Des McAnuff News

The producers of JERSEY BOYS, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning smash hit musical, are pleased to announce that Andy Karl and Quinn VanAntwerp will join the Broadway company on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Karl (Legally Blonde, Wicked) will step in the role of Tommy Devito following the departure of Dominic Nolfi on September 25th. Direct from the national tour of JERSEY BOYS, VanAntwerp will step in the role of Bob Gaudio following the departure of Ryan Jesse on October 9. Erik Bates will play the role of Tommy DeVito for performances September 27 through October 9.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 10/09 for Toronto

Today, in an extension of the FLASH FRIDAY column, we are sharpening our focus on the six upcoming revivals of musicals that are soon to hit the boards in the next few months (post-FOLLIES) and battle it out for the Best Revival as the Broadway season heats up just when the weather begins to cool: the classic Jule Styne/Bob Merrill musical that originally starred that star-of-stars, Barbra Streisand - FUNNY GIRL; the groundbreaking rock opera that rewrote the theatrical rulebook thanks to young creators Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; the hippie, flower child take on the Christ story covering some similar Biblical ground to that of SUPERSTAR, with this one being the composing debut of WICKED songwriter Stephen Schwartz - GODSPELL; another Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice collaboration that won seven Tony Awards and acted as the vehicle for Patti LuPone's blazing Broadway debut in a starring role - EVITA; the significantly reworked, revised and rewritten new version of the beautifully scored time-travel musical by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner, this time starring a male movie star crooner - ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER; and, the landmark American opera composed by the Gershwins with DuBose Haywerd - PORGY & BESS. While each and every one of these entities has a huge hit song or two that nearly everyone on the planet knows by heart - "Don't Rain On My Parade", "I Don't Know How To Love Him", "Day By Day", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "On A Clear Day…" and 'Summertime' included - each of these revivals also comes after a film version (or two) that, in more than a few of these cases, will be relatively difficult to top as far as expectations of many audience members undoubtedly will go. So, by taking a listen to the smash hit crossover songs from these musicals as well as looking at their respective film version's trailers - as well as a couple of surprises, too - perhaps we can glean some insight into what makes these generally pretty terrific properties so well worth reviving on Broadway, here, now, today, in 2011. Furthermore, all of this crystal ball commentary is not even taking into account the starry assortment of performers that have already been announced for these productions so far - especially with FUNNY GIRL's Lauren Ambrose and Bobby Cannavale, GODSPELL's Hunter Parrish, SUPERSTAR's lauded Josh Young, EVITA's Ricky Martin and Michael Cerveris, PORGY's Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, as well as the leading man in what was once a leading lady's role (that of Barbara Harris) in ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, Harry Connick, Jr.! What a tight race it is turning out to be for these new productions, particularly come Tony time in June! With rock to rhumba and borscht belt comedy to messianic hosannas and even full-out opera, seemingly every conceivable customer base is more than covered by this packed, potentially, well, awesome, season of shows - and many Broadway babies around BroadwayWorld are undoubtedly looking most forward to these six forthcoming revivals - with particularly good reason given the relative dearth of new musicals announced so far. So, let these revivals revive your flagging spirits as we leap into the 2011-2012 season with this comprehensive prospective and retrospective all about what makes them work so well in the first place and so worthy of another look!

In light of yesterday's announcement that the Stratford production of Jesus Christ Superstar is Broadway bound in March of 2012, it seems a perfect time to feature the last in our series of profile interviews with this talented Canadian cast. Today we are speaking with Josh Young, one of Stratford's hottest leading men, who plays Judas in the production. He talks to us about the incredible Superstar journey, why people should come see this production, and (what were at that time) Broadway rumours.

It was announced today that 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, will open at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway on Thursday, March 22, 2012. Previews will begin Thursday, March 1, 2012.

Casting has been announced for the much-anticipated Washington, D.C., 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 National Theatre November 10, 2011, to January 7, 2012. The cast of JERSEY BOYS will be led by Preston Truman Boyd (Bob Gaudio), Joseph Leo Bwarie (returning to D.C. as Frankie Valli), John Gardiner (Tommy DeVito), and Michael Lomenda (Nick Massi) and as The Four Seasons, with Jonathan Hadley and Washington-area native, Joseph Siravo.

Barnes & Noble welcomes a slew of Broadway performers to presentations throughout October.

The Stratford Festival production of Jesus Christ Superstar has arguably been the most talked about production of the year in Canadian musical theatre. Nearing its final few weeks before the show transfers to San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse and with Broadway rumours still swirling, BWW is thrilled to dedicate a week to speaking with various cast members about their experience with the show. We are ending our week of JCS coverage with the lovely and talented female lead, Chilina Kennedy.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 10/02 for Toronto

The Metropolitan Opera Guild has announced its Lectures and Community Programs for the 2011-12 Season: an extensive - 20 events in October alone! - and wide-ranging calendar of individual events and courses of study designed to deepen the love and appreciation of opera by fans and performers alike, at every level of engagement and expertise.

Casting has been announced for the Hartford 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 BushnellTM October 19-November 6, 2011.

Final Casting is announced for the Common Tongue Theatre's 1st New York reading of Neil Wechsler's Yale Drama Award Winning play, GRENADINE.

The Metropolitan Opera's 2011-12 season will feature the world's leading singers, conductors, and stage directors in seven new productions, including a world premiere, a Met premiere, and the first complete performances of a new Der Ring des Nibelungen cycle conducted by Music Director James Levine and directed by Robert Lepage.

Lila Dupree of The Common Tongue Theatre will present the first New York reading of Neil Wechsler's Yale Drama Award winning play, GRENADINE.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 9/25 for Toronto

The Stratford Festival production of Jesus Christ Superstar has arguably been the most talked about production of the year in Canadian musical theatre. Nearing its final few weeks before the show transfers to San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse and with Broadway rumours still swirling, BWW is thrilled to dedicate a week to speaking with various cast members about their experience with the show. Today we are speaking with Stratford vet and one of the nicest men in Canadian musical theatre, Bruce Dow.

The Metropolitan Opera received confirmation today that tenor Jonas Kaufmann is doing well after his recent surgery and will return to the Met as planned for his October 30 recital and to begin rehearsals for the new production of Faust which opens November 29.

The Stratford Festival production of Jesus Christ Superstar has arguably been the most talked about production of the year in Canadian musical theatre. Nearing its final few weeks before the show transfers to San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse and with Broadway rumours still swirling, BWW is thrilled to dedicate a week to speaking with various cast members about their experience with the show. We are kicking it off with Paul Nolan, who portrays none other than Jesus himself.

Lila Dupree of The Common Tongue Theatre will present the first New York reading of Neil Wechsler's Yale Drama Award winning play, GRENADINE.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 9/18 for Toronto