Don Stephenson News

Titanic composer/lyricist Maury Yeston has joined a panel that will precede the June 21 benefit concert of the Tony-winning musical. The conversation will focus on the creative process of creating the original Broadway production, the historical event itself, and the ethical issues brought to light by the sinking and the great loss of life. The talkback will begin at 6:30 PM and is included in the cost of admission to the 7:30 PM concert, which will benefit the New York Society for Ethical Culture (NYSEC). Produced by Sarah Melissa Rotker in association with Josh Wellman, the event will take place in NYSEC's 800-seat Concert Hall, located at 2 W. 64th St. at Central Park West.

On June 7 at 7:30 p.m., Symphony Space presents a monumental evening of entertainment, 32 years in the making, as the venerable cultural center celebrates co-founder, voce of Selected Shorts and out-going Artistic Director Isaiah Sheffer with Isaiah Fest.

I was lucky enough to accompany one of the invited guests to the private reading of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. It took place Monday (Dec 21) at Playwrights Horizons at 3 pm in one of their rehearsal rooms. I was told that the guest list was very tight and not a lot of people were allowed to go because it was more of a test run and not any kind of backers audition.

On Friday, November 13th at 11AM, the cast of the hit Broadway musical ROCK OF AGES joined with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation to celebrate the show's support of music education in our nation's schools. This past spring, ROCK OF AGES donated $30,000 to the Foundation through a month-long ticket promotion, which enabled the VH1 Save The Music Foundation to grant a full set of new musical instruments to jumpstart the music education program at PS/IS 111 this school year.

As is frequently noted by lovers of strong book musicals, part of the brilliance of Sherman Edwards (score) and Peter Stone's (book) 1776, their 1969 Broadway tuner about the efforts of John Adams to convince the continental congress to vote for independency from Great Britain, is that the audience walks into the theatre knowing full well how it's going to end, and yet the authors (and history) keep you on The Edge of your seat wondering how the devil it's going to happen. With a unanimous vote necessary ('So that no colony be torn from its mother country without its own consent.') and Pennsylvania's John Dickinson leading the arguments for property-owners whose personal economy is protected by loyalty to the crown and South Carolina's Edward Rutledge keeping the deep south unified in favor of individual states rights that protect their practice of slavery, June of '76 concludes with half the congress against independence.

1959 was a heck of a good year for Broadway overtures.  The majestic trumpet fanfare and lowdown bump and grind of Gypsy's is generally regarded as the best in musical theatre, but there was also the rousingly rhythmic curtain-raiser to Fiorello! and, my personal favorite, Philip J. Lang's beautiful interpretation of Bob Merrill's music for Take Me Along, which touches on so many moods of the show while continually building the toe-tapping climax of The catchy title tune.

Tonight, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, one lucky audience member at the smash-hit musical ROCK OF AGES, will walk out of the theatre $1,000 richer. The random drawing will take place immediately following the show and will include all ticket holders for that evening's 7pm performance at The Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th Street.

Tomorrow night, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, one lucky audience member at the smash-hit musical ROCK OF AGES, will walk out of the theatre $1,000 richer. The random drawing will take place immediately following the show and will include all ticket holders for that evening's 7pm performance at The Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th Street.

On Friday, September 18, 2009, Kerry Butler as 'Sherrie' and Tom Lenk as 'Franz' began performances in the five-time Tony nominated hit musical, ROCK OF AGES at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) for a six month engagement.

Tony nominees Constantine Maroulis and Kerry Butler, the stars of Broadway's ROCK OF AGES, sat down with Fuse TV to talk about their mega hit show. You can watch the segment right here on STAGE TUBE!

At the annual BC/EFA Flea Market on Sunday, ROCK OF AGES will be unveiling a hot off the presses, limited edition MEN of ROCK OF AGES Calendar. Designed in the hilarious, raunchy spirit of the show, the calendar exposes all of the men's finest assets from January to December.

'Once Upon a Time', Part Three. In this epic, 'Princess Bride' parody, trilogy, Paul has a flashback to his swashbuckling, pirate fighting days. Captain Paul is hired to safely transport Prince Wesley to Guana island to be crowned the new king. Meanwhile, Captain Shortshanks must kill Prince Wesley to fulfill the final prophecy to bring his evil master back to life to rule again.

'Once Upon a Time', Part Two. In this epic, 'Princess Bride' parody, trilogy, Paul has a flashback to his swashbuckling, pirate fighting days. Captain Paul is hired to safely transport Prince Wesley to Guana island to be crowned the new king. Meanwhile, Captain Shortshanks must kill Prince Wesley to fulfill the final prophecy to bring his evil master back to life to rule again.

'Once Upon a Time', Part One. In this epic, 'Princess Bride' parody, trilogy, Paul has a flashback to his swashbuckling, pirate fighting days. Captain Paul is hired to safely transport Prince Wesley to Guana island to be crowned the new king. Meanwhile, Captain Shortshanks must kill Prince Wesley to fulfill the final prophecy to bring his evil master back to life to rule again.

On Friday, September 18, 2009, Kerry Butler as 'Sherrie' and Tom Lenk as 'Franz' began performances in the five-time Tony nominated hit musical, ROCK OF AGES at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) for a six month engagement.

On Friday, September 18, 2009, Kerry Butler as 'Sherrie' and Tom Lenk as 'Franz' will begin performances in the five-time Tony nominated hit musical, ROCK OF AGES at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) for a six month engagement.

BWW TV caught this great video on YouTube of Constantine Maroulis, Kerry Butler, James Carpinello and the rest of the Rock of Ages Broadway cast singing 'Don't Stop Believing' at Broadway on Broadway 2009. We thought it was 'totally rad' and 'face melting' enough to run right here on STAGE TUBE!

The cast of the five-time Tony nominated hit musical, ROCK OF AGES, will continue to rock eight times a week through summer 2010. Tom Lenk joins the cast as 'Franz,' the role he originated in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas productions, beginning Monday, September 14, 2009 for a six month limited engagement. Mr. Lenk is best known for his portrayal as 'Andrew Wells' on television's 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.' Mr. Lenk is taking over for Wesley Taylor, who will play his final performance on Sunday, September 13. Mr. Taylor is leaving to join the cast of the upcoming production of The Addams Family.

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' star Tom Lenk will join five-time Tony nominated hit musical, ROCK OF AGES on Sept. 14. Lenk will star as 'Franz,' the son of a German developer who wants to demolish the Sunset Strip (including LA's favorite rock club). The actor originated the supporting role in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas productions.

On Friday, September 18, 2009, Kerry Butler as 'Sherrie' and Tom Lenk as 'Franz' will begin performances in the five-time Tony nominated hit musical, ROCK OF AGES at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) for a six month engagement.