Des McAnuff News

Met Music Director James Levine leads the new production premiere of Die Walküre, Robert Lepage's staging of the second opera in Wagner's cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. The production opens Friday, April 22, with an exceptional cast of Wagnerian singers, most of whom are singing their roles for the first time at the Met.

Blackfriars Theatre, a not-for-profit mid -sized professional theatre on Rochester's 'Theatre Row' is pleased to announce the opening of 'Tommy,' by The Who (music and lyrics by Pete Townshend, with additional lyrics and music by John Entwistle and Keith Moon. Book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff.)

Tickets will go on sale Monday, April 11, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. for the Omaha 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 Orpheum Theater Wednesday, September 7 through Sunday, September 25, 2011.

Dates have been announced for the Jacksonville engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, premiering at the Times Union Center's Moran Theater on March 13, 2012 through April 1, 2012 for 24 performances!

Fox Associates announces its stellar 2010-2011 U.S. Bank Broadway Series. Alongside the previously announced engagement of Broadway's latest sensation BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL, winner of the 2009 Tony Award® for Best Musical; will be Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, a stunning reinvention produced by Lincoln Center Theater, making its St. Louis debut. Also included in the series are: SHREK THE MUSICAL, based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone's favorite ogre to life on stage; 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL the new musical comedy, direct from Broadway & based on the hit movie; and NEXT TO NORMAL winner of three 2009 Tony Awards including Best Score. The story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, JERSEY BOYS returns to round out the six show series.

La Muse Venale presents a musical tale of dreams, possibilities and heartbreak in Robert L. Hecker's Honestly Abe, which shines a spotlight on a little-known early chapter in the life of President Abraham Lincoln. Directed by Joshua A. Kashinsky, Honestly Abe will begin performances at the Mint Theater at 311 West 43rd Street.

Dates have been announced for the Jacksonville engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, premiering at the Times Union Center's Moran Theater on March 13, 2012 through April 1, 2012 for 24 performances!

Locking in the theatrical treasure that is the long running multi Tony-Award® winning musical is the dynamic international hit, BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL. Broadway Across America-Fort Lauderdale continues its long time tradition of providing local theater-goers with the best of current and classical musical theater showstoppers to celebrate the 20th Anniversary 2011-2012 subscription season presented by Florida Theatrical Association in association with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

ersey Boys, the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, returns to Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre, April 21-May 8, 2011.

JERSEY BOYS, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical, surpassed Oklahoma! with 2,213 performances last night, March 17, making it the 27th longest-running Broadway show in history.

Jon Lee, one of the original members of platinum-selling pop group S Club 7, and who starred as 'Marius' in the West End production of "Les Miserables", joins the West End Production of JERSEY BOYS from 15 March 2011, playing the role of 'Frankie Valli' at certain performances.

Although Angela Gheorghiu was set to star in the production, she withdrew due to what her management calls 'artistic reasons' - in this version of the classic, the setting will be modern, taking place in the 20th century as opposed to the usual staging of the 16th century. This shift is being cited as Gheorghiu's reason for leaving the production.

Marina Poplavskaya will make her Met role debut as Marguerite in the initial run of performances of the Met's new production of Gounod's Faust this fall.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 4 at 8:00 a.m. for the Milwaukee 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 Marcus Center for the Performing Arts on July 20-August 14.

Casting has been announced for the premiere Miami engagement of the Tony®, Grammy® and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County from March 2 - 20, 2011. The cast of JERSEY BOYS will be led by Matt Bailey (Tommy DeVito), Joseph Leo Bwarie (Frankie Valli), Michael Lomenda (Nick Massi) and Quinn VanAntwerp (Bob Gaudio) as The Four Seasons, with Jonathan Hadley and Joseph Siravo.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 4 at 8:00 a.m. for the Milwaukee 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 Marcus Center for the Performing Arts on July 20-August 14.

Broadway Across America - Atlanta welcomes theatre sojourners to discover Broadway through magical lands, bustling towns and cultural epicenters. Featuring four Tony Award® winning musicals, the 2011-2012 season lineup of Broadway sensations brings a series of imaginative worlds to The Fabulous Fox Theatre. Audiences will travel across the globe - and beyond - with the debuts of DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL, MEMPHIS and BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL paired with award-winning fan favorites LES MISÉRABLES and JERSEY BOYS.

The New South Wales Minister for Tourism hosts the World Premiere of a new musical, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO starring Anthony Warlow. One of the most breathtaking love stories ever told, this exciting new production is directed by Broadway's Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Tommy), with music composed by Lucy Simon (The Secret Garden), lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers and book by Michael Weller. Produced by John Frost and Anita Waxman, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO plays an exclusive eight week engagement at the Lyric Theatre, Star City before an Australian tour.

Casting has been announced for the premiere Miami engagement of the Tony®, Grammy® and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County from March 2 - 20, 2011. The cast of JERSEY BOYS will be led by Matt Bailey (Tommy DeVito), Joseph Leo Bwarie (Frankie Valli), Michael Lomenda (Nick Massi) and Quinn VanAntwerp (Bob Gaudio) as The Four Seasons, with Jonathan Hadley and Joseph Siravo.

The New South Wales Minister for Tourism hosts the World Premiere of a new musical, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO starring Anthony Warlow. One of the most breathtaking love stories ever told, this exciting new production is directed by Broadway's Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Tommy), with music composed by Lucy Simon (The Secret Garden), lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers and book by Michael Weller. Produced by John Frost and Anita Waxman, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO plays an exclusive eight week engagement at the Lyric Theatre, Star City before an Australian tour. Check out photos from the production below!