Dick Latessa News

The 2006 movie dramedy Little Miss Sunshine was and still remains such a low-key charmer that to attempt to simulate it on stage with music is at once challenging, courageous and perplexing. Why? Why retell a story that is so perfect on film unless you can achieve a brand new and interesting take on it? I guess Spider-Man and other films being translated to the stage is the rage these days, especially when there's a dearth of original musicals. All this aside, the production values, the cast and the very artistic endeavor of the stage musical Little Miss Sunshine, now at the Mandell Weiss Theatre of La Jolla Playhouse through March 27, should be lauded and appreciated.

The Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and writer/director James Lapine, who previously collaborated on the Tony Award-winning musicals Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, will bring their latest project to, Little Miss Sunshine to The Playhouse. The production runs through March 27, 2011 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

The La Jolla Playhouse is presenting a world premiere musical based on the 2006 Academy Award winning film "Little Miss Sunshine". And while the show had its shining moments and a cast that matched the subtlety and charm of the original sleeper hit, on the whole it needs a bit of a jump start if it's going to make it down the road to Broadway.

The Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and writer/director James Lapine, who previously collaborated on the Tony Award-winning musicals Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, will bring their latest project to, Little Miss Sunshine to The Playhouse. The production runs through March 27, 2011 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

The first video has turned up from the world premiere of Little Miss Sunshine at the La Jolla Playhouse. The musical features Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and playwright/director James Lapine.

First reported by BroadwayWorld.com back in December, the Hollywood Bowl has now officially confirmed that they have chosen their summer musical... Drum roll please... HAIRSPRAY! The Hollywood Bowl has been knocking these musicals out of the ballpark these last three years with LES MISERABLES, GUYS & DOLLS and RENT.

After 319 performances the curtain has dropped on the Broadway revival of PROMISES, PROMISES.

In honor of the show's closing on January 2, BroadwayWorld.com brings you a look back at opening night! PROMISES, PROMISES, starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth, began previews at the Broadway Theater on Saturday, March 27, 2010 and opened on Sunday night, April 25, 2010. BroadwayWorld.com and Broadway Beat were there to bring you all the excitement of the show's opening night party at The Plaza Hotel.

BroadwayWorld offers highlights of the several productions which will complete their Broadway runs in January.

It was quite a year for BroadwayWorld.com's unmatched Photo Team, here's a look at some of the most popular photo coverages of 2010!

La Jolla Playhouse has just released costume sketches by Jennifer Caprio for the upcoming world-premiere musical Little Miss Sunshine. The musical features Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and playwright/director James Lapine. Below are two of the costumes for 'Olive Hoover.'

Diane Sawyer's co-workers had no intention of letting her 65th Birthday slide by unnoticed.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the cast and creative team of its upcoming world-premiere musical Little Miss Sunshine, by the Tony Award-winning creative team of composer/lyricist William Finn and playwright/director James Lapine. Mr. Lapine has enjoyed a long association with the Playhouse, having previously directed Merrily We Roll Along (1985) and Luck, Pluck and Virtue (1993). The production runs February 15 - March 27, 2011 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre.

We are hearing HUGE rumblings that the Hollywood Bowl has chosen their summer musical... Drum roll please... HAIRSPRAY! The Hollywood Bowl has been knocking these musicals out of the ballpark these last three years with LES MISERABLES, GUYS & DOLLS and RENT.

Partnering with another fashion-forward celebrity for a good cause, ShoeDazzle is segueing from Kristen to Kristin - Bell to Chenoweth that is - in offering limited-edition, celebrity-designed shoes exclusively to its well-heeled members, with 100% of the profits donated to the star's charity of choice.

Now that Cyber-Monday is over and it is back to the stores Broadway's Promises, Promises 'Lessons from the Cage' bring you the perfect video tutorial for holiday shopping with their new 'Holiday Edition' webisode (http://promisespromisesbroadway.com/holiday). Filmed on location at Limelight Marketplace Promises, Promises' ladies from the cage take you through the do's and don'ts of holiday shopping as you brave the stores to find the perfect gift this holiday season.

Sean Hayes will not perform at the Tuesday, November 23, 2010 performance of PROMISES, PROMISES due to a sinus infection. He also did not perform at the matinee on Sunday, November 21. In a statement, Hayes said 'I wish I never had to miss a show. I'd sleep on the stage if the doorman didn't kick me out. I made it all the way to 271 performances but my doctor tells me that singing with a sinus infection just won't work, which kills my dream of never missing a performance for the whole run of Promises. I'm at home resting and hope to be back onstage tomorrow.'

Partnering with another fashion-forward celebrity for a good cause, ShoeDazzle is segueing from Kristen to Kristin - Bell to Chenoweth that is - in offering limited-edition, celebrity-designed shoes exclusively to its well-heeled members, with 100% of the profits donated to the star's charity of choice.

BroadwayWorld.com presents Twitter Watch, which brings you only the best and most interesting reports straight from the mouths of Broadway stars, shows and more on the hot social networking service - Twitter!

BroadwayWorld.com presents Twitter Watch, which brings you only the best and most interesting reports straight from the mouths of Broadway stars, shows and more on the hot social networking service - Twitter!