Des McAnuff News

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation's (SDCF) Observership Program was established to offer early-career directors and choreographers the opportunity to observe the work of master directors and choreographers as they create new productions on Broadway, off-Broadway and at leading regional theatres.

The Raleigh engagement of Jersey Boys opened to rave reviews on Friday night, June 26 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, where it will play through July 18, 2009. From there, the national tour will play Boston, MA July 23 through September 26, 2009.

York Little Theatre will present the rock opera, Tommy, July 17 - 26, 2009. Written by The Who's Pete Towshend and Des McAnuff, Tommy first premiered on Broadway in April of 1993 and ran for 899 performances. It won 5 Tony awards including Best Original Score, and 6 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Orchestrations.

York Little Theatre will present the rock opera, Tommy, on July 17 - 26, 2009. Written by The Who's Pete Towshend and Des McAnuff, Tommy first premiered on Broadway in April of 1993 and ran for 899 performances. It won 5 Tony awards including Best Original Score, and 6 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Orchestrations.

City Lights Theater Company of San Jose proudly presents the epic rock musical THE WHO'S TOMMY by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff. The production previews on Thursday, July 16th and Friday, July 17th, 2009, with the Gala Opening Performance on Saturday, July 18th, 2009. A post-show discussion will be held on Sunday, July 26th. The production is scheduled to run through August 23rd, 2009.

Sebastian Arcelus returns to the role of Bob Gaudio in the Broadway cast of JERSEY BOYS tonight July 14th, 2009. Arcelus, who was most recently seen in the Lincoln Theater Center production of Happiness, replaces Andrew Rannells, who replaced him in the hit show at the August Wilson Theatre.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Ellen Richard, Executive Director) continues this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower. Directed by Giovanna Sardelli, Wildflower features Nadia Bowers, Ron Cephas Jones, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Jake O'Connor and Renée Felice Smith. Previews begin Monday, July 13 and opening night is Monday, July 27 at 7:00pm.

The Boston engagement of JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, is playing at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, September 26. The cast of JERSEY BOYS will be led by Matt Bailey (Tommy DeVito), Joseph Leo Bwarie (Frankie Valli), Josh Franklin (Bob Gaudio) and Steve Gouveia (Nick Massi) as The Four Seasons, with Jonathan Hadley and Joseph Siravo.

Jersey Boys, the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning international hit musical, opened ?down under? to critical acclaim at The Princess Theatre in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday, July 4th.

On Saturday, July 4th, cast members from the Tony, Olivier and Grammy Award-winning international hit JERSEY BOYS performed live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. for PBS' 'A Capitol Fourth' TV special.

obby Fox, Scott Johnson, Glaston Toft and Stephen Mahy star in Jersey Boys - The story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Broadway's multi-award winning musical opening in Melbourne's Princess Theatre on July 4. Rehearsals began in Melbourne in April. Previews started June 20, the cast celebrates the official opening tonight.

Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, is now playing at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts through July 18 in its North Carolina premiere.

Cast members from the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS will perform on PBS-TV's 'A Capitol Fourth' independence day concert celebration on Saturday, July 4 from 8:00pm to 9:30pm ET (check local listings).

City Lights Theater Company of San Jose proudly presents the epic rock musical THE WHO'S TOMMY by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff. The production previews on Thursday, July 16th and Friday, July 17th, 2009, with the Gala Opening Performance on Saturday, July 18th, 2009. A post-show discussion will be held on Sunday, July 26th. The production is scheduled to run through August 23rd, 2009.

The Raleigh engagement of Jersey Boys opened to rave reviews on Friday night, June 26 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, where it will play through July 18, 2009. From there, the national tour will play Boston, MA July 23 through September 26, 2009.

On June 29th, 2009, the best of the best of Canada's Theatre scene all gathered together to celebrate the 30th Anniversary Dora Awards. Named after Dora Mavor Moore, the awards are given out annually in five different categories: General Theatre, Indepedent Theatre, Dance, Opera and Theatre for Young Audiences. This year, Agokwe, from Ojibwa artist Waawaate Fobister won a leading six awards.

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced 176 nominations from 218 eligible productions that opened between June 1, 2008 and May 31, 2009 for the 30th annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards which honour excellence in the performing arts in Toronto.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Broadway Under The Stars for one night only, on Saturday, June 27 at 8:30 pm at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, starring six favorite Reprise performers -- Jason Graae, Lucas Grabeel, Dorian Harewood, Jean Louisa Kelly, Vicki Lewis, and Valarie Pettiford. The production is directed by Lee Martino, with music direction by Mary Ekler.

Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, is now playing at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts through July 18 in its North Carolina premiere.

It was announced today that Billy Crystal will bring 700 SUNDAYS, his Tony Award-winning Broadway blockbuster, to six cities for limited engagements this fall, launching at Washington, D.C.'s National Theatre September 8 - 17. The tour will also play Philadelphia, Dallas, Palm Beach, Miami and Atlanta. 700 SUNDAYS, a play performed and written by Mr. Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff.