Donna English News

Something wicked this way comes to the Bickford Theatre as Tony Award-nominee and American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis (Rock of Ages) joins nearly a dozen Broadway favorites to salute the sinister side of Broadway in the benefit evening Life Upon the Wicked Stage: Broadway's Greatest Villains, Thieves and Ladies of the Evening on Saturday, June 9, 2012, 8 pm, at the Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, in Morristown, NJ.

York Theatre Company, celebrating the legendary librettist and lyricist Tom Jones with Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Festival, presents the third musical in the spring series: the New York Premiere of Harold and Maude, with Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones and Music by Joseph Thalken (Was, Songs from an Unmade Bed), based on the screenplay by Colin Higgins. BroadwayWorld caught the show's stars on opening night. See pictures of Matt Dengler, Cass Morgan, Donna English, Joseph Thalken, Tom Jones and more below!

York Theatre Company, celebrating the legendary librettist and lyricist Tom Jones with Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Festival, presents the third musical in the spring series: the New York Premiere of Harold and Maude, with Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones and Music by Joseph Thalken (Was, Songs from an Unmade Bed), based on the screenplay by Colin Higgins.

York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), celebrating the legendary librettist and lyricist Tom Jones with Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Festival, has announced casting for the next two musicals in the spring series:

York Theatre Company is celebrating the legendary librettist and lyricist Tom Jones with Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Festival this spring. First up was Roadside, with Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones and Music by Harvey Schmidt. Directed by David Glenn Armstrong, the cast featured original Roadside cast member Ryan Alexander, Erick Devine (Seussical), Janine DiVita (Odyssey, The Musical), Jamie LaVerdiere (The Producers), Daniel C. Levine (Les Miserables), Ed Watts (The Fantasticks) and Nick Wyman (The Phantom of the Opera).

York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), celebrating the legendary librettist and lyricist Tom Jones with Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Festival, presents the second musical in the spring series: Roadside with Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones and Music by Harvey Schmidt. The limited engagement will play 5 performances March 30 - April 1 at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's on 54th St, just east of Lexington Avenue.

York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), celebrating the legendary librettist and lyricist Tom Jones with Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Festival, has announced casting for the next two musicals in the spring series:

Now, on the show's official Facebook page, lead producer Ben Sprecher writes 'Rebecca is moving forward. We have identified the final missing piece of investment and the Shuberts (to whom I shall be forever indebeted) have graciously allowed us to resume production to open at the Broadhurst in fall of 2012. Thank you all for you patience and most of all to the extraordinary creative team who have stuck by this fantastic production through thick and thin as Rebecca continues to play in productions throughout the world.'

At the end of January, the producers of REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne Du Maurier novel (later turned into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock) announced that the production would be postponed until next season. The Village Voice's Michael Musto is reporting that the show might be making its Broadway debut sooner than expected. Musto writes: 'They have started rehearsing again and they plan to take over the Broadhurst Theatre when A Streetcar Named Desire exits.'

The producers of REBECCA, the new musical based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel (later turned into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock) announced this morning that the production has been postponed until next season. REBECCA was slated to open Sunday, April 22 at the Broadhurst Theatre, with previews beginning March 27.

Today, as a well-earned holiday surprise for all of the millions of Broadway babies who read Broadway World all year long, we have a sneak preview of next year's upcoming InDepth InterView with leading lady stage superstar Sierra Boggess, best known to Broadway and West End audiences for her creation of the title role in THE LITTLE MERMAID, as well as originating the role of Christine in both PHANTOM VEGAS - the Las Vegas iteration of the international sensation THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by original helmer Hal Prince - and LOVE NEVER DIES, the recent Andrew Lloyd Webber-penned musical sequel to the original thriller/romance tuner, as well as her most recent essaying of the role in the absolutely phantastic 25th anniversary production THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL, which will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in the US in 2012. Before we get to all about PHANTOM 25 - lest we forget, Ms. Boggess was also generous enough to tell us all about the show when it was still in rehearsals (you can read that chat here) - Boggess shares her affection for another recent InDepth InterView participant who shared the stage with her at the thrilling encore for PHANTOM 25 - the one and only Phantom of legend himself, Michael Crawford, as well as all about her participation in the yearly ASTEP charity concert CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK CITY and the cast recording of it featuring herself along with Raul Esparza, Andy Karl, Orfeh, Constantine Maroulis and many more! Plus, insight into her preparations for her next Broadway role, that of Rebecca in the lavish stage spectacular REBECCA and much, much more!

Two-time Tony Award nominee Howard McGillin has joined the cast of the upcoming new musical REBECCA, based on the classic novel by Daphne du Maurier novel, opening on Broadway Sunday, April 22 at The Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Previews will begin Tuesday, March 27. McGillin will play the role of Frank Crawley, replacing previously announced John Dossett (who will appear in another show this season). McGillin joins Sierra Boggess ("I"), Tam Mutu (Maxim deWinter), Karen Mason (Mrs. Danvers), James Barbour (Jack Favell), Donna English (Beatrice de Winter), Nick Wyman (Giles) and Henry Stram (Ben).

Additional principal casting has been announced for the upcoming new musical REBECCA, based on the classic novel by Daphne Du Maurier novel, opening on Broadway Sunday, April 22 at The Broadhurst Theatre. Joining Sierra Boggess (previously announced for the leading role of "I") are Tam Mutu (Love Never Dies in the West End) as Maxim de Winter, Karen Mason (Sunset Boulevard, Mamma Mia!) as Mrs. Danvers, James Barbour (Beauty and the Beast, A Tale of Two Cities) as Jack Favell, John Dossett (Gypsy) as Frank Crawley, Donna English (Lend Me A Tenor) as Beatrice de Winter and Nick Wyman (Les Miserables) as Giles. Previews will begin Tuesday, March 27.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the winners of the NYMF 2011 Awards for Excellence. Awards will be presented at the Eight Season Awards Gala taking place on Sunday, November 6th at The Hudson Theatre (145 W. 44th Street) beginning at 6:00pm. As previously announced, producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan will also be honored for their work in bringing musical theatre to a worldwide, pop-culture audience.

From Gerard Alessandrini, the creator of the Tony-Award-Winning Forbidden Broadway, and Robert Hetzel, comes an over-the-top new musical: Madame X, a melodramatic yet comic take on the Douglas Sirk films of the 1950s, and the ever-durable genre of the altruistic, self-sacrificing mother. The show, which will be presented concert-style, stars Forbidden Broadway veterans Donna English as Madame X (Ruthless!, Lend Me a Tenor) Janet Dickenson (The Grinch, Nine to Five) Edward Staudenmayer (Frank Wildhorn's Alice in Wonderland, Spamalot), Michael West (Newsical), plus Bill Coyne, Sean Bell, and Mike Longo with Musical Direction by David Caldwell and Richard Danley.

David West in Association with John Freedson will present MADAME X with book, music and lyrics Geard Alessandrini & Robert Hetzel and directed by Mr. Alessandrini at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) presented a special preview of the 2011 Festival selections, featuring Ennio: The Living Paper Cartoon, F*cking Hipsters, Ghostlight, Greenwood, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, The Kid Who Would Be Pope, Kiki Baby, Outlaws, and This One Girl's Story. The NYMF runs from September 26th - October 16th in theatres around Manhattan.