Don Darryl Rivera News

Following hard on the heels of a successful revival of Dario Fo's Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Strawberry Theatre Workshop continues what's being described as 'a season of agitation and propaganda' with a second company classic, This Land | Woody Guthrie, a play for actors and puppets derived from the music, drawing, and writing of folk artist Woody Guthrie. Strawshop's 2004 production of This Land was the first show in the company's history.

Following hard on the heels of a successful revival of Dario Fo's Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Strawberry Theatre Workshop continues what's being described as 'a season of agitation and propaganda' with a second company classic, This Land | Woody Guthrie, a play for actors and puppets derived from the music, drawing, and writing of folk artist Woody Guthrie. Strawshop's 2004 production of This Land was the first show in the company's history.

Itinerant no longer, Chicago Children's Theatre (CCT) and Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell are looking forward to welcoming family audiences this fall to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago - CCT's first permanent home in the company's seven-year history. CCT presents Harold and the Purple Crayon, based on the beloved children's books by Crockett Johnson, directed by top Chicago director Sean Graney. Performances are October 11-November 4, 2012. Press opening is Friday, October 12 at 6:30 pm.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Casting news for ChiShakes' 'Sunday,' TATC's '42nd Street' and Paramount's 'Grease,' plus ALW and the eye-popping Marriott season, Chicago's first 'Q,' Super September along Belmont Avenue and much more!

Itinerant no longer, Chicago Children's Theatre (CCT) and Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell are looking forward to welcoming family audiences this fall to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago - CCT's first permanent home in the company's seven-year history.

Oh what a circus, oh what a show...THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS extended to July 8 by popular demand.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company announces casting for the two remaining productions of their 25th Anniversary Season. The Servant of Two Masters, running from May 15-June 24 at the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW), and The Merry Wives of Windsor, running from June 12-July 15 at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW), both feature new and familiar faces to STC's stages.

Bursting with inspiration and innovative stage magic, Harold and the Purple Crayon, a new theatrical production developed at Seattle Children's Theatre (SCT) arrives at Minneapolis' Children's Theatre Company (CTC), this month.

The Seattle Times has officially announced the winners of their 2011 Footlight Awards. Featured amoungst this year's winners are such favorites as Mike Daisey, Carolee Carmello, and many more! The full list of 2011 winners is as follows:

On Twitter Watch, Alan Menken wrote 'Three days of ALADDIN meetings starting today. Back with Casey and Chad. This bouncing between projects is crazy! The 5th Avenue Theatre's production of Aladdin features Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed as Aladdin and Jasmine, James Monroe Iglehart as the Genie, and Seattle mainstay Seán G. Griffin as the Sultan. Jonathan Freeman takes the stage to embody the role he originally voiced for the film, the Royal Vizier Jafar. He is joined by comedic favorite Don Darryl Rivera as Iago. Aladdin restores a trio of characters originally conceived by the film's creators: Omar, Babkak, and Kassim, played by Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Brian Gonzales, and Brandon O'Neill, respectively. Several 5th Avenue veterans return for the production, including acclaimed director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw, who received his first professional choreography gig at The 5th Avenue Theatre (The Prince and the Pauper, 2001) and where he later choreographed My Fair Lady (2002). On Broadway, Nicholaw won praise as the choreographer of Spamalot, and director/choreographer of The Drowsy Chaperone and Elf: The Broadway Musical, garnering three Tony nominations for his work. Music for Aladdin is by Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Tangled), who has won a total of eight Oscars, more than any living person; lyrics are by the late Howard Ashman (Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid) and Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, The Lion King). Librettist Chad Beguelin wrote the books for The Rhythm Club, Wicked City and The Wedding Singer, which premiered at The 5th Avenue in 2006. Menken and Beguelin contribute additional lyrics. This new Aladdin incorporates all of the beloved songs from the film's Oscar-winning score plus never-before heard Menken/Ashman songs restored from early drafts of the score. It marks a return to the authors' original vision: a loving homage to the Hope-Crosby road pictures with a score invoking the jazz sound of stars like Cab Calloway and Fats Waller. '

Take a much beloved Disney hit animated musical written by the incomparable Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and turn it into a big flashy Broadway musical directed by recent Tony award winner Casey Nicholaw fresh off 'The Book of Mormon'. Sounds like a no brainer, right? What can go wrong? Well, plenty as is evidenced by the 5th Avenue Theatre's most recent pre-Broadway tryout, 'Aladdin' which more resembles a Disney park show than a legit stage musical.

The 5th Avenue Theatre began previews for Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film on July 7, 2011, in anticipation of a July 21, 2011 opening. Aladdin, featuring the Academy Award®-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, will run through July 31, 2011. The first official production photos have been released and appear below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre just opened the premiere of Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film. Aladdin, featuring the Academy Award®-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, began previews on July 7 and runs until July 31, 2011. Click below for a first look at Aladdin onstage at the 5th Avenue Theatre!

The 5th Avenue Theatre just began previews of Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film. Aladdin, featuring the Academy Award®-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, began performances on July 7 and runs until July 31, 2011. Official opening is July, 21. Check out photos of the cast with writers/directors of the movie, Ron Clements and John Musker below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre just opened the premiere of Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film. Aladdin, featuring the Academy Award®-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, previews on July 7 and runs until July 31, 2011. In the latest installment of Andrew's Blog-created by cast member Andrew Keenan-Bolger, the cast of Aladdin celebrates July 4th at Seattle's Cal Anderson Park. Click below to check it out!

The 5th Avenue Theatre is proud to announce that it will produce the premiere of Aladdin, a new stage musical adapted from Disney's 1992 animated feature film.

In Seattle, Washington, 5th Avenue Theatre is preparing for the premiere of Disney's Aladdin, directed by Mormon's Casey Nicholaw. Check out the recently released rehearsal footage below!

In Seattle, Washington, 5th Avenue Theatre is preparing for the premiere of Disney's Aladdin, directed by Mormon's Casey Nicholaw. In the clip below, Brian Gonzalez, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Adam Jacobs, and Brandon O'Neill sing 'Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim' from the show!

In Seattle, Washington, 5th Avenue Theatre is preparing for the premiere of Disney's Aladdin, directed by Mormon's Casey Nicholaw. Check out the just released promo art for the new production below!

The 5th Avenue Theatre's production of Aladdin features Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed as Aladdin and Jasmine, James Monroe Iglehart as the Genie, and Seattle mainstay Seán G. Griffin as the Sultan. Jonathan Freeman takes the stage to embody the role he originally voiced for the film, the Royal Vizier Jafar. He is joined by comedic favorite Don Darryl Rivera as Iago. Aladdin restores a trio of characters originally conceived by the film's creators: Omar, Babkak, and Kassim, played by Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Brian Gonzales, and Brandon O'Neill, respectively. Check out Courtney Reed, Tia Altinay, Shanna Marie Palmer, and Allysa Shorte performing 'Call Me A Princess' on New Day Northwest below!