Douglas Carpenter News

Broadway In Chicago's Summer Concert on Monday drew probably the largest crowd for the event I have seen in several years of attendance (and they were definitely a fired-up bunch). Musical theater fans across Chicago clamored to see Broadway In Chicago's showcase of ten upcoming touring shows (with a bonus appearance from HAMILTON's Chris De'Sean Lee, who co-hosted with usual emcee Janet Davies of ABC7). Here's my take on the highlights of the concert and which touring musicals should top your must-see list for the coming season.

Abby Mueller plays the title role in the Broadway company of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, beginning tonight, March 7, 2017. Mueller, who originated the role in the first national tour of Beautiful, will be taking over for Broadway's current 'Carole,' Chilina Kennedy, while Kennedy heads to her hometown to headline the show at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theater this summer.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced today that stage and screen favorite Evan Todd will join the cast of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical on March 7, 2017.

The American Traditions Vocal Competition has announced its lineup for the 24th Annual singing competition, held in Savannah, Georgia.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced today that Abby Mueller will play the title role in the Broadway company of Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, beginning March 7, 2017. Mueller, who originated the role in the first national tour of Beautiful, will be taking over for Broadway's current 'Carole,' Chilina Kennedy, while Kennedy heads to her hometown to headline the show at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theater from June 27 - August 20, 2017. Kennedy will be joined in the Toronto production by Liam Tobin, who originated the role of 'Gerry Goffin' on tour. Kennedy will return to the Broadway production following the Toronto run of Beautiful.

Despite a recent report in Time Out New York- which stated that Beautiful would play its final performance this December- BroadwayWorld has learned that the show has no plans to leave Broadway anytime soon. 

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing welcome back Jake Epstein, who originated the role of Gerry Goffin on Broadway in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, returning to the role tonight, September 22, 2016.

Producers Paul Blake and Sony/ATV Music Publishing announced today that Jake Epstein, who originated the role of Gerry Goffin on Broadway in Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, will return to the role on September 22, 2016.

Some of Broadway's best will take the stage at New York's Symphony Space on 7 October 2013 to celebrate the American music of Kurt Weill. Hosted by Ted Chapin, the evening will highlight songs from Venus as well as favorites from other Weill shows, including Street Scene, Lady in the Dark, Love Life, Lost in the Stars, Knickerbocker Holiday, The Threepenny Opera, and Happy End. The starry cast features Melissa Errico, Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, and Ron Raines alongside Lotte Lenya Competition winners Richard Todd Adams, Douglas Carpenter, Cooper Grodin, Justin Hopkins, Zachary James, Analisa Leaming, Jacob Keith Watson, and Maren Weinberger. Weill specialist James Holmes, who conducted a fully staged production of Venus at England's Opera North in 2004, music directs, and Richard Jay-Alexander directs.

Some of Broadway's best will take the stage at New York's Symphony Space on 7 October 2013 to celebrate the American music of Kurt Weill. Hosted by Ted Chapin, the evening will highlight songs from Venus as well as favorites from other Weill shows, including Street Scene, Lady in the Dark, Love Life, Lost in the Stars,Knickerbocker Holiday, The Threepenny Opera, and Happy End. The starry cast features Melissa Errico, Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, and Ron Raines alongside Lotte Lenya Competition winners Richard Todd Adams, Douglas Carpenter, Cooper Grodin, Justin Hopkins, Zachary James, Analisa Leaming, Jacob Keith Watson, and Maren Weinberger. Weill specialist James Holmes, who conducted a fully staged production of Venus at England's Opera North in 2004, music directs, and Richard Jay-Alexander directs.

The Lotte Lenya Competition has announced it is seeking exceptionally talented young singer/actors who excel in a wide range of musical theater styles for the 2014 competition.

Douglas Carpenter, baritone, of New York, won the $15,000 First Prize in the finals of the 15th annual Lotte Lenya Competition, held on April 13, 2013, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Maren Weinberger, soprano, of New York, received the Second Prize of $10,000, and two Third Prizes of $7,500 each were awarded to Alison Arnopp, soprano, of County Cork, Ireland, and Lauren Roesner, soprano, of Cincinnati. Founded in 1998 to celebrate the centenary of Lenya's birth, the Lotte Lenya Competition is an international theater singing contest that recognizes talented young singer/actors, ages 19-32, who are dramatically and musically convincing in a wide range of repertoire.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Big doings at Broadway In Chicago, 'Othello: The Remix,' world premieres from Pride Plays, The Second City and two from composer Kevin O'Donnell, 'Spamalot,' 'I Can Get It For You Wholesale' and so much more!

Twelve exceptionally talented young singer-actors, with previous stage experience ranging from roles on Broadway to the Metropolitan Opera House, have been named finalists in the 2013 Lotte Lenya Competition. They will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Acclaimed soprano and 2010 Opera News Award winner Patricia Racette, British opera and musical theater conductor James Holmes, and Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization President and American Theater Wing Vice-Chairman Theodore S. Chapin will serve as judges.

This Thursday, August 2nd, Broadway Sessions welcomes cast members from the hit Broadway revival of Evita. Cast members scheduled to perform include Daniel Torres, Rachel Potter, Melanie Field, Sydney Morton, Emily Mechler, Laurel Harris and Colin Cunliffe.

Matthew Grills, tenor, of Rochester, N.Y, won the $15,000 First Prize in the finals of the 2012 Lotte Lenya Competition, held on April 21, 2012, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. In a close contest, Justin Hopkins, bass-baritone of Philadelphia, and Jacob Keith Watson, tenor of Wynne, Ark., tied for Second Prizes of $10,000, and Megan Marino, mezzo-soprano of Malvern, Penn., was awarded the Third Prize of $7,500.

Twelve exceptionally talented young singer-actors have made it through two rounds of auditions for the 2012 Lotte Lenya Competition and will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 in the finals, to be held on April 21, 2012, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker, Broadway and Encores! music director Rob Berman, and Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization President and American Theater Wing Chairman of the Board Theodore S. Chapin will serve as judges.

Moonlight Stage Productions concludes its 30th Anniversary Summer Season at the Moonlight Amphitheatre with the international sensation MISS SAIGON. Performances are September 8-25 at 7:30 pm. Tickets, priced $22-$45, are on sale through the VisTix Ticket Office at (760) 724-2110 and online at moonlightstage.com. MISS SAIGON is intended for mature audiences as it contains mature themes, situations, and language. The creative team on the production includes Steven Glaudini, Director; Carlos Mendoza, Choreographer; Charlie Reuter, Musical Director; and Kenneth Gammie, Conductor.

Moonlight Stage Productions (MSP) fills the Brengle Terrace Park in Vista, California - not just with local residents and tourists on a picnic but also with a giant statue of Vietnamese communist revolutionary Ho Chi Minh, and a US military helicopter falling from the sky on Wednesday through Sunday - as MSP concludes its 2010 summer season with a grand presentation of Tony award-winning musical 'Miss Saigon' at the Moonlight Amphitheatre running until Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. 'Miss Saigon' alums Filipino-American stage actress Jennifer Paz (Kim) and Johann Michael Camat (The Engineer) reunite onstage in this lavish open air production.