Des McAnuff News

The producers of smash-hit West End show 'JERSEY BOYS' have commissioned Pink Banana Studios, a new digital production company, to create an innovative 3D cinema advert, which first aired on Friday 5 March at 300 cinemas across London and the South East, before screenings of Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland'. This is the first 3D cinema advert in the world to be created by a theatre production company.

Legendary guitarist Pete Townshend's award-winning and electrifying rock opera takes to the stage when 'The Who's Tommy' is presented by the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University.

Dianne Pilkington, currently starring as Glinda in Wicked, will be appearing in The 39 Steps beginning April 26. The comedy will feature Pilkington in the roles of Annabella Schmidt, Pamela and Margaret. Joining her will be David Bark-Jones as Hannay, and Timothy Speyer and Jeremy Swift as Man 1 & 2.

Dates have been announced for the Philadelphia engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, playing the Forrest Theatre, as part of the new 2010-2011 Broadway Season. The musical will make its Philadelphia premiere on September 30, 2010 and play through Dec. 12, 2010.

The Fort Myers, FL engagement of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical JERSEY BOYS broke the box office record for the week ending February 28 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall with a gross of $1,304,292, breaking the previous record of $1,194,476.80 set by Wicked. JERSEY BOYS opened to rave reviews in Ft. Myers on February 19 (performances began February 17) where it will play through March 7. From there, JERSEY BOYS will play West Palm Beach's Kravis Center March 10 through March 28.

The producers of ROCK OF AGES announced today that the critically acclaimed, five-time Tony Award® nominated Broadway musical ROCK OF AGES will launch a 60-city, first national tour at The Bank of America Theatre, 18 West Monroe, Chicago, IL as part of ‘Broadway in Chicago' on September 21, 2010.

Award-winning actor David Alan Grier and Richard Thomas who are currently starring on Broadway in David Mamet's RACE will host the Canal Room's benefit concert, 'Light for Haiti,' on Sunday, February 28, @ 8 p.m. at The Canal Room ( 285 West Broadway) in Soho.

The Toronto company of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS will celebrate its 500th performance this Saturday, February 27 at the matinee. The Toronto company of JERSEY BOYS is playing at the Toronto Center for the Arts (5040 Yonge Street), where it opened December 14, 2008 following the JERSEY BOYS touring engagement, and is currently on sale through June 30, 2010.

Award-winning actor David Alan Grier and Richard Thomas who are currently starring on Broadway in David Mamet's RACE will host the Canal Room's benefit concert, 'Light for Haiti,' on Sunday, February 28, @ 8 p.m. at The Canal Room ( 285 West Broadway) in Soho.

t will be a dream season in 2010-2011 at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center). Filled with Tony® Award-winners, audience favorites, stunning classics and amazing spectacle, the Straz Center's 2010-2011 Bank of America Best of Broadway Tampa Bay season is full of fun, passion and excitement.

The Toronto company of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS will celebrate its 500th performance this Saturday, February 27 at the matinee. The Toronto company of JERSEY BOYS is playing at the Toronto Center for the Arts (5040 Yonge Street), where it opened December 14, 2008 following the JERSEY BOYS touring engagement, and is currently on sale through June 30, 2010.

The Toronto production of the smash-hit Jersey Boys has two new reasons to celebrate, the show recently announced yet another extenstion (tickets are now on sale through to June 30th, 2010) and also, Quinn VanAntwerp (who plays Bob Gaudio in the production) was named to the National Post's list of Worthy 30 Men.

Evanston's Next Theatre Company, has announced a 2-week extension of their World Premiere production of Return to Haifa by Evanston-based playwright M.E.H. Lewis which is directed by Next's Artistic Director, Jason Southerland.

Seven new productions, including two company premieres and the first two parts of a new Ring cycle, featuring many of the world's greatest singers and conductors, will highlight the Metropolitan Opera's 2010-11 season.

David Mirvish will present six productions in the 2010 - 2011 Mirvish Subscription Season, and six additional shows will be offered as bonus shows to subscribers.

On Friday February 26th and Saturday February 27th, Melanie Hopkins and Rob Shapiro present HE WHO LAUGHS LIVE, an evening of scenes and stories from Isaac Oliver's blog which chronicles his life as a gay playwright in New York, 'fighting off causticity daily, clinging to compassion and turns of phrase,' not to mention lots and lots of coffee.

'JERSEY BOYS', the award-winning musical which opened in London's West End at the Prince Edward Theatre two years ago, will celebrate its second London birthday on 18 March.

ReVision Theatre, along with Broadway Speaks OUT, is proud to kick off their 2010 season with a bang. This special concert event will feature HAIR's Anthony Hollock (Mr. Broadway 2009) as well as a multitude of other Broadway notables to be announced in the coming weeks.

North Coast Repertory Theatre presents: A World Premiere Adaptation of a Play with Music, Little Women. Previews are from February 17 - 19, 2010. Show Dates: February 20 - March 14, 2010.

Desert Stages Theatre will present a production of ZANNA, DON'T! written by Tim Acito anAlexander Dinelaris and with music and lyrics by Tim Acito and Alexander Dinelaris as well. ZANNA, DON'T will play from February 5 - April 25 as a part of the Actor's Café.