

Previews start November 2 for VideoCabaret's The Life and Times of Mackenzie King, The History of the Village of the Small Huts, 1918-39 at The Cameron House, opening on November 10 for a limited run.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 11/06 for Toronto

JERSEY BOYS, the Tony and Olivier Award winning Best Musical, will make its Vancouver debut in September, 2012 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.