Doug Besterman News

The casting for the Hollywood Bowl's production of THE PRODUCERS is complete with the announcement of Dane Cook - one of the country's most popular comedians - as Franz Liebkind. Cook joins previously announced cast members Richard Kind as Max Bialystock, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Leo Bloom, Roger Bart as Carmen Ghia, Gary Beach as Roger De Bris, and Rebecca Romijn as Ulla.

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Neal Street Productions and Kevin McCormick today announced that their production of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will open at the London Palladium in June 2013 after a preview period. The new stage musical will be directed by Sam Mendes, with a book by David Greig and new songs from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

Roman Holiday opens tonight and continues through August 19 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater. Single tickets start at $29 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org. We have a first look at scenes from the show below!

Currently onstage at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis is the period musical spectacular Roman Holiday. Based on the iconic film, the show features the music of Cole Porter, including hits like 'Easy to Love,' 'Begin the Beguine,' 'Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye' and 'Riding High', in addition to rarely heard gems that fit perfectly into the story. The production began preview performances on June 9 and opens tonight, June 15. The run is scheduled to continue through August 19 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. Guthrie Artistic Producing Artistic Director John Miller-Stephany helms.

Stephanie Rothenberg leads the cast of Roman Holiday as Princess Anne-a radiant young woman in Rome on a widely publicized European tour who sneaks away from her royal duties to explore the city. Rothenberg recently made her Broadway debut stepping into the role of Rosemary in the Tony-nominated revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Edward Watts plays Joe Bradley-a handsome, crafty American newspaper reporter who charms the princess. Watts most recently appeared in the long-running production of The Fantasticks in New York City. Check out photos of the cast in action below!

The Guthrie Theater previously announced complete casting for the sparkling new musical Roman Holiday. This song-filled delight-based on the iconic 1953 Paramount Pictures film starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck-includes timeless music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Paul Blake. The production plays from tonght, June 9 - August 19 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage and features soul-stirring Porter standards like "Easy to Love," "Just One of Those Things" and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye." Guthrie Associate Artistic Director John Miller-Stephany (1776, God of Carnage and A Streetcar Named Desire) directs.

Roman Holiday begins preview performances on June 9, opens June 15 and continues through August 19 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater. Single tickets start at $29 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

As previously scooped by BroadwayWorld.com, it's now official that the Hollywood Bowl's production of the Broadway hit THE PRODUCERS will star Richard Kind as Max Bialystock and Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Leo Bloom.

Nick Jonas gave a goodbye speech at the final performance of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway, May 20, 2012. He spoke about his return to Broadway 'as a man,' acknowledged Daniel Radcliffe and Darren Criss for their hard work and talent in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch before him, and talked about the support and artistry of his fellow cast members, the producers, and his love for the audience and this 'great show.' Watch the video below!

The revival of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING will play its final performance today, May 20, 2012. The 50th Anniversary production will have played 30 preview and 473 regular performances at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). The show has seen three leading men in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch-Daniel Radcliffe, Darren Criss and Nick Jonas. See below for photos of the three Finches and each young man's journey on the Broadway stage!

The revival of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING will play its final performance on Sunday, May 20, 2012. The 50th Anniversary production, which recouped its $9 million initial investment in December 2011, will have played 30 preview and 473 regular performances at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street).

The Guthrie Theater today announced complete casting for the sparkling new musical Roman Holiday. This song-filled delight-based on the iconic 1953 Paramount Pictures film starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck-includes timeless music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Paul Blake. The production will play from June 9 - August 19 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage and features soul-stirring Porter standards like "Easy to Love," "Just One of Those Things" and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye." Guthrie Associate Artistic Director John Miller-Stephany (1776, God of Carnage and A Streetcar Named Desire) will direct.

The 50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, will host "University Week: HOW TO SUCCEED In The Arts" from today, April 24 to April 26 at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street).

Today in 2001, The Producers opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 2502 performances. The Producers is a musical adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks' 1968 film of the same name, with lyrics written by Brooks and music composed by Brooks and arranged by Glen Kelly and Doug Besterman. As in the film, the story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, it won a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards. It spawned a successful London production running for three years, national tours, many productions worldwide and a 2005 film version.

Broadway Records will release an EP of Nick Jonas performing five tracks from the smash hit musical HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. The CD will be released Tuesday, May 8, 2012, and will be available in the Hirschfeld Theatre the week of May 1. Pre-orders are now being taken at amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007V3N0KG/ref=cm_sw_su_dp. Produced by six-time Grammy nominee Robert Sher who produced the Grammy nominated Daniel Radcliffe/John Larroquette HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUR REALLY TRYING cast album, the new Nick Jonas recording is executive produced by Van Dean and Kenny Howard of Broadway Consortium (Executive producers of the Radcliffe/Larroquette album) and Ken Mahoney.

The 50th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, will host "University Week: HOW TO SUCCEED In The Arts" from April 24-26 at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street).

Ghostlight Records announced today that they will go into the recording studio with the cast of Carrie next week, April 17, to record the first-ever cast album. Release dates for the album will be announced at a later time.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING stars Nick Jonas, Michael Urie and Stephanie Rothenberg made an appearance at Time Square's Planet Hollywood Monday, April 9, to donate a costume from the show to the restaurant's memorabilia collection. Catherine Zuber designed the costume. Check out the photos of the appearance below!

The New York Times reports tonight that 'the creators and MCC said one successful result of the revival is that the musical would become a licensable property available for productions at high schools, colleges and regional theaters. After the 1988 Broadway production closed, the creators were so devastated that they refused hundreds of requests by directors and theater companies to stage "Carrie" until Mr. Arima pitched his vision. Now the creators are ready to say yes to productions, and are already talking to one - SpeakEasy Stage Company in Boston - about doing "Carrie" next spring.'